IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING, HEATING, AND CIRCULATING WATER FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Jackson, of the City and County of Edinburgh,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING, HEATING, AND CIRCULATING WATER FOR
DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Jackson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1881.
THOMAS JACKSON, of the City and County of Edinburgh, North_Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING, HEATING,
AND CIRCULATING WATER FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention has reference to improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of water heating boilers in connection with cooking ranges or other fire-
places, and with their supply and circulating apparatus, or cisterns and fittings
connected therewith, for the supplying, heating, and circulating of water through
and in houses or other premises for domestic and other purposes, all in a more safe
and efficient manner than heretofore, in various circumstances and conditions of
weather.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist first of special improvements
in connection with the arrangement and fittings of water heating boilers, and their
supplying and circulating cisterns or tanks and other circulating apparatus on the
high pressure principle, which supply and circulating cisterns are generally fitted
up in one of the upper flats of the house or tenement, and consists in connecting
either of the other service supply cisterns in the lower flats, and preferably the
cistern in the kitchen flat, by means of separate branch supply pipes with tap or
valve to intermediate ports of, and at their respective level or levels to, the ordinary
descending service pipe from the upper cistern, all so that by this improvement
the supply of water can be taken from either of the said lower cisterns to the boiler
by opening the tap or valve in either of the new branch supply pipes referred to,
and by shutting off the tap or valve from the upper feed cistern when that is
considered to be advisable.

page_text: The hot water is as usual circulated or forced up a separate pipe for the purpose
from the boiler by the heat and pressure generated therein to the baths, lavatories,
or other apparatus in either of the flats below the level of the supply cistern, and
which apparatus have the usual fittings of taps or valves, and which separate
ascending hot water pipe will either be carried up to a proper height above the
level of the upper cistern so as to act as a safety, steam, or expansion pipe, or be
conducted into a hot water cistern or tank placed in the upper flat on level with
and close to or attached to the upper cold water feed cistern there, and from the said
hot water cistern, tank, or compartment, a return hot water circulating pipe will
be carried down to a lower part of the high pressure boiler, as is usual; or in the
event of an upper hot water cistern not being fitted up in the upper flat referred
to, an intermediate hot water tank, with circulating pipe therefroin to the boiler,
can be fitted up in any intermediate flat between the feed cistern and the
boiler.
Another improvement consists in fitting a float or other equivalent water level
gauge to the said upper supplying or service cisterns of such water heating and
circulating boilers with a cord or wire led over a guide pulley or other equivalent
to a recording index or other "tell-tale" or alarm bell, so as to attract the
attendant's attention when the water level falls too low, and so that the attendant
may by rods or levers attached to the taps or valves on either of the new branch
supply pipes previously referred to, timeously shut off those of the upper and open
that of the lower cistern, from which it is desirable to obtain a supply, and thus
prevent accidents from absence or want of water in the upper cisterns and in the
pressure boiler.
Another improvement consists in fitting a regulating pressure safety valve on
or near the boiler, preferably a lever valve, to prevent explosion from an over-
pressure of steam in it, caused by a sudden stoppage of the circulation of the
water, either by the action of frost or otherwise. And, further, in fitting to each
of the cold water and circulating hot water pipes attached to the boiler, and near
to the same, a proper stop cock to be closed when desired, so that when these are
closed and the safety valve opened the boiler can then be worked on the open or
balance air principle. By having the boiler fitted also with an open supply
circulating or "balance" cistern on the same level as the boiler, fitted with an
ordinary hot water tube somewhat below the water level of the boiler and cistern,
and a return circulating tube joined near the bottom of the boiler and cistern,
both tubes by these improvements being fitted with closing taps or valves, to be
opened or closed by hand, or simultaneously by means of a lever and rods, when
the low pressure arrangement is to be used, and the high pressure supply and
circulating pipes and arrangement shut of, as before stated, all so as to be able
to draw off the hot water from the boiler by the usual draw-off taps at the fire-
place, scullery, or other part where the water is required, in the lower flat, or
apartment at or under the level of the boiler. When the improved high pressure
arrangement is put into action the taps or valves on its circulating tubes are
opened, and those on the open or "balance" boiler and cistern arrangement are
closed. This low level open supply cistern arrangement may by a further
improvement have a division between the circulating part connected by the tubes
and taps with the boiler, and that of the cold water supply part, which would be
fitted with the usual ball float service valve to regulate the same level of the water
in these cisterns and in the boiler, and form an extra storage of water supply.
