IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE HEIGHT OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Walker, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR INDICATING THE HEIGHT OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 11th October 1860, and dated the 16th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th April 1860.
I, THOMAS WALKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE HEIGHT OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS," to be
as follows:-
The improvements relate to where the float in the boiler is connected to one
end of a lever arm in a chamber above and communicating with such boiler,
whilst one end of the axis of this lever arm passes through a suitable stuffing
box to the outside, where there is a weighted arm, which may be capable of
adjustment, as well as a pointer. And one of my improvements consists in
applying to the end of this lever arm by hinge joint a connecting rod by chain
or wire from which the float is supported, also in applying by pin joint to the
valve of a whistle an open link within which the end of such lever plays freely
till the float descends below a certain point, when the lever will act on the
bottom of the link, and open the valve to allow an escape of steam to sound
the whistle; the lever may also act to open a valve in connection with a whistle

page_text: when the float ascends beyond a certain point; or in place of an open link a
rod with a stop or stops may be employed.
Also the improvements relate to forming the axis of such lever with a screw
thread thereon, to work freely in a corresponding thread adapted to receive it
in one of the bearings of such axis, to prevent the steam acting on the inner
end of such axis to force it endways; or the object may be attained by the
application of a collar or rim, or I form the axis with conical, spherical, or
other suitable surfaces adapted to rub in corresponding surfaces of the case,
and to be pressed tight therein by the action of the steam, so as to render
packing unnecessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WALKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Walker, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Walker,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Walker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree-with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term 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
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE HEIGHT OF WATER IN STEAM BOILERS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Walker, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of 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 I, the said Thomas Walker, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is. to say :-
The improvements relate to where the float in the boiler is connected to one
end of a lever arm in a chamber above and communicating with such boiler,
whilst one end of the axis of this lever arm passes through a suitable stuffing
box to the outside, and has affixed to it a weighted arm (which may be
capable of adjustment) as well as a pointer. And one of my improvements"
consists in applying to the end of this lever arm by hinge joint a connecting
rod by chain or wire, from which the float is supported, also in applying by
pin joint to the valve of a whistle an open link within which the end of such
lever plays freely till the float descends below a certain point, when the lever
will act on the bottom of the link, and open the valve to allow an escape of
steam to sound the whistle; the lever may also act to open a valve in con-
nection with a whistle when the float ascends beyond a certain point, or in'
place of an open link a rod with a stop or stops may be employed.
But that the nature of my improvements and the means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect may be fully understood, I will proceed to
D.
Figure 1 shows an external view, Figures 2 and 3 vertical sections, and
Figure 4 a sectional plan, of apparatus constructed according to my im-
provements.
L represents a float resting upon the surface of. the water in a boiler, to
which the apparatus is affixed. This float is connected by a suitable rod D to
one end of a lever arm B, enclosed, but capable of moving freely in the steam-
tight chamber A by being fixed to the axis C. This axis C passes through
and is capable of freely moving in stuffing boxes A', A', and there is applied
to this axis C another arm E with a weight E, capable of being adjusted so
as to act as a counterbalance to the weight of the float. There is also affixed
to this axis C a pointer I, which, by indicating. upon the dial plate K, will
show to the attendant any variation in the level of the water in the boiler;.
His a whistle, capable of being opened for the escape of steam to produce
sound by the link G, formed as shown to embrace the lever B, and yet admit
of that lever moving freely therein to a certain extent in the rising and falling
of the float; but when the water in the boiler sinks below a certain point, the
lever B will act upon the bottom of the link G, and open the valve of the
whistle for the escape of steam and the production of sound to attract the
attention of the attendant.

page_text: Figure 5 shows by external view a modification of the above, in which the
weight E is suspended by a cord E² passed over the pulley E³, and connected
to the indicating lever I.
Figures 6 and 7 show an external view and a sectional view of another
modification, in which a hollow float is used, rendering the counterbalance
weight unnecessary. The same letters already used indicate other corre-
sponding parts. The lever B in ascending may also act on the valve of a
whistle to open it, as will readily be understood.
Also the improvements relate to forming the axis of such lever with a screw
thread thereon, to work freely in a corresponding thread adapted to receive it
in one of the bearings of such axis, to prevent the steam acting on the inner
end of such axis to force it endways, as shown by Figure 8; or the object
may be obtained by the application of a collar or rim a, as shown by Figure 9;
or I form the axis with conical, spherical, or other suitable surfaces adapted
to rub in corresponding surfaces of the case, and to be pressed tight therein by
the action of the steam, so as to render packing unnecessary, as indicated
by 6, Figure 10.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the means by
which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
claim the various mechanical parts separately considered, nor do I confine
myself to the precise details as shown; but what I do claim is, the adaptation
and combination of parts forming apparatus for indicating the height of water
in steam boilers, substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Walker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
WILLIAM BROOKES,
73, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agent.
THOS. WALKER. (L.S.)