Improved Method of and Apparatus for Distributing and Controlling Water Supply in Dwellings and other Houses or Structures.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
".
COMIDA DE MOTIVATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Distributing and Controlling
Water Supply in Dwellings and other Houses or Structures.
We, ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, of 7, Trematon Terrace, Plymouth, Railway-
station Agent, and WILLIAM CHANNING SIM, of Totnes, Permanent Way
Inspector, 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 :-
This invention consists in an improved method of and in apparatus for distri-
buting and controlling water supply in dwellings and other houses or structures.
This invention is primarily designed to obviate the evils attendant upon the
freezing of water in the pipes of water supply systems.
According to this invention, the water supply throughout a house or other
building or structure is distributed from a cistern in which is situated a chamber
fitted with a valve controlling communication between the cistern and the various
service pipes for conducting water to different parts of the house.
The valve aforesaid is operated from outside the cistern which latter is fitted
with the usual ball-cock governing the supply to the cistern, and also with the
usual overflow pipe.
The valve aforesaid is connected by levers, cranks and other necessary fittings to
a stop-cock in the main supply pipe. This stop-cock is a three-way cock and is in
connection with all the service pipes; the arrangement being such that when the
said stop-cock is turned to shut off the water supply to the cistern, the valve in the
chamber in the cistern is simultaneously operated to close communication between
the cistern and the service pipes which latter then drain to the stop-cock from
which the water thus drained escapes. Therefore, the service pipes are, by the
act of cutting off the water supply at the stop-cock, drained of all water. When
this is done no water remains in the service pipes to become frozen in frosty
weather, but should the precaution of shutting off the supply before a frost not be
observed and the water allowed to freeze in the service pipes, the supply to the
latter is subsequently cut off by turning the stop-cock accordingly, and flooding is
thus prevented on the occurrence of a thaw except in so far as the contents of a
burst service pipe or of more than one are concerned, and this may be prevented by
timely repairs prior to the thaw.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings,
Fig. illustrates, in back view, the improved method of and apparatus for
distributing and controlling water supply in dwellings and other houses or structures
which constitutes this invention.
Fig. 2 is a part side elevation and part section on the line a Fig. 1.
Above the top a of the structure is situated a cistern b which is supplied with
water from the main by the supply pipe c fitted with the usual ball-cock (not shown
in the drawings).
In the cistern b is a chamber d fitted with (as seen more particularly in plan at
Fig 3) nozzles e for connection to service pipes fall of which communicate with
the three-way stop-cock y situated at the lower part of the building and con-
trolling communication between the supply pipe cand the main. The service
pipes are fitted with cocks" for drawing off water at the different stages or floors
in the building.
Communication between the cistern and the chamber d and service pipes / is
controlled by a valve hof which as also of the chamber d an enlarged view (section)

page_text: The valve h is a cup open at the top and having apertures h' (one of which only
is seen at Fig. 4) situated opposite one another. The valve seat h² has corre-
sponding apertures.. When the valve h is in the position shown at Fig. 4,
communication between the cistern b.and the chamber & is closed, but by turning
the spindle so as to cause the apertures h¹ to coincide with the apertures h³
communication is established. The valve:h is operated through a rack and pinion
and a system of levers i extending down to the lower, part of the structure and
disposed either within the same or without as may be preferable. The system of
levers. is connected to the handle g of the stop-cock g and the counection is so
adjusted and arranged that by the act of closing the cock.g so as to cut off the
water supply to the cistern the valve h is also closed, and the service pipes faro
drained of water through the nozzle k communication between which and the service
pipes is established by the said act of turning off the cook g.
.
Figs. 5 and 6 represent in vertical section the stop-cock g. The sections are
taken at right angles to, each other, and the cock is represented as closing com-
munication with the cistern and open to the system of service pipes and the
drainage nozzle k.
The stop-cock is equally applicable for use in water supply systems in
which a reservoir cistern such as b is not employed, but in which the water is.
supplied by the pipe c from a main directly to a distribution chamber such as d.
The distribution chamber d for delivery of water to the service pipes f.may be
employed without involving the adoption of the stop-cock g.
It is to be understood that other kinds of valves may be substituted for the
valve in, the cistern band that the valve employed may be actuated by other
means than those hereinbefore described, and, further, that the said valve may be
arranged for actuation independently of the three-way stop-cock.g.
.
The apparatus hercinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings is capable, with modifications in details of fittings, of employment in the
supply and control of steam, gas, or compressed air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner, the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The provision, in a cistern for water supply in dwellings and other structures,
of a chamber such as d from which the service pipes are conducted to various parts
of the structure; the said chamber being fitted with a valve such as (or the
equivalent thereof) for closing and establishing, at will, communication between
the cistern and the chamber and service pipes, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In a water supply system to dwellings and other structures; connecting all
the service pipes from the cistern to a three-way cock such as g, substantially as set
forth.
3. Coupling (by means of a system of levers or their equivalents) the three-way
cock g with the valve h; the arrangement being such that when the cock g is open
to supply the cistern, the valve his open to the chamber d and communication
between the service pipes and the nozzle k is closed, and vice versa, substantially
as, hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11
nel
1004
NICHOLAS WATTS,,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.: