IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF WATER IN CISTERNS OR OTHER VESSELS IN CONNECTION WITH BATHS AND OTHER WATER APPARATUSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Shaw of Lockwood near Huddersfield in the
County of York, Brass Finisher and Frederick Milan of Lockwood aforesaid,
Hot Water Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF WATER
IN CISTERNS OR OTHER VESSELS IN CONNECTION WITH BATHS AND OTHER
WATER APPARATUSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Shaw and Frederick
Milan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January
1883.
JOSEPH SHAW of Lockwood near Huddersfield in the County of York Brass
Finisher, and FREDERICK MILAN of Lockwood aforesaid, Hot Water Engineer-
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE
PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF WATER IN CISTERNS OR OTHER VESSELS IN CONNECTION
WITH BATHS AND OTHER WATER APPARATUSES "
The object of our Invention is to provide apparatus which will indicate the
presence or absence of water in cisterns, or other vessels or pipes, and also to
provide the said apparatus with alarums, when either the water pipes, boiler or
cistern are empty or deranged.
For this. purpose we fix in some convenient place below the water cistern an
indicating apparatus consisting of one or more pipes containing mercury, or other
suitable fluid which is in connection with and acted upon by the pressure of water
in the pipes, boiler or other vessel. The mercury thus acted upon will flow in the
tubes and indicate the condition of the said pipes, boiler or vessel.
When the pressure of water is great, it causes the mercury to flow through the
tubes into a receiver formed on the top thereof, thereby allowing the water to
Paine 11

page_text: escape so as to relieve the pressure, whilst the overflow water may be utilized to
extinguish the fire.
As the cisterns or water apparatuses are placed in different positions and con-
sequently have different pressures, we employ adjustable tablets or marks to suit
the various pressures
Instead of using the indicating tubes and tablets we may employ the same form
of apparatus to relieve the pressure of water without indicating the condition of
the pipes, boiler or vessel
In connection with the apparatus we have herein described, we may employ an
electric or other form of alarm to indicate when the hot water apparatus is in u
dangerous condition

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Shaw & Frederick Milan in the Grent Seal Patent Office
on the 11th July 1883.
JOSEPH SHAW, of Lockwood, near Huddersfield, in the County of York Brass
Finisher, and FREDERICK MILAN, of Lockwood aforesaid Hot Water Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE
PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF WATER IN CISTERNS OR OTHER VESSELS IN CONNECTION
WITH BATHS AND OTHER WATER APPARATUS
"
The object of our Invention is to provide apparatus which will indicate the
presence or absence of water in cisterns, or other vessels or pipes, and also to
provide the said apparatus with alarums, when either the water pipes, boiler, or
cistern is empty or deranged.
For this purpose we employ an arrangement of tubes containing mercury or
other fluid, as shewn in Fig 1 which is elevation of the apparatus. A is a glass
tube supplied with mercury from an outer tube B shewn in soction at Fig 2. C is
a pipe which is in communication with either pipes, boiler, or cistern, the said
pipe C may however be connected to the opposite side D, the end thereof being
closed by a cap E. On the top of the tube A is a cup or receiver F so that if the
pipes between boiler and cistern were stopped up by frost or other cause, the
pressure of water in the boiler would be so great as to force the mercury into the
said cup and allow the water to escape, thus relieving the pressure, and preventing
an explosion. To the cup F is attached a pipe G which if necessary may be
conveyed to the fire, so that water escaping therefrom would extinguish the said
fire, and put an end to further danger. As the cisterns or water apparatus are
placed at different heights, and consequently have different pressures, wo employ
adjustable tablets H which can be slided up and down the groove I and a ljusted
to suit the various pressures.
The action of the apparatus is as follows-
The tubes and parts in immediate connection therewith are placed into neat
framework J and attached to the wall in some conspicuous place, and connected by
pipes C to-say-the boiler or flow pipes usually at the back of a kitchen in houses,
or to the boiler or pipes in connection with hot water heating apparatus. When
the cistern which supplys the boiler is full or nearly full, the mercury will rise up
the tube as shewn in dotted line, but if the cistern was empty, the pressure of the
water would be less, consequently the mercury would fall as low as the tablet
which indicates an empty cistern-so far however there is no fear of immediate
danger, but should the pipes between cistern and boiler be empty also, the mercury
would still lower until all of it was in the tube B indicating no water. If there
was no water in neither the cistern nor pipes, steam would be generated in the
boiler as previously described, whereby a greater pressure would operate on the
mercury and force it up into the cup F, allowing the steam to escape which may
be employed to sound a whistle placed in the cup F. Or electric wires may be
placed in the tube so that when the mercury reached a dangerous height by
pressure, the electric circuit would be completed, and alarm bells rung.
Having now shewn and described our Invention, and the manner in which tho
same has to be performed, we would have it understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the said details, herein shewn and described, but what we consider to
be new and therefore claim as our Invention is-
Firstly The use and employment, in combination with a hot water boiler or its

page_text: connections, of a mercurial indicator for purposes substantially as herein shewn and
described
Secondly-In combination with a mercurial indicator of a bell or other form of
alarum for purposes substantially as shewn and described
In witness whereof, we the said Joseph Shaw and Frederick Milan have
hereunto set our hands and seals this ninth day of July in the year of our
Lord one thousand, eight hundred, and eighty three.
TANKAY ATTE
JOSEPH SHAW
(4.5)
FREDERICK MILAN (L.S.)