An Improved Method for Supplying Cisterns, Cylinders, and Baths with Hot or Cold Water
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method for Supplying Cisterns, Cylinders, and Baths
with Hot or Cold Water.
I JOSEPH CROPPER of The Mill, Millhouses Sheffield in the County of York
Plumber do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD FOR SUPPLYING CISTERNS, CYLINDERS, AND BATHS, WITH HOT OR
COLD WATER to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to an improved method for supplying cisterns, cylinders,
lavatories, wash basin, and baths, and all places connected with hot and cold water
arrangements of buildings.
The chief features of this inventon are in dispensing with the great amount of
piping, also in protecting the same from frost thus avoiding any fear of the said
pipes bursting, and in being able to empty the pipes of water at any distance
and effectually.
In the construction of this invention I affix a valve with lever and weight
attached to the supply pipe from the main, which pipe is carried to wherever
required with branches therefrom to a cistern, which cistern may be fixed where
found couvenient, the said pipe being bent into the cistern acts as a syphon.
Connected with the cistern is a float worked by a lever, cranks, and rods, to the
lever and valve attached to the supply from the main, which connection may be
affixed inside or outside of the buildings as found convenient, the action being that
as the water is drawn from the supply pipe to the cistern, the float in the cistern
rises and thus closes the valve at the supply from the main, and as the water is
withdrawn to the various parts of the building for different purposes the weighted
float in the said cistern falls, the action of which causes the valve connected with
the supply from the main to open, and which allows the water to pass to the
cistern.
Attached to the pipe where bending into the cistern is fixed a small valve and
connected to it are rods worked by cranks to the lever attached to the main valve
connected with the pipe from the main; this valve is fixed for the purpose of
stopping the syphou from acting when the pipes are fixed outside or in any place
where the frost is likely to freeze the water in them, therefor by opening this said
valve it thus stops the action of the syphon and the supply to the other parts of the
building, either leaving water in the cisterus or not as desired.
To empty all pipes the valve connected to the supply from the main is closed
then the tap at the lowest level of the building is turned on and the whole of the
pipes empty themselves at this outlet thus avoiding any fear of pipes being frozen
up or bursting by the action of frost.
This invention is cheap in the construction, saves great quantity of piping and
is applicable throughout any building for whatever purposes may be required
including both hot and cold water and dispensing with all ball taps as now in use
in cisterns.
Dated this 27th day of March 1892.
WM. MGOWAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method for Supplying Cisterns, Cylinders, and Baths
with Hot or Cold Water.
I, JOSEPH CROPPER of The Mill, Millhouses, Sheffield in the County of York,
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 :-
18
My invention relates to an improved method of and means for supplying cisterns,
cylinders, lavatories and baths, and other places where hot or cold water
required either separately or together.
The chief features of this invention are first, the small quantity of piping
required compared with other systems; second, the method of avoiding the bursting
of such water pipes by the action of frost, by the employment of means for rapidly
and effectually emptying the said pipes.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have annexed a sheet
of drawings or diagram, which illustrates how the invention may be carried into
practice.
It represents a sectional elevation of an upper and a lower room, say a bath
room A, and a kitchen B, with a bath for hot and cold water, a sinkstone, and a
cylinder for heating water, this arrangement being merely shown as an example.
The bath is marked C, in sinkstone D, and the cylinder E.
The essential parts of the complete system are, the first supply valve F, second
supply valve G, the top cistern with its appliances H, and the lower cistern I, with
its appliances and connections.
The arrangement and position of the valves and other parts and the pipes is
immaterial.
In carrying out the invention as shown in the drawings for example, I fix upon
the water supply pipe J, attached to the main, a valve F, with lever and weight M,
of sufficient power to close the valve, and preferably fixed where it can be had
access to.
The said supply pipe is carried forward to any required situation, and forward
to the cistern H, where it is bent over the side and downwards so as to constitute a
syphon K, and at the top of the bend I fix a small inlet valve K2, to adinit air,
and which is closed by a weighted lever K³, and opened by a chain or wire
or cord N.
