NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING TAPS, VALVES, VENTILATORS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Howard Blamires, of Huddersfield, in the County
of York, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR
AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING TAPS, VALVES, VENTILATORS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
Sealed the 12th June 1877, and dated the 13th December 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Howard Blamires at
"
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1876.
THOMAS HOWARD BLAMIRES, of Huddersfield, in the County of York.
NEW OR
IMPROVED MEANS AND 'APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING
TAPS, VALVES, VENTILATORS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
This Invention consists in enclosing within suitable apparatus mercury, water, oil,
alcohol, or other incompressible or non-elastic fluid or liquid, or a combination
thereof, which liquids change their volume by expansion and contraction, according
to the variations of temperature.
My apparatus consists of a suitable receiver or reservoir to contain the above-
mentioned liquid or combination of liquids, which receiver communicates with a
cylinder, tube, or pipe, so that as the fluid expands or contracts by the increase or
decrease of heat it may act an a piston, similar in construction to the piston of a
hydraulic engine or air pump which works within the cylinder, tube, or pipe so
that as the fluid expands or contracts by the increase or decrease of heat it may act
on a piston, similar in construction to the piston of a hydraulic engine or air pump
which works within the cylinder, tube, or pipe aforesaid; or I attach to the top of
the cylinder a flexible disc or diaphragm of metal, india-rubber, or other elastic
substance capable of being distended by the expansion of the liquid within the
cylinder; or I confine the liquid within a curved pipe or tube similar to a Bourdon
steam guage, which pipe is caused to straighten by the contraction of the fluid
confined within it.
In any of the above-described apparatuses the motion derived from the expansion

page_text: and contraction of the liquid may be transmitted to levers, wheels, pulleys, or other
mechanism, and utilized for a variety of purposes, such as controlling the flow,
discharge, or escape of hot or cold water or other liquids, steam, air, or gas; for
regulating the temperature of fluids or liquids, rooms, buildings, conservatories,
baths, dyers' vats, brewers' vats, extinguishing fires, regulating chemical operations,
or other purposes, which can be effected by the opening or closing of taps, valves, or
ventilators.
By forming a rack on the end of the piston rod, and causing the same to actuate
toothed wheels, I can produce a rotary motion in a similar manner as it is produced
by an ordinary gas engine; or by employing two cylinders, which are heated and
cooled alternately, the motion may be produced more continuously and effectively.
The power of the piston may also be used for lifting or pressing purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Howard Blamires in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 13th
June 1877.
THOMAS HOWARD BLAMIRES, of Huddersfield,-in the County of York.
"NEW OR
IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING
TAPS, VALVES, VENTILATORS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
This Invention consists in enclosing within suitable apparatus mercury, water,
oil, alcohol, or other incompressible or non-elastic fluid or liquid, or a combination
thereof, which liquids change their volume by expansion and contraction according
to the variations of temperature.
My apparatus consists of a suitable receiver or reservoir to contain the above-
mentioned liquid or combination of liquids, which receiver communicates with a
cylinder, tube, or pipe, so that as the fluid expands or contracts by the increase or
decrease of heat it may act on a piston, similar in construction to the piston of a
hydraulic engine or air pump, which works within the cylinder, tube, or pipe afore-
said; or I may attach to the top of the cylinder a flexible disc or diaphram of
metal, india-rubber, or other elastic substance capable of being distended by the
expansion of the liquid within the cylinder; or I may confine the liquid within a
curved pipe or tube similar to a Bourdon steam guage, which pipe is caused to
straighten by the expansion or curve by the contraction of the fluid confined
within it.
In any of the above described apparatuses the motion derived from the expansion
and contraction of the liquid may be transmitted to levers, wheels, pullies, or other
mechanism, and utilized for a variety of purposes, such as controlling the flow,
discharge, or escape of hot or cold water or other liquids, steam, air, or gas; for
regulating the temperature of fluids or liquids, rooms, buildings, conservatories,
baths, dyers' vats, brewers' vats, extinguishing fires, regulating chemical operations,
or other purposes, which can be effected by the opening or closing of taps, valves, or
ventilators.