A further improvement consists in fitting these water heating boilers at their
extreme lowest part with a draining off and cleansing pipe, or tube, fitted with a
tap or valve for conducting such refuse water into any suitable waste water exit,
and which pipe might also be so connected to the cold water service or circulating
cistern of the low pressure level arrangement, when that is used, as to form the
return water current tube therefrom to the boiler.
A further improvement has reference to certain other easy methods of water
supply to boilers fitted up on the high pressure principle, as can be readily made

page_text: use of, temporarily or otherwise, in event of the regular high pressure supply
running short through frost or otherwise, or in event of its being considered
desirable that the high pressure supply principle should be temporarily discontinued
for any other reason, which improvement consists in fitting to the said close high
pressure hot-water circulating and supplying boiler, or its safety valve branch or
chest, an escape steam or hot water pipe with stop-cock or valve on it, and led up
higher than the lower water supply or circulating cistern, to allow of a free escape
from the boiler into the open air, or to drain into the said lower cistern immie-
diately above it, to prevent accidents from over-pressure within the boiler, when
that is supplied from or worked in connection with the lower cistern, the stop-cock
or valve on this escape pipe being then opened by hand, or simultaneously or
automatically with the closing of the taps or valves on the pipes leading to and
from the cisterns above.
A further improvement connected with the high pressure arrangement of boiler
consists in fitting a special filling branch with stop valve or tap to the lower part
of either supply or circulating water tubes below their shutting off taps or valves,
or the draining off or cleaning pipe before mentioned, or by fitting the boiler with
a screw cap or cover, which would be opened for filling by hand, or by a portable
or movable pipe, for the purpose of supplying water to the boiler, as in frosty.
weather, when the water has ceased to reach the boiler by its supplying or circu-
lating tubes, and prevent accidents by filling the boiler and setting the circulation
of the water in proper action again. This water may be supplied temporarily by
hand, or by a cock and tube led from a special service water chest for the purpose,
fitted above the level of the range or circulating boiler. These improvements also
might be applied to the boiler of the low pressure arrangement. Another important
improvement consists in having a complete double arrangement of hot water boiler
and its fire-grate for heating them separately, but preferably so close together that
the same fire could be easily shifted from the one grate and boiler to the other.
"
The one boiler being fitted with or without the improved complete high pressure
arrangement and fittings for supplying and circulating water from and to any flat
in the house or building according to circumstances as before stated. And the
other boiler with the improved arrangement of low pressure or open "balance
boiler, with circulating water chamber and store supplying cistern as might be
desired, all on the same level as the boiler, as herein before described, all so as to be
able to use the one arrangement or the other as required.
A further improvement consists in fitting a close high pressure boiler inside the
open or low pressure boiler, with its separate supply or circulating pipes, cisterns,
and fittings, either of the improved double arrangement described, with service
branches and taps, or of the ordinary single circulating arrangement.
A further improvement consists in fitting within these and such like high
pressure water and steam boilers a collapsible, compressible, or fracturable vessel,
which is made so as to yield or give way before the main shell of the said pressure
boiler would give way or burst, the inner vessel being connected by an exit pipe
or pipes to allow a rapid and sudden escape of the pressure fluid within, and one of
the pipes leading from this inner vessel might be directed, to discharge itself upon
the fire to put it out or decrease its power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
August 1881.
