New or Improved Water-level and Pressure-indicating Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1895-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Water-level and Pressure-indicating Apparatus.
We, GEORG KLEINE, and EMIL TEMPEL, both of 7 Rosenkranz, Bremen, in
the Empire of Germany, Merchants, 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for indicating at a distance by electricity the
height of the water in the gauge-glass, and the pressure indicated on the pressure
gauge of a steam boiler, and for ringing an alarm bell when the water-level falls
below, or the steam pressure rises above, a predetermined point.
In the drawings hereto annexed,
Figure 1 shows an electrical apparatus for indicating the water level and for
transmitting the indications to an indicator at a distance, Figure 2 a sectional
elevation of same, Figure 3 a section of same, taken at right angles to Figure 2,
Figure 4 a diagram of the electrical connections of the apparatus shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 3,
Figure 5 a front view of a pressure gauge with indication transmitting devices
applied thereto, Figure 6 a side view of same,
Figure 7 a diagrammatic front view of the receiver supposed to be placed at a
distance from the transmitter, and
Figure 8 a diagram of the conductors between the transmitting and receiving
apparatus.
Many explosions of boilers are attributable to the attendant allowing the water-
level to fall too low, or the pressure of the steam to rise too high, it is therefore
desirable to have a means of verifying at any time, and at points more or less
distant from the boiler, as for example in the office of a manufactory, or on the
bridge, or in the captain's cabin, of a ship, the level of the water, and the pressure
of steam in the boiler, and, in case of danger, an indication, by a self-acting alarm,
of the rising of the pressure above, or the sinking of the water-level below, certain
predetermined points.
In order to indicate the level of the water in the gauge glass we provide an
apparatus which shows this level on a dial by means of an index finger similar to
that of a pressure gauge, see Figures 1 to 3, and which comprises the following
arrangements: In the side of the water gauge-glass A are secured, by fusion of
the glass round them, platinum points B which serve as poles for conducting wires C
leading to corresponding electro-magnets placed behind a dial plate K. On the
axis H is secured an insulated disc E having on its periphery an iron or steel
plate F, which forms a movable armature for the iron cores of the electro-magnets D
as the latter are successively magnetized by the current as will be hereinafter
explained. A trailing spring a', fixed to the back of the plate F, makes contact
with the inner projecting ends D' of the wire coils of any three of the electro-
magnets D and conducts the current back through the conductor G to the battery L.
On the axis H is also secured the index finger ⇓ which shows on the scale of the
dial plate K the number corresponding to the height of the water in the gauge-
glass, in the same way as the index of a pressure gauge shows the pressure of the
steam. N is the negative pole from which the conductor M leads to the battery L.
The apparatus for transmitting the indications of the finger J, Figures 1, 3
and 4, or of the finger of the steam pressure gauge, Figures 5 and 6, to a distance

page_text: 9
is similar for both water-level and pressure-indicating apparatus. On the axis H
of the water-level indicator, (see Figure 2) or on the axis P of the pressure
gauge O, (see Figure 5) as the case may be, is secured a contact disc a having on
it contact pins or plates 6 corresponding to the divisions of the water-level indicator
or pressure gauge as the case may be. Two contact springs c, (see Figures 2, 3, 4,
5 and 6) bear against these pins or plates b, and conduct the current back to earth
at Q, or to the battery R (see Figure 8). On the axis H or P, as the case may
be, is also fitted a movable contact lever d which is connected electrically with the
pins or plates of the disc a and is pressed by means of the spring e against an
insulated sleeve f, (see Figures 3 and 6) and is forced to follow, by the friction
thus produced, the rotation of the axis H or P in either direction, until it comes
against one or other of the contact pieces thereby sending the current through
one or the other conductor to the electro-magnet in the receiving instrument, see
Figures 7 and 8. Below the iron cores of the electro-magnet i is a permanent
magnet fulcrumed at its centre'and having depending from it a lever arm / to
which are hung two movable arms m which rest on the pins n and take at their
pointed ends o between the pins p of the receiving disc These pins p are spaced
to correspond with the scale S of the receiving instrument. The springs serve to
detach the magnet lever & from the iron cores of the electro-magneti in case the
latter remain too long magnetized. The conductor s leads the current back to the
battery R. In the water-level indicator there are also two contact pins t and u
(see Figures 23 and 4) with which a contact piece v on the disc E comes successively
in contact. The piece v is in electrical connection with the axis H, and consequently
with the battery L so that when the said piece v comes in contact with the pin t
the circuit is closed through the conductor t and alarm bell T, causing the latter to
sound when the level of the water in the boiler has sunk to the lowest level allowed,
as for example to the point indicated by the numeral 3 on the gauge glass in
Figure 1. A further sinking of the water in the gauge glass brings the piece v
into contact with the pin u as well as with the pin t, which not only maintains the
circuit through the bell T, but also closes a circuit through the conductor u alarm
bell U and reserve battery V, causing the said bell U to sound as well as the
bell T, thereby indicating imminent danger. It is obvious that this alarm
apparatus can also be employed in a similar way in connection with the steam
pressure gauge.
The action of the apparatus, and the method of using the same is as follows:-
The water-level indicator and indication transmitter (Figures 1, 2 and 3 for
example) is placed in the engine-room, preferably near the water gauge-glass to
enable the attendant to verify the action of the apparatus' at all times. The water
in the gauge-glass closes the electric circuit through the poles B and N; and the
current traverses certain of the induction coils of the electro-magnets D in the
following manner :-
In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the water stands in the gauge glass A. at such
a height that the positive pole No. 8 is immersed in the water, and the contact
spring a on the insulated disc E is in contact with the inner ends D' of the wire
coils of the electro-magnets D corresponding to the numbers 7, 8 and marked on
the dial K. Of these three electro-maguets numbers 7 and 8 only are excited
because they alone can receive current from their corresponding poles No. 7 and 8
in the gauge glass, the electro-magnet 9 not receiving current because its corre-
sponding pole No. 9 is not covered with water and is therefore not in circuit with
the battery L. As the two electro-magnets 7 and 8 are excited they attract the
plate F and cause the index finger J to stand over the number 8 on the dial K
corresponding to the uppermost immersed pole in the gauge glass A, holding the
said index finger in that position so long as the level of the water in the gauge
glass does not uncover pole No. 8 or rise to pole No. 9.
If however the water rises
to the level of No. 9 pole, current passes to the coil of No. 9 electro-magnet and
magnetises the iron core of the latter; this causes the plate F and index-finger J
to be drawn further round so that the latter takes a position over the number 9 on

page_text: the dial K, and the spring a¹ is taken out of contact with the end D₁ of the coil
of the electro-maguet No. 7, cutting off the current therefrom but bringing the
said spring a into contact with the end D' of the coil of No. 10 electro-magnet..
Nos. 8 and 9 electro-magnets are now magnetised and they hold the plate in
position such that the index finger J stands over the number 9 on the dial K, and
so on for any further rise of the water in the gauge glass. If instead of rising to
pole No. 9 the water falls below pole No. 8 the current through the coil of
No. 8 electro-magnet is cut off, and the plate F is drawn back by electro-magnet 7
taking the forward end of spring a¹ out of contact with the end D' of coil No. 8.
and bringing its hinder end into contact with end D' of coil No. 6 whereby the
core of No. 6 is magnetised, and draws the plate F still further back bringing the
index finger J over the number 7 on the dial K, corresponding to the then highest
immersed pole in the gauge glass, namely No. 7. Thus every rise or fall of the
level of the water in the gauge glass produces a corresponding movement of the
index finger J so that the position of the latter shows exactly the height of
the water in the gauge glass.
In the above described operations the electric circuit is completed as follows:-
Battery L, conductor M, negative pole N, the water in the gauge glass, the two
highest immersed positive poles B, conductors C, coils of the two electro-magnets D
corresponding to the said two highest immersed positive poles B, spring a', plate F,
and conductor G back to the battery L.
