IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING AND ARRANGING WATER PIPES, AND WITH- DRAWING WATER THEREFROM, AND PREVENTING INJURY THERETO BY FROST
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Fowler Jones, Architect, York, and James
Jones, Architectural Carver, York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING AND ARRANGING WATER PIPES, AND WITH-
DRAWING WATER THEREFROM, AND PREVENTING INJURY THERETO BY FROST,"
Sealed the 24th January 1862, and dated the 3rd August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Fowler Jones and
James Jones at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 3rd August 1861.
60
We, GEORGE FOWLER JONES, Architect, York, and JAMES JONES, Archi-
tectural Carver, York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING AND ARRANGING WATER
PIPES, AND WITHDRAWING WATER THEREFROM, AND PREVENTING INJURY THERETO
BY FROST," to be as follows:-
Supply pipes that cannot be laid sufficiently deep in the earth to be
beyond the influence of frost are proposed to be protected by coating
them with or imbedding them in some one or other of the substances
which are the slowest conductors of heat such as felt, straw, or hay bands,
indian-rubber, fine dry sand, or sawdust, clay, salt, or alum, and, when
required, enclosing them in earthenware or wooden pipes or casing.
Just within where the protection due to depth ceases, the supply pipe is
to terminate in a cylinder placed horizontally or obliquely, having a
piston, which when pushed towards and left at the outward limit of its
stroke, shall permit the free passage of the water from the supply pipe
to the house main, and when drawn to its inward limit and held so by a

page_text: weight, shall stop and prevent the supply, at the same time permitting
the water contained in the house main and branches to return to the
cylinder, and thence to run off by a waste pipe into a drain, which waste
during the admission of the supply is closed by the periphery of a second
piston, open longitudinally, that travels simultaneously and commen-
surately with that first mentioned.
In the case of hydrants, drinking fountains, pumps, and standards for
the supply of railway engines, sanitary water-closets, or other purposes,
the cylinder above described is to be placed vertically and sufficiently low
in the ground for its contents to be below the action of frost, and the
piston in it to be rendered self-closing by means of a weight, spring, or
other appliance, -the-water raised and not required immediately falling
back for future use into the cylinder, calculated of adequate capacity;
or, in the case of a pump, into the well; and a considerable amount of
water being thereby saved which now is wasted, while any stoppage from
frost is prevented.
2. Supply pipes branching from the street mains to be furnished with
a tubular lining-of-indian-rubber, closed-at-the end next the main, and
fixed at both ends to the unions, and to this lining and near to the supply
cock another cock to be provided, adapted for occasional connection with
a small force pump, by means of which air is to be forced in and filled
with compressed air, so as to obstruct the admission of water; or in the
event of the contained water having become frozen, to facilitate the thaw-
ing thereof by pumping in air or water at a high temperature, the elas-
ticity of the indian-rubber previously allowing the expansion of the water
by freezing, and thus preventing the bursting of the external metal pipe.
Where hot-water pipes (excepting those of small diameter on the high-
pressure principle) are used for warming buildings, but only occasionally,
an indian-rubber pipe is to be inserted in them, extending throughout
their length, and warmed as above in case of frost. This arrangement
is also applicable for preventing gas meters and other cisterns from burst-
ing, and to thawing them if frozen.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent, filed
by the said George Fowler Jones and James Jones in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. we, GEORGE
FOWLER JONES, Architect, York, and JAMES JONES, Architectural Carver,
York, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said George Fowler Jones and James Jones, Her special licence
that we, the said George Fowler Jones and James Jones, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Fowler
Jones and James Jones, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING AND ARRANGING
WATER PIPES. AND WITHDRAWING WATER THEREPROM. AND PREVENTING INJURY
THERETO BY FROST," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
George Fowler Jones and James Jones, our executors or administrators.
by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six cal-
endar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, hat we, the said George Fowler Jones, and James Jones,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, as hath been heretofore described in
the Provisional Specification left and recorded on application for the said
Letters Patent.
