An Apparatus to Prevent the Bursting of Water Pipes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus to Prevent the Bursting of Water Pipes.
I, CHARLES HATCH COE of 138 Crystal Palace Road East Dulwich S.E.
Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
An apparatus consisting of a tube closed at one end, open at the other; into the
open end of this tube is inserted a short piston or thick metal disc packed, so as to
make a tight fit, with india rubber or any other suitable material and which being
pressed into the tube presses against one or more india rubber discs which again
press upon, by means of a disc, a strong metal spring. These india rubber discs
may have a hole in the centre for a rod, attached to the outer disc, to pass through.
I may dispense if I think proper with the metal spring and substitute for it, discs
of india rubber, between each of which is a metal disc.
To apply this apparatus to the water pipe, I enlarge the pipe and insert the
apparatus within the enlargement or it can be inserted in one of the three openings
of a tee piece; this tee piece would be as well to construct so that the cross opening
is much larger than the other two openings. The two openings which are in the
same direction are attached to the water pipe when the pipe is cut through and a
portion removed to allow the insertion of the tee piece so that the two openings of
the tee are joined on to the water pipe.
The closed end of the tube may have a small hole in the centre to allow the rod,
passing through the centre of the india rubber discs, to pass through.
Dated this 19th day of January 1891.
CHARLES HATCH COE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus to Prevent the Bursting of Water Pipes.
I, CHARLES HATCH COE of 138 Crystal Palace Road East Dulwich S.E.
Commercial Traveller 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 has for its object, to provide a vent for the water contained within
a water pipe, when the said water is expanding by the action of frost.
The apparatus consists of a tube, closed at one end, open at the other; into the
open end of this tube is inserted a short piston or thick metal disc, packed, so as to
make a tight fit, with india rubber or any other suitable material and which being
pushed into the tube, presses against one or more india rubber discs, which again
press upon, by means of a disc, a strong metal spring; these india rubber discs may
have a hole in the centre for a rod to pass through as a guide, this rod being attached
to the outer disc. I may dispense, if I think proper, with the metal spring and
substitute for it discs of india rubber between each of which is a metal disc.
To apply this to the water pipe I enlarge the pipe and insert the apparatus
within the enlargement or it can be inserted in one of the three openings of a tee
piece; this tee piece would be as well to construct so that the cross opening is
much larger than the other two openings, which would allow greater space for
expansion to take place. The two openings of the tee piece, which are in the
same direction, are attached to the water pipe when the pipe is cut through and a
portion taken away to allow the insertion of the tee piece, so that the two openings
of the tee are joined on to the water pipe.

page_text: The closed end of the tube may have a hole in the centre to allow the rod, passing
through the centre of the india rubber discs, to pass through.
I will now proceed to more particularly describe my invention by aid of the
accompanying drawings, reference being had to the letters appended.
In Fig. 1 A A A A is a section of the cylindrical case of the apparatus of brass
or any other suitable metal, and which is closed at one end; in this case is a thick
metal disc or piston E, which is packed so as to be watertight: this piston E on
being forced into the case A A A A presses against the india rubber disc C and
the thin metal disc D, which in turn press against the metal spring B B and the
air contained within the case A A A A, so that the piston rising in the cylinder
admits of the water within the pipe, which is increased in volume by the action
of frost, occupying a greater space. The disc of india rubber C should be of
sufficient diameter to fit closely in the case and which being compressed would
press tightly against the inner sides of said case.
The metal spring B B may be made flat at the bottom and top, in order that
equal pressure may be given to the piston E. Springs of various strengths may be
used according to the pressure of water in the pipe.
The metal flange F F which holds the piston in the case is screwed on after the
discs, spring and piston are inserted.
The apparatus is fixed within the cylindrical chamber G G G G, which is of
brass or any other suitable metal, by means of two flat metal rings, with openings
in them to allow the water to pass through at I III and two projecting pieces
at J J, or the case A A A A might be fitted with projecting pieces which just
fitting the chamber G G G G, would keep the apparatus in position; one end of
the chamber G G G G unscrews to admit of the insertion of the apparatus. The
chamber with apparatus is joined on to the water pipe at H H.
Fig. 2 shews the apparatus for fixing outside the water pipe, the disc or piston E
in the open end of cylinder A A A A being in contact with the water in the pipe.
When the metal spring and discs are removed as in Fig. 3 the apparatus is
reduced to a piston E, packed so as to be water tight, moving within the
cylinder A A A A and pressing against the air contained in R.
Fig. 4 is a section of the tec piece with the enlarged cross opening L L and to
which the apparatus is connected as shewn in Fig. 2 the tee piece being joined on
to the water pipe at K K.
When the apparatus is applied outside the pipe I might use one as shewn in
Fig. 5 in which M M is a rod attached to the piston E, which rod passing through
discs C and D (which are perforated for the purpose) moves freely through a
hole N in the closed end of cylinder A A A A. T is a nut which is screwed on
to rod M. In this form of the apparatus the piston E would have only the
resistance of the spring B B and the disc C, as the air would escape through the
hole N.
Fig. 6 is a section of the apparatus with another form of piston, a short metal
tube being attached to disc E, said tube being surrounded by a packing of cork
or any other suitable non-conducting material O O, which is secured by metal
collar or ring S S.
Fig. 7 is another modification of the apparatus, in which U U is a metal rod
securely fixed to the centre of the closed end of cylinder A A A A and also to the
centre of a disc V V which has openings in it to admit the water; on the rod UU,
the piston E E works, said piston being packed water tight.
Fig. 8 shews the disc V V which is screwed on at A' A¹.
It might be desirable in order to secure greater protection from frost when the
apparatus is fixed outside the water pipe, to cover said apparatus with felt or any
other suitable non-conducting material or said apparatus could be made with a
double case, the space between the inner and outer case being packed with cork or
any other suitable non-conducting material.
I do not profess for this apparatus that one only will prevent any length of water
pipe bursting through frost, although it would diminish the possibility of its so

page_text: doing, as under certain conditions of the pipe, the water expanding will occupy
more space when the piston moves further in the cylinder. A similar effect is
produced on the piston by the pressure of ice, already formed, on the water not
frozen.
The apparatus may be applied to the water pipe at distances of about 12 feet
from one another or at such distances as circumstances may require.
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: An apparatus consisting of a cylinder of brass or any other suitable metal,
closed at one end, and in which moves a piston acting on a metal spring, which
said apparatus when connected with a water pipe, the piston, receiving any
increase of pressure from the water in the pipe, will move in the case and compress
the spring.
2: The apparatus as described in Fig. 5 when the closed end of the cylinder is
perforated in the centre which admits of a metal rod moving freely through it, and
which metal rod is fixed to the centre of the piston.
3: The tee piece as described in Fig. 4 as a means of connecting such apparatus
as claimed with a water pipe.
Dated this 10th day of October 1891.
CHARLES HATCH COE.