Improvements in Automatic Cut-off Mechanism for Water Supply Systems.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1895-Accented, 2nd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Cut-off Mechanism for Water Supply
Systems.
I, WILLIAM MADISON WILLIAMS, of Opelika, in the County of Lee, and
State of Alabama, United States of America, Plumber, 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 :-
My invention relates to a cut-off mechanism for controlling water supply and
distributing systems the object in view being to provide means for automatically
cutting off the supply of water and draining the distributing pipes when the tem-
perature falls to a degree approaching the freezing point, and for automatically
turning on the supply when the temperature rises above the point of danger.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
In the drawings :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cut-off mechanism constructed in accordance
with my invention the parts being shown in the positions which they assume when the
water supply is cut off.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same showing the cylinder and the supply pipe in
section the parts being in the same position as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions which they assume
when the water is turned on.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the guide for the piston-rod.*
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of
the drawing.
1 designates a casing in which the automatic cut-off mechanism embodying my
invention is enclosed, 2 being the section of a supply. pipe which extends through
the casing and is adapted to be arranged in communication with the main water-
supply-pipes of a distributing system.
Arranged in the cylinder 3 is a piston 4 to which is connected a piston-rod 5,
nuts 6 and 7 being threaded upon the piston-rod upon opposite sides of the piston,
and the piston being of some compressible material such as rubber to provide for
expanding the same laterally by the adjustment of the nuts so as to fit snugly in
the cylinder. The cylinder is secured to the wall of the casing by means of
clamps 8 of which the sides 9 are connected by an adjusting-screw 10 to provide
for contraction and expansion to fit the cylinder.
Said sides of the clamps terminate in ears 11 having slots through which bolts
extend for attachment to the casing.
The cylinder communicates near its opposite ends with the supply-pipe by means
of branch pipes 12 and 13. Interposed between the branch pipes and the supply-
pipe are valve casings 14 and 15, the valve casing 14 being provided with upper
and lower valve-seats 16 and 17 adapted to receive the upper and lower valves 18
and 19 connected by a stem 20. The upper end of this stem is provided with a
head or pressure button 21 below which is arranged a return spring 22 which is
adapted to normally hold the stem elevated and the valve-head 19 seated. The
seating of the valve 19 closes communication between the supply-pipe and the end
of the cylinder with which the branch pipe 12 is connected, and at the same

page_text: time, by reason of unseating the valve 18 establishes communication between the
branch pipe 12 and a vent 23 which is formed in the valve casing and is designed
to serve as a drain for the contents of that end of the cylinder to which said
branch pipe is connected. In order to supply air to the interior of the cylinder
during the draining operation I employ an air-inlet tube 24 controlled by an
air-inlet valve 25. When the valve stem is depressed as illustrated in Fig. 2 to
seat the valve 18 and unscat the valve 19, communication is established between
the supply-pipe and the end of the cylinder with which the branch pipe is
connected, thereby forcing the piston in the direction indicated by the arrow in
said Fig. 2. The pressure of the water within the cylinder closes the air-inlet
valve 25.
The casing 15 encloses a valve mechanism similar to that above described,
including upper and lower seats 26 and 27 upper and lower valves 28 and 29
connected by a stem 30 which extends above the upper end of the casing and
is fitted with a head or button 31, and a spring 32 being arranged between said head
or button and the upper end of the casing to elevate the valve stem and seat the
lower valve when released.
A vent 33 communicates with the interior of the casing above the upper valve
to drain the end of the cylinder with which the branch pipe 13 is connected when
the valve stem is elevated and the upper valve unseated, and it is obvious that
when the valve-stem is depressed to unseat the lower valve the water in the
supply pipe will pass through the branch pipe to the cylinder and thereby return
the piston from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3. An air-inlet
tube 34 communicates with the end of the cylinder contiguous to the branch pipe 13
and is fitted with an air-inlet valve 35 which operates similarly to that above
described, which is arranged at the other end of the cylinder.
The supply-pipe cut-off valve 36 which may be of the ordinary or any preferred
construction is provided with an operating arm 37 to which is connected the piston-
rod 5 by means of a link 38, a clamp 39 being employed to form the connection
between the link and the rod. Said clamp, which is shown in detail in Fig. 4 is
provided with parallel ears 40 between which the extremity of the link is pivoted
upon a pin 41 and extending transversely through the clamp is an opening 42 in
which is fitted the piston-rod, a set-screw 43 being arranged in the opening 42 to
impinge against the rod and secure the clamp at the desired point thereof. This
clamp is extended to form a guide 44 having oppositely bent fingers 45 and 46
mounted to slide upon a guide-rod 47 which is arranged in the casing parallel with
the piston-rod.
When the valve mechanism in the casing 15 is arranged in the position shown in
Fig. 2 to open communication between the branch pipe and the vent, the adinission
of water at the opposite end of the cylinder causes the movement of the pistou in
the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 and this movement communicated to
the arm 37 closes the water cut-off 36 and prevents the flow of water through the
supply pipe.
This valve 36 is constructed similar to those in ordinary use with a drain 48 which
is opened to communicate with the portion of the pipe beyond the cut-off valve when
the cut-off valve is closed.
Arranged in the path of the extremity of the piston rod is a hot water drain 49
adapted to communicate with the hot water pipes, boiler etc., said drain having a
casing 50 provided with a valve-seat 51 to receive the valve 52. This valve is
provided with a stem 53 terminating at its outer end in the path of the extremity
of the piston-rod with a head or button 54 and a spring 55 is connected to the
stem 50 to normally hold the valve closed. Hence, when the piston-rod is
extended to close the cut-off valve 36 and thereby open the drain 48 which is in
communication with the cold water distributing pipes of a building, the extremity
of said piston-rod represses the stem 53 and thereby opens communication between
the hot water distributing pipes and the drain 49. Fitted upon the extremity of
the piston-rod 5 is an adjustable tip 56 which, in the construction illustrated, is

page_text: threaded upon the rod to provide for adjustment parallel with the axis of the cylinder
to repress the valve 52 the desired distance.
The means which I employ for operating the valve stems 20 and 30 include
electro-magnets 57 and 58 arranged, respectively, in the circuits 59 and 60, and are
provided with armatures 61 and 62 having arms 63 and 64 to bear, respectively,
upon the heads or buttons 21 and 31. The circuits 59 and 60 may be energized by
a common battery 65 and the circuits are provided with terminals or contact
points 66 and 67. 68 represents a circuit controller which is adapted to complete
the circuit 59 by engagements with the contacts 67 or complete the circuit 60 by
engagement with the contact pins 66.
The circuit controller is connected with a thermometer, thermoscope, or other
heat-indicating device, and it is so arranged with relation thereto that it is moved
into engagement with the contact points 67 when the temperature falls to a degree
near the freezing point. The current energizes the magnet 57 and, therefore causes
the depression of the valve-stem 20 and the opening of communication between the
supply pipe the branch pipe 12 and the contiguous end of the cylinder, hence
closing the cut-off valve 36 and opening the hot water drain 49. When the
temperature rises sufficiently to remove the circuit controller from engagement
with the contact points 67 and thereby break the current through the circuit 59,
the spring 22 elevates the valve stem 20 closes communication between the supply
pipe and the branch pipe 12 and opens communication between the branch pipe
and the vents 23, whereby the water drains from the ends of the cylinder, the
air-inlet valve 25 opening to admit air to the cylinder. When the temperature
rises still further and thus reaches a point of safety the circuit controller engages
the contact points 66, thereby energizing the electro-magnet 58 and causing the
depression of the valve stem 30 and hence the opening of communication between
the supply pipe, the branch pipe 13 and the connected end of the cylinder. This
causes the backward movement of the piston to the position shown in Fig. 2, and
hence the opening of the main cut-off valve 36. When the circuit controller passes
beyond the contact points 66 by a still further increase of temperature the valve
stem 30 is returned to its normal position by means of the return spring thereby
closing communication between the supply pipe and the branch pipe 13 and opening
communication between the contiguous end of the cylinder and the vent for the
valve casing 15. The valve 35 also opens to admit the air to the cylinder necessary
to allow the same to drain.
From the above description, it will be seen that the water supply is cut off when
the temperature falls nearly to the freezing point and is turned on when the tem-
perature rises to a point of safety, and while the system of connections between the
electro-magnets and the battery and including the switch or circuit controlling
mechanism is simple and effective, as above described, it is obvious that in this
as in other parts of the mechanism various changes in the form, proportion, and
the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I.
claim is
1. The combination with a supply pipe, of communicating valve casings having
spaced seats, double valves to fit said seats, a cylinder arranged above the plane of
the valve casings and connected at opposite ends thereto by interposed pipes, said
double valves being adapted to control the passages from the supply pipe to the
cylinder and from the cylinder to vent openings in the valve casings, the said pipes
tapping the casings between the valve seats, a piston operating in the cylinder and
connected to a cut-off valve in the supply pipe, air-inlet valves in the cylinder and
means actuated by thermal-variations for controlling the valves, substantially as
described.
2. The combination of a supply pipe, a cylinder in communication at opposite

page_text: ends with the supply pipe a piston operating in the cylinder, a cut-off valve for the
supply pipe operatively connected with the piston-rod, a drain valve stem arranged
in the path of and adapted to be actuated by the piston-rod, valves for controlling
the admission of fluid into the cylinder upon opposite sides of the plane of the piston-
head, and means controlled by thermal-variations for actuating said controlling
valves, substantially as specified.
3. The combination of a supply pipe, a cylinder in communication at opposite
ends with the supply pipe, a piston operating in the cylinder, a drain valve stem
arranged in the path of the piston-rod, a tip adjustably mounted upon the piston-rod
to engage and operate the drain valve stem, a cut-off valve for the supply pipe
operatively connected with the piston-rod, valves for controlling the admission of
fluid to the cylinder upon opposite sides of the plane of the piston-head, and means
actuated by thermal-variations for operating the controlling valves, substantially as
specified.
4. The combination of a supply pipe. a cylinder connected at its extremities with
the supply pipe, a piston operating in the cylinder, a cut-off valve for the supply
pipe, a guide-rod arranged parallel with the path of the piston-rod, a clamp adjustably
secured to the piston-rod and provided with a guide engaging and adapted to slide
upon the guide-rod, connections between said clamp and the cut-off valve valves
for controlling the admission of fluid to the cylinder upon opposite sides of the
plane of the piston-head, and means controlled by thermal-variations for actuating
the controlling valves, substantially as specified.
5. The combination with a supply pipe, a cut-off valve for the supply pipe, a
cylinder communicating at its extremities with the supply-pipe, and a piston
operating in the cylinder and operatively connected with the cut-off valve, of
valves for controlling the admission of fluid to the cylinder upon opposite sides
of the plane of the piston-head, said valves also controlling vents for draining
the cylinder, return springs for actuating the valves to open the vents, valve-
controlled air inlets for the cylinder, and means controlled by thermal-variations
for actuating the valves to admit fluid to the cylinder, substantially as specified.
6. The combination with a supply pipe, a cut-off valve for the supply pipe, a
-cylinder communicating at its extremities with the supply pipe, and a piston
operating in the cylinder and operatively connected with the cut-off valve, of double
valves adapted to fit opposite valve-seats respectively controlling the admission of
fluid to the cylinder upon opposite sides of the plane of the piston head and vents
for draining the same, springs for normally holding the valves in position to cut
off the admission of fluid to the cylinder and open the draining vents, electro-
magnets arranged in different circuits and having their armatures provided with
arms for engaging the stems of the double valves respectively, and a circuit closer
controlled by thermal-variations for closing either circuit, substantially as specified.
Dated this 29th day of October 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.