Preventing the Bursting of Pipes and other Fluid Containers by Freezing.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Preventing the Bursting of Pipes and other Fluid Containers by
Freezing.
I, JAMES ELIJAH BRINDLEY, of 89 and 91, Bryan Street, Hanley, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a means for preventing the bursting of pipes and other
vessels by the freezing of the water contained therein.
I place in the interior of the pipe or vessel, a tube or other suitable appliance
made of india-rubber, or of soft ductile metal, which tube or appliance yielding to
the pressure of the ice during its formation affords the necessary space for the
expansion of the ice and by thus relieving the sides of the pipe from any pressure
effectually prevents bursting. These pneumatic tubes or hollow vessels must be
so constructed that their internal air space is sufficiently large to compensate the
expansion of the ice during its formation, and they must be water-resisting in their
nature, and so sealed that no water can get therein. The interior of the said tubes
or vessels may be either in communication with the atmosphere by means of a
suitable aperture or they may be imperviously sealed throughout.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 represents in sectional elevation an ordinary pipe and tap with my burst
preventing apparatus attached thereto. A is the leaden pipe. B is a metal plate
carrying a taper screw, which screw terminates in a bulbous shaped projection.
C is an india-rubber tube stretched over the bulbous projection and hanging down
in the interior of the pipe. D is a hole bored through the cap B connecting the
interior of the india-rubber tube with the atmosphere.
Fig. 2 represents in sectional elevation the method of attachment when it is
necessary to introduce the apparatus from the side of the pipe. A is the leaden
pipe. is a metal plate (preferably of oval shape) curved to suit the pipe to which
it is to be attached, and carrying a metal tube with a bulbous termination. C is
the india-rubber tube. D is a hole bored through the cap B connecting the interior
of the india rubber tube with the atmosphere. Sufficient of the lead pipe is cut
away to allow of the introduction of the tube and the pipe carrying the same, and
the metal plate B is then securely soldered to the pipe.
Fig. 3 represent in sectional elevation a similar arrangement applicable to iron
pipes and vessels, the cap carrying the india-rubber appliance being screwed in.
Fig 4 is a cross section showing the pipe and preventive apparatus, A. is the pipe
C is the india-rubber tube, I the air space, and E the water space.
When it is advisable not to encroach on the water space, it will be necessary to
construct recesses or cavities in the sides of the pipes or other vessels in which to
place the pneumatic appliance.
In the foregoing description and in the accompanying drawings reference is

page_text: only made to appliances made of india-rubber, but any suitable elastic material, or
soft ductile metal, such as used in ordinary collapsible tubes, is equally applicable
to the purposes of my invention.
Preventing the Bursting of Pipes and other Fluid Containers by
Freezing.
I, JAMES ELIJAH BRINDLEY, of 89 and 91, Bryan Street, Hanley, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, 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 relates to new and useful means for preventing the bursting of
pipes and other liquid-containing vessels by the freezing of the water contained in
them.
According to this invention I place in the interior of the pipe or the like a tube
or vessel made of yielding material and it is an essential part of this invention that
there should be an air passage communicating between the said tube or vessel and
the exterior of the pipe. This tube or vessel by yielding to, or being compressed
by the pressure of the ice during the formation of the latter, affords the necessary
space required by the expansion of the ice, and by thus relieving the wall of the
pipe from that pressure, effectually prevents the bursting of the said pipe. In the
absence of the air passage it is difficult to ascertain whether the tube or vessel is
working properly. If a puncture occurs in a tube or vessel constructed and fixed
according to this invention the water exudes from the air passage and warns the
consumer that the tube or vessel is damaged.
The tube or vessel is preferably made of india-rubber or of soft ductile metal,
and it communicates with the atmosphere or exterior by means of a suitable
aperture. In any case, the internal air space of said tube or vessel must be
sufficiently large to compensate by its compression or yielding for the expansion of
the ice. The said tube or vessel should be capable of withstanding the action, and
also the ordinary pressure of the water when there is no frost, and must be
constructed or sealed in such a manner as to prevent water from entering the same
When indiarubber pipe is used it should be stiff enough to withstand the normal
pressure of the water. This can be effected by the material of the pipe itself or by
introducing into the interior of the pipe a suitable material such as curled
horsehair as used by upholsterers.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the application of my invention to
water pipes.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an ordinary tap and water pipe fitted with one
form of my burst-preventing apparatus.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a modification.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a further modification.
Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Referring first to Figure 1, A. is a leaden pipe, B is an externally screw-threaded
conical plug screwing into and through the closed end of the pipe A, and
terminating at its inner end in a bulbous projection B. C is an india rubber tube
or air vessel stretched at the upper end in a water-tight manner over the bulbous
projection B and hanging down within the pipe A. D is a hole bored through
the plug B so as to connect the interior of the tube or air vessel C with the

page_text: atmosphere. The tube C is sealed or closed in a water-tight manner at its lower
end (not shown). This arrangement is suitable for use where the water pipe A has
a closed end in an accessible place.
The modification shown in Figure 2 is adapted for use where it is necessary to
introduce the tube C into the pipe A from the side of the latter.
In this arrangement a metal plate B2 is employed which is curved to suit the
outer contour of the pipe A and carries a curved metal tube B3 formed with
a bulbous end B over which one end of the indiarubber tube C is slipped. D is a
hole which serves to connect the interior of the tube C with the atmosphere. A
sufficient portion of the wall of the lead pipe A is cut away to allow of the
introduction of the rubber tube C and of the curved tube B³ carrying the same.
The metal plate B2 is then securely soldered to the pipe A.
In the modification shown in Figure 3, the plug B is of cylindrical form and is
screwed into the side of the iron pipe or vessel A.
In all the figures, E indicates the water space of the pipes A.
In cases where it is advisable not to encroach on the normal water space E,
recesses or cavities may be provided in the sides of the water pipes or the like, the
compressible air tubes or vessels being placed in the said recesses or cavities.
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:-
1. For the purpose of preventing the bursting of water pipes or other liquid-
containing vessels, the combination with said liquid-containing vessel of a
compressible water tight air vessel situated in the water space of the said liquid-
containing vessel, and a restricted air passage communicating between said
compressible vessel and the outside of said liquid containing vessel, substantially
as set forth.
2. For the purpose of preventing the bursting of water pipes or other liquid
containing vessels, the combination with said liquid containing vessel of al
compressible water-tight air vessel situated in the water space of the said liquid-
containing vessel and
a restricted air passage communicating between said
compressible vessel and the outside of said liquid containing vessel, said com-
pressible vessel being filled or partially filled with a material adapted to assist said
compressible vessel to withstand the normal water pressure substantially as
described.
3. The combination with a liquid containing vessel of a compressible air vessel
within said liquid containing vessel, an aperture in said liquid containing vessel
for the introduction of said air vessel, a closing device for said aperture, the said
air vessel being secured to said closing device, and an air passage in said closing
device communicating between said air vessel and the outside of said liquid
containing vessel, all substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 12th day of August 1897.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.