New or Improved Apparatus for Avoiding the Danger of Boiler Explosions Arising by Reason of the Water Freezing in the same or in the Pipes attached thereto.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for Avoiding the Danger of Boiler
Explosions Arising by Reason of the Water Freezing in the
same or in the Pipes attached thereto.
I, WALTER HUMBERSTONE, of "Bold rewood," Montem Road, New Malden,
Surrey, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
According to my invention, I fix on any suitable part of the boiler, or of the
water pipes, but preferably on the part of the pipes most exposed to cold, or in
other position as found most convenient, a small cylinder or short tube in which
the water is usually free to enter. When the water freezes, it expands, and in so
doing causes a flexible disc (forming the upper or outer end of the cylinder) which
is generally concave, to become flat, or under a greater pressure, to bulge outwards,
and in so doing, the disc pushes a rod which rests loosely upon it; this rod being
pushed by the disc in a direction away from the pipe or boiler, acts upon a lever
suitably connected in such manner as to cause the free end of the said lever either
to complete an electric circuit and cause an electric alarm bell to ring and continue
ringing until switched off, or else to release a catch which sets free a spring and
causes a mechanical alarm bell to ring.
The aforesaid lever, when operated by the rod from the disc, also sets free the
hinged board which covers a notice bearing the words: "Do not light the fire,"
or "Water is frozen," or "Dangerous," or other suitable words for warning any
person who comes to light the fire, not to do so; the hinged board dropping down
exposes the said notice board to view.
A long strip of linen, cotton, or other fabric may be rolled up behind the said
hinged board, and unroll or hang down when the hinged board is released, so as to
be more noticeable than the board itself.
Where the alarm bell used is an electrical one, the handle for switching it off
may be so placed that on the hinged board being raised to again cover up the
notice board, the electric circuit may be reformed, so that the bell will ring, unless
the water has ceased to be frozen, in which case the circuit will be broken at the
point where it depends on the lever operated by the rod from the disc.
The special advantage of my invention is that it does not depend entirely upon
the bell, but also gives a very obvious and distinct signal, consisting of the
presence of the board and linen cloth, which cannot be overlooked if the bell is not
ringing.
Dated this 19th dew of January 1894.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for Avoiding the Danger of Boller
Explosions Arising by Reason of the Water Freezing in the
same or in the Pipes Attached thereto.
I, WALTER HUMBERSTONE, of "Boldrewood," Montem Road, New Malden,
Surrey, Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
According to my invention, I fix on any suitable part of the boiler, or of the
water pipes, but preferably on the part of the pipes most exposed to cold, or in
any other position as found most convenient, a small cylinder or short tube in
which the water is usually free to enter. When the water freezes, it expands, and
in so doing causes a flexible disc (forming the upper or outer end of the cylinder)
which is generally concave or bulged inwards to become flat, or under a greater
pressure, to bulge outwards, and in so doing, the disc pushes a rod which rests
loosely upon it; this rod being pushed by the disc in a direction away from the
pipe or boiler, acts upon a lever suitably connected in such a manner as to cause
the free end of the said lever either to complete an electric circuit and cause an
electric alarm bell to ring and continue ringing until switched off, or else to release
a catch, which sets free a spring and causes a mechanical alarm bell to ring.
The aforesaid lever, when operated by the rod from the disc, also sets free a
hinged board which covers a notice bearing the words :-"Do not light the fire,"
or "Water is frozen," or "Dangerous," or other suitable words for warning any
person who comes to light the fire, not to do so; the binged board dropping down
exposes the said notice board to view.
A long strip of linen, cotton, or other fabric may be rolled up behind the said
hinged board, and unroll or hang down when the hinged board is released, so as to
be more noticeable than the board itself.
Where the alarm bell used is an electrical one, the handle for switching it off
may be so placed that on the hinged board being raised to again cover up the
notice board, the electric circuit may be re-formed, so that the bell will ring unless
the water has ceased to be frozen, in which case the circuit will be broken at the
point where it depends on the lever operated by the rod from the disc.
I will now proceed to describe two modes in which my invention may be carried
into effect, and will for that purpose refer to the accompanying sheet of drawings,
wherein
Fig. 1 is a general view of the arrangement of my apparatus where a mechanical
alarm is used;
Fig. 2 is a general view of the arrangement where the alarm is given by
electrical means; and
Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a larger scale through the cylinder A.
