Improvements in Devices for Preventing Water in Pipes and Tanks being Frozen.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left 21st June
1895-Accented 31st Aug. 1895
Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Loft, 21st June 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Preventing Water in Pipes and Tanks
being Frozen.
I, WILLOUGHBY HAMILTON POWER of No. 2 Pancras Lane, Queen Street, in
the City of London, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in devices for preventing water in domestic
and other internal pipe services being frozen.
In carrying the invention into effect, I fit a branch to some part of the service,
preferably to a vertical pipe selecting a portion which is as near the cistern, or at
any rate, in as direct communication with it, as possible. The outer end of the
branch is developed into a vessel. Below the latter, there is fixed a suitable source
of heat, such as a gas flame. The beat will establish a circulation of water in the
pipe and tank above it and, consequently, maintain a temperature high enough to
prevent a chance of congelation being effected.
The vessel may be fitted with a hollow false bottom or jacket adapted to receive
asbestos, or other incandescent, in sufficient quantity to retain a quantity of caloric
that shall be practical in view of the purpose of my invention.
Dated this 21st day of September 1894
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Devices for Preventing Water in Pipes and Tanks
being Frozen.
I, WILLOUGHBY HAMILTON POWER of No. 2 Pancras Lane, Queen Street, in
the City of London, Electrician, 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 relates to improvements in devices for preventing water in pipes
and tanks being frozen and is especially adapted for use in connection with domestic
and other internal services.
It consists in the combination with the cistern or with any of the pipes of the
service, either with the main pipe, any of the branches, or even with a special
branch fitted for the purpose of applying the present invention to the service in
question, of a closed vessel communicating with such main, branch, or special
branch, as the case may be, together with a generator of heat adapted to impart as
much heat to the contents of the said vessel as will suffice to prevent congelation
of the water.
The invention includes the combination with the vessel, of an additional vessel
or jacket adapted to receive asbestos or other incandescent, in sufficient quantity to
absorb and radiate a quantity of heat that shall be practical in view of the purpose
of the invention. The above mentioned incandescents may be replaced by any

page_text: substance possessed of the necessary heat absorbing and heat radiating property
even if it be incapable of actual incandescence.
The accompanying figures are illustrative of different modes of carrying the
invention into effect but they are not to be taken as indicating that the invention
is limited to the positions of the vessel and heat generator in respect of the pipes,
which are illustrated in the figures, as my invention includes any modification of
these positions, as well as of the connections of the vessel' to the pipe either' main
or branch.
Referring to the sheet of drawings
--:
Figure 1 is an elevation of a vertical portion of the cold water supply pipe from
a domestic cistern and horizontal portions of two branches from it, illustrating the
construction of my invention and one mode of applying it to either vertical or
horizontal pipes.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of my invention having the additional vessel
already mentioned.
Referring to Figure 1, a is the vertical portion of the cold water supply from a
domestic cistern. b, b, are portions of two horizontal branches. My object in
selecting these two positions of pipe for illustration, is to emphasize the fact, that
the present invention is quite independent of the direction of the pipe, as well as of
the fact that its applicability is not affected either by the position or the direction
of the pipe which it is desired to safeguard against the inroad of frost.
c is the closed vessel. The bottom c' of it is preferably, dome shaped so as to
expose an increased as well as a concave surface to the heat rays from the heat
generator or source of heat, d. Beyond this, the shape of the vessel is a matter of
indifference. The capacity of it should be in proportion to the volume of water to
be safeguarded and its strength according to the maximum pressure obtaining in
the service.
As to the position of the vessel on the pipe-vertical or horizontal-the vessel
should be at the distant end-as distinguished from the cistern end-of the pipe,
or of that portion of the pipe, which it is intended to safeguard. For instance-in
the case of a domestic service, I regard it as of the first necessity that there should
be one of my devices fixed on the scullery pipe close to the tap and preferably
between it and the pipe to it.
"
The connection between the vessel and the respective pipe-main, branch or
special branch, as the case may be-is of any suitable kind. The expressions
❝ main and "branch" pipes are familiar-besides that, both kinds of pipe are
illustrated in Figure 1. By "special branch "-I mean a short branch from any
concealed part of the service provided solely to carry one of my devices and place
it in communication with the said part.
The simplest form of connection is a short pipe from the vessel to the pipe to be
safeguarded, but I prefer that there should be two connecting pipes as illustrated.
One of these, e, extends from the bottom of the vessel c to the pipe a and is
horizontal because that is the shortest distance between the two. The other of
them, f, is from the top of the said vessel to the pipe a and is preferably oblique to
facilitate the escape of air from the vessel c. In any case its direction must be
such as will prevent the accumulation of air in it and is more efficient if it is
upwards rather than horizontal. The superiority of a two-pipe connection over
one consisting of one only, is due to the fact that through the former and the
vessel e, there will be a regular current from the junction of the pipe e with the
pipe a to that of the pipe with the pipe a on the principle of the well known hot
water circulation, while there would be no current to speak of through a single
pipe connection, or at any rate, a very much less efficient one. The position of the
pipe to be safeguarded and the consequent convenient position of the device, will
always have a modifying influence upon the heat directions of the connecting
pipes. This influence is illustrated in the figure, in respect of the device shewn
fitted to the horizontal brauch b. Obviously the connecting pipe f1 from the top
of the vessel c to the said branch should be vertical, for a vertical direction is,

page_text: under the circumstances, the shortest and offers perfect security against the
accumulation of air in either the vessel c or itself. The connecting pipe e is
oblique in an upward direction from the bottom of the vessel c to the pipe b. The
junctions of the connecting pipes with the vessel c and the pipe to be safeguarded
are of any convenient kind.
The generator of heat may be of any suitable and efficient kind. Figure I
illustrates the use of lamps d supported on wall brackets d¹ but the present
invention does not limit me in this respect.
Referring to Figure 2, 9 is a cup detachably held by bayonet joints g', g' to a
flange depending from the sides of the vessel c. h is the asbestos or equivalent
heat absorbing substance. ³ is a central hole through the bottom of the cup for
the heat from the flame of the heat generator d to pass through.
The above mentioned cup may be extended into a jacket of a size to embrace
the sides of the vessel c.
It is unnecessary to give here any directions as to the power of the heat
generator, beyond this, that it is obvious that it must be capable of developing at
the least as much heat as will keep the contents of that portion of the service
allotted to it, above freezing point.
There are to be as many of my improved devices fitted to any given service as
the size of it may require.
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 with a water service, of a closed vessel communicating with
some member of such service and adapted to receive heat, as set forth.
2. The combination with a water service, of a closed vessel communicating with
some member of such service and adapted to receive heat, and a generator of heat
adapted to supply it thereto, as set forth.
3. The combination with a water service, of a closed vessel communicating with
some member of such service and adapted to receive heat, a generator of heat, and
an asbestos or equivalent heat absorbing and radiating substance held between
the heat generator and the closed vessel in an additional vessel or jacket as
set forth.
4. The combination of a closed vessel communicating with some member of a
water service and adapted to receive heat and asbestos or equivalent heat
absorbing and radiating substance held between the heat generator and the closed
vessel in an additional vessel or jacket, as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of June 1895.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.