The said improvements in apparatus herein-before referred to, relate,
first, to supply pipes. It being usually inconvenient or impracticable to
place these sufliciently deep in the earth to be beyond the influence of
frost, we protect the same by coating them with or embedding them in
some one or other of the substances which are the slowest conductors of
heat (such as felt, straw, or hay bands, india-rubber, fine dry sand or
sawdust, clay, salt, or alum, and, when required, enclosing these in
earthenware or wooden pipes or casing.) Just where the protection due
to depth ceases, the supply pipe is to terminate in a cylinder placed hori-
zontally or obliquely, having a piston, which when pushed towards and
left at the outward limit of its stroke, shall permit the free passage of the
water from the supply pipe to the house main, and when drawn to its
nward limit and held so by a weight, shall stop and prevent the supply,

page_text: at the same time permitting the water contained in the house main and
branches to return to the cylinder, and thence to run off by a waste pipe
into a drain; which waste during the admission of the supply is closed
by the periphery of a second piston, open longitudinally, travelling simul-
taneously and commensurately with that first mentioned.
In the case of hydrants, drinking fountains, pumps, and standards for
the supply of railway engines, sanitary waterclosets, or other purposes,
the cylinder above described is to be placed vertically, and sufficiently
low in the ground for its contents to be below the action of frost, and the
piston in it to be rendered self-closing by means of a weight, spring, or
other appliance. The water raised, and not required immediately falling
back for future use into the cylinder- (calculated_of_adequate capacity),
or in the case of a pump into the well, and a considerable amount of
water being thereby saved (now wasted), while any stoppage from frost
is prevented.
Second, the supply pipes branching from the street mains we furnish
with a tubular lining of india-rubber, closed at the end next the main,
and fixed at both ends to the unions; and-to-this-lining and near to the
supply stop cock, another cock to be provided adapted for occasional
connection with a small force pump, by means of which air is to be forced
in and filled with compressed air, so as to obstruct the admission of water;
or in the event of the contained water having become frozen, to facilitate
the thawing thereof by pumping in air or water at a high temperature;
the elasticity of the india-rubber tubing previously allowing the expan-
sion of the water by freezing, and thus preventing the bursting of the
external metal pipe.
Where hot-water pipes (excepting those of small diameter on the high-
pressure principle) are used for warming buildings, but only occasionally
an india-rubber pipe is to be inserted in them, extending throughout
their length, and warmed as above in case of frost. This arrangement is
also applicable for preventing gas meters and other cisterns from burst
ing, and to thawing them if frozen.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, we now pro
ceed to further exemplify the same, and to describe in what manner th
same is to be performed or put in practice, wherein we shall refer to th
Drawings hereto annexed by the words, figures, and letters marke
thereon and herein referred to, that is to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Drawing No. I. Figure I. is a section of a pipe or cylinder of meta
botence It may be

page_text: is beyond the influence of frost. Against the mouthpiece of main (S) is
pressed a valve (c) at the end of a rod (R), which is opened or closed by
a screw working through the stuffing box (B) by the lever handle H,
(c, c,) being stay guides to the rod (R); when the valve is opened the
water flows through the cylinder, and is discharged by the outlet (o), and
when closed the water remaining in the cylinder escapes either into the
partially filled vessel used to receive it while open, or is discharged on to
a grate to waste by the drain; the cylinder being placed with a slight
inclination, no water can remain in it to cause a stoppage by frost.
Figure II. is another arrangement for the same purpose, with a piston
rod (R) and valve (0), which when pushed into the limit of its stroke
opens the service main (S) for the water to flow by the outlet (o), and
vice versa. The outlet pipes may be used with or without taps. These
two taps are contrived so as to be made at small cost, and suitable for a
small class of house in towns that are supplied with water only into the
sunk areas or cellars. Where the protection secured by depth cannot
be obtained the pipes and cylinders must be encased in earthenware
pipes or brickwork, and embedded in or rapped round with some slow
conductor of heat. Figure VI., section of apparatus for use in cases
where the water is laid on to the upper floors of houses, and consists of
two valves (n, v), which when pulled by the handle (H) to the outward
limit of its stroke, the service main (S) is closed, and the house service
(H, S,) and the outlet or waste (O) is open when pushed inward, and
held so by the rack (I) hinged to the handle (H), at the first notch, the
waste is closed and the service main and house service is open; or this
latter and the waste can be both stopped by pushing the piston to its
inmost limit; when drawn out again and when no tap is used to the waste,
all the water contained in the house service and not discharged into the
cistern, as well as that in the cylinder, would pass through the waste into
the drain, thus leaving the pipe free from water that might be liable to
be stopped by frost in winter time, if not discharged.
