Improvements in and relating to Gauges for Shewing the Water Level in Steam Boilers and other Vessels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Gauges for Shewing the Water
Level in Steam Boilers and other Vessels.
I, JAMES LUMB, of Perseverance Engine Works, Elland, in the County of
York, Engineer, 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 :—
water arm.
In the water gauge commonly in use, there is a top or steam arm, and a bottom or
These two arms are connected by a glass tube, in which the water
levol is shown. This tubo is found in practiso to be very liable to fracture, which
renders the gauge dangerous to the attendants; na when this occurs, it is a difficult
task to close the taps, by reason of the escaping steam and water. The ordinary
gauge taps are generally of the plug type, which, under the high pressure of steam,
now geuerally adopted, are liable to stick fast, by reason of this high pressure,
forcing them hard against their bearings.
My improved gange is made on the hydraulic principle, with screw valves to fit
against a conical seat. These seats and valves are so arranged that they can be
repaired without removing the gauge from the boiler.
The object of my invention is to make the gauge automatic iu shutting off the
steam and water, when the glass breaks, and to obviate the sticking of plug taps.
Also to render the cleaning and repairing of the valves or stoppers, and scats, an
easy accomplishment.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I heroin give reference to
the accompanying sheets of drawings, illustrative thereof, wherein
Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section of my improved gauge.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top or steam arm.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the bottom or water arm, partly in section.
Fig. 4 is a rimer or tool for cleaning and repairing the seats.
Fig. 5 is another rimer or tool for cleaning and repairing the spindle ends or
stoppers.
In the accompanying drawings,
A represents the top or steam arm. In the cavity B of steam arm A, I have a
metal or glass ball C, which must be larger than the hole or passage Ď, so that
when C is forced up to passage D, C will effectually close up said passage D.
E represents the bottom or water arm.
In the cavity F of bottom arm E, I have another metal or glass ball G, which
must be larger than the hole or passage H, so that when forced up to passage H by
a current of water, it will effectually close up said passage H. In the cavity F of
bottom arm E, are also two bearers 1, for the ball G to rest upon, and to keep the
said ball clear of the spindle J. J and J1 are what 1 choose to term the spindles
or stoppers, the outer ends of which are made to form a combination of handle and tap.
Through the centre of each of these spindles or stoppers J and J 1, is a hole as
shown at K. There is.a corresponding hole through tho plug L, which said plug L
also forms part of the liandle, for turning the spindles or stoppers J and J 1. The
other part of the handle is formed by M, which acts also as a nut to keep plug Lin
position. It will be evident that by turning plug L to the position shown in the
drawing of bottom arm E, Fig. 1, that there will be a clear way through the
hole K, plug L and out at the end of the stopper or spindle J. And by turning
the plug L, ¦ of a revolution, in either direction, the passage will be closed. The

page_text: The hole or passage K and plug L, are employed for a purpose hereinafter
explained. N is a removable bush or seat, and the hole H instead of being round
is made octagonal or hexagonal, to facilitate the screwing in or out of the said
sent N. Fig. 4 is a rimer or tool, one end O is made to fit freely into passages D
and DI. At P cutting edges are formed. Parts Q and R are made the same size
as the budy and smaller part respectively of J and J 1, so that when used for
repairing the seats or faces of the passages D and D1, against which the conical
euds of spindles J and J 1 come in contact when closed, the rimer is its own guide
and steadier.
The end S is made square to fit an ordinary hand brace, for the purpose
of turning the rimer. T is an end view of same. Fig. 5 is another rimer or
tool to be used for the purpose of repairing the conical ends of spindles J and J 1.
It is made with a square slank U, and the body or thick part V is screwed internally
to receive a steel cutter W, which cutter is countersunk or recessed to the required
shape or form of the conical ends of spindles J and J 1.
