Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Admission of Water to Cisterns or Tanks.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 6th June,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Admission of Water
to Cisterns or Tanks.
I, JOHN WHELAN, of 3, High Road, Lower Clapton, London, N.E. Gas and
Hot Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus used for controlling the admission of water
(from, for example, a main source of supply) to storage tanks or service cisterns,
and it has for principal objects, whilst affording automatic control of the supply, to
supersede the various forms of ball-cocks or float-controlled valves commonly used
at present for the same purpose and thus to avoid the liability of such cocks or
valves to get out of order, and also to enable a tank or cistern to be used which is
virtually closed to the atmosphere and therefore not liable to be fouled by the
entrance of dust or other matters.
For the purpose of my invention I employ a closed cistern or tank
communicating with the supply and service or draw-off pipes. Such tank or
cistern may be of any convenient form and be placed in any convenient
situation within reach of the supply, and above the level of the highest point of
discharge or service and may consist of an enlargement placed in the course of the
supply pipe. To the underside of a vent hole formed in the top of the tank or
cistern is attached a valve seat against which a floating ball is adapted to seat
itself so as to close the vent when carried upward by the rise of the water
consequent upon the filling of the tank. A. tube slightly larger in bore than the
diameter of the ball, for which it forms a guide, projects from the underside of the
vent opening into the tank or cistern. The open lower end of this tube, whose
length is equal to somewhat more than twice the diameter of the ball, is provided
with a stop or stops to prevent the escape of the ball, and midway in the length of
the side of the tube is a hole or holes.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-So long as the level of the water in
the tank or cistern remains below the ball, the vent hole remains open and a free
draught of water may be obtained through the service pipe or pipes. On the level
of the water rising, the ball is carried upwards, until the water reaches the level of
the side holes in the tube already described. Thereafter, so long as the water
continues to rise, an air cushion is formed in the upper portion of the tank
or cistern, whilst the ball is raised until it seats itself against the valve face.
The water will, however, still continue to rise and to compress the air cushion
until equilibrium of pressure between the air of the cushion and the inflowing
water is attained, when the supply of water to the cistern or tank will
automatically cease.
In the case of a constant supply of water the presence of the air cushion ensures
the vent remaining permanently sealed excepting whilst water is being drawn off,
and also ensures the possibility of water being drawn off in the event of the supply
ceasing, whilst the tank or cistern happens to be full.
A pipe may be attached to the outside of the vent only so as to give warning
by means of the overflow of water, should the valve by any chance cease to act
properly.
Based in 214 1 T1 1005

page_text: t
i
.
Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Admission of Water
to Cisterns or Tanks.
_ I, JOHN. WHELAN of 3, High Road, Lower Clapton, London, N.E. Gas and
Hot Water Engineer, 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 enable water to be supplied to and drawn off
from closed storage tanks or cisterns in such manner that the supply of the water
is virtually controlled without the use of any ball cock or valve on the service pipe
whilst the use of a closed cistern obviates the liability of fouling by entrance of
dust and other matters.
My invention consists in the employment of a closed cistern or tank communi-
cating with the supply and draw-off pipes and provided at top with a vent controlled
by an internal valve formed by a floating ball adapted to close the vent when
carried upward by the rise of the water level, said ball being contained within a
dip tube whereby in the filling of the tank the displacement by the water of the
whole of the previously contained air is prevented, sufficient air being retained to
form a cushion above the water in the tank. In the case of a constant water
service the presence of the air cushion ensures the vent remaining closed by the
valve excepting water be drawn off faster than it is supplied and in the case of an
intermittent service or the temporary cessation of a constant service the vent allows
the influx of air to replace the water drawn off from the tank or cistern. A safety
pipe may lead from the vent to a convenient point so as to give warning by the
overflow should the valve by any chance cease to act properly. The air cushion
also serves to guard against the bursting of the tank in case of the water
freezing.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this
Specification which represents a vertical section of the vent.
A is a closed cistern-to-which-the-water supply and draw-off pipes are attached
at any convenient points, B is the float valve being a hollow air-tight ball of india-
-rubber closing upwards against a seat formed around the vent orifice C through the
screw-plug D which is received in a socket E fixed over an aperture in the top of
the tank. The ball is enclosed loosely within a dip tube F screwed to the plug,
the lower end of the tube being contracted or formed as a cage to retain the
ball when it falls to the dotted position. G are vent holes in the side of the
tube at such a level below the top of the cistern as to ensure an adequate air
cushion being retained. H is a warning pipe leading to any convenient point of
discharge.
The action is as follows:-Supposing the water supply to be turned on to the
empty cistern, the ball is in the dotted position and the water rises within the tank
Vuntil it covers the vent holes G whereupon it continues to rise within the tube
until the ball closes against its seat, thus preventing the escape of water, the level
within the tank also continuing to rise until the pressure of the confined air
"balances the pressure of. the water supply, thus preventing further inflow. If the
water supply to the tank be constant the tank will remain filled and the position
of the valve unaltered unless water be drawn off faster than it is supplied in which
case, or if the supply be interrupted, the valve will fall to admit air in replacement
of the water, drawn off and for the renewal of the air cushion when the valve closes
again upon the refilling of the tank or cistern.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :--
The combination, with a closed tank or cistern in connection with the water
supply pipe and provided with a vent at top, of a float operated internal valve
adapted to close the vent and contained within a dip tube adapted to cut off the
escape of air from the cistern before the closing of the valve substantially as
specified.
Dated this 30th day of April 1896
A. M. & WM. CLARK,.
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.