Improvements in Heating Systems, chiefly Designed for Heating Buildings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1894-Accepted; 24th Nov., 1894
Improvements in Heating Systems, chiefly Designed for Heating
Buildings.
I. ANDREW GREENLEAF PAUL, of No. 79 Milk Street, Boston, County of
Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, 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 :—
My invention consists broadly in the combination of a source of heat, a circulatory
system including radiators and the necessary connections, an intervening heating
medium between the source of heat and the system of such a nature that it cannot
be heated above a limited degree, and a positive air exhauster connected with
the system. It also consists in combining with the other elements specified a
circulatory system containing a limited quantity of the heating vehicle.
One form or embodiment of my invention is shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying
drawings; a second form or embodiment of it is shown in Fig. 2.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in the two figures.
Referring to Fig. 1, a is a radiator or heater of an ordinary or usual construction.
Two radiators are shown in. the drawings, but any number of radiators may be
employed, according to the size of the building or place to be heated. 6 is the
supply pipe, connecting the radiators with the coil or boiler c, where the steam
or other beating vapor is generated. This pipe b has branches, one for each
radiator, and these branches are provided with suitable cocks or valves. d is the
return pipe for the condensed heating vehicle; this pipe is also provided with
branches, one for each radiator, and these branches are provided with suitable
valves or cocks. e is a generating coil or boiler in which the condensed heating
vehicle is again turned into vapor. The return pipe d of the system is
preferably connected with the lower end of the coil cand the supply pipe b is
preferably connected with the upper end of the coil c.
The coil c is arranged or
supported within the vessel or tank e, in such a manner as to cause the heated
water which passes through the tank e to come into contact with and heat the
coil c. The pipe d is provided with a valve by means of which more of the
beating vehicle can bo introduced into the system at any time, or the heating
vehicle can be entirely withdrawn, if desirable for any purpose.
g represents the ordinary kitchen range. is a hot water boiler. i is a water
supply pipe leading from any suitable source of supply to the boiler, for supplying
the boiler with water. is a pipe leading from the bottom of the boiler to the
range, through which the cold water passes from the boilor to the range to be
heated in the ordinary way and k is the return water pipe leading from the range.
This pipe is connected with the lower end of the tank e, so as to deliver the warm
water from the range into the lower end of the tank. is a pipe connecting the
upper end of the tank e with the boiler h. The boiler is provided with the usual
safety valve and the outlet pipe at the top. m represents a gas jet underneath the
tank e by means of which also the tank can be heated, if desired.
The parts g, h, i and j are in no respect different from the well known
arrangement of ranges and boilers.
n is an air pipe having branches connected with each radiator. These branches
are provided with suitable valves or cocks o, preferably automatic valves designed
to permit the escape of air, but to prevent the escape of steam. p is an exhauster

page_text: of any suitable construction, preferably an exhauster operated by a jet of water,
air or steam, what is commonly termed an ejector. r represents a valve in the air
pipe for controlling the operation of the exhauster. This valve is of the well
known construction and acts to turn on the water or steam that works the exhauster
whenever the pressure in the air pipen between this valve and the automatic
valves o rises above some pre-determined point.
Having described my improved apparatus, I will now explain the operation
of the same.
I will suppose that the heating agent to be employed is steam.
I introduce into the generating coil or boiler c the proper quantity of water.
This quantity is to be regulated in accordance with the size or cubic contents of
the system through which steam is to be circulated, and in accordance also with
the degree or amount of heat to be employed in heating the heating vehicle and
also in accordance with the pressure or temperature which is desired in the heating
system. Such a quantity of water must be employed as will produce when evaporated
a sufficient quantity of steam to fill the system and to convey the necessary amount
of heat or heat units to accomplish the work for which the system is designed. A
somewhat greater quantity of water is usually employed in the system than would be
necessary to furnish the requisite amount of steam at the required temperature and
pressure if all the water were evaporated, for the reason that the water will
ordinarily not all be turned into steam at any one time, but in the usual operation
of the system there will be some of the heating vehicle in condensed form or in the
form of water during the entire operation. It is necessary of course to avoid
putting into the system too large a quantity of water, because if this were done,
the pressure in the system might become so great as to cause danger of explosion
and by reason of the excessive amount of the beating vehicle more heat would be
absorbed and conveyed than was necessary and consequently there would be a
great waste of heat which would also result in inconvenience or discomfort to the
user of the system.
