Improved Apparatus for Automatically Distributing Water in Regulated Quantity, and Without Pressure, in Stables and other places.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Automatically Distributing Water in
Regulated Quantity, and Without Pressure, in Stables and
other places.
We,
PIERRE VIAL, and ERNEST GRUAU, of Versailles, in the Republic of
France, Builders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention has for its object improved apparatus by which water can be
distributed, in equal quantities, in stables, cattle-sheds, lavatories, factories, and
other places. Not only is economy in labour and in time effected, but in cases
where a number of horses or other animals have to be supplied with water, it is
rendered certain that the proper quantity is supplied to each. The improved
apparatus consists :-
1st Of a reservoir provided with a float and a valve by which the determined
quantity of water is automatically admitted from a supply pipe.
2nd Of a series of pipes supplied from the reservoir through a cock, and
consisting of pipes extending below the several vessels which are to be filled.
3rd Of vessels arranged uniformly and at equal distances apart in the
required number, round the walls of the stable, or other place, and all placed at
the same height, and parallel with the supply pipes. Each vessel communicates
with the pipe below, by a piston-valve of novel construction.
4th Of rods parallel with the supply pipes, and provided with as many
hooked levers as there are vessels to be supplied.
The principal cistern or reservoir, preferably of metal, is placed in the middle
of the end of the place to be supplied, the water reaching it through a main
supply pipe by means of an automatically operating valve worked by a lever
having at its outer end a spring bolt or catch, and held down by a bent or bell-
orank lever the other end of which is provided with a spring, so that when the
bent lever is free, the valve lever is released and the valve closed. In the cistern
is arranged a float moveable upon a graduated rod which can rise and fall upon a
vertical guide fixed in a support above. The rod is pierced with holes at equal
distances apart, corresponding in number with the vessels to be supplied, and the
float is stopped at the required position by a pin through one of the holes, corre-
sponding with the number of vessels which are to be filled, the space between each
two holes corresponding with one ration of water. The distance from the first
hole to the lower edge of the graduated rod represents the quantity of water
necessary to fill the pipes before it enters the vessels. When the float has been
raised to the proper height by the water entering the cistern through the open
valve, it raises the graduated rod by means of the pin, and with it a bar which
operates an arm or pall the outer end of which releases the bell-crank lever
already described (which it had previously held back), and the spring catch upon
the lever of the valve presses back the bell-crank and allows the valve to close, the
bell-crank then returning to its position by means of its spring. In this way
the supply of water to the cistern is instantly cut off, when it has reached the
determined level.
Supposing the apparatus to be applied to a stable for 40 horses, 20 on each side,
and the quantity of water for each horse to be 12 litres, the layer of water in the
cistern between each two pin holes would he 12 litres and the graduated rod would
have as many holes as there are water vessels, or 20. Supposing only 20 horses
to occupy the stables, the pin would be fixed in the 26th hole from the bottom,
and the catch which holds the bell-crank lever is pressed back, and the valve ia

page_text: opened and held open by the spring catch at its end, under the bell-crank. The
water therefore flows into the cistern until. the float rises high enough to release
the bell-crank, when the valve. closes, automatically, and the water in the cistern
is the exact quantity required for 25 horses. The water passes from the cistern
through a 'cock, into leaden or other pipes passing round the sides and end of the
stable as already described, and arranged nearly horizontally below the water
vessels. They are slightly inclined, their lowest part being at the end of the
stable, so that the water or other liquid in the vessels. may be readily drawn off
when required, through a cock or cocks, and also so that the water does not enter
the vessels too suddenly, which might frighten the horses aud prevent them from
drinking. The horse troughs are galvanized metal or other suitable material, and
may be painted outside and enamelled inside. Each is divided into two parts, one
for food and the other for water, and the upper edges of all are at the same level,
about corresponding with the bottom of the cistern. The racks are above the
troughs, each horso having one of the latter. The water vessel of each trough
communicates with the supply pipe below by a peculiar valve. This valve is
connected with the supply pipe by a conical curved leaden pipe, the upper end of
which is soldered to the side of the valve chamber, the upper end of which is
connected with the drinking trough. The valve, of brass or other metal, consists
of a cylinder in which moves up and down a spindle having a piston at its upper
end carrying a washer of india rubber, leather, or other soft material, by which
the upper discharge passage into the trough can be closed. The spindle comes
down through a stuffing box, and its outer end is connected with a balance lever
turning on a centre and provided with a weight at its end, by which the valve is
closed. The opening and closing of all these piston valves is effected by means of
rods (preferably square,) arranged parallel with and below the supply pipes, and
turning in bearings.
