AN IMPROVED SALINOMETER WHICH IS APPLICABLE ALSO AS A HYDROMETER, AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR OR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Benignus O'Neill, of Warwick Street, Regent
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED SALINOMETER WHICH IS APPLICABLE ALSO AS A HYDROMETER,
AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR OR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1863.
I, PATRICK BENIGNUS O'NEILL, of Warwick Street, Regent Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED SALINOMETER WHICH IS APPLICABLE ALSO AS A
HYDROMETER, AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR OR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention is designed principally to be used as a salinometer for mea-
suring and indicating the proportion or amount of salt present in the water of
a marine engine boiler; but it will be evident from the following description
thereof that the same apparatus (or a slight modification thereof) may be
equally applied as a hydrometer or a water gauge, or for testing the pressure
gas or other elastic fluids, and for other similar or analogous purposes.
The apparatus is constructed as follows:-Two hollow spheres or chambers
of

page_text: are connected one to each end of a vertical tube of about forty inches (more
or less) in length. Each of these hollow spheres or chambers is divided into
an upper and lower compartment by a disc or diaphragm of india rubber or
other suitable elastic material, the edges of the discs being held all round
between the flanges of the spheres or chambers, which are made in two hemi-
spheres or cups and bolted together. The centres of the discs are connected
together by a tube or rod to keep them always at an equal distance apart, and
the space between the two discs is filled with water or other fluid. The upper
disc is placed about on the level with the water line in the boiler, and the
lower disc about forty inches below the same. A pipe communicating from
the boiler at about the latter level, or at any other convenient place admits the
water or brine in the boiler below the lower disc. A similar pipe from the
steam space of the boiler admits steam from the same above the upper disc,
so that the two discs are in a state of suspension (as it were) between the
steam and the water. I may here remark that the upper division of the top
sphere or chamber is charged with water to prevent the direct action of the
steam on the upper elastic disc. The rod or tube connecting the two discs is
so weighted (or acted on by a spring) that when fresh water or water of any
standard saltness or density required is in the boiler the discs shall remain in
a state of equilibrium between the two, neither disc being deflected in the
centre. It will hence be evident that any increase of salinity, and conse-
quently of density in the water in the boiler will destroy this equilibrium and
that the elastic discs will be deflected upwards by the increased pressure of
the water below the lower disc. To one of the discs, or to the rod which
connects the two together, is connected a toothed rack acting upon a pinion
on a small spindle passing through a stuffing box to the exterior of the appa-
To the outer end of this spindle is attached a finger or index working
in front of a dial or index plate, and it will therefore be apparent that any
deflection of the elastic discs consequent upon the increased salinity of the
water in the boiler will immediately be indicated by the finger on the dial
plate, and that the figures thereon will show the exact degree of density or
salinity of the water in the boiler provided that the said water remains at the
proper or normal water level; but should the height of the water in the boiler
be either above or below the proper level, then such deviation will be indi-
cated by the figures on the brass plate which is attached to the glass tube of
the common or ordinary water gauge. This deviation added to or subtracted
from the indication on the salinometer dial will give the true degree of density
or salinity of the water in the boiler, the former being of course the case if
the water should fall below the normal level, and the latter if it should rise
ratus.

page_text: above the same; but it will be preferable always to take the indication of the
salinometer when the water gauge shows that the water in the boiler is at the
proper level.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PATRICK
BENIGNUS O'NEILL, of Warwick Street, Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill, Her special licence that I, the said
Patrick Benignus O'Neill, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED SALINOMETER WHICH IS APPLICABLE ALSO AS A HYDROMETER,
AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR OR ANALAGOUS PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
The general form of the machine or apparatus is as follows, i.e., at the
opposite end of a suitable tube of about 40 inches in length, more or less, two
hollow balls, spheres, or enlarged chambers separating in the middle are
formed or affixed; these enlarged hollows are divided into upper and lower

page_text: compartments by discs or diaphgrams of vulcanized india-rubber or thin
metal or other material of a flexible, elastic, or other suitable nature. When
the enlarged chambers or spheres are made to separate (the joint being
generally about the centre) flanges are formed, or any other suitable method
may be employed for fixing and securing the two halves together. The
diaphgrams which may be either plain or corrugated, with spiral, concentric,
or other corrugations, are made larger than the inner diameter or area of the
chambers so that the outer edges of the said discs may be held all round
between the joint or flanges above mentioned when the upper and lower
portions of the balls, spheres, or chambers are fixed together. In the case
of the salinometer the upper compartment of the higher hemisphere, hollow
ball, &c. is connected with the boiler above the surface of the water by a
pipe, through which pipe the steam passes and acts upon the diaphgram by
pressing it downwards; the space over the diaphgram is charged with water to
prevent the steam from direct contact with the disc; the bottom compartment
of the lower hemisphere is also connected with the boiler by a syphon or bent
pipe which is attached thereto below the surface of the water and as near the
bottom as convenient, and through the latter pipe or syphon the water or
brine from the boiler acts upon the lower diaphgram pressing it upwards;
the space under the diaphgram is also charged with water (cold) to prevent
the direct action of the boiling brine upon its under surface. The upper and
lower discs or diaphgrams are connected by a rod weighted or acted upon by
a spring, or they are connected by a tube which is also weighted as herein-
after explained. This rod or tube keeps the discs always at an equal distance
apart, and the same space between them and between the outer and inner pipe
or rod is filled with water or other fluid. To the top of the upper diaphgram a
small rod is attached so as to rise and fall therewith; this rod may have a glass
in front and be graduated, or carry a pointer and the glass be graduated, or it
may be a toothed rack actuating a small pinion the spindle of which passes
through the stuffing box in the side of the tube to the front of a dial graduated
as required, where it carries a hand or pointer which is turned thereby, and thus
indicates the relative density of the column of fluid acting under the lower
dise to that of the standard column of fluid or weight acting above the said
lower disc. In adjusting the apparatus the rod or tube connecting the upper
and lower diaphgrams is weighted or acted upon by a spring so as to balance
exactly a given column of fluid of a known density or standard weight (for
the salinometer this standard is generally that of a column of 40 inches of
distilled water), the diaphgrams being perfectly flat or neither elevated nor
depressed; the hand is fixed to the zero point. The graduations on the dial

page_text: 5
or indicator are determined, and the scale of degrees marked by subjecting
the apparatus to the action of equal columns of fluid of various known degrees
of density or salinity, and consequently the indications of the instruments
are positive and unerring. The apparatus thus formed, adjusted, and
graduated is now ready for use. In affixing one of these improved salino-
meters to a marine engine boiler the diaphgram of the upper sphere when
two discs are used or the zero point when only one disc is employed should
be placed on a level with the working (surface water) linc, and the pipe
leading from the lower diaphgram to the boiler should be attached as near
the bottom of the latter as circumstances will admit in order that the whole
column of salt water (the salinity of which is to be measured) may be actually
in a boiling state while it is impinging against or acting upon the lower disc.
The graduations on the indicator, scale, or dial being determined (as before
explained) from equal columns of varying weight or density or from unequal
columns of the standard density, then so long as the water in the boiler
remains in its normal working level the indications on the dial will give the
true result or actual state of salinity, but should the height of the water in
the boiler be either above or below the normal level then such variation must
be allowed for in the following manner :-Suppose the water gauge indicator
O shews that the level of the water in the boiler is standing at No. 2 on the
scale above zero (i.e., two inches above the normal water level), and the
pointer on the salinometer, indicator, index, or dial is standing at No. 3
above zero (i.e., above the standard), then the number indicated on the water
gauge must be subtracted from the number indicated on the salinometer,
5 because in forming these instruments their respective scales are so adjusted
to each other that the extra height of a column of water to 1 on the
hydrometer will exactly balance one degree of salinity as marked on the
salinometer. Whenever the indicated number on the hydrometer is above
the zero point the indicated degree on the salinometer will also be above the
zero point, but in case the number indicated upon the hydrometer or level of
the water in the boiler is below the zero point and the number indicated is
above the point the two indicated numbers must be added together, and
the result is the true state of the water in the boiler. 2 degrees of salinity
are generally considered the working limit of salinity.
From the foregoing explanation of the principle of construction it will
readily be understood that a similar instrument, with slight modifications in
the details, may be applied for testing the weight, density, or pressure of
any matter, fluid, elastic, or other vapour to be tested, so that it will act

page_text: below the disc (the indicators being graduated to scales varying with the
different uses for which the instruments are designed) then the indicated
numbers on the scales shall shew the measure of the weight or force. Let us
suppose that it is required to adapt the new instrument for the purpose of a
pressure gauge, all that is required is to first fix upon the standard for the
(zero point), then graduate the dial to the required scale, say, 0, 15, 10, 15,
&c. lbs. p. sq. inch; upon bringing the pressure to be measured to bear upon
the under side of the disc, which may be done by any kind of tap fitted thereto,
or by any other suitable method or contrivance, the result will appear on the
dial or scale by the hand or pointer fitted thereto.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, and explained the
principle upon which the salinometer and other instruments are to be con-
structed, I now proceed to further describe the forms and combination of the
parts thereof, reference being made to the illustrations on the Drawing.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The salinometer, Figs. 1 and 2. a is the main tube, having the balls or
spheres b, b, formed or fitted at the upper and lower ends, separating at the
lines c, c, and fixed together by the flanges d, d; e and f, the upper and lower
pipes leading to and connecting the instrument with the boiler c, admitting
the steam to act upon the upper disc, and f admitting the boiling brine or
water to the lower disc; g, the inner tube weighted or acted upon by a spring,
and connecting the two diaphgrams together; k, k, spaces filled with water or
other fluid; 7, shot or other weight, by which the inner tube is loaded until
the standard pressure to act above the disc is obtained; n, n, a dished rest,
upon which the lower disc is supported when the instrument is not in use;
o, o, ridge and valley grip, formed in the flange joint for holding and tightning
the elastic diaphgrams to the required degree of tension; p, the rod or rack,
which rises and falls with the varying pressure upon the instrument, and
indicates the same, or which turns the pinion upon the spindle s, working
through the stuffing box t, and carrying or turning the pointer u in front
of the dial v, where the figures round the periphery indicate the degrees
of density or units of weight or pressure, as the case may be; w is a small
screw plug for charging the tube e with fluid when required. Fig. 3, an
elevation; and Fig. 4, a plan at the line C, D, (Fig. 3), shewing a scale
indicator and single disc apparatus, in which the inner tube a is graduated by
coloured rings b, b, round the same. marking the degrees, or has one ring a¹
at the side or on the glass in front. An opening is made in the main tube,

page_text: and in this opening a strong plate of glass c¹ is fitted and securely fixed; d, d,
a cushion of any suitable flexible material, upon which the glass is bedded;
,, covering plate fastened to the sides of the outer tube by screws; an
opening is cut out of the middle of this plate, through which the glass and
inner tube and indicator ring or rings can be seen by the observer; 1, the
inner tube is loaded and attached to the lower disc or diaphgram, as before
described. When this kind of indicator is used the point is placed level
with the water in the boiler, and 40 inches more or less above the centre of
the lower diaphgram. It will be understood that a single diaphgram instru-
ment with a dial or double diaphgram apparatus with the tube indicator may
be employed. In loading the inner tube, in all cases when the open upper
pipe is used, the superincumbent upper column x, y, (Fig. 1) must be allowed
for. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a corrugated disc, a section of which is shewn
across the centre thereof.
Modification of indicator dial, Figs. 6 and 7. In this case the hand or
pointer is worked by levers, and one diaphgram only is supposed to be used.
a is the inner tube or rod as before; b, a short connecting rod attached at one
end to the top of the tube, and at the other to the end of a crank lever c
fixed upon the spindle d, which carries the pointer e; the spindle d works
through the dial plate f, and as the inner tube or weight rod, as the case may
be, rises and falls the pointer is moved to the right or left. If desired, the
sectional dial g may be increased to any extent from that here shewn (or less)
up to a complete circle, as shewn by the dotted lines, and the same kind of
lever action be made available. The sectional dial can be also placed, so
that the hand and zero point may be horizontal or, in fact, in any required
position.
The combined salinometer and hydrometer, Figs. 8 and 9. In combining
these two instruments either a single or double diaphgram may be employed,
but as a general rule I should use both an upper and a lower enlarged
chamber divided as before stated, and adopt any of the indicators for the
salinometer herein described. I prefer the circular dial for the latter part of
the apparatus, because the straight scale is the more natural indicator for the
hydrometer, and consequently the dial for the salinometer affords a better
contrast. It will be seen by the Drawing that in this combination all that is
required, in addition to the salinometer, as herein-before described, is first to
increase the length of the vertical portion of the pipe e, Fig. 1, and make
the inner tube with a well-hole in the top to provide space for one limb of a
small syphon, which is fixed in the pipe e to make an opening therein, and

page_text: fit a glass precisely as shewn at Figs. 3 and 4, to shew the height of the
water. a is the water in the boiler; b, water in the tube e; c, the syphon
pipe, the end d of which enters the well-hole in the inner tube, or receives a
small rod in continuation of a weighted rod when the latter is substituted for
the inner tube. As the water in the upper part of the pipe e rises from con-
densation, or the water in the boiler rises and falls, the syphon will operate,
and thus maintain the two surfaces at the same, or at a relative level, so
that the varying height of the water in the boiler may be thereby indicated
and seen by the observer through the glass f, which may be graduated as here
shewn, or as the results in practice may determine.
The pressure gauge, Fig. 10. In this apparatus the two diaphgrams are
connected by a tube or rod, as before described, but their relative diameters
or areas are varied, and are also made as much larger than the diameter or
areas of the chamber at the joints as to allow pistons whose respective areas
are nearly equal to the areas of the chambers to rise and fall bodily therein.
The upper diaphgram is weighted as required, and may be either fitted with
a dial, scale, or tube indicator; the pressure to be indicated is admitted to the
under side of the lower and smaller diaphgram. a is the pipe in which a
stop-cock may be fitted when required; b is the smaller piston and diaphgram,
to which the fluid, steam, gas, &c. is admitted; c, the larger piston and dia-
phgram; d, the rod or tube, by which the upper and lower diaphgrams are
connected. The upper compartment of the lower chamber, and the lower
compartment of the upper chamber, and the outer tube connecting them have
openings therein for the egress and regress of the atmospheric air; this part
of the apparatus may be dispensed with. e, quicksilver or other fluid weight,
which rises in the tube f as the pressure under the lower diaphgram increases;
this tube may be of glass or any other suitable material, with a glass gra-
duated scale let into it, and as the liquid rises in the tube its surface indicates
the pressure to be measured upon the scale.
The dynamometer, Fig. 11. This instrument consists of the upper portion
of the pressure gauge, the connecting rod d of which rests upon a cross arm a,
supported in the eyes 6 at one end of the scale beam b¹, on the other end of
which the scale plate c is supported, and rises and falls upon a piston rod in
the pillar e. Upon any matter (within the capacity of the apparatus) being
placed upon the scale plate, the weight thereof will be indicated by the surface
of the fluid in and scale upon the tube the divisions 1, 2, 3, &c., which are
supposed to iudicate pounds or other units of weight, may be subdivided for
ounces, or fractionally or decimally, as desired. Drawing B shews a side

page_text: elevation of a salinometer full size; Drawing C, a front elevation and
transverse section also full size.
Having thus described and illustrated the various machines and apparatus,
I hereby further declare that I do not absolutely restrict myself to the precise
details shewn upon the Drawing, as other modifications may be made in
practice.
In witness whereof, I, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.