A New or Improved Method to Prevent Pipes Bursting During Frost.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method to Prevent Pipes Bursting During
Frost.
JOSEPH PHILLIPS Ennerdale Lodge Ennerdale Road Kew Surrey Tobacco
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My said invention has for its object the prevention of the bursting of pipes which
contain liquids, during frost by emptying such pipes by means of an adjustable
valve in the cistern or elsewhere, adjustable from any part of a building.
Dated this 12th day of January 1892.
JOSEPH PHILLIPS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method to Prevent Pipes Bursting During
Frost.
I JOSEPH PHILLIPS of Ennerdale Lodge, Ennerdale Road, Kew, Surrey,
Tobacco 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 :-
The object of this invention is to prevent the bursting of pipes which contain
liquid during frost, and the invention is more particularly intended to apply to
domestic water service pipes.
The invention consists in closing the mouth of the service pipe in the cistern, by
suitable means, so that the water contained in the pipe may be drawn off, and the
pipe will thus remain empty as long as may be necessary.
In carrying out this invention, I may prolong (in effect) the service pipe above
the water level in the cistern by means of a rigid or a flexible pipe. I prefer to
use a rigid prolongation, and in the lower end of this prolongation, and near the
bottom of the cistern, I provide a seating for a valve, preferably a double valve,
mounted on a hollow valve stem, lateral openings in the pipe between the two
valves being also provided. When this valve is closed, communication between the
cistern and the service pipe is shut off, but the service pipe will be open to the air
above the level of the water in the cistern, so that the water in the pipe may be
readily drawn off.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shewn, by way of example, in sectional
elevation, a double valve arrangement as applied to a domestic cistern.
A is the tank or cistern, and A' the service pipe. Into the mouth of this pipe A',
is fitted a valve chamber B, having seats for two valves, with lateral inlet
openings B' between the seats. Connected with the top of this valve chamber, is a
pipe C, which projects upwards above the water level.
This valve chamber may be constructed as shewn in the drawings, or in any
other convenient manner.
The valves consist each of a conical valve D, mounted one at opposite ends of a
short hollow stem E.
The double valve thus formed is carried preferably by a rod F, which projects
upwards through the pipe C, and is pivotted to one arm of a lever G, the other
arm of this lever being provided with a pull H, which may be operated from any
part of the house, after the manner of a bell.
In the position shewn in the drawing, the pull H has been released, and the
valve has shut down. When this has been done, the service tap can be turned on,

page_text: so that the water in the pipe A¹ may be run off. The hollow valve stem E will
permit of air entering the pipe A', to replace the water, as it runs off, and it will
also empty the pipe C of any water that may be therein, so that the valve rod
will not become fixed by ice forming in the pipe C. When it is desired to use the
water in the tank, the valve D is raised in the chamber B by pulling on the pull H,
and the water will then run freely into the pipe A' and fill it, and the water will
also pass through the hollow stem E into the pipe C, to a level corresponding to
the water in the cistern.
In this way, when the valve is raised, the pressure of the water on the valve will
be equalized, and the valve will be free to drop by its own weight, when the pull is
released, but when the valve is closed, the pressure of the water in the cistern will
act on the top of the lower cone, and serve to keep the valve tight on its seat.
When the valve is closed, the pipe C will, in effect, act as a prolongation of the
hollow stem E, and the pipe C and stem E will act as a prolongation of the
pipe A'. The pull H may, by means of bell cranks &c., be taken to the kitchen
or any other convenient part of the premises, so that there may be no excuse for
omitting to empty the service pipe, say, at night, before retiring to rest.
In some cases, where the cistern is not exposed, I may find it sufficient to use a
single valve with a hollow stem, which will extend upwards above the water level,
and. may be directly attached to the lever G, guides being provided to ensure its
true vertical motion.
I may here remark, that I do not intend to confine myself to the exact details
shown and described, as these may be varied considerably without departing from
the nature of my invention, the essential feature of which is, to close the mouth of
the service pipe against the in-flow of water, and at the same time to allow for the
entrance of air to the pipe A¹, to take the place of the water drawn off from below,
in order to empty the pipe, and thus avoid the freezing of the water in the service
pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Preventing the bursting of pipes containing liquid during frost, by closing the
inlet to the service pipe against the inflow of liquid, while permitting the inflow of
air, and drawing off the liquid contents of the pipe, as set forth.
2. The means substantially as herein shown and described, for preventing the
bursting of pipes containing liquid during frost.
3. In means for preventing the bursting of pipes containing liquid, during frost,
a perforated valve for closing the inlet end of the service pipe of a tank or reservoir,
having a hollow stem, or its equivalent, extending above the surface of the liquid
in the supply tank, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of June 1892.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.