Air is then exhausted from the system by means of the air pipe n and the
positive exhauster p, the valve o operating to permit the escape of air from said
system, and the water in the coil c is heated!
C
In my invention the heat is conveyed or imparted to the heating vehicle
indirectly, that is to say, through and by means of an intervening medium, such as
water for example, which is such that it cannot impart to the heating vehicle in
the heating system more than a certain degree or amount of heat. The heat
which is imparted to the heating vehicle in the system is thus limited no matter
how much heat may be employed or supplied in the original source of heat.
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This
In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, this heating of the water in the
coil is accomplished by utilizing the current of warm water which constantly
flows from the range g to the boiler h, through the pipe k, the tank è and the
pipe. This current of water is in ordinary cases at a temperature of about
212° Fahrenheit, and under a pressure about equal to atmospheric pressure.
current of water flows through the tank e and passes around the coil c in that tank
and delivers up a part of its heat to the coil c and the water contained in the coil.
The exhaustion of air from the system causes the pressure upon the water in the
coil to be reduced to a point below atmospheric pressure. By reason of this
reduced pressure the water in the coil c will boil at a temperature less than
212° Fahrenheit, the particular temperature at which it will boil depending upon
the extent to which the pressure has been reduced in the system. Under these
conditions the heat which is contained in the current of warm water passing through
the tank e will be sufficient to cause the water in the coil c to boil. The water in
the coile will thus, be evaporated or turned into steam and the system will be filled
with steam at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure and at a temperature less
than 212° Fahrenheit. As soon as the system is filled with steam, the automatic
valves of the branches of the air pipes close, thus preventing loss of steam.through
the air pipe.
The system is now supplied with steam. As the steam gives off its heat in the
.

page_text: system the steam is condensed and the water of condensation flows from the
radiators through the return pipe back to the generating coil or boiler c, where it
is again supplied with heat from the warm water in the tank e, and again turned
into steam and circulated through the system. The circulation of the steam is of
course effected by means of the condensation of the steam in the radiators. As
the steam coudenses in the radiators more steam flows into them and thus the
circulation is made continuous.
The arrangement of the boiler and range g, with their connecting pipes, which
is shown in the drawing and which I employ in my invention is the ordinary
arrangement of such devices. In such ordinary arrangement or construction the
water in the boiler and the connecting pipes is not generally under a pressure
greater than five pounds above the atmosphere. Under this pressure the water
cannot be heated above 228° Fahrenheit and it is generally not heated above 212º.
This is true no matter how much heat is employed or generated in the range. The
heating vehicle in the heating system will always be at a somewhat lower
temperature thau the current of water by which it is heated. Hence it follows that
in the case supposed the heating vehicle in the heating system cannot be heated
above or in fact quite up to 228° Fahrenheit, and will ordinarily be somewhat'
below 212°. In this way the amount of heat which is imparted to the heating.
vebicle is limited, and prevented from rising to such a point as to endanger the
system, or cause waste of heat or discomfort.
By increasing the pressure on the water in the boiler and connecting pipes,
that water can be made to take up and to impart to the beating vehicle in the
heating system a higher degree of heat, and by decreasing the pressure upon it.
the amount or degree of heat imparted to the heating vehicle in the system can be
decreased.
Such devices are purposely constructed in such a way as to prevent as far as
possible the generation or accumulation of steain in the boiler h. In my invention.
therefore an intervening heating medium is employed such as will furnish only a
moderate or limited degree of heat to the water in the beating system. As a
result of this, while sufficient heat is imparted to the water in the system to convert
it into stean, there is no danger of increasing the pressure of the steam to such a.
point as to endanger the safety of the apparatus.
When it is determined at what temperature it is desired to circulate the heating
vehicle in any given system, then by estimating the cubic contents of the system,
and by putting into the system a limited quantity of heating vehicle and subjecting
it to a limited degree of heat in the manner already explained, the desired result
can be obtained with perfect safety. The amount of heat furnished in the system
can thus be adapted to the requirements of those using it without waste, and with
great economy and safety.
'One feature of my invention is that but little heat is wasted, almost the entire
number of heat units imparted to the heating vehicle being utilized in the actual >
work of heating which the system performs. In ordinary methods of heating a
much larger quantity of heating vehicle is employed than is necessary to convey the
number of beat units that are required to do the work of the system, and a much
larger number of heat units are constantly imparted to the heating vehicle than are
actually used in the work of heating, the extra or superfluous number of beat units
being simply wasted. Oftentimes this extra heat causes the building or place to be.
overheated to the great discomfort and inconvenience of those using the system. In
my invention I use as nearly as possible the exact amount of heating vehicle which
is necessary to carry or convey the required number of beat units, and as a result
of this almost all the heat units which I impart to the heating vehicle are given off.
by the heating vehicle in the system and are utilized in the proper working of the
Bystem.
As there will be some slight waste of the heating vehicle or steam from time to
time, I occasionally add a small quantity of the heating vehicle to that already in:
the system through and by means of the valve f.. In place of using tho current of

page_text: warm water passing from the range to the boiler to heat the coil C, 1 can fill the
tank e with water in any way and heat this water by means of a gas jet, such as
represented at m. This can be doue for example in a house where there is no
boiler or when the boiler and range are not in use. In such a case if the tank is
left open to the atmosphere, the water in the tank can be heated only to
212° Fahrenheit, and the heating vehicle in the system to a point somewhat below
that. But by enclosing the tank e and regulating the pressure upon the water in it
as by a safety or regulating pressure valve, the water can be heated to a higher
point or degree, if desired, and the temperature in the heating system corre-
spondingly increased. If where the range and boiler are used as described, it be
found that for any reason the current of warm water passing through the tank e is
not heated sufficiently or to its full capacity in the range or heater the gas jet m
can be used for the purpose of securing such additional heat as may be required. .
In Fig. 2 I have shown a second form or modification of my improved apparatus.
The only difference between this and the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 being that the
coil cis enlarged and is placed directly in the boiler h, and a second coil g is placed
in the tank e. This arrangement of apparatus, of course provides larger heating
surface for the heating of water or other heating vehicle in the system, but in other
respects the apparatus in its construction and operation is identical. with that shown
in Fig. 1.
It is apparent that tho, particular construction or form of apparatus may be
greatly varied.
Some of the advantages of my invention may be secured by employing only so
much of my invention as relates to the employment of an intervening heating medium
which operates to limit the amount or degree of heat imparted to the heating vehicle
in the system, and to the exhaustion of air and the scaling of the system, without
employing that part of my complete invention which relates to the limitation of the
amount of heating vehicle used in the system. That is to say, some of the
advantages of my invention will be secured if an unlimited amount of heating
vehicle be employed, but the other parts of my invention be carried out.
My invention may be employed also in a single pipe system, that is, one in which
the steam or heating vehicle is supplied to the heaters or radiators and the water of
condensation is returned through one and the same pipe. I have not shown my
invention embodied in a single pipe system as the construction of a single pipe
system is well known.
It is obvious also that in my invention, the heating vehicle can be circulated in the
system at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, if desired, by employing an
intervening heating medium that can be heated to a point above 212° Fahrenheit,
and by increasing the quantity of heating vehicle in the system.
