Improvements in Water Heaters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec,, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
Improvements in Water Heaters.
1, ARTEMAS YATES Grasmere Cottage Palatine Road Northenden in the County of
Chester Commercial Clerk and Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Whereas no present means so readily quickly and safely convey adequate heat from
a coal or coke fire in a range or stove or from the flame of a lamp or stove to a supply
of water to be carried through pipes and taps for domestic purposes I have devised
the arrangement herein described! That is to say:-
I take a pipe or tube of copper or other suitable metal and lay it in coil in close
contact with a fire or flame.
I take another pipe or tube or a further portion of the above mentioned pipe or
tube and lay it in coil in close contact with water to be heated in a cylinder, tank,
or other suitable receptacle forming a reservoir for the supply of hot water for
domestic purposes. Having placed the above coiled pipes or tubes in suitable
connection with each other for water to pass and repass from one to the other
according as the relative degrees of heat in each may naturally effect, or as any other
natural force may effect I take a cistern of any suitable shape and size and having
arranged that the same shall be supplied with water I make it the means of
conveying such water to the first mentioned coiled pipe or tube and indirectly
to the second coiled pipe or tube in such manner that the water thus passing to the
coiled pipe which is in contact with fire shall have a connection with such cistern
sufficiently open to readily allow the force of expansion by heat to find a vent to the
atmosphere by way of such cistern before such expansive force shall have gathered
sufficient strength to burst the coiled pipe or tube containing it and so cause an
explosion or in the alternative shall ensure that any explosion that may by any
possibility be caused shall be of such a slight and feeble nature as to be practically
of a nondestructive character. But it is an essential in this arrangement that the
water so passing from the said cistern shall have no channel by which it may mix
with the water in the cylinder or other vessel which in this arrangement forms a
reservoir for the supply of hot water, the sole province or purpose of the water
circulating in the coiled,pipes or tubes as herein described being to pass or convey
heat only to the water in said reservoir and to be itself kept from passing into
amalgamation with said water.
As to detail arrangements in this apparatus it is intended that the coil or coils to
be laid in the hot water supply reservoir shall have such proportion of aggregate
radiating surface as may be deemed requisite to efficiently impart to the surrounding
body of water the like amount of heat which the coil or coils in contact with fire
may be reasonably expected to absorb, always taking into calculation the varying
tendencies of such different metals as may be used in the construction of each:
And further it is intended that a flue or small chimney shall lead heat or flame to
pass up the centre of the coil in which the first mentioned pipe or tube is laid and
for the inore effective result in this particular it is intended that the coil in which the
said pipe or tube is to be laid shall in general be what is known as a taper coil
diminishing towards the top thereof.

page_text: All of which detail arrangements are intended only to promote the general efficiency
of this invention which mainly consists of my having devised and arranged to place a
coiled metal pipe or tube in the hot water supply reservoir to radiate heat from hot
water within itself to the water separately contained in such reservoir and so furnish for
any domestic purpose a supply of hot water readily quickly and safely heated by indirect
contact with fire through the medium of other and separate body of water in more
immediate contact with such fire but with a disposition of the apparatus containing
the same as herein described to have been devised to eliminate or at least to greatly
reduce the possibility of such water being the agent in causing an explosion under any
possible circumstances. And more especially of my having devised or invented the dual
arrangement or combination of two or more individual metal pipes or tubes laid in coil or
two or more parts of the same pipe or tube so arranged as to be practically separate and
individual pipes in coil by which one or more of such coils is or are so placed in close
contact with fire as to readily absorb heat therefrom and act as the means of
conveying such heat to one or more of such coils for the purpose of imparting such
heat to a separate body of water or to a body of water so greatly prevented from
mixing with the water contained in such coils as to be practically a separate body of
water to be used in baths, sculleries and lavatories and for other domestic purposes
or for purposes.closely allied to domestic purposes.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of December 1896.
I, ARTEMAS YATES Grasmere Cottage Palatine Road Northenden in the County of
Chester Cominercial Clerk and 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:-
Whereas no present means so readily quickly and safely, speaking of these
attributes jointly, convey adequate heat from a coal or coke fire or from the flame of
a lamp or stove to a supply of water to be used for domestic purposes, I have
devised and invented the arrangement herein described. That is to say:-
I take a pipe or tube, or several pipes or tubes, of copper or other suitable metal
and lay it or them in gradually rising coils in contact with fire or flame.
I take another pipe or tube or other pipes or tubes or a further portion or further por-
tions of any of the above mentioned pipes or tubes and lay it or them in coils as above
described or in sets of coils in contact with water to be heated in any suitable
receptacle forming a reservoir for the supply of hot water for domestic purposes.
