Improved Method of and Apparatus for Supplying Hot Water for Consumption and Heating Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Supplying Hot Water for
Consumption and Heating Purposes.
I, MARK WESLEY DEWEY, of Kirk Block corner South Salina and West
Fayette Streets in the City of Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga, in the State
of New York, United States of America, Electrician, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS For,
SUPPLYING HOT WATER FOR CONSUMPTION AND HEATING PURPOSES," and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
My invention relates to a new and improved method of and apparatus for
supplying hot water for consumption purposes, or for changing temperature in
desired localities.
The objects of this, my present invention, are to distribute water in a pipe heated
by clectricity, to or through one or more localities whereat the water may be
released from the pipe, or utilized for heating purposes; to maintain a continuous
circulation of the water in the distributing pipe to keep the water at a uniform
temperature; to make the said distributing pipe or a portion thereof part of the
electric circuit and the heating conductor; and further, to automatically regulate
the said electric current to maintain the water at a constant temperature, by the
pressure, or expansion and contraction, of the water due to the heating and cooling
of the same.
My invention is particularly designed for use in buildings having various apart-
ments to be constantly supplied with hot water for consumption purposes, and
where the hot water may be released or drawn from the distributing pipes, but may
also be employed for heating purposes, as when it is circulated through a radiator
or coil.
My invention consists, collectively, in filling a reservoir and a circulating pipe
extending therefrom with water, allowing the escape of air from the highest part
of the pipe while the reservoir and pipe are being filled, subjecting the water
contained in the reservoir and pipe to the heating effect produced by an electric
current in a part of an electric circuit composed partly of said pipe, simultaneously
therewith circulating said water in the pipe leading from and to the reservoir and
through one or more remote localities whereat the water may be released or drawn
from the pipe, or utilized for heating purposes, supplying the reservoir and pipe
with water while it is released, and automatically regulating the electric heating
current by the variations of pressure or the expansion and contraction of the water
in said reservoir due to the heating and cooling of the water.
My invention consists also in circulating water, through an electrically heated
pipe forming part of an electric circuit and extending to one or more localities
whereat the water may be released or utilized for heating purposes.
My invention consists, further, in circulating water in a pipe leading from and
to an electrically heated reservoir and through one or more remote localities where
the water may be released or utilized for heating purposes; and consists still
further in automatically regulating or controlling the heating current of an electric
hot water supply system by the variation of the pressure of the heated water.
The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of my apparatus for supplying
hot water, and shows circulating pipes leading from and to a boiler supplied with
water and through rooms or apartments, and shows also, means for electrically
heating the water and automatically controlling its temperature.
Referring to the drawing, A represents a section of the reservoir or boiler
B is the circulating or distributing pipe leading from the top or upper part of the

page_text: reservoir, to and through different localities which are shown as apartments or
rooms in a house, and returning to the lower part of said reservoir.
F, F and F indicate a sectional view of the floors of the house, b, b, b etc.,
represent the faucets of the pipe located in the various rooms, to release the water
from said pipe, and H is a radiator for heating one or more rooms on floor F³ and
in a branch pipe B' which is provided with a two-way cock cat the junction of the
branch pipe with the main pipe B so that the hot water may be circulated through
the radiator or around the latter through the main pipe, as desired, without cutting
off the supply of water to the other apartments or stopping the circulation of water
in the pipe.
represents a faucet in a branch pipe through which the hot water is constantly
circulated, and shows a faucet in a branch pipe extending from the main
pipe B and through which the water is not circulated except when the faucet
is opened.
In order to allow the escape of air from the reservoir A and pipe B and B' when
the reservoir and pipes are being filled with water by the supply pipe S, which
connects the reservoir with a suitable head of water, I provide an air outlet in the
main pipe, preferably at the top or highest point reached by said pipe, and, for
convenience or so that this air outlet d may be easily controlled, I extend a small
pipe d' from the outlet directly to or near the reservoir or boiler A, and provide
the end of the latter pipe with an air faucet (".
e indicates a sink under one of the faucets band e' is a waste water pipe extending
therefrom.
