NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS POR PROTECTING WATER PIPES FROM INJURY BY FROST
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Theophilus Moore, of Elm Lodge,
Spring Grove, Isleworth, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS POR
PROTECTING WATER PIPES FROM INJURY BY FROST."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Theophilus
Moore at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 24th June 1868.
I, BENJAMIN THEOPHILUS MOORE, of Elm Lodge, Spring Grove,
Isleworth, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
PROTECTING WATER PIPES FROM INJURY BY FROST," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the application to service pipes for supplying
water to houses and other buildings, either by means of cisterns or tanks
or otherwise, of an apparatus consisting mainly of two cocks, taps,
valves, or plugs so arranged that when a frost occurs sufficiently severe

page_text: to endanger the pipes, the one such cock or tap shall automatically open
a communication between the service pipe and an open branch pipe so
as to allow the water contained in the former to escape, while at the
same time the other cock or tap shall close the communication between
the main and the service pipe. For this purpose, in the arrangement
which I prefer to employ, I fix a common tap, or by preference a screw
tap (hereafter called the escape tap), at or near the lowest point of the
service pipe or in an open branch connected thereto, the plug or screw of
which tap is in a horizontal position, or nearly so, and is so arranged
that when turned to a certain extent it effects a communication between
the service pipe and an opening or open branch connected with the tap.
The plug or screw of this tap is ordinarily held in a position so as to
close the escape opening or branch by having attached to it a weighted
arm held in a horizontal position, either directly or indirectly, by a glass
tube or vessel, either opened or closed, and containing water, one end of
which tube is connected either directly or by an intermediate rod, link, or
lever with the end of the weighted arm, while the other is connected
with a fixed point of support. Between the service pipe and the main is
fixed the second tap (hereafter called the supply tap), the plug of which
is also in a horizontal position, or nearly so; and which carries also a
weighted arm. The plug of this tap is ordinarily held in a position so as
to effect a communication between the main and the service pipe by its
weighted arm being either supported in a horizontal position upon the
aim of the escape tap, or suspended in such position from the before-
mentioned glass tube or vessel. On the occurrence of frost the freezing
of the water in such glass tube or vessel causes it to break, and the two
weighted arms thus losing their support consequently fall to a vertical
position, the one being thereby made to turn the barrel of the supply tap
so as to close the communication between the main and the service pipe,
while the other turns the escape tap so as to open the communication
between the service pipe and the escape opening or branch, and thus to
cause the water to be emptied out of the former. By raising the two
arms into their original position, and securing the arm of the escape tap
or both arms with another glass tube or vessel, after the cessation of frost
the communication with the main will be again established. During
the continuance of frost water may be admitted from the main when
required by temporarily securing the arms in the horizontal position, and
then allowing them to fall again and close the communication with the
main and empty the service pipe so soon as the requisite supply has been

page_text: obtained. In summer time the glass tube may be removed if desired and
replaced by a hook or piece of wire.
In order to prevent leakage through the supply tap I construct the
same by preference with a casing or barrel entirely closed at one end
and turned slightly conical inside, into which fits a, conical plug, the
open end of the barrel being closed with a water-tight cover having a
stuffing box, through which the spindle of the plug passes to receive the
weighted arm. The plug is always kept pressed home in its seat in the
barrel by a spiral spring placed between the cover and the plug. In
some cases the separate escape tap may be dispensed with and the escape
opening or branch be formed on the supply tap, the plug of which is
then so constructed that when it is turned by the falling of the weighted
arm so as to close the supply pipe it at the same time establishes a
communication between the service pipe and the escape opening, which
in that case may be closed by a screw cap in summer time to prevent
leakage.
In cases where tanks or cisterns are employed it may be requisite, in
addition to protecting the supply pipe to the tank or cistern by the
application of the before-described apparatus, to protect also the service
pipe conducting from the cistern to the taps in the house or other
building. For this purpose I suspend a heavy conical plug or valve
over the opening which leads into the said service pipe by means of a
glass tube or vessel containing water, and which may be connected either
directly or by the agency of rods, levers, or wires to the said plug or
valve. On the occurrence of frost the glass vessel is broken, as before
described, and the plug or valve falls into and closes the opening of
the service pipe, thus preventing water from passing into the same. I
also prefer to provide at the lowest part of such service pipe an escape
tap or valve with weighted arm similar to that before described, the arm
of which is suspended horizontally either through the agency of a wire
or rod from the same glass vessel that holds the plug or valve in the
cistern, or from a separate similar glass vessel, so that at or about the
same time that the said plug or valve is caused to close the upper end
of the pipe, such tap establishes a communication between the lower end
of the pipe and an escape branch or opening, so as to allow the water
contained in the pipe to flow out. During the continuance of frost,
when it is desired to obtain a supply of water from the cistern, this may
be effected by temporarily raising the plug or valve and closing the

