IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING RAIN WATER
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Gay Roberts of Collards Haslemere in the
county of Surrey for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
COLLECTING RAIN WATER"
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Gay Roberts at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1883.
CHARLES GAY ROBERTS of Collards Haslemere in the county of Surrey
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING RAIN WATER"
In the Specification to Letters Patent granted to W. Buck on the 10th. Oct: 1878,
No. 3996 are described several forms of apparatus for collecting rain water from
roofs or other exposed areas, in such a manner as to separate the first of the water,
which is generally fouled, from that which is comparatively clean, the latter only
being conducted to the storage tank. My invention relates to improvements in
that form of the apparatus which is described in the said Specification with reference
to Fig. 3 of the drawings thereto annexed. In the first place, I provide means of
adjusting the passage through the partition which divides the pivotted tank into
two compartments. I effect this adjustment by providing several holes at different
levels through the partition, and fitting over these a slide, by shifting which, one,
two or more of these holes can be uncovered; or I make an elongated hole, which
can be more or less opened by shifting the slide. Thus the time occupied in the
passage of sufficient water to cant the tank can be varied to suit the particular
conditions under which the apparatus is applied; for example, a town roof, being
generally more fouled than a country roof, requires a longer time for its cleansing,
and a tiled roof requires longer time than a slated roof. The required adjustment
may also be effected by regulating the leakage hole at the bottom of the tank.
Secondly, in order to give facilities for cleansing the strainer, I make it
removeable, by fitting it to slide into its position from the lower end of the
straining box along grooves formed in the sides of the straining box.

page_text: Thirdly, in order to provide for adjustment of the hole by which the water
issues from the first compartment of the pivotted tank, I provide it with a screwed
bush into which can be fitted washers having holes of various sizes; and, when
the apparatus is applied to a roof of small area, which would require a very small
hole that might be apt to become choked I raise the level of the hole so as to t
bave less pressure of water above it, and, consequently, I can employ a hole of
larger area.
Fourthly, by shortening the outlet pipes from the straining box, and from the
pivotted tank, and suitably shaping these vessels and the receiving vessel, I bring
the three vessels close together in compact form, each operating as a cover to the 1
one below it, protecting all the openings from access of dust or other impurities.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Gay Roberts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th August 1883.
CHARLES GAY ROBERTS of Collards Haslemere in the county of Surrey
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING RAIN WATER
"
In the Specification to Letters Patent granted to W. Buck on the 10th October
1878 No 3996, are described several forms of apparatus for collecting rain water
from roofs or other exposed areas, in such a manner as to separate the first of the
water, which is generally fouled, from that which is comparatively clean, the latter
only being conducted to the storage tank.
My invention relates to improvements in that form of apparatus which is
described in the said specification with reference to fig. 3 of the drawings thereto
annexed.
I will describe these improvements referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a general view, shewing the apparatus A connected to a rain water pipe B
with its waste pipe C and its pipe D leading to the storage butt or tank E. Fig. 2
is a vertical section of the apparatus, and fig. 3 is a front view to an enlarged
scale of part of the partition F.
In the first place, I provide means of adjusting the passage through the
partition F which divides the pivotted tank into two compartments. I
effect this adjustment by providing several holes at different levels through
the partition, and fitting over those a slido G, by shifting which, one, two
or more of these holes H can be uncovered; or I make an elongated hole,
which can be more or less opened by shifting the slide. Thus, the time occupied
in the passage of sufficient water to cant the tank can be varied to suit the
particular conditions under which the apparatus is applied; for example, a town
roof, being generally more fouled than a country roof, requires a longer time for
its cleansing, and a tiled roof requires longer time than a slated roof. The required
adjustment may also be effected by regulating the leakage hole h at the bottom of
the tank.
Secondly, in order to give facilities for cleansing the strainer K, I make it
removeable by fitting it to slide into its position from the lower end of the straining
box L along grooves formed in the sides of the straining box.
Thirdly, in order to provide for adjustment of the hole by which the water
issues from the first compartment M of the pivotted tank, I provide it with a
screwed bush N into which can be fitted washers having holes of various sizes;
and, when the apparatus is applied to a roof of small area, which would require a
very small hole that might be apt to become choked, I raise the level of the hole,
so as to have less pressure of water above it, and consequently, I can employ a hole
of larger area.
Fourthly, by shortening the outlet pipes O, P, from the straining box L, and
the pipe from the pivotted tank, and suitably shaping these vessels and the
receiving vessel R, I bring the three vessels close together in compact form, each
operating as a cover to the one below it, protecting all the openings from access of
dust or other impurities
In witness whereof, I the said Charles Gay Roberts have hereunto set my
hand and seal this first day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight
hundred and eight three
CHAS GAY ROBERTS (La)