IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM BOILERS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND OTHER COCKS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Morley, of No. 6, William Street, Stockton-on-
Tees, in the County of Durham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM BOILERS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND
OTHER COCKS."
Scaled the 7th November 1876, and dated the 7th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Morley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1876.
SAMUEL MORLEY, of No. 6, William Street, Stockton-on-Tees, in the County
of Durham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM BOILERS, PARTLY
APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND OTHER COCKS."
At the present time accidents frequently arise from the water gauges of steam
boilers becoming obstructed either by sediment or corrosion or from other causes
and allowing water to remain in the gange above the water level in the boiler.
My Invention has mainly for its object to ensure the keeping clear of the
entrances to the gauge and thereby maintain the gauge in proper working order.
For this purpose I provide the gauge with valves at top and bottom to allow of
the water being shut off from the gauge glass in case the glass should break. The
spindles of the valves are at right angles to the glass and are made hollow. A small
rod or needle is passed through the spindle of each valve and at its end carries a
diamond pointed or other cutter. The outer end of the small rod or needle is
provided with a disc handle by which the needle can be drawn backwards and
forwards or revolved, and the passage from the boiler to the gauge glass thereby
maintained free from sediment or other obstruction without the necessity of blow-
ing off or allowing the escape of any steam. A stuffing box is provided at the
centre of the wheel or disc handle upon the end of the valve spindle to make a
tight joint around the needle. The valve is formed at the end of the valve spindle,
whilst the valve seat is formed in the metal shell or casting which is secured to
and stands out from the boiler. Each shell is formed with a socket and stuffing
box to receive one end of the gauge glass, the shell is prolonged beyond the entrance
to the glass and has a screw thread cut in it for a screw thread on the valve
spindle to work into, beyond the screw thread is a stuffing box to maintain a tight
joint around the valve spindle. The metal shell at the lower end of the gange
glass is in addition provided with a blow-off valve, by opening which and closing
one or other of the valves between the gauge glass and boiler either steam or water
[Price Gil.]

page_text: can be blown through from the boiler whenever desired, and the passages to the
gauge glass thereby cleared or tested.
The arrangement above described for keeping clear the entrances to the gauge
are applicable for keeping clear the entrances to steam and other cocks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Morley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th December
1876.
SAMUEL MORLEY, of No. C, William Street, Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of
Durham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES FOR STEAM BOILERS, PARTLY
APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND OTHER COCKS."
At the present time accidents frequently arise from the water gauges of steam
boilers becoming obstructed either by sediment or corrosion or from other causes
and allowing water to remain in the gauge above the water level in the boiler.
My Invention has mainly for its object to ensure the keeping clear of the
entrances to the gauge, and thereby maintain the gauge in proper working order.
For this purpose I provide the gauge with valves at top and bottom to allow of
the water being shut off from the gauge glass in case the glass should break. The
spindles of the valves are at right angles to the glass and are made hollow. A
small rod or needle is passed through the spindle of each valve, and at its end carries
a diamond pointed or other cutter. The outer end of the small rod or needle is
provided with a disc handle, by which the needle can be drawn backwards and
forwards or revolved, and the passage from the boiler to the gauge glass thereby
maintained free from sediment or other obstruction without the necessity of blowing
off or allowing the escape of any steam. A stuffing box is provided at the centre
of the wheel or disc handle upon the end of the valve spindle to make a tight joint
around the needle. The valve is formed at the end of the valve spindle, whilst
the valve seat is formed in the metal shell or casting, which is secured to and stands
out from the boiler. Each shell is formed with a socket and stufling box to receive
one end of the gauge glass, the shell is prolonged beyond the entrance to the glass
and has a screw thread cut in it for a screw thread on the valve spindle to work
into, beyond the screw thread is a stuffing box to maintain a tight joint around the
valve spindle. The metal shell at the lower end of the gauge glass is in addition
provided with a blow-off valve, by opening which and closing one or other of the
valves between the gauge glass and boiler either steam or water can be blown
through from the boiler whenever desired, and the passages to the gauge glass
thereby cleared or tested.
The arrangement above described for keeping clear the entrances to the gauge
are applicable for keeping clear the entrances to steain and other cocks.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe
more fully the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The Drawing hereunto annexed shows a vertical section of a water gauge
constructed according to my Invention.
A represents part of the shell of a steam boiler to which the gauge is affixed.
B is the shell or fixed portion of the upper valve, and C the shell of the lower
valve and of the blow-off valve. D, D, are the sockets and stuffing boxes to receive
the ends of the gauge glass E. F, F, are the valve spindles of the upper and lower
valves, their ends are made conical to fit against conical seats, as shown. Each
valve spindle passes through a stuffing box G, and beyond the stuffing box has a
screw thread upon it to screw into a corresponding thread in the fixed shell. H, H,
are wheels or disc handles on the ends of the valvo spindles. Each of these spindles
is hollow, and through it is passed a brass needle I, carrying at its inner end a

page_text: pointed cutter J. K, K, are packing glands to make a tight joint around the
needles where they pass out from the ends of the valve spindles. L, L, are hand
wheels by which the needles can be from time to time turned round and drawn
to and fro from a toy to prevent furring or sediment laying betwixt the valves
and the boiler, and so to keep a clear passage from the boiler to the gauge glass.
M is the spindle of the blow-off valve at the bottom of the gauge. N is an outlet
brancli, and O a coupling for connecting to it the blow-off pipe.
As before stated steam and other cocks may be constructed in a similar manner
to those shewn in the Drawing for shutting off the communication between the
boiler and gauge glass, and be similarly provided with a small rod or needle passing
through the valve spindle and carrying at its inner end a cutter by which the
entrance to the valve may be kept clear.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim-
First. The construction of water gauges, substantially as herein-before described.
Second. The construction of steam and other valves or cocks with their valve
spindles hollow, and with a needle passing through them and carrying at its inner
end a cutter by which tho entrance to the valve can be kept clear, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Morley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
November 28, 1876.
SAMUEL MORLEY. (L.S.)