A Method of and Apparatus for Testing Drain and other Pipes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Testing Drain and other Pipes.
I, LIONEL MOSES, of 160 Fifth Avenue, in the City of New York, County
and State of New York, U.S.A., Architect, do hereby declare the nature of my
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 and nature of this invention is a process or method, and apparatus
for carrying the same into effect, and by means of chemicals used therein at
ordinary atmospheric temperatures, any leakages or defects in plumbing may be
detected and located, and the same reliably remedied, so that the dangers to health.
due to sewer gas escaping into dwellings may be obviated.
The apparatus which I term the "Chemico" consists of a rectangular or other
properly shaped and portable receptacle having ingress for air and a pressure fan.
In this receptacle several independent trays are placed which are supplied with
volatile chemicals which form dense and diffusible fumes. The receptacle is
properly connected to the pipes to be tested and the chemical fumes are forced by
Air pressure created in the receptacle into the pipes to be tested and the air
pressure is continued, so that the fumes are not only carried through the pipes in
all parts of the building but are maintained under high pneumatic pressure and
thus forced to escape in visible volumes in case there are any breaks, fissures or
leaks, however small, in any part of the system, or at the connection of any of the
traps or other fixtures.
In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my invention and have shown
one form of apparatus by which my process may be carried into effect.
In carrying out my process, I preferably employ two chemicals which vaporize
or form gases at ordinary temperatures, which gases when mingled combine and
form a visible vapor or gas. For this purpose I use ammonia (NH) and hydro-
chloric acid (HCl). These chemicals are placed near each other in separate open
trays or pans a a¹ in a chamber A. As shown in the drawing the said trays or
pans are placed upon a series of shelves or cleats 6b within the chamber and are
held near a door A' which during the operation will be opened sufficiently to
admit a current of air to the chamber A, which current must pass over the open
pans or trays. The area of the pans a' which contain the hydrochloric acid are
about twice that of the pans a which contain the ammonia.
Within the chamber A is placed an air forcing device or blower B having side
openings c to take in air from the interior of the chamber. The blower is operated
by a drive wheel C mounted in bearings D on the chamber and a belt E leading
from said drive wheel to a pulley d on the shaft of the blower. The drive wheel
is turned by a crank d'. The eduction pipe e of the blower terminates at the
outside of the chamber A where it is provided with a coupling or union e¹ for
connection with another pipe F, usually a rubber hose.
In operation the pans or trays a a¹ will be supplied with chemicals and the
loor A partially closed, the pipe F will then be connected with the drain pipes
or plumbing H to be tested by way of the street pipe G or by means of any
connection in the building. The connection of the plumbing with the sewer will
e cut off by any suitable means and the basins Hand all other connections
lugged. This done the operator will rapidly rotate the blower and force the
umes from the chamber A into the plumbing until the plumbing is forcibly
TD 077

page_text: charged with air and fumes from the source. The air under pressure will detect
any defective points or leaks in the plumbing and issue therefrom giving more or
less sound and will cause the fumes to be emitted at the leaks so that they can be
readily located, and by this process I am enabled to guard fully against the
dangers of sewer gas which even in small quantities is known to be so destructive
to health. It is well known that sewer gas will find its way through the smallest
leaks and defects in plumbing and in fact it is not the larger leaks but the small
ones that become so dangerous. By my process the pipes even in the tallest
buildings may be charged with a dense vapor or fume, the production of which
does not depend upon the skill or attentiveness of the workman but is produced
with certainty and in operation will certainly be forced into the pipes and the
fumes will not dissipate in the pipes, on the contrary they will be as dense at the
top of the pipes as anywhere else and will continue so during the whole operation
and they will maintain their visible qualities without regard to heat or cold or any
special care on the part of the workmen so that the test can be relied upon as
accurately determining the perfection of the plumbing. Furthermore no danger
whatever to the dwelling or otherwise attends the operation as no fire is used in the
apparatus and as the fumes are entirely harmless.
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. The process or method of testing plumbing for the detection of leaks con-
sisting in the employment of cold fumes produced by volatile chemicals forced by
pneumatic pressure into the pipes to be tested for visually locating any leakages
therein, substantially as described.
2. The process herein described of testing plumbing for leaks which consists in
generating at ordinary temperatures a visible chemical vapor in a chamber, and
then charging the pipes to be tested with vapor laden air from said chamber by
means of an air forcing device, substantially as described.
3. The process herein described of testing plumbing for leaks which consists in
mingling in a chamber different invisible chemical vapors to form a visible vapor
and then by air pressure charge the plumbing with said visible vapor, substantially
as described.
4. The process of testing plumbing for leaks which consists in mixing in a
closed chamber the gases of ammonia and hydrochloric acid forming a cloud
of ammonia chloride and forcing the same under pressure into the plumbing,
substantially as described.
5. The apparatus for testing plumbing, substantially as illustrated in the
drawing.
Dated this 02-d dor of Fahr 1807

