J. Hopkinson and Co
Britannia Works, Huddersfield.
1843 Company established.
1891 'HOPKINSON’S SAFETY WATER GAUGE.
The breaking of a gauge glass of a boiler carrying
high pressures is an accident that is always inconvenient and generally dangerous. No one would
willingly face such an incident, even in a situation
where it is possible to get away quickly, for a splash
with scalding water is a most fearfully painful experience. But in a confined place, like the footplate of a
tramway locomotive or the stokehold of a torpedo boat,
the failure of a glass has several times caused the
death of a stoker, not to mention very numerous
injuries. A man need only be caught for a second or
two in the rush of boiling water and steam to receive
injuries rendering him incapable of flight, and causing
him to sink down and be scalded to death.
Several attempts have been made to design gauge
fittings that would close automatically upon the breaking of the glass, but without complete success. At
length, however, Messrs. J. Hopkinson and Co., of
Britannia Works, Huddersfield, have brought out the
fitting shown in the annexed engraving, and which
completely answers all requirements, protecting the
stokers perfectly, and being at the same time free from
all danger of giving false indications. As will be seen,
there is a valve both in the steam and in the water
arm, and both these valves come to the seat in case of
accident. The lower ball valve A is made so heavy
that it cannot be held up against its seat by the pressure of the column of water in the boiler, and consequently there is no danger of the water being trapped
in the glass and kept there to give a false indication.
Further, the ball is of such a weight that it will not be
carried up by the rolling of a vessel or the shaking of
a locomotive. The ball B in the steam arm rests over
the upper end of the supplemental tube C, as shown,
• except when it is forced forward against its seat, as
shown in dotted lines. It also is safe from dislodgment by shaking.
When a glass breaks the waterpressure in the lower
arm throws the valve A against its seat and stops all
escape at the lower end of the glass. At the same
time the rush of water up the supplemental tube C
lifts the valve B. This is then forced against its seat
by the steam, and thus all escape is cut off instantaneously and certainly. A new glass can then be fitted
with safety. Upon closing the cocks and removing the clearing screw D in front of the bottom arm, and a
similar screw in that of the top arm, the valves will
roll out of the gauge. We are sure that our readers will recognise the great
merits of this gauge, and that those who are responsible for the safety of stokers will give it further consideration.'[1]. See illustration.
1894 Incorporated as a Limited Company.
1895 Advert. Parallel slide blow-off valve. [2]
1899 Advert. Parallel slide blow-off valve. [3]
1904 A new factory was built covering 15 acres; employed 1,500 men.
1905 Advert for high steam safety valves and boiler mountings. [4]
1913 Advert for high steam safety valves and safety boiler mountings. [5]
1914 Manufacturers of Patent Valves and Safety Boiler Mountings. Specialities: Hopkinson boiler mountings and steam stop valves, high-class steam specialities. Employees 600. [6]
1917 Advert for the 'Triad' junction valve and safety boiler mountings. [7]
1919 Advert for stop valve. 'Upwards of 30,000 supplied'. [8]
1920 May. Issued catalogue on boiler-mountings and valves and other items. [9]
1920 J. Hopkinson and Son was registered as a limited company.
1926 Public company - see Hopkinsons
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Engineering 1891/10/23
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1895. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p19
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1899. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1905. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p3 & p22
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1913. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p3 & p30
- ↑ 1914 Whitakers Red Book
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1917. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p1 & p75
- ↑ Mechanical World Year Book 1919. Published by Emmott and Co of Manchester. Advert p1 & p101
- ↑ The Engineer of 7th May 1920 p488