By forming a rack on the end of the piston rod, and causing the saine to actuate
toothed wheels, I can produce a rotary motion in a similar manner as it is produced
by an ordinary gas engine; or by employing two cylinders, which are heated and
cooled alternately, the motion may be produced more continuously and effectively.
The power of the piston may also be used for lifting or pressing purposes.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof.
In Fig. 1 I have shewn one form of apparatus which will serve to explain the
nature of my Invention, although it will be readily seen that the details of con-
struction may be varied to a great extent.

page_text: A, A, are two metal tubes placed concentrically, so as to leave an annular space
betwixt them; the space is closed at the ends, with the exception of an opening n
for the liquid, and also an opening into the pipe B, which passes up through
the inner tube, and terminates in a cup at the top. A flexible diaphram a, or
disc of metal, india-rubber, or other elastic substance is placed across the moutli
of the cup, and is secured therein by a washer and the plug C, through the centre
of which passes the piston D, the lower end rosting on the flexible diaphram,
whilst the upper end supports one arm of the weighted lever E, which is hinged at
F, the other arm thereof passing through a slot in the top of the valve rod G, the use
of which will be hereafter explained. The annular space between the tubes A, A,
may be filled with mercury, water, oil, alcohol, or a combination thereof, or other
incompressible fluid, which will also enter and stand at the same level in the
pipe B.
In order to prevent the dissolution of the flexible diaphram a portion of the tube is
filled with mercury or water. This apparatus acts as a thermometer, and is par-
ticularly sensible to small variations of temperature. The slightest increase of heat
occuring after the apparatus has been adjusted will be indicated by the rising of
the piston D, owing to the expansion of the liquid exerting pressure upon the
flexible diaphram, and the motion will be communicated from the piston to the
lever E.
Should the rising of the piston not be sufficient to relieve the expansion of the
fluid it may escape by the valve Z. H is a vessel for containing water, within
which is immersed another thermometer similar in construction to that which I
have just described.
The thermometer or thermo-regulator first described actuates the valve rod G in
such a manner as to admit hot or cold water to the vessel H through the pipes J,
which hot or cold water acting on the thermometer contained within the vessel H
imparts motion to the piston K. Figs. 2 and 3 shew two methods in which tho
motion of the piston K may be imparted in such manner as to be rendered available
for mechanical purposes. In Fig. 2 a clock spring b is attached to the piston, the
other end being wound round the barrel or axis of the pulley L, to which barrel or
axis may be attached a lever arm M, in addition to or instead of the pulley. In
Fig. 3 the piston is shewn having a rack cut on one side, which imparts its motion
to a pinion wheel N.
Instead of using the diaphram a as a means of actuating the piston I may have
a piston with a cupped leather at the bottom thereof, as shewn in Fig. 4.
Having now explained the manner in which the expansive power of liquids may
be converted into a mechanical or motive power I will proceed to illustrate the
application thereof to useful purposes.
Fig. 6 represents a greenhouse or conservatory with my apparatus applied, the
letters of reference thereto being the same as are herein-before mentioned. The
greenhouse is fitted with hot-water pipes O, for the purpose of sustaining an elevated
temperature, and with moveable windows P to admit cool air when the temperature
becomes too high. A rod or shaft Q extends the length of the building, having
balance levers c connected to the windows for opening and closing the same, and to
this rod is attached a lever arm d, which through the medium of bell-crank lever
operates the hot-water valve f.
When a change of temperature occurs the first thermometer A actuates the valve
rod G, which admits either hot or cold water to the vessel H. The thermometer
contained therein actuates the pulley L, and also the rod Q, and either opens the
windows and shuts off the hot water, or vice versa, according as the tomperature is
above or below the required degree.
