Improvements in Apparatus for Heating Water..
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ROBERT PENDLETON BARNSTEAD, of Boston, Master
Plumber, RUFUS HENRY SPALDING, of Boston, Merchant, and JOHN CUTTING
BULLARD, of Cambridge, Banker, all in Massachusetts, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Heating Water..
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
This improved apparatus for heating water, in substance, consists of a boiler of
suitable construction, closed on all sides, a pipe suitably connected with a water
supply, under pressure, to enter and deliver water into the boiler at its lower portion,
a pipe which leads from the upper portion of the water of the boiler and makes, when
opened, the hot water discharge, and a pipe in communication with this discharge-pipe
to conduct, when the discharge pipe is closed, the water passing through it, back into
the water of the boiler and the whole so as to produce an automatic circulation of the
water of the boiler through said discharge and return pipes and all as well known, in
combination with a gas-burner or such like, to heat the water of the boiler, under
circulation as stated, and connected to a suitable gas supply, an expanding and
contracting valve, in the form of a column of mercury to which the gas-supply opens,
to be closed on a rise and opened on a fall of the mercurial column caused by the rise
and fall of the temperature of the water of the boiler, (it being located in the water
and preferably its lower portion) and thus on the rise of the mercury to shut off and
on the fall thereof to open the gas communication with the gas-burner and an
independent and always open communication of the gas with the gas-burner.
In addition to the above, under this invention, the mercurial column is provided
with a stationary plunger, capable of adjustment from the outside thereof by which
to regulate the normal height of the mercurial column: and further, the inlet water-
pipe is arranged to discharge directly against the mercurial column surrounded with
a shell open to the water of the boiler to better and more closely confine the water
so delivered at and about the mercurial column.
The said apparatus comprises a boiler composed of a vertical cylindrical shell,
closed on all sides, a cylindrical casing which rests on a suitable support and surrounds
the said boiler which rests on horizontal brackets on the inside of the casing, the
upper end of which is open. A gas-burner, of any suitable construction is provided
having a stop-cock as usual for opening and closing it and also located below the
boiler in the lower portion of the casing, and all otherwise as well known, for its flame
to act against the bottom of the boiler and to heat the water contained in the said
boiler. A supply-pipe is provided for the gas-burner. This pipe passes from the
gas-burner out through an opening at the lower portion of the casing and thence
upward horizontally across and above the top of the boiler and it is connected with
the gas-supply, as hereafter described. The boiler is provided with a vertical pipe
branching from the horizontal portion of the gas-pipe and leading through the top
of and into and nearly to the bottom of the said boiler, where it is closed and forms a
chamber to be charged with mercury at a given level. A vertical pipe is arranged
within the branch-pipe of the gas-pipe terminating at its lower open end just above
the normal level of the mercury in the chamber of the branch-pipe and dividing the
passage of branch pipe into two separated vertical passages at their lower ends both
open to the mercurial chamber and at their upper ends each open to opposite end-
portions of the gas-pipe. The gas from the supply-pipe passes down one of the

page_text: vertical chambers of the branch-pipe and at its lower end enters the mercurial
chamber and thence up the other chamber back to the gas-pipe to be conducted by it
to the gas-burner. A perforation is provided in the wall of the internal pipe, dividing
branch-pipe into two vertical chambers as above stated. This perforation is located
above the mercurial chamber and is for the passage of gas from one side to the other
of the said internal pipe or in other words, between the opposite end-portions of the
gas-pipe open to the vertical passages of branch-pipe when the lower ends of said
passages are closed by the rise of mercury in the mercurial chamber as will hereafter
appear.
A vertical plunger-rod is arranged to enter the column of mercury and passing
upward therefrom through the mercurial chamber and an opening suitably packed of
the gas-pipe and projecting at the outside of said pipe for convenience in adjusting it.
Depressing this plunger raises, and lifting it, lowers the height of the mercurial
column and thus the normal level of the mercury can be adjusted as to the plane of
the lower open end of the gas-pipe within the mercurial chamber.