Figure III. is a section of a street standard for a drinking fountain or
for other purposes.
The standard itself may be made of wood, lined
with metal or entirely of metal, or a pipe encased in a pillar of any
material of suitable dimensions. The piston in this apparatus is supplied
with three valves (c, v, v,) the lower one never rising above the inlet of
service main, the middle one closing this inlet when lowered, and when
raised, as in the position shewn, allowing the water to pass by it through
the grooves (w, w,) to the mouthpiece or tap (o); when the piston is
lowered to shut off the supply, and the middle valve passes the groove
(w, w), the lower valve acts as a counterpoise to the pressure of water,
and the upper one closes the orifice of outlet, and prevents the water un-

page_text: discharged, and which falls into the cylinder by the lowering of the
piston, being acted on by frost; the piston to be raised and lowered by
rack and pinion or other appliances; the piston rod (R) to be hollow, (as
indicated in Figure IV., a plan to twice the scale taken through (K, U)),
to allow of air that might otherwise accumulate under the lower valve
to pass out, and also to facilitate the raising and lowering of the piston.
Figure V. is another mode of applying the same principle with two
valves, the counterpoise to the pressure of water being obtained by fixing
a weight on the end of the piston rod; the water not withdrawn is there-
fore stored up or use, and preserved from the action of frost by the depth
of cylinder under ground, or by properly constructed chambers in which
they are encased, leaving the exposed portion-of standard free from
water, and consequently preventing injury thereto by frost.
Figure VII. is the section of a common pump, in which this principle
of allowing any water that may remain undischarged on the top of the
bucket (B) and valve (v) to pass by grooved water ways (w, w,) in the
outer cylinder or case is used; when after pumping the lever handle (H)
is raised to allow of the bucket descending to this point, where it will
also press on a hinged lever valve (T) in the middle valve (e), through
which the water and air will pass, and empty the pipe as low as the second
valve () by the pipe (P), or where no second valve is used to the level
of the water in the well, thus preventing the possibility of the pump
being frozen by any water remaining above the bucket or plunge valve.
Figures VIII. and IX. are plan and section to twice the scale, shewing
the grooved waterways and hinged lever valve; this hinged lever valve
may be in the centre of the plug valve, as shewn, or at the side. In the
construction of these apparatuses any metal may be used for the cylin-
ders and pipes; gun metal, brass, and iron being those preferred; the
piston valves in all cases, where extreme economy is not necessary, should
be brass or gun metal, and the packing of india-rubber, cupped leather,
or metal rings, but they may be made of any other material. In fixing
them, those shewn horizontal in the Drawings should be slightly inclined
to the outlet, that the cylinders may easily be freed from water, the
inlet pipe being in all cases the standards as well when practicable at
least three feet below the surface of the ground or from the back of the
wall through which they may be brought.
Drawing No. II. Figure I. represents the vertical section of a hydrant
suitable for the supply of water from main of waterworks or cisterns, for
the supply of railway engines, drinking fountains, or other purposes. The
service main (S) being beyond the influence of frost, from its depth in
the ground, is closed by the piston valve (P), worked by the rod (R)
which being only solid for part of its circumference, closes the service

page_text: pipe (S), when turned by the lever handle (H) to the index point "shut,"
and when turned to open, the water rises as indicated by the arrows, and
will discharge where required through outlet pipe or tap, while the piston
valve is turned to "open," the waste or outlet pipe (o) is closed, but when
reversed to shut off the supply in winter, or at any time the water raised
but not discharged, and remaining in the cylinder (C) of the hydrant,
will immediately run to waste by the outlet pipe (O) into the drain or
into a reservoir to be again pumped into the cistern, thus leaving the
cylinder free from water, and therefore not liable to be stopped or injured
by frost.
