Improvements in Water Gauges for Use on Steam Boilers and other Vessels of a like nature.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar.,
1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1895-Accepted, 4th Jan, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Gauges for Use on Steam Boilers and other
Vessels of a like nature.
I, JAMES ROBINSON of 21 Joseph Street, Hunslet, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to new or improved means for fixing the transparent glass
tubes in water gauges, for use on steam boilers and other vessels of a like nature
wherein liquid is contained under pressure, and has for its object. Firstly, to facilitate
the insertion of new transparent tubes into water gauges. Secondly, to facilitate
the removal of broken parts of old tubes and also the old packing rings from the
top and bottom fittings of water gauges. Thirdly, to prevent the elastic packing
rings or their equivalent usually employed in such gauges from being forced into
the ends of the transparent tubes or into the steam or water passages of the gauge
fittings. Fourthly, to prevent the ends of the tubes from obstructing either the
steam or water passages of the gauge fittings. Fifthly, to prevent the transparent
tubes from moving to far in either an upward or downward direction especially
when such tubes are being fixed in their working position in the gauge fittings;
I may premise that water gauge fittings of the ordinary or any suitable construction
may be used in conjunction with my improvements hereinafter described.
I will now describe my invention and the manner in which I propose to apply
the same. The bottom fitting at the part where the transparent glass tube is fitted,
is provided with a nipple, which nipple points in an upward direction when the said
bottom fitting is fixed in its usual working position. The nipple hereinbefore
referred to is formed with a male screw-thread on its outside and a hole or passage
through its center, which hole or passage is smaller in diameter than the external
diameter of the glass tube. The top fitting is provided with a similar nipple which
points in a downward direction when the top fitting is fixed in its usual working
position.
The glass tube will when fixed in position as hereinafter described stand in a
vertical direction between the two nipples hereinbefore referred to, the ends of the
tube surrounding the holes or passages in the centers of the nipples which holes or
passages forms part of the usual top and bottom passages from the boiler or other
vessel to the glass tube.
Each of the nipples hereinbefore referred to is provided with a cap, each cap having
a female screw-thrend internally for part of its length so as to allow of its being
Borewed on to the male thread on the nipples.
The external part of each cap is for part of its length formed of an octagon,
hexagon or other suitable shape to admit of its being rotated by a screw-key or
other suitable means, the remaining part of each cap is made preferably of a conical
form internally and externally having a circular hole formed at the smallest end of
the conical part, which hole is in a line with the hole or passage in each of the
nipples when the caps are screwed onto the said nipples. The holes in the conical
part of the caps are of such a diameter and in such a position as to admit the ends
of the transparent tube and hold such tube in a contral position in relation to the
passages in the nipples.
Flanges or lugs and small bolts may also be employed to connect the caps to
their respective nipples, which flanges or lugs will take the place of, and fulfil the
same object as the male and female screw-threads hereinbefore referred to.

page_text: When fixing the transparent tube into its working position, it is not as in ordinary
practice passed down through, or up through the top or bottom fitting, but is after
having the two caps and also the necessary packing rings as hereinafter described
passed loosely over it, put into its position in a lateral direction, when the caps are
fixed, each end of the transparent tube is surrounded by a conical chamber such
chamber or chambers being formed internally in the caps as hereinbefore described.
The ends of the transparent tube are sealed against leakage to the atmosphere by
a ring or washer of elastic material such as india-rubber or its equivalent being
placed in each of the conical chambers, which rings or washers are forced towards
the narrow part of the conical chambers, either by the pressure of the contents of
the boiler or other vessel, or by the mechanical means hereinafter described.
With a view of protecting the elastic rings against damage by direct contact
with the contents of the boiler or other vessel, and also with a view of relieving
the elastic rings from excessive pressure, 1 propose. to place a circular washer of
metal or other suitable material between the elastic rings and the contents of the
boiler, such washers are an easy fit on the glass tube, but are sufficiently, large at
their external diameter to come into contact with the walls of the conical chambers
before the elastic rings are subjected to excessive pressure. With a view of
partially or wholly forcing the elastic washers into their places before the pressure
from the boiler is admitted into the conical chambers hereinbefore referred to,.,I
propose to place a metallic coiled spring such spring being an easy fit around the
transparent tube, but will when the caps are fixed be compressed between the metal
washers hereinbefore referred to and the ends of the nipples thereby forcing the
elastic rings into the narrow part of the conical chamber for the purpose. herein-
before described.
Cylindrical metallic ferrules may also be employed to act after the manner and
for the same object as the springs, such ferrules being sufficiently long to press
with one end on the nipples and the other end on the metal washers, or the metal
washers may form part of, or be joined to the metallic ferrules after the manner of
small flanges.
With a view of preventing leakage around the caps at the part where such caps
are connected to the nipples, I propose to form a circular projection or collar on
each of the nipples externally in such a position as to admit of the rim or edge of
the caps coming into close contact with such collars thereby forming a joint. A ring
of: soft metal or other suitable material may be placed between the edge of the
caps and the collars on the nipples so as to make the joint secure when the caps are
fixed on the nipples. Leakage may also be prevented by making the screwed parts
of the nipples and caps.tapered.
Dated this Fourth day of March 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Gauges for Use on Steam Boilers and other
Vessels of a like nature.
I, JAMES ROBINSON, of 21 Joseph Street, Hunslet, Leeds, 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 :—
The object of this invention, is to construct connections for the glass tubes of
water gauges, in such a manner that the said tubes may be readily adjusted or
fixed in position and the broken ends of old tubes may be easily removed; whilst
at the same time the ends of the tubes are not liable to become obstructed and
the said tubes are less liable to become brokon, than tubes which have been held
in connections hitherto employed.

page_text: '
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which similar letters refer
to like parts in all the figures.
Fig. is a sectional elevation of a water gauge fitted with connections
constructed according to my invention,
Fig. 2 is a gange glass with a portion of the connections detached, and
Figs. 3, 4 and 5, are detail views.
The upper and lower connections are provided with nipples A, A, which are
formed with screw threads on their outer sides, and passages B; B, are formed in
the centres of the said nipples, the diameter of the said passages being smaller
than the external diameter of the gauge glass hereafter referred to. C, C, are
caps, which screw onto the screws on the nipples A, A, and a portion of the
external surface of the said caps is of hexagonal or other suitable shape, to admit
of their being rotated by means of a screw key or other suitable ineans. The
exterior ends of the caps C, C,.are made in a conical form, and at the smallest end
of the conical part, a hole D is formed of suitable size to receive the gauge
glass E. F, F, are elastic packing rings and G, G, are washers, the external
diameter of the latter being such as to enable them to rest on the interior of the
caps C, C, when forced to that position, by internal pressure.
When it is required to fix a tube in position on the nipples A, A, the caps C; C,
elastic packing rings F, F, and the washers G, G, are placed on the gauge
glass as seen at Figure 2. The tube E may now be placed between the
nipples A, A, the passages B, B, being opposite the entrances to the tube, and
the caps C, C, are then screwed into position as seen at Figure 1. On the steam
and water cocks being turned on, the steam and water are free to circulate through
the gauge glass E by way of the passages B, B, and the pressure within the
caps C, C, forces the washers G, G, onto the elastic packing rings F, F, thereby
making perfectly tight joints between the caps C, C, and the gauge glass E. It
will also be readily seen, that the gauge glass E is elastically held by the elastic
rings F, F, thus preventing it receiving any shooks or vibrations from the boiler
to which it is attached, and the extremities of the gauge glass being free from
contact with any packing material, the said ends are not liable to become
ahoked.
With a view of partially or wholly forcing the elastic washers into their places
before the pressure from the boiler is admitted through the cocks, I sometimes
employ a spring J, as seen at Figure 3, or in some cases a ferrule K may be
employed for this purpose as seen at Figure 4, or if desired the ferrule K and the
washer G may be made in one piece as seen at Figure 5. Collars L may be
formed on the nipples as seen at Figure 3, and similar collars being formed on
the caps, enable washers M to be employed for the purpose of preventing
leakage.
The conical form of the caps C, C, cause the gauge glass E to be brought
centrally into position, and the said glass being held nearer its centre by the
elastic rings F, F, is not so liable to become broken as if it were held at its ends,
as has hitherto been the case.
If desired the caps C, C, may be fastened to the nipples A, A, by means of
flanges and bolts, or the screws on the nipples A, A, and the caps C, C, may be
of conical form thus effectually preventing leakage if an ordinary joint is
insufficient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tiou and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The nipples A, A, having passages B, B, of insufficient size to allow of the
entrance of the gauge glass E, in combination with caps C, C, for holding the
seid genge lose in a central nosition substantially as set forth

page_text: washers G, G, in combination with a gauge glass E, and suitable cocks and fittings,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The nipples A, A, passagen B, B, caps C, C, gauge glass E, elastic
packing rings F, F, and washers G, G, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
4. The spring J, ferrule K, and combination of ferrule K and washer G,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. A gange glass, held elastically from contact with its metallic connections,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1895.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.