IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND IN TAPS FOR STEAM AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Storey and John Henry Storey, both of the
City of Manchester, Coppersmiths and Brassfounders, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND IN TAPS FOR
STEAM AND OTHER FLUIDS."
Sealed the 9th April 1858, and dated the 21st October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Storey and John
Henry Storey at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 21st October 1857.
We, ISAAC STOREY and JOHN HENRY STOREY, both of the City of Man-
chester, Coppersmiths and Brassfounders, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM BOILERS AND IN
TAPS FOR STEAM AND OTHER FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
The nature of this Invention consists in the application of valves for
admitting and shutting off the steam and water to the glass tube of water
guages, which valves have screwed spindles passing through the bush of a
stuffing box, and acted upon by a handle. These stuffiing boxes screw into.

page_text: the body of the mounting of the glass tube, and press upon a packing of
hemp or other suitable material fitting on the spindle of the valve, thereby
making a steam and water tight joint. The lower part of the water guage
is furnished with a tap for blowing off. This tap may be of the ordinary
construction or made according to our improvements, which consist of a solid
plug fitting in a suitable recess. The passages for the steam and water are
in a line with each other, and when the plug is partly withdrawn by a screw
or otherwise the tap is open. In order to close the tap, the plug is pressed
into the recess, thereby shutting off the communication between the passages.
This improved tap is applicable generally for steam and other fluids. In
making the joints of the valve spindles for water guages, we also in some
cases make a shoulder on the spindle, and place a washer of vulcanized india-
rubber or other suitable material between the shoulder and the nut of the
spindle, so that when the valve is opened the washer is compressed, In
fixing the guard of the glass tube, we insert the lower end in a recess in the
nut of the lower stuffing box, and the nut of the upper stuffing box is
elongated and has a recess for the upper end of the guard. The stuffing
boxes fit on the glass at each end, and are so arranged that the glass tube
and the guard can be put in or taken out of their places without displacing
the valves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Storey and John Henry Storey in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we; ISAAC
STOREY and JOHN, HENRY STOREY, both of the City of Manchester, Copper-
smiths and Brass founders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing-date the Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Isaac Storey and John Henry Storey, Her special licence that we, the
said Isaac Story and John Henry Storey, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Isaac Storey and John Henry Storey,
our executors, administrators, and assigus, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES
FOR STEAM BOILERS AND IN TAPS FOR STEAM AND OTHER FLUIDS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Isaac Storey and John Henry
Storey, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or their, or one of our or 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 we, the said Isaac Storey and John Henry Storey,
do hereby declare the nature of our 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 nature of our Invention consists, first, in the application of valves for
admitting and shutting off the steam and water from the boilers to the glass
tubes of water gauges.
Secondly, in making the valve spindles of water gauges with a shoulder,
and in placing a washer on the valve spindle between the said shoulder and
the ordinary packing, to make a tight joint when the valve is opened.
the
Thirdly, in an improved mode of attaching the glass tube and its guard to
upper and lower mountings of water gauges.
And, lastly, in making taps for steam and other fluids, with a plug fitting
accurately in a recess, and in opening and closing the tap by moving the plug
endwise.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, we will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
b
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a water gauge for steam boilers to which
our improvements are applied. a is a part of the boiler to which the water
gauge is attached; b, the upper mounting; and c, the lower one, screwed into
the plate a as usual. The upper end of the glass tube d and the guard e are
connected to the mounting 6 by the nut d', which screws into a stuffing box,
and the lower end of the tube d and guard e are connected to the mounting c
by the nut d; the upper nut d'is elongated; in order that the tube and guard
may be raised into it, and then allowed to descend into their proper place.
By this arrangement the tube and guard can be put in or taken out of their

page_text: places without deranging the upper or lower mountings, thereby affording
facility for repairs when the glass tube breaks. The upper mounting b is
made with the seating for the valve f, which admits or shuts off the steam
and water from the boiler to the tube d; the spindle fof the valve fis
screwed and passes through the bush g of the stuffing box; to the spindle fi
is attached the handle h. Upon the spindle is fixed a shoulder f, and the
washer is loose on the said spindle; this shoulder and washer are ground
together as a valve to make a steam-tight joint. We prefer to make this
washer of brass, but any other suitable metal or material may be used. A
packing of hemp or other material is placed between the washer i and the
end of the bush g; consequently when the valve f is open, the shoulder.f²
coming against the washer i forms a back valve and effects a steam and water
tight joint. The lower mounting c is made with a seating c¹, and is furnished
with a valve similar to f. The lower mounting c is provided with a blow-off
tap, as in water gauges of the usual construction, and this blow-off tap may
be of the ordinary description or constructed according to our improvements
in taps, as shewn in Figures 2 and 3 of the Drawing. The plug of the tap is
taper or conical, and fits in a recess in the mounting. The spindle of the
plug is screwed into the bush k; consequently on turning a handle fixed to
the plug, it is drawn partly out of the recess; thereby forming a direct com-
munication between the passages m and n, and allowing the steam and water
to blow off.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section, and Figure 3, a vertical section of
a tap of larger dimensions than that required for the blow-off of a water gauge.
In this instance the plugj is supposed to be loose on the spindle, but con-
nected to it by a nut, as shewn in dots in Figure 2, and the body of the plug is
cast open, to allow any impurities to pass into the bottom of the recess in
which the plug fits. In these improved taps the passages for the steam or
other fluid may be in the same level, which is very desirable when the tap is
required in a line of pipes. We wish to remark that other means besides the
screw shewn in the Drawing may be used to move the plug in and out of
the recess in which it fits.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described the manner
of performing the same, we declare that we claim,-
First, the application of valves to water gauges, as described.
Secondly, the application of a shoulder on the valve spindle combined with
a washer to make a tight joint or back valve, when the valve is open, as
decanibed

page_text: Thirdly, the improved mode of attaching the glass tube and guard to the
upper and lower mountings of water gauges, as described.
And, lastly, the improved mode of constructing taps,as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Isaac Storey and John Henry Storey,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
H. B. BARLOW,
Manchester.
DAAU
(17.5.)
JOHN HENRY STOREY. (L.S.)