page_text: escape tap, which may be conveniently effected by means of a lever
situated at a convenient place, and connected with the plug and tap by
means of wires or rods and if necessary other levers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin. Theophilus Moore in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd December 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
THEOPHILUS MOORE, of Elm Lodge, Spring Grove, Isleworth, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, Her
special licence that I, the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Benjamin Theophilus Moore, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WATER
PIPES FROM INJURY BY FROST," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument-in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six.
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW, YE, that I, the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, do.
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what, manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-

page_text: anying Sheets of Drawings, and wo
hereon, that is to say:-
MIC
My Invention consists in the application to service pipes for
supplying water to houses and other buildings, either by means of
cisterns or tanks or otherwise, of an apparatus. consisting mainly of
wo cocks, taps, valves, or plugs so arranged that when, a frost occurs
sufficiently severe to endanger the pipes, the one such cock or tap shall
automatically open a communication between the service pipe and an
open branch pipe so as to allow the water contained in the former to
escape, while at the same time the other cock or tap shall close the
communication between the main and the service pipe. For this
purpose in one arrangement I fix a common tap, or by preference a
screw tap (hereafter called the escape tap), at or near the lowest con-
venient point of the service pipe or in an open branch connected
thereto, the plug or screw of which tap. is, in a horizontal position, or
nearly so, and is so arranged that when turned to a certain, extent it
effects a communication between the service pipe and an opening, or
open branch connected with the tap. The plug or screw of this tap is
ordinarily held in a position so as to. close the escape opening or branch
by having attached to it a weighted arm held or supported in the
required position either directly or indirectly by a glass tube or vessel,
either open or closed, and containing water, one end of which tube is
connected either directly or by an intermediate rod, link, or lever with
the end of the weighted arm, while the other end is connected with a
fixed point of support.. Between the service pipe and the main is fixed
the second tap (hereafter called the supply tap), the plug of which is
also in a horizontal position, or nearly so, and which carries also a heavy.
or weighted arm. The plug, of this. tap is. ordinarily held in a position.
so as to effect a communication between the main and the service pipe.
by its heaxy or weighted arm being either supported in the required!
position upon the arm of the escape tap,. or suspended in such position
from the before-mentioned glass. tube or vessel with the arm of the
escape tap resting upon it. On the occurrence of frost the freezing of
the water in sucli glass tube or vessel causes it to break, and the two.
weighted arms thus losing their support consequently fall to a vertical
position, or nearly so, the one being thereby made to turn the barrel, or
screw of the supply tap so as to close the communication between the
main and the service pipe, while the other turns the escape tap so as to

page_text: open the communication between the service pipe and the escap
opening or branch, and thus to cause the water to be emptied out of th
former. By raising the arms of the escape and supply taps into the
original positions, and securing them as before with another glass tube c
vessel, after the cessation of frost the communication with the main wil
be again established. During the continuance of frost water may b
admitted from the main when required by temporarily securing the arm
in their original positions and then allowing them to fall again and
close the communication with the main and empty the service pipe s
soon as the requisite supply has been obtained. In summer time the
glass tube may be removed if desired and replaced by a hook or piece
of wire.
In order to prevent leakage through the supply tap when this is
formed with a plug as ordinary taps I construct the same by preference
with a casing or barrel entirely closed at one end and turned slightly
conical inside, into which fits a conical plug, the open end of the barrel
being afterwards closed with a water-tight cover having a stuffing box,
through which the spindle of the plug passes to receive the heavy or
weighted arm. The plug is always kept pressed home in its seat in the
barrel by a spiral spring placed between the cover and the plug; I prefer
however to employ screw taps for this apparatus. In place of arranging
the two taps or valves in separate casings and actuating them by two
separate weighted arms, as described, they may be contained in one and
the same casing, by preference combined so as to form a double tap or
valve, and be actuated by one and the same spindle and weighted arm,
the one valve being made to open or close the communication between
the supply pipe and the service pipe, while the other valve is caused to
close or open an escape aperture in the casing; or one single conical
plug may be employed inside such casing so constructed that when it is
turned by the falling of the weighted arm so as to close the supply pipe
it at the same time establishes a communication between the service pipe
and the escape opening, which in that case may be closed by a screw cap
in summer time to prevent leakage.
. In cases where tanks or cisterns are employed it may be requisite, in
addition to protecting the supply pipe to the tank or cistern by the a
application of the before-described apparatus, to protect also the service
pipe conducting from the cistern to the taps in the house or other
building. For this purpose I suspend a heavy conical plug or other

