IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSION THEREOF
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Drury, of Paddock, near Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Machine Maker, for the Invention of. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM BOILERS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSION THEREOF."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Drury at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th March
1856..
I, JOHN DRURY, of Paddock, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSION THEREOF," to be as
follows:
This Invention consists in certain novel and improved mechanical arrange-
ments for effecting the following improvements in steam boilers:-
Firstly, for giving' notice by a steam' whistle when there is a deficiency of
water in the boiler..
Secondly, for extinguishing the furnace fire when there is a deficiency of
water in the boiler,
Thirdly, for admitting water into the boiler when the feed pump'does not
perform properly.
Fourthly, for determining the height of the water in the boiler, and causing
the float employed for that purpose to operate upon other mechanical arrange-
ments when there is too small a quantity of water in the boiler. :
The following mechanical arrangements may be employed for effecting the
above improvements':
As regards the first part of these improvements, I adapt to the top of the
boiler a casting, containing two. valves, fixed upon a rod, working steam-tight

page_text: in a stuffing box upon the top of the boiler, the lower end of said rod passes
into the boiler, and has a weight fixed upon the end thereof. The above valves
are employed for covering and uncovering certain outlets, namely, one from
the boiler to the space between the valves, another below the lowermost valve,
and a similar one above the uppermost valve. The above outlets unite in one
common outlet, at the top of which a bell or whistle is attached, which is acted
upon by the steam from the boiler as the valves are raised.
As regards the second part of these improvements, I adapt to the top of
the boiler another casting, containing two other valves, fixed upon a rod with
a weight attached thereto. The inlet pipe in the boiler reaches to within a
short distance of the bottom thereof, and the outlet pipe passes through the
bottom of said boiler, so that the raising of the aforesaid valves allows the
water to be forced by the pressure of the steam thereon through the outlet
pipe, and by these means to extinguish the fire in the furnace.
As regards the third part of these improvements, I adapt to the top of the
boiler another casting, containing three valves and two outlets, one of which is
connected with an ordinary feed pump, and to the other a pipe is connected,
which passes into the boiler in the ordinary manner. All the above valves are
fixed upon a rod working steam-tight through the top of the boiler; the lower
end of said rod is connected to one end of a lever, vibrating upon a pin or
stud fixed to the boiler; and to the other end of said lever a float is affixed,
said float working in a vessel beneath it to ensure steady movement thereof.
The operations of the above arrangements are as follows:-Supposing the
level of the water in the boiler to be getting gradually lower, then the gravity
of the float, aided by the pressure of the steam thereon, will cause the opposite
end of the lover upon which the float is fixed to be raised, and coming into
contact with a weight, will lift it and the valves connected therewith, and thus
allow the steam from the boiler to pass the valves, thereby sounding a whistle
and giving notice of a deficiency of water in the boiler; and should such notice
not be heeded by the attendant, the aforesaid lever continuing to rise will come
into contact with another weight, and lift other valves connected therewith, and
thus allow the pressure of the steam upon the surface of the water in the
boiler to force the water out of the boiler by the outlet pipe on to the fire, and
thus extinguish it, and by these means prevent explosion of the boiler. As the
water flows out of the boiler, the descent of the float therewith will cause the
lever to lift the feed valves, and allow a fresh supply of water to enter the boiler,
and as the float rises, the opposite end of the lever thereof descending, will close
the before-mentioned valves, and the fire being again lighted, steam may be
generated as before.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Drury in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN DRURY,
of, Paddock, near Huddersfield, in the County of York, Machine Maker, 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 fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Drury, Her special licence that I, the said John Drury, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Drury, 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 Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
BOILERS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSION THEREOF," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Drury, my executors or administrators, 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 John Drury, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in certain novel and improved mechanical arrange-
ments for effecting the following improvements in steam boilers:-
Firstly, for giving notice by a steam whistle when there is a deficiency of
water in the boiler.
Secondly, for extinguishing the furnace fire when there is a deficiency of
water in the boiler.
Thirdly, for admitting water into the boiler when the feed pump does not
perform properly.
Fourthly, for determining the height of the water in the boiler, and causing
the float, employed for that purpose, to operate upon other mechanical arrange-
ments when there is too small a quantity of water in the boiler.

