US130185A - Improvement in low-water indicators for steam-boilers - Google Patents

Description

c. BROOKE.

Improvement in Lqw-Water Indicators for Steam-Boilers.

No. 130,185, Patented Aug. 6,1872.

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CLEMENT BROOKE, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOW-WATER iNDlCATO-RSF OR STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent bio-130,185, dated August 6, 1872.

Specification describing a Low-Viater Indicator for Steam-Boilers, invented by CLEMENT BROOKE, of Norfolk, in the county of N orfolk and State of Virginia.

My invention is an improvement in the class I of low-water indicators for steam-boilers wherein a ball or weight is employed, the same being connected with the lever which controls the operation of the valve of the alarm-whistle. My invention consists in the arrangement of parts, particularly of the valve, whereby the pressure of steam acts as a counterpoise for the weight of the ball, lever, 8:0.

The drawing represents, in Figure 1, a see tional elevation of a tubular boiler provided with my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section representing the valve and contiguous or connected parts enlarged.

A indicates the shell of the boiler; B, the alarm steam-whistle, and 0 its valve. The valve 0. connects with a lever, D, which is pivoted at one end in the pendent rod or bar d, while its free end suspends the ball or weight G by means of a chain, E. F F are guiderods. A buoy or float is not reliable when the water is in foam, (which is the time of greatest danger,) and for this and certain other reasons I employ a ball of greater specific gravity than water, so that it will sink therein, as represented in Fig. 1. In order to allow the ball to rise and fall more or less with the water, as it fills first one end and then the other end of the boiler, in consequence of the pitching or fore-and-aft movement of the vessel, I

employ a chain or flexible connection, E, in preference to a rod, which is more liable to cause a false alarm to be given under such conditions. But the feature of my invention to which I lay special claim is arranging the valve 0 to seat upwardly, so that the pressure of steam within the boiler shall act as a counterpoise for the valve itself and its rod, the lever D, and the chain E and ball G, so far as the last two are unsupported by the water. Of course care must be taken that the area of the valve is in no case made sufficient, relatively to the weight of said connected devices, to enable steam pressure to hold it seated when the water falls, as against the tendency of these to open it. Thus I am enabled to dispense with any form of mechanical counterpoise arranged within or without the boiler.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of a ball or weight of greater specific gravity than water; nor of a flexible connection between a ballfloat and valve-lever; nor of cages or other means for preventing lateral movement of a ball-indicator; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The alarm-whistle B, upwardly-seated valve 0, lever D, pivoted at d, the chain E, ball or weight G of greater specific gravity than water, and the vertical guide-rods F F, all arranged as shown and described, whereby they are adapted to operate as specified.

CLEMENT BROOKE. Witnesses:

SoLoN 0. KEMON, CHAS. A. Pnrrrr.

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