page_text: valve over the opening which leads into the said service pipe by means
of a glass tube or vessel containing water, and which may be connected
either directly or by the agency of rods, levers, or wires to the said plug
or valve. On the occurrence of frost the glass vessel is broken, as before
described, and the plug or valve falls and closes the entrance to the
service pipe, thus preventing water from passing into the same. I also
prefer to provide at the lowest part of such service pipe an escape tap
or valve with weighted arm similar to that before described, the arm of
which is suspended horizontally or nearly so either through the agency
of a wire or rod from the same glass vessel that holds the plug or valve
in the cistern, or from a separate similar glass vessel, so that at or about
the same time that the said plug or valve is caused to close the upper
end of the pipe, such tap establishes a communication between the
lower end of the pipe and an escape branch or opening so as to allow
the water contained in the pipe to flow out. During the continuance
of frost, when it is desired to obtain a supply of water from the cistern,
this may be effected by temporarily raising the plug or valve and closing
the escape tap, which may be conveniently effected by means of a lever
situated at a convenient place, and connected with the plug and tap by
means of wires or rods and if necessary other levers.
On the accompanying Drawings are shown some of the various
arrangements by which my before-described Invention may be carried
into effect.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet I. show an arrangement for closing the
communication between the main and service pipe and opening an
escape branch by means of two separate taps, as first described. Figure 1
shows a front elevation of the apparatus, and Figure 2 shows a plan.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in each Figure.
A is the supply tap fixed between the pipe B in connection with
the water main and the service pipe C to the house or other building.
Upon this latter pipe is formed the escape branch or opening D, to
which is fixed the escape tap E having an open branch e; or such
branch may communicate with a tank. The taps A and E are screwed
to the plate F, which is secured to the wall or other convenient object.
5. Both taps are by preference of the construction known as "screw taps."
To the plug or spindle of the tap A is fixed the heavy arm G in such
a manner that when the arm is in the position shown on the Drawing
the tap is open and allows the free communication between the pipes B

page_text: and C, but when the arm falls into the vertical position it closes the tap
and intercepts such communication. The arm G is held in the position
shown by being attached to the lower end of the glass vessel I con-
taining water, and suspended by its upper end from the bracket J fixed
to the plate F. To the plug or spindle of the tap E is fixed a weighted
arm H in such a manner that when the arm is in the position shown the
tap is closed and prevents the communication between the pipe C and
the escape branch e, but when the arm H falls into the vertical position
it opens the tap and establishes such communication. The arm H is
supported in the position shown by resting with a stud h upon the
arm G.
On the occurrence of frost, as before described, the glass
vessel I is broken, and the arms or levers G and H losing their support
fall into the vertical position shown in red lines, and thus simultaneously
close the communication between the pipe C and the water main, and
open the escape branch e so as to allow the water in the pipe C to
flow out.
Figures 3 to 7 on Sheet II. of the Drawing show an arrangement in
which the two valves combined as a double valve are contained within
one and the same casing, and actuated by one and the same weighted
arm as before mentioned. Figure 3 shows a front elevation of the
apparatus; Figure 4 shows a vertical section of the valve and casing;
Figure 5 shows a plan of the same; Figure 6 shows a side view of the
attachment of the glass vessel; and Figure 7 shows a section of the stem
of the double valve. The valve casing A connecting the supply pipe B
with the service pipe C is divided into two compartments by the
partition a, having an aperture a¹ capable of being closed in a water-
tight manner by the face h of the double valve H, the other face h¹ of
which serves to close the opening of an escape branch D screwed into
an opening in the casing A, as shown, so that this double valve in
closing the aperture a¹ intercepts the communication between the supply
pipe B and service pipe C, and at the same time establishes a com-
munication between the service pipe and the escape branch D, so as to
allow the water to flow out of the latter. The stem h of the double
valve passes through the escape branch D, being formed, as shown at
Figure 7, so as to be guided by the latter, and at the same time to allow 3
the water to flow through it. It has a slot in its extremity, into which
fits loosely the end of the weighted arm or lever G turning on the
pin g fixed to the wall plate F to which the tap A is also fixed. The

