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Story
May 22, 1858
Weekly American
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
Thomas P. Akers, former Missouri congressman, invents a steam-boiler alarm and telephonic signal to warn of low water levels preventing explosions, using a floating copper ball and whistle mechanism for alarms and signals on boats.
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Full Text
AN IMPORTANT INVENTION.
Mr. Thomas P. Akers, member of the last Congress from Missouri, has been doing a better service to the cause of humanity, and we hope also for himself, than making speeches in the House of Representatives, though he proved to be very good at that. He has been trying his inventive faculties, and produced what he terms a "steam-boiler alarm, and telephonic signal."
The object of the invention is, first to give an alarm to the engineer, captain and passengers on any boat, and to persons exposed to danger anywhere from an explosion of a steam boiler, that the water is too low and needs replenishing; and, second, to furnish the means of giving signals to the engineer by the captain or pilot. His invention consists of a small steam whistle, which is fastened into the top, having a tube going into the boiler. This tube is closed by a lever which is kept up by means of a hollow copper ball attached to the long end, which floats on the water in the boiler. But when this gets down to a certain point the ball and lever going with it, the opening of the tube is uncovered, the steam rushes in, and the whistle sounds the alarm, and will continue to sound it until the ball and lever are brought up so as to close the tube, by an additional supply of water.
The whistle is a small one, and gives forth a shrill sound that can be heard two miles It is used as a signal by means of a stem passing down through the whistle, by which the valve covering the tube can be pushed down at pleasure, so as to let the steam in and give the sound. The signal sounds will be short and successive, while the alarm will be a continuous, uninterrupted whistle, prolonged till the proper quantity of water is supplied.
We have examined the whistle, which is so small as to be easily handled, and can see no reason why it will not fulfil the desired purpose of giving timely alarm, so that an explosion may be prevented by an immediate supply of water; and if it will do this, it is one of the most important inventions of the present day.
Mr. Thomas P. Akers, member of the last Congress from Missouri, has been doing a better service to the cause of humanity, and we hope also for himself, than making speeches in the House of Representatives, though he proved to be very good at that. He has been trying his inventive faculties, and produced what he terms a "steam-boiler alarm, and telephonic signal."
The object of the invention is, first to give an alarm to the engineer, captain and passengers on any boat, and to persons exposed to danger anywhere from an explosion of a steam boiler, that the water is too low and needs replenishing; and, second, to furnish the means of giving signals to the engineer by the captain or pilot. His invention consists of a small steam whistle, which is fastened into the top, having a tube going into the boiler. This tube is closed by a lever which is kept up by means of a hollow copper ball attached to the long end, which floats on the water in the boiler. But when this gets down to a certain point the ball and lever going with it, the opening of the tube is uncovered, the steam rushes in, and the whistle sounds the alarm, and will continue to sound it until the ball and lever are brought up so as to close the tube, by an additional supply of water.
The whistle is a small one, and gives forth a shrill sound that can be heard two miles It is used as a signal by means of a stem passing down through the whistle, by which the valve covering the tube can be pushed down at pleasure, so as to let the steam in and give the sound. The signal sounds will be short and successive, while the alarm will be a continuous, uninterrupted whistle, prolonged till the proper quantity of water is supplied.
We have examined the whistle, which is so small as to be easily handled, and can see no reason why it will not fulfil the desired purpose of giving timely alarm, so that an explosion may be prevented by an immediate supply of water; and if it will do this, it is one of the most important inventions of the present day.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Steam Boiler Alarm
Invention
Explosion Prevention
Thomas Akers
Whistle Signal
What entities or persons were involved?
Thomas P. Akers
Story Details
Key Persons
Thomas P. Akers
Story Details
Thomas P. Akers invents a steam-boiler alarm using a floating copper ball and whistle to signal low water levels and prevent explosions, also serving as a telephonic signal for captains and pilots.