IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE FREEZING OF WATER IN WATER PIPES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rule, of the City and County of Dublin, Ireland,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE
FREEZING OF WATER IN WATER PIPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Rule at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January 1881.
JOHN RULE, of the City and County of Dublin, Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE FREEZING OF WATER IN WATER PIPES,"
The object of this Invention is to prevent the freezing of water in pipes, by not
allowing the water to remain in the pipes, and for this purpose I apply an apparatus
to existing ball or supply cocks, or it may be to ordinary taps, and at the highest
convenient part of the pipe, so that by the opening of a tap at a lower level than
the cistern or tank, and when the stop cock on the pipe from the water main has
been shut, the water that is contained between the said tank or the apparatus in
connection therewith and the said lower tap shall be run off by the opening of
such tap, and this is effected automatically and simultaneously with the opening
of the tap at the said lower level.
The apparatus as applied, for example, to an ordinary ballcock is as follows,
and consists of an air valve above the supply pipe of the ball cock, so that when
the ball cock is in action the valve is automatically closed by the pressure of water,
and atmospheric air excluded; but when a tap below is opened the air valve is
opened, admitting the air through valve, and the vacuum is consequently destroyed,
thereby allowing all the water that is contained in the pipe to escape.
It is essential that the air valve should be placed at a high level, and the tap
by which the water is drawn off should be at the lowest convenient level, so that
all the water in as much piping as possible may be drawn off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Rule in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd July
1881.
JOHN RULE, of the City and County of Dublin, Ireland.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE FREEZING OF WATER IN WATER PIPES."
The object of this Invention is to prevent the freezing of water in pipes by not
allowing the water to remain in the pipes, and for this purpose I apply an apparatus
to existing ball or supply cocks (or it may be to ordinary taps), and at the highest
convenient part of the pipe, so that by the opening of a tap at a lower level than
the cistern or tank, and when the stop cock on the pipe from the water main has
been shut, the water that is contained between the said tank, or the apparatus in
connection therewith, and the said lower tap shall be run off by the opening of
such tap, and this is effected automatically and simultaneously with the opening
of the tap at the said lower level.
The apparatus as applied, for example, to an ordinary ball cock is as follows,
and consists of an air valve above the supply pipe of the ball cock, so that when
the ball cock is in action the valve is automatically closed by the pressure of water,
and atmospheric air excluded; but when a tap below is opened the valve is opened,
admitting the air through valve, and the vacuum is consequently destroyed, thereby
allowing all the water that is contained in the pipe to escape.
It is essential that the air valve should be placed at a high level, and the tap
by which the water is drawn off should be at the lowest convenient level, so that
all the water in as much piping as possible may be drawn off.
The means at present adopted for emptying main water pipes in dwellings is
very unsatisfactory, requiring the service of two separate taps fitted close together
in basement, viz., stop cock and draw off cock. According to the present arrange-
ment when the stop cock is closed and the draw off cock opened, it is generally
supposed the pipes are safe from freezing; this however is not so, for the main
pipe is still full of water and cannot empty itself, owing to the draw off and ball
cocks through house being closed. According to my Invention I employ a screw
down stop and emptying cock, which is similar to the stop cock at present in use,
and can be fitted anywhere that a stop cock is required. In conjunction with this
stop cock is an air valve which can be used as a ball cock or fitted to any ball or
draw off cock at present in use, or to main pipe at highest point, the valve being
worked by the water pressure.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate several convenient ways in which my
Invention may be carried into effect.
Figures 1 and 2 show in longitudinal vertical section a ball cock arrangement.
fitted with air valve of spherical shape according to one modification of my
Invention; at Figure 1 the ball valve lever is shown depressed with the supply valve
open; at Figure 2 the ball valve lever is shown raised, and the supply valve closed.
Figures 3 and 4 are views in longitudinal vertical section of two similar arrangements
wherein a vertical spindle valve is shown, in both these Figures the ball cock is
shown raised, but in Figure 3 the water is shown in the supply pipe, and in Figure 4
the water has been withdrawn by reason of the opening of a cock at a lower level
(the construction of which is hereafter referred to), consequently the air valve a
falls from its upper seating a¹ to its lower seating a², but on the admission of water
to the service pipe C the air valve is immediately closed.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show another arrangement where the loose spindle valve is
set horizontally, and acts both as an air as well as a supply valve.
