A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF INDICATING THE VARIATIONS OF HEAT IN HOLDS OF VESSELS, ROOMS, OR OTHER PLACES AT A DISTANCE, AND APPARATUS FOR SUCH PURPOSE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Payne, of Frome, in the County of
Somerset, Solicitor, for the Invention of " A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF INDICATING THE VARIATIONS OF HEAT IN HOLDS OF VESSELS,
ROOMS, OR OTHER PLACES AT A DISTANCE, AND APPARATUS FOR SUCH PURPOSE."
-A communication from abroad by James Alexander Read, of
Enfield, near Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, Second
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Robert Payne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration on the 19th July 1872, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
PAYNE, of Frome, in the County of Somerset, Solicitor, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF INDICATING THE VARIATIONS OF HEAT IN HOLDS OF VESSELS, ROOMS,
OR OTHER PLACES AT A DISTANCE, AND APPARATUS FOR SUCH PURPOSE," and have

page_text: petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad
by James Alexander Read, of Enfield, near Sydney, in the Colony
of New South Wales, Second Clerk in the Supreme Court of the said
Colony.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Payne, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
In the cabin, room, or compartment in which it is desired that the heat
in the hold of a vessel or in a distant part of any building, should be
indicated, I place a glass syphon of suitable length (see Figure A. on
annexed Plates or Drawings); in the said syphon I put a sufficient
quantity of sulphuric acid (colored with cochineal or other suitable
substance), or any suitable liquid which is not liable. to. evaporate, as
shewn by the red coloring at points a, a, in Figure A. This syphon I
place against or on a board or plate on which is a graduated scale (with
a moveable vernier if necessary) to indicate the movements of the liquid
and the different degrees of heat in the distant hold or place accordingly
as the liquid is raised in the said syphon. To the said syphon (with or
without the air cock attached, as herein-after described) at point b, shewn
on Figure A., I attach a flexible tube made of india-rubber, gutta percha,
or other suitable material (see point c, Figure A., on annexed Plates or.
Drawings) of the necessary length, in such a manner that no air from
the tubes can escape.
In ships or vessels this tube may be vulcanized,
and in all cases one inch in circumference on the outer surface, more or
less as the case may require, with a bore to be sufficiently small to
contain the least possible volume of air without preventing its free
circulation through the same, and must be of sufficient thickness to
prevent the external air, if expanded by increased temperature, from so
compressing the tube as to render the internal passage "smaller, and
thereby moving the air within it up or down the internal passage. This
tube, for the purposes of protection and insulation, must be inclosed
within a larger tube made either of metal or of vulcanized india-rubber,
or gutta percha hose, such vulcanized india-rubber or gutta percha hose
being wired on the inside, or without wire on the inside should such

page_text: support be unnecessary. This larger or outside tube must be of sufficient
size to allow of the passage of air between its inside circumference and
the external surface of the inner tube. The projecting edges of this larger
or outside tube towards the heat chamber, herein-after described, must be
brought quite close to the said heat chamber, and must be completely
and effectually closed around the neck of the said heat chamber (sec
point a, Figure B., on annexed Plates or Drawings), so as to prevent any
air there entering such larger or outside tube. With this object the said
end of the outer tube must also be closed. The end of this larger or
outside tube towards the said syphon must be brought as close to such
syphon as is compatible with the other directions herein contained, and
at such end should be closed round the inner tube, leaving apertures
through which the external air may enter (see Figure C on annexed
Plates or Drawings). The object of thus allowing the entry of the air.
at the end where the syphon is placed is, that the temperature within
the larger or outside tube be unaffected by any increase of temperature.
external to such tube in any place through which such tube may be
passed.
In cases in which the indicator is used only from one hold, room, or
compartment to another, or where there is no likelihood of there being
any increase of temperature acting upon the tube, except that of the
hold, room, or compartment, the increasing or increased temperature of
which is desired to be indicated, I dispense with the said larger or
outside tube. In this latter case the said inner tube must be of greater
thickness than in the case of the use of such outside or larger tube.
At the end of the inner tube first above described furthest from the
syphon I attach a small vessel, bulb, or chamber of glass of sufficient
thickness, or of metal or other suitable material to contain a volume
of air proportioned to the distance such vessel, bulb, or chamber is
placed from the indicating syphon (see Figure B. on annexed Plates.
or Drawings). This is herein-before alluded to as the "heat chamber.":
The inner tube must at this end be fixed over the neck of the said:
vessel, bulb, or chamber so that no air can escape, and at a point.
within the place where the said outer or larger tube is fixed to the
neck of the said bulb, vessel, or chamber (see point b, Figure B., on:
annexed Plates or Drawings). Such vessel, bulb, or chamber must.
be placed in the hold, room, or compartment, the temperature of which
it is desired to indicate, the tube, whether within the said. outside or
:

page_text: larger tube above described or not being carried or placed so as to
secure this object. This vessel, bulb, or chamber should be placed
under the deck covering the particular hold, or under the ceiling or
roof of the particular room or place, the heat of which is to be indicated.
Such vessel, bulb, or chamber should be left uncovered, so that the
same may be easily and at once acted upon by the varying temperature
in the hold, room, or place where the same is placed, except that it
would be necessary, especially in the case of glass being used for the
purpose, that a strong wire net or covering should be placed around
it for the purpose of protection from fracture. Such wire net or
covering should not be allowed to touch the said vessel, bulb, or
chamber or the india-rubber tube in any place. The said tube should
be so laid and placed that nothing can come in contact with it, so as
to close the passage of air or so as to break or injure the vessel, bulb,.
or chamber. The said vessel, bulb, or cliamber should be placed above.
the tube so that the heated air rising to the top presses downwards upon
the air in the tube.
The principle upon which my instrument or appliance acts is the
expansion of air in the vessel, bulb, or chamber by the rise of tem-
perature or increasing heat, which acting upon the air within the tube,
and thus ultimately pressing upon and lifting the liquid in the said
syphon according to the intensity of the heat, and consequent in-
creasing and increased expansion of air which is confined and unable
to escape or expand in any direction except towards such indicating
syphon. The only place in which heat can affect and act upon the
air within the tube to any appreciable degree, is at the point at which
is placed the glass vessel, bulb, or chamber, the first mentioned or inside
tube being under the directions herein contained completely insulated,
and the temperature without being effectually prevented from affecting
the temperature within such insulated tube, and the heat surrounding
any part of the tube being prevented from in any appreciable degree
affecting or acting upon the air within such insulated tube. As the
heat in the hold, room, or place in which is placed the glass or metal
vessel, bulb, or chamber increases the air in such vessel, bulb, or
chamber is expanded, and this expanded air will press upon the air
in the tube, and the air in the tube thus. pressed upon will itself press
upon the fluid in the syphon, and the liquid in the indicating syphon
is raised according to the proportion of such expansion of air and

page_text: and denoted by the Figures at the side of the syphon, and thus the
temperature in the place where such vessel, bulb, or chamber is placed
is indicated.
"
*
I have now described the application and use of my Invention in
regard to a single tube, and I now proceed to describe the manner
of use of my Invention in the case of the use of it for indicating and
determining the heat prevailing in several distinct holds, rooms, or
places respectively (see Figure D., shewing the air cocks horizontally
placed at points a, a, a, on annexed Plates or Drawings). For such
last-named purpose a separate indicating syphon; as, herein described,
with its connected tube, insulated or not as the case may be, and heat
vessel, bulb, or chamber may be used for each distinct and separate
hold, room, or place the heat of the temperature in which is to be
indicated, or a single indicating syphon with a separate and distinct
tube, insulated or not as the case may require, for each separate hold,
room, or place where the heat is respectively intended to be indicated,
may be used in the manner herein described. If the latter course is
adopted, and the holds, rooms, or places the heat of which severally
is to be indicated are all in the same direction from the room or place
in which is placed the indicating syphon, then one larger insulating
tube surrounding the inner tubes, as above described, may be used,
and such several inner tubes at the end of each of which is placed
the vessel, bulb, or chamber above described may be all placed within
such one larger insulating tube, the same being of such size as may
be required, according to the number of tubes within it (see Figure E.
on annexed Plates or Drawings). In such case all the ends of the
several inner tubes and the end of the larger insulating tube must
be brought as near as practicable to the end of the said syphon, the
air being allowed to penetrate only at the end of such larger insulating
tube in the same manner and for the same purpose as above described,
and the several inner tubes must also converge to the end of such larger
insulating tube, and each of such inner tubes must at some place,
between the end of the said larger insulating tube and the end of the
said syphon, have a three-way cock (see point d, Figure A., on annexed
Plates or Drawings) to prevent the air within such inner tubes expanding
and pressing beyond the point at which is such three-way cock when the.
same is turned, and so pressing upon the liquid within the syphon.

