Improvements in and Connected with Apparatus for Heating Public Buildings, Dwelling Houses, Conservatories, and other Places.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 2nd Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Oct., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and
Connected
with Apparatus for Heating
Public Buildings, Dwelling Houses, Conservatories, and other
Places.
We, ROBERT POTTS DE RIDDER of Fairfield in the County of Lancaster Architect,
and WILLIAM BENNETT of Sir Thomas Buildings Liverpool in the said County Iron
Founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to what is known as the "small bore," or high pressure
system of water pipes for heating buildings. In the apparatus at present used under
this system, little or no provision is made to allow for the escape of any air or steam
that may collect or be generated in the pipes, should the pressure reach too high a
point for the safety of the pipes or apparatus, and it is to provide for this and to
apply to the apparatus a safety or relief valve that this invention is chiefly designed.
In carrying out the invention, we provide water pipes similar to those at present in
use, with an internal bore of say, inch diameter, and arrange them as is customary
for the water to circulate through them, so as to convey the heat throughout the
building, or to the position of it required, and place the expansion tube or pipe at the
highest point. For connecting the expansion pipe or tube, we form a T piece, the
leg of which we prefer to make of a diameter somewhat less than the circulating
pipes, and attach thereto a branch pipe to be used as a fill pipe. To the leg of the
Tpiece is attached the expansion tube which we form of wrought iron. It is reduced
down at the lower end to the same size as the leg of the T piece and attached thereto
by an ordinary pipe coupling. At the upper end it is also reduced to the size of the
pipe, but preferably formed with a square shoulder. Depending from this shoulder
into the internal recess of the expansion tube is a small tube, about equal in internal
diameter with the pipe which leads from the top, and practically forms a continuation
of it, though we prefer that it should be made in one with the expansion tube. To
this end of the expansion tube is attached a relief or safety valve to allow of the
escape of air when the pressure in the apparatus is raised to or reaches above a certain
point. This valve is formed with a plate or cover over the end of the pipe, which
provides a seating for a small conical or other valve. The plate or top carries two

page_text: studs or standards which support a crosshead, between which a spring is compressed.
Over the valve is a plate, which protects the spring preventing any moisture that may
pass through the valve being blown up onto the spring. The uprights or studs serve
as guides for the protecting plate. By screws on the top of the studs the tension of
the spring can be adjusted. The whole is covered by a suitable cover or cap which
may be locked or sealed in position. It will be evident that a dead weight valve may
be used instead of a spring valve, but we prefer the latter. We now consider that
the top of the expansion tube is the most suitable situation for the relief valve, though
we may find that it will answer if placed in other positions on the system of piping.
Between the expansion pipe and the relief valve a plug may be placed which at any
time can be opened to reduce the pressure in the pipes. The pipes at their lower end
pass into a fire or furnace, or are built up in such a way, as to form a fireplace or
furnace with a small grating below to retain the fuel, this grating is hinged at one end
or back, and provided with a projecting arm or handle at front, preferably forked, by
which it can be raised or lowered for the purpose of clearing away the clinkers.
A small slide or bolt catching in a couple of lugs hold the grating in normal position.
A loose handle with a socket attached to it, or to the arm of the grating may be
employed for raising and lowering the grating when too hot to manipulate by hand.
Dated this 1st day of December 1886.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Apparatus for Heating
Public Buildings, Dwelling-houses, Conservatories, and other
Places.
We, ROBERT POTTS DE RIDDER of Fairfield, in the County of Lancaster, Architect,
and WILLIAM BENNETT of Sir Thomas Buildings, Liverpool, in the said County, Iron
Founder, 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:-
23
This invention relates to what is known as the "small bore" or :: high pressure
system of water pipes for heating buildings. In the apparatus at present used under
this system, little or no provision is made to allow for the escape of any air or steam
that may collect or be generated in the pipes should the pressure reach too high a
point for the safety of the pipes or apparatus, and it is to provide for this and to apply
to the apparatus a safety or relief valve that this invention is chiefly designed.
This invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1, is a vertical section of the entire apparatus.
Figure 2, section of lowest point of piping.
Figure 3, plan of bottom of furnace.
Figure 4, section of top of furnace.
Figure 5, details of catch.
Figure 6, section of bottom of furnace.
A A are water pipes similar to those at present in use with an internal bore of say
inch to 1 inches diameter, and arranged as is customary for the water to circulate
through them so as to convey the heat throughout the building or to the position
required. B is an expansion chamber or tube placed at the highest point of the
circulation, a piece connecting the expansion chamber or tube with the pipe A.
The upper branch D of the T piece is preferably a little smaller in bore than the rest
of the pipe, and has attached to it a branch pipe E to be used as a fill pipe, this is
provided with a screw cap e. Expansion tube B is preferably of wrought iron and
larger in diameter than the branch D, but reduced down the size of that branch at
the junction as shown. At the upper end it is also preferably reduced in diameter
to the size of D, but preferably with a square shoulder and abruptly, and not gradually
as at bottom. Depending from this shoulder into the internal recess of the expansion
tube is a small tube G, about equal in internal diameter with the pipe which leads
from the top, and practically forms a continuation of it, though we prefer that it
should be made in one with the expansion tube. The object of this tube is to separate
the air from the water, so that for a certain distance below the valve there shall be
nothing but air. To this upper end of the expansion tube B is attached a relief or
safety valve to allow of the escape of air when the pressure in the apparatus is raised
to or reaches above a certain point; between the valve and the tube B I prefer to
insert a junction H with a pet cock or a cap as shown. The valve V is preferably a
conical one with a spindle guided by means of plates J and J', through holes in
which plates it slides. These plates are free to slide up and down on studs K K.

page_text: These studs K K are rivetted into the valve seat at k and screwed at the top and
provided with nuts L. M is a spring compressed between plates J, J, by means of
nuts L. By adjusting nuts L the pressure on this spring (and thus the pressure to
which the valve is weighted) can be exactly regulated. In place of the spring Ma
series of weights in thin plates one over the other can be used. The pressure is then
regulated by taking off or adding one or more of these plates. Valve seat, plate N, is
pierced with numerous holes to let air out. O is a cover of any suitable material,
closely fitting plate J and useful for keeping the spring, etcetera clear of dirt, etcetera.
We have described and shown this valve as fitted on top of the expansion tube, as that
is the best place for it in our opinion. It could, if desired, be placed in another part
of the tube, but would not act as well. The pet cock or cup h between the valve and
the tube is useful for opening at any time to reduce the pressure on the tube. The
lower end of the pipe or pipes A passes into a furnace box T shown in figures 4, 5,
and 6.
In this furnace box the pipe is preferably coiled round in a vertical single coil as
shown at A', figure 6, so as to form a fire box. P is a small grating below to retain
the fuel this grating is hinged at one end or back at Q in the drawing, and is
provided with a protecting arm R or handle at front, preferably forked, by which it
can be raised or lowered for the purpose of clearing away the clinkers. A small slide
or bolt S catching in a couple of lugs T, holds the grating in normal position. A
long handle with a socket attached to fit to the arm of the grating may be employed
for raising and lowering the grating when too hot to manipulate by hand.
The usual practice with makers of small bore hot water heating apparatus is to use
as an expansion tube a perfectly hollow tube hermetically sealed above by means of a
removable cap.
This invention differs from the foregoing in that an extra internal
pipe G is used, and in place of hermetically sealing the expansion tube at top I place
there a relieving valve which is self acting and silent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :
1st. In combination with a heating pipe, such as described, an expansion tube such
as B placed at the highest point of the heating pipe, and having a pet cock or plug H, h,
and a filling pipe E, substantially as described.
2nd. In combination with a hot water heating apparatus such as described, an
adjustable safety air valve constructed and arranged, substantially as set forth,
whereby excess of pressure is avoided and only air allowed to escape.
3rd. A hot water heating pipe, having at its lower part a coil A forming the walls
or basket of a furnace in combination with a movable or hinged bottom or grate P
and furnace box T, whereby the coil becomes itself a fire-place, and is immersed in a
heated atmosphere, on the outside, retained around it by the furnace box T.
4th. The combination in a heating apparatus such as described, of an expansion
tube with a safety valve for the purposes described.
5th. The combination with a "small pipe" heating apparatus, of a safety or relief
valve for relieving the pressure, or for regulating the maximum pressure to any desired
amount.
This 1st day of Santambar 1887