Improvements in and relating to Water Gauges.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Water Gauges.
We, JAMES ASHTON FLETCHER and SAMUEL FLETCHER, both of Borough Brass
Works, Cavendish and Blandford Streets, Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention relates to water gauges for steam boilers or other apparatus
where the level of the liquid is indicated by external glass tubes or their equiva-
lents and the object of the invention is to facilitate the observation of the liquid
levels by an improved arrangement of artificial light or lights.
The invention consists generally in modifying the construction of any water
gauge in such a manner that a small tube can be introduced within it and pre-
terably throughout its entire length and introducing within the said small tube
an electric lamp of suitable size and shape in glass and filaments so that the level
of the water can be directly read against the said tube: and further cutting
grinding or treating the said tube to diffuse the light from the lamp when required.
In carrying the invention into effect as applied to the ordinary water gauge
constructed of a metallic casing with a flat glass window the construction and
operation is as follows.-The metallic casing is attached at the front to the usual
top and bottom gauge arms and cocks but is enlarged at the back thereof and is
provided with co-axial holes top and bottom of such a diameter that a glass tube
can be passed down the entire length of the said metallic casing. Further the top
and bottom of the said tube are provided with gland rings and packing which
take into suitable gland recesses in the ends of the metallic casing so that the
exterior of the tube is steam and water tight against the pressure exerted on its
exterior surface within the water gauge while its interior surface is open to
atmosphere or closed against dust by any suitable plugs or caps. An electric
lamp constructed with an elongated container and filament. is introduced within
the tube, preferably about midway. By this means it is evident that the level
of the water can be accurately and readily observed directly against the light on
the illuminated tube.
The following modifications may be employed without departing from the sub-
ject of the present invention. To diffuse the light of the lamp the tube may be
prismatically cut, ground, painted or similarly treated.
The tube itself may be used as the container or globe of the lamp, the ends
being of course suitably sealed. Any other suitable type of electric lamp may
be employed such as that known as the "Ernst" or a glow lamp with gases
in vacuo. The tube may be introduced only that portion of the entire length of
the water gauge sufficient to directly illuminate the level.
It is to be clearly understood that the salient feature of the present invention
is the direct illumination by the introduction into the body of steam and water
within the gauge of an electric incandescent or glow lamp of any type or kind
in the manner hereinbefore described and this leading feature is clearly distinct

page_text: from the many systems proposed and used of illuminating water gauge levels by
reflection or by lights exterior to the gauge.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.
.
We, JAMES ASHTON FLETCHER and SAMUEL FLETCHER, of Borough Brass Works,
Cavendish and Blandford Streets, Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineers, 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:-
I
This invention relates to water gauges for steam boilers or other apparatus
where the level of the liquid is indicated by external glass tubes or their equiva-
lents and the object of the invention is to facilitate the observation of the liquid
levels by an improved arrangement of artificial light or lights.
The invention consists generally in modifying the construction of any water
gauge in such a manner that a small tube can be introduced within it and prefer-
ably throughout its entire length, and in introducing within the said tube an
electric lamp, of suitable size and shape in glass and filaments, so that the level
of the water can be directly read against the said tube; and further in cutting,
grinding or treating the said tube to diffuse the light from the lamp when required.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrate a method of
carrying our invention into effect as applied to a water gauge constructed with a
Hat gauge glass.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a water gauge fitted with an electric incan-
descent lamp; and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the line x-y.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the back portion of the gauge illus-
trating the method of making the lamp connections.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the back portion of a gauge fitted
with a modified form of electric lamp.
The metallic casing A is provided with the usual nozzles B for attachment to the
gauge arms, and the flat gauge glass C is held tightly to the front of the casing A
by the frame D and screws E. The frame D carries a hinged door F fitted with a
projecting glass G covered with safety wire netting I as illustrated in the speci-
fication of Letters Patent granted to us No. 5322 of 1896.
The back of the casing A is formed with an enlargement H which is provided
at the top and bottom with coaxial openings to admit of the insertion of a glass
tube K. The tube K is fitted with gland rings L and packing which take into
recesses L¹ in the enlargement H, for the purpose of maintaining the exterior of
the tube K steam and water tight against the pressure in the gauge.
An elongated electric incandescent lamp M is introduced within the tube K and
held between the two metallic plates N, carried by the hollow plugs P and in
contact with the metal terminal caps M' of the lamp. The plugs P are constructed
of porcelain, vulcanite or other suitable insulating material and they are fitted into
the gland rings L by a screw, or bayonet joint, fitting so as to permit of ready re-
moval and replacement of the lamp. Wing nuts Q or other suitable terminal
connections are provided upon the plugs P for connection of the lamp in the

page_text: circuit of a suitable source of electric current; the connection from the wing nuts
to the lamp being effected through the metal plates R which connect with the
plates N through the springs S. Instead of the straight single filament lamp
shown in Figs. 1 and 3 we may fit the gauge with an elongated lamp M² contain-
ing an ordinary loop filament as shown in Fig. 4. The lamp Me is provided with
the usual cap M³ and insulated filament terminals (not shown) and is fitted into
the hollow plug P¹ by a bayonet joint fitting. The plug P¹ carries both lamp
connections consisting of spring contact pieces N' which are metallically con-
nected at their outer ends to the terminal contact plates R', and which, at their
inner ends bear up on the insulated filament terminals of the lamp.
A cupped ring K₁ is provided inside of the tube K to form a support for the
end of the lamp, and the upper end of the tube is closed against dust by a plug P2.
We may substitute for the incandescent filament lamp shown in Figs. 1 and 3
a vacuum tube which we connect in the circuit of a transformer or induction
apparatus. We may further substitute for the ordinary filament lamp, a lamp
with a filament of rare oxides such as the "Nernst "* filament. Or either of the
lamps shown in Figs. 1, 3 & 4 may be substituted for the glass tube K, the thick-
ness of the glass container for the filament being made sufficient to withstand
the pressure of steam within the gauge.
In order to secure a uniformly diffused light within the gauge, the glass tube K
or the lamp may be prismatically ground, painted, or otherwise treated.
In a gauge constructed as above described the water level can be read with
great distinctness against the bright ground produced by the illuminated tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
―
1. A water gauge for steam boilers and like apparatus provided with an illu-
minating device located within the gauge glass for directly illuminating the
interior of said gauge glass, substantially as described.
.
2. In water gauges for steam boilers and like apparatus the combination of a
gauge glass casing, with a tube or casing, such as K, and means for illuminating
said tube or casing, substantially as, and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 12th day of Janv.
Dated this 12th day of Janu
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.