Improved Water Supply System or Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Water Supply System or Apparatus.
I, JOHN KISER LEEDY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
Toms Brook, County of Shenandoah, State of Virginia, Inventor, 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:
This invention relates to certain improvements upon that class of syphonic
water distributing apparatus covered by my United States Patent No. 413,194
granted Oct. 22-1889 wherein the distributing main is arranged to syphon the
water over any elevations and depressions that may intervene between the source
of supply and the outlet, both ends of the distributing main being sealed in water
so as to prevent ingress of air, the syphonic arrangement serving to cause the
water to flow continuously through the main no matter what may be the depression
of the same between the source and outlet points. The present improvements
will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a portion of the earth surface, taken
on the line of the main-pipe;
Fig. 2 a similar view enlarged, of a portion of the route of the main; and
Figure 3 a detail view of my improved air trap.
In the drawings a designates the source of supply which may be a stream,
reservoir, or spring, and 6 the discharge or exit point or body slightly below the
former in order to obtain the syphonic action. The main c connects these two
bodies of water and it follows the contour of the country over which the water is
desired to be carried, whether the depressions and elevations be above or below the
liquid level of the source and outlet. It is essential in ascending elevations that
the main be without bends or loops so that any air that may find its way into the
main will rise readily to the apex of each elevation. The air that may rise to the
highest points in the bends in the main is taken off by the improved trap d shown
most clearly in Figure 3. This trap consists of two chambers d¹ connected
together by a valved pipe d¹, the lower chamber being connected to the apex of
the main by a short pipe and the upper one being provided with a short valved
pipe and a filling funnel. As the air rises in the main it flows in the lower
chamber and displaces the water therein, the quantity of air in this chamber being
ascertained readily by a glass or other gage d. When it is desired to let the air
out of the chamber without destroying the syphon by letting additional air into the
main, the upper chamber is first filled with water and the upper valve closed
tightly, then the lower valve d is opened and the water in the upper chamber
permitted to run down into the lower chamber and the air in this latter chamber
permitted to pass up into the upper chamber then the lower valve is closed again.
In this way all the air collected in the higher portions of the main may be readily
drawn off without permitting additional air to get into the main while doing so.
This is a very important feature of this invention.
If it is desired to draw off water from any part of the main for use, it may
readily be done by connecting a branch pipe e with the main and extending it
down into the earth below the water level at the source, and then carrying it back
to the surface of the earth, where a pump e¹ may be attached to draw the water.
It is necessary in making service-pipe connections to carry the water down below
the level of the source before taking it from the main, in order that air may not
be sucked into the main through the pump, as will be observed.
If desired the main may be arranged to discharge into wells arranged along
the line of the main as shown in Figure 2, the well being in every case sunk

page_text: .
below the level of the source or supply and the traps connected to the highest
points of the mains, preferably below the platform of the well. In this case
suitable valves will be placed in the submerged ends of the pipes, the valves
being operated by rods f¹ extended to the surface of the ground. These are
of advantage in closing the ends of the syphon while filling the same through
the trap at the top. A pump or other means may be employed to draw the water
from the well.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A syphonic water system consisting of a water source, a water discharge
below the source, a main connecting the source and discharge and having inter-
mediate elevations and depressions, service-pipes connected to the main at intervals
along its length, said pipes being carried below the level of the source water, and
.then to the surface of the ground, and pumps connected to these service pipes,
substantially as described.
i
2. In a syphonic water system, the combination of a water main having its
respective ends sealed by immersion in a source of supply and discharge, the supply
source being above the level of the source of discharge-water, the intermediate
portions of the main having angular bends whose apexes are above the level of the
source-water, air traps located at these apexes and constructed substantially, as
described, pipes e connected to the main at intervals along its length, said
pipes being carried below the level of the water source and then to the surface
of the ground, and pumps connected to the upper ends of these pipes, substantially
as described.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1892.