Tanks, Reservoirs, or Vessels of any kind.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1889
Tanks, Reservoirs, or Vessels of any kind.
I, MALCOLM SUTHERLAND of 26 Granville Street West Glasgow Student of
Engineering in the Physical Laboratory of the Glasgow University, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
Two pairs of electrodes are introduced into the vessel the water level of which is
to be regulated or indicated, or into a tube connected therewith. One pair of these
electrodes is placed above, and the other below the proper level. A metal or metal
tipped float is so placed between them that, when the water rises above or falls below
the proper level, the metal of the float touches one or other pair of electrodes and
thus completes an electric circuit or circuits. In these circuits are placed electro-
magnets which on contact being made by the float, act on a valve, opening it when
the float touches the lower pair of electrodes, and closing it when it touches the
upper pair. An electric bell may be also placed in the circuit or circuits, so as to
ring when the float touches either pair of electrodes. The electrodes are made of
platinoid or other metal which remains sufficiently bright in water, and they may be
tipped with, or covered with platinum.
In the case of a steam boiler, they may be placed in the gauge glass, one pair of
electrodes a little above, and the other a little below the proper level. Insulated
conductors are led from them, through the packing of the glass, away to the electro-
magnets. If it is desirable to use it as an indicator. alone, the electrodes may be
placed at the extreme ends of the glass, so as to ring only when the deviation from
the proper level becomes serious, or the upper pair may be dispensed with altogether.
The Hoat may be in the form of a hollow metal ball, or cylinder, or it may be made of
cork or other light material fitted with metal ends.
For regulating the water level, a suitable electro-magnet, or number of electro-
magnets are placed so as to attract an armature attached to the lever or spindle of a
suitable valve.
CM2 1000

page_text: $
Tanks, Reservoirs, or Vessels of any kind.
I MALCOLM SUTHERLAND 26 Granville Street West Glasgow Engineering Student
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:—
In the Electric Water-level Regulator and Indicator, there are two pairs of
electrodes, E and E' and a metal or metal tipped float F, which rises and falls with
the liquid in the vessel to which the apparatus is fitted, and is so guided that when
the liquid rises above or falls below the proper level, the metal of the float comes into
contact with one or other pair of electrodes, and completes an electric circuit or
circuits. In these circuits are placed electro-magnets, which on contact being made
by the float, act on a valve, opening it when the float touches the lower pair and
closing it when it touches the upper pair. To the handle or lever H of this valve,
which is placed in the supply pipe, an iron armature A is attached and two
electro-magnets E M are arranged so that when a current passes through one or
other, the armature, A carrying the lever or. handle H with it, is drawn one way or
the other, thus opening or closing the valve or cock. If desirable, one electro-
magnet only, may be used, the place of the other being taken by a spring or weight.
An electric bell B is placed in circuit, so arranged, as to ring when contact is made
with either pair of electrodes, and to continue ringing until the contact is broken; or
an electro-magnet e m. may be placed in circuit so arranged that, when the circuit
is completed, it shall open the valve of a whistle, W that valve being closed by a
spring or weight, when contact is broken and the electro-magnetic action ceases.
When the apparatus is used as an indicator only, the pairs of electrodes may be
placed farther apart, so as to indicate only when the deviation from the proper level
is such as might cause accident or inconvenience; or the upper pair may be dispensed
with altogether. The electrodes may be made of any metal which remains
sufficiently bright in the liquid, and they may be tipped or covered with platinum.
In the case of a steam boiler they E&E are placed in the gauge glass, G_one
pair E above and the other pair E below the proper level. Insulated conductors I. C.
are led from them, through the packing of the glass away to the electro-magnets E. M.
For greater certainty of contact the electrodes may be led into small cups, or tubes T,
containing mercury into which the ends of a metal fork M F attached to the float F,
dip; or one tubo may be used the other connection being made by means of a
spiral spring S which is attached to the float, and helps to support it. The tubes or
cups may be made of any insulating material which remains uninjured by the
mercury, or liquid. The float may be made of metal which remains sufficiently
bright in the liquid; or it may be of any light material which will not be readily
destroyed by liquid, and fitted with metal ends or with a metal fork. It may be in
the form of a ball or cylinder so shaped and arranged as to avoid clinging to the

page_text: sides of the glass. In tanks &c. the electrodes and float may be placed inside of the
tank or other vessel. For high level the fork may be attached to the end of a
lever, L which has a float attached to its other end and its fulcrum between, (a) so
that when the float rises the fork is pressed down into the mercury. In any of the
applications of my apparatus, when the electro-magnetic force required to actuate
the valve or valves is greater than can be obtained from the indicating current, 1
cause that current to act upon a relay and thus provide the requisite force.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
(1.) The use of the apparatus substantially as herein before described, for the
purpose of indicating, at a more or less distant point, by means of a bell, or whistle,
or other acoustic appliance; an upper and lower limit assigned to the level of water
or other liquid in a steam boiler, or tank, reservoir, or vessel of any kind.
(2.) The use of the apparatus as herein before described for the purpose of closing
or opening the supply valve or stopcock on the supply pipe, when the upper or lower
assigned level of the water or other liquid in a steam boiler, tank, reservoir, or vossel
of any kind, is reached.
(3.) The use of an electro-magnetic relay to actuate the indicator or supply valve,
or stop-cock in the use of my apparatus.
(4.) The gauge tube with one or more pairs of metallic electric contacts, and a
body floating within it, carrying one or more metallic contact pieces.
(5.) The gauge tubes with one or more pairs of mercury contacts, and a body
floating within it, carrying one or moro metallic contact pieces.
Dated this Eighth of December 1888.
MALCOLM SUTHERLAND.