Improvements in Apparatus for Maintaining a Uniform Level of Liquid in Vessels of Various Kinds Applicable especially in Evaporating and Distilling Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Maintaining a Uniform Level of
Liquid in Vessels of Various Kinds Applicable especially in
Evaporating and Distilling Apparatus.
1, JOHN KIRKALDY of 40 West India Dock Road in the County of Middlesex
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For maintaining a uniform level of liquid in vessels of various kinds I use a
float and lever in conjunction with two valves an inlet and an outlet valve both
of which are normally kept closed by springs but one of which the inlet valve is
opened by the action of the float lover if the liquid level gets too low and the
other the outlet valve if the liquid level from any cause gets too high.
Preferably I employ a pair of lift valves as shewn in the drawing annexed.
In this drawing A is the inlet valve and B the outlet valve-the feed inlet
is at A' and when the inlet valve is lifted liquid is free to pass through the
pipe A2 to the vessel in which a uniform level of the liquid is to be maintained.
The overflow outlet is at B1 and liquid can pass to the outlet valve from the
vessel through the passage B2. A³ B³ are the two springs by which the valves A. B
are normally held down on to their seats. C is a lever which at the extremity
of its longer arm carries a float which is to float in the liquid in the vessel. The
stems of the two valves are as shewn made to pass out from the valve casing
through stuffing boxes and each has a handle on its outer end by which it may
from time to time be drawn back to ensure that it has not become fast.
Dated this 5th day of April 1889.
JNO. KIRKALDY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Maintaining a Uniform Level of
Liquid in Vessels of Various Kinds Applicable especially in
Evaporating and Distilling Apparatus.
I, JOHN KIRKALDY of 40 West India Dock Road in, the County of Middlesex,
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 :-
For maintaining a uniform level of liquid in vessels of various kinds I use a
float and lever in conjunction with two valves an inlet and an outlet valve both
of which are normally kept closed by springs but one of which the inlet valve is
opened by the action of the float lever if the liquid level gets too low and the
other the outlet valve if the liquid level from any cause gets too high.
Preferably I employ a pair of lift valves as shewn in the drawing left with my
Provisional Specification.
In this drawing A is the inlet valve and B the outlet valve-the feed inlet is at A'
and when the inlet valve is lifted liquid is free to pass through the pipe A to. the
vessel in which a uniform level of the liquid is to be maintained. The overflow outlet
is at B and liquid can pass to the outlet valve from the vessel through the
passage B2.
A3 B3 are the two springs by which the valves A B are normally held down on to.
their seats. C is a lever which at the extremity of its longer arm carries a float which
is to float in the liquid in the vessel. The stems of the two valves are as shewn made
to pass out from the valve casing through stuffing boxes and each has a handle on its
D

page_text: outer end by which it may from time to time be drawn back to ensure that it has not
become fast.
The apparatus is intended to be fixed upon the side of the vessel in which the
constant level is to be maintained and in such a position that when the valve B is
lifted the liquid will run out either by gravity or in consequence of a pressure, above
atmospheric, maintained within the vessel.
The apparatus is in communication with the interior of the vessel by an
aperture through which the float lever Cpasses and by another aperture by
which liquid can pass from the vessel to the passage B². Also, there is a
pipe forming a continuation of A2 and entering the vessel in any, convenient
position. The passages A and B within which the valves A and B work are con-
nected respectively with an inlet pipe and an overflow and the supply may be drawn
from a cistern at such a height that the liquid will gravitate from it into the vessel to
be supplied when the valve A is lifted. The stems of the valves A and B are slotted
and the lever C passes through them and has its fulcrum midway between the stems.
When the lever C is horizontal both valves are on their seats as the drawing indicates;
but when the shorter arm of the lever rises the valve A is lifted by the lever pressing
against the end of the slot in the valve stem, and similarly when the longer arm of
the lever rises the valve B is lifted. The lever C (which is shewn broken off in the
drawing) extends some distance into the vessel and carries a float which rests on the
surface of the liquid. The float which I usually employ is a copper ball like that
used with a common ball cock.
The details of the arrangement admit of variation. The apparatus is applicable
whatever the pressure which it may be necessary to maintain in the vessel to which it
is applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. Apparatus maintaining a uniform level of liquid by means of two valves, an
inlet and an outlet, operated by a lever and float as herein set forth.
2. Apparatus substantially as described and illustrated by the annexed drawing.
Dated this 1st day of January 1890.
JNO. KIRKALDY.