IMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING AND PREVENTING THE DISCHARGE OF SYPHONS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS HERRIOT TAIT, residing at Gibraltar Villa, St. Leonard's Hill,
Edinburgh, lately Lay Missionary do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING AND PREVENTING THE DISCHARGE OF SYPHONS
to be as follows:
For so arranging and fitting a pipe that it will draw off water over a height less
than 25 feet; and that it will not lose its power of acting, even if the supply of
water, should, for a time, cease. That this is done in this way :-By having a
vessel (A) in the form of a short, hollow cylinder placed at the bottom of the water
to be drained off, and having the receiving end of the pipe placed in it, and kept
continually submerged.
By having at the end which discharges the water, another vessel (B) of similar
form, but having an aperture in its side, with an ajutage or spout, for delivering
the water as it rises.
This is for having the delivering end of the pipe placed in it and keeping it also
continually submerged. This vessel is to be placed so that the lower part of the
aperture in its side may be exactly on a level with the brim of the vessel at the
receiving end.
By having the pipe at each end furnished with a stop-cock, and at the highest
part of its course, with a tap (C) closed by a lid with a screw and washer. The
pipe is to be filled after it is laid, by shutting the stop-cocks, and pouring in at the
tap till it is full. The tap is then to be closed, and the stop-cocks opened under
water.
The discharge will not be prevented by the submersion of the delivering end, but
will depend upon, and be regulated by, the depth of the water lying above the level
of the brim of the vessel at the receiving end. When the water in both vessels
comes to be on a perfect level, the discharge will cease, but when it rises at the
receiving end, it will again begin.

page_text: I, THOMAS HERRIOT TAIT, residing at Gibraltar Villa, St. Leonard's Hill,
Edinburgh, lately Lay Missionary do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
for JMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING AND PREVENTING THE DISCHARGE OF SYPHONS,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The nature of it is;-For so arranging and furnishing a pipe, that it will convey
water over a height, not exceeding 25 feet, intervening between the two points in
the same horizontal line, where its two ends are to be placed; and that it will not
lose its power of acting, even though the supply of water shall, for a time, cease;
but that it will, of itself, begin again to act, when the water shall come on.
The manner of performing it is as follows:-
By having a vessel (A) in the form of a short, hollow cylinder and closed at one
end for a base, placed at the bottom of the water to be drawn off, for the purpose.
of having the receiving end of the pipe placed in it, and there kept continually
submerged.
By having at the end which discharges the water, another vessel (B) of similar
form, but having an aperture in its side with an ajutage or spout for delivering
the water as it rises in it. This is for the purpose of having the delivering end of
the pipe placed in it, and there kept also continually submerged. This vessel is to
be carefully put in position, so that the lower part of the aperture in its side may
be exactly on a level with the brim of the vessel at the receiving end. Both these
vessels are to be made of cast-iron, of about 9 inches in diameter, and 18 inches in
length, or such other dimensions as the discharge in any case may require. In
respect of their depth, regard must be had to the quantity of water likely, in a case
of long drought, to be carried off by evaporation; so that a quantity may always
be reserved in each, sufficient to cover the end of the pipe placed in it.
By using a pipe of lead or iron, and of such dimension and length, as the
circumstances in any particular case may require; and, if in a place where one of a
large and heavy construction would be required; or, where the one required would
be to be laid under ground, it would be necessary to have it furnished so that it
could be properly filled after being laid down. This is to be done by having it
fitted at each end with a stop-cock, and at the highest part of its course with a
tap (C) having a lid fitted with a screw, which lid when being closed, is to be made
air-tight by means of a jam-nut and washer. The pipe is to be filled by shutting
the stop-cocks, opening the tap (C), and pouring in thereat, slowly and steadily,
only such a quantity of water, and not more, as shall allow the air to escape up
through the pipe past the water descending in it at the same time. When filled,
the tap is to be closed, and the stop-cocks opened under water. In the case of the
pipe to be used, being small, or such as might be easily bent, or which might be
laid merely on the surface, it would be best filled, without using either the tap or
the stop-cocks, by simply holding up its two ends on a level with each other, and
pouring in at one of them till it should be filled. Each of the ends might then be
stopped with a cork or plug, which might be removed after the pipe was laid, and
both of its ends submerged.
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 new in respect of the following features:―
1 In using the vessel (A) at the receiving end, which will retain as much water
as to keep this end continually submerged.

page_text: 2nd In using the vessel (B) at the delivering end, which will discharge the water,
and yet retain as much as to keep this end also continually submerged.
3rd In using the tap (C) for the purpose of filling thereat the pipe, when of
heavy construction.
4th In adjusting the two vessels, so that the lower part of the aperture in the
one may be perfectly level with the brim of the other at the receiving end; thus
preventing the latter vessel from being drained empty in this way is secured
the continual submersion of the two ends, and consequently, the effectual exclusion
of the air from both.