Refrigerating Apparatus for Water Supply Systems
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Refrigerating Apparatus for Water Supply Systems,
I, LEVI KELLER BRUBAKER, of Lititz, County of Lancaster, State of Pennsyl-
vania, United States of America, Gentleman, 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, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to Buy:-
This invention relates to a cooling apparatus for water supply systems, and it
has for its object to provide simple, inexpensive, and efficient means for cooling
or refrigerating the water supply of cities, towns, and the like, in its passage
through the water main from the reservoir to the point of distribution. It has
also for its object to provide in such apparatus simple and effective means for
clearing out obstructions that may occur, without interfering with the operation
of the cooling apparatus or stopping or shutting off the water supply. It has for
a further object to provide apparatus of the character described, in which necessary
repairs may be made from time to time, without interfering with the proper
operation of the water supply system. Finally, it has for its object to improve
and simplify this class of apparatus generally.
To these ends my invention consists in the features, and in the construction,
arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly
pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a plan of my improved cooling apparatus applied to the main of a
water supply system, and,
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof and the enclosing casing.
In the usual and well known system employed for supplying water to cities,
towns, and the like, the water mains and distributing and service pipes are buried
beneath the earth at such a depth as not to be easily affected by changes in tempera-
ture, and hence by cooling or refrigerating the water passing through the mains,
the water supplied to an entire town or city for drinking, or domestic purposes,
can be delivered in a cool or cold condition in the heated seasons without com-
pelling each individual consumer to employ separate or independent agencies for
the purpose.
In order that those skilled in the art may understand and use my invention for
carrying the above objects into effect, I will now describe the same in detail.
Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 respectively indicate two sec-
tions of a water main which may form the conduit of any suitable or preferred
type of water supply system for cities, towns, and the like. The section 1 of the
main, which leads from the source of supply, such as a reservoir, for example, is
connected to one end of a tubular or cylindrical manifold or header 3, whilst the
section 2, which leads to the service and distributing pipes of the system, is con-
nected to the opposite end of a similar and parallel manifold 4. The manifolds 3
and 4 are closed at their corresponding ends 5, and fitted in the opposite ends are
removable covers 6, which may conveniently consist of screw threaded plugs
screwed into the ends of the manifolds. The manifolds 3 and 4, which I respec-

page_text: tively denominate the receiving and discharging manifold, are placed in
communication with each other by a plurality of transverse pipe sections 7, which
form numerous passages for the water from one end of the manifolds to the other.
As shewn, the pipe sections consist of straight water pipes of suitable length, each
of which is of a relatively small diameter. The receiving and discharging mani-
fold should be of the same diameter, and preferably each is approximately of the
same diameter as the water main. The combined diameters of the pipe sections
should be at least equal to the diameter of the manifolds or water main, to prevent
the unobstructed flow of the water through the main being interfered with, and if
desired the number of said pipe sections may be increased. Each of the pipe sec-
tions 7 is connected at its opposite ends to the receiving and discharge manifold
by a pipe coupling or union 8, by means of which the pipe sections may be readily
assembled in place and removed, and said pipe sections are provided with hand
operated valves 9, by turning any of which any one of the pipe sections may be
cut off from communication with the manifolds, for the purpose hereinafter
explained.
Coiled about each of the pipe sections 7 is a refrigerant or cooling pipe 10, there
being a separate and independent coil for each pipe section. The convolutions of
the coils 10 extend about the entire lengths of the pipe sections 7, and the opposite
ends of said coils are connected by unions or couplings 11 to manifolds 12 and 13.
The coils 10 are also provided with valves 14, by means of which ony one of the
coils may be cut out of operation. The manifold 12 is closed at one end, and at
its other end is connected with an ammonia supply pipe forming part of any well
known ammonia refrigerating plant or machine, and the manifold 13 is also closed
at one end and, at its other end, is connected to a suction pipe leading to a con-
denser, or the like, (not shewn). The ammonia supply and suction pipes are
preferably connected to the opposite ends of the respective ammonia manifolds.
The manifold 12 and section 2 of the main are respectively provided with
gauges 15 and 16, for the purpose hereinafter explained.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows:-
The water flows from the reservoir, or other source of supply, through the sec-
tion 1 of the main, into the receiving manifold 3, and from the latter passes
through the connecting pipe sections 7 to the discharge manifold 4, and from the
latter out through the the section 2 of the main to the service and distributing
pipes. The ammonia passes from the manifold 12 through the coils 10, by which
latter it is caused to circulate around each of the connecting pipe sections 7, and if
then passes into the receiving ammonia manifold 13, from which latter the ammonia
gas is led off by the suction pipe to the condenser, where it is liquefied and again
used, in a well known manner. Owing to the relatively small size of the connecting
pipe sections 7, and each one being enclosed within the convolutions of the
refrigerating coils, the temperature of the water is very rapidly reduced, and a
large volume can be cooled at a time, the water being sufficiently cooled while in
transit through the apparatus at ordinary pressure and velocities.
By means of the valves 14, any one of a number of the refrigerating coils can
be put out of operation, if the temperature of the water should be reduced too
low, or rapidly, and without reducing the flow of water through the apparatus, as
the water passing through all the connecting pipe sections is delivered into the
common receiving manifold 4 and there mixed before passing into the section 2
of the main. By means of the gauges 15 and 16, the pressure of ammonia in the
supply manifold, and the temperature of the water passing through the main 2 to
the distributing and service pipes, is indicated, so that the refrigerating apparatus
can be controlled to produce the proper or desired result.
Should any one of the connecting pipe sections 7 become obstructed or clogged
up, the valves 9 in all, or any desired number, of the other pipe sections can he
closed, thus increasing the pressure of water in the clogged section sufficiently
to force out the obstruction and clear the pipe section. It will be noted that each
refrigerating coil is independent of the others and is individually coiled about one

page_text: of the pipe sections, so that, should any one of the pipe sections or refrigerating
coils be in need of repair, the valves can be closed in such pipe section and refri-
gerating coil, and, by uncoupling their unions, both the pipe section and its coil
can be bodily detached and removed and then replaced, without stopping or inter-
fering with the operation of the apparatus. Should it become necessary to clean
out the manifolds 3 and 4, it may be readily accomplished by removing the plugs
or covers 6.
I have shewn the sections 1 and 2 of the main connected to the opposite ends of
the respective manifolds, and by this arrangement the water is compelled to
uniformly flow through all the connecting pipe sections, and the same arrangement
is employed in connection with the refrigerating coils and their manifolds, and for
a similar purpose.
I may arrange the apparatus either vertically or horizontally, as may be most
desirable in individual circumstances. It is enclosed within a casing 17 so that in
case of emergency, or when otherwise desirable, ice may be packed about the
manifolds and their connecting pipe sections for the purpose of cooling the water.
It will also be evident that a refrigerating medium other than ammonia may be
employed.
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. In a refrigerating apparatus for water supply systems, the combination with
a water main, of two manifolds each connected with a section of the main, a
plurality of relatively small pipe sections connecting said manifolds, and refri-
gerating coils, one for each pipe section, independently surrounding said pipe
sections, substantially as described.
2. In a refrigerating apparatus for water supply systems, the combination with
a water main, of two manifolds each connected with a section of the main, a
plurality of transverse and relatively small pipe sections connecting said manifolds,
valves for closing the communication between the manifolds through any one of
the pipe sections at will, and refrigerating coils surrounding each of said pipe
sections, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. In a refrigerating apparatus for water supply systems, the combination with
a water main, of two manifolds each connected with a section of the main, a
plurality of transverse and relatively small pipe sections detachably connected at
their opposite ends to said manifolds, valves arranged in said pipe sections, and
refrigerating coils surrounding each of said pipe sections, substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
4. In a refrigerating apparatus for water supply systems, the combination with
a water main, of two manifolds each connected with a section of the main, a
plurality of transverse and relatively small pipe sections connected at their opposite
ends to said manifolds, valves arranged in said pipe sections, refrigerant supply
and discharge manifolds, refrigerating coils connected at their opposite ends to said
refrigerant manifolds and each coiled intermediate its ends about one of said pipe
sections, and valves arranged in said coils, substantially as described and for
the purpose specified.
5. In a refrigerating apparatus for water supply systems, the combination with
a water supply main, of two manifolds each connected with a section of the main,
a plurality of transverse and relatively small pipe sections detachably connected in
said pipe sections, refrigerant supply and discharging manifolds, refrigerating
coils detachably connected at their opposite ends to said refrigerant manifolds, and
each coiled intermediate its ends about one of said pipe sections, and valves arranged
in said coils, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
6. In a refrigerating apparatus for water supply systems, the combination with
a water main, of two manifolds each connected with a section of the main and
each closed at one end and provided at its opposite end with a removable plug, a

page_text: plurality of pipe sections connecting said manifolds, and refrigerating coils sur-
rounding each of said pipe sections, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
7. In a refrigerating apparatus for water supply systems, the combination with
a water main, of two manifolds, one connected at one end to one section of the main
and the other connected at the opposite end to the adjacent section of the main,
a plurality of relatively small pipe sections connecting said manifolds, and refri-
gerating coils, surrounding each of said pipe sections, substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
8. My improved refrigerating apparatus for water supply systems, substantially
as herein before described with reference to the annexed drawings.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5a, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.