The rods are turned' in the bearings by a handle or leyer in a convenient position,
operating levers upon the square bars by means of connecting rods. Upon these
square rods and corresponding with the balance levers of each piston valve, are
'fitted hooked levers, which can be inoved along the bars but fixed at any position
by a screw, so that their outer ends when turned up, lift the loaded end of the
levers and open the valves. By moving the handle, therefore, all the pistons and
valves can be opened and closed simultaneously. If a stall is not occupied by a
horse, so that the particular water vessel need not be filled, the hooked lever
relating to it is loosened and moved along the bar, so that it does not raise the
weighted lever when the bar is turned round, and the valve therefore remains
*closed.
Supposing, as before, that the stable.contains 40 troughs of which only 25 arc
to be used, the water has been allowed to fill the cistern, as already described, to a
height representing 25 rations of 12 litres, the cock below the cistern being closed.
The valves of the 15 vessels not being used, are rendered inoperative by moving
the hooked levers out of gear with the weighted valve levers, the valves
remaining therefore closed. The cock below the cistern is then opened, and the
handle is turned until the hooked levers raise all the remaining balance levers,
opening the valves and allowing all the remaining vessels to become filled to the
same level, each receiving 12 litres of water, and the cistern being then empty.
This can be done in two minutes, and a child can work the lever. When the
latter is brought back to its original position, the valves are closed and the water
remains in the vessels. As no pressure is required the apparatus can be used in all
situations. To empty the vessels and clean the pipes, the supply cock is closed,
and the discharge cock and all the valves, opened.
"Dated this Twenty-ninth day. of August 1891.
NOWY
DRA

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Automatically Distributing Water in
Regulated Quantity, and Without Pressure, in Stables and
other places.
We, PIERRE VIAL, and. ERNEST GRUAU, of Versailles, in the Republic of
France, Builders, 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 and accompanying drawings, that is to say:―
This invention has for its object an improved apparatus for automatically
distributing water in regulated quantity, and without pressure; in stables and other
places.
In order that such a system of 'distribution should be really practicable it'is
necessary that the water should be distributed in the first place absolutely pure,
and, in the second place, either simultaneously or separately at any required
moment, the necessities of the service in a stable requiring for the most part that
the horses should be able to drink during the day, one after the other, when they
return from work to their stable.
It is in order to carry out this double object that the arrangement of two separate
pipes CC, CC, shewn in the accompanying drawings has been adopted, the
one CC allowing clean water to be supplied at any moment to the drinking
trough, whilst the other CC carries away the dirty water.
In connection with these two pipes C C, C¹ C¹, a novel form of valve is used
provided with two orifices and having a double movement for connecting the two
pipes, and capable of acting simultaneously with all the others in the stable or
separately for each trough, or remaining at rest or inert.
The method of operation adopted serves three purposes.
First, to open the communication for bringing the water to the trough whilst
leaving the discharge orifico closed.
Second, to open the communication for discharging the dirty water whilst leaving
that for the entering water closed.
Third, to keep closed, both openings at once.
The following is a detailed description of the pipes as illustrated in Figures 1, 2,
and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
The supply pipe connected with a central reservoir R by the cock U' is
prolonged below the drinking troughs with which it communicates by the
branches from the valves R'.
It may be remarked that the supply pipe may without inconvenience be formed
in a syphon shape so as to pass under any doors or passages which it may have to
cross..
Below this supply pipe and parallel with it is laid along the sides of the stable
and without returning under the floor the discharge pipe C C. It carries off the
dirty water by the elbow N N but without being necessarily provided with a cock.
