An Improved Hot-water Heating System.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept.,
1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hot-water Heating System.
A communication from JULIUS SANDER, of Hannover-Linden, in the Empire of
Germany, and J. KÜHNE, of Wunstorf, in the Empire of Germany.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The collective hot-water heating apparatus for buildings of several storeys
shown in the accompanying drawing is based upon the principle that the atmospheric
pressure is equivalent to that of a column of water contained in an enclosed pipe of
the height of 10 metres; so that in the arrangement hereinafter described, up to
the height of about 10 metres no pressure prevails throughout the entire system,
that with a height of about 20 metres only a pressure of one atmosphere prevails
in the lower part of the system, and so on in proportion.
From the upper part of the heating boiler a the hot-water ascends by the pipe b
to which are connected the heating coils h h h³. The pipe & terminates above the
level of the highest heating apparatus in a cistern c, extending therein to about the
half of its height. The return down pipe y is fixed to the bottom of the cistern c
for the purpose of conveying away the cooled water which descends in c and
returning it into the lower part of the boiler a together with the cooled water from
the various heating coils or apparatus.
The water-level in the cistern e must be maintained at such a height as to keep
the mouth of the ascending pipe constantly submerged, and in order that the
same may be more easily kept under control, the cistern is fitted with a suitable
water-gauge.
The independent cisterns and d, supplied with cold water by the service pipe >>,
serve to fill the apparatus with water. The cold water from his conveyed by the
pipe m' to the lower part of the boiler; that from d passes through the connecting
Both h and d are
support g by way of the cistern c into the return down pipe g.
fitted with ball-cocks e and e¹ as well as for greater safety with an overflow pipe
such as m.
The cistern c is further joined with reservoir d by another connecting support 61
the pipe thereof rising to such a height in d that the inflowing stream of cold-water
can only pass away through g', c and g, as before described. Below the cistern c,
the double cut-off cock is inserted in the up and down pipes and g; and a
similar cut-off is provided in the connections b¹ g', above the cistern, with the
reservoir d, which is of course closed when the heating apparatus is in operation.
For the purpose of emptying the said apparatus, when required, a draw-off cock n
is provided in the feed-pipe m, at the lowest point of the system; o is a cut-off
cock in the feed-pipe m' which is opened while the heating apparatus is at
work, so that the surplus water in the reservoir may escape; i is an air-escape
valve for the removal of the air contained in the feed-water and separated in
heating the same. The hot-water flows through the heating coils from above
downwards, and a stop-cock in the feed-pipe connected with the hot-water pipe b,
in front of each heating coil, provides a means of regulating the heating, or of
throwing the coil out of operation altogether.
With a hot-water heating apparatus wherein the difference of level between the
lowest and the highest points is less than 10 metres as has been said, there is no
pressure prevailing in the system of pipes, inasmuch as in the cistern c, which is

page_text: closed above a vacuum exists, owing to the sinking of the water-level in the columns
of water in the pipe-system until counterbalanced by the atmospheric pressure
from outside, through the open cock o.
For the establishment and maintenance of
the circulation in the apparatus all that is needed is to counteract and overcome the
resistance of friction in the pipes, and this comes into effect by the corresponding
sinking in water-level of the pipe-system so soon as the difference between the
highest point of the latter and the overflow level of the reservoir or expansion
vessel is about 10 metres. It is therefore necessary to exercise due care in fixing
the vessel to ensure that difference of level not exceeding the amount named.
Should there be any such excess of height, the whole of the pipe system and con-
nections below the water-level of the expansion vessel would be subjected to a
pressure corresponding to the difference of level between the highest point of the
pipe system and the water-level in the vessel h, i.e. an atmosphere less than would
be the case in heating apparatus wherein the expansion vessel is situated at the
highest point of all.
During working also air-bubbles form behind the air-escape valve i which ascend
in the rising main b and gradually accumulating in the cistern c, eventually bringing
about an increase of density and pressure therein, leading to a further depression
in the water level.
The heating power and effect of the entire apparatus ceases whenever the
cistern c becomes empty, for which reason it may be desirable in order to ensure
the continued working of the apparatus, to insert in the pipes b, g, below cistern c,
two hollow columns with a double cut-off cock, as between c and d; or otherwise
by turning off the cock o and opening f2 for the admission of fresh water, the air
in c is allowed to escape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
-
1. A hot-water heating system for buildings of several storeys in which an
expansion vessel is placed at such a level below the highest point of the pipe-
system that the external atmospheric pressure suffices to counterbalance that of the
water-columns above the water level of the expansion vessel in the pipes for the
purpose of diminishing the pressure within the pipe-system substantially as
described.
2. In the collective hot-water heating apparatus described in Claim 1 at the
highest point of the pipe-system the arrangement of a cistern fitted with a water-
gauge glass whereby the communication between the rising main which ascends
to a certain height in the cistern and the return down pipe g is made available for
the better regulation of the water level in the apparatus substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 8th day of August 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.