The above described operations relate only to the movements of the index finger
on the dial K. When these movements are required to produce similar movements
of the index finger of a receiving apparatus placed at a distance, such as that shown
in Figures 7 and 8 for example, the action is as follows:-
The movement of the index finger J and its axis H from left to right causes the
arm d to come into contact with the conductor g enabling a current to pass from
battery R through conductor s, coil i, conductor g, arm d, disc a, pin or plate b,
spring c, to earth. This causes the electro-magnet i to be magnetised positively so
that it attracts the negative end of the magnet k, and repels the positive end, which
moves the arm 7 to the right, the arms m hung to it are thereby so moved that the
one shown to the left in the drawing comes out of gear with the pins p because it
lies on the pin n, on the other hand the right hand arm m falls, comes into gear
with one of the pins p and turns the disc one pin to the right, whereby the index
finger W of the receiving instrument is caused to make a forward movement.
corresponding to that made by the index finger J in the transmitting instrument.
When the index finger J makes another forward movement the disc a moves also
and the pin or plate b which had until now been in contact with the spring c is
brought out of contact therewith, thereby interrupting the current and allowing
the magnet and arm in the receiving apparatus to return to their normal
positions, and bringing the next pin or plate b on the disc a into contact with the
spring c allowing the current to again pass and to again move the magnet k which
causes the index finger W to be moved another division on its scale so as to
correspond with the new position of the index finger J.
When the index finger J makes a backward movement, the arm d is moved out
of contact with conductor g, and into contact with conductor h, enabling a current
to pass from the battery K, through conductor s, coil i, conductor h, arm d, disc a,
pin or plate b, spring c, to earth. This causes the electro-magnet i to be magnetised
negatively so that it attracts the positive end of the inagnet k and repels the
negative end which moves the arm to the left, whereby the left hand arm m.
causes the index finger W to make a backward movement corresponding to that
made by the index finger J.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what.
we claim is :-
First. The water-level indicating apparatus consisting firstly of a water-level

page_text: gauge glass provided with platinum pins or poles passing into the interior thereof
at certain distances apart; secondly of an indicator comprising a series of induction
coils connected to the pins or poles in the gauge glass and arranged round a rotatable
insulated disc provided with an armature and a contact spring, and mounted on the
axis of an index finger, substantially as described.
Second. In combination with the water-level indicating apparatus forming the
subject of the first claiming clause hereof, or with a pressure gauge, the indication
transmitting apparatus which consists of a contact dise fixed on the axis of the
index finger of the water-level or pressure indicating apparatus, and provided with
-contact pins or plates spaced to correspond-to the divisions of the dial plate and, in
the case of the water-level indicator, to the spacing of the pins or poles in the
gauge glass, contact springs which connect the said pins or plates with the return
conductor to the battery or to earth, a contact lever or arm connected by spring
friction to the axis of the index finger and moving therewith so as to be brought
into contact with either a positive or a negative conductor; and of a receiving
apparatus comprising an electro-magnet connected with the aforesaid positive or
negative conductor and arranged to act on a magnetic escapement or pawl which
turns an index finger so as to indicate ou a dial face the same number as the index
finger of the indicating and indication transmitting apparatus, and consequently, in
the case of the water-level indicating apparatus, the number corresponding to the
highest contact pin or pole reached by the water in the gauge glass, substantially
as described.
Third. In a water-level or pressure indicating apparatus of the kind herein
described the device which consists of a contact plate arranged behind the index
finger and one or more contact pins whereby a reserve conductor and one or more
alarm bells are so brought into circuit that the alarm sounds when the water-level
in the gauge glass falls below a certain point, or when the pressure of steam rises
to a certain point, substantially as described.
The Kith day of my 1845
Dated this 16th day
9681 E
G. KLEINE,
E. TEMPEL,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.