page_text: :
:
The three-way cock is thus constructed:-A horizontal bore is made
running completely through the plug of the cock, so that when one end
. of such bore fits against an opening to be made in the barrel of the cock
opposite to the syphon, the other end of such bore will fit against an
opening to be made through the barrel to the end of the inner tube first
above described fixed into such three-way cock; and there is a groove
cut in and down the side of the plug from a point at about a quarter
turn from the end of the above-mentioned horizontal bore, which opens
towards the syphon as above described, and such groove is carried to the
bottom of the plug (sec point a, Figure F., on annexed Plates or
Drawings), and there must be also a hole bored through the side of the
. barrel of the cock immediately under the end of the above-mentioned
bore towards the syphon, and so as to be exactly opposite the bottom of
the plug (see point e, Figure A, on the annexed Plates or Drawings,
showing the several pieces of the three-way cock, and the points at
which the holes are to be bored, and end).
!
When it is desired to ascertain the temperature in any particular hold,
room, or place, the three-way cock is so turned that the air in the tube
communicating with such hold, room, or place, the heat of which is to
be indicated, will pass through the horizontal bore, running completely
through the plug above described. The air cock to be placed as close as
practicable to the top of the column of the liquid in the left arm of the
syphon.
> When it is desired to shut off from the syphon the air coming along
such tube from such particular hold, room, or place, and thus to prevent
the pressure of the expanded air upon the liquid, and restore the liquid
to its equilibrium, then the cock is so turned that the complete
horizontal bore is turned away from the opening into the syphon, and
the groove in the plug, above described, is brought against the bore
passing through the barrel into the syphon, and consequently also
against the other hole bored in the said barrel, and below the hole to
the syphon. The effect of this last-mentioned turn is that the external
air, of equal temperature with that entering the orifice at the point fat
the other end of the syphon, is admitted through the said lower hole
through the barrel of the cock, and passes up the said groove in the
plug, and so through the hole through the barrel into the syphou, and
the equilibrium of the liquid is restored, the air over the liquid on both
sides or ends of the syphon being brought to the same temperature and

page_text: · weight. There must be a stop at the top of the barrel of the said air
cock to prevent the groove coming against the horizontal bore passing
into the india-rubber tube.
If any tube is carried to any hold, room, or place which is not in such
direction as to allow of the tube being carried within the same larger
insulating tube with any other tube or tubes, then such first-mentioned
tube must (if the case requires it under the directions herein-before
contained) be continued and carried within its own separate larger
insulating tube, terminating sufficiently near such three-way cock as
aforesaid.
The right arm of the said syphon must be of suitable length to allow
a sufficient column of liquid when pressed upon by the expanded and
expanding air to rise to a required elevation without passing the curves
at the foot of the syphon (see point 9, Figure A., on annexed Plates or
Drawings). With this object the diameter of the right arm of the
syphon may be less in a certain proportion than the diameter of the
left arm of the syphon, and thereby the elevation of the liquid in the
right arm will be greater in that proportion than the depression of the
liquid in the left arm. Another mode of securing the same object is by
making the said syphon with a bulb expansion at the lower end of the
left arm and near the curve (as shown on Figures G. on annexed Plates
or Drawings). Thus a sufficient quantity of liquid will always be in the
left arm of the syphon to prevent any pressure moving the whole of the
liquid beyond the curve at the foot of the syphon at the end of the
syphon at point f; on Figure A., on annexed Plates or Drawings, there
must be a small orifice to admit the external air.
In some cases where circumstances render it necessary that especial care
should be taken to provide against the slightest influence the air in a
tube may be liable to by reason of any external variations of temperature.
I will now describe another instrument by which I get rid of any
external variations of temperature acting on the air in the inner tube
before described. I attach at point a, on Figure H., on annexed Plates
or Drawings, a short tube fixed firmly and horizontally into and com-
municating with the bore in the right-hand arm of the said syphon, as
shewn in the said last-mentioned Figure, at the end of which short
horizontal tube furthest from the said syphon I fix a three-way cock
of the same description as above described. At the other side of this

page_text: :
'
three-way cock I fix in a horizontal position another short tube, to the
opposite end of which I attach an india-rubber tube of the same size
bore and of equal length as the tube connected at the end with the heat
bulb or chamber. This india-rubber tube must be placed with the first
or indicating tube (united if necessary, as shewn on Figure I. on annexed
Plates or Drawings) in an outer tube (as before described, or for some
situations the outer tube may be dispensed with), and be carried along
as far as the said heat bulb or chamber, at which end the bore of the
second tube must be stopped to prevent the air escaping from the same.
This is done as is shewn at point a, Figure J., on annexed Plates or
Drawings. The outer tube to be closed at the end near the heat bulb or
chamber. By this plan the influence of the temperature is always equal
on the air in both tubes, the one counterpoising the effects of the other,
so that the action of the fluid must and can be only acted upon by the
expansion of air in the heat bulb or chamber.
To provide an equal resisting force of air acting against the expansion
of air in both tubes when the air is confined in the second tube by
means of the air cock or without air cock, as herein-after described, I
place a globe of india-rubber, or any other material acting as a non-
conductor of heat, at the top upright arm of the syphon (as shewn on
Figure H. on annexed Plates or Drawings, and marked with letter b)
of sufficient capacity, and to contain a volume of air sufficient to produce
an equalization of force with the air in the heat bulb or chamber. To
release or remove the expansion of air within the said globe (marked on
said Figure H.), which may. be caused by the variations of external
temperature, and which expansion may cause pressure within the said
globe, and down upon the air in the syphon, I attach a three-way cock
in the position before described by means of a metal T piece or by any
other suitable contrivance to the globe and the right-hand arm of the
syphon, so that by turning the plug of the said three-way cock so as to
bring the groove of the plug of the said cock opposite the said horizontal
glass tube on the syphon side, and also opposite the hole in the barrel
of the said cock below the said - short horizontal tube, all pressure by
expansion of air within the said globe is removed. In some situations
the three-way cock may be dispensed with; in other situations the
three-way cock and the globe may be both dispensed with. I
would strongly recommend the adoption of this method, as shewn in
Figures G., H., I., J., respectively marked on annexed Plate or Drawing,

page_text: First. The effecting the rising or movement in an inverted syphon of
liquid, such as colored sulphuric acid, or other suitable liquid, to various
degrees or points, according to the expansion and consequent pressure of
the air below or behind such liquid, caused by the action of heat in any
place the temperature of which it is desired to ascertain, and thus
indicating the temperature in such place.
Second. The use of a bulb vessel or chamber in the place the tempera-
ture of which is to be indicated, which bulb vessel or chamber being a
conductor of heat, and consequently facilitating and effecting the action
of the heat in such place upon the air within such bulb chamber or
vessel, creates a corresponding or proportionate expansion of the same to
register temperature at distances, and in places difficult of access.
Third. The use of a vulcanized india-rubber or gutta percha tube or
tubes, one within the other, covered and protected if necessary by other
tubes or pipes, as herein-before particularly described, the inner one to
connect the glass chamber or vessel, above spoken of, and the indicating
syphon, the insulation of the two tubes by means of an air passage
between preventing the action of the heat at any place or point except
where such bulb chamber or vessel is placed.
Fourth. The application of the principle of the expansion of air by
heat, and the consequent pressure outwards of the same, and the restrict-
ing or confining such pressure to a point at which the expansion of the air
lifts or moves a liquid to various marked degrees by means of the use of
the indicating syphon and of the bulb vessel or chamber above described,
and the transmission of the same by means of a tube, as herein
described.
Fifth. The application of air cocks of the form and kind above-
mentioned attached to the syphon, releasing the liquid in the same from
internal and external atmospheric pressure, and for the purposes of

page_text: '
restoring the equilibrium of the liquid within the said indicator or syphon
in the same manner and form above specially mentioned and described.
Sixth. The application of a second tube attached to the second arm of
the syphon, as before described, and the use of the bulb or globe at the
top of the same, and the use of the air cock, by all which means the
expanding and resisting properties of the air in all parts and sections of
one tube are balanced by the expanding and resisting properties in a
second tube, and the syphon is made to indicate the expansion of the air
in the heat bulk alone.
I desire to protect myself from any misconception in the reading of
the instrument first described in the Specification, arising from expansion
caused by external temperature on the air in the tube, by stating that a
note may be made on the instrument shewing what allowance should be
made, say, for example, one degree on every twenty degrees of heat.
indicated by a common thermometer.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Payne, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of July, in the year
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
ROBT. PAYNE. (L.S.)