A Device for Preventing the Bursting of Gas Engine and other Water Jacketed Cylinders or Pipes by the Freezing of the Water.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Preventing the Bursting of Gas Engine and other
Water Jacketed Cylinders or Pipes by the Freezing of the
Water.
I, ENOCH ROLLASON, of 12 Taylor Street, in the City of Birmingham, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to gas engine cylinders, and also to other water jacketed
cylinders or water pipes, and its object is to prevent the rupture of the external casing
or cylinder or pipe in the event of the water becoming frozen from any cause.
My invention consists in a conveniently placed relief aperture or apertures over
which is or are stretched a sheet or sheets of black rubber or other suitable
extensible and elastic material.
In carrying my invention into effect as applied to a gas engine cylinder arranged
in a usual manner, I place my aperture at a position removed from the outlet water
circulating pipe of the water jacket. I preferably pierce or drill or form the said
aperture in the casing as a bole of considerable diameter and I bolt over the said
hole a flange having a hole of preferably smaller diameter. The hole in the flange
has a chamfer or countersunk to form a cone with the wide end outwards and I
arrange the inner edge of the conical aperture as a short round or fillet. Under
the flange I place a black rubber sheet of sufficient thickness to hold in the water
If from any cause
of the water jacket against any water pressure from within.
the water in the jacket freezes and the circulating pipes do not permit of the
expansion of the ice in the act of formation, then the water or ice is forced out
through my conical aperture and the rubber sheet is bulged or expanded through
the said aperture to a sufficient extent to allow relief to the solidifying water such
as to prevent bursting or fracture of the water jacket casing or cylinder. The
conical aperture allows of rapid and ready relief and avoids the blocking up of the
said aperture by the issuing ice.
When the ice melts again the elastic rubber returns to its former position again,
and the work of the engine proceeds without interruption.
Where heavy water pressures are used I arrange my flange with its conical
aperture with a metallic valve pressed down by a spring exterior to the rubber
sheet so that when the rubber sheet is forced out by the internal water pressure it is
supported by the internal surface of the valve. If, however, the water should
freeze the valve does not prevent free expansion through the aperture to relieve
the cylinder and prevent fracture.
My invention may be similarly applied to other water jacketed cylinders, such as
those of air compressors or to any vessel or pipe containing water which may at
times freeze:
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Preventing the Bursting of Gas Engine and other
Water Jacketed Cylinders or Pipes by the Freezing of the
Water.
I, ENOCH ROLLASON, of 190 Cromwell Street, in the City of Birmingham,
(formerly of 12 Taylor Street, Birmingham aforesaid) Engineer, 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 :----
My invention relates to gas engine cylinders, and also to other water jacketed
cylinders or water pipes, and its object is to prevent the rupture of the external
casing or cylinder or pipe in the event of the water becoming frozen from any
cause.
My invention consists in a conveniently placed relief aperture or apertures over
which is or are stretched a sheet or sheets of black rubber or other suitable
extensible and elastic material.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through part of a gas engine cylinder showing
a simple method of applying my invention.
Figure 2 is a similar section showing a modification.
In carrying my invention into effect (see Figure 1) as applied to a gas engine
cylinder as A arranged in a usual manner, I place my aperture B' at a position
removed from the outlet water circulating pipe of the water jacket B. I preferably
pierce or drill or form the said aperture in the casing as a hole of considerable
diameter and I bolt over the said hole a flange C having a hole of preferably
smaller diameter. The hole C¹ in the flange C has a chamfer or countersunk to
form a cone with the wide end outwards and I arrange the inner edge of the conical
aperture as a short round or fillet. Under the flange C I place a black rubber
sheet D, of sufficient thickness to hold in the water of the water jacket B against
any water pressure from within. If from any cause the water in the said jacket
freezes and the circulating pipes do not permit of the expansion of the ice in the
act of formation, then the water or ice is forced out through my conical aperture C¹
and the rubber sheet D is bulged or expanded-through the said aperture to a
sufficient extent to allow relief to the solidifying water such as to prevent bursting
or fracture of the water jacket casing or cylinder. The conical aperture allows of
rapid and ready relief and avoids the blocking up of the said aperture by the
issuing ice.
When the ice melts again the elastic rubber returns to its former position again,
and, the work of the engine proceeds without interruption.
Where heavy water pressures are used I arrange my flange C with its conical
aperture C (Figure 2) with a metallic or other valve E pressed down by a spring F
exterior to the rubber sheet D so that when the rubber sheet is forced out by the
internal water pressure it is supported by the internal surface of the valve E. If,
however, the water should freeze the valve E does not prevent free expansion
through the aperture to relieve the cylinder and prevent fracture.
The spring F, is conveniently held against the valve E by the cap G and
ball or sphere H, which ball or sphere may be held by a cross piece attached to
two pillars as shown.
My invention may be similarly applied to other water jacketed cylinders, such as
those of air compressors or to any vessel or pipe containing water which may at
times freeze.
It is obvious that although I prefer a rubber sheet in conjunction with the
valve E shown in Figure 2, yet the device will act without the rubber or other
sheet if the valve E be made sufficiently water tight and this modification will also
carry my invention into effect.

page_text: 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 device for preventing the bursting of gas engine and other water jacketed
cylinders or pipes by the freezing of water consisting of a relief or relief apertures
over which is or are stretched a sheet or sheets of black india-rubber or other
suitable extensible material substantially as and for the purposes herein before.
described.
2. A device for preventing the bursting of gas engine and other water jacketed.
cylinders or pipes by the freezing of water consisting of a conical relief aperture
as C with a flange as C holding down a rubber sheet as D Figure 1, or with an:
added valve as E Figure 2, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described reference being had to the accompanying drawings.
3. A device as claimed in the first claim but having a valve only to prevent the
exit of the jacket water substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 7th day of December 1893.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.