IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOMESTIC BATHS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Sugg, of Vincent Street, in the City of
Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF DOMESTIC BATHS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Sugg at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th October 1880.
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Street, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOMESTIC BATHS.'
This Invention relates to that class of bath for domestic use in which the water
to be used by the bather is heated by gas while in the bath, and it consists in a
novel construction and arrangement of the bath whereby a greater heating surface
will be obtained than heretofore, and the disagreeable effects caused by the escape
of the products of combustion of the gas into the room will be avoided, while at
the same time the bath will be portable, as any connection with the cistern will be
rendered unnecessary.
In carrying out my Invention I form the vessel or receptacle for the water in
the usual manner, and I mount it upon a case about nine inches deep, in which the
heating apparatus is placed. Under the bottom, and at the foot end of the bath,
and in connection therewith by a suitable opening, I place a semicircular or other
conveniently shaped well or chamber, into which I insert a series of small tubes.
The other ends of these tubes I insert in the bottom of the bath at the head end.
I thus obtain direct communication between the head and foot of the bath. The
gas burner, which will be a swing burner of any approved construction for heating
the water, I place under the head of the bath. The bottom of the case at the part
under the burner is straight, but the remainder is inclined downwards towards
the foot end of the bath to catch the water of condensation and conduct it
to a cloth placed to collect it, a small door being placed at the end of the
case through which the cloth may be withdrawn from time to time to be wrung
out. A door is also provided to shut in the burner, the air required to support
combustion entering through short bent tubes inserted in the bottom of the
case.

page_text: When it is desired to use the bath the required amount of water is placed therein,
and the gas is lighted. The heat will first strike upon the tubes and heat the
water therein, and will then gradually diffuse itself over the whole of the bottom
of the bath and fill the case. By this means I not only get the whole surface area
of the tubes but also the bottom of the bath and the well as the heating surface,
which enables me to heat the water with the greatest possible dispatch.
The products of combustion, which consist principally of carbonic acid with a
trace of sulphur fume, are conducted by a flue or pipe to an opening in the side of
the bath above the water level.
During the heating operation I use a conductor, one end of which rests upon the
edge of the bath above the opening, and the other end on the surface of the water
to conduct the vapours to the water where they are absorbed, as will be well
understood. In this manner the disagreeable effects arising from the escape of the
gases of combustion are avoided.
A dicharge opening, which I prefer to provide with a stop-cock, is formed in the
well for the purpose of drawing off the dirty water, and the opening into the well
is of sufficient size to admit of a brush being inserted for the purpose of cleaning
out the tubes.
By mounting my improved construction of bath upon wheels it may be readily
moved from room to room, as required, which, under some circumstances, may be a
great convenience, as it is only necessary to connect the burner with the gas
bracket in the room.
Instead of straight heating tubes a coil may be used, or a vessel containing a
number of convolute or similar passages.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Williain Thomas Sugg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th April 1881.
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Street, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOMESTIC BATHS."
This Invention relates to that class of bath for domestic use in which the water
to be used by the bather is heated by gas after admission to the bath, and it consists
in a novel construction and arrangement of the bath whereby a greater heating
surface will be obtained than heretofore, and the disagreeable effects caused by the
escape of the products of combustion of the gas into the room will be avoided.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a bath
constructed according to my Invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; and
Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1.
A is the bath proper or receptacle for the water, and which is of the ordinary
construction. The bath 1 mount upon a case B of a form corresponding to the
bottom of the bath A with vertical sides, and in which the heating apparatus is
placed.
Under the bottom of the bath, and at the foot end thereof, I place a semi-circular
or other conveniently shaped well or chamber C. This well is connected with the
foot end of the bath by a short neck a, and with the head of the bath by a series
of small horizontal water tubes b, b. I thus obtain direct communication between
the well and the head of the bath. Over the neck a I place a removable perforated
plate a¹, and I cover the openings to the tubes b by a similar plate b¹.
The gas burner D, which will be a swing burner of any approved construction,
and fitted with steatite, fish tail, or bat-wing burners for heating the water, I
place in a combustion chamber E, situate under the head of the bath and within
the case B.
Air is admitted to the burner through holes in the sides of the case B and
through holes in the bottom of the chamber E.
In order to shut the burner into the combustion chamber a door F is provided.
This door is connected to the burner and swings in and out with it. The tap or
cock c, for turning on the gas is placed just inside this door, so that the door must
be opened and the burner swung out before it can be lighted, thus avoiding the fear
of explosion which might arise if the burner were lighted without being drawn out
of the chamber E. I prefer to stand the case B in a trough B', so that any water of
condensation dropping from the heating surfaces may be conveniently collected.
When it is desired to use the bath the required amount of water is placed
therein, and the gas is lighted. The heat will first strike upon the forward ends
of the tubes b, which immediately overlie the burner and heat the water therein,
thus creating a circulation of the water, the heat will then gradually diffuse over
the whole of the bottom of the bath. By this means I not only get the whole
surface area of the tubes, but the bottom of the bath and also the well, as the heat
absorbing surface, which enables me to heat the water with the greatest possible
despatch.
The products of combustion (which consist principally of carbonic acid with a
trace of sulphur fume) are conducted by a flue or pipe G to an opening d in the
foot end of the bath above the water level.
During the heating operation I employ a conductor H, one end of which will
rest upon or may be hinged to the edge of the bath above the opening, the other
end dipping down into the water. The object of this conductor is to cause the
vapours of combustion to come into contact with the water by which they are

page_text: absorbed to a greater or less extent, as will be well understood, and thus the
disagreeable effects arising from the escape of the gases of combustion into the
apartment will be avoided. The form of this conductor may vary; thus it may be
nade as shewn in the Drawing, in which case it carries a box H', either inside or
outside, to contain the towels to be used, or it may consist of a simple cover. It
may also be provided with a chimney H³ to carry off those vapours which are not
absorbed by the water.
A discharge tap C' is provided in the well to draw off the water. By removing
the perforated plate a', b¹, a flue brush or scraper can be readily inserted in the
tubes for the purpose of cleaning them out when required.
By mounting my improved construction of bath upon wheels it may be readily
moved from room to room, as required, which, under some circumstances, may be
a great convenience, as it is only necessary to connect the burner with the gas
bracket in the room.
This construction of bath is specially adapted for use with sea water, as the
arrangement of the tubes b, b, in combination with the well C allows for readily
clearing out any saline deposits in the tubes.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Domestic Baths," and explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim,—
First. The construction and arrangement of domestic bath, substantially as
herein shewn and described, whereby an extensive heating surface is obtained, as
set forth, and facility is provided for cleaning the circulating pipes.
Secondly. The combination with a bath in which the water is heated while in
the bath, of a conductor or cover H for directing the gases of combustion on
to the surface of the water, whereby they are more or less absorbed, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Sugg, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ATTA AL