In Figure 5 there is a pressure of water in the service pipe, the stop cock being

page_text: shut. The ball valve lever is shown at or about its highest level. In Figure 6 the
ball valve lever is shown depressed by the emptying or withdrawal of water from
the cistern.
Figure 7 shows the position of the ball valve lever when the cistern is full, but
when the water has been withdrawn from the pipe by the closing of the stop
cock, thus admitting air to the pipe in the direction indicated by the arrows.
Figure 7a shows a modification in which the valve works vertically, and in the
raised or open position corresponding to that of Figure 6, the ball float being down,
and the other end of its lever bearing on the valve stem.
In all these arrangements it will be seen that so long as there is a supply of
water in the pipe, the air valve is kept closed even when supplying the cistern,
but only when the water is run off does the valve open and admit air to the pipe,
which is effected by the vacuum that is consequently created at or near the
uppermost point; a is the air valve; a', the upper seating, and a² the lower
seating thereof; C is the service pipe; B is the supply valve, and A is the ball
valve lever. At Figures 5, 6, and 7 this ball valve lever is shown pivotted at A';
A is the short arm of the lever A, and this short arm acts as a tappet against
the head of the valve and spindle a, whereby it is pushed back and the cistern
supplied with water.
To empty the water pipes of a dwelling by this Invention, all that is needed is
to shut the stop cock in basement, and all the pipes will empty themselves through
the outlet valve attached to the stop cock aided by the air valve, which is fitted on
highest water point, thus the annoyance, damage, and expense, caused of burst
pipes is avoided, and the waste of water arising therefrom entirely prevented.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of a stop cock constructed according to my
Invention.
Figure 9 a transverse section through same with the valve open and the outlet
closed; Figure 10 is a transverse section of Figure 8 with the valve closed and the
outlet open.
'
Figure 80 is a detached view of the valve C, and Figures 8b and 8° front and
side view respectively of the flap valve, Figs. 8, 9, and 10.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of another modification, but in this example
the valve does not effect the opening of the emptying or cleansing valve; there is a
leg on the handle which takes against a stem when the valve is being closed, the
outlet being closed only when the valve is open by a ball valve. Figure 12 is a
similar view showing the supply valve closed and outlet valve open.
Figure 13 is another modification of this arrangement, only varying in its
compactness and in the means of lowering and opening the outlet valve when
stopping supply.
Figure 14 is a similar view showing outlet open and supply closed. Figure 15
is a sectional plan through line A, B, of Figure 13.
Another arrangement for effecting the gradual opening of the outlet is shown in
elevation at Figure 16, and in plan at Figure 17.
A is the pipe from the main; B is the service pipe to the house; C and D are
the valves; the valve D has a projection d, so that when the valve C is descending
and closing the supply it takes against this projection, thus opening the outlet
and freeing the pipe of the water. In Figures 11 and 12, E is the leg in the
winged screw F; a is the ball valve; a¹, stem and button; a², elastic buffer,
and as, outlet. In Figure 13 the wings F on their underside are provided with an
annular ring or inverted cup G which bears on the button a¹ during the last few
turns, rendering the action of depressing and opening the outlet as more effectual
during the last few turns. In Figures 16 and 17 the underside of the winged
handle F bears against a lever pivotted at one end, and the other end serving to
depress the button and to open the outlet valve; F is the winged screw; a¹, stem
and button; a³, elastic buffer, and H is the lever.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I do not limit myself to the use of any particular inlet or

page_text: outlet apparatus in connection with my Invention, as different apparatus for
accomplishing the same purpose can be used at different points and in various
positions without in any way departing from my Invention, but I claim as my
improvements in apparatus for preventing the freezing of water in water pipes,-
First. The application to and the employment of an air supply aperture or valve
to ball cock appliances or apparatus, substantially in manner and for the purpose
set forth.
Second. The application to ball cock cistern supply appliances of an air supply
valve to the ball cock or adjacent part of the supply pipe, and of a stop cock and
a draw off outlet in connection with the supply pipe, so that the water standing in
the supply pipe is drawn off therefrom by the closing of the supply and the
opening of the draw off outlet, the air valve on ball cock being thereby
automatically opened and air admitted to the interior of the pipe, substantially as
hereinbefore described and for the purpose of preventing the freezing of water in
said pipe.
Third. The various contrivances, together with any mere modifications, thereof,
for allowing and effecting the exit of water in ball cock cistern supply pipes, and
thus preventing the freezing of water in such pipes, substantially as illustrated by
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Rule, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
TATT
JOHN ROLE.
(L.S.)