IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING Low WATER IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry House, of Barton-on-Humber, in the County of
Lincoln, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR DETECTING Low WATER IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 13th March 1877, and dated the 22nd December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry House at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1876.
HENRY HOUSE, of Barton-on-Humber, in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING LOW WATER IN STEAM
BOILERS."
My Invention relates to the means or apparatus for detecting low water in steam
boilers, and is as hereafter described.
I provide a tank in which I place a float, by preference a ball float, arranged with a
lever similar to that employed for the ordinary ball tap. On the exterior I provide
a box on which is a dial plate; on the upper part or any other convenient position
with regard to the same is mounted a steam whistle, which is connected with tho
interior of the tank by means of a pipe or tube.
In front of the dial plate I provide a suitable pointer which is worked by means
of gearing actuated by the Hoat in the tank; the tube in connection with the
steam whistle is also closed or opened by the action of a valve or rod connected to
the float.
I connect the tank with the boiler by means of a pipe of convenient size and
pass this pipe into the boiler to a suitable distance, so that when sufficient water is
in the boiler the end of the pipe or tube is immersed. When the pressure of the
steam is up it forces the water up the tube into the tank, which has the effect of
raising the ball float, at the same time the valve in connection with the steam
whistle closes the pipe and also moves the rod through which motion is transmitted
by means of suitable gearing within the dial box to the hand or pointer on the dial
plate, and causes it to move to suitable marks thereon representing high water.
At low water the lower end of the tube within the boiler is uncovered and the
water immediately runs out of the tank, which causes the valve of the whistle to
be open and the hand or pointer on the dial to move round to low water mark..

page_text: The mouth of the tube within the boiler being clear, steam immediately rushes up
into the tank, and the whistle valve being open the steam passes up the tube to the
whistle and gives the necessary alarm.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
"
the said Henry House in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 21st June 1877.
HENRY HOUSE, of Barton-on-Humber, in the County of Lincoln. IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING LOW WATER IN STEAM
BOILERS."
My Invention relates to the means or apparatus for detecting low water in steam
boilers, and is as hereafter described.
I provide a tank in which I place a float, by preference a ball float, arranged
with a lever similar to that employed for the ordinary ball tap. On the exterior
I provide a box on which is a dial plate; on the upper part or any other convenient
position with regard to the same is mounted a steam whistle, which is connected
with the interior of the tank by means of a pipe or tube.
In front of the dial plate I provide a suitable pointer which is worked by means
of gearing actuated by the float in the tank; the tube in connection with the
steam whistle is also closed or opened by the action of a valve or rod connected to
the float.
I connect the tank with the boiler by means of a pipe of convenient size and
pass the pipe into the boiler to a suitable distance, so that when sufficient water is
in the boiler the end of the pipe or tube is immersed. When the pressure of the
steam is up it forces the water up the tube into the tank, which has the effect of
ruising the ball float, at the same time the valve in connection with the steam
whistle closes the pipe and also moves the rod through which motion is transmitted
by means of suitable gearing within the dial box to the hand or pointer on the dial
plato, and causes it to move to suitable marks thereon representing high water.
At low water the lower end of the tube within the boiler is uncovered and the
water immediately runs out of the tank, which causes the valve of the whistle to
be open and the hand or pointer on the dial to move round to low water mark.
The mouth of the tube within the boiler being clear steam immediately rushes up
into the tank, and the whistle valve being open the steam passes up the tube to the
whistle and gives the necessary aların.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood, reference
is given to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of tank through A, B, Fig. 2, and
a front elevation of dial and whistle; Figure 2, a transverse section through C, D,
Fig. 1; Figure 3, a sectional plan through E, F, shewing the interior of the
tank; Figure 4, a side elevation of a modification of my Invention; Figure 5, an
end elevation of the same.
a is the tank, and b a ball float arranged with a lever c, similar to that employed
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of tank through A, B, Fig. 2, and
a front elevation of dial and whistle; Figure 2, a transverse section through C, D,
Fig. 1; Figure 3, a sectional plan through E, F, shewing the interior of the
tank; Figure 4, a side elevation of a modification of my Invention; Figure 5, an
end elevation of the same.
a is the tank, and b a ball float arranged with a lover c, similar to that employed
for the ordinary ball tap. On the exterior of the tank a I provide a box a, on
which is the dial plate e; on the upper part or in any convenient position with
regard to the box d is mounted a steam whistle f, which is connected with the
interior of the tank a by means of a pipe or tube g. In front of the dial plate e I
provide a suitable hand or pointer h, which is worked by gearing i actuated by
the float lever c through rack J. The tube or pipe g is provided with a cock or
valve K, which is opened or closed by means of the action of the float lever c. I
connect the tank a with the boiler by means of a pipe or tube of convenient size,
and pass the pipe to a suitable distance within the boiler, so that when there is

page_text: sufficient water therein the end of the pipe or tube is immersed. The end of the
pipe or tube being immersed in the boiler and the pressure of the steam being up,
water is forced thereby into the tank a, as shewn at m, which has the effect of
raising the ball float b, closing thereby the valve K, at the same time moves the
hand or pointer h by means of the gearing i and rack J to the position of "high
water" or "safety," as shewn. At low water the lower end of the pipe or tube
within the boiler is uncovered, in which case the water m immediately runs out of
the tank a, which causes the float b to fall whereby the valve or cock K is opened,
the steam then immediately rushes up the pipe or tube and continues its courso
through tank a up tube g, as shewn by arrows, to the whistle, causing it to sound
an alarm; simultaneously with this the hand or pointer is moved to "danger" or
"low water" by the aforesaid float b.
A modification shown at Figs. 4 and 5, in which case I dispense with the dial
and provide a water gauge n, of ordinary construction, in communication with the
tank a, and attached thereto and for the purpose of more readily seeing the height
of the water I provide a small ball float o. The whistle may be placed on the
top of the tank u, as shown in connection with the tube g, and in all respects is
acted upon in the same manner as described for Figs 1, 2, and 3. It will be readily
understood that, when preferred, in some cases the dial plate may be used alone
without the whistle in combination with the float b, also the water gauge n may
in some cases be dispensed with. The dial plate and whistle or one or both may
be placed in any convenient position away from the boiler, in, for example, an office
or other place, so that the state of the boiler may be seen at a glance.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and shewn by Drawings
how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it understood that I do
not limit myself to the exact limits, details, or configuration of the various parts I
have explained and shewn, as the same may be varied or modified without departing
from my said Invention; but what I do claim and desire to be secured to me by
Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement and application of float b, lever c, cock or valve K, and
tube g, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement and combination of the various parts forming "Improve-
ments in the Means of and Apparatus for Detecting Low Water in Steam Boilers
with mere Modifications of the same," substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry House, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HENRY HOUSE. (L.S.)