IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER PIPES AND FLUSHING CISTERNS SO AS TO PREVENT BURSTING BY FROST
Year: 1885

page_text: THOMAS GUEST NORMANTON Central Chambers, No 1 Paxton Street Barrow in
Furness in the County of Lancaster Architect and Surveyor do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER PIPES AND FLUSHING
CISTERNS SO AS TO PREVENT BURSTING BY FROST to be as follows:-
I make the pipes and flushing cisterns so as to admit of expansion in the
following manner, instead of the pipes being Cylindrical in the bore I make them
either Eliptical, oval, or a flattened Cylinder so as to allow of expansion to a
cylindrical form under great pressure. I make the Flushing Cisterns expansive by
making them of metal and by having a number of corrugations running round
same so as to allow of expansion by the slight straightening out of the corrugations
under pressure (similar to an accordion) The object of my invention is to provide
Water pipes and Cisterns which will not burst by the freezing of the Water
contained therein, when fixed in external Water closets, Roof spaces or other
exposed situations, my invention also applies to all branch or other pipes containing
water where subject to the action of frost also the circulating or other pipes in
connection with Hot Water apparatus where a fire is not constantly required.
The extreme liability of the ordinary round bore pipes and metal flushing
cisterns to burst when fixed in exposed situations, is a constant source of trouble,
and expense, besides being the cause of a great waste of water during severe
winters To overcome this defect I make my water pipes and Cisterns of such
form as to admit of expansion and contraction without injury.
The first part of my invention relates to improvements in the shape of the water
pipes whether they be of lead, tin, copper, Wrot iron or other metal or metalic
alloy. Instead of making the Pipe Cylindrical in its bore in the usual way, my
inprovement consists in making the bore either oval, eliptical or a flattened
cylinder (in this way reducing its capacity) and of sufficient strength to withstand
the various water pressures without change of its form.
When the water is freezing instead of bursting the pipe by its expansion (as
would happen with a Cylindrica! pipe) the expansion causes it to approach to the
Cylindrical form without rupture. If the pressure of the water at the main be
now turned off, the contraction which takes place during a thaw will restore the
pipe to its original forn. The expansion taking place uniformly along the whole
of the exposed pipe differs from a cylindrical pipe where the pressure finds the
weakost part and ruptures it.

page_text: The ends of the pipes where required for fixing unions, cocks, or other fittings to
will be made Cylindrical.
The Second part of my invention relates to the improved form of the metal
Cistern, which admits of expansion under the pressure of freezing water, thus
slightly increasing its capacity this is accomplished in the following manner.
The Cistern: may be made of Wrot iron, Galvanized iron, zine, copper, tinplate or
other malleable metal bent at the angles, and having a sufficient number of
corrugations in same to allow of its expansion under pressure by the slight
straightening out of the corrugations somewhat similar to the action of the bellows
of an accordion.
The contraction caused by a thaw will restore the Cistern to its original form.
The corrugations are introduced to provide for the expansion and contraction
and the remaining parts may be kept flat for the convenience in attaching pipes or
other fittings to.
The improvements are intended to apply chiefly to the smaller kinds of flushing
Cisterns, but they may also be applied to cisterns for Storage or other purposes.

