ANAUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL INDICATOR" FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gabriel Raphael Hugon of 8 Union Court, Old Broad
Street in the City of London Merchant, for an Invention of AN "AUTOMATIC
WATER LEVEL INDICATOR" FOR STEAM BOILERS Communicated to me by
Jean Baptiste Lefèvre and Prosper Renaux both of 31 rue du Repos, Paris,
France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gabriel Raphael Hugon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th July 1882.
"
GABRIEL RAPHAEL HUGON of 8. Union Court, Old Broad St in the City. of
London, Merchant AN AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR STEAM
BOILERS [Communicated to me by Jean Baptiste Lefèvre-and Prosper Renaux
both of 31 rue du Repos, Paris, France.]
This Invention consists in an Automatic Water level Indicator for steam
boilers, which can be placed at any distance from the boilers and at any
heights. It can be adapted to any description of steam boilers in use, so that the
steam pressure gauge becomes a part of the Apparatus, as shown in the
accompanying drawing.
Upon the Boiler R. is fitted a Float H. which acting upon the Lever G. moves
the Rod F. to which a Piston A. is connected, which Piston becomes the distributor
of Steam,
The Piston A. opens simultanously upon the least oscillation of the Float H
the orifices J. J. and lets the steam pass, which, as it is under forced pressure on
the first Apparatus acts automatically on the Pistons L. of the second Apparatus.
This occasions on the Lever M. an upward movement acting by means of Ratchet
quadrant N. upon the Indicators hand O. which shows the level of the water in
the boiler.
The number of tubes J. J. shown in the drawing can be altered as the Inventors
think suitable.
The float H after having imparted its upward motion and indicated the normal
level, operates also in a contrary direction if the level of the water in the boiler
gets lower; it thus re-establishes the piston A in its average position, and the
[Price 6d.1

page_text: concentrated steam in the inlet tubes J. J. returns by the sole force of impulsion in
the orifices of the tubes, to escape by the outlet tube C.
Thus, this Apparatus constitutes an Indicator of water level in boilers at
whatever distance it may be placed from the boilers and at whatever story of a
building
One glance at the graduated Dial shows the variations in the height of water
and prevents any dangers of accidents or explosions. Any manufacturer can have
this Indicator fixed in the Offices or his Apartments and thus exercise an incessant
watch over the boilers.
This Indicator can be fitted with alarm bells and even arranged to do away
the steam pressure gauge in use, if need be.
with
Although the Inventors have shown here the principle of the Distributing Piston,
the Invention may be worked by different Distributions

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Gabriel Raphael Hugon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th January 1883.
•
GABRIEL RAPHAEL HUGON, of 8 Union Court, Old Broad Street, in the City of
London, Merchant, "AN AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR STEAM
BOILERS a communication to me by Jean Baptiste Lefèvre and Prosper Renaux,
both of 31 Rue du Repos, Paris, France,
"
:
;
This Invention consists in an Automatic Water Level Indicator for Steam
Boilers, which can be placed at any distance from the boilers and at any
height. It can be adapted to any description of Steam Boilers in use, so that the
Steam pressure gauge becomes a part of this apparatus, as shown upon the
accompanying Drawing.
Upon the boiler R is fitted a float H which, acting upon the lever G, moves the
rod F, to which a piston A is connected; which piston becoming the distributor of
steam constitutes the main feature of this Invention,
The piston A, of one piece with the rod F, upon the least oscillation of the
float H, opens simultaneously the orifices J¹ J¹¹ etc, and lets the steam pass, which,
as it is under forced pressure on the first apparatus acts automatically on the
valves L of the second apparatus. This occasions on the lever M an upward
movement acting by means of a ratchet quadrant N upon the hand or index O of
the Indicator, which index thus shows the level of the water in the boiler.
I have shown on the Drawing an apparatus having six tubes J¹ J" etc, but the
number of tubes may vary according to requirements.
The float H after having imparted its upward motion and indicated the normal
level, operates also in a contrary direction; if the level of the water in the boiler
gets lower it thus re-establishes the piston A in its average position, and the
concentrated steam in the inlet tubes J, J₁ etc, returns by the sole force of
impulsion in the orifices of the tubes, to escape by the outlet tube C.
Thus, this Apparatus constitutes an indicator of water level in boilers at
whatever distance it may be placed from the boiler and at whatever story of a
building.
One glance at the graduated dial shows the variations in the height of water
and prevents any danger of accidents or explosions. Any manufacturer can have
this Indicator fixed in the Office or his own room and thus exercise a constant
supervision over the boiler.
This Indicator can be fitted with alarm bells and even arranged so as to do away
with the ordinary Steam pressure gauge, if need be.
Although I have shown here the principle of the distributing piston, this
Invention may be applied to any kind of distribution, such as slide valve,
or other.
To set the apparatus to the level of water in a Boiler of any kind, without
having to fix the length of the rod F; this rod is set in a socket U, upon which is
fixed the cylinder S. This socket may be lowered more or less by tightening up
the nuts of the nut screws XX; the cylinder being thus lowered with all its
accessaries.
To sum up the working of the apparatus:-The orifices J1 J11 etc, are placed
spirally and may be of any number; an equal number of valves corresponding
with them on the dial.
The escape takes place by the top of the cylinder; so that when the highest
level is attained the piston A is near the top of the bronze cylinder S, above all

page_text: "
the orifices; therefore the Steam passes by the tubes J1 J11 etc, and the valves of
the dial are all uplifted. As the level lowers the first upper orifice enters into
communication with the escape, the corresponding valve on the dial lowers and the
index or pointer turns. If the level further lowers a larger number of orifices enter
into communication with the escape, and, the corresponding valves on the dial
lowering, the pointer turns describing a larger arc.
N-NI indicates the first and N II the second part of the Apparatus.
Having now described and ascertained the Nature of this said Invention and in
what manner the same is or may be performed
I Claim as secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent:
The use of an autoinatic distribution of Steam in connection with a float to
indicate the level of water in a Steam Boiler at any distance from and at any
height above the Boiler, by the combined action of water and Steam, substantially
as above described
!
t
In Witness whereof I the said Gabriel Raphael Hugon have hereunto set my
hand and Seal this Eighth day of January in the Year of Our Lord One
thousand Eight hundred and Eighty-three.
:.
ADT

page_text: * Heat connecting rel
1. Destributing prestori
x. Cast iron frame
\\ Bronze Cylinder with y
* Sell screens.
Escorpi japin
› Stim pipe to pressure guns
Ji Steam pipe
1 Lester Nike for nonking lover.
A Lover
* Ratchet quadrant
• Pointer indicating loudl
P Tube of the prossime guage
• Shorter for the pronssies