IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH MARINE STEAM BOILERS AS A SELF-ACTING SCUM OR BRINE COCK AND FEED COCK, WHICH APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE USED AS A SALINOMETER AND WATER GAUGE
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Burrell, of Back Church Lane, White-
chapel, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH MARINE STEAM
BOILERS AS A SELF-ACTING SCUM OR BRINE COCK AND FEED COCK, WHICH
APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE USED AS A SALINOMETER AND WATER GAUGE."
Sealed the 16th September 1864, and dated the 18th. March 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Burrell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th March 1864.
I, JAMES BURRELL, of Back Church Lane, Whitechapel; in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH MARINE STEAM
BOILERS AS A SELF-ACTING SCUM OR BRINE COCK AND FEED COCK, WHICH APPA-
RATUS MAY ALSO BE USED AS A SALINOMETER AND WATER GAUGE," to be as
follows:-
In carrying out my Invention I employ a tank or vessel of metal, closed
at the top by a cover or lid, the interior of the vessel being divided into two
[Price Rd 1

page_text: unequal compartments by a vertical plate. Both of these divisions are con-
nected to the boiler below the water line by means of pipes (fixed to the
bottom of the vessel) in the form of a U, or reversed syphon. The larger
division contains brine or salt water, the same as in the boiler, and the
smaller one contains distilled water, which being of less specific gravity
remains in the vessel, and does not mix with the brine in the boiler. In each
of these compartments is a float made of hollow metal, (or other suitable
material,) and so weighted as to cause it to sink a certain depth in the water,
at which level it is marked by a ring or line round the float. So long as the
distilled water in the smaller compartment remains pure, its float will always
remain at this level, but if by any means this water should become
impure the float will rise and indicate the same. The float in the larger or
brine compartment is weighted so as to sink lower than the former, so as to
allow it to rise as the water becomes denser, and it is also marked with rings
or lines to show how much it rises, so as to indicate the density of the brine
in the boiler. These floats are connected one to each end of a.beam, and the
centre or journal, on which the latter oscillates, works in vertical slots or
guides, so as to allow of its rising or falling altogether to suit the varying
level of the water in the boiler, and also of oscillating on the centre as the
density of the brine increases. The beam is of a T form, and its lower arm
has a slot cut in it, in which one end of a lever connected to the scum or
brine cock works in such a manner that when the brine float rises, owing to
the increased density of the brine in the boiler, it opens the scum cock. The
water in the larger compartment is always the same density as that in the
boiler, a constant circulation being kept up by a second pipe near the water
level. A pipe leading from the upper part of the boiler into the tank or
vessel immediately over the distilled water compartment acts as a condenser,
and keeps the latter supplied with distilled water. There is a second float
in the larger or brine compartment, a perforated plate being placed between
the two to keep them apart. This float is connected to a lever fixed on a
spindle, which works through a stuffing box in the side of the vessel. The
outer end of this spindle carries a lever, which opens and shuts the feed cock
and thus regulates the supply of water to the boiler.
In a modification of this apparatus all the three floats are kept at the
surface of the water, and the beam is moved, and the scum or brine cock
acted on by the level of the distilled water rising above or falling to the level
of the brine. The pipe which connects the bottom of the distilled water
compartment with the lower part of the boiler is furnished at its lower end
with a stop-cock, and has one or more U-shaped bends or syphous. The

page_text: pipe which connects the bottom of the brine compartment with the lower
part of the boiler surrounds the former pipe for the purpose of keeping the
distilled water therein at about the same temperature as the brine in the
boiler. The feed cock is acted upon the same as in the first-described
arrangement.
The principle upon which this modification acts is as follows:-If a column
of distilled water is placed beside a column of sea water, and the two are
connected together at the bottom by a reversed syphon, or U-shaped pipe
(both being at the same temperature), then the distilled water will rise about
one-fortieth part higher than the level of the sea water. Such being the case
it will be evident that as the density of the brine in the boiler and con-
sequently in the tank increases, the level of the distilled water will rise, aud
its float rising also will open the scum cock, and let the brine out of the
boiler, and as the brine decreases the level of the distilled water will fall and
by means of the float and beam close the scum cock. In the front of the
tank or vessel I place two glass plates, one opposite to the brine or salt
water compartment, and the other opposite to the distilled water compart-
ment, by which means the position of the floats and the level of the water
can at any time be ascertained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Burrell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th September 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES'
BURRELL, of Back Church Lane, Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four,in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Burrell, Her special licence that I, the said
James Burrell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said James Burrell, 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