page_text: other end of the lever G is secured in the position shown to the cnd
of the glass vessel I containing water and suspended from the bracket J
fixed to the plate F. When in this position it will be seen. that the
lever G holds the double valve H so as to close the opening of the
escape branch D, and to establish a communication between the supply
and service pipes, the pressure of the water on the valve H tending/
to close the escape branch the more securely. On the breaking of the
glass vessel I, on the occurrence of frost, the weight G₁ in drawing down.
the lever G causes this to force up the valve H, so as to close the
communication between the supply and service pipes, and to the
open
communication between the latter and the escape branch D, thus.
allowing the water contained in the service pipe to flow out. In order
to facilitate this the upper extremity of the service pipe is provided:
with any suitable arrangement of air valve, such, for instance, as that t
shown at C', in which when the service pipe communicates with the
supply pipe a spherical valve c specifically lighter than water is caused.
by the pressure of the water to close the aperture at c', so as to pre-
vent leakage, but when the pressure is off and the escape branch is open
the valve c is forced down by the pressure of the atmosphere, and air is
admitted into the pipe. I do however not claim this as part of my
present Invention. The arm or lever G has. holes formed at distances
apart, at any of which the weight G may be suspended in order to adjust
the action of the lever as may be required. Instead of arranging the
weighted lever in the position relative to, the tap A and pipes B, C,.as
shown on the Drawing, it may be arranged to project at or about right
angles. to the pipes, and to pass through a hole or into a recess in the
wall, against which the apparatus is fixed, so that while the pipes are
contained within the building in a sheltered position the glass vessel I.
may be exposed as much as possible to the external atmosphere.
Figures 8 to 11 on Sheet III of the Drawings show the arrangement'
of apparatus for stopping the supply of water from a cistern on the
occurrence of frost sufficiently severe to injure the pipe according to
the second part of my Invention. Figure 8 shows an clevation of the
plug or valve apparatus and a section of the cistern in which it is con-
tained; Figure 9 shows a vertical section of the plug or valve and its
seat; Figure 10 shows an elevation of the escape tap at or near the
bottom of the service pipe; and, Figure 11. shows a plan of the same...
K is the service pipe leading from: the cistern L to the various taps in

page_text: the house or other building. At the opening of the pipe in the cistern
is formed a scat 7 for receiving the heavy plug or valve M; this is
provided with a stem m passing through the guide in the pipe. It
is suspended in the position shown by means of the glass vessel I
containing water, to which it is connected by a chain O, the glass
vessel I being in its turn suspended from the bracket J fixed upon
the cistern. On the occurrence of frost sufficiently severe to freeze the
water in the tube I this is broken, and the plug or valve M is caused to
fall upon and close the entrance to the pipe K. A float o is attached
to the chain O in order to facilitate its re-attachment to another glass
vessel when required. The pipe K is provided at or near its lowest
point with a branch k, Figures 10 and 11, which passes through the
wall of the house or other building as indicated, and is provided
outside with a tap E provided with a weighted arm H suspended from a
glass vessel I, and arranged and operating in the same manner as the
tap E in Figures 1 and 2, so that at or about the same time that the
plug or valve M closes the upper end of the pipe K the escape branch /
is opened, and the water contained in the pipe is allowed to flow out.
To facilitate this a small air pipe P is made to communicate with the
pipe K below the valve M, as shown, but which pipe I do not claim as
part of my present Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement of the apparatus
shown on the accompanying Drawings, as these may be variously
modified without departing from the nature of my Invention; but
what I claim is,-
First. The application to water pipes of an apparatus consisting of
one or more taps, cocks, or valves with weighted arms or levers so con-
structed and arranged in connection with a glass vessel containing water a
that on the breaking of such vessel by the freezing of the water therein
the taps, cocks, or valves close the communication between the water
pipe and the main, and open an escape branch or aperture so as to allow
the water to flow out of such pipe, substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before set forth.
Second. The application to cisterns or tanks of a plug or valve sus-
pended in such manner over the opening of the service pipe by means
of a glass tube or vessel containing water, that on the breaking of such

page_text: tube or vessel by the freezing of the water therein the plug or valve falls
into or upon and closes the opening of the service pipe, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Third. Combining with such plug or valve apparatus a tap, cock, or
valve fixed in an escape branch upon the lower part of the service pipe,
and having a weighted arm connected to a glass tube or vessel con-
taining water and arranged in such manner that at or about the same
time that the aforesaid plug closes the upper end of the branch the
escape branch shall be opened and allow the water to flow out of the
pipe, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight