Year: 1896

page_text: We, JOSEPH HOPKINSON of J. Hopkinson & Co. Ld. Engineers, and JOHN
Lowis, Works Manager, both of Huddersfield in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in water-gauges of that class which is
described in the Specifications of former Patents No. 6141, 1890 and No. 23946,
1894; that is to say-water-gauges which have ball or other valves in the steum
and water-arms for preventing the escape of steam and water when the glass breaks
and which have a supplementary or back tube forming a communication between
the said steam and water arms.
The main objects sought to be obtained in these water gauges are to prevent the
indication of a false water-level and to ensure the quick and complete closing of
the apertures so as to prevent the escape of the water and steam in the event of the
breaking of the glass and the particular objects of our present invention are to
provide for greater efficiency in the working of such gauges in these respects, as
well as to increase their durability and to simplify their manufacture.
According to our said invention we construct the lower arm of the gauge with a
space or chamber for the reception of the ball-valve which chamber is in
communication with the passage from the boiler and with the back tube and it is
preferably immediately below the aforesaid back tube. We arrange the ball to
rest in this chamber below the aperture of the said back-tube and we form in the
wall of the said space or chamber an aperture communicating with a space
immediately below the gauge-glass. The ball is capable of moving to, and closing,
either aperture according to the required action of the gauge, the last named
aperture being closed when the glass breaks. Therefore, as will be obvious, there
is no ball or valve immediately below the glass as heretofore in these gauges. In
some instances we arrange the try-cock at the bottom of the valve chamber and in
other instances at the bottom of the space below the glass. In all cases we prefer
that the valve should be accessible and removable without necessitating the
removal of the try-cock. For this purpose we can arrange the ball to rest upon an
inclined shelf or ledge adjacent to an aperture closed by a screw plug or otherwise.
The steam arm of our improved water gauge may be as described in our said
former specifications.

page_text: Improvements in Water-gauges.
We, JOSEPH HOPKINSON, of J. Hopkinson & Co. Ltd., Engineers, and JOHN
Low18, Works Manager, both of Huddersfield, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
Our invention relates to improvements in water-gauges of that class which have
ball or other valves in the steam and water arms for preventing the escape of
steam and water when the glass bursts and which have a supplementary or back
tube forming a communication between the said steam and water arms, as described
in the Specifications of prior Patents No. 6141 of 1890 and No. 23946 of 1894.
The particular objects of our invention are to provide for greater efficiency in
the working of such gauges not only when the glass tube bursts but at other times
such for instance as when the cocks are operated for the purpose of blowing through
the thoroughfares when the gauge glass is intact or when a new glass has been
inserted and the cocks are operated so as to put the gauge in work again. Under
these or any other conditions when the gauge glass is intact and the cocks in the.
steam and water arms are opened, a full thoroughfare betwixt the gauge glass and
the boiler is ensured and therefore there is an absolutely accurate indication of the
water in the boiler shewn in the gauge glass.
In ganges of this class hitherto constructed to accomplish these objects we have
employed for instance a bye, pass in the steam arm of the gauge or other auxiliary
devices.
In our present invention we dispense with these special provisions and devices
and construct a gauge embodying the safety features set forth, at the same time
free from the objections hitherto existing, and also absolutely certain and reliable
in action and efficient for its purpose.
Our improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows, in vertical section, the construction and arrangement of the
parts of our improved water-gauge.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line X, X, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line Y, Y Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a vertical section illustrating a modification in the construction of
the said water-gauge.
Like letters indicate. the same parts throughout the drawings.
A is the steam-arm, B the water-arm, C the glass-tube and D the back tube.
According to our invention instead of the automatic or ball valve E being placed
in a chamber B³ immediately below the glass.as heretofore we construct the lower
or water arm B of the gauge with a space or chamber B¹ below the back tube D,
and the ball valve E is placed therein; this chamber is in communication with the
boiler by the passage B*, with the top or steam arm by the back tube D and with
the space or chamber B immediately under the gauge-glass by the passage B
which forms the seat for the valve to shut off the escape of water when the gauge.
glass bursts; this chamber is also in communication with the try tap B
The ball valve E is placed in the aforesaid chamber supported on a rest or
floor E and the upper surface of the ball is preferably below the level of the
passage B*, and at the top of the back tube on a seat or support we place the ball
valve G and by the peculiar combination and arrangement of the automatic ball
valves E and G with the chambers and thoroughfares we secure advantages which
are the objects of our invention and at the same time simplify the construction of
the gauge and render it more durable than heretofore.

page_text: It will be seen that when the gauge glass C bursts the pressure in the top and
bottom arms A and B forces the balls E and G to their respective seats as shewn
in dotted lines and therefore shuts off the escape of both water and steam. After
the cocks F and F in these arms are closed for the purpose of inserting a new
glass and when the try tap B is opened the contents of the top and bottom
arms A and B are run away through the aforesaid tap; the arms are then empty
and free from pressure, the balls fall from their seats and the proper condition of
the gauge is restored ready for the cocks being opened betwixt the boiler and the
gauge glass.
When in this condition if the cock F in the lower arm is opened the pressure is
so admitted to the gauge glass, that there is no preponderating pressure in the
back tube sufficient to force the ball G in the top arm to its seat A¹ or retain it
there, and a true water level is indicated in the gauge-glass. Further if the cock
of the top arm is first opened whilst the gauge is in the before named condition the
pressure is so admitted to the gauge glass that the balls do not close the passages
betwixt the glass and the boiler, but will allow the free flow of steam and water.
It will be seen that the chainber B' which contains the ball valve E has four
passages or apertures as herein before set forth and that the try tap B' is connected
with the gauge glass through the aperture B³, so that under all circumstances, a
free and uninterrupted flow can be obtained through the steam and water arms
respectively by opening the try cock B.
In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3 the try cock B is arranged at the
bottom of the chamber B¹ directly below the back tube, whereas in Figure 4 it is
shown arranged directly below the gauge glass and communicates with the
chamber B as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A water-gauge of the class above specified wherein a ball or valve is arranged
substantially as described in a chamber communicating with the boiler, with the
glass, and with the back tube and the try cock, for the purposes specified.
2. A water-gauge constructed substantially as shewn in Figure 1 or in Figure 4
of the accompanying drawings for the purposes specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.