IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE FORMATION OF ICE IN WATER SUPPLY PIPES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hopkinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1881.
JOHN HOPKINSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE FORMATION OF ICE IN WATER SUPPLY
PIPES."
The object of my Invention is to obviate the injury and annoyance caused by
the freezing of water in supply pipes during severe frost, and the frequent bursting
of the pipes.
I make use of a copper ball or a chamber of other material connected by a branch
pipe with the main supply pipe (or other water pipe), as near its entrance to tho
building as is convenient; this ball or chamber is always full of water when
there is water in the supply pipe. I heat the ball or chamber by means of a gas
burner or other generator of heat; when I use gas I arrange the burner in such a
way that the air requisite for combustion and the gas to be burnt are mixed before
ignition, and the flame is prevented from flashing to the gas inlet by means of a
diaphragm of wire gauze. The ball is enclosed in a cover or hood of fire clay or
other non-conducting material which rests on a perforated plate; in the top of this
cover is a hole to permit the exit of the products of combustion. The burner passes
through a hole in the middle of the perforated plate and terminates near the ball,
and when the gas is lighted the flame and hot gases impinge upon the whole
surface of the ball, and pass out through the hole in the top of the cover. The
water in the ball is thus warmed and rises in the supply pipe to the highest point,
its place being taken by colder water; the circulation and warming of the water
prevent the formation of ice in the pipes. The cover confines the flame and hot
gases to the immediate neighbourhood of the ball, and prevents, with the perforated
plate supporting it, accidental draughts from extinguishing the flame or cooling the
ball. The cover is further advantageous in preventing radiation from the ball.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Hopkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th July
1881.
JOHN HOPKINSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE FORMATION OF ICE IN WATER SUPPLY
PIPES."
The object of my Invention is to obviate the injury and annoyance caused by
the freezing of water in supply pipes during severe frosts, and the frequent bursting
of the pipes.
I make use of a copper ball or a chamber of other material connected by a
branch pipe with the main supply pipe (or other water pipe), as near its entrance
to the building as is convenient; this ball or chamber is always full of water, when
there is water in the supply pipe. I heat the ball or chamber by means of a gas
burner or other generator of heat; when I use gas I arrange the burner in such a
way that the air requisite for combustion and the gas to be burnt are mixed before
ignition.
The ball is enclosed in a cover or hood of fire clay or other non-conducting
material, which rests on a plate. In the top of this cover is a hole to permit the
exit of the products of combustion. The burner passes through a hole in the
middle of tho plate, and terminates near the ball, and when the gas is lighted
the flame and hot gases impinge upon the whole surface of the ball, and pass out
through the hole in the top of the cover.. The water in the ball or chamber is thus
warmed, and rises in the supply pipe to the highest point, its place being taken by
colder water. The circulation and warming of the water prevent the formation of
ice in the pipes. The cover confines the fame and hot gases to the immediate
neighbourhood of the ball, and prevents, with the plate supporting it, accidental
draughts from extinguishing the flame or cooling the ball. The cover is further
advantageous in preventing radiation from the ball.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, and readily carried
into effect, I will describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, reference being had
to the Figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 is an elevation in section of my improved
apparatus for preventing the formation of ice in water pipes.
a is the water supply pipe, to which is connected by a branch the copper ball b;
c is a cover of earthenware or other non-conducting material, at the top of which
is an orifice c¹, through which the branch pipe and the products of combustion
pass; d is a plate which supports the cover c; c is a conical tube passing through
the cover c, in which the gas and air required for combustion are mixed before
being ignited at the burner f, which may be of wire gauze (or other smokeless
burner may be used); is the gas pipe. The apparatus can be attached to the
wall by screws or holdfasts.
The copper ball is connected to the main supply pipe as near its entrance to
the premises as may be convenient, and is consequently always full of water.
When the gas is ignited at f the water in the ball is warmed, and rises through
the distributivo pipes, its place being taken by colder water from the supply pipe,
thus maintaining a constant circulation, which prevents the possibility of the water
freezing, or becoming hot enough to generate steam.
Having stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the
exact form or details of the apparatus shown and described, as they may be varied

page_text: without departing from my Invention, and instead of gas any other suitablo
generator of heat may be used.
I declare that I claim,-
The use of a ball or chamber directly communicating with the supply water
pipe, and enclosed in a non-conducting hood or cover, and heated by a smokeless
gas burner or other suitable generator of heat, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hopkinson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty seventh day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty one.
JOHN HOPKINSON. (L.S.)