Method of Signalling and Avoiding or Minimising the Danger of Steam Generators Running Short of Water.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1889-Accepted, 22nd June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method of Signalling and Avoiding or Minimising the Danger of
Steam Generators Running Short of Water.
1, FRANZ WALTER, of Essen an der Ruhr, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire, 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 :—
This invention relates to an arrangement for causing a signal apparatus in connection
with steam Generators to be set in action whenever the water level in the boiler has
gone down to a certain point, such arrangement being sometimes combined with
contrivances for causing steam to enter the fire-boxes in order to extinguish the fires
or causing feed-water to be supplied to the boiler.
The manner in which I carry my invention into effect is shewn in the accompanying
drawings of which
Fig. 1, shews the contrivance connected with an electrical signal apparatus.
Fig. 2, shews the contrivance connected with a tube arrangement for admitting
steam to the fires.
Fig. 3, is a variation upon the manner of connecting the contrivance with signalling
apparatus.
Fig. 4, shews the arrangement connected with a contrivance for letting water into
the boiler.
According to my invention I insert or connect a steam pipe W with the boiler, the
connection being at the point below which I do not desire the water-level to get.
Such steam-pipe I carry to a chamber L, which may be made from two metal
plates T&T, constructed in such a manner that there is a hollow space L between
them, which hollow space is divided into two divisions by means of the diaphragm P,
which moves from one side to the other accordingly as the pressure exercise on one
side or the other is the largest. Such pressure being exercised on one side by means
of steam carried in the tube W on the other by means of steam carried through the
tube D, which issues from the portion of the boiler which is generally above the
highest water level.
The central part of the diaphragm is of more solid material and to it is attached a
rod a, the end of which carries a valve or plug v of any suitable construction.
The pressure exercised on the left hand side of the diaphragm P, i.e. by the tube D
is so much larger than the pressure exercised on the right hand side i.e. by the
tube W as the weight of the column of water in tube W, such column of water being
of course equal to the distance from the point where the tube is inserted up to the
water level. Whenever therefore the water level in the boiler is at such a height that
water can enter the tube W, then the diaphragm will be pushed, on account of the
higher pressure exercised on its left hand side, towards the right i.e. towards the outlet
of the tube W, thereby keeping the valve or the plug closed, but as soon as the
water level sinks to a point where no water can stand in or enter the tube W, then
the pressure exercised on both sides of the diaphragm becomes equalized, the
diaphragm being thereby moved so much towards the left that the valve or plug v
opens, allowing steam to escape.
This steam escape and the movement of the valve I utilize in various ways for the
purpose of giving an alarm or for extinguishing the fires or for putting on feed water,
these things singly or in combination with each other.
In Fig. 1a bent tube R is attached to the tube surrounding the rod a, in which
the valve is fixed. Such tube R being of a light springy material, the outrush of
steam will tend to make it straight whereby it conies in contact with the pole c of an
electric battery, thereby setting up a current which may be made to actuate a bell at

page_text: some distant place, where it might be desirable that the alarm should be given such as
for instance in an office.
In Fig. 3, the current is closed by means of a diaphragm S, which becomes
expanded when steam presses from the inside, thereby bringing about contact with
the pole e of the battery.
In Fig. 2, the alarm is caused by the steam escaping into a steam whistle d, a
tube at the same time conducting steam to the fire box for the purpose of
extinguishing the fire.
In Fig. 4, the steam is shewn to enter a water tank K provided with two
valves and, the former closing and the latter opening as soon as the pressure in
the tank K increases on account of the in-rushing steam from valve v, water being in
consequence conveyed to the boiler through the tube n.
I sometimes connect the tubes D and Wand put in try-cock H Figs. 1 & 4 for the
purpose of being able at any time to test the efficiency of the arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The method of avoiding or minimising the danger, arising from steam
Generators running short of water, by the employment of a contrivance consisting
essentially of a casing T and T', the internal space of which is divided by a membrane
such membrane closing or opening a valve accordingly as pressure is exerted more
upon one side than the other or equally on both such pressure being effected by
steam through the tube and through the tube W, the latter being fixed in the boiler
in such a manner that steam does not enter until the water in the boiler is near the
lowest desirable point, substantially in the manner as and for the purpose described
and as shewn in the drawings.
2. The method of using the steam, escaping through valve, for the purpose of
actuating alarm mechanisms or extinguishing the fire or letting in feed water to the
boiler, all these things separate or combined substantially as described and as shewn in
the drawings.
FRANZ
WALTER.
Per C. R. Bonne & Co.,
41, Eastcheap, E.C., his Agents.