Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 6th May, 1887,
relating thereto.
I, ERASTUS ROOT BLOOD of Ludlow in the county of McKean and State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in boiler attachments,
or devices for keeping the boiler automatically supplied to a premeditated height with
water.
My invention consists in suspending adjacent to the boiler a receptacle or tank
which is kept partly filled with water, and in providing said tank with connections
whereby, when the tank is elevated, which is done automatically, a valve will be turned
so as to admit water to the boiler; and my invention also consists in providing the
attachment with means whereby, when the water becomes low in the boiler, an alarm
will be sounded and steam ejected upon the fire, so as to extinguish the same.
My invention also consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will
be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates my invention, I have shown the
same by a perspective view, in which A refers to the boiler, which is mounted on a
suitable base. Adjacent to one side of the boiler are located uprights B B, which are
connected to each other at their upper ends by a cross-bar, B₁, from which depends a
loop, b, which is provided with a transverse pivot, 6, which serves as a support for
the pivoted bars CC. These bars CC are each provided at one end with depending
springs a a, which are attached at their lower ends to upwardly-projecting ears cc,
attached to the upper edge of the movable receptacle or tank D. The ends of the
bars Cadjacent to the uprights B have attached thereto springs a¹, which are
connected to the uprights B in any suitable manner, preferably by means of adjustable
pins d, which may be inserted in different perforations in the edges of the uprights.
E refers to a short section of pipe which extends into the boiler, near the centre
thereof, and to which a pipe, E', is pivotally attached, so that the outer end adjacent to

page_text: the receptacle D will be capable of a pivotal movement. The opposite end of this pipe
is suitably coupled and attached to an elbow-joint, e, which is secured to the upper
portion of the tank to admit steam. The bottom portion of the tank D is provided
with an elbow or angular section of pipe, F, to which is attached a flexible connection
or tube, G, the opposite end thereof being attached to a connection or pipe-joint, g,
which enters the boiler below the normal level of the water, so that the water can
flow from the boiler and partially fill the receptacle or tank D. From the underside
of the coupling F depends a screw-threaded rod, h, which engages with a pivoted
arm, ', which is adjustably secured thereto and to a lever, H, which is pivoted to one
of the uprights B. The end of this lever H bas formed thereon a rack-bar, which
engages with a cog-wheel attached to the stem of a valve for cutting off or letting
on the water to the boiler, said valve being located in the supply-pipe 1. The rod h,
herein before referred to, is provided above and below the bent end of the bar with
nuts, so that the receptacle D may be adjusted properly with respect to the lever.
J refers to a pipe which extends from the coupling or joint E to the front portion
of the boiler, the end terminating in the fire-box. This pipe J has located therein at a
suitable point or valve, J, to the stem of which is attached a weighted arın or
lever, K, the outer end of said lever being connected by a rod, k, to the arm of the
steam-whistle. The lever K is supported in an horizontal position by a pivoted arm, l,
which engages with the outer end thereof, and this arm is held in position by a pivoted
crank-arm, m, which is pivoted to one of the uprights, the projecting arm thereof being
in a line with the movement of the rack-bar of the lever, so that the same will engage
with the crank-arm and release the lever K when the lever H moves upwardly.
The operation of my invention, when constructed as herein before described, is as
follows: The water or fluid is admitted to the boiler through the pipe I, in the usual
manner, said pipe being preferably provided with an inspirator or other means for
forcing the water in the boiler when required. When the boiler has been sufficiently
filled, it will enter the receptacle or tank D through the flexible pipe G, the level of
the water in the boiler and tank being the same. When the fire is made up under
the boiler, there will be an equal height of water in the tank D and the boiler.
Should the water in the tank fall below the normal level it will lighten the tank D
and will cause the same to be elevated by the action of the supporting-springs and the
movable levers. This movement of the tank will elevate the lever H so as to cause
the rack-bar thereon to turn the valve i, so as to admit water to the boiler through
the supply-pipe. Should the level of the water fall suddenly from any cause the
movement of the lever will open the valve, as hereinbefore described, and the end of
the lever H in its upward movement will contact with the crank-arm m, so as to
release the lever K, and allow the same to fall so as to admit steam from the boiler
upon the fire, so as to extinguish the same. This movement will also cause the
lever to fall and sound an alarm.
It will be noted that the devices herein before described operate automatically.
The device herein before described may be applied to oil-tanks and similar devices,
as well as steam-boilers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a device for automatically regulating the water-level in boilers, a tank
suspended adjacent to the boiler and connected to the same below the water-level by a
flexible connection and above the water-level by a movable pipe, said tank being
supported by springs attached to same and to pivoted levers, the tank being connected
to a lever for operating a valve in the supply-pipe, substantially as shown, and for the
purpose set forth.
2. In combination with a boiler or receptacle, A, a tank, D, attached to a support
by springs and pivoted levers, so that it will be elevated or depressed, accordingly to
the amount of liquid contained therein, pipes E¹ G connecting said tank to the boiler,
and a lever connected to the movable tank D, for operating a valve located in the
supply-pipe I, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. In a device for keeping the water in a steam-boiler at a certain height, a tank or
receptacle, D, suspended by means of spiral springs, pipes pivotly connected and
attached to the upper part of the boiler and upper portion of the tank, and a flexible
tube or pipe connected to the boiler below the normal water-level and to the bottom
portion of the tank D, and a pivoted lever attached to the under side of the tank and
provided with a rack-bar for operating a valve in the supply-pipe, the parts being
combined and organized substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.
4. In combination with a device for maintaining a normal water-level in steam-boilers,
substantially as described, a pipe extending from the upper portion of the boiler to the
fire-box, said pipe being provided with a valve, and means whereby said valve is
automatically turned and an alarm sounded when the water falls below the normal
level, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.
5. In an automatic device for maintaining water at a level in steam-boilers and
sounding an alarm and extinguishing the fire under the boiler when the water falls
below the normal level, the combination of a tank or receptacle, D, connected at its
upper and lower portions to the upper portion of the boiler and below the normal
water-level of the same by flexible connections, springs for supporting said tank or
receptacle, and asdepending-har attached to a lever for operating a stop-cock or valve
in the supply-pipe, a steam-whistle and a steam-pipe which is attached to the upper
portion of the boiler and terminates in the fire-box, and a crank-arm for supporting
said lever in an elevated position, said crank-arm extending over the lever H so as to
be actuated thereby, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of March 1887.
Agents
HORN & SON,
on behalf of Applicant.