Domestic and other Purposes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Domestic and other Purposes.
I JAMES HUMPHRYS of Leadenhall Buildings, in the City of London, Engineer
and Naval Architect, 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:-
of
My invention consists in a novel method of automatically regulating the supply
in hot water apparatus heated by coal or other gas.
gas
I fix inside the heater a rod or tube of zinc, copper, brass or other suitable
material the expansion by heat and contraction by diminished heat of which rod
or tube lifts and lowers a lever the long arm of which is connected with a gas
valve which is closed or opened by the action of the lever and the supply of gas is
thereby cut off or turned on with the exception of a lighting jet which is supplied
independently of the regulating valve and kept always burning. The gas passes
through the regulating valve to a suitable gas fire which is ignited by the lighting
jet; as the temperature of the water in the heater rises the rod or tube expands
and lifts the lever the long arm of which closes the valve and the supply of gas to
the fire is cut off, so soon as the temperature begins to fall the rod or tube
contracts and the lever releases the valve and the supply of gas is resumed being
ignited by the lighting jet. And in order that my invention may be more clearly
understood I hereto annex a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
A is the vessel in which the water is heated consisting of an outer case with
suitable connections B B for supply and circulation ccc is the inner case (which
may be made of any suitable form to present efficient heating surface) exposed to
the action of the gas fire D and E is the lighting jet-F is the expansion rod or
tube made fast to the lower part of A at a and passes through a stuffing box G,
the upper end of the expansion rod or tube has a hard steel top which impinges
on the lever H also hardened at place of impact, the lever is supported by
fulcrum J which can be adjusted by the screw I; the long arm of the lever is
connected to the gas valve M a very slight motion of which valve suffices to bring
on or cut off the full supply of gas, and in order that the valve may move with the
utmost freedom the parallel shank N is turned to fit the barrel loosely and several
grooves n n n n n n are turned in it which render it gas tight.

page_text: The upper end of the shank is fitted with an adjusting screw by means of
which the temperature to which it is desired to heat the water can be easily
regulated K K K K are tubes connecting the inner and outer cases of the
vessel A and act both as stays and a chimney. A slight variation in the
temperature of the water in the heater is sufficient to open or close the gas valve;
if for instance a maximum temperature of 160° Fahrenheit is required the apparatus
is adjusted by the screws above referred to so that when the water attains to this
temperature the supply of gas is cut off but on the temperature falling a few
degrees the supply of gas comes on again and is immediately ignited by the
lighting jet.
By this apparatus as described a practically uniform temperature can be kept
where required for warming purposes such as heating greenhouses &c. and when
wanted for a supply of hot water the required temperature is maintained with
the least consumption of gas. The plan shows the expansion rod arranged in a
vertical position but it may be placed at any angle if found more convenient.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention I claim
The Automatic gas heating apparatus for heating water for domestic or other
purposes as herein described and shewn on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of 11000
HUGHES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant
HUGHES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant