Improvements in Apparatus for Cooling Water.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1897--Accepted, 29th May, 1897
Improvements in Apparatus for Cooling Water.
1, PASQUALE AMBROSINO, of Acerra, in the Province of Caserta and Kingdom
of Italy, Doctor of Medicine, 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 :-
The object of this invention is an apparatus designed to cool water delivered
from a pipe which water, from any cause, is at too high a temperature and thus
becomes disagreeable instead of being agreeable and refreshing. This state of
affairs is caused when the spring from which the water is taken is itself not fresh
or when the principal conduit or the secondary ones are not covered to a
sufficient depth or are actually exposed to the action of the sun's rays in
summer. This apparatus is designed to lower the temperature of the water,
compelling the same to rest a short time in the cistern placed at a suitable depth
below, where the temperature remains constant at a suitable level for the object of
this invention.
The apparatus is represented in the annexed drawing in which
Figure 1 shews a vertical section of an upright cistern and
Figure 2 the same cistern arranged horizontally.
Figure 3 shews a section of the delivery pipe for the water and
Figure 4 a section of the two tubes of equal dimensions which serve the one
for the taking of the water and the other for the escape to or from the
reservoir.
Figures 1 and 2 are supposed to be on a scale of one-twentieth, and those of
3 and 4 on a scale of one-fifth.
The reservoir may be constructed of cylindrical form, and with a base of one
metre in diameter and of one metre thirty five centimetres in height which would
cause the capacity of the reservoir to equal about one cubic metre, but it is evident
that these dimensions can be altered at will according to the object in view, the
quantity of water to be delivered and the manner in which the water is to be
drawn off.
The apparatus shewn here is a very simple one suitable for application to public
or private fountain with pressure service, giving a supply of cool water in the very
greatest heats of summer and truly designated a refrigerating reservoir. It consists
of a holder of iron or other material of variable capacity and power according to
the amount of supply which is required and also according to the pressure in the
water pipe. The conveyer can have different shapes, such as cylindrical,
rectangular, square or otherwise, but there will hereinafter be described only
the cylindrical form as a type because this construction is the most suitable,
and gives the best resistance to high pressure. The cylinder A must be
bermetically closed in all its parts and on top (Figure 1) or at the side (Figure 2)
respectively is provided with a metal cover B fixed by bolts X X against a rim b
at the opening of the receiver A so that the cistern can be opened when necessary
for cleansing purposes or otherwise. Between the rim and the edge of the cistern
is placed a water tight ring of leather or of indiarubber. The cover B as also the
bottom C are provided with ribs soldered on capable of resisting the pressure of
the water against the ends of the cylinder whilst the cylindrical portion is
sufficiently resistant in consequence of its shape. This cylinder has three holes

page_text: 2"
closed by screw plugs of which two f¹ƒ are at the top (Figure 1) and the third f
at the side. The hole f¹ is situated two or three centimetres from the edge of the
aperture of the mouth of the reservoir, that of f³ at the same distance from the
bottom of that of 2 at the centre of the cover. Into these holes three bronze
tubes provided with screw threads are screwed in order to connect to the respective
pipes for the water supply. The two tubes of the holes f¹ and f³ are alike and
are marked in Figure 4. The pipet has one of its ends screwed to engage in the
corresponding screw of the cover B at the place made for it and provided with a
flange which by means of a washer of leather or of indiarubber closes hermetically
the hole f. The upper end is also screwed and upon it is fixed the sleeve which
embraces the flange of the lead pipe V₁ which will be referred to hereafter. The
same arrangement is applied to the hole connecting to the tube V³. Both these
apparatuses deliver immediately into the receiver A whilst the tube t¹ (Figures 1
and 3) is prolonged for six or eight centimetres into the said cylinder and opens
into the same by means of several holes pierced in the sides of the tube; these
boles are preferably of about equal diameter to the thickness of the tube wall
and their axis is arranged at an angle to the axis of the tube. In this upper
part the connection with the tube V2 is similar to that of the tube V¹ (Figure 4)
already described. At 4 will be seen an enlargement of the wall of the cylinder
similar to that at the holes f¹ 2 and 3. This enlargement permits of the hole
being screwed when it is requisite to give to the reservoir the horizontal position
as stated hereinafter. The tube t¹ V is called the delivery tube with reversed jet
because it serves to introduce water into the cylinder in a backwards direction.
The tube t V3 is called the exit tube because it serves for the delivery of water
from the cylinder in order to be used at the tap of the fountain. The tube V₁ is
called the emptying tube because it serves for the letting out of air from the
cylinder when the same is being filled with water for the actuation of the apparatus
or when air has been introduced with the rush of water during the working of the
apparatus. This cooling reservoir so arranged should be placed near the fountain
at a depth below the soil such that in the summer time the temperature cannot
exceed sixteen degrees Centigrade, for which purpose any already existing cavity
may be used, such as a well, a cellar, or other underground place, or a pit may be
dug expressly in which the reservoir can be placed and arranged in communication
on the one side with the conducting pipe V2 by aid of the coupling shewn attached
to the pipe t', and on the other part with the tube V³ which connects to the tap of
the fountain by the aid of the pipe t. The air tube t V¹ is in communication with
the outer air and controlled by a stop cock. Another stop cock should be placed
between the water conduit and the reservoir and it will serve both to check the
rush of water of the fountain, especially when this is for public service, as also to
shunt off the flow of water into the reservoir when for any reason it is necessary to
stop the same. When the construction is completed in order to set the fountain at
work the abovementioned stop cock is opened between the water conduit and the
reservoir and also that between the reservoir and the atmosphere. The water will
then descend by the tube V2 into the cylinder A and in proportion as it fills it the
air will be obliged to pass out through the tube V₁. As soon as water flows
out of this tube V₁ it will shew that the reservoir is full, and the air tap should
then be closed, and that supplying the fountain should be opened, after which the
working of the apparatus proceeds.
In order to secure a good installation the scientific principles upon which the
working of the refrigerating apparatus are based should not be overlooked.
These are:-
1. The geological knowledge of the invariable temperature at a given depth
below the surface of the earth, which temperature in our latitudes does not exceed
fifteen degrees Centigrade.
2. The physical law of the distribution of water in layers superimposed according
to its different temperature, and this is the reason for which the delivery tap t' is
prolonged into the reservoir and provided with lateral holes at an acute angle with

