Improvements in Apparatus for the Smoke Testing of Drains, also applicable for other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Smoke Testing of Drains, also
applicable for other purposes.
I, JOHN FRASER of 52 Watergate, in the City and County of Perth, North
Britain, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the smoke testing of
drains but which is also applicable for other purposes.
of
In the carrying out of my invention I employ an air pump for the purpose
forcing the smoke out of the smoke chamber of the apparatus into the drain pipe..
The pump consists of a cylinder into which is fitted a piston operated by a piston
rod which is worked up and down by a handle at the top or one end of the
cylinder. The cylinder is closed at both ends but is provided, at the top and
bottom with two clack valves. As the piston is raised air enters the one valve at
the bottom of the cylinder and simultaneously the air in the cylinder above the
piston is forced out through one of the valves at the top of the cylinder and is
forced through a pipe into the bottom of the ordinary smoke chamber and the
smoke is thus forced out of the chamber into the drain pipe by a suitable smoke
pipe. During the said operation of the piston the other valve at the bottom of the
cylinder is closed and simultaneously the other valve at the top of the cylinder.
On the descent of the piston the valves which were before opened now become
closed and the other valves are opened that is to say the other valve at the bottom:
of the cylinder is opened by the downward forcing of the air which air is forced
by another or branch air pipe into the bottom of the smoke chamber, the new air
entering the cylinder above the piston through the opening of the other top valve.
It will be seen therefore that the pump is thus double acting and the clack valves
act automatically by the pressure of the air. The piston is preferably of a double
cupped construction so that each of the cups, preferably of leather, expand and
fit the cylinder tightly according as the piston is forced up or down. By attaching
the end of the smoke pipe to the end of the air pipe of a small or portable forge
the apparatus can be readily used as a forge blower. Similarly the apparatus
can be attached to the end of an ordinary blow pipe.
Dated this 30th day of June 1892.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Petitioner's Agents.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Smoke Testing of Drains, also
applicable for other purposes.
I, JOHN FRASER of 52, Watergate, in the City and County of Perth, North
Britain, Plumber, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the smoke testing of
drains and for other purposes.
In the carrying out of my invention I employ an air pump for the purpose of
forcing the smoke out of the smoke chamber of the apparatus into the drain pipe..
In describing my said invention, I will refer to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Figure 1 of which is an elevation of the apparatus shown partly in section and
Figure 2 an end elevation with the pump and valves shown in cross section.
In carrying out my said invention I provide a light wooden or other frame or
open box A which is provided with two or more carrying handles a. Inside the
said frame A I secure by means of screws or otherwise, a copper or other metal
smoke chamber B which is provided or formed with an outer casing or jacket C
and cover or bell D having a lifting or raising handle d. The space between the
smoke chamber B and its jacket is filled with water into which the cover D
dips so as to form a water Inte to prevent leakage of smoke. It will be seen that
the water lute extends all round the two casings C and B and around the bottoms
of the casings. By this means I am able to force smoke into a drain at a much
lower temperature, thus lessening the chances of explosion in working the machine,
and also lessening the contraction of the smoke which would be much greater if the
smoke were propelled at a high temperature. This, taken along with the speed
from the extra power of the pump, after mentioned, renders the machine more
effective than any previously in use.
The fumigating material may be placed upon the perforated removeable tray Q,
provided with lifting handles
The smoke chamber B is supplied with a stream of air by means of the air pump
which is constructed as follows
The said pump consists of a copper or other metal cylinder E, inside which works
a piston F and piston rod f, said piston and rod being worked up and down through
the medium of the handle f' which is secured to the one end of the piston rod.
The cylinder is closed at both ends by means of the brass or other castings or end
jackets G, G', the top jacket G of which is provided with a cover g having a
stuffing box and gland g for the piston rod; top and bottom jackets G, G¹,
respectively, are provided with a pair of hinged or clack air valves, an inlet valve H
and outlet valve J. On the piston F being raised, air enters into the cylinder
through the lower inlet valve H whilst at the same time the top air inlet valve H
is automatically kept closed by its weight and the position in which it is hung and
also by the force of the air above the piston. Simultaneously the top air outlet
valve J is opened and the air above the piston is thus forced down the air supply
pipe K to the main supply pipe L of the smoke chamber B, and thence to the drain
by means of the smoke pipe M the end m of which is suitably connected to the
drain or other pipe being tested.
On the piston F being reversed, that is to say, forced down, the lower air inlet
valve H is automatically closed and the lower air outlet valve J opened from which
valve the air passes by means of the branch pipe k to the main supply pipe L of the
smoke chamber B. Simultaneously with the closing of the lower inlet valve H,
and the opening of the lower outlet valve J, the upper air inlet valve H is
automatically opened and the upper air outlet valve J is closed.
It will be seen that the moment the handle or piston is ceased to be worked, all
the valves close. By no means can the smoke get back into the pump, hence no
stop cocks and no attention is required; only pure air can get into the cylinder.
The valves are preferably of brass, leather faced, and leather, hinged. The inlet
valves H are preferably provided with perforated air entering covers or doors P.
The cylinder may be of copper, the rest of the pump being preferably of brass.
It will be seen therefore that the pump is double acting and the clack valves act
automatically by their weight and by the pressure of the air. The piston is
preferably leather cupped as shown each of the cups expanding and fitting the
cylinder tightly according as the piston is forced up or down. The nuts by means
of which the cup leathers are secured to the piston also serve the purpose of
adjusting the position of the piston upon the piston rod.
By the greater power of the pump over fans, and leather bellows which have
been used in other machines, the machine constructed in accordance with my said
invention can pour out smoke so rapidly that a drain can be filled in about a third
of the time required with the machines as hitherto constructed. An air pressure of

page_text: ten pounds or more can be obtained. My machine can therefore accomplish tests.
which are not within the capacity of any other machine. Further, by the employ-.
ment of my pump the machine is rendered much more durable than is the case where
leather bellows, for example, are employed.
By attaching the end of the smoke pipe to the end of the air pipe of a forge, my
said machine can be readily converted into a forge blower, owing to the power that
can be exerted with my said pump; my said machine also forms a most efficient
blow pipe for brazing or soldering purposes.
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 :-
In apparatus for the smoke testing of drains, and for other purposes, the air
pump substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the.
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of April 1893
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.