page_text: -
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH MARINE STEAM
BOILERS AS A SELF-ACTING SCUM OR BRINE COCK AND FEED COCK, WHICH APPARA-
TUS MAY ALSO BE USED AS A SALINOMETER AND WATER GAUGE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Burrell, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 James Burrell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
that is to say :-
In carrying out my Invention I employ a tank or vessel of metal closed
at the top by a cover or lid, the interior of the vessel being divided into
two unequal compartments by a vertical plate. Both of these divisions are
connected to the boiler below the water line.by means of pipes (fixed to the
bottom of the vessel), in the form of a U-shaped, or reversed syphon. The
larger division contains brine or salt water, the same as in the boiler, being
provided with a second pipe near the water level to keep up the circula-
tion, and the smaller one contains distilled water, which being of less
specific gravity remains in the vessel, and does not mix with the brine in
the boiler.. In each of these compartments is a float made, made of
hollow metal (or other suitable material) and so weighted as to cause
it to sink a certain depth in the water, at which level it is marked by
a ring or line round the float. So long as the distilled water in the
smaller compartment remains pure, its float will always remain at this
level, but if by any means this water should become impure the float will
rise and indicate the same. The float in the larger or brine compartment
is weighted so as to sink lower than the former, so as to allow it to rise as
the water becomes denser, (or they may both float at about the same depth,)
and it is also marked with rings or lines to show how much it rises so as
to indicate the density of the brine in the boiler. These floats are con-
nected one to each end of a beam, and the centre or journal, on which the
latter oscillates, works in vertical slots or guides so as to allow of its rising
or falling altogether to suit the varying level of the water in the boiler,
and also of oscillating on the centre as the density of the brine increases.

page_text: The beam is of a T form, and its lower arm has a slot cut in it, in which one
end of a lever connected to the scum or brine cock works in such a manner
that when the brine float rises, owing to the increased density of the brine in
the boiler, it opens the scum cock, or the side of the arm may act against
the lever, and the cock may be closed by a weight. The water in the larger
compartment is always the same density as that in the boiler, a constant
circulation being kept up by a second pipe near the water level as above
mentioned. A pipe leading from the upper part of the boiler into the tank
or vessel immediately over the distilled water compartment acts as a con-
denser and keeps the latter supplied with distilled water. There is a second
float in the larger or brine compartment, a perforated plate being placed
between the two to keep them apart. This float is connected to a lever
fixed on a spindle, which works through a stuffing box in the side of the
vessel. The outer end of this spindle carries a lever, which opens and shuts
the feed cock, and thus regulates the supply of water to the boiler.
In a modification of this apparatus all the three floats are kept at the
surface of the water, and the beam is moved and the scum or brine cock
acted on by the level of the distilled water rising above or falling to the
level of the brine. The pipe which connects the bottom of the distilled
water compartment with the lower part of the boiler is furnished at its
lower end with a stop-cock, and has one or more U-shaped bends or syphons.
The pipe which connects the bottom of the brine compartment with the
lower part of the boiler surrounds the former pipe, for the purpose of keeping
the distilled water therein at about the same temperature as the brine in
the boiler, or the tank may be made longer or deeper for the same purpose.
The feed cock is acted upon the same as in the first-described arrange-
ment.
The principle upon which this modification acts is as follows:-If a
column of distilled water is placed beside a column of sea water, and the two
areconnected together at the bottom by a reversed syphon, or U-shaped pipe,
(both being at the same temperature,) then the distilled water will rise about
one-fortieth part higher than the level of the sea water. Such being the case
it will be evident that as the density of the brine in the boiler and con-
sequently in the tank increases, the level of the distilled water will rise, and
its float rising also will open the scum cock and let the brine out of the
boiler, and as the brine decreases the level of the distilled water will fall, and
by means of the float and beam close the scum cock. In the front of the
tank or vessel I place two glass plates, one opposite to the brine or salt
water compartment, and the other opposite to the distilled water compartment,.

page_text: by which means the position of the floats and the level of the water can at
any time be ascertained.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "I
"Improved
Apparatus to be used in Combination with Marine Steam Boilers as a Self-
acting Scum or Brine Cock and Feed Cock, which Apparatus may also be
used as a Salinometer and Water Gauge," I will now proceed to describe
more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be distinctly
understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof,
and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding
with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
In the annexed Drawing Figure 1 represents an exterior elevation of the
'first-described modification of my improvements, and Figure 2 a vertical
section of the same, and Figures 3 and 4 are similar views of the second-
described modification of my said improvements.
In Figures 1 and 2, a, a, is the tank or vessel, closed at the top and
divided into two unequal compartments by the partition 6, b. The larger
or left-hand compartment contains the brine, and the smaller or right-hand
compartment is supplied with distilled water. Both of these divisions are
connected at the bottom with the boiler by means of two pipes c and c¹, the
'pipe e' from the distilled water compartment having one or more U-shaped
bends to assist in preventing the admixture of the brine in the boiler with
the distilled water. The brine compartment is furnished with another pipe d,
near the water level, to keep up a constant circulation of the brine. The
supply of distilled water is kept up by means of a pipe e, e, leading from the
upper (or steam) part of the boiler, and round which the feed water cir-
culates as it passes along the pipe f, f; and I may here remark that more
than one of these condensed water pipes may be employed if found necessary
'to keep up the supply; 9, 9¹, are the two floats connected by their respective
rods or shanks to the arms of the T-shaped lever h, h, the axis or journal i
of which is capable of rising or falling in the vertical slots or guides k, k,
attached to the sides of the tank. The lower or vertical arm of the lever
h, h, acts against a lever l, fixed on the spindle of the brine cock m, so that
as the float g rises owing to the increase of density in the brine, the vibra-
tion of the T-shaped lever h, h, opens the brine cock m, which latter may
be of any suitable form or construction. As the lever h, h, again assumes
'the position seen in Figure 2, a small weighted lever n closes the brine
cock, or the same effect may be produced by making the lower arm of the
lever h broader, and providing it with a slot, in which the end of the lever

page_text: works as shown in Figure 4. In the brine compartment there is, another
float o, which is kept apart from the float g, by the perforated plate pp
and is conn cted by a lever q to the spindler, of the feed cock, which
works through a stuffing box s. In the side of the tank t, t, (see Figure-1)-
are two glass plates, through which the height of the water and the position
of the floats (and consequently the density of the brine) can at any time
be seen.
In Figures 3 and 4 the same description and letters of reference will
serve to explain the principal parts of the apparatus, the chief modifications
being as follows:-The floats g and g¹, instead of being immersed in the
brine and the distilled water respectively, float at the surface of the same,
and the action is caused by the rising of the level of the distilled water as
the density of the brine increases. The pipe c leading from the bottom of
the brine compartment is made larger in diameter than the pipe c¹ (leading
from the distilled water compartment), and surrounds the latter for the
purpose of keeping the distilled water at the same temperature as the brine.
At the bottom of the pipe c¹ is a syphon box u, to assist still further in
preventing the mingling of the brine with the distilled water. This may be
of any suitable form, or in some cases may be dispensed with altogether; vis
a cock for drawing off the water from the distilled water compartment when
first starting the apparatus at work.
In this modification I have shown only one glass plate t, to serve as a
water gauge, the density of the brine being indicated by means of a finger
on the salinometer dial plate v, in the following manner:-The dial plate
is connected to the journal or axis of the T-shaped lever h, h, in such a
manner as to rise and fall with it, but not to revolve or vibrate in any degree
with it. On the end of the axis i, at the back of the dial plate is fixed a
small toothed quadrant w, (see also detached view Figure 5, drawn to a
larger scale,) which gears with a pinion * fixed on the spindle of the index
finger, so that as the lever h, h, oscillates by the variations of the respective
levels of the brine and distilled water, a corresponding movement is imparted
to the finger, which indicates upon the dial these variations and consequently
the degree of density of the brine.
It will of course be evident that instead of combining the whole apparatus
in one, as shown in the Drawings and above described, it may be arranged
and used for either of the above purposes separately if desired.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improved Apparatus to be used in combination with Marine Steam Boilers
as a Self-acting Scum or Brine Cock and Feed Cock, which Apparatus may

page_text: also be used as a Salinometer and Water Gauge," together with the manner
in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention the
peculiar combinations of apparatus for such purposes as shown in the
Drawings and above described, or any mere modification or imitation thereof
operating in substantially the same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Burrell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One Thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Sol. & Patent Agent,
1, Serle St.,
Lincoln's Inn.
JAMES BURRELL. (L.s.)