THOMAS JACKSON, of the City and County of Edinburgh, North_Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING, HEATING,
AND CIRCULATING WATER FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My said Invention bas reference to improvements in the construction and
arrangement of water heating boilers in connection with cooking ranges or other
fire-places, and their supply and circulating apparatus, or cisterns, and fittings
connected therewith, for the supplying, heating, and circulating of water through
and in houses or other premises, for domestic and other purposes, all in a more safe
and effecient manner than heretofore, in various circumstances and conditions of
weather.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, or put into effect or practice, may be properly understood, I have
hereunto 'appended for that purpose a Sheet of explanatory Drawings, representing
modifications of my improved arrangements of water supply and circulating
apparatus, which I shall now describe. In these Drawings the same reference
letters are used to mark the same or like parts where repeated.
Figure 1 of these Drawings is a vertical section of a house of several flats,
showing one complete general arrangement or combination of my improved water
-supplying, heating, and circulating apparatus and fittings. A break is made in
one of the flats to indicate that there may be more than are shown. The fire range
with the water pressure boiler B and accessories are fitted in the kitchen or ground
flat A, from which the hot water ascension pipe b, return pipe 6', and cold supply
pipe are led to the circulating and supply cisterns C, C¹, in the attic or top
Hat A. In the dinning-room flat A¹ there is a hot intermediate tank 6" and cold
supply cistern C, and in the drawing room flat A² a branch pipe 61 from the
ascension pipe b is shown supplying a bath D, and a similar branch 611 may be
fitted for the bed-room flat or other intermediate flats when there are such.
Referring to Figure 1, the Invention comprises special improvements in
connection with the arrangement and fittings of water heating boilers B and their
supplying and circulating cisterns or tanks C, C¹, and other circulating apparatus
on the high pressure principle, which supply and circulating cisterns C, C', are
generally fitted upon one of the upper flats of the house or tenement. This part
of the Invention consists in connecting either of the other service supply
cisterns C1, C2, in the lower flats A, A, and preferably the cistern C in the
kitchen flat A, by means of separate branch supply pipes c1, c2, with taps c, c¹, or
it might be valve arrangements c¹¹, c³, to intermediate parts of, and at their
respective level or levels to, the ordinary descending service pipe be from the upper
supply cistern C₁, all so that by this improvement the supply of water can be
taken from either of the said lower cisterns C1, C2, to the boiler B by opening
the tap cor c, or the valve clor c³, connected with either of the new branch
supply pipes c or c² referred to, and by shutting off the supply tap or valve c
from the upper feed cistern, preferably actuated by a siphon air tube c¹, which
would admit air when the valve c is closed, to empty the supply pipe 6 The
hot water is as usual circulated or forced up the pipe b from the boiler B by the
heat and pressure generated therein to the baths D, lavatories D¹, or other
apparatus by the branch pipes 6111, in either of the flats below the level of the
supply cisterns C¹, C, or C², according to the level and the supply cistern which
may be in use for the time being. This apparatus has the usual fittings or

page_text: supplying taps or valves F and overflow pipes F¹, and the ascending hot water
pipe b will either be carried up to a proper height above the level of the upper
service or circulating cistern C, so as to act as a safety, steam, or expansion pipe, as
dotted in at b*, or be conducted into the hot water cistern or tank C placed in the
upper flat A³ on a level with, and preferably attached to, the upper cold water feed
cistern C¹ there, so as to partially heat the water in it and prevent the supply
water from freezing in cold weather. From the said hot water cistern, tank, or
compartment C, a return hot water circulating pipe b' is carried down to the lower
part of the high pressure boiler B as is usual. And in combination with or in the
event of an upper hot water cistern not being fitted up in the upper flat referred
to, an intermediate hot water tank b", with circulating pipes b, 6', therefrom to
the boiler can be fitted up in any intermediate flat A¹ between the feed cistern and
the boiler, or both may be used, as shown in the Drawings.