page_text: reversed jet, so that the warm water which enters shall occupy the upper part of
the receiver A in the direction indicated by the arrows, and shall have time to cool
and then descend towards the lower part where is placed the outlet.
3. The physical principle of the radiation of heat and of the regular cooling of
bodies placed in a surrounding medium which is cooler than itself and in which
there is an equilibrium of temperature. This equilibrium is obtained more or less
rapidly according to the greater or lesser conductivity to heat of the medium in
which the heated body is placed. Now as in general the conductivity is greater
in solids than in liquids and it becomes very feeble in gaseous bodies, it is advisable
that when a water fountain is arranged according to this plan with a cooling
reservoir this reservoir should be placed in a solid or liquid medium because if it
be placed in a gaseous medium the cooling of the water would be too slow, con-
sequently even when the apparatus is placed in a cellar a hole should be dug and
the apparatus buried there and covered with moist earth. It should be noticed
that in many cases it is more convenient that the reservoir be placed in a horizontal
and not in a vertical position. In this case it will be necessary to change the ends
of the tubes, and the connections accordingly. In this case the hole for the inlet
tube with reversed jet must be pierced at the point f* (Figure 2) closing the same
bermetically, and at the same time the. hole 2 must be closed hermetically by a
screw plug. The thickened wall at f' could be left intact if the hole had not been
pierced (Figure 2). The hole for the pulley tube should be placed at f' and the
hole for the air escape should be pierced at 3 because this must always be placed
at the highest point of the apparatus. It must also be stated that the delivery of
the water of the fountain should be by means of a jet which can be cut off by aid
of a cock both to economise the water as also to prevent too ready a motion of the
water in the reservoir which would render nil or gradually diminish the cooling
power on account of the want of time necessary for the cooling of the water.
From the economical point of view it would be very advantageous to arrange the
service whether public or private with two branches, one of which is in com-
munication direct with the conduit for taking water for the use of the kitchen,
baths, lavatory, etc., and the other in communication with the reservoir for taking
drinking water, or for cooling other beverages, or other cooling purposes.
Although it is not possible to define the time necessary for the complete cooling
of a given reservoir on account of the diversity of conductivity in the surrounding
medium in which it may be placed, and the difference between the temperature of
the water which enters the reservoir, and that of the material in which the
reservoir is placed, it may be stated as the result of various experiments that with.
a difference of 15 degrees between the temperature of the surrounding body and
that of the water let into the reservoir an equilibrium of temperature for all the
parts of the reservoir itself is obtained to the depth of ten centimetres per hour,
so that in practice one may calculate for every cubic metre of capacity of the
reservoir a delivery of water to the public fountain continuously of three and a
half metres per minute if the diameter of the reservoir itself is one metre thereby
increasing the service exposed to the cooling in proportion as the diameter of the
base diminishes it may be secured that the delivery of fresh water shall be four
and a half litres if the diameter is metre 0.80; of six litres if the said diameter
be of metre 0.60; of litre nine and a half if the said diameter be of metre 0.40;
of seventeen litres if the diameter is of metres 0.20, without danger of obtaining
at any time a delivery of uncool water, consequently a reservoir of one hectolitre
suffices for a private house, one of a cubic metre is sufficient for one thousand
inhabitants especially when, as already stated above, it is coupled to a second water
fountain not actually in direct communication with the conduit.
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.cooling reservoir of suitable capacity and strength to be placed underground

page_text: at a required depth, closed hermetically except in communication with a water
pipe under pressure on the one part and on the other with a delivery pipe with
an air outlet pipe; the said reservoir having for its object to obtain a delivery
of fresh water suitable for drinking even in the greatest heat of summer,
substantially as above described and shewn in the accompanying drawings...
2. In a reservoir such as set forth in Claim 1 the connection of the pipes with
tubes in the various parts of the reservoir and reinforcements of the walls of
the reservoir in the manner and for the purpose indicated, substantially as above
described and shewn.
3. In the reservoir and connections set forth in Claims 1 and 2 the inlet tube for
the water constructed with a closed base and lateral holes set obliquely to inject
the water towards the upper part of the reservoir, substantially as described
and shewn.
001
T
.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.