IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR COMBINING THE SUPPLIES OF HOT AND COLD WATER TO HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS, AND IN APPLYING AND UTILIZING THE SAME FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gray Smeaton, of Fulham, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR COMBINING THE SUPPLIES
OF HOT AND COLD WATER TO HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS, AND IN APPLYING
AND UTILIZING THE SAME FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE."
Scaled the 1st December 1874, and dated the 8th June 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said James Gray Smeaton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th June 1874.
I, JAMES GRAY SMEATON, of Fulham, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iμ-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR COMBINING
THE SUPPLIES OF HOT AND COLD WATER TO HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS, AND
IN APPLYING AND UTILIZING THE SAME FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE,” to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of
apparatus whereby supplies of hot and cold water to houses and other

page_text: of the column of water between the last-mentioned valve and the
reservoirs.
Vertical hot water main pipes from the boiler are connected with a
safety expansion box in proximity to the hot water reservoir, and a self-
acting double-action valve is placed in proximity to the cold water
reservoir (which is also provided with a ball-cock), by which the supply
and exhaust of cold water thereto is regulated.
In the case of an excess of pressure from the street main over that
derived from the column of water in the reservoir, the whole force of the
supply from the street main can be made available without interfering
with the hot water apparatus. It is also manifest that the hot water
alone may be employed independently of the cold water supply.
The reservoirs may be respectively duplicated or used in any desired
number, and the respective valves are of such sizes and forms as are
necessary or expedient for the purpose or purposes for which they are to
be employed.
In some cases such chemical substances as are capable when brought
into a gaseous or vaporized state of extinguishing fire are placed in the.
hot water reservoir, and are thus most usefully employed, but even when
such substances are not so employed the steam and vapour resulting
from the use of heated water materially assists in the effectual working
of the apparatus.
It will be manifest that the apparatus which forms the subject of this
Invention is greatly superior in point of efficacy, power, and certainty
of action to any methods hitherto employed for the like purpose, it being
applicable to every description of building, and it should be mentioned
that an important feature in connection with it is that it can be readily
added and adapted to apparatus already erected for the supply of hot and
cold water.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Gray Smeaton, Her special licence
that I, the said James Gray Smeaton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Gray Smeaton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR COMBINING
THE SUPPLIES OF HOT AND COLD WATER TO HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS, AND
the con-
IN APPLYING AND UTILIZING THE SAME FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE," upon
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Gray Smeaton, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Gray Smeaton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hercunto
annexed, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements
of apparatus, whereby supplies of hot and cold water to houses and
other buildings can be brought into operation simultaneously, and
rendered available for the extinction of fire, a larger quantity of water
being thereby obtained, and with greater certainty in any case of sudden.
emergency than by any of the arrangements hitherto in use.
Hot and cold water reservoirs are respectively fixed in the most
elevated available part of the house or other structure; or, if desired,
they may respectively be placed at different levels. The hot water
reservoir is supplied with heated water by means of main pipes from a

page_text: boiler, in which the water is heated by a furnace or other suitable means,
as well understood. Tubes are connected with the main pipes, by means
of which the heated water may be conveyed to any desired part or parts
of the house or building, and so employed for heating purposes, as well
understood. The cold water reservoir is supplied with water from the
street main.
The cold and hot water reservoirs are respectively connected by means.
of a pipe or pipes furnished with a self-acting double-action valve or
valves, for the purpose of allowing the whole of the water contained in
the respective reservoirs, which are thus combined to be made available
at any moment, the valve or valves opening or closing according to the
pressure exerted thereon by the body of water in either reservoir, and
thus allowing it to descend through the respective pipes connected
therewith, and which are respectively carried through the several parts
of the building.
Hydrants or branches to hydrants provided with suitable cocks to
which hose can be attached are connected with the tubes at any desired
points, and from which a supply of water can be at once obtained in case
of a fire occurring.
A self-acting double-action valve is provided in connection with the
heating apparatus, by which the cold water from the street main is
prevented from passing into the same, but allowing the heated water to
pass into the cold water pipes, and so as to be available for the hydrants
as before mentioned.
In immediate connection with the street main is a self-acting valve
by which the whole of the water in the reservoirs and pipes is retained
therein in the event of the supply from the street main ceasing, or the
pressure thereof being reduced below that exerted by that of the column
of water between the last-mentioned valve and the reservoirs.
Vertical hot-water main pipes from the boiler are connected with a
safety expansion box in proximity to the hot water reservoir, and a self-
acting double-action valve is placed in proximity to the cold water
reservoir (which is also provided with a ball-cock), by which the supply
and exhaust of cold water thereto is regulated.
In the case of an excess of pressure from the street main over
that derived from the column of water in the reservoirs, the whole forco

page_text: interfering with the hot water apparatus. It is also manifest that
the hot water may be employed independently of the cold water
supply.
The reservoirs may be respectively duplicated or used in any desired
number, and the respective valves are of such sizes and forms as are
necessary or expedient for the purpose or purposes for which they are to
be employed.
In some cases such chemical substances as are capable when brought
into a gaseous or vaporized state of extinguishing fire are placed in the
hot water reservoir and are thus most usefully employed, but even when
such substances are not so employed the steam and vapour resulting
from the use of heated water materially assists in the effectual working
of the apparatus.
It will be manifest that the apparatus which forms the subject of my
said Invention is greatly superior in point of efficacy, power, and
certainty of action to any methods hitherto employed for the like
purpose, it being applicable to every description of building, and it should
be mentioned that an important feature in connection with it is that it
can be readily added and adapted to apparatus already erected for the
supply of hot and cold water.
For the further security and protection of the house or other structure
to which this Invention may be applied and of other buildings con-
tiguous thereto, and to ensure greater efficiency of working of the
before-mentioned arrangements, a safety apparatus is employed in
connection therewith. Such safety apparatus comprises a self-acting
double-action valve and pressure gauge with the necessary connections,
and is fitted to the boiler or boilers in order to prevent explosion in the
case of obstruction to the free circulation of the water, or the partial or
total exhaustion thereof from the apparatus.
The mode of operation of the safety apparatus is as follows:-The
normal pressure exerted by the head of water being obtained and noted
on the guage, any extra pressure resulting from the cessation of the
circulation and consequent generation of steam will be at once indicated
on the dial of the pressure guage, whilst at the same time the self-acting
valve will immediately come into operation, and will open in proportion

page_text: as the abnormal pressure becomes greater, and will allow such pressure
to exhaust itself in the flow or return mains, or otherwise, as arranged,
thus rendering explosion impossible.
In the case of the supply of water to the apparatus being at any time
insufficient, the diminution of pressure will at once be shewn on the dial
of the guage. I wish it to be distinctly understood however that I do
not claim the safety apparatus lastly herein-before described as forming
part of my present Invention, although it may be advantageously used
in connection therewith.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawing, from which tho
nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
The annexed Drawing is a sectional elevation of the apparatus.
A is the hot water reservoir to act for service and expansion; B is
the cold water reservoir, of which one or more may be used. The ball-
cock and loop service to the cold water reservoir are shewn at C; D is
the safety expansion and circulating box in connection with the hot
water reservoir; E is the self-acting double-action valve to regulate the
supply and exhaust of the cold water reservoir, by which the whole
weight of water in the reservoirs is made available for the hydrants in
the event of the pressure being off from the main, whilst it prevents
overflow if the pressure is on. The fire hydrants, which may be in any
number and in any positions are indicated by H; J is the boiler of the
hot water apparatus; K is the self-acting double-action valve, which
prevents the cold water passing into the heating apparatus, whilst it
allows the water in the same to pass to the cold water apparatus, and so
become available for the hydrants; L is the self-acting double-action
valve, which retains the whole of the water in the reservoirs and pipes in
case of the mains being emptied, on the pressure being reduced below that
exerted by the head of the water in the reservoirs; M is the cold water
service from the street mains or other supply; N is the vertical service
column to the reservoirs; O, o, are the hot water pipes, which may be fixed
above or under floorings or otherwise, and so arranged that they may be
|licated in sections or all together, as may be required; P are the vertical
hot water mains from the boiler to the safety expansion circulating box
in connection with the hot water reservoir; Q is the safety apparatus
attached to the boiler to guage the head of water and to prevent
explosion, and comprising a pressure guage and self-acting valve in

page_text: conjunction therewith, and having the necessary connections according
to the shape of the boiler and the requirments of other parts of the
apparatus. As before mentioned, this safety apparatus does not form
part of the present Invention.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original and therefore (save
as aforesaid) claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination and
arrangement of apparatus, parts, and mechanism, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before set forth and described, or any mere
modifications thereof.
In witness whercof, I, the said James Gray Smeaton, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Eighth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
°