IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING WATER BY MEANS OF GAS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS FLETCHER of Thynne Street Warrington in the County of Lancaster
Manufacturer of Gas Apparatus do hereby declare the nature of my invention.
for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING WATER BY MEANS OF GAS " to bo
as follows:-
These Improvements relate to apparatus for heating water by means of gas and
have for their objects to secure a reserve supply of warm water, to prevent loss of
heat by radiation and to provide for an automatic control of the gas supply.
In carrying out my Invention I use a closed cylindrical or other conveniently
shaped metallic vessel to contain the water. This vessel is jacketted by another
similarly shaped vessel of larger dimensions in such a manner that the water vessel
is surrounded by a closed air space except at that portion to which the heat is
applied. Water is supplied to the water vessel by means of a pipe entering the
vessel near the bottom the supply being governed or controlled by a valve or tap
operated by hand. The hot or warm water issues from the vessel through a pipe
passing through the side of the water vessel inside which it is curved and
carried upwards to the top of the vessel where it is again curved downwards for a
short length syphon wise. A small air pipe is carried from the upper part of the
cylinder the other end being carried outside the cylinder to any convenient place to
prevent the air contained interfering with the action of the syphon.
Water being admitted to the vessel rises within it (the air meantime oscaping by
the outlet pipe) until the water reaches the highest part of the syphon when so
much of the water as is between that level and the level of opening to the outlet is
discharged. The space thus left allows room for expansion of the water when
heated and also for steam which when generated can escape by the small air pipe
herein before described. When it is desired to withdraw water from the apparatus
the supply tap is turned on when the entering cold water displaces the warm water
which then flows from the outlet pipe.
The supply of gas to the burner heating the apparatus may be governed by any
known or suitable contrivance for the purpose such for example as those used in

page_text: some kinds of inculators or I may use a special description of regulator one form
of which may be constructed in the following manner. A vertical pipe closed at
its lower end is suspended in the water vessel through the top of which it passes.
Within this pipe is another of smaller diameter having a valve seating formed at
its lower open end. The outer tube carries a valve capable of closing or partly
closing the opening of the smaller pipe according to its distance from the valve
seating this distance being governed by the expansion or contraction of the outer
pipe in contact with the water. The two pipes are connected to the gas supply
pipe and the pipe to the burner so that the gas on its passage to the burner
must pass through the regulating valve.

page_text: I, THOMAS FLETCHER of Thynne Street Warrington in the County of Lancaster
Manufacturer of Gas Apparatus, do heroby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING WATER BY MEANS OF GAS and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
These Improvements relate to Apparatus for heating water by means of gas and
have for their objects to secure a reserve supply of warm water and to prevent loss
of heat by radiation.
And in order that this Invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto appended a sheet of Drawings the similar
parts shown in the two Figures being indicated by similar letters, reference being
hereinafter had thereto.
Fig 1 shows the apparatus in vertical section and Fig 2 represents it in horizontal
section.
The water to be heated or which has already been heated is contained in a closed
cylindrical or other conveniently shaped vessel A. This vessel may be jacketed or
surrounded by another similarly shaped vessel B of larger dimensions in such a
manner that the water vessel A is surrounded by a closed air space except at that
portion to which heat is applied by means of a gas burner. Water is supplied to
the inner vessel A by means of a pipe D entering it near the bottom, the supply
being governed by an ordinary cock or valve conveniently placed and capable of
being operated by hand as required. The hot or warm water issues from the
vessel A through the pipe F which passes through the side of the apparatus within
which it is curved upwards to near the top of the vessel where it is bent or capped
in such a manner to form a syphon. The end of the pipe F or the shorter leg of
the syphon opens at the water level G. From any point within the apparatus
above the highest part of the pipe F an opening is made to the outer air for the
escape or passage of steam or air but I prefer that this opening should be made
through a tube or pipe H passing downwards from near the top of the apparatus
and outwards through the side near the bottom. The water inlet may if desired
be protected by a filter or strainer E.
Water being admitted to the apparatus rises therein (the air meanwhile escaping
by the pipe H) until the water reaches the upper bend of the pipe F when so much
of the water as is included between that level and the level G of the opening into
the syphon F is discharged if the admission of water is stopped by the cock or valve
on the water supply pipe. If the admission of water is not stopped water will
continue to flow but without exerting pressure within the apparatus. The space
thus provided in the apparatus leaves room for the expansion of the water when
heated and prevents accidental overflow from disturbance of the water or expansion.
When it is desired to withdraw warm water from the apparatus, the gas burner I. K
having been lighted for a sufficient time the cock controlling the supply pipe D is
turned on when the entering cold water displaces the warm water which then flows
out of the apparatus through the pipe F.
The supply of gas to the heating burner I may be governed by any known and
suitable contrivance or apparatus such for example as thoso used in some kinds of
incubators.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) The use of the syphon discharge or outlet pipe F substantially as and for the
purposes herein before set forth and described.
(2) The use of the air and steam outlet or tube H substantially as hereinbefore
set forth and described.
(3) The combination of the syphoned discharge tube F the air and steam outlet
tube the containing vessel A and the water supply tube D governed by a cock or
valve substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth and described and
as illustrated on the accompanying sheet of Drawings.
Dated this third day of January 1885