Coin-operated Apparatus for Heating and Supplying Water.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Coin-operated Apparatus for Heating and Supplying Water.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M., and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Instituté
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by La Société des Fontaines distributrices d'eau chaude" of 52, Rue du
Faubourg Poissonnière, Paris, France, represented by Mr. Dusart, President) to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to a system of coin-freed hot-water fountain for the supply
in public places of hot water for foot-warmers in public vehicles and for other
purposes for which hot water may be required. The fountain comprises a coil
placed in communication with the water supply main for heating a given volume of
water by means of gas the water being turned on and also the gas for heating the
same by inserting a coin in a push-piece which returns to position automatically
after a given quantity of hot water has been supplied.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
forming part of this Specification, wherein
Figure 1 represents a view of a kiosk or erection to contain one of these public
hot-water fountains.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the heating apparatus separately.
Figure 3 is an elevation, and Figure 4 a plan, of the automatic mechanism for
controlling the water supply.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the entire apparatus.
Figure 6 shews the coin-receiver and pusher by which the action of the apparatus
is started.
Figure 7 is a section of the combined water and gas cock operated by the water
pressure.
Figure 8 shows the preferred form of heater to be employed and also the
arrangement of hot water cock for filling the same.
As shewn in Figures and 5, the apparatus comprised in this system of hot-
water fountain is intended to be contained in a kiosk of circular or polygonal form
which may bear advertisements or public announcements and erected upon the foot-
way on a cast-iron base so as to enable it to be fixed sufficiently firm to resist the
action of the wind. To permit of combustion taking place in winter without taking
in cold air from the exterior, the interior of the kiosk would be connected with the
nearest sewer by means of a pipe leading into the base and serving also to carry off
the water which has been used to operate the apparatus. The walls of the kiosk
would be double and the intervening space filled with a non-conducting substance,
such as sand, waste cork, wood sawdust, etc., in order to ensure a regular action of
the apparatus during severe frosts. On the outside of the kiosk would be placed
the push-piece by which the apparatus is set in motion and also the hot-water
draw-off cock over which might be exhibited the price of each pailful. In its
interior is contained (1) a water-meter, if the water is not supplied free (2) an
automatic mechanism by means of which water is supplied to the heater at the
desired times, together with the gas for heating it (3) a gas-meter (4) the heating
apparatus.
The automatic water-supplying apparatus consists of a float a contained in a
tank filled by means of a pipe c connected to the service pipe d, as shewn in
Figure 5, with which is combined a syphone having branches ff which syphon is
charged only on being oscillated by the push-rod g in the direction of the arrow in
Figure 3. Thus if the push-knobbe pushed inwards, after having inserted a

page_text: -The
coin therein in the manner hereinafter described, the push rod g will tilt the syphon
on its base and thus charge it by introducing water beneath it and thence into the
pipe on which it is mounted, the water then rising in its two limbs and flowing
downwards through the lower pipe j into the measure & carried on one of the arms
of a counterweighted lever l, the weight of the water in said measure oscillating the
counterweighted lever and opening the supply cock m by means of the connecting
rod n jointed to the plug o of the cock whereby a supply of water from the main is
admitted to the apparatus by the pipe p. The tank is then again filled by means
of pipe c, the float a in filling opening the cock in readiness for filling the tank
on the syphone being put out of action. In this manner the water which has been
supplied to the measure is replaced by a fresh supply. The water thus supplied
to the apparatus first enters the upper one of two series of coils rr placed at the
upper part (see Figures 2 and 5) in which coils it becomes heated by rows of gas-
jets beneath each coil. Previous to this taking place, the water supplied by
pipe p acts on the upper water and gas supply cock in the following manner :-
cock, which is separately represented in Figure 7, is supplied with gas by pipe t
from the meter, which gas is allowed to constantly pass to the pilot burners »
serving to light the rows of gas-jets s beneath the coils, while the passage a to said
jet-pipes s is closed except when the apparatus is to be used when the pressure of
the water is utilized for the purpose of opening the gas supply pipe. To this end
the water admitted to the cock by pipe p acts on a piston y and moves it in the
direction of the arrow, so as to allow the water to pass through the pipe to the
coils, said piston being attached to one end of a screwed stem upon which is
mounted a flexible diaphragm 2 and also carrying a gas-valve 3 at its opposite end
which is raised off its seat by the motion of the piston so as to allow the gas entering
by pipe to pass through the pipes a to the jet-pipes s s where it becomes imme-
diately ignited by the pilot burners c. 4 is a spring for returning the valve 3 and
piston y to the normal position shewn in Figure 7. The water-supply pipe z is
provided with a cock 5 by means of which the rate of flow may be regulated for
the purpose of increasing or reducing the heat of the water in the coils. As before
stated, the supply of water to the coils is produced by the tilting of the measuring
vessel k and in order to return the balance lever to position or, in other words, put
the apparatus out of action immediately a given quantity of water has been
supplied, the measure k is provided with an emptying cock 6 which in conjunction
with cock 5 regulates the supply at each time of serving. The measure kis
returned to its normal position of rest when emptied, by the action of counter-
balance weights 7, the oscillating motion of the balance lever also serving to cut off
the water and gas supply. The hot water is delivered from the heating coils by
pipe 8 to the delivery nozzle 9 placed on the outside of the fountain, as shewn in
Figures 5 and 8.
A special form of heater 10 is intended to be employed in connection with the
fountain, but in order to enable the hot-water to be drawn off into any kind of
vessel the nozzle 9 is fitted to slide telescopically, as shewn in Figure 8, so as to
allow of vessels of different heights being placed beneath it. The foot-warmer or
vehicle-heater 10 is provided with a recessed head 11 forming a sort of funnel-
mouth having a central screwed socket 12 upon which fits the end of the nozzle
pipe, 9. 13 is a stopper for closing the orifice in socket 12 provided with a cross-
handle for carrying it.
The coin-operated pusher before referred to projects on the outside of the
fountain within reach of the hand, as shewn in Figure 5. It comprises a knob or
push-piece from which extends a sheath 14 so arranged that the push-rod g which
acts on the head e of the syphon will be operated only on the insertion of a coin 15
between the abutment 16 and the end of push-rod y. The coin is inserted in a
slit 17 in the upper side of the pusher after which the knob h is pressed so as to
transmit the motion to the syphon through the coin to the rod g, the coin is then
caused to fall through the lower slit 18 by acting on the spring-pressed pusher 19
and drops into a receptacle 22 (Figure 3) beneath secured by a padlock and also

page_text: attached to the fountain by an additional padlock. The push-knob h is returned to
position by a spiral spring 20 contained within a tubular socket 21.
Dated this 30th day of January 1892.
A. MELVILLE CLARK,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Coin-operated Apparatus for Heating and Supplying Water.
"
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by La Société des Fontaines distributrices d'eau chaude of 52, Rue du
Faubourg Poissonnière, Paris, France, represented by Mr. Dusart, President) and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a system of coin-operated hot-water fountain for the
supply in public places, of hot water for foot-warmers in public vehicles and for
other purposes for which hot water may be required. The fountain comprises a
water-heating coil for heating a given volume of water by means of gas, the water
being turned on from the main and also the gas for heating the same by the operation
of a push piece in which a coin has been inserted, the supply of water and gas being
automatically turned off again when a given quantity of hot water has been
supplied.
The invention, will be described with reference to the drawings left with the
Provisional Specification, and also to the accompanying drawings forming part of
this Specification, wherein
Figure 1 represents a view of a kiosk or erection to contain one of these public
hot-water fountains.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the heating apparatus separately.
Figure 3 is an elevation and Figure 4 a plan and Figure 44 an elevation (on a
larger scale) of the mechanisin for automatically controlling the water supply."
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the entire apparatus.
Figures 6 and Figure 64 shew the coin-receiver and pusher by which the apparatus
is set in action in two positions.
Figure 7 is a section of the hydraulically operated gas-valve.
Figure 8 shews the preferred form of foot warmer, and the filling device
therefor.
As shewn in Figures 1 and 5, the apparatus comprised in this system of hot-water
fountain is intended to be contained in a kiosk of circular or polygonal form, which
may bear advertisements or public announcements and be erected upon the foot-
way on a cast-iron base so as to enable it to be fixed sufficiently firm to resist the
action of the wind. To avoid taking in the external cold air, a drain pipe leads
from the base of the kiosk to the sewer and serves both to supply air for combustion
therefrom and also to carry off the water which has been used to operate the
apparatus. The walls of the kiosk would be double and the intervening space filled
with a non-conducting substance, such as sand, waste cork, wood sawdust, etc., in
order to ensure a regular action of the apparatus during severe frosts.
