IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Martin, of the County Lunatic Asylum,
Hanwell, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO STEAM
BOILERS,"
Sealed the 3rd September 1857, and dated the 16th March 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Martin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th March 1857.
I, HENRY MARTIN, of the County Lunatic Asylum, Hanwell, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO STEAM BOILERS," to
be as follows:
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for the supply
of water to steam boilers. For these purposes two valves on the same spindle
are used, which cover two openings, the one at the top and the other at the
bottom of a chamber, which is open to and in connection with the water
supply pipe. Below the chamber is fixed a pipe, which descends into the
steam boiler, and to near the bottom thereof. Above the upper valve there
is another chamber, which is closed by a suitable cover, through which the
spindle of the valves passes fluid tight, or nearly so, and such spindle is con-
nected to a lever at a short distance from its fulcrum. At one end of the

page_text: lever a wire is attached, having a float of stone or other suitable material
affixed thereto, and at the other end of the lever is attached a wire with a
balance weight, the float and the balance weight descending to the water in
the steam boiler. The chamber below the valves and the chamber above the
valves are connected by means of a passage or waterway. The apparatus
thus combined is placed within a steam-tight casing, which is fixed to the top
of the boiler; or the combined apparatus may be fixed within the steam
chest of a steam boiler.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
MARTIN, of the County Lunatic Asylum, Hanwell, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Martin, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Martin,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I. the said Henry
Martin, 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 THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO STEAM BOILERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Martin, 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 Henry Martin, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for the supply
of water to steam boilers. For these purposes two valves on the same spindle
are used, which cover two openings, the one at the top and the other at the
bottom of a chamber, which is open to and in connection with the water
supply pipe. Below the chamber is fixed a pipe, which descends into the
steam boiler, and to near the bottom thereof. Above the upper valve thero
is another chamber, which is closed by a suitable cover, through which the
spindle of the valves passes fluid tight, or nearly so, and such spindle is con-
nected to a lever at a short distance from its fulcrum. At one end of the
lever a wire is attached, having a float of stone or other suitable material
affixed thereto, and (at the other end of the lever is attached a wire with a
balance weight) descending to the water in the steam boiler. The chamber
below the valves and the chamber above the valves are connected by means
of a passage or waterway. The apparatus thus combined is placed within a
steam-tight casing, which is fixed to the top of the boiler; or the combined
apparatus may be fixed within the steam chest of a steam boiler.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a section of the feed valve box a, fixed transversely on a steam
boiler b, in which the valves c are shewn closed. d is a lever, with the float
e suspended from one end and balance weight f at the other. The valves
being on one spindle, and the top of the spindle passing through a diaphragm
stuffing box, formed by placing a piece of vulcanized india-rubber or other
material between the valve box and cover, with collar and screw nut on
spindle. The valve seat is shewn of brass, and the chest or box to receive
it of iron, the seat being fastened in its position by cement, joint, or other
mechanical means. g is the port connecting the upper valve with the feed
pipe h, screwed into feed box and descending to bottom of boiler; i is the
supply pipe from pump or cistern, and going to the back of box, shewn
more fully in Figure 2; k is the cover for valve box, screwed on, with india-
rubber or other joint interposed for examining valves when necessary. Figure
2 is a transverse section of feed valve box. In this section is shewn the
supply pipe i, entering between the two valves, the water surrounding the
valves two-thirds of their circumference in the outer port, the remaining
third being divided off for the discharge port g to feed pipe, as shewn in
Figure 4. is the spindle on which the lever works, and passing through a
stuffing box to receive the indicator or hand m on the outside of the box,

page_text: on which is fixed an engraved plate n, representing high and low water and
the proper level. Figure 3 is a front elevation of feed valve box, and will
require no further explanation. Figure 4 is a plan in section through the
centre of supply pipe, for the purpose of shewing the waterway; and 9, the
port leading to feed pipe. Figure 5 is a front elevation of feed valve box,
shewing the mode of combining with it a safety valve, and also of using the
box as a steam chest; o is the steam pipe for conveying steam to engine or
other machine; and k the cover made as a safety valve.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim
to any of the parts separately; but what I claim is combined mechanism
herein described for supplying water to steam boilers.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Martin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
J. A. MORTLOCK,
Hanwell, Middlesex.
HENRY MARTIN. (L.S.)