Improvements in Apparatus or Means for Preventing Waste of Water and the Deterioration and Freezing of Water in Service Pipes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus or Means for Preventing Waste of
Water and the Deterioration and Freezing of Water in
Service Pipes.
I CHRISTIAN KERTSON Town Engineer of Kronstadt (Sichenbürgen) in the Empire
of Austria do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner tho
same is to bo performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention has for its object to provide means whereby the water supply pipes
to which the drawing off cocks are attached in dwelling houses and other places may
be emptied after a supply of water has been drawn off and maintained empty until
another supply is required to be drawn off so that the waste of water which is
requisite in warm weather by reason of the water in the pipes becoming warm and
flat and the bursting of pipes in winter time by the water freezing therein is
prevented.
By means of apparatus arranged according to my invention as hereinafter described
after each time water has been drawn off the water remaining in the pipe is caused to
flow into a double cylinder which may be situated in a cellar or other suitable place
the said water being afterwards forced from the cylinder back into the pipe when
another supply of water is required to be drawn off.
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1
of which represents in vertical section the double cylinder herein before referred to
and which may be situated in the cellar or other suitable part of the building to which
my Invention is applied. Figure 2 is a pressure device for charging and discharging
the water from the delivery pipe and the remaining figures are details which will be
hereinafter referred to.
The two cylinders A B constituting the double cylinder are screwed or otherwiso
connected one upon the other and provided with two passages a and a¹ leading to a
valve box in which is fitted to slide a valve b. This valvo is situated between the
cylinders and the service pipe leading from the main and controls the passage of
water from the service pipe D to the upper cylinder A and to and from the upper
cylinder A and the lower cylinder B.

page_text: The slide valve bhas thus a two fold function; in one position it establishes
communication between the service pipe D and the inlet passage a leading to the
upper cylinder, and in another position it forms a communication by the passages a¹
and a between the two cylinders A. B.
In the cylinders A and B are fitted to slide two tight fitting pistons d and d¹ :
connected together by means of a piston rod H passing through a stuffing box
between the two cylinders.
At one side of the upper cylinder A is a pipe or passage F (figures 1 and 4)
communicating with the interior of the said cylinder by the opening e and with the
lower cylinder B by the opening e¹.
The upper cylinder is also provided with another opening through which the
water passes from the said cylinder into the delivery pipe E.
A spring or weighted valve T (figures 1 and 8) is provided on the upper end of
the cylinder A which valve when open admits of water passing from above the
piston d into the casing K situated above the cylinder. In the bottom of the cylinder B
is a small valve & through which any water that may collect in the cylinder B passes
into the atmosphere but does not allow the atmosphere to enter the cylinder.
The slide valve as shewn in figures 5 and 6 is of rectangular form and is provided
with a recess at the sides of which are formed two holes or passages i and which
by means of other holes or passages and k¹ afford to the incoming water a free
passage to the space below the slide valve in all positions of the latter. The slide
valvo is also provided with an aperture m by which communication is made between
the upper cylinder A and the service pipe D.
A sieve in the service pipe D serves to retain impurities.
The valve box C communicates at the top with the force pipe G containing water
or other suitable liquid for the purpose hereinafter described.
The forcing device as illustrated by figure 2 is arranged for a terminal point of
delivery and comprises a small cylinder L in which works a tight fitting piston p.
The movement of the piston p is effected by means of the knob of the piston
rod P.
The cylinder L is provided with an orifice a through which the said cylinder may
be supplied with liquid the orifice being closed by a screw plug s.
This cylinder communicates at its lower end with the valve hox O by the pipe G.
Figure 3 illustrates a forcing device employed at intermediate stations it consists of
a cast iron vertical casing Q containing a slide valve p¹ fitted to slide in a box L' and
caused to move up or down therein by applying pressure to the knob »² and thien
removing the said pressure.
In the slide valve p¹ is a port 7 which when the slide valve is pushed downwards
places the service pipe E in communication with the delivery pipe R, whilst at the
same time it cuts off the communication between the service pipe E' leading to
another apartment with the service pipe E which leads from the cylindor A.
communication between the upper and lower pressure pipes G and G₁ being also at
the same time cut off.
When the pressure applied to the knob is withdrawn the slide valve prisos and
effects a communication between the pipes E and E as hereinafter described whilst a
communication between the pipes G and G is also established and the communication
between the service pipe E and the delivery pipe R is cut off.
Pressure applied to the knob ¹ can thus be transmitted to the slide valve 6 of the
cylinders A. B.
The water can also pass from the cylinder A. through the service pipes E and E¹ to
another apartment without entering the delivery pipe R.
By this means it is rendered possible to employ a single water waste proventing
apparatus for several apartments situated one above the other or otherwise.
(figures 2 and 3) is a small passage for the escape of any water that may have
leaked past the slide valve p' or the piston p.
For the sake of clearness let it be assumed that the pistons d' and d are in their
lowest position and that the water which has flowed out of the delivery pipe E after a

page_text: เ
supply has been drawn off occupies the spaces in the cylinders A and B figure 1 above
the said two pistons d and d¹ and let it be also assumed that a supply of water is required
to be drawn off at an intermediate apartment. In this case the pressure device
figure 3 is employed the slide valves b (figure 1) and (Figure 3) being in their
bighest positions the water from the service pipe D having passed through the
apertures and to the under side of the slide valve b into the space and forced up
the slide valve 6 (figure 1) and at the same time the liquid in the pressure pipe G
being forced upwards by the piston 6 the said liquid transmits pressure to the slide
valve pl (figure 3) at the intermediate apartment which piston will thereby also be
forced up into its highest position. This may be taken to be the normal position of
the two slide valves band pl
With the slide valve p' in the position described a free passage is provided for the water
which is in the pipes E and E' as well as for the liquid in the pressure pipes G and G¹.
When it is required to draw off water for consumption at the intermediate apart-
ment pressure is applied to the knob so as to depress the valve p' and thereby
establish a communication between the service pipe E leading from the cylinder A
Figure 1 and the delivery pipe R figure 3. At the same time the communication
between the pipes E and E³ and between the pressure pipes G and G¹ are also cut off
by the said slide valve.
The liquid contained in the pressure pipe G and which is non-compressible, is by
the depression of the slide valve p' subjected to pressure which is transmitted to the
head of the slide valve b (figure 1) which is thereby forced into the position shewn in
the drawing the water contained in the space / beneath the piston escaping through
the apertures i and into the service pipe "b.
The opening m in the valve is now situated in front of the service pipe D, and allows
the water to pass therefrom into the cylinder A beneath the piston d which piston
rests on the edge o of the said cylinder. The piston d will by the pressure of the
inflowing liquid be caused to rise in the cylinder A and as the piston is connected
by the rod H to the said piston & the piston d¹ will also be caused to rise in th
cylinder B the water above the piston passing directly through the opening
into the pipe E whilst the water above the piston d passes first through th
opening epipe F and opening e above the piston d and thence out through the
opening into the pipe E.
Just before the upper edge of the piston d reaches the upper edge of the opening
in the cylinder A that is to say, when it reaches about the point g, the piston d strikes
against the valve F, and lifts the same in such manner that the moment the piston &
covers the opening that is to say, when no more water can pass into the pipe E,
the water above the piston escapes to the reservoir K through the segment shaped
notches in the spindle of the valve piston F (figures 8 and 9).
The piston d continuing its upward movement the opening fis again uncovered
whereupon water from the service pipe D which flows through the passage a into the
cylinder A passes direct through the passage finto the pipe E and thence through the
opening of the depressed slide valve p' (figure 3) into the delivery pipe R. If
the piston d is watertight, it is impossible for water to pass to the upper side of the
piston d to exert a back pressure thereupon.
When pressure is withdrawn from the knob of the pressure device (figure 3) the
pressure on the upper end of the slide valve b (figure 1) ceases and the water from
the service pipe passing through the passage into the space beneath the valve b,
thereby forcing tho said valve upwards and through the liquid contained in the
pressure pipe G, raises the slide valve p¹ (figure 3) whereby a communication is
established by the passage 9 between the two service pipes E and E' and at the same
time the passage leading to the pressure pipe G' is uncovered so that the pressure
therein may be transmitted to a similar apparatus situated in another intermediate
apartment or to an apparatus such as is illustrated in figure 2 situated in a terminal
apartment and to the slide valve casing C (Figure 1).
On the ascent of the pistons & d' in the Cylinders A and B there is produced under
the small piston d' in the Cylinder B a vacuum which when the pressuro is withdrawn

page_text: from the knob exerts a sucking action having a tendency to draw down the upper
piston d. This downward tendency would be opposed by the pressure of the column
of water in the pipe E acting upon the large piston d from below, but since water
from beneath the piston d passes from the Cylinder A through the passages a and a¹ to
the upper surface of the piston d' and thence through the passage F to the upper surface
of the large piston d, the pressure exerted from below upon the upper piston d by the
column of water, is neutralized, so that the vacuum which exerts a sucking action
below the small piston d' is assisted by the action of the weight of the pistons as well
as by the weight of the water which passes onto the piston d from the chamber X above
past the valve F.
The two pistons are thus caused to descend until the lower edge of the upper
piston & bears upon the internal flanges and the pistons remain in this position until
water is to be again drawn off which is effected by exerting pressure upon the knob
of one of the pressure devices (figure 2 or figure 3) as hereinbefore described.
The manner of operating the pressure device (figure 2) will be clearly understood
by reference to the drawing without further description it being only necessary to
menion that it is provided with a passage F through which the apparatus is charged
with the pressure liquid employed the said passage being closed by means of the air
tight and water tight fitting screw plug s.
It will be readily understood that several apartments situated over or beside one
another can use the same apparatus so long as an arrangement similar or equivalent
to that illustrated by figure 2 is employed at the highest or furthest removed or
terminal apartment or station.
b
When it is desired or convenient to employ one pair of Cylinders A B for two separate
Buildings or for two portions of a building the said Cylinders A and B are provided
with a duplicate arrangement of slide valves 6 pressure pipes G and service pipes E
the arrangement being such that when water is drawn off for consumption in one
building or one portion of the building water shall not also pass into the pipes com-
municating with the other building or portion of the building. The service pipe of
the one portion must therefore be shut off when water is being drawn off in the
other portion.
This is effected in the following way and in order to make the description clear I
will designate the two portions of the building 1 and 2.
In each of the two service pipes is inserted a slide valve p" (illustrated in
Figure 7) which is arranged so that the said valve is moved to one side by the
water from the main, and to the opposite side by the pressure of the liquid in
the pressure or forcing pipe G so that the same slide vulve (p") is by the pressure
of the water in the main moved from out of the recess q¹ in front of the pipe E¹ thus
affording a free passage whilst the pressure of the fiquid in the pressure pipe G
causes the valve p" to move so as to cut off the said communication (see figure 7).
If the slide valve b of the service pipe of portion 2 be put into communication with
the pressure pipe of portion 1 the said slide valve will be closed by the application of
pressure to the knob ¹ in portion 1. the service pipe of the said portion being thus
opened and the water prevented from entering the service pipe of portion 2 and vice
versa.
As soon as the pressure is removed from the knob the slide valve opens and affords
a free passage to allow water to be drawn off in portion 2. In warm weather the
pressure pipes G may be charged with water but in order to prevent the said pipes
bursting in winter time or in cold climates they are charged with oil glycerine or
alcohol or with other liquid which is not easily congealed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st. In apparatus for preventing waste of water the combination with the Cylinders A
and B of the slide valve b working in the slide valve box Cand provided with apertures
or passages i and k through which water flows to effect the movement of the valve

page_text: substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated in figure 1
of the accompanying drawings.
Second. In apparatus for preventing waste of water the combination of the two
cylinders A and B in which two pistons work so as to effect the drawing off of the
water remaining in the delivery pipe after a supply of water has been drawn off
therefrom substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompayning drawing.
Third. In apparatus for preventing waste of water the combination of two Cylinders A
and B provided with pistons d d¹ the pistons of the two Cylinders being connected
together by one piston rod so that they are caused to move simultaneously by the
pressure of water admitted from the service pipe to one of the Cylinders (A) and
whereby a vacuum is produced in the other Cylinder substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In apparatus for preventing waste of water the combination with the
Cylinders A. B. and pistons d' of the passage e el and the pipe F communicating
with the Cylinder A and B substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
and illustrated in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The combination with the Cylinders A and B of a chamber K above the
Cylinder A and provided with a valve F' which is opened by the piston d so as to
enable the piston d to rise freely by allowing the water that may have collected above
the said piston to escape into the chamber K substantially as heroinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In apparatus for preventing waste of water the device for opening and
closing the communication between the delivery pipe and the service pipe E consisting
of a forco pipe G charged with a liquid such as water glycerino, alcohol, oil or the like
and operated by a piston substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
with reference to figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. The combination with the subject matter of the last preceding claiming
clause of the pressure device Q the slide valve p¹ of which when water is to be drawn
off can be caused to open communication between the delivery pipe R and the service
pipe E or to cut off the said communication and the communication between the
pressure pipes G G¹ by means of the slide valve (Figure 1) and at the same time
opening communication between the pipes E and E substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and with reference to figure 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
Eighth. In apparatus for preventing waste of water the combination with the
Cylinders A and B of duplicate slide valves and Casings C pressure pipes G and a
service pipe E and a slide valve device as illustrated in Figure 7 for the purpose of
supplying water to the apartments in two separate buildings or in two portions of a
building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Ninth. The general construction combination and arrangement of parts constituting
apparatus for preventing waste of water in buildings substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
73
T
13
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* 1000
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London,
Agents.