This discharge pipe C C also communicates with the valve chamber R¹ of each
drinking trough by the branch
Both the pipes C¹ C¹ have a slight inclination for the double purpose first-of
allowing the water or liquid remaining in the receivers entirely to escape, when it
is no longer wanted, by means of the pipes C C and N N after opening the
discharge valve, and second of preventing the water from coming in too suddenly
and bubbling up when it enters the drinking troughs which would have the serious
inconvenience of frightening the horses in their stalls and preventing them from
drinking.
The following is a detailed description of the valve communicating with the
troughs, illustrated in Figures 9, 10, 11, 14, and 16. This valve is shewn, in
Figure: 9a general front view, Figure 10 a back view, shewing the method of

page_text: operating it, Figures 11, 14 and 15 are vertical sections and plan shewing the
closing plates.
Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the movement of the valve opening or closing the
communications between the pipes and the drinking troughs.
As shewn in Figures 9, 10, and 11, the valve chamber is in the form of a
cylinder R with a lateral branch upon each side, one communicating by means of
a coupling with a supply pipe C C, the other with the discharge pipe C¹ C¹.
In the upper part a vertical partition E completely separates the part through
which the water is admitted from that through which it is discharged. A horizontal
plate E¹ serving as a diaphragm separates the lower part of the valve chamber R¹
from the upper part.
The valve chamber therefore consists of three entirely
distinct chambers, the first X serving as a passage for the fresh water, the second Y
for the dirty water, and the third Z, into which no water enters, containing the
whole of the mechanism which is therefore preserved from damp.
This mechanism consists of a bar F traversing the cylinder and turning in holes
in the sides of the latter which serve as bearings. This bar by which the whole
mechanism is operated is worked as explained further on by the connecting rod
which communicates to it a movement through an arc of about thirty to thirty-five
degrees on each side of its normal position. A small bar traverses the bar F
and each of its ende rests upon a sort of stirrup g forming the bottom of an
opening or frame in which it can move. These frames G G have formed upon
their upper parts rods T T' the movement of which in the interior of the valve case
is vertical and alternately up or down.
Below the frames each rod after having passed through a steel spring a a! on
which it rests, the top of the spring supporting the stirrup whilst its bottom end
rests upon the base of the valve case, terminates below the latter in a metallic
ball band which can be easily grasped.
Above the frames the rods pass through stuffing boxes contained in the
horizontal diaphragm of the valve case. The rod on the right carries on its upper
end a circular valve K having an india rubber ring by which it fits tightly up
against its seat, and above this valve on a prolongation of the rod is another
valve K' rectangular in shape and of the same area as the circular valve K, its
upper surface being level with the upper surface of the valve case. This second
upper valve is only for the purpose of preventing the dirty water from penetrating
from the trough into the part of the chamber X of the valve case situated above
the valve K which chamber is reserved for the passage of clean water only.
The rod at the left is provided at the upper part of the valve case with a
circular valve L which provides a communication with the discharge pipe C¹ C'.
The action of the bar F upon the mechanism can now be explained. When this
bar occupies the normal position into which the springs a a' tend constantly to
bring it the two openings in the valve case are closed by the valves K, K, L.
There is then no communication between the drinking trough and the pipes, as
shewn in Figure 11.
11
If the bar F is turned in one or other direction through an angle of thirty to
thirty-five degrees as already explained, the small bar which traverses it moves
through the same angle and with its end for f" presses upon the stirrup which
forms the bottom of each of the frames and forces down the corresponding rod.
Figure 13 shews the rod on the right hand, and consequently the valves K K'
lowered and opening a passage for the water which comes from the supply pipe from
the branch r. Figure 12 on the other hand shews the valve on the left hand, and
consequently the valve L, lowered and opening a passage for the dirty water which
passes by the branch into the discharge pipe CVC¹.
It should be noticed that the height and arrangement of the openings in the
frames allows either rod and valve to be worked independently of the other.
The method of operation and use of the valves described are as follows:-
Supposing the apparatus to be at rest in the position shewn in Figure 11, the
valves K K L are closed and are kept closed by the action of two springs a al on

page_text: the rods T T'. If it is desired to admit water to the whole of the drinking troughs
at once, all the bars F are turned simultaneously by a connecting rod in the
direction shewn in Figures 10 and 13. The supply valves K K¹ are depressed
opening a passage for fresh water whilst the discharge valve L. remains unmoved.
When the troughs are filled the bars F are brought back to their original position
by a movement in the opposite direction assisted by the springs a a¹, and the
communication with the supply pipe being closed the water will remain in the
troughs, an equal quantity in each.
If it is required to draw off the dirty water remaining in the troughs after the
horses have drunk the bars F will be turned in a similar way in the opposite
direction as shewn in Figure 12.
It will be easily understood that by this systen the simultaneous opening and
closing of the communications of all the drinking troughs at once are obtained. If
however it is desired to deal with each separately, it would only be necessary to
operate the rods T, T', by drawing them down with the hand by means of the
balls bb at their lower end. The action will continue as long as the rod is held
down, the spring a or a bringing this rod back to its normal position as soon as it
is no longer held down by the ball at its end.
When some of the stalls are unoccupied, it is advisable to render their valves
inoperative for the distribution of water, by withdrawing them from the action of
the connecting rods described. In the following description of the details of the
connecting rods and their operation two methods of attaining the objects just
mentioned are described.
The valve case terminates at its upper part with a plate P, Figure il, which
should be exactly flush with the bottom of the drinking trough, without any pro-
jection above the latter. In this plate are arranged the two openings which form
the seats for the valve K' and L.
The valve case is fixed into the bottom of the drinking trough by means of two
metal rings e e¹ serving as nuts.
The apparatus as described allows :
First. The orifices K and L opening into the water trough both to be kept
closed.
Second. The opening or closing of all the supply openings K, K, at once, whilst
the discharge openings remain closed.
Third. To perform a similar operation with the discharge openings L.
Fourth. To open or close one of these openings separately for cach valve box.
Fifth. As explained further on, to withdraw any valve box from the action of the
operating connecting rod.
The invention consists essentially of the arrangement of double valves described
by which these results are obtained.
The following is a description of the system of operating the apparatus, as
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
In order to be able to operate simultaneously and instantly. the valves in the
different valve boxes, connecting rods DD are used actuated by a lever J provided
with a balance weight by which it is always brought back to its normal vertical
position.
The rotating movement of this lever is converted into a backward and forward
horizontal movement of the side bars D D' by means of arms W W as shown in
Figures 4 and 5.
The extent of backward and forward movement of these arms and consequently
of the bars themselves corresponds with the angle of sixty to seventy degrees
in all, through which the bars F in the valve casing have to turn as already
explained.
When the arms W W are vertical, the connecting rods are at rest, the valve
bars F being in their central position and the valves K K L closed.
One of the valves is opened when the arms and consequently the lateral bars are
brought forward into the position shewn in Figure 4. On the other hand the other

page_text: valvens opened when the arm and consequently the bar is moved back the
opposite direction:
In order to facilitate the backward and forward movement of the lateral bars,
tlic latter are in the first place supported upon rollers or pullies n at proper
distances apart along the stable between each trough and further they are.
pressed back at each of their ends by springs: of. steel plate
Figure 8.
mm as shewn in
The whole system of connecting rods with their accessories is supported by
fastenings in the wall.
The connection of the bars and the transmission of their movement to the valves.
in the valve cases, may be obtained in either of the two following ways.
First. Upon the bars and corresponding with each valve box is fixed a forked
tappet H Figure 15.
The projecting end of the revolving bar F which operates the valve is jointed to.
a moveable arm / forming a handle provided at its end with a projection or pin h¹
which enters the fork of the tappet H. It will be seen that in this manner. and
by means of the jointed arm the backward and forward movement of the rod is
communicated to the oscillating bars F of the valve-boxes to which a movement of
rotation is given. In this way the rods T T' which work the valve are operated
as already described.