Referring to Fig. 1, A is the cylinder, which is screwed into or otherwise
attached to any suitable part of the boiler or pipes. Placed inside the said
cylinder A is the disc (B, Fig. 3) of flexible metal or other material, which disc
bulges upwards or outwards when the water expands in freezing. C is a rod on
said disc. D is a lever, pivoted at D', for multiplying the motion imparted to it
by rod C. E is a bell crank lever having at its upper end a projection E' for
retaining the swinging arm F, around which arm F passes a loop or honk G at the
end of a cord or wire G' passing over a pulley H, the other end of said cord G¹
being attached to the spring of a mechanical alarm apparatus I (of any suitable
kind) so that when said cord is held fast by swinging arm F, the spring is in
tension. J is a spring pressing the plate K outwards, so as to ensure its falling
down when released. K is the plate or board which normally covers up the notice

page_text: of danger; this plate or board K is hinged at its lower end, as shewn. U is a bell
crank lever which normally retains the board or plate K in position, but is con--
nected to the spring of the alarm bell I by cord or wire V, and thereby operated
to release board or plate K when required. All the parts in this figure are shewo
in the positions they normally occupy, when the water is not frozen.
When the water freezes, the rod is forced up, operating lever D, which in turn,
actuates bell crank lever E, until the catch or projection E' leaves the swinging
arm F free. The arm F is pulled up by the loop or hook G until the said loop G
slips off said arm F, and the spring of the alarm I is released, and rings the bell..
At the same time, the bell crank lever U is pulled by the spring of the alarm I
clear of the plate K, which plate K being pushed outwards by spring J, then falls.
down by its own weight and displays the danger-signal, which remains conspicuously
in view until it is restored to its place; and even then unless the water has ceased
to be frozen, it will not remain in position unless tied up, because the spring J
pushes it outwards, and the bell-crank lever U is held clear and cannot act to keep.
it in position.
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 2, the cylinder and parts in connection are the
same as in Fig. 1, but the parts E, F, G, H and I of Fig. 1 may be dispensed with.
On the lever Ď is a contact piece L, which is fixed just under the pin M. This.
pin M is connected to a wire passing to an electric alarm bell N. Another wire
passes from the contact piece L to a Leclanché cell or other form of electric
battery P, which is also in connection with the alarm N. A balanced catch R may
retain the plate K in position until released by the hammer of the electric bell
disengaging the catch R from said plate, a counterweight R' being attached to the
catch R so as to enable it to be easily moved by the hammer, which can only exert
a small amount of force, even when the full current is passing; but by means of the
counterweight, the catch R can be so delicately adjusted that the slightest trembling
of the hammer suffices to disengage said catch; and thus, if the current be too.
weak to ring the bell, still the plate K will fall.
In the latter arrangement (Fig. 2) on the rod C raising lever D, the piece L
comes in contact with pin M and completes the electric circuit; the bell will ring,
and unless attended to, continue ringing until the water ceases to be frozen, or the
battery is exhausted; and at the same time the plate K falls down and exposes the
notice to view. In order to stop the ringing of the bell after it has given the alarm, a
switch is provided, as shewn in Fig. 2 at S, whereby the circuit may be broken and
re-made as desired; but in this case, a sliding piece T is employed, which prevents.
the current being switched off so long as the plate K is folded up, and allows it to
be switched off only when the plate K is hanging down; so that when the
water is frozen, there must necessarily be either the danger-signal exhibited, or
the bell ringing.
In Fig. 2, all the parts are shewn in the positions they assume when the water is
frozen.
Fig. 3 shews more clearly the cylinder A, disc B, and rod C, which form an
essential part of my invention. When filling the boiler and pipes with water the
air in the cylinder A is allowed to escape by opening the tap A¹. It must be
understood that the cylinder and parts in connection therewith may either be as
close to the bell and plate K as shewn in the drawings, or may be in an entirely
different part of the building, being connected by wires; whilst the alarm and the
plate K must be in the room where the fire is, so that the danger-signal cannot fail
to be seen.
The special advantage of my invention is that it does not depend
entirely upon the bell, but also gives a very obvious and distinct signal, consisting
of the presence of the board and linen cloth, which cannot fail to be seen, whether
the bell rings or not.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same may be performed, I would have it understood
that I do not limit myself to the exact details shewn, as these may be varied

page_text: according to requirements without departing from the principle of my invention ;:
but what I claim is :
1. The cylinder A, containing flexible disc B, which, when forced upwards or
outwards by the expansion of the water in freezing, sets in motion apparatus for
notifying that the water is frozen, substantially as set forth.
2. The use of a hinged plate or board, such as K, with or without a strip of
fabric attached thereto, for displaying a danger-signal when the water in boilers or
pipes is frozen, substantially as herein set forth.
3. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of apparatus shewn in
Fig. 1, comprising cylinder A with flexible disc therein, rod C lever D, bell-crank
lever E, swinging arm F, loop or hook G, cord or wire G¹, pulley H, alarm I,
spring J, plate K, bell crank lever U, and cord or wire V, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
4. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of apparatus shewn
in Fig. 2, comprising cylinder A with flexible disc therein, rod C, lever D, contact
piece L, pin M, electric alarm N, battery P, balanced catch R, counterweight R',
plate K, spring J, switch S, and sliding piece T, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 29th day of March 1894.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.