Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF HEAT TO WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Piercy at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th December
1869.
I, FREDERICK PIERCY, of Glenadon House, Dartmouth, in the County of
Devon, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF HEAT TO WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the heating of water and other fluids by sub-
merging the heating medium and apparatus therein, whether it be gas,
paraffine oil, coal, or other fuel.
In this application I think gas best adapted for the purpose, in applying
which I enclose a suitable gas burner within a chamber, which is completely
enclosed from below, and from which air has access and egress by means of a
vertical channel carried up to a height according to the depth it is desired to
plunge the heating burner. The downcast air tubes I make of considerable
area, but of a flattened form, so as to expose a large surface, two of which act
as the downcast air shafts, and a third and central one as the upcast, in which
the heated air and products of combustion rise after circulating in the heating

page_text: apparatus below.
I prefer to make the downcast tubes segments of circles
concentric with the central and circular upcast tube. This channel I make
conical, and provide cross tubes therein for the circulation of the fluid being
heated. The surfaces of the heating apparatus and the upcast tube being of
metal and good conductors of heat abstract the heat from the heated air and
products of combustion, and transmit it to the fluid in which the apparatus is
immersed. I conduct the gas down a pipe placed in one of the downcast
tubes, and connect the apparatus by means of a flexible tube to a gas-supply
pipe, so that the apparatus may be readily handled and removed from the
fluids in which it is immersed. For heating baths I prefer to conduct the
heated products along horizontally some distance in one long chamber, or in
a series of connected chambers, the last one connecting with the upcast tube,
and I prefer to make this tube of greater elevation than the downcast tube,
and adopt other means at the burner to create the circulation desired in the
proper direction. This apparatus and means of heating may be used for
heating water in washing tubs and other vessels, and in manufacturing pur-
poses, for cooking, heating soups and other fluids by plunging it therein. It
is also applicable for a stove, in which case I fill the stove with water and
plunge the apparatus therein, the heat being given off to the water is trans-
mitted to the exterior of the containing vessel or stove, and to the air of the
room by radiation. The water may be further used to heat radiating plates,
one part of which is immersed in the water, and the other part exposed to the
air. In stoves where large quantities of gas are used I conduct the upcast
tubes into a flue or some channel of escape, so as to prevent the
the room;
which means I also produce ventilation in the room.
heating purposes coals may be used as the heating medium, but for small
operations such fuel would be too troublesome. Oil, paraffine, or other
similar inflammable material may be burnt in a lamp, disposed as described
with reference to gas, and similarly applied to heating purposes. I also apply
apparatus to paraffine, oil, and other lamps for heating water and other fluids,
consisting of a vessel having a conical passage through it, which forms the
chimney or funnel of the lamp. I prefer to make the vessel conical ex-
ternally, but in the opposite direction to the funnel, the smallest end of which
is uppermost. In order that this lamp and apparatus may be also used sub-
merged I enclose the space between the body of the lamp and the funnel, and
provide air channels from the upper part of the heating vessel, which pass
downwards to supply the flame; if the lamp and apparatus is not to be used
submerged this enclosing of the flame may be dispensed with, and the air
escape into
For large

page_text: enter below as usual in such lamps. I form cross channels in the funnel or
chimney for the circulation of the water, these may be curved, angular, or of
other form.