An Improved Bath-water Heater.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Bath-water Heater.
I DAVID WILLIAM SUGG of Vincent Street in the City of Westminster,
Engineer, 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:-
The object of this invention is to produce a portable heater to heat water for a
bath, and the invention consists in a simple apparatus to be placed in the water in
the bath and heated by gas (or it may be an oil lamp), and so arranged that a
more or less continuous circulation of the water is kept up, whereby the water in.
the bath gradually becomes hot.
The apparatus is designed to float in the water when the depth of water is
sufficient, but it will also act resting on the bottom of the bath, provided the
water reaches at least half way up the apparatus, but the effect is not so satis-
factory as when the apparatus is immersed to the line of flotation, as a greater or
less loss of heat results.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus as it would appear in use; and
Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line of Fig. 1.
B is a
A is a conical shaped vessel which serves as the heating chamber.
conical boiler supported centrally of the vessel A by a tube B', which is open
both to the boiler and the exterior of the vessel A. In this tube B' is placed a
counter-weighted valve C. Descending nearly to the bottom of the boiler B, is
an upcast pipe D, provided at top with a water diffuser D¹, so formed as to
prevent the entrance of water to the open top of the heating chamber A during
the working of the apparatus. E are air tubes which are connected with the
bottom of the vessel A, and extend upward above the line of flotation, and
E' are deflectors placed over the openings of the air tubes, to prevent the entrance
of water. F is a conical deflector arranged inside the vessel A, and above the air
inlets, to deflect the greater portion of the air supply to the inside of the gas ring G,
so as to give the proper direction to the gas flames, and prevent them striking
the bottom of the boiler, and smoking. A certain amount of air will be allowed
to pass to the outer side of the flames through the holes a a in the deflector F.
The permanent line of flotation is regulated by a weighted ring H, secured to the
bottom of the vessel A, which ring serves also as a stand for the apparatus when
out of use.
G' is the pipe to supply gas to the ring G, and this pipe, which is provided with
a cock G³, is connected with the gas supply by a flexible pipe G³.
--
Extending upwards from the pipe G₁, above the line of flotation, is a pipe to a
test jet J. K is a handle for carrying the apparatus.
The action of the apparatus is as follows -The bath (or it may be simply a
large pail) having been filled with water to the requisite height, the apparatus is.
placed therein. The valve C will open, under the pressure of the water, and allow
the water to flow into the boiler, the height of the water therein being regulated
by the hole in the pipe D, the position of which must be such as to retain a
certain amount of air in the boiler. The gas is then lighted, and the water in the
boiler gradually comes to the boil. As the water continues to boil, steam will
collect in the air space, and the pressure will gradually accumulate until it reaches
a certain point, when it forces the hot water up the pipe D and into the diffuser,
from which it escapes by the openings c, as shown in the drawings. When the
water descends below the end of the pipe D, a certain part of the steam will
escape, and the pressure being thus reduced, cold water will rush in through the

page_text: valve C, to refill the boiler, the contact with the cold water condensing the steam
remaining in the boiler, and producing a vacuum, which has to be filled by the
water, under the influence of the pressure of the external air.
The operation then proceeds as before, the steam collecting and forcing out the
water, the rapidity of the circulation being dependent upon the position and size of
the hole in the tube D, and the sensitiveness of the valve C.
The heat from the flames also acts on the sides of the vessel A which com-
municate heat to the surrounding water, and thus the heat of the flame is utilized
to the utmost possible extent.
It is of course obvious that wherever coal-gas luminous flames are used, carbonic
acid gas is given off, and which, in extremely cold weather, is liable to hang about
the surface of the water in the bath.
For the purpose of testing whether such is the case, and also for the purpose of
keeping the surrounding air in motion, I have provided the test jet J. This test
jet will, under certain circumstances, also serve to light the apartment while the
bath is preparing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1: A water heater for bath and other purposes, constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A water heater for bath and other purposes, in which the hot water is
expelled from the boiler by the pressure of steam generated in the boiler, a fresh
supply of water being admitted by an automatic valve in the bottom of the boiler,
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a water heater for bath and other purposes, in which the steam generated
in the boiler acts to expel the hot water therefrom, the use of an automatic valve
which prevents the exit of the hot water except by an upcast pipe having its inlet
below the level of the water in the boiler, and allows the boiler to refill after the
expulsion of the hot water, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 19th day of September 1892.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.