I next place the above coiled pipes or tubes in suitable connection with each other
for water to pass and repass from one to the other or from one set to the
other according as the relative degrees of heat in each may naturally effect or as any
other natural force may effect. An important feature in this connection is that the
lowest parts of the coils radiating heat in the hot water supply reservoir shall be on
a level to some extent, be it great or small, above the level of the highest parts of the
coils laid in contact with fire.
I now take a cistern of any suitable shape and size and place it in a position at least as
high as the uppermost of the coils radiating lieat in the hot water supply reservoir and
having arranged that the same shall be supplied with water I make it the means of
'conveying such water to the first mentioned coiled pipe or tube and indirectly to
the second coiled pipe or tube and thus naturally the water passing to the coiled
pipe which is in contact with fire will have a connection with such cistern

page_text: sufficiently open to allow the force of expansion by heat to find a vent to the
atmosphere by way of such cistern before such expansive force shall have gathered
sufficient strength to burst the coiled pipe or tube containing it, and so cause an
explosion, or in the alternative shall ensure that any explosion that may by any
possibility be caused shall be of such a slight extent as to be practically of a
non-destructive character, but as it is possible that the apparatus may in some cases
be set up with the coils absorbing heat from fire and the coils radiating heat in the
hot water supply reservoir so nearly on the same level as to naturally afford so ready
a vent to the atmosphere that the pressure that may be desired is not attained before
the expansive force above mentioned shall have issued to the feed cistern by way of
the feed pipe or by way of the exhaust pipe then in order to the attainment of such
desired pressure and also to serve any other purpose or purposes reasonably within
its province to do an instrument or arrangement hereinafter referred to and
designated as a regulator is connected with the apparatus as hereinafter
described.
As to detail arrangements in this apparatus it is intended that the coil or coils to
be laid as radiators in the hot water supply reservoir shall have such proportion of
aggregate radiating surface as may be deemed requisite to efficiently impart to the
surrounding body of water the like amount of heat which the coil or coils in contact
with fire may be reasonably expected to absorb, always taking into calculation the
varying tendencies of such different metals as may be used in the construction of
each, or less than the full quantity of heat may be radiated in such reservoir and the
surplusage be conveyed elsewhere, as may be frequently necessary in order to keep
down the temperature of the hot water supply to a desired degree. Such an
arrangement is shown in the drawing hereunto attached, the surplusage in that
particular case being applied to afford warmth in a room or chamber, and in order
that at least a full quantity of heat shall be available in every case it is intended that
the coil or coils to be laid in contact with fire shall be so laid as to readily absorb so
much heat as may be found to be practicable in each case, it being ensured by the
arrangement herein described that the quantity of heat absorbed, however great it
may be, shall not be inconveniently or unmanageably so, as it may be incidentally
applied to serve such purposes and requirements as may be found to be desirable or.
necessary from time to time, or it may be allowed to waste by adjusting the regulator
so as to allow a ready vent through the exhaust pipe to the feed cistern. The
method and manner by which such full quantity of heat may be obtained vary so
much in varying circumstances that no definite description of such can be rightly
here set forth.
From the hot water supply reservoir herein mentioned, be the same of whatever form
or in whatever situation as desired or chosen in each case the distribution is arranged
according to common practice and in connection therewith, as also with the pipes
bends and other means for carrying on the circulation between the coiis, be such
coils near to each other or widely separated as to distance or level and to such
situations this arrangement of apparatus is readily adaptable. Such arrangements
of stop cocks, valves for direction of flow as well as for safety, test vents, pressure
gauges, thermometers aud such other fittings as are commonly used in connection
with such apparatus are to be applied as in each case may be deemed desirable, but
it is to be understood that while pipes made of lead may be suitable for
the distribution of the water heated by this apparatus, as is common, it is not
advisable that so weak a material should be used in constructing or connecting any of
the coils, except that to a limited extent such might be used in cases where there is
little difference in the levels of the heat absorbing and heat radiating coils or sets of
coils and where the benefit of a high pressure affording a high radiation of beat is not
desired, pipes made of copper or of iron being greatly to he preferred generally...
In all cases it is so highly desirable and important as to be all but an essential
necessity, though not absolutely so, that the regulator as above mentioned be
introduced into the exhaust pipe. This regulator, as shown in the drawing hereunto
attached is intended to be made of gun metal, but such instrument of any suitable

page_text: material and form may be chosen or constructed so long as its purpose is adequately
fulfilled. This purpose is to enable the pressure in the coils and in the pipes forming
the connection between the same to be.controlled according to circumstances in each
case, that is to say, circumstances varying from day to day or from time to time as
well as circumstances of a fixed and lasting character such as the strength of the
material used in the construction of the apparatus, it heing well understood that the
stronger the material the greater the pressure that may be safely put upon the same
to bear. The regulator of whatever description is adapted to serve its purpose if it
be such that it will freely allow the circulating hot water or steam to pass to the feed
cistern when and only when the desired heat pressure in the apparatus shall have
been fully attained, and that it be capable of being readily adjusted to varying
pressures as circumstances require, as at various times various pressures may in all
probability be desired, necessitating frequent changes, to all of which frequent
variations this apparatus readily lends itself in actual practice so long as the
maximum of pressure within the margin of safety is never exceeded, but in cases
where the material used in the construction of the apparatus is exceptionally strong
and a very high pressure in order to attain very high radiating heat is desired it is
intended that besides laying a deep dip in the pipe acting as feed pipe between the
cistern and the first mentioned coil there should also be laid in such feed pipe a valve
to prevent back flow being set up by the exceptionally high pressure.
While it is to be expected that the apparatus will or would be of practical utility
without such a regulator forming a part thereof it is not to be expected that it will
or would work so satisfactorily or to so great advantage and convenience. This
regulator is also adapted to serve the purpose of a pressure gauge or indicator to
some extent.
All of which detail arrangements are intended to promote the general efficiency
of the apparatus as described above, and which besides being devised to effect other
improvements in the supply of hot water is intended to obviate and eliminate in
practical use the great objection as regards incrustation of or in the pipes used in the
construction thereof or connected' therewith which has long been well known to
arise in connection with the otherwise highly desirable use of coils as boilers.
Hereunto are attached drawings to show in simple form the general arrangements
in which such an apparatus as is here described may frequently be set up in actual
practice, but modifications are readily devisable without departing from the main
features of the arrangement. In these drawings the following letters are intended to
indicate the following parts respectively, namely:
In Fig. 1, A feed cistern, B feed pipe to coils. C coil in contact with fire, D coil
radiating heat in E, hot water supply reservoir. I pipe circulating heated water from
coil C to coil D, G pipe returning such circulation back to coil C, having in its length
an incidental coil (H) radiating a surplusage of heat to warm a room or chamber.
I exhaust pipe communicating with feed cistern in the usual manner except that the
regulator (J) laid in such exhaust pipe shuts the passage.until the heat pressure
desired has been attained.
O
are
The Regulator is shown in larger detail in Fig. 2, in which weights (W)
supported in such position that they press down to the desired extent the valve piece
or piston (V). When the circulation in the coils and pipes attains the desired heat
pressure this valve piece or piston is lifted clear of the opening at X and steam then
passes through as in apparatus as commonly set up it ordinarily does without having
first forced its own passage through such Regulator or Governor valve. By adding to or
taking away weights as required the pressure in the coils and pipes is to be regulated as
desired. It is intended that ordinarily the pressure be at about one hundred and fifty
pounds (150 lbs.) to the square inch, it being calculated that a heat absorbing power
of about three hundred and sixty degrees (360°) on the Fahrenheit thermometer
will then be available in the circulation for radiation to the hot water supply and for
allied purposes, and the apparatus if constructed of appropriate materials will still be well
within its margin of safety under all circumstances in the least degree likely to arise.
But it is an advantage in this apparatus that in this regard a very wide latitude is

page_text: available especially if in the construction thereof suitable materials be chosen with
that object specially in view.
Parts shown in Fig. 1 of drawing and not indicated by any letter as above are
simply the ordinary arrangements as commonly set up for distribution of hot water
supply and form no portion of the apparatus as herein described.
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
(1) A Dual arrangement or Combination of two or more individual metal pipes or
tubes laid in gradually rising coils, or two or more parts of the same pipe or tube so
arranged as to be practically separate and individual pipes laid in coils as described,
by which one or more of such pipes or tubes being filled with water by a channel as
described is or are so placed in contact with fire as to readily absorb therefrom and to
afford to the water within itself a high degree of heat and act as the means
of conveying such heat under a capability of regulation and control as herein set forth
to one or more of such coils for the purpose of radiating such heat to a body of water
to be used for domestic purposes or for purposes closely allied to domestic
purposes.
(2) Any hot water supply apparatus for radiating water heat from coils in hot
water supply reservoir arranged substantially the same as herein described, be the
same fixed with or without the arrangement by which a surplusage of such heat is
conveyed beyond the hot water supply reservoir to be used for other purposes as
herein mentioned.
Dated this Thirants f