Fig. 12 shews another application of my Invention, where W and X are two
pipes placed one within another, the annular space being filled with the desired
liquid, and communicating with the diaphram by the pipe Y, as in the previous
case.

page_text: Fig. 7 shews the application of my Invention to ordinary domestic purposes or
public buildings, R being a common ventilator, which is worked by cord passing
round a pulley on the axis thereof, and S being a fire-stove with damper h which
may be actuated by cord passing over suitably arranged pullies, and connected to
the lever E.
In Fig. 8 the thermo-regulator is shown immersed in a brewer's or dyer's vat or
bath in such manner that by suitable arrangement of levers hot or cold water may
be admitted to the coil T, according as the temperature varies from the desired
degree.
In Fig. 9 I illustrate the application of my Invention for the purpose of extin-
guishing fires. jis a vessel connected with a boiler or other source, from which
stean is generated. A safety valve k is provided, and is regulated or controlled by
the bell-crank catch lever or catch 1. When, as in the case of fire, the heat effects
and actuates the thermometer, the piston thereof operates the bell-crank lever l, and
releases the safety valve, allowing the steam or water to escape, and put out the
fire by excluding the atmospheric air.
In. Fig. 10 I illustrate the employment of my Invention in combination with
electricity or magnetism as a means of obtaining motive power. U is a flask or
thermometer sealed at the neck, through the stopper of which is passed a tube
which descends nearly to the bottom of the flask. Mercury is poured into the flask
until the bottom of the tubo is immersed (or it may be filled with mercury), and
then the flask is filled with oil or other liquid, after which the tube is filled with
mercury until it reaches the neck of the flask. One of the wires of a galvanic
battery is immersed in the mercury, and the other in the tube so as to be clear of
the mercury at the normal heat or temperature. If however the temperature be
increased the oil and mercury expand, and the mercury rises to a higher level in
the tube, thus completing the circuit between the two wires of the battery, which
brings the magnet V into operation, the magnetic force of which attracts the end
of the lover E, and operates the valve rod G with the results above described.
Fig. 11 shows an arrangement of apparatus by which I am enabled to measure
the expansion of liquids. The piston is provided with teeth, as in Fig. 3, and the
spindle of the pinion N has fingers thereon, indicating on a dial the expansion of the
fluid, or it may be used as a thermometer.
The tubes A of the thermometer may be made of any suitable metal or glass, and
may be plain or corrugated, or of section as shewn at Fig. 5, m being a strap which;
passes around to make it firmn.
Instead of the annular tubes A. the bottom part of the cup 2 with the piston may
be screwed to pipes containing incompressible liquid or fluid, such pipes being placed
in any suitable position for heating and cooling, so as to cause the fluid to expand
and contract, and give motion to the piston, from thence to the pullies, wheels, or
levers for opening and closing taps or ventilators.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my Invention, and shewn
how the same may be used and put into practice, I would have it understood that I
do not limit myself to the application of my Invention to the purposes herein shewii
and described, as it may be applied to other useful purposes, nor do I confine myself
to the details of construction and arrangement herein shewn and described, as the
same may be varied without affecting the principle thereof, but what I claim as my
Invention is,―
Firstly. The construction of apparatus in such inanner that the force or power
resulting from the expansion or contraction of the incompressible liquid or fluid
contained therein during variations or changes of temperature shall automatically
operate a piston rod, flexible or elastic diaphram, or curved tube, as herein shewn and
described, such liquids consisting of mercury, water, oil, alcohol, or other incom-
pressible fluids or liquids, which change their volume according to variations of
temperature, either separately or combined.
Secondly. The application of the force or power exerted by the expansion of such
5

page_text: liquids for automatically opening and closing taps, valves, and ventilators, and other
similar purposes in manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Howard Blamires, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
J. W. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
THOMAS HOWARD BLAMIRES. (L.S.)