Another improvement consists in fitting a float E or other equivalent water
level gauge to the said upper supplying or service cistern C³ of such water heating
and circulating boilers, with a cord or wire e led over guide pulleys e¹ or other
equivalent to a recording index E¹ or other "tell-tale," and also an alarm bell E²
to attract the attendant's attention when the water level in the cistern C₁ falls too.
low, and so that the attendant may by a cord or wire f passing over guide
pulleys and attached to the valve c, c, shut off the supply from the cistern C¹,
or by means of wires e, e³, attached to the rods or levers cli, c³, of the valves on
either of the new branch supply pipes c¹¹, c², timeously shut off that of the upper C"
and open that of either of the lower cisterns C¹¹, C², from which it is desirable
to obtain a supply, and thus prevent accidents from absence or want of water in
the upper cisterns and in the pressure boiler.
Another improvement consists in fitting a regulating pressure safety valve J
(Figures 1 & 3) on or near the boiler, preferably a spring valve, to prevent
explosion from an over pressure of steam in it, caused by a sudden stoppage of the
circulation of the water, either by the action of frost or otherwise. This safety
valve may be fitted on a branch pipe b* discharging into a cistern C³ on the level of
the boiler, or on a branch b³ discharging into the cistern C³, or into the cistern bu in
the dining-room flat A¹.
"
The open supply circulating or balance" cistern C³ on the same level as the
boiler B is connected to the boiler B with an ordinary hot water tube c somewhat
below the water level of the boiler and cistern, and a return circulating tube co
joined near the bottom of the boiler B and cistern C³, both tubes by these improve-
ments being fitted with closing taps or valves c', to be opened or closed by hand or
simultaneously by means of a lever and rods. When this low pressure arrange-
ment is to be used, and the high pressure supply and circulating pipes b, b¹, b³, and
arrangement is shut-off as before stated to enable hot water to be drawn from the
boiler by the usual draw-off taps t at the fire-place, scullery, or other part where the
water is required in the lower flats or apartments at or under the level of the
boiler, when either of the improved high-pressure arrangements described are put
into action the taps or valves c³, or cl, or c, on their supplying tubes are opened and
those c' in the open or balance boiler and cistern arrangement are closed. This low
level open supply cistern C³ arrangement may by a further improvement, indicated
in the vertical section, Figure 2, have a division Cx between the circulating part C³
connected by the tubes cb, c, and taps c7 with the boiler B, and that of the cold
water supply part C, which would be fitted with the usual ball float service valve F,
and having an opening o at the bottom of the division Cx to regulate the same level
of the water in these cisterns C, C+, and in the boiler B, and thus form an extra
storage of hot water supply. The cistern C³ or C is supplied by preference from
the cistern C² or other cistern at a higher level by a pipe c with a branch and ball-
cock F in the cistern, and the supply pipe c is also used to supply a water-closet G
and shower arrangement G' in connection with a bath D on or below the kitchen
flat A. The boiler B is fitted with a pipe 6º for circulating hot water through the
kitchen flat A, and is fitted with taps t for drawing off the water at a jaw-box G²

page_text: and wash tubs G³, the pipe 6º returning at bs or b7 a lower level than the boiler B
to supply the bath D, so that water may be drawn by either of these pipes when
the boiler B is worked in connection with the cistern C³ on the low pressure or
balance principle, and the pipe 68 may also act as the emptying pipe from the
boiler. As an alternate arrangement a branch bº, shown dotted, is fitted to the
branch b, so that the hot water nay circulate through the pipes 66, 67, or through
the cleansing pipe 6s by these branches 6º, 6º.
A further improvement consists in fitting the water heating boiler B at the
extreme lowest part with a drawing-off and cleansing pipe or tube bs, which is fitted
with a tap or valve 6 for conducting such refuse water into any suitable waste
water exit, as indicated in Figures 1 & 3, and which pipe might also be so con-
nected to the cold water service or circulating cistern C³ of the low pressure level
arrangement, when that is used, as to form the return or feed-water current tube
therefrom to the boiler, as shown in Figure 3.
A further improvement has reference to certain other easy methods of water
⚫ supply to boilers fitted upon the high pressure principle, such as can be readily
made use of, temporily or otherwise, in event of the regular high-pressure supply
running short through frost or from any other cause, or in event of its being con-
sidered desirable that the high pressure supply principle should be temporily
discontinued for any other reason. This improvement under one modification
consists in fitting a special filler and branch with stop valve or tap h¹, or it might
be a screw plug, to the lower part of either of the circulating or supply water
tubes b, b', or b³, below their shutting-off and emptying tap or valve clo, as shown in
Figure 3, or to the draining off or cleaning pipe 68 by means of a small cistern H
and branch supplied by a pipe with or without ball tap or other supply cock,
or by fitting the boiler B with a screw cap or cover I at one side, which would be
opened for filling by hand, or by a portable or movable filler pipe ³ inserted therein,
for the purpose of supplying water to the boiler in frosty weather, or when from
any cause the water has ceased to reach the boiler B by its supplying or circulating
tubes b, 61, 62, and thereby prevent accidents by filling the boiler and setting the
circulation of the water in proper action again in the kitchen flat.
Or when the boiler B is fitted with a safety valve J it may be temporily filled
by a pipe with stop-cock entering the tube below the valve seat and led from a
small box or cistern H, which may be supplied by a pipe h³ from any convenient
service cistern.
This water may by any of these modes be supplied temporily by hand or by
cocks and tubes, led from a special service water chest for the purpose fitted above
the level of the range or circulating boiler. These improvements also might be
applied to the boiler of the low-pressure arrangement, and when the boiler B is
worked on the balance principle it may be temporily supplied during frost by
means of the pipe with stop-cock, the upper end of this pipe being lower
than the top of the boiler, so that it may flow over and indicate when the boiler is
full.
Another important improvement consists in having a complete double arrange-
ment of hot water boiler and fire-grate for heating each boiler separately, but
preferably so close together that the same fire could be easily shifted from the one
side of the grate K and and from the one boiler to the other.
This arrangement is shown particularly in the vertical section of an open fire-
range, Figure 4, in which the fire-place K is fitted with a sliding or movable
plate K capable of being traversed from one side of the fire next the pressure
boiler B towards the centre of the fire-place, as shown, to withdraw the fire from
the pressure boiler B, and shift it towards an open boiler B' fitted in combination
with the pressure boiler B, but not connected to it.
The pressure boiler B is also protected from the action of the fire by a slab of
fire-brick K2, or other refactory material at the side over the fire-place, the fire
gases passing by flues L or L, according as the one boiler or the other is to be
heated. The object of this arrangement is to avoid risk of explosion in the event

page_text: of the circulation of water in the pressure boiler B being stopped from any cause,
and at the same time to enable a supply of hot water to be obtained from the open
boiler B at the fire-place, or at a lower level. The one boiler may be fitted with
or without the improved complete high pressure arrangement, and fittings for
supplying and circulating water from and to any flat in the house or building,
according to circumstances.
The open boiler B¹ may be fitted with the improved arrangement of low pressure
or open "balance" boiler cistern and fittings, with circulating water chamber C
and store supplying cistern C, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, on the same level as
the boiler, all so as to be able to use the high pressure arrangement, or the open
boiler arrangement, as required.
In the arrangement of the boilers B, B', shown in Figure 5, the low pressure
boiler B¹ is fitted partly at the back of the fire, and the object of transferring the
heat from one boiler B to the other B' is effected by fitting dampers or swivelling
valves, , to direct the fire gases through the flues L or L' to heat the one boiler B
or the other B¹, as required.