The advantages of my improved system will be readily understood from what has
already been said. Great economy results from the use of my invention. Thus an
ordinary dwelling house may be entirely heated by steam without requiring the use
of much more fuel than would be used ordinarily even were my apparatus not
employed, that is to say, by utilizing the current of warm water which passes from
the range to the boiler for imparting heat to the heating vehicle-the entire heating
system can be carried on without making it necessary to employ in the range nuch
more fuel than would be ordinarily employed to keep the water in the hot water
boiler at the required temperature. This is due partly to the fact that in ordinary
cases a good deal of the heat which is imparted to the water in the hot water
boiler is wasted or lost either by radiation from the boiler or by radiation from
other parts of the hot water system, and a considerable part of the heat which is
used for producing the steam in the heating system in my invention would be wasted
or lost anyway if it were not utilized in this mauner. Moreover, since the water
which circulates between the boiler and range will not absorb or take up from the
fire in the range more than a limited quantity of heat, it follows that in the ordinary
arrangement of boiler and range, a large quantity of the heat produced in the range
is not absorbed by the water but passes up the chimney. When my invention is

page_text: used in connection with such boiler and range, whatever amount of heat is imparted
to the heating vehicle in the heating system from the water an equal amount is
again absorbed by the water when it flows back to the range and thus a portion of
the heat generated in the range is utilized which if my invention were not employed
would simply pass up the chimney and be wasted. To put it in another way: ny
entire heating system is carried on by utilizing a portion of what would otherwise
be wasted heat from the range or the hot water in the hot water system. The
result so far as economy is concerned is that the expense of operating my improved
system is very little over and above the expense of operating the range and the hot
water boiler and their connections.
Moreover, my invention makes it possible for a steam heating system to be used.
in any dwelling house where a range and hot water boiler are used, at very trifling
additional expense and without any danger of explosion and without the necessity
of employing an engineer.
Another feature of my improvement is its simplicity both as to construction and
operation. The safety of the apparatus is also a great advantage. Where a
boiler is employed there is always more or less.danger of explosion. With my
invention such danger is entirely done away with, as the quantity of heating vehicle
is limited in the first place and the amount of heat that can be imparted to it is
limited in the second place.
The pressure under which the system is operated and the temperature of the
steam during its circulation will of course depend upon the quantity of water which
is originally put into the system, and secondly, upon the quantity of heat which is
imparted to this water. If a low pressure and temperature is desired in the system
the quantity of water is reduced, or a smaller amount of heat is imparted to it, or
both the quantity of water and the heat are reduced. In place of using the hot
water from the range or boiler for imparting heat to the heating vehicle, any other
suitable heating medium may be employed that will absorb and convey only a
limited degree of heat.
It is of course essential that the radiators and connecting pipes should be made
air tight, or as nearly so as possible, so as to prevent or decrease to the lowest
possible point the admission of air into it. Whenever during the operation of my
apparatus air does collect in the same, the exhauster may be put into operation and
the air drawn-out in this way.
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. The combination, substantially as before set forth of a source of heat, a steam
circulatory system including radiators and the necessary connections, an intervening
heating medium between the source of heat and the system, substantially as
described, and a positive air exhauster connected with the system.
2. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a source of heat, a
circulatory system including radiators and the necessary connections, and containing
a limited quantity of the heating vehicle,, an intervening heating medium between
the source of heat and the system, substantially as described, and a positive air
exhauster connected with the system.
3. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the heaters, and supply
and return pipe of a heating system, a boiler or generating coil, an intervening
heating medium for conveying heat to the boiler or coil,, substantially as described,
a tank or suitable device to support said heating medium in contact with the
boiler or coil, an air pipe, and an exhauster for exhausting air through said air
pipe.
4. The combination with the heaters and supply and return pipe of a henting
system, of a boiler or generating coil and an intervening heating medium for con-
veying heat to the boiler or coil, adapted to absorb and convey only a limited
amount of heat, and a tank or suitable device to support said heating medium in

page_text: contact with the boiler or coil, and an air pipe and exbauster for exhausting
air through said air pipe and a valve to control the passage of air through the air
pipe, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the heaters and supply and return pipe of a heating
system, of the coil c, the tank e, the boiler, the range 9, and the connecting
pipes j, k and l, and the air pipe n provided with suitable valves and the exhauster p,
substantially as set forth.
Dated' this 2nd day of October 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.