IMPROVEMENTS IN AP- PARATUS FOR INDICATING THE PRESSURE OF ELASTIC OR NON-ELASTIC FLUIDS
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Roper Penning at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1876.
"
JOSEPH ROPER PENNING, Engineer Draughtsman, of No. 404, Commercial Road,
Landport, Portsmouth, in the County of Southampton.. IMPROVEMENTS IN AP-
PARATUS FOR INDICATING THE PRESSURE OF ELASTIC OR NON-ELASTIC FLUIDS."
This Invention relates to pressure gauges used for indicating the pressure of
steam in steam boilers or other vessels of air, gas, or other elastic fluids, or of water
or other non-clastic fluids. It has for its objects an improved method of constructing
the parts of such pressure gauges through which the fluid (the pressure of which is
to be indicated) is admitted to the gauge in such manner that it can be ascertained
at any time with ease and certainty whether the pressure gauge is in operation and
is indicating properly, or whether its action has become in any way obstructed or
fixed.
To the aperture through which the steam, air, or other fluid is admitted to the
pressure gauge I attach or connect a cock fitted with a plug operated by a handle
in the usual way. The cock has two openings opposite and in a line with each other,
to one of which the pressure gauge is screwed or connected, whilst the other is con-
nected to a pipe through which the fluid, the pressure of which is to be indicated, is
supplied. The plug of the cock has a straight hole through it which opens a com-
munication through the cock when the handle is in a line with the latter. Through
the plug a second hole is made from one side at right angles to the first, but only
half way through the plug so as to communicate with the hole first described, and
a corresponding hole is made in one of the sides of the cock at right angles to its
length.
The arrangement described constitutes in effect what is known as a three-way.
cock, and its operation in combination with the pressure gauge (which may be
made in any of the ordinary methods well known and used) is as follows:-
When the handle is hanging down in a line with the cock the fluid is admitted
through the plug to the pressure gauge, the second hole in the plug being on the
opposite side to the second corresponding hole in the cock, which hole is conse-
quently closed. When the handle is turned one quarter round so that the hole
through the plug is across the cock, the second hole in the plug is vertical and
communicates with the pressure gauge, whilst the communication with the supply

page_text: pipe is shut off; the gauge is therefore released from pressure, the fluid which
actuated it passing down through the vertical hole in the plug into the transverse
hole, from one end of which it escapes into the atmosphere through the corresponding
hole in the cock. If therefore the pressure gauge is in proper order its indicating
hand will pass to zero when the pressure is removed as described.
If the handle be turned round through half a circle the second hole through the
plug will be vertical, communicating below with the supply pipe and above with
the transverse hole in the plug, through one end of which the fluid under pressure
will escape into the atmosphere through the corresponding hole in the side of the
cock; the supply pipe will thus be cleaned of any obstruction until it can be scen
that it is free and clear.
By occasionally working the handle as described it can instantly be seen that the
pressure gauge is nowhere obstructed in its action, and great safety is thus
obtained.