Improvements in Cistern Valves.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cistern Valves.
I PHILIP BENNS 16 Kelvin Road Highbury Park N. Builder do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It consists of a metal tube fixed in the centre of a cylinder and fixed vertically
to the bottom of a cistern. Over the outlet an automatic rod or plunger is inserted
in the metal tube worked by a coil spring or other devices above the water line.
This rod or plunger can be raised mechanically by a horizontal rod attached to the
side of a tank or cistern, or by electricity if desired. The cylinder will be fixed on
a base 2 or 3 inches from the bottom of the cistern to prevent dirt passing down
the service pipe. The cylinder will be packed inside with anti-freezing material to
above the water level. A chain or wire will be attached to the horizontal rod and
brought down by the side of the service pipe with a pull or electric push whichever
it may be and fixed near the taps.
Any persons drawing water will pull or push the wire but on releasing the same
the automatic valve will immediately shut off the supply in the cistern thus
keeping the pipes empty during the frosts and preventing them from bursting. This
invention is simple and perfect in its action.
Dated this day January 27th 1894.
PHILIP BENNS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cistern Valves.
PHILIP BENNS formerly of No. 16 Kelvin Road, Highbury Park but now of
No. 14 Maygrove Road Brondesbury both in the County of Middlesex, Builder,
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 :-
My invention relates to cistern valves for governing the outlet of water from the
cistern, and consists of improvements in such valves whereby the probability of the
water freezing and thereby interfering with their action, is reduced to a minimum,
and at the same time, they can be controlled from any distance.
For these purposes I construct my cistern valves with an annular chamber
surrounding the valve stem passage and I pack this chamber with some anti-freezing
material or imperfect conductor of heat, such as asbestos or sawdust, and I attach
to the valve stem or to a lever or arm which operates it, a chain, wire, rod or cord,
which connects it with any other part of the building in such manner that it can be
operated therefrom. By this means I am enabled to keep the pipes normally empty
instead of full as is generally the case, and thus entirely prevent all freezing of
water in the pipes. In some cases I operate the cistern valve by means of
electricity, using an electro-magnet or any other suitable device for the purpose of
lifting the valve from its seat.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I have appended hereto two
sheets of drawings in which :-
Figure 1. is a vertical section through a cistern valve according to my invention.
Figure 2. is an elevation of a cistern valve and casing with part broken away to
show upper part of stem and lever.
•

page_text: Figure 3. is a horizontal section taken on line 1. 2. of Figure 1.
Figure 4. is a horizontal section taken on line 3. 4.
Figure 5. is a diagrammatic view of part of a house shewing the mode of fitting
and operating the valve from a position distant from the cistern.
Figure 6. is an elevation on a larger scale of the wires and bell cranks used.
Figure 7. is an electro-magnet for lifting the valve C.
A designates a base plate which stands inside the cistern upon its bottom and is
attached thereto in any convenient manner, its position being vertically above the
service pipe K. B is an upper plate an opening in which forms the seating for the
valve C, this raising of such seating and upper plate. B a short distance from
the bottom of the cistern tending to prevent any solid matter in the water from
passing through the valve C. by reason of the openings D (see Figures 2 and 1)
being above the level of the upper plate B. Through these openings D the water
from the cistern passes freely to the valve C, and (when the latter is open), into the
service pipe K. Upon the top of the upper plate B is fixed a vertical cylinder E
which forms the outer casing of the cistern valve and to the upper end of which a
cover e is attached in any convenient manner. Fixed inside the casing E at a
short distance above its bottom is an annular plate f, to which is rigidly attached
the inner cylinder or tube F which is continued to a height somewhat above the
highest water level in the cistern, but does not reach the cover e, the space left
being sufficient to allow of the working of a lever for lifting the valve. Forming
part of the valve C. is a hollow stem c which is of somewhat smaller diameter than
the inside of the tube F, and the upper end of which passes through and is guided
by a hole in the centre of the cover e. At a point just above the top of the inner
tube F the valve stem is pierced for a pin c¹, and between this pin and the cover e,
a helical spring c² encircles the valve stem, and keeps it and the valve normally
closed. Just below the pin the valve stem c is slotted and in this slot works an
arm or lever G. which is rigidly attached to the rocking spindle H and upon this
spindle being operated by a lever and chain, cord or wire the arm or lever G raises
the valve stem and valve. The hollow valve stem is open to the atmosphere through
the open ends of a tee piece c³ (or by a hole being drilled into it) and the hollow
being continued through the valve C. the air entering at the top of the valve stem
has free access to the service pipe. The annular space ✗ between the two
cylinders or tubes E and F is filled with sawdust, asbestos, or some other anti-
freezing or non-conducting material, which prevents the freezing of the water in
the space between the inner cylinder or tube F and the valve stem c, and the
consequent fixing of the valve on its seat.
For the purpose of enabling the cistern valve to be controlled or operated from
the kitchen or any other part of the building which is at a distance from the
cistern, I attach a lever M to the end of the rocking spindle H and to this 1 attach
a rod, wire, chain, or cord N the other end of which is carried to the kitchen
(generally to a point near the tap or cock) and which can be operated by pulling
the catch O arranged for that purpose. Or any convenient device may be
substituted for the catch O. U is the kitchen tap near a sink V.
In cases where the rod, wire, chain or cord N cannot be carried in a straight line
from the cistern valve lever M to the catch O. 1 alter the direction of the pull
by the use of bell cranks P, or guide pulleys, or other suitable devices may be
employed to effect the same purpose.
Where electricity is employed to operate the cistern valve from a distance, by
forming the end of the lever M of iron or steel and arranging underneath it an
electro-magnet I am enabled to operate the cistern valve by simply closing the
circuit of which the coils form part, or I may make the top c of the valve stem c
of iron or steel and arrange an electro-magnet T above and closely adjacent
thereto.
The operation is as follows
:-
The various parts being normally situate as shewn in the drawings the cistern

page_text: supply of water in the kitchen or elsewhere would first turn on the kitchen tap or
cock and then operate the catch O and thus open the cistern valve C when the
water would fill the service pipes and give the required quantity. Now releasing
the catch O, the valve C would fall into its seat and prevent the flowing of the
water into the pipe K. When the quantity that remained in the pipe had escaped
through the kitchen tap or cock, this would be closed and the normally empty
condition of the service pipes would again exist.
The rod, wire, chain, or cord, N may be attached to the kitchen tap and the
cistern valve be operated by the same movement.
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 :-
1. A cistern valve having its stem surrounded by an annular or other chamber
containing an anti-freezing or non-conducting material, substantially as described
and shewn.
2. A cistern valve substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
3. The combination of a cistern-valve with means for operating it from a distance
substantially as described and shewn.
4. A cistern valve arranged and operated in such manner that the water service
pipes supplied from the cistern are normally empty or contain only air, substantially
as described and shewn.
Dated this 26th day of October 1894.
PHILIP BENNS.