In a convenient position such as that shown near the lower cistern I, I fix upon
the supply pipe a second valve G, with lever and weight P, to which a chain, wire,
or cord is carried to and connected with the end of a lever Q, attached to the top
cistern H, the other end of the lever is provided with float of sufficient weight to
enable it when descending, to raise the lever P, of the valve G, and open
the valve.
The lower cistern I, is provided with an inlet pipe R, connected with a branch
supply pipe J, having direct communication with the syphon K; the inlet tap R¹
is turned or opened by means of a chain or cord passing over and engaging with
its pulley-shaped head, and over another pulley R³, to each end of which is attached
a float of different weight.
Thus when water is drawn off from the cistern the heavier weight sinks and the
action of the chain or cord turns the pulley-shaped head R', and opens the tap or
valve; when the water rises in the cistern the reverse action takes place, and the
tap is closed.
In the lower cistern I, I arrange a lever S, pivotted or hinged at one end, and
resting upon one end of a trigger T, the other end of the trigger being attached to
the beforementioned chain or cord N, which when drawn down, opens the small
air inlet valve on the syphon K.
The lower cistern is also provided with syphon outlet V, which can be set in

page_text: action by means of a plunger V', the water either being allowed to run to waste,
or preferably into a receptacle W, from which it may be drawn for any purpose.
The action is as follows, all the pipes and cisterns being empty and the first
valve F, being held open by the weight of the float attached to lever S in the
lower cistern I, and valve G, being also opened by the weight of the float L, in
upper cistern.
Water being supplied through pipe J, passes the valves F, and G, and up the
pipe J, through syphon K, into top cistern which it fills, also filling the branch
pipes the cylinder E, and the cistern I. When the float L, rises to the required
height, the lever Q, and its chain or cord permits the weight P, to close the
valve G, and cut off the supply, but leaving the syphon K, charged, and water
may be drawn from any of the branch pipes, either for the bath, the sink, or hot
water from the cylinder pipe J2.
When it is desired to empty the cold water pipes either on account of frost or
otherwise, say at night, the syphon action of K, is broken by pulling the cord N,
and admitting air, and the plunger V', pressed down thus starting the syphon V,
and emptying the cistern I, this causes the opening of the tap R¹, the water from
the pipes J', and branch pipes running through by gravity until they are empty,
but leaving the top cistern full.
If it is desirable to empty the top cistern, then the syphou K, is allowed to act,
and the valve F, is closed by raising the lever S, which permits the weight on the
valve lever to act.
As a more simple arrangement, I may dispense with the lower cistern and the
second valve G, in which case attach the chain or cord of communication from
the lever Q, direct to the lever of the valve F, and the pipe J, direct to the syphon K,
provided with a small air-inlet valve K2, and communicating cord N, which can be
pulled by hand so as to stop the action of syphon.
The water can then be drawn off from the lowest pipe or tap so as to avoid the
danger of it freezing and the pipes bursting.
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. The improved method of and means for supplying hot and cold water to
cisterns, cylinders, baths and other places requiring water, herein before described
and shown in the drawings.
2. In a water supply system for buildings and other places, a valve F, with
weighted lever to close same, fixed upon the supply pipe, which passes forward to
a top supply cistern H, where it is bent over to form a syphon K, and is provided
with a small inlet valve to break the syphon action, in combination with a float
and lever in the said cistern, and a connecting means between the said float lever,
and the lever of the valve F, substantially as described and shown.
3. A system of supplying water to buildings and other places, automatically,
and without the usual ball tops, and of withdrawing same from the pipes to avoid
the danger of freezing, or for other cause, cousisting of a valve F, a second valve G,
upon the supply pipe J, which passes forward to the top cistern H, where it
terminates in a syphon K, provided with air valve K2, in top cistern, a float and
lever communicating with valve G, by means of which the valve is opened and
closed. A lower cistern having automatic means for filling, and a syphon for
emptying, lever and float for opening and closing first valve F, and for actuating a
trigger communicating with the air valve to syphon K, all acting together
substantially as described and shown.
Dated the 20th day of December 1892
.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.