,
Figure 6 is a vertical section of a combined open and close fire-grate fitted with
pressure boiler B and open balance boiler B¹, with supply and storage cisterns C³, C*
A sliding damper 2 is fitted in the chimney flue L2, which may be closed to direct
the hot fire gases through the flues L and L³, heating the ovens M and the boilers
B, B', and the small swivel valves or dampers 1, 1, in the flue passages surrounding
the ovens may also be opened or closed to regulate the passage of the fire gases to
heat either of the boilers. Additional dampers or valves are provided at the end
of the oven M, removed from the fire, which may be closed to prevent access of the
fire gases through the pressure boiler flue L, when from any cause the boiler B is
rendered inoperative. In such case the hot gases may pass by an additional flue L³
leading through behind the oven M towards the chimney. flue L2, or the hot gases
may be directed entirely through the flue L' to heat the open boiler B'.
A further improvement consists in fitting a close high-pressure boiler B, as shown
in tlie vertical section, Figure 7, inside an open or low pressure boiler B', with its
separate supply or circulating pipes b², b, b¹, and cisterns and fittings, either of the
improved double arrangement described, with service branches and taps, or of the
ordinary single circulating arrangement. Instead of this boiler B³ a simple spiral
tube might be fitted within the boiler B¹, the ends of which tube would be carried
out to form circulating and heating pipes, as b, b¹, such heating pipes b, b', being
used for heating green-houses and other such buildings. The boiler B being fitted
within an open boiler B', the water within it will not reach a higher temperature
than that of boiling water at the ordinary atmospheric pressure, and there will
consequently be no risk of explosion.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction or combination of the parts of kitchen ranges
with a high pressure boiler B, and its water supplying and circulating fittings, with
branch feed pipes c¹, c², and cocks or valves c¹, c, for supplying water from the
cisterns in any flat above it, and circulating it through the boiler from said cisterns,
all substantially as shown in and for the purposes described in reference to Figure 1.
of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The use of a float E, recording index E¹, and alarm E, for indicating the
level of the water in, and proper working of, the upper supply cistern C₁ of high
pressure boilers for kitchen ranges, all substantially as shown and described in
reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The combination of a hot circulating cistern C, with the cold water supply
cistern C, for preventing freezing of the water therein, fitted in connection with
the bigh pressure boilers B of kitchen ranges, and with or without an expansion

page_text: circulating pipe 6*, all substantially as shown and described in reference to Figure 1
of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The combination of an open or balance circulating hot supply cistern C³,
and fittings in connection with the high pressure boiler B of kitchen ranges, so as
to work the boiler either on the high pressure or on the low or balance principle,
and either with or without a cold water supply or storage cistern C* directly
attached or adjacent to the circulating cisterns C³, all substantially as shown and
described in reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The combination and use of the lower drawing-off or cleansing pipe 68, 69,
from the pressure boiler B, or hot water circulating cistern or tank of kitchen
ranges, with branch fittings and taps t for causing a return current to such boilers,
or the filling of baths or other vessels with hot water from the pipes and cisterns
on the same level, or in the flat below the boiler, all substantially as shown and
described in reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The simple modes and means of temporily filling the pressure boilers B
of kitchen ranges by cisterns or fixed or movable fillers, and their tubes and taps,
to work either on the high pressure or open principle, all substantially as shown
and described in reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The combination in kitchen ranges of a high-pressure boiler B and an
open or "balance boiler B, so arranged that the fire or heat from the fire can
be made to act only on the one boiler or the other, or both, as required, all substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein described in reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6
of the accompanying Drawings.
Eigth. The arrangement of a close or pressure water boiler B³, or spiral
tube fitted within an open hot water boiler B₁, and having circulating and heating
pipes in connection with it, for heating green-houses or other such buildings,
substantially as shown and described in reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Jackson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
THOMAS JACKSON. (L.S.)