IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CISTERNS AND TANKS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Gregory Lowe, of 2, Eleanor Villas,
Eleanor Road, Hackney, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CISTERNS AND
TANKS."
Sealed the 7th June 1870, and dated the 7th March 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Gregory Lowe
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th March 1870.
I, GEORGE GREGORY LOWE, of 2, Eleanor Villas, Eleanor Road,
Hackney, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CISTERNS
AND TANKS," to be as follows :—
The introduction of a constant supply of pure air to the interior of
the cistern by attaching a pipe to an opening in the cover, or in any
other convenient position, so that when water is admitted the air is

page_text: discharged by this pipe, and when water is drawn pure air is supplied*
by the same pipe. The purity of the air is secured by carrying or
continuing the pipe to any position where pure air can be obtained..
In all other parts the cistern is rendered air-tight by the use of ordinary
mechanical fittings adapted to the purpose, completely cutting off all
contact with the water contained, excepting with the pure air supplied
by the pipe. A cistern so fitted, if convenience or necessity demands
it, may be erected in the most foetid locality in the midst of the most
pestiferous atmosphere, without the least danger to the health of
persons using the water, which will remain as sweet and wholesome as
when received and probably improved by deposit, for the removal of
which and the perfect cleansing of the cisterns provision is made in
the forms of the bottoms, which render them self-cleansing by the
natural law that fluids fall to the lowest level. These tanks or cisterns
can be made of any form to suit particular requirements and of almost
any materials, but the bottom must be in the shape of an inverted
cone, or with a fall from all directions towards the same point or
opening, to which, without interruption of the water run, a pipe is
fastened, the lower portion of which is secured by a stop-cock, valve,
plug, slide, cock, or other mechanism, on the opening of which the
contents will be discharged with a rapidity and force governed by the
size of the opening and the height of the water at that time in the
eistern, leaving it perfectly cleaned and sweet.
I will now describe the Drawings filed with this declaration.
Figure 1, vertical section of cylindrical shaped tank showing in
colored parts A, air pipe, which may be fixed in any convenient position
and by which alone air is admitted into the cistern; this pipe is carried
any required length in any direction into pure air; and B, bottom of
cistern in the form of an inverted cone terminating in pipe. This is the
best form.
Figure 2, vertical section of rectangular-shaped tank showing A, air
pipe; and B, form of bottom slanting, inclining, or converging to a point
from all directions and terminating in a pipe.
Figure 3, vertical section of flat rectangular tank showing A, air
pipe; and B, form of bottom slanting, inclining, or converging to a
point from all directions and terminating in pipe.

page_text: Figures 2 and 3 are introduced to show that the bottoms can be so
constructed that the discharge pipe can be placed in any position and
not of necessity in the center.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Gregory Lowe in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
GREGORY LOWE, of 2, Eleanor Villas, Eleanor Road, Hackney, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Gregory Lowe, Her special
licence that I, the said George Gregory Lowe, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Gregory
Lowe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might, make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CISTERNS AND TANKS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Gregory Lowe,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Gregory Lowe, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
:-
This Invention consists in the application of the principles that fluids,
but particularly water, remain wholesome for a considerable period when

page_text: subjected to the action of pure air only, and that all particles in fluids
have a natural tendency, in proportion to their specific gravity, to reach
the lowest level. Its objects are the improvement of the general health,
to check the ravages of epidemics, fevers, cholera, and other distempers,
for the rapid spread of which it is believed that impure water supplics
the readiest agents.
It furnishes the means which will enable all, par-
ticularly the inhabitants of our crowded cities, to keep and use the
water necessary for their daily consumption in as wholesome a state as
delivered from its source or service.
The tanks and cisterns may be made of any suitable materials and in
almost any form, air-tight; if with movable or partly movable covers
secured with sand joint, ground joint, water joint, luting, packing, or
any efficient contrivance.
The overflow and other pipes are provided with traps, and air is only
admitted to the body at an aperture conveniently placed, to which is
attached a pipe, which may be carried or extended any distance into
pure air.
The length of this pipe will depend on the particular
conditions of each particular site; if fixed in a pure atmosphere a short
pipe is sufficient, but when circumstances necessitate the fixing in a
position where bad air or noxious gases are prevalent this pipe is
carried or extended any distance into pure air; and the body of the
cistern being air-tight the contents are protected from contamination
and subjected to the action of pure air only.
The bottoms are made in the form of an inverted cone, segment of
cone, or with an inclination from all directions towards a particular
point situated as near the center as the form of the cistern or con-
venience of its site will permit. At this point is an aperture or outlet
opened or closed at will by any suitable mechanism, on the opening of
which the contents are discharged with force, leaving the inside perfectly
clean and filled with pure air.
The rights under this Patent include all tanks and cisterns of what-
ever materials, or in whatever form or pattern constructed, so that they
are made air-tight, with the exception of an aperture or apertures
specially provided for regulating the admission of air. The rights also
include all tanks and cisterns of whatever materials, or in whatever
form or pattern constructed, which are fitted with a bottom in the form
of an inverted cone, segment of cone, or with an inclination from all
directions to a particular point, at which an aperture or outlet is

page_text: provided which can be opened or closed at will by any sufficient
mechanism.
In witness whereof, I; the said George Gregory Lowe, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Third day of September, in
the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and seventy.