In this recess, cutting edges are formed as at 1, 2, 3, & 4. Through cutter W
and into V is fixed a peg X, for a purpose hereinafter explained. 9 is an end view
of Fig. 5. The hexagonal projection Y is for the purpose of using a box key on it
and bedding the inner end of spindle forcibly against its seat as hereinafter
explained.
The modus operandi is as follows:-
When the glass tube Z is broken, the current of escaping steam, through steam
arin A, forces the ball C to its seat as shown by the dotted circle, shutting off
the steam. Simultaneously the current of escaping water, through water arm E,
forces the ball G to its seat as shown by the dotted circle, shutting off the water.
Thus shutting off both steam and water automatically and allowing tho gauge to
be approached with safety. When the valves are closed, the balls C and G will
fall back to their normal position. A new glass may now be inserted, the taps
opened, when the gauge will be in working order again. The purpose for which
the hole K and plug I are employed is as follows:-Should the passages D and D 1
become choked up or partly choked up by deposit or sediment, the plug L may be
turned, so as to open a clear way, allowing a cleaning wire to be pushed through
for the purpose of cleaning the passages D and D1. Then the plug may be closed
again. The purpose for which the hexagon projection Y is used is as follows:-
If at anytime, when the taps are closed and the boiler under steam, there should be
any signs of leakage, a box koy may be put on Y and the spindle turned forcibly
against its seat, ensed and forced again, repeatedly, thus bedding the spindle to its
seat. It will be understood that by performing this by menus of a box key on
projection Y, there is no necessity to put any undue stress on L and M. The
ball C may be taken out by removing screw 5. The bush or seat N may be taken
out at anytime, whether the boiler is under pressure or not, by closing the valves
and removing the glass tube Z, nut 6 and gland 7, and inserting in the hole Ha
suitable key, the bush may be screwed out, repaired and put back again. The
ball G may be taken out by removing screw 8. The inner ends of spindles J and J 1
may be repaired at anytime, when the boiler is blown off, as follows :-Screw out
the spindle to be repaired, hold it in your hand, take the rimer, Fig. 5, insert the
projecting ond of pog X, which acts as a guide or steadier, into the hole K, and
turn the rinor until the face is satisfactorily repaired. While the spindle is out,
the seat may be repaired as follows, without the gauge being removed from the
boiler Insert rimer Fig. 4 into the hole from which the spindle has been removed,
push it forward until the cutting edge P comes in contact with the seat. Then
by means of a brace, turn the rimer, at the same time, exerting a gentle forward
pressure, until the scat is satisfactorily repaired.
:-
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said invention, together
with the manner and means for putting the same into practical operation, I would
bave it understood that 1 do not restrict myself to all the exact form of mechanism,

page_text: herein illustrated, but what I believe to be new and therefore claim as my inveu-
tion is :-
Firstly. In connection with gauges of the screw or hydraulic principle of valves
for showing the water level in steam boilers and like uses, the combination there-
with of the ball C, for the purpose of automatically shutting off steam, when the
glass breaks, substantially as set forth.
Secondly. In connection with gauges of the screw or hydraulic principle of
valves for showing the water level in steam boilers and like uses, the combination
therewith of the ball G, for the purpose of automatically shutting off the water,
when the glass breaks, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. In connection with gauges of the screw or hydraulic principle of valves
for showing the water level in steam boilers and like uses, the combination thero-
with of the removable seat N, thereby facilitating repairs, as substantially set
forth.
Fourthly. In connection with the gauges of the screw or hydraulic principle of
valves for showing the water level in steam boilers and like uses, the combination
therewith of the hole K and plug L, in spindles J and J 1, for the purpose of cleaning
out the passages D and D 1, substantially as set forth.
Fifthly. In connection with gauges of the screw or hydraulic principle of valves
for showing the water level in steam boilers and like uses, the combination there-
with of the hexagon projection Y, for the purpose of bedding the valves on their
seats, substantially as set forth.
Lastly. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts, sub-
stantially as herein set forth and illustrated, by drawings.
Dated this Third day of March 1893.