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Testing Drain and other Pipes.
I, LIONEL MOSES, of 160 Fifth Avenue, in the City of New York, County
and State of New York, U.S.A., Architect, do hereby declare the nature of my
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 and nature of this invention is a process or method, and apparatus
for carrying the same into effect, and by means of chemicals used therein at
ordinary atmospheric temperatures, any leakages or defects in plumbing may be
detected and located, and the same reliably remedied, so that the dangers to health
due to sewer gas escaping into dwellings may be obviated.
>
The apparatus which I term the "Chemico" consists of a rectangular or other
properly shaped and portable receptacle having ingress for air and a pressure fan.
In this receptacle several independent trays are placed which are supplied with
volatile chemicals which form dense and diffusible fumes. The receptacle is
properly connected to the pipes to be tested and the chemical fumes are forced by
air pressure created in the receptacle into the pipes to be tested and the air
pressure is continued, so that the fumes are not only carried through the pipes in
all parts of the building but are maintained under high pneumatic pressure and
thus forced to escape in visible volumes in case there are any breaks, fissures or
leaks, however small, in any part of the system, or at the connection of any of the
traps or other fixtures.
In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my invention and have shown
one form of apparatus by which my process may be carried into effect.
In carrying out my process, I preferably employ two chemicals which vaporize
or form gases at ordinary temperatures, which gases when mingled combine and
form a visible vapor or gas. For this purpose I use ammonia (NH) and hydro-
chloric acid (HCI). These chemicals are placed near each other in separate open
trays or pans a a¹ in a chamber A. As shown in the drawing the said trays or
pans are placed upon a series of shelves or cleats bb within the chamber and are
held near a door A¹ which during the operation will be opened sufficiently to
admit a current of air to the chamber A, which current must pass over the open
pans or trays. The area of the pans a' which contain the hydrochloric acid are
about twice that of the pans a which contain the ammonia.
Within the chamber A is placed an air forcing device or blower B having side
openings c to take in air from the interior of the chamber. The blower is operated
by a drive wheel C mounted in bearings D on the chamber and a belt E leading
from said drive wheel to a pulley d on the shaft of the blower. The drive wheel
is turned by a crank d¹. The eduction pipe e of the blower terminates at the
outside of the chamber A where it is provided with a coupling or union e¹ for
connection with another pipe F, usually a rubber hose.
In operation the pans or trays a a¹ will be supplied with chemicals and the
door A partially closed, the pipe F will then be connected with the drain pipes
or plumbing H to be tested by way of the street pipe G or by means of any
connection in the building. The connection of the plumbing with the sewer will
be cut off by any suitable means and the basins H' and all other connections
plugged. This done the operator will rapidly rotate the blower and force the
fumes from the chamber A into the plumbing until the plumbing is forcibly

page_text: charged with air and fumes from the source. The air under pressure will detect
any defective points or leaks in the plumbing and issue therefrom giving more or
less sound and will cause the fumes to be emitted at the leaks so that they can be
readily located, and by this process I am enabled to guard fully against the
dangers of sewer gas which even in small quantities is known to be so destructive
to health. It is well known that sewer gas will find its way through the smallest
leaks and defects in plumbing and in fact it is not the larger leaks but the small
ones that become so dangerous. By my process the pipes even in the tallest
buildings may be charged with a dense vapor or fume, the production of which
does not depend upon the skill or attentiveness of the workman but is produced
with certainty and in operation will certainly be forced into the pipes and the
fumes will not dissipate in the pipes, on the contrary they will be as dense at the
top of the pipes as anywhere else and will continue so during the whole operation
and they will maintain their visible qualities without regard to heat or cold or any
special care on the part of the workmen so that the test can be relied upon as
accurately determining the perfection of the plumbing. Furthermore no danger
whatever to the dwelling or otherwise attends the operation as no fire is used in the
apparatus and as the fumes are entirely harmless.
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. The process or method of testing plumbing for the detection of leaks con-
sisting in the employment of cold fumes produced by volatile chemicals forced by
pneumatic pressure into the pipes to be tested for visually locating any leakages
therein, substantially as described.
2. The process herein described of testing plumbing for leaks which consists in
generating at ordinary temperatures a visible chemical vapor in a chamber, and
then charging the pipes to be tested with vapor laden air from said chamber by
means of an air forcing device, substantially as described.
3. The process herein described of testing plumbing for leaks which consists in
mingling in a chamber different invisible chemical vapors to form a visible vapor
and then by air pressure charge the plumbing with said visible vapor, substantially
as described.
4. The process of testing plumbing for leaks which consists in mixing in a
closed chamber the gases of ammonia and hydrochloric acid forming a cloud
of ammonia chloride and forcing the same under pressure into the plumbing,
substantially as described.
5. The apparatus for testing plumbing, substantially as illustrated in the
drawing.
Date L
00
1 1
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, Loudon, E.C., Agent for Applicant.