page_text: The following mechanical arrangements may be employed for effecting my
said, improvements:
t
As regards the first part thereof, I adapt to the top of the boiler a
casting, containing two valves, fixed upon a rod working steam-tight through
the top of the boiler. The lower end of said rod passes into the boiler,
and has a weight fixed upon the end thereof. The above 'valves are
employed for covering and uncovering certain outlets, namely, one from the
boiler to the space between the valves, another below the lowermost valve, and
a similar one above the uppermost valve. The above outlets unite in one
"common outlet, at the top of which a bell or whistle is attached, which is acted
upon by the steam from the boiler as the valves are raised."
As regards the second part of my said improvements, 1 adapt to the top of
the boiler another casting, containing two other valves, fixed upon a rod with
a weight attached thereto. The inlet pipe to the boiler reaches to within a
short distance of the bottom thereof, and the outlet pipe passes through the
bottom of said boiler, so that the raising of the aforesaid valves allows the
water to be forced by the pressure of the steam thereon through the outlet
pipe, and by these means to extinguish the fire in the furnace.
As regards the third part of my said improvements, I adapt to the top of
the boiler another casting, containing three valves and two outlets, one of which
is connected with 'an ordinary feed pump, and to the other a pipe is connected,
which passes into the boiler in the ordinary inanner. All the above valves are
fixed upon a rod working steam-tight through the top of the boiler; the
lower end of said rod is connected to one end of a lever, vibrating upon a pin
or stud fixed to the boiler, and to the other end of said levér a float is affixe<l,
said float working in a vessel beneath it to ensure steady movement thereof.
-1'
The operations of the above arrangements are as follows:-Supposing the
level of the water in the boiler to be 'getting gradually lower, then the gravity
of the float, aided by the pressure of the steam thereon, will cause the opposite
end of the lever upon which the float is fixed to be raised, and coming into
contact with a weight, will lift it and the valves connected therewith, and thus
allow the steam from the boiler to pass the valves, thereby sounding a whistle
and giving notice of a deficiency of water in the boiler; and should such
notice not be heeded by the attendant, the aforesaid lever continuing to rise
will come into contact with another weight, and lift other valves connected
therewith, and thus allow the pressure of the steam upon the surface of the
water in the boiler to force the water out of the boiler by the outlet pipe on
to the fire, and thus extinguish the same, and by these means I prevent
explosion of the boiler. As the water flows out of the boiler, the descent of
the float therewith-will cause the lever to lift the feed valves, and allow a fresh

page_text: supply of water to enter the boiler, and as the float rises, the opposite end of
the lever thereof descending, will close the before-mentioned valves, and the
fire being again. lighted, steam may be generated as before.
In order to explain.my said Invention .as completely as possible, I now.pro-
ceed to describe the best means I.am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked thereon
respectively as follows
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING..
Figure 1 exhibits, the interior of a casting, in which.are placed three valves,
respectively marked Nos. 1, 3. No. 1 is the valve at which the boiler is fed
with water; No. 3 is a valve for the passage of water to extinguish the furnace
fire before the boiler becomes void of water. At Figure 2, 5 is the float
employed for giving motion.to the aforesaid valves, as.also the valve 2, which
last mentioned valve is employed for giving.notice, as hereafter.described, when
the water in the boiler is lowering. Bis a lever, one end whereof is fixed upon
the axis II of the aforesaid valves, and to the other and opposite end of said
lever the float 5 is connected by a rod A, as also the rod D, working in the glass
tube E of the guage C. At Figure 3, F is the cover of the aforesaid valves
Nos. 1 and 3; G is the cover of the valve No. 2. At Figure 1, I is the inlet or
port of the feed valve No. 1; J is the outlet thereof, the flange of which is
connected to the inside of the boiler; M is the inlet, and N the outlet of the
valve No. 3. At Figure 2, K is the inlet or port of the notice valve No. 2;
Lis the outlet thereof.
Figure 5 shews. the construction of the slide valve; employed for feeding
the boiler with water. O is a casting, the bottom whereof is fixed to the top
of the boiler; C is the inlet; D, the inlet port, and E the outlet; F is a lever,
working on a fulcrum at G, suitably fixed inside of the boiler, said lever being
employed for imparting motion to the slide valve.
Figure 4 exhibits another arrangement of valves, which I term equilibrium
valves, to be employed for feeding the boiler with water. A is the inlet port;
B, the outlet; C, C, valves, mounted on a spindle D; E, a lever for impart-
ing motion to said valves through the agency of a float, similar to that marked 5
at Figure 2; F is the fulcrum of the lever E.
Figure 6 shews a safety valve constructed according to my said Invention,
and designed for stopping or preventing the generating of steam in steam
boilers. A is a pipe dipping into the water in the boiler; B, the water line;
C, a weight attached to the valve D; E, an outlet pipe for the water to pass
from the boiler. The operations of this valve are as follows:-When the

page_text: steam attains a certain pressure (according to the weight on the valve) the.
water rises in the pipe A, lifts the valve D, and passes by the same along.
the outlet pipe E, which is connected by another pipe (not shewn by the
Drawing) with the furnace fire, thereby extinguishes the same, and stopping
or preventing the further generating of steam in the boiler.
Figures 7 & 8 valves constructed to regulate the height of water in the
boiler; should the water get low it will extinguish the fire; should the steam;
be above the ordinary pressure it will extinguish the fire.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of
'Improvements in Steam Boilers for Preventing Explosion thereof," together
with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical
effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that what I claim as my Invention,
intended to be secured to me by the above in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
Firstly, the mechanical arrangements, exhibited at Figure 2, for giving
notice when there is a deficiency of water in the boiler.
Secondly, the mechanical arrangements, exhibited at Figures 1, 7, 8, for
extinguishing the furnace fire when there is a deficiency of water in the.
boiler..
Thirdly, the mechanical arrangements, exhibited at Figure 4, for admitting
water into the boiler when the feed pump does not perform properly.
Fourthly, the mechanical arrangements, exhibited at Figures 5 and 6, for
determining the height of the water in the boiler, and causing the float
employed for that purpose to operate upon the lever B and slide so as to
admit water into the boiler when there is too small a quantity therein.
Fifthly, the mechanical arrangement, exhibited at 7 & 8, for extinguishing
the furnace fire, when the pressure of steam has got beyond a given height.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Drury, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
JAMES WHITWAM;
Paddock, n' Huddersfield.
JOHN DKURY. (L.S.)