Means of Regulating the Supplies of Gas and Water to Geysers according to the Out-flow of Hot Water.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
Means of Regulating the Supplies of Gas and Water to Geysers
according to the Out-flow of Hot Water.
I, THOMAS EUSTACE BARRALET, of 51a, Queen Victoria Street, London, Secretary,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;
This invention is a means of automatically controlling and regulating the gas
and cold water supplies to geysers or other water-heaters according to the out-
flow of heated water, so that the geyser being fitted at the upper part of a house
the turning on of a tap in any part of the house below the level of the geyser
puts it in action. The water being heated as it flows through the geyser so long
as the tap connected with the outlet is on a constant stream of hot water issues
from the geyser and passes down the connecting pipe to the tap. When the tap
is turned off my invention operated to close the water and gas supplies and so
prevent waste of gas and burning of the geyser when no hot water is being drawn.
The geyser is one of the type with tubes or closed chambers through which the
water flows.
A tap is fitted in any part of the outlet pipe.
The gas supply to the burner is provided with a valve consisting of an inlet
and outlet with a seating between them and a disc on a moving spindle which drops
down on to the seating and closes the way for the gas.
Under some conditions it may be advisable to fit two discs on the spindle or to
have two seatings, so that the valve will shut both upwards and downwards.
At or above the top of the geyser is a reservoir or cistern provided with a ball
valve which is connected with the water supply. Within this reservoir is a rod
connected to the spindle of the gas valve, an encasing tube preventing escape of
gas. A telescopic tube with a water seal or rubber tube or diaphragm prevents
the escape of gas or water at the point where the rod passes into the reservoir.
A buoy or float is fixed to the rod so that the variation of level of the water in
the reservoir when water is being withdrawn or otherwise causes the float to rise
and fall and open or shut the gas valve according to the method of connection
adopted.
Instead of a separate float the ball of the ball valve may be used for the purpose.
Either the cold water from the supply or the hot water which has passed or is
passing through the geyser may be used to fill the reservoir. If the latter the
cold water passing through the ball valve does not enter the reservoir but is
conveyed directly into the geyser by a pipe. Or the reservoir may be divided
into two sections, one of which receives the cold water while the other contains
the ball and is filled by the water which has passed through the geyser.
I prefer to fill the reservoir with the water which has passed through the
geyser, and to connect the supply valve directly to the geyser.

page_text: I fit a partition in the reservoir on one side of which is the pipe admitting
the hot water from the geyser and also the float which lifts the gas valve, while
on the other side of the partition is the ball of the supply valve and the outlet
through which the water passes to supply the taps fitted in any part of the house.
A little below the top edge of this dividing partition, but above the water
level when the reservoir is full is a small escape hole allowing a certain quantity of
water to pass into the other section of the reservoir.
With this arrangement the working is as follows:
When not at work the geyser and reservoir are full of water and in that sec-
tion of the reservoir which contains the float appertaining to the gas valve the
water is level with the bottom of the escape hole. In this position the gas valve
is down and the gas supply closed while the water supply is shut off by the ball
valve.
If water be drawn from any part of the pipe connected with the outlet from
the reservoir the ball as it falls opens the supply valve and water passes into
the geyser.
This cold water entering forces the hot water which is in the geyser through
the connecting tube into that part of the reservoir which contains the gas valve
float.
The escape hole not being sufficiently large to pass this water it fills that
section of the reservoir and runs over the top of the partition into the other
section and so to the outlet pipe. In rising to this height it lifts the float and
opens the gas supply and the burner being lit by a pilot jet the water as it
flows through the geyser is heated and a constant stream of hot water supplied
to the reservoir and outlet.
When the outlet tap is turned off the hot water has no outlet and conse-
quently fills the reservoir until the rising of the ball shuts off the cold water
valve.
If
The cold water ceasing to pass into the geyser the hot water no longer flows
into the first compartment of the reservoir. The water which is in that part
runs out through the escape hole and the float drops and shuts off the gas.
the cold water supply ceases from any other cause the same action prevents
the gas remaining on and burning the apparatus.
The arrangement of a float in a chamber provided with an escape hole, for
shutting off the gas when the water ceases to flow in sufficient stream, may be
utilized independently of the reservoir and ball valve for geysers which are
not intended to work automatically as described.
Dated this 4th day of March 1898.
Means of Regulating the Supplies of Gas and Water to Geysers
according to the Out-flow of Hot Water.
THOMAS EUSTACE BARRALET, of 51A, Queen Victoria Street, London, Secre-
tary, 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:-
This invention is a means of automatically controlling and regulating the
gas and cold water supplies to geysers or other water heaters according to the
out-flow of heated water, so that the geyser being fitted at the upper part of a

page_text: house the turning on of a tap in any part of the house below the level of the geyser
puts it in action. The water being heated as it flows through, so long as the
tap connected with the outlet is on a constant stream of hot water issues from
the geyser and passes down the connecting pipe to the tap. When the tap is
turned off my invention operates to close the water and gas supplies and so
prevent waste of gas and burning of the geyser when no hot water is being drawn.
Referring to the drawings, the geyser or water heater (k) is one of the type
with closed chambers or tubes through which the water flows. The outlet pipe
is provided with a tap or taps (j).
The gas supply to the burner is provided with a valve (m) consisting of an
outlet and inlet with a seating between them and a disc (m¹) on a moving spindle
which fits on the seating and closes the way for the gas.
At or above the top of the geyser is a reservoir in two sections (or two reser-
voirs) Figs. 1 and 2, (a) and (b). Section (a) contains a ball or float (c) which
is connected to a valve (c) controlling the water supply. Section (b) contains a
float (f) which is connected by a rod and encasing tube to the gas valve (m). A
telescopic tube with a water seal or a flexible tube or diaphragm prevents escape
of gas or water. The partition between the sections (a) and (b) is provided with
a small hole (d) above the highest level of the water in section (a), and another
opening (e) at a higher level. Either the cold water from the supply (Fig. 1)
or the water which has passed or is passing through the geyser (Fig. 2) may
be used to fill the reservoir. In the latter case the cold water supply is taken
directly into the geyser (Fig. 2). The water first enters the section (b) and if
flowing in sufficient quantity cannot all pass through the hole (d) and rises to
the larger opening (e) through which it runs into the section (a). In so rising it
lifts the float (f) and opens the gas valve, admitting gas to the burner which is
lit by a pilot jet. From the section (a) the water passes into the geyser (Fig. 1)
or outlet pipe (Fig. 2) as may be arranged. When the outlet taps are closed
the section (a) fills with water until the rising of the ball or float (c) shuts the
valve (c). The water then ceasing to flow into section (b) that which is in escapes
through the small hole (d) and the float (f) falls and closes the gas valve. On
the opening of any of the taps in the outlet pipe the level of the water in sec-
tion (a) is lowered and the float (c) falls and opens the cold water valve (c).
Water then flowing into section (b) opens the gas valve as described and the
water is heated in its passage through the geyser and passes down to the tap.
When the tap is shut the geyser is put out of action, the water supply shut
off and the gas reduced to a small flame or pilot jet until again set in action by
the opening of a tap.
The arrangement of a float (f) in a chamber or reservoir (b) provided with
two outlets at different levels (d) and (e) for shutting off the gas when the water
ceases to flow may be used independently of the reservoir (a) and ball valve (c, c¹)
for geysers which are not intended to work automatically as described.
Instead of the two sections or reservoirs (a) and (b) one reservoir may be used,
the float (f) is then dispensed with, and the gas valve connected to the float or
lever of the ball valve. In this case the gas valve is arranged to shut upwards,
and the alteration of water level operates the gas valve.
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: -
1. Apparatus for regulating the supplies of gas and cold water to geysers or
other similar water heaters, consisting of a reservoir or reservoirs in which the
rise and fall of the water actuates a float or floats connected to valves controlling
the gas and water supplies, and working substantially in the manner and for
the purposes described.
"
2. A valve for controlling the supply of gas to geysers or similar water heaters
according to the flow of water, consisting of a reservoir or chamber provided

page_text: with two outlets at different levels and containing a float connected to a gas
valve, substantially as, and for the purposes described.
3. The combination of the above (No. 2) with a reservoir containing a ball
valve for controlling the water supply.
4. A geyser or water heater in combination with a reservoir or reservoirs and
floats for controlling the supplies of gas and cold water according to the outflow
of heated water and working substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein shewn and described.
Dated this 5th dox of Denambar 1808