The push piece by which the apparatus is set in operation and the hot-water
draw-off cock alone are placed outside the kiosk, the apparatus contained within it
comprising (1) a water-imeter, if the quartity of water supplied from the main is to
be measured; (2) automatic mechanism whereby water is admitted to the heating
coil and the gas for heating it at same time supplied to the burners; (3) a gas
meter; (4) the heating apparatus,

page_text: The mechanism by which the supply of water and gas during a limited time is
controlled comprises a float a within a tank filled by a pipe c connected to the
service piped from the water main, a syphon e, f,, which syphon is so arranged as
to be primed or charged only on being tilted by the motion of the push-rod in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 3 produced by pressing in the push-knob h after
the insertion of a coin as hereinafter described. By the tilting of the syphon on its
seat i, water is admitted beneath it into the pipe whereby on the syphon returning
to its seat the action of the syphon is started and the water drawn off from the tank
into the vessel k carried by a counterweighted lever . The weight of the water
in said vessel oscillates the counterweighted lever and opens the water supply cock m
by means of the connecting rod n jointed to an arm fixed on the plug o of the cock
whereby the water is admitted to the heating coil by the pipe p. By the emptying
of the tank the syphon is put out of action and the float a falls and opens the
cock 9 for refilling the tank. Meanwhile the water admitted through pipe p, passes
first to the upper and thence to the lower of, two series of coils placed at the
upper part (see Figures 2 and 5) wherein it is heated by rows of gas-jets s beneath
each coil and supplied with gas through a valve which has been opened by the
pressure of the water on its way to the heating coils, in the following manner :-
The gas-valve is separately represented in Figure 7 wherein t is the gas-inlet from
the meter u and a bye-pass allowing gas to constantly pass to the pilot burners v
by which the rows of gas-jets s beneath the heating coils are lighted when the gas
is supplied to them through the gas outlets a leading to the jet-pipes s.
The
passage of the gas thereto is closed by a valve 3 except when water is to be heated,
the opening of the gas-valve being effected by the pressure of the water admitted
by pipe p acting on a piston y and moving it in the direction of the arrow in order
that the water may pass through the pipe z to the coils. Said piston is attached
to the stem 1 of the gas-valve 3 the piston being separated from the gas chamber by
a flexible diaphragm 2 clamped on the valve-spindle., 4 is a spring for returning
the valve 3 and piston y to the normal position shewn in Figure 7. The rate of
How of the water through pipe z may be regulated by a cock 5 for the purpose of
regulating the heating effect of the coils. The supply of water and gas to the coils
and burners continues only so long as the counterbalance lever remains in the
position to which it has been brought by the weight of the water in vessel k. The
return of the lever to its normal position immediately a given quantity of hot water
has been supplied, is provided for by an emptying cock 6 which allows the water to
run off from vessel k at a given rate and so regulates the period of action of, and
the quantity supplied by, the apparatus, the motion of the lever on being returned to its
normal position by the counterbalance weight 7 shutting off the water and gas supply.
The hot water is delivered from the heating coils by pipe 8 to the delivery nozzle 9
placed on the outside of the fountain, as shewn in Figures and 8.
A special form of foot-warmer 10 is intended to be filled from the hot-water
fountain, but in order to enable the hot-water to be drawn off into any kind of
vessel the nozzle 9 is fitted to slide telescopically, as shewn in Figure 8, so as to
allow of vessels of different heights being placed beneath it. The foot-warmer or
vehicle-heater 10 is provided with a recessed head 11 forming a sort of funnel-mouth
having a central screwed socket 12 upon which fits the end of the nozzle pipe 9.
13 is a stopper for closing the orifice in socket 12, provided with a cross-handle for
carrying the heater.
The coin-operated pusher before referred to, projects on the outside of the fountain
within reach of the hand, as shewn in Figure 5. The pusher, which is shewn
separately on a larger scale in Figures 6 and 64, comprises a knob or push piece h
from which extends a tubular and slotted push rod 14 so arranged that the rod g
which acts on the head e of the syphon will be operated only on the insertion of a
coin 15 which enters the tubular push rod 14, as shewn in Figure 6 between the
abutment 16 and the end of rod g. The coin is inserted at the slit 17, after which
the knob his pressed so as to transmit the motion to the syphon through the coin to
the rod g, as shewn in Figure 64, the coin is then caused to fall through the lower

page_text: slit 18 by the spring-pressed displacer 19 and drops into a receptacle 22 (Figure 3)
beneath, secured by a padlock and also attached to the fountain by an additional
padlock.
On the push rod 14 being pressed inwards as described a spiral spring 20 con-
fined between a piston 25 and the end of casing 21 is compressed by which spring
the parts are returned to position when knob is released. The rod slides freely
in the piston to a limited extent dependent on the connection formed by a cross-
pin 24 in the piston playing in a slot 23 in the rod y. This pin and slot con-
nection enables the rod g, immediately the coin is discharged, and even should the
pusher knob not be released, to be returned alone to position by the weight of
the syphon which being only slightly tilted tends to return to its upright position
and thus limits the quantity of water supplied, for were the siphon to be kept
tilted by pressing on the knob h the water would run out beneath the base of the
siphon as long as it is supplied to the tank and the limitation to a measured
quantity obtained by the cessation of the flow through the syphon when the latter
is unsiphoned or ceases to act would not be obtained.
The following relates to modifications in the vessel containing the water by
which the automatic operation of the apparatus is produced and in the coin-
receiving and operating mechanism, and comprises also the application of a check-
valve on the pipe by which the water is supplied to the heating coils and of a
regulator for the gas. These improvements are illustrated in Figures 9 to 13,
Figure 9 being a partial clevation of the modified arrangement of fountain,
Figure 10 an elevation and Figure 11 a section of the coin receiver modified,
whilst Figure 12 shews an elevation and Figure 13 a section of the gas regulator.
It has been before stated that the tank is refilled immediately it becomes
empty, but it is found in practice that the employment of a float and cock as
before described is not absolutely necessary, inasmuch as when the water has run
out of the tank and the measuring vessel din tilting has turned on the supply
cock el, the water will pass to the heating coils and as at this moment, the syphon
is not primed, the tank may be filled by a branch from the rising pipe e' leading
to the heating coil, provided that in addition to a cock to regulate the flow
through the branch pipe b' a check valve gl be provided in the pipe c' above the
branch to prevent the water from running back into the tank b.
In order to prevent the apparatus being obstructed by the surreptitious
introduction into the coin-slit of cardboard discs or other foreign substances, to
which the previous arrangement was liable, a sinuous channel g is provided for
the introduction of the coin, in which said discs are retained and from which they
may be easily extracted through slits formed in said channel. In order to
provide against the difference between the pressure of the gas in the day-time
and at night, a gas regulator is employed, which maintains a constant pressure at
the burners. This regulator is placed on the outlet from the meter, the gas
entering the regulator by the inlet and leaving it by the outlet j. The gas in
its passage through the regulator enters an inverted cup k¹ surmounted by a hollow
truncated conical valve received in a correspondingly-shaped seat m' so that,
should the pressure of gas be too great, say at night-time, the valve in rising will
contract the area of the annular orifice between it and the seat m and so reduce
the quantity of gas passing to the burners. The valve is weighted for admitting a
regulated supply of gas at the mean pressure by means of discs n' placed upon the
upper end of the valve rod o'.
It will be understood that the form dimensions and details of construction of the
apparatus may be varied without departing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
1st. In the herein described apparatus for supplying hot water in public places
without storing it, the combination of the coin-operated mechanism such as herein

page_text: specified, the siphon so fitted within a measuring tank that on the siphon being tilted
by the push-rod the syphon will be set in operation to empty the tank, a hydraulic
balance receiving and operated by the water therefrom, and a cock connected and
operated by the hydraulic balance lever controlling the water supply to the heating
coils and syphon vessel, as specified.
2nd. In the herein described hot-water supply apparatus, the combination, with
the apparatus referred to in Claim 1 and with the main and pilot burners, of the
gas valve affording a bye pass to the pilot burners and operated by the water
pressure for admitting gas to the main burners simultaneously with the admission
of water to the coils, as specified.
3rd. In the herein described hot-water supply apparatus consisting of the water-
heating coils and the main and pilot burners arranged as described and illustrated
in Figures 2 and 5 in combination with mechanism automatically controlling the
supply of water and gas thereto.
4th. The telescopic hot water supply cock 9 for enabling vessels of different
heights to be placed beneath it and the combination therewith of the foot-warmer
or vehicle-heater 10, as specified.
5th. In the herein described hot water supply apparatus the provision on the gas
supply pipe leading to the main burners, of a gas pressure regulator, as described
and illustrated in Figures 12 and 13.
6th. The herein described coin-operated water heating and supplying apparatus,
arranged to operate substantially as specified.
Dated this 28th day of October 1892.
A. MELVILLE CLARK,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.