A vertical pipe passes through the top of the boiler and terminates at its lower end
in close proximity to the walls of the mercury column toward which its open and
discharging end is presented. This pipe is for supplying the boiler with water and it
is to be suitably connected with a water-supply, under. pressure. A vertical shell is
provided which is open at the top and bottom and surrounding the water-pipe at its
discharging end to better and more closely confine the water discharged therefrom, in
contact with the walls of the mercurial chamber.
A pipe opening to and leading upward from the upper portion of the water of the
boiler is provided for discharging hot water from the boiler and its outer end opens
to the water passage of a faucet through which, when opened, to discharge the water,
as may be desired as also to an outer pipe surrounding said pipe and leading downward
and opening to the water of the boiler, at its lower portion.
When the faucet is closed, the water of the boiler circulates through these pipes
passing upward through the inner pipe thence into the outer pipe and down into the
water of the boiler.
When the faucet is opened the water of the boiler is discharged through it it being
delivered thereto from the inner pipe to which in the operation of the apparatus it is
delivered from its upper and hotter portion.
As the mercury column is submerged in the water of the boiler it is effected by
the temperature thereof, rising in height, as it increases and lowering in height as it
decreases and as is plain with a proper adjustment of the height of the mercurial
column through the plunger relative to the open end of the gas-pipe the rise and fail
of the mercury can be made to secure a closing and opening of the said end of the
gas-pipe at any desired temperature of the water in the boiler.
By these means the supply of gas is opened to, or shut off from the gas-burner
thus enabling its flame to be regulated and to be increased and decreased as the
temperature of the water in the boiler rises or falls comparatively considered but with
the gas so shut off, gas is still supplied to the gas-burner by passing to it from the
gas-supply through the orifice of the gas-pipe and which is above and not effected by
the closing of the opening of said pipe on the rise of the mercury column.
In the apparatus described, there is an automatic circulation of the water in the
boiler through the outer and inner pipes and also an automatic regulation of the gas-
flame to prevent a heating of the water to a degree greater than required or desired
while still maintaining the gas-flame and all in a manner enabling the apparatus to be
readily adjusted to the requirements of its use and to be thoroughly automatic in
operation.
Other kinds of burners such as naptha and gasoline, may be substituted for the
gas-burner but a gas-burner is most preferable. Passing the water into the lower
portion of the boiler, and taking the water from the boiler at the upper portion thereof
ensures the delivery of hot water at the faucet when it is opened. Passing the water
in directly about the mercurial chamber and against the mercurial column thereof
secures its direct action at its lowest temperature on the mercury and so the most
(+) >

page_text: quick and effective heating of the whole contents of the boiler to the desired degree
is ensured for the reason that the supply of gas to the burner is maintained practically
to its fullest extent until the water immediately about the mercury column las reached
the temperature desired, this water being the last comparatively considered, to attain
such temperature.
The shell by confining cold water as it is forced in directly about the walls of the
mercurial chamber, ensures the immediate fall of the mercurial column opening the
vertical passages of the branch-pipe of the gas pipe to the passage of gas to
the burner to increase its flame to the end that the water of the boiler cooled by
the entrance of water as stated, shall be the more quickly again brought to the
temperature desired.
Datad this 10th day of February 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Heating Water.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do, hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This improved apparatus for heating water, in substance, consists of a boiler of
suitable construction, closed on all sides, a pipe suitably connected with a water
supply, under pressure, to enter and deliver water into the boiler at its lower portion,
a pipe which leads from the upper portion of the water of the boiler and makes,
when opened, the hot water discharge, and a pipe in communication with this
discharge-pipe to conduct, when the discharge-pipe is closed, the water passing
through it, back into the water of the boiler and the whole so as to produce an
automatic circulation of the water of the boiler through said discharge and return
pipes and all as well known, in combination with a gas-burner, or such like, to heat
the water of the boiler, under circulation as stated, and connected to a suitable gas-
supply, an expanding and contracting valve, in the form of a column of mercury to
which the gas-supply opens, to be closed on a rise and opened on a fall of the
mercurial column, caused by the rise and fall of the temperature of the water
of the boiler, (it being located in the water and preferably its lower portion)-and
thus on the rise of the mercury to shut off and on the fall thereof to open the gas
communication with the gas-burner and an independent and always open communication
of the gas with the gas-burner.
In addition to the above, under this invention, the mercurial column is provided
with a stationary plunger, capable of adjustment from the outside thereof, by which
to regulate the normal height of the mercurial column; and further, the inlet water-
pipe is arranged to discharge directly against the mercurial column surrounded with
a shell open to the water of the boiler to the better and more closely confine the water
so delivered at and about the mercurial column.
In the drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation
of the water heating apparatus. Figure 2 is a central vertical section.
a plan view. Figure 4 is a horizontal section, line 4-4, figure 2.
Figure 3 is
In the drawings, A represents a boiler, a vertical cylindrical shell, closed on all
sides; B is a cylindrical casing which rests on a suitable support and surrounds the
boiler A, resting on horizontal brackets C, C about the inside of the casing B. The
upper end of the casing is open. D is a gas-burner, of any suitable construction
and having a stop-cock (not shown) as usual for opening and closing it and also
located below the boiler in the lower portion of the casing B and all otherwise as
well known for its flame to act against the bottom of the boiler A and to heat the

page_text: :
water entered and contained in the boiler. E is the supply-pipe for the gas-burner D.
This pipe E passes from the gas-burner out through the opening F at the lower
portion of the casing B and thence upward horizontally across and above the top of
the boiler and it is connected with the gas-supply, as hereafter described. H is a
vertical pipe branching from the horizontal portion of the gas-pipe E and leading
through the top K of and into and nearly to the bottom of the boiler A, where it is
closed making a chamber L to be charged with mercury M, at a given level. N is a
vertical pipe within the branch-pipe H of gas-pipe E terminating at its lower open
end O just above the normal level of the mercury in the chamber L of pipe H, and
dividing the passage of branch pipe into two separated vertical passages at their lower
ends both open to the mercurial chamber L and at their upper ends each open, at P,
to opposite end-portions of the gas-pipe E. The gas from the supply-pipe E passes
down one of the vertical chambers of the branch-pipe H and at its lower end enters
the mercurial chamber L and thence up the other chamber back to the gas-pipe E to
be conducted by it to the gas-burner D. a is a perforation in the wall of pipe N
dividing branch-pipe H into two vertical chambers as above stated. This perforation
is located above the mercurial chamber and is for the passage of gas from one side
to the other of pipe N, or in other words, between the opposite end-portions of the
gas-pipe E open to the vertical passages of branch-pipe H, when the lower ends of
said passages are closed by the rise of mercury in the mercurial chamber as will
hereafter appear.
Qis a vertical plunger-rod entered into the column of mercury and passing upward
therefrom through the mercurial chamber and an opening b, suitably packed, of the
gas-pipe E and projected at the outside of said pipe for convenience in adjusting it.
Depressing this plunger Qraises, and lifting it, lowers the height of the mercurial
column and thus the normal level of the mercury can be adjusted as to the plane of
the lower open end of the gas-pipo N within the mercurial chamber L.
R is a vertical pipe entering the boiler A and terminating, at its lower end S, in
close proximity to the walls of the mercury column M toward which its said open and
discharging end S is presented. This pipe R is for supplying the boiler with water
and it is to be suitably connected with a water-supply, under pressure. T is a vertical
shell open at the top and bottom and surrounding the water-pipe R at its discharging
end to the better and more closely confine the water discharged therefrom, in contact
with the walls of the mercurial chamber L.
U is a pipe opening to and leading upward from the upper portion of the water
of the boiler A. This pipe, is the pipe for discharging hot water from the boiler and
its outer end opens to the water passage of a faucet U2, through which, when opened,
to discharge the water, as may be desired, as also to a pipe W surrounding said
pipe U, and leading downward and opening to the water of the boiler, at its lower
portion.
When the faucet is closed, the water of the boiler circulates through the pipes U
and W, passing upward through the pipe U, thence into the pipe W and down into
the water of the boiler.
When the faucet is opened, the water of the boiler is discharged through it, it
being delivered thereto from the pipe U to which in the operation of the apparatus it
is delivered from its upper and hotter portion.
As the mercury column is submerged in the water. of the boiler, it is effected by
the temperature thereof, rising in height, as it increases and lowering in height as it
decreases and as is plain, with a proper adjustment of the height of the mercurial
column through the plunger Qrelative to the open end of the gas-pipe N the rise and
fall of the mercury can be made to secure a closing and opening of the said end of
the gas-pipe N at any desired temperature of the water in the boiler.
