the Flow of Water or Liquids in Dwelling Houses, Factories, and other Buildings.
Year: 1886

page_text: the Flow of Water or Liquids in Dwelling Houses, Factories,
and other Buildings.
I, ARCHIBALD CALDWELL of Strathbungo, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING THE FLOW OF WATER
OR LIQUIDS IN DWELLING HOUSES, FACTORIES AND OTHER BUILDINGS," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to a new or improved arrangement or construction of
apparatus for controlling or regulating the flow of liquids, and is more especially
applicable for controlling the supply of water to the service pipes of dwelling
houses, factories and other buildings thereby preventing waste and giving great
assurance against damage to property or goods through carelessness, or in the event
of rupture or leakage of the service pipes.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system under which the same may be practically
carried into effect, reference being had to the annexed sheet of drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon that is to say.
On the sheet of Drawings hereunto appended, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, are vertical
sections of the apparatus constructed in accordance with my said Invention, and
shew the different positions of the half rubber balls or cups, when the water is being
drawn off for the full time regulated. Figures 5, 6 and 9, are plans with the top
half of the outside castings removed, and relate to the vertical sections under
which they are placed. Figure 7, is a vertical section of the half rubber balls or
cups, and regulating spindle, whilst Figure 8, is an elevation of the said apparatus.
which consists of a chamber or vessel A, preferably spherical, cast in parts, and
fitted internally with two half balls or cups B, composed of rubber or other flexible
material. These half balls or cups B, are provided with flanges which are inserted
between the flanges of the outer casting A, and the whole bolted securely together
as shewn. Attached to the top half of the rubber ball or cup B, and at the centre
as shewn in Figure 4, is a spindle C, which threads the eyelet-ring D, fixed to the
bottom half of rubber ball B, and passing through the packing E, enters the
regulating tube F,-This tube F, which has several holes drilled through it at

page_text: intervals, besides acting as a guide to the spindle C, is used as a regulator by
shifting the screw G, from one hole to another, and thereby shortening or
lengthening the travel of the spindle C, and by that means allowing the water
to flow for a longer or shorter period as required. A pipe H, communicating with
the water or other liquid main is attached to the lower half of the chamber or
vessel A, and is made water tight at its junction with the regulator tube F, by
the leather packing E,-This packing ring E, is raised at the centre round
the spindle C, as shewn in drawings, so that the greater the pressure of water
within the pipe H, the tighter the leather is forced against the spindle C,
preventing all leakage. Discharge pipes I and K, or more if required, leading
to the orifices at which the water or other liquid is to be discharged are also
attached to the lower half of the chamber or vessel A, and connecting one of the
eduction pipes, preferably that which is most frequently in use, I, in this instance,
with the upper half of the chamber or vessel A, is a waterway L, as shewn on the
drawings.
The apparatus constructed as hereinbefore described, so operates, when the cock
ont he discharge pipe I is open, or when the cocks or valves on the discharge
pipes I and K, are open-as to pass only the amount of water that might escape
during the time that the ball takes to move from the position shewn on Figure 1,
when it is ready to discharge for the full time regulated to that of Figure 4, when
the discharge ceases. The cock on the pipe I, being opened, the pipe K, receiving
no water unless when the pipe I is discharging-the pressure is withdrawn from
above the rubber cups B, and the water passing in from the main by pipe H, under
the half rubber balls or cups B, forces them into the position shewn in Figure 2,
thus allowing the water free course to escape through discharge pipes I and K,-
The bottom half of rubber ball B, is carried upwards along with the top half, on
account of the eyelet being so very little greater in diameter than the spindle C,
that only a small quantity of water can pass through at once, and consequently
some time must elapse before the pressure of the water between the rubber cups is
equal to that of the main. The eyelet ring D, however, is made deep enough to
prevent the lower half of rubber ball B, from fitting exactly into the upper half,
and thereby allows the natural elasticity of the rubber ball to assert itself in
returning to its original position. It is also assisted in this movement by the
outside of the bottom half of rubber ball B, when in the position shewn in
Figure 2, giving a slight preponderance of superficial area over that of the inside,
and the water or liquid under pressure acting against the said surfaces causes the
bottom half of rubber ball B, to descend; and the water passing through the
eyelet D, as shewn in Figure 3, gradually fills the inside of the ball and brings it
into position shewn in Figure 4,-When in this position the discharge of water or
liquid from the apparatus ceases, leaving the pipes I, and K, and the by-pass L
full of water or liquid.
In order to bring the top half of the ball B, from the upper part of the chamber
or vessel A, as shewn at Figure 4, to the lower part as seen in Figure 1, it is
essential to close the cock or valve on the discharge pipe I,-The water then leaks
under the half ball with eyelet into pipe I, until the pressure increases sufficiently
in the waterway L, and acting on that part of the vessel above or between the
vessel, and rubber ball, causes the spindle to go through the eyelet taking the top
part of ball with it to the position shewn in Figure 1.
When the half rubber balls or cups B are in this position, the apparatus is again
ready to discharge the water, either partially, or for the whole time regulated, on
opening the cock or cocks on the discharge pipe or pipes I or I and K.
By means of the apparatus herein before set forth, waste of water is prevented
for, if a discharge cock or valve in communication therewith is left open after the
inside of the rubber ball B, is filled with water, and the discharge has ceased the
operation is suspended, the rubber cups remaining at the position shewn in
Figure 4, A similar inaction, also takes place in the event of rupture or leakage
of the service pipes.

page_text: 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,―
First The apparatus arranged and constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described and in part illustrated on the appended sheet of drawings, and the
employment of the same in controlling or regulating, and in preventing waste in
the flow of water or other liquids as set forth.
Second-The employment in apparatus for controlling or regulating the flow
of water or other liquids of two half rubber balls or cups B, the upper half having
a spindle C, secured to it, which passes through an eyelet D, in the lower half, and
a regulating tube F, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Th: CAL
Ardahan 1000
D. DRYSDALE AUSTIN,
Applicant's Agent,
101, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.