Improved Means for Draining Water-service Pipes and Systems in Frosty Weather.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1896-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1897
Improved Means for Draining Water-service Pipes and Systems in
Frosty Weather.
HERBERT JOHN HARRIS, 2 Bell Lane Gloucester, Plumber and WILLIAM
ALFRED HARRIS, 2 Bell Lane Gloucester, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An automatic air suction valve which we intend to apply to water-service
systems consists of a rubber ball or any other suitable material on a metal
seat.
By the introduction of one or more of these automatic air suction valves at or
Dear the highest point or points of water-service systems, and the opening of a
draw-off valve or valves situated at or near the lowest point or points of such
systems, the weight of the water in the pipes, by the action of gravity, sucks in
air through the aforesaid automatic air-suction valve or valves, preventing vacuum,
till the whole of the aforesaid system is thoroughly drained and there being no
water in the aforesaid system, there is no danger of burst pipes.
Dated this Third day of January 1896.
HERBERT JOHN HARRIS.
WILLIAM ALFRED HARRIS.
Improved Means for Draining Water-service Pipes and Systems in
Frosty Weather.
We HERBERT JOHN HARRIS of High Street Berkeley Gloucestershire
Plumber and WILLIAM ALFRED HARRIS of 2 Bell Lane Gloucester Draughts-
man 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:-
Our invention consists of the combination of the usual water service systems
consisting of the following parts and fittings (see accompanying drawing
Fig. 1.)
(1) The water supply main A (taken as the starting point).
(2) The water supply pipe B. and the union C. connecting it with the water
supply main A.
(3) The stop valve D. and continuation of water-supply pipe B 2.
(4) A draw-off valve E near the stop valve D.
(5) Continuation of water-supply piping B 2 with the requisite draw-off valves,
ball-valves, water tanks and the like.
And (at or near the highest point or points of the said water service system) one
or more automatic air-suction valves F, F 2.

page_text: The action of the combination is as follows:-
When the stop valve D is closed and the draw-off valve E near the stop
valve D is opened, the weight of the water contained in the combination, acting
downwards, tends to produce a vacuum in the highest part or parts of the
combination.
The atmospheric pressure opens the automatic air-suction valve or valves F. F 2.,
thereby preventing a vacuum and supplying air to the combination, allows all the
water to be drained off through the draw-off valve E near the stop valve D.
The automatic air-suction valves may be of the ball, mitre or any efficient
type.
An efficient ball valve is shown at Fig. 2 on accompanying drawing. The
ball G. is of rubber, vulcanite or brass. The air-inlet is at H. The lower end K
is soldered or screwed into the water-supply pipe B 2 (Fig. 1.) in the positions
shown at F. F 2. (Fig. 1.). The water pressure is therefore on the top of the
ball G.
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 :-
The combination effected by the application of automatic air-suction valves to
water-service pipes and systems, to prevent vacuum, and to allow of such systems
being completely drained, more especially in frosty weather, thereby preventing
the bursting of the pipes or any part of the combination by frost.
Dated this Second day of October 1896.
HERBERT JOHN HARRIS.
WILLIAM ALFRED HARRIS.