By these means the supply of gas is opened to, or shut off from the gas-burner,
thus enabling its flame to be regulated and to be increased and decreased as the
temperature of the water in the boiler rises or falls comparatively considered, but
with the gas so shut off, gas is still supplied to the gas-burner by passing to it from

page_text: the gas-supply through the orifice a of the gas-pipe N and which is above and not
effected by the closing of the opening of said pipe on the rise of the mercury
column.
In the apparatus described, there is an automatic circulation of the water in the
boiler through the pipes U and W and also an automatic regulation of the gas-flame
to prevent a heating of the water to a degree greater than required or desired while
still maintaining the gas-flame, and all in a manner enabling the apparatus to be
readily adjusted to the requirements of its use and to be thoroughly automatic in
operation.
Other kinds of burners such as naptha and gasoline may be substituted for the gas-
burner but a gas-burner is most preferable. Entering the water into the lower
portion of the boiler, and taking the water from the boiler at the upper portion
thereof ensures the delivery of hot water at the faucet when it is opened.
Entering the water directly about the mercurial chamber and against the
mercurial column thereof secures its direct action at its lowest temperature on the
mercury and so the most quick and effective heating of the whole contents of
the boiler to the desired degree is ensured for the reason that the supply of gas to
the burner is maintained practically to its fullest extent until the water immediately
about the mercury column has reached the temperature desired, this water being the
last comparatively considered, to attain such temperature.
The shell T by confining cold water as it is entered directly about the walls of the
mercurial chamber L, ensures the immediate fall of the mercurial column opening
the vertical passages of the branch-pipe H of gas-pipe E to the passage of gas to the
burner to increase its flame to the end that the water of the boiler cooled by the
entrance of water as stated, shall be the more quickly again brought to the temperature
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
First, the combination of boiler A, gas-burner D to heat boiler, pipe E to supply
gas to burner, and pipe H branching from pipe E and leading into water of boiler
and at its lower portion adapted to contain mercury and along its height divided into
two separate gas-passages at their lower ends both open to mercurial chamber L and
at their upper ends open to opposite end-portions of gas-pipe E and between their
ends having a supplemental communicating gas-passage a located above mercurial
chamber, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
Second, the combination of boiler A, gas-burner to heat boiler; pipe E to supply
gas to burner, pipe H branching from pipe E and leading into water of boiler and at
its lower portion adapted to contain mercury and along its height divided into two
separate gas-passages at their lower ends both open to mercurial chamber L and at
their upper ends open to opposite end-portions of gas pipe E and between their ends
having a supplemental communicating gas-passage a located above mercurial chamber
and a plunger stationary in mercurial chamber and extended to outside of chamber
to be raised and lowered from the outside thereof, substantially as described, for the
purpose specified.
Third, the combination of boiler A, gas-burner to beat boiler, pipe E to supply
gas to burner, pipe H branching from pipe E and leading into the water of boiler
and at its lower portion adapted to contain mercury and along its beight divided into
two separate gas-passages, and at their lower ends both open to mercury of pipe H and
at their upper ends open to the opposite end-portions of gas-pipe E and between
their ends having a supplemental communicating gas-passage a located above the
mercurial chamber and a water supply pipe R entering boiler and arranged to
discharge against walls of mercurial chamber of pipe H, substantially as described, for
the purposes specified.
Fourth, the combination of boiler A, gas-burner to heat boiler, pipe E to supply
gas to burner, pipe H branching from pipe E and leading into the water of boiler

page_text: and at its lower portion adapted to contain mercury and along its height divided
into two separate gas-passages at their lower ends both open to mercurial chamber L
and at their upper ends open to opposite end-portions of gas pipe E and between their
ends having a supplemental communicating gas-passage a located above the mercurial
chamber, a water supply pipe R entering boiler and arranged to discharge against
walls of mercurial chamber of pipe H and a shell T surrounding water supply-pipe at
its discharge N, and open to the water of the boiler, substantially as described, for
the purposes specified.
Dated this 20th day of August 1880
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.