page_text: THOMAS GUEST NORMANTON Architect & Surveyor Central Chambers No 1 Paxton
Street Barrow in Furness in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER PIPES AND FLUSHING CISTERNS SO
AS TO PREVENT BURSTING BY FROST and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters
of reference, marked thereon that is to say:-
The object of my invention is to provide Water pipes and Cisterns which will
not burst by the freezing of the water contained therein when fixed in external
Water Closets, Roof spaces, or other exposed situations My invention also applies
to all branch or other pipes containing water where subject to the action of frost,
also to the circulating or other pipes in connection with Hot Water apparatus
where a fire is not constantly required.
The extreme liability of the ordinary round bore pipes and metal flushing cisterns
to burst when fixed in exposed situations is a constant source of trouble and
expense, besides being the cause of a great waste of water during severe winters.
To overcome this defect I make my Water Pipes and Cisterns of such form as to
admit of expansion and contraction without injury.
The first part of my invention relates to improvements in the shape of the water
pipes, whether they be of lead, tin, copper, Wrot iron or other metal or metallic
alloy.
Instead of making the pipe Cylindrical in its bore in the usual way, my
improvement consists in making the bore either oval, eliptical, or a flattened
Cylinder as shewn on Sectious figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 on Drawings Sheet 1 (or other
similar form whereby the area of the bore is reduced to less than a circle of the
same perimeter) and of sufficient strength to withstand the various pressures for
which it may be required without change of its form. When the water is freezing
instead of bursting the pipe by its expansion (as would happen with a cylindrical
pipe) the expansion causes it to approach to the cylindrical form without rupture.
If the pressure of the water at the main be now turned off the contraction which
takes place during a thaw will restore the pipe to its original form. The expansion
taking place uniformly along the whole length of the exposed pipe differs from a
cylindrical pipe where the expansion finds the weakest part and ruptures it, as the
whole of the expansive force is exerted at this point, but the improved pipe being
expansive throughout its length admits of the necessary expansion without
distortion.
Should the precaution of turning off the pressure at the main after the pipes are
frozen be neglected and thus prevent the pipes from returning to their original
form after a thaw, the improved pipes are still greatly superior to the round bore
pipes as it will require two or three freezings to make them cylindrical and
consequently they will have a much longer life The ends of pipes where required
for fixing unions, cocks or other fittings to will be made Cylindrical as shewn on
Drawings Sheet 1 at a. a. a. Figures 2 and 5.
Figure 2 on Drawing Sheet i shews the method of connecting branches in lead
pipes.
Figure 5 on Drawing Sheet I shews the method of connecting branches in iron
or other metal pipes, also the connection to the ordinary round bore pipe as at b.

page_text: -
The ordinary round bore pipes and fittings may be used in short lengths in
making connections as the improved pipe will take up the expansion.
The second part of my invention relates to the improved form of the metal
cistern which admits of expansion under the pressure of freezing water, thus
slightly increasing its capacity this is accomplished in the following manner-
The Cisterns may be made of Wrot iron, Galvanized iron, zinc, copper, tinplate
or other malleable metal, bent at the angles and having a sufficient number of
corrugations in same to allow of its expansion under the pressure of freezing water
by the slight straightening out of the corrugations somewhat similar to the action
of the bellows of an accordion.
The contraction caused by a thaw will restore the cistern to its original form.
The corrugations are introduced to provide for the expansion and contraction
and the remaining parts may be left flat for the convenience in attaching pipes or
other fittings to.
The improvements are intended to apply chiefly to the smaller kinds of flushing
cisterns but they may also be applied to cisterns for storage or other purposes.
Figures 1 and 2 on Drawing Sheet 2 shew a plan, Elevation, and part section of
an improved 2 Gallon flushing cistern drawn to a scale of 3 inches to a foot and
arranged to suit the ordinary class of flushing fittings usually applied to out door
water closets. The construction may be varied so as to adapt it to any other class
of fittings The corrugated parts may be made of various forms, but the forms
shewn at figures 3. 4. 5 and 6 on Drawing Sheet 2 are the most suitable.
Figures 7 and 8 on Drawing Sheet 2 shew an Elevation and half plan (drawn to
a scale of inch to a foot) of a larger kind of cistern with the corrugations
arranged horizontally and Figures 9 and 10 shew an Elevation and half plan of a
cistern with the corrugations arranged vertically.
The Cisterns may be made square, oblong, circular, or of any form suited to the
various requirements and may be stayed if necessary but the corrugated parts must
be left free to move. I do not claim that there is anything new either in the
shape of my pipes or in the application of corrugated plates in the construction of
eisterns but the application of these forms to give them expansive properties so as
to prevent bursting by frost, is a novel and useful improvement.
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
1st An Improved form of Water Pipe, the bore of which may be Eliptical, oval,
or a flattened Cylinder, or other form where the area of the bore is reduced to less
than a circle of the same perimeter so as to admit of expansion under great
pressure and thus prevent bursting by frost. It may also be applied to other
purposes where an expanding pipe is required.
2nd The altering of the ordinary round bore pipe to the Improved form (to
prevent bursting) by flattening or otherwise so as to reduce its capacity.
The
3rd The application of corrugated metal plates to the construction of Cisterns of
various forms so as to give the cisterns expanding properties somewhat similar to
the bellows of an accordion and thus prevent them bursting by frost.
corrugated parts may be arranged either vertically or horizontally so that under
the pressure exerted by the expansion of freezing water the capacity of the cistern.
may be increased by the slight straightening out of the corrugated parts substan-
tially as same is herein set forth and described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.