Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-18
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1S. 1885,

Within the past few weeks the auto
matte cutoff has been sutjecred to the
seVercst possible practical tests, Whlcl
leave no doubt of It's practical Vaiue ahd
OF its perfect adaptability.
The machine is simple combination OF
upright bars which stand over the supply
pipe which conveys the water from the
main into the premises. 1t may be placed
at the metre or at any other point along
the line Of the supply pipe before II
reaches the house. The instrument
works by the contraction OF the bars
under the influence Of a falling tempera-
ture. There is gauge which can De set
so as to make the cutoff work at any de-
gree of cold that is desired. Ii 1t IS
so desired the water can be cut OIL
when the temperature is several degrees
above the freeing point, so as to insure
absolute safety. The upright bars are
constructed of alternate layers OF brass
and steel. The contraction OF these
metals at different rates draws together
the pyramidal structure at the top OF the
instrument. When ii contracts TO GER
tain point, which Is fixed oy the gauee,
the bar which supports the cut-on waive
slips from its socket the valve drops
down and shuts the water off in the supply
pipe. At the head OF the system Of pipes
IN the house are valves. and
the moment the pressure on them
Is thus relieved they open, the ar
enters the pipes and drives the water
completely out OF them. The same action
which stops the flow Of water into the
pipes makes an opening for the water
they already contain, and by the aid OF
the valve at the head of the system drains
them clean The action is simple and is
absolutely certain, as it depends on the
infallible action OF cold in contracting
metal. As soon as the OBTAINING rod.
which ia attached to the weighted lever. Is
relea sed by the contraction Of the bars
The lever drops, cuts off the supply
Of water and opens the valve which
allows the waste water to flow out under
the pressure of the air from above. Pipes
in the cellar or at any point below the
level OF the cutoff are drained bv a SIM
pie device. The waste water from the
upper pipes is conveyed to little buckets
Which hang on valves IN these lower pipes,
and as soon as these buckets are full
the valves open and empty the pioes
at the lowest point. As many drain
valves as it may be desired to
open can easily be operated by one cut
off. The instrument may be applied to a
tank which is aOOve the house so as to
cut Oh the supply to the pipes and dram
them while it holds the water in the tank.
After the automatic cutoff has acted and
stopped the supply to the pipes. enough
water for any need may be procured SIM
ply by pulling handle which will renew
the flow Of the water. AS soon as this han
die is released the valve Will again close
and the supply of water will cease.
The instrument will not allow the valve
to stay open unless the temperature is so
temperate as to prevent freezing.
Thus the automatic action is rendered
dOubly secure, aud toe pipes cannot be
kept full of water when they mlgnt freeze
and burst. There is no part of the lnstru-
ment which is made so as to be liable to
slow or uncertain action by reason of
rust. There is nothing about it to get
out of order, and one instrument will act
regularly and safely without attention or
expense for years.