Figure II., is a horizontal section of the piston valve and cylinder
with service and outlet pipes.
Figure III. is another mode of turning the piston valve by means of
two bevil cog wheels (c, c,) turned to the index points by the lever
handle (H).
Figure IV. is a plan shewing the fixing of the hydrant to the paving
or to landings level with ground; (R) being the piston rod, (w) water-
way, (F) packing or lining of wood or other substance to reduce the
cylinder to equal capacity with the service main.
Figure V. represents the vertical section of a similar standard with
the service main, entering the cylinder at the bottom, and the water
stopped off by a cylindrical piston valve closing the orifice of service
main, this valve being raised by the lever (L) acting on the piston rod
(R), when the water would flow by the grooves (w, w,) into the cylinder
(C), and thence into the discharge pipe (D), and on lowering the lever
handle (L), the piston valve would gradually lower into its place, and
close the supply, being assisted by the counterbalance weight (B), cal-
culated of sufficient size to overcome the pressure from the main. This
cylinder, where there was no danger of frost might remain charged with
water, but in winter or doubtful weather, after use, the nut (N) would
be unscrewed a few turns, which would raise the small piston valve (p)
inside the piston rod (R) made hollow for that purpose, and all the water
remaining in the standard would immediately fall into the waste (o)
through a passage formed in the larger valve (P), corresponding with
the orifice of the outlet (O) and thus as in the other pass into the drain
or reserve reservoir.
Figure VI. is the horizontal section (on (G, G,) of piston cylinder and
waterways with outlet.
Figure VII., a section on. x, y, shewing the small piston rod (1)
within the larger (R), leaving the waterway in standard equal to that of
the service main.

page_text: Figure V., another arrangement whereby the piston valve (P) stops
or opens the supply (S), when open, the water rises through the grooves
(w, w,) into the cylinder (c, c,) to be discharged, and when closed all the
water remaining in the cylinder (c) will waste or be received into the
reserve reservoir by the outlet (o), and consequently always free from
liability to be stopped by frost.
Drawing III Figure I., the exterior case of a balance valve, whereby
it is intended to have the water supply to house cisterns made self-acting
by the pressure and weight of water in the mains, and at the same time
employing the foregoing cylinders and valves to shut off and empty the
house mains to prevent their being injured by frost. (A, A,) the case
(B), balance-attached on the outside of lever pin (L) to the inner valve,
acting on the same and raising the index (J), which, falling by gravita-
tion from the flow of water being stopped by the closing of the ball tap
in cistern from its being filled; (H) is the handle or end of piston rod (R),
on which are the valves.
Figure II. is a vertical section on (Z, Z,) (w, w,) being the waterways,
the upper, -the-space-in which the balance valve (B, V,) works, the lower
leading from the cylinder (C) in which the stop valves act.
Figure III. is a section of the cylinder shewing valves, service and
waste pipes; is the stop valve to supply pipe (S); C, C, cylinder; R,
piston rod; (w) waterway from cylinder to balance valve; 2, stop valve
to outlet or water (o); (3) valve acted on by return water to force back
the valves so that the supply is open and the waste closed; s, s, small out-
let for the water to escape into drain or larger waste. H, handle or outer
end of piston rod (R); (P), small return pipe from cistern opened by a
ball tap in the cistern when the water in it is nearly exhausted; J, index
or lever, which holds the valve (v) in its place when the service supply
(S) is open, and which is raised by the lever (L); when the cistern is
full, the index (J), being at liberty, allows the piston valves to be forced
out, so as to open the waste (o) by the pressure of water from the ser-
vice (S), passing behind the valve (v) by the groove (w) in the cylinder
in which it works.
Figure IV. is a section shewing interior of the balance valve case; (C)
being the cylinder in which the piston valves act on the piston rod (R);
(w) waterway from ditto; (B, V,) balance valve, acted on by the flow of
water indicated by the arrows; (K), the slot in which the index (J) is fas-
tened at the notch (N,) when the water is flowing in. This set of valves
is therefore designed and is applicable for situations where there is a
good pressure and constant flow of water, to be self-acting after the
water is once admitted into the cylinder and cistern, as it will be seen

page_text: when the piston and valves are pushed inwards to the limit of its stroke,
the supply pipe (S) is open and the waste (o) closed; the water then
ascends the house service main to the cistern through the pipe (H, S),
which empties itself into the cistern through a ball tap that closes as the
cistern fills, the water in the house service main then becomes sta-
tionary; this allows the balance valve to sink in its case, and raise the
lever (L), and liberates the index (J), and the pressure of water in the
service main then puts the piston valves in motion outwards, which open
the waste (o), and all the water contained in the cylinder and house
main immediately runs to waste, and frees the pipes thereof, the valves
working simultaneously close the supply, and this is kept so by the pres-
sure of the water against the end of the valve (V), and being shut off
from the action of frost by its depth in the ground, there can be no stop-
page; when a certain amount of water is used from the cistern, the ter-
mination of a small pipe (P) is opened in the same, allowing a regulated
amount of water to descend, and by its pressure act on the back of (3)
whereby the piston rod and valves are set in motion inwards, closing
waste (o), and opening the supply, when the index will fall into the notch
(N), the valves then being kept in their proper position till the cistern
is filled as before. Between (22) and (3), a space is open to the air, to
allow of the easier action of the valves, and the water descending by the
pipe (P) is gradually run off by a small opening (S, O,) and pipe to the
waste, thus freeing all pipes of water, and opening and shutting the
valves by the alternate flow and return of the water in the service pipes
and cistern. This action of opening and closing by the flow of water
can also be obtained by the assistance of weights or springs, or both
combined.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,-
Firstly, shutting off water in service mains, within the ground, beyond
the influence of frost, and emptying the pipe from the stop valve to the
discharge pipe or tap, thereby preventing injury to it, or any stoppage
by frost.
Secondly, shutting off, when desired, the water in service mains by
means of piston valves arranged in cylinders at a sufficient depth under
ground so as to prevent any stoppage by frost, also in the case of vertical
pipes or standards for streets, or the supply of the tenders of locomotives
or other purposes, shutting off the water when desired, so that the water
raised and not discharged or used, will, when the supply is closed, fall
into a reservoir or cylinder at such a depth as to be beyond the influence
of frost, or so that this cylinder may be cleared, by allowing the water

page_text: to run to waste, or into a reservoir, which may be re-pumped up into the
cistern.
Thirdly, arranging supply pipes and house mains, that are usually
exposed, so that they can be effectually protected or encased, to render
the application of these piston valves and appliances of general use in
any situation. Also the introduction of an india-rubber pipe or pipe of
similar elastic material of slightly smaller bore within a metal pipe pro-
perly connected at the ends, so that either hot air, steam, or water could
be forced in between the india-rubber or similar elastic material and the
metal, so as to thaw any ice without risk of injuring the pipe by expan-
sion of the frozen water that might have collected there owing to the
pipe remaining charged. This plan of introducing india-rubber tubing,
is also applied to prevent the bursting of pipes, leading from or passing
through cisterns or other vessels for liquids, and affords a simple and
ready means of thawing by either forcing hot air, steam, or boiling water
between the pipes or through the coils introduced into these vessels.
Fourthly, emptying the vertical pipes, termed pump barrels of water,
above and below the bucket, into the well below the reach of frost.
Fifthly, the method of opening and shutting the house supply to cis-
terns and other receptacles by self-acting arrangements, and emptying
the same of water as described and illustrated by Drawing No. III.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Fowler Jones and James
Jones, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirtieth day
of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two.
GEO. FOWLER JONES. (L.S.)
JAMES JONES.
(L.S.)
JOHN BEVAN,
East Mount Road, York.
Witness to the signatures of G. F. Jones and J. Jones.