To render any particular set of valves inoperative it is sufficient to withdraw the
pin from the fork of the tappet H so as to throw it out of gear. For this
purpose a bent bar Q is arranged inside the valve box, terminating in front by a
button O and at the back of the valve case by a frame or loop T through which
the moveable arm jointed to the bar F passes. This bent bar which works-
through guides p² arranged upon the bottom of the valve-case can be drawn out
80 as to bring the jointed bar into the position shewn in Figure 15, the pin h²
being removed from the fork of the tappet H fixed upon the bar D' and the latter
can then move backward and forward without operating the valve, which remains
inert.
To throw the pin into gear again it only necessary to push the button. into
the position shewn in Figure 14, or in dotted lines in Figure 15.
Second. A second method of connecting the bars F of the valves with the
bars D' by which the movement is transmitted to them consists in making the said.
bars F terminate in a cylindrical part i having a groove along it which can be fixed
into the upper end of a short lever I connected to the transmitting bar D¹ in the
Figures 6 and 7 which arrangement serves like that already described for the con-
version of the backward and forward movement of the bar D D into a movement
of rotation of the bar F in the valve box R¹.
In this arrangement the throwing out of the particular valve box is obtained by.
simply unscrewing the screw so as to withdraw it from the groove in the
cylindrical end of the bar F. The lever I then turns upon this cylindrical
portion without operating the bar F which is kept fixed in its normal position
by the pressure of the two springs a a' round the rods in the interior of the
valve case, so that the valves in the latter will it is evident remain unmoved.
The above is a detailed and complete description of the system of operating the
valves and of its working, a system which has been specially devised to suit! the
multiple requirements of the valves, or to allow them to remain inoperative:
DISTRIBUTION.
1. In order that the attendant who works the central lever J'may follow the
rising of the water, the first water trough is connected with a graduated gauge
glass V arranged near the handle J.
In accordance with the well known principle the water will rise at the same rate
and for the same height both in the gauge glass V and in the water troughs which
are in communication with the sunnly nina. The attendant will therefore release

page_text: 2. It may either happen that by neglect or from some unforeseen defect in the
working of a valve oriany other reason the water although exactly regulated may
enter in such quantities as to overflow into the stable over the edge of the troughs.
In order to obviate this possible accident a syphon pipe S Figure 3 is arranged
at the end of the stable opposite to the reservoir and on cach side, which places
in direct communication the supply pipe C C with the discharge pipe C¹ C).
This syphon which may be fixed to the wall has its upper level on the same
horizontal plane as that which fixes the height to which the water should rise in
the troughs to fill them. It will become filled therefore directly this height is
reached and by this means the excess of water which would have overflowed the
troughs passes away through the discharge pipe by means of the syphon. It will
be understood that by this arrangement this safety syphon will operate by itself
whatever may be the number of troughs in communication with the supply pipe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE VALVE BY WHICH THE QUANTITY OF THE WATER
ADMITTED INTO THE RESERVOIR IS REGULATED.
A float e placed in the reservoir is moveable along a gauging ruled kept vertical
by a guide carried by a support k. The gauging rule is pierced with holes at
equal distances apart corresponding with the receivers to be filled. The float is
fixed to this rule by a regulating pin according to the number of rations which it
is desired to distribute, the space between two consecutive holes of the rule corre-
sponding to one such ration, the distance of the first to the lower edge of the rule
representing the quantity of water necessary to fill the pipes before it commences to
run into the receivers.
As illustrated in Figure 1, when the float is raised by the water which enters the
cistern (the valve being supposed to be open) it commimicates by means of a
bar attached to the end of the rule da movement to an escapement studs in the
direction shewn by the arrow. At a moment determined by the effect of this
movement the studs the end of which holds back one of the arms of a bell orank
tappet y is withdrawn and releases the latter and leaves it free.
The lever of the water supply valve o turus upon the centre o' (as shewn on a
larger scale in Figure 1B) and is always pressed up in the direction of the arrow
by a spring contained in the case of the valve o, so that when the tappet y is
released the end u of the lever turns it on its centre and passes it, thus shutting the
valve, as shewn in Figure 1º.
The bell crank tappet y is instantly brought back to its position by the
spring..
1
To open the valve, it is only necessary to press down the valve lever, when
the spring catch in the latter allows the catch to pass the lever y, and the valve
is held open (as shown in Figure 1) until the tappet lever y is again released by
the rise of the float.
This automatic action will be rendered inore clear by the following example in
which it is supposed to be applied to a stable for forty horses, or twenty troughs
upon each side to be supplied...
The quantity of water required for each horse being 12 litres, the interval
between two successive holes in the gauging rule corresponds to a sheet of water
in the reservoir the volume of which shall be 12 litres. The rule includes besides
as many holes as there are water troughs in the stable say forty. Supposing for a
moment that only twenty-five stalls are occupied, the water for these twenty-five
rations is what has to be supplied to the reservoir. For this purpose the float c is
fixed upon the gauging rule d by means of the pin at the twenty-sixth hole from
the bottom. The extremity of the stud rests upon the bell crank y against which
the spring presses, the other arm of the bell crank holding the spring catch u
at the end of the handle or lover of the valve o upon the supply pipe z.
l
The valve o being open the water from the pipe z entere the reservoir and fills it
until by the action of the float the valve automatically cuts off the supply by
closing. At this moment it is certain that the water admitted into the reservoir

page_text: corresponds exactly to that required for twenty-five horses, and this automatic
adjustment constitutes an important feature of the invention.
OPERATION OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.
It only remains now to indicate more clearly than in the preceding description
the operation of the apparatus.
As already pointed out the valve cases corresponding with the stalls for the
time unoccupied can be readily thrown out of gear with the actuating bars D¹, D',
and rendered inactive. This is what has to be done before proceeding to any
partial or general distribution.
The supply pipe C C is always full and the clean water always rises in the valve
cases up to the communicating valve K. The apparatus as a machine under
pressure is therefore always ready to operate.
Accordingly directly the valve of the central reservoir R has been opened and
the lever moved, the water will flow at once and without loss of either water
or time into all the drinking troughs in communication.
When the troughs are filled, which will be shewn to the attendant by the level
of the water in the gauge tube V placed in his sight, the lever J will be released
and will return by its counterweight into its normal position of rest.
The same will take place with the operating bars D' D' which will moreover be
oided in their movements by the spring plates mm placed at their ends.
In their movement these bars will in turn move the bars F of all the valve cases,
which have been set in action back to their neutral position, their movement
being assisted by the helical springs a a¹ arranged as already explained inside each
valve case R'.
It will be seen that in this manner all the supply valves K closing at once will
maintain the water which has entered the troughs at the same level in each.
When after this distribution the horses, come from their work or elsewhere into
their stalls, their troughs may be individually supplied by pulling down with the
hand the ball bat the lower end of the rod T of the valve case (Figure 13). As
pointed out, the supply pipe CC being always full, the water will rise immediately
in the corresponding trough and the safety syphon S will further operate if
necessary quite as well for the supply of a single trough as for any number at .a
time.
The description which has been given of the supply is applicable with the
necessary modifications to what has to be done to remove the dirty water.
Moreover as already pointed out each valve case which has been thrown out of
gear can be instantly re-connected with the operating bar.
For the purpose of cleanliness the safety syphon S will permit clean water from
the supply pipe C C to pass directly into the discharge pipe C' C¹ whenever it is
required to clean it.
Finally it may be observed that by suitable arrangements the whole system may
be without inconvenience connected directly to a water main with or without
pressure without the central reservoir R being necessary. For this purpose it
would be sufficient to interpose a regulating trough containing an automatic float
which would act upon the lever of a valve closing the supply pipe every time the
desired level of water has been reached in the troughs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. A mechanical distributing apparatus acting instantly without pressure of
water and with automatic gauging; such apparatus permitting any liquid to be
distributed equally, instantaneously and simultaneously, into any number of
receivers; the apparatus being characterized by the combination of a valve case
with double valves, with actuating rods and with a discharge pipe and a supply
pipe.

page_text: 2. The instantaneous and simultaneous operation by a lateral and horizontal
backward and forward movement.
3. The water gauge.
4. The safety syphon.
5. The general combination of parts, all substantially as and for the purpose
described and shewn in the drawings.
od 1
CX1000
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.