Any suitable source of electricity may be employed for heating the water, but I
preferably employ a secondary electric generator or inductional transformer T
having its primary coil p connected in parallel with leads 1, extending from a
source of alternating currents. The secondary coils of said transformer is preferably
formed of a copper rod or cable to obtain good conductivity and its terminals f, f
connected with a coiled iron pipe C containing perforations y and extending through
the interior of the boiler A. The said pipe C is of higher resistance than the con-
ductor forming the coils and constitutes the heating conductor for the boiler A.
The perforations allow the water to circulate within said pipe C and the surface
area of the pipe in contact with the water in the boiler is thereby greatly increased,
rendering the apparatus very efficient.
To automatically control the heating currents and the heating of the water in
the boiler or reservoir A, I provide a pressure cylinder having its open end pro-
truding into the boiler near its upper part. A pivoted circuit-maker and breaker i
in one of the electric connections of the coil s is attached to the outer end of the
spring actuated piston rod ¹ and is adapted to close the circuit through the heating
conductor C when the pressure or heat of the water in the boiler is not too great,
and to open the said circuit when the pressure or heat does become too great, and
to maintain either condition, after a change is effected, until an opposite change
takes place. For instance, when the boiler A is cool, there is not enough pressure
in the boiler to actuate the piston rod h¹ against the pressure of its spring, and the
circuit breaker i remains closed, but in this condition, if the water is not drawn off
rapidly enough from the pipe B in the various apartments, the electrically heated
pipe C soon raises the water to a high temperature, that is, higher than is necessary
or desirable, presses the piston rod outward from the cylinder and moves the
circuit breaking lever i to open the circuit as shown in dotted lines in the drawing,
which allows the water to cool and consequently the decrease of pressure of the
same in the boiler upon the piston rod A' which in turn again closes the circuit.
In some cases, in order to keep the water in the pipe B highly and more
uniformly heated, I include all or a portion of said pipe also in the heating circuit
as indicated by the dotted connections s', s' and construct said pipe also so that it
will offer sufficient resistance to the electric current and become heated and thus
assist the pipe C within the boiler in heating the water.
It will be obvious that when the pipe B is include in the heating circuit and

page_text: electrically heated it will be possible in some cases to dispense with the boiler A
and its coiled pipe C.
On account of the low pressure of electro motive force of the electric current
employed, the latter is not apt to leave its metallic conductor and pass through
the water in the boiler, but, should it be deemed desirable, the heating con-
ductors or pipes may be coated within or without, or both, with some suitable
insulating paint or enamel that will not appreciably obstruct the heat.
The supply pipe S is provided with a cock S to shut off the supply of water
to the boiler A and the said boiler is provided with a faucet & at its lower end.
When it is not desirable to heat the water for distribution, the heating circuit
may be opened and the supply of electric current cut off by opening the switch D
as indicated in dotted lines in the drawing.
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. The method of supplying hot water for consumption purposes consisting in
subjecting water to a heating effect produced by an electric current in a part of an
electric circuit, circulating said water in a pipe leading to one or more localities,
and provided with outlets for releasing or drawing the water from the pipe at said
locality or localities, and controlling the current to maintain the water at a constant
temperature.
2. The method of supplying hot water for consumption purposes consisting in
subjecting water to a heating effect produced by a current in a part of an electric
circuit, circulating said water in a pipe leading to and from one or more localities,
and provided with outlets for releasing or drawing the water from the pipe at said
locality or localities, and controlling the current to maintain the water at a constant
temperature.
3. The method of supplying hot water for consumption purposes consisting in
subjecting water contained in a reservoir to a heating effect produced by a current
in a part of an electric circuit, simultaneously therewith circulating said medium
through a pipe leading from and to the reservoir and through one or more remote
localities whereat the water may be released or drawn from said pipe, and
automatically controlling the current to maintain the water at a constant
temperature.
4. The method of supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes
consisting in subjecting water contained in a reservoir to a heating effect produced
by a current in a part of an electric circuit, simultaneously therewith circulating
said water in a pipe leading from and to the reservoir and through one or more
remote localities whereat the water may be released from the pipe or utilized for
heating purposes, and automatically controlling the current to maintain the water
at a constant and predetermined temperature by the heat or pressure of the
water.
5. The method of supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes
consisting in subjecting water contained in a reservoir to a heating effect produced
by a current in a part of an electric circuit, and simultaneously therewith circulating
said water in a pipe leading from and to the reservoir and through one or more
remote localities whereat the water may be released from the pipe or utilized for
heating purposes, and controlling the electric current by the pressure of the water
in the reservoir.
6. The method of supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes
consisting in subjecting water contained in a reservoir to a heating effect produced
by a current in a part of an electric circuit and simultaneously therewith circulating
said water in a pipe leading from and to the reservoir and through one or more
remote localities whereat the water may be released from the pipe or utilized for
heating purposes, and automatically controlling the electric current to maintain the
water at a constant temperature.

page_text: 7. The method of supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes
consisting in filling a reservoir and circulating pipe with water, allowing the escape
of air from the highest part of the pipe while it is filled, subjecting the water
contained in the reservoir to a heating effect produced by a current in a part of an
electric circuit, simultaneously therewith circulating said water in a pipe leading
from and to the reservoir and through one or more remote localities whereat the
water may be released from the pipe or utilized for heating purposes, and auto-
matically controlling the temperature of the water by causing it to control the
electric current.
8. The method of supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes,
consisting in subjecting water contained in a reservoir and pipe connected therewith,
to a heating effect produced by a current in a portion of an electric circuit
composed of said pipe, and circulating the water in the pipe leading from and to the
reservoir and through one or more localities whereat the water may be released
from the pipe or utilized for heating purposes.
9. The method of supplying hot water for consumption purposes, consisting in
subjecting water under pressure and contained in a reservoir and pipe connected
therewith to a heating effect produced by a current in a portion of an electric
circuit, circulating the water in the pipe leading from and to the reservoir and
through one or more localities whereat the water may be released from the pipe,
supplying the reservoir and pipe with water while it is released at said locality or
localities, and controlling the electric current by the variation in the temperature
of the water.
10. The method of supplying hot water for consumption purposes, consisting in
filling a reservoir and circulating pipe connected therewith with water under
pressure, allowing the escape of air from the highest part of the pipe while the
reservoir and pipe is filled, subjecting the water contained in the reservoir or pipe
to a heating effect produced by a current in a part of an electric circuit, simul-
taneously therewith circulating said water in the pipe leading from and to the
reservoir and through one or more remote localities whereat the water may be
released from the pipe, supplying the reservoir and pipe with water while it is
released at said locality or localities, and controlling the electric current by the
variation of the pressure of water in the reservoir to maintain the water at a
constant temperature.
11. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption purposes, a suitable
source of electricity, a reservoir containing water, a heating conductor extending
through the reservoir and connected to the source, a distributing pipe extending
from the upper part of said reservoir to and through one or more remote localities
and returning to the lower part of the reservoir, faucets for the pipe at said
localities to release the water, a water supply pipe connected to said reservoir to
admit water to the latter and distributing pipe, while the water is being released at
one or more of the localities, and means to control the current to maintain the
water at a constant temperature.
12. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption purposes, a suitable
source of electricity, a reservoir containing water, a heating conductor extending
through the reservoir and connected to the source, a distributing pipe extending
from the said reservoir to and through one or more remote localities and returning
to the reservoir, faucets for the pipe at said localities to release the water, a water
supply pipe connected to said reservoir to admit water to the latter and distributing
pipe, while the water is being released at one or more of the localities, and suitable
means to automatically control the current to maintain the water at a constant
temperature.
13. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption purposes, a suitable
source of electricity, a reservoir containing water, a heating conductor extending
through the reservoir and connected to the source, a distributing pipe extending
from the said reservoir to and through one or more remote localities and returning
to the reservoir, faucets for the pipe at said localities to release the water, a water

page_text: supply pipe connected to said reservoir to admit water to the latter and distributing
pipe, while the water is being released at one or more of the localities, and an
automatic electric current controller in circuit with the heating conductor and
operated by the expansion and contraction of the heated water in the reservoir.
14. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption purposes, a suitable
source of electricity, a reservoir containing water, a heating conductor extending
through the reservoir and connected to the source, a distributing pipe extending
from the upper part of said reservoir to and through one or more remote localities
and returning to the lower part of the reservoir, faucets for the pipe at said
localities to release the water, an air outlet at the highest part of the pipe, a water
supply pipe connected to said reservoir to admit water to the latter and distributing
pipe, while the water is being released at one or more of the localities, and means
to control the electric current operated by the water.
15. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption purposes, a suitable
source of electricity, a reservoir containing water, a heating conductor extending
through the reservoir and connected to the source, a distributing pipe extending
from the upper part of said reservoir to and through one or more remote localities
and returning to the lower part of the reservoir, faucets for the pipe at said
localities to release the water, an air outlet at the highest part of the pipe
connected by a pipe with a faucet near the reservoir, a water supply pipe connected
to said reservoir to admit water to the latter and distributing pipe, while the water
is being released at one or more of the localities, and means to automatically
control the electric current.
16. The method of supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes,
consisting in subjecting water contained in a pipe to a heating effect produced by
an electric current in a portion of an electric circuit composed of said pipe, and
circulating the water in the pipe leading to and through one or more localities
whereat the water may be released from the pipe or utilized for heating purposes.
17. The method of supplying hot water for consumption purposes, consisting in
subjecting water contained in a pipe and under pressure to a heating effect produced
by an electric current in a portion of an electric circuit composed of said pipe,
circulating the water in the pipe leading to and through one or more localities
whereat the water may be released from the pipe, supplying the pipe with water at
a certain point while it is released at said locality or localities.
18. The method of supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes,
consisting in subjecting water contained in a pipe to a heating effect produced by
an electric current in a portion of an electric circuit composed of said pipe, and
circulating the water in the pipe leading to and through one or more localities
whereat the water may be released from the pipe or utilized for heating purposes,
and controlling the electric current flowing in the pipe by the variation in pressure
of the heated water to maintain the water at a constant temperature.
19. The herein described method of electrically heating water for consumption
purposes, which consists in circulating water through a distributing pipe, and
passing an electric heating current through said pipe or a portion thereof to
maintain the pipe in a heated condition.
20. The method of supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes,
consisting in subjecting water contained in a pipe to a heating effect produced by
an electric current in a portion of an electric circuit composed of said pipe, and
circulating the water in the pipe leading to and through one or more localities
whereat the water may be released from the pipe or utilized for heating purposes,
and interrupting the electric current when the pressure of the water becomes higher
than desired, and passing the current when the pressure of the water is lower than
desired.
21. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes,
a suitable source of electricity, a distributing pipe containing water and leading to
one or more localities where it may be released from the pipe, and electric
conductors connecting a portion of the pipe in circuit with the source.

page_text: 22. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes, a
suitable source of electricity, a distributing pipe containing water and leading to
one or more localities, a supply pipe, and electric conductors connecting a portion
of the distributing pipe in circuit with the source for the purpose described.
23. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes, a
suitable source of electricity, a distributing pipe containing water and leading to
one or more localities, a supply pipe, and electric conductors connecting a portion
of the distributing pipe in circuit with the source, and an automatic electric current
controller in circuit with the source of electricity and operated by the expansion
and contraction due to the heating and cooling of the water for the purpose
described.
24. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes, a
suitable source of electricity, a distributing pipe containing water and leading to
one or more localities, a supply pipe, and electric conductors connecting a portion
of the distributing pipe in circuit with the source, and means for releasing the
water from the distributing pipe at said localities when desired.
25. In a system for supplying hot water for consumption or heating purposes, a
suitable source of electricity, a distributing pipe containing water and leading to
one or more localities, a supply pipe, and electric conductors connecting a portion
of the distributing pipe in circuit with the source, and an automatic electric current
controller in circuit to interrupt or decrease the current when the pressure of the
water is too high and to pass or increase the current when the pressure is too low.
Dated this 7th day of April 1801
MARK WESLEY DEWEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.