Improvements in Water Gauges.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1892-4ccepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Gauges.
1, GEORGE MAULE MARCHANT of Chapel Hill Brass Works, Huddersfield,
Yorkshire, Brass Founder and Finisher do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
This invention has reference to water gauges employed in connection with steam
boilers, and my improvements therein consist in providing new and positive means
whereby both steam and water are automatically and suddenly shut off when the
glass water tube breaks, also means for permitting steam to be blown through the
said water tube for cleaning it.
In carrying out my invention in water gauges, I insert a gravity valve into the
stuffing box or other convenient part of the bottom cock for the admission of water
to the glass tube, but in the stuffing box or other part of the upper cock, which is
employed for the admission of steam from the boiler, I employ a valve kept from
its seating by spiral or other form of spring. When the glass is broken, from what-
ever cause, both valves will be instantly closed by the rush of water to the bottom
valve and the rush of steam to the upper valve. The valve in the upper cock
which is kept from its seating by a spring is similar to those used by me and shewn
in prior Letters Patents granted to myself, Nos. 121, 425177, 486978, 12,14688 and
12,87688. The bushes containing the valves can be removed and cleaned whilst the
glass is off, and their position in the stuffing box of each valve renders them easily
accessible for cleaning and other purposes; but as there is liability to the bottom
gravity valve being forced away, a loop, washer, or projection is formed at the
bottom of the valve spindle, into which the end of a set screw enters, which whilst
allowing the valve to rise and fall the desired distance, prevents it from being bodily
removed by the force of water.
To
For the purpose of cleaning the glass tube, it is usual to admit steam from the
boiler through the top valve, which steam blows down the pipe and passes out at the
bottom; but to permit such steam to pass through the upper valve when closed by
the pressure of steam behind it, certain. by-passes have been employed, and in some
cases a small hole has been made through the valve to allow steam to pass.
attain the same object according to my invention, I make the outlet valve, at the
bottom of the glass tube, of less area than the steam inlet valve at the top of the
tube, so that when it is necessary to clean out the tube, the bottom cock which
admits water to the tube is closed and the bottom outlet valve opened, whereupon
steam passes through the upper valve and out at the bottom, but as the steam
within the tube cannot pass out as quickly as it enters, in consequence of the area
of the outlet valve being less than the inlet valve, the resistance or back pressure
of the steam within the said tube causes the top valve by the assistance of the spring
to remain slightly open, or be kept in a state of equilibrium, whereby steam can be
freely blown through the tube for cleaning purposes.
Dated this 27th day of June 1891.
TASKER & CROSSLEY.
Huddersfield, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Gauges.
I, GEORGE MAULE MARCHANT, of Chapel Hill Brass Works, Huddersfield,
Yorkshire, Brass Founder and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to that class of water gauge which, in both top and
bottom parts have automatic valves for preventing the escape or passage of steam
or water when the glass water tube breaks notwithstanding that the boiler or vessel
to which the gauges are attached, is charged with steam and water under pressure
and wherein I also obtain an open thoroughfare through which to blow steam when
the lower water cock is closed.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, I will now make
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a water gauge having my improvements applied
thereto.
The top and bottom gauge fittings A and B which are secured to the boiler or
vessel, are each provided with a suitable stop cock C and D, for communicating
from the boiler to the water tube E, the top cock being employed for admitting
steam, and the lower cock for admitting water and steam; the gauge is also provided
with a waste or discharge cock F, for blow-through purposes. Each boiler
fitting A and B is made with a stuffing box G and H, in which is inserted the ends
of the glass tube all of which parts are so far arranged and constructed in the
ordinary manner.
In carrying out my improvements in the above class of water gauge, I place in
the bottom fitting a gravity valve I which valve, when the gauge is in its proper
working condition drops or descends by its own gravity to the bottom of the cage
or shell a in which it is confined, thereby permitting water or other fluid to pass
through the openings in the shell and to flow up the glass tube, but when the latter
breaks the pressure of water forces the valve I upwards against its seating as
shewn in dotted lines, thereby preventing the escape or passage of the water.
In the stuffing box or head of the top fitting A, I place an automatic valve J
either suspended by the spiral spring K as shewn in Fig. 1 or supported by a
spiral spring L as shewn in Fig. 2, and by preference I employ the latter. These
valves are of the mushroom or other suitable type and made with a central stem
or shank M passing up through the flanged bush b, the top of the shank being
provided with a collar or nut c in such a manner as to allow the said valve to be
free and loose for upward and downward movement within the top nut N, but
when the said top nut is removed for any purpose, the automatic valve is also
removed with it so that there is no difficulty in getting to this valve when required
to do so. The closing or faced side of the valves J is by preference made convex,
and the valve's seat is formed in the stuffing box or head accordingly. The
suspended valve J of Fig. 1 is maintained in position or held from its seating by
means of the spiral spring K surrounding the valve shank and lying between bush b
and nut c.
The supported valve J shewn in Fig. 2, is furnished at the back or
reverse side of the valve with projections or wings d, which rest upon the spiral or
coiled spring L, the spring itself resting upon the surface surrounding the valve
seating and it will be observed that the spring is made of sufficient internal diameter
as to allow the valve to move up and down within it.
The action of the suspended and supported valves J is as follows, viz.: that so
long as the water gauge is at work and the glass tube unbroken, the valves J are
kept off their seating and in a state of equilibrium, surrounded or enveloped with
steam, but instantly the glass tube breaks the said valves J are forced forward by
the pressure of steam on to their respective seatings consequently preventing the
escape of steam.
An important part of my improvements consists in making the

page_text: outlet thoroughfares (whether it be the valve I, passage O waste cock F or
orifice P) of less sectional area than the steam inlet thoroughfares (whether it be
the top cock C or the passage or passages from it) so that by this means the supply
of steam is more than the outlet passages can discharge, consequently, I obtain
within the glass tube and the body of the top fitting, a confined or retained back-
pressure which I employ for keeping up the suspended or supported valves J
which in addition to keeping the valve J from its seating allows, when the waste
cock F is fully opened, a free and open passage for the discharge of steam for
cleaning-out purposes and this can be done whilst the gauge is at work, but on the
breakage of the glass tube, the confined steam within the tube and top fitting would
be liberated and pressure from under the valve J removed, whereupon the said
valve will be at once put forward and closed by the pressure of steam behind it
and simultaneously therewith the gravity valve I is forced against its seating by
the pressure of water passing through the cock D. It is therefore apparent from
the foregoing description, that I make use of the confined steam for keeping the
top valve J open and in a state of equilibrium and for obtaining a free passage for
blow-through purposes and this is done whilst the gauge is at work, by which
means I am able to dispense with bye-passes or additional complicated parts which
other makers have been compelled to adopt to render their gauges at all effective.
The automatic valves I and J are placed in such positions as to render them
easily accessible, and they can be removed and examined for cleaning and other
purposes, whilst the boiler or vessel is charged with steam or other pressure, and in
changing or replacing the glass tube the various parts which it is necessary to
remove for that purpose only require screwing back into their places, after which
the automatic valves will at once be held in their working positions and the gauge
made ready for work, but it will be obvious that before replacing a new glass tube
that the top and bottom cocks C and D must be closed. From the above descrip-
tion it will be understood that so long as the water tube remains whole and intact
that the bottom and top automatic valves I and J are retained in their positions
sufficiently removed from their respective seatings as to allow a clear and
unrestricted passage to the waste or discharge cock F, but that instantly a glass
breaks the two automatic valves are forced on to their seats by steam and water
respectively.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Firstly. In water gauges for steam boilers, and other purposes having an
automatic valve in the upper and lower fittings, the construction and arrangement
of inlet and outlet passages wherein the sectional area of the outlet is less than
that of the inlet so as to form or cause a confined or back-pressure within the water
tube and in the top fitting substantially in the manner and for purposes described
herein.
Secondly. In water gauges for steam boilers and other purposes the construction
and arrangement of inlet and outlet passages wherein the sectional area of the
outlet is less than that of the inlet, having a suspended or supported valve such as J
in the upper gauge fitting, all employed in the manner and for purposes substan-
tially as herein described.
Thirdly. In water gauges for steam boilers and other purposes, the combination
of an upper and lower automatic valve, mounted and operating substantially in the
manner shewn and described.
Fourthly. The general construction and arrangement of the improved water
gauge substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents.