Improved Dry Water-pipe System for Houses.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Dry Water-pipe System for Houses.
I, EDWARD WALTER GILES, of 1522 West Lafayette Avenue, in the City of
Baltimore, State of Maryland, and United States of America, Manufacturers
Agent, 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 an improved dry water-pipe system for houses. The
object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of
water supply-pipes and safety cut-off valves by means of which the distributing
pipes throughout a house may be kept empty except at the time water is being
drawn. Another object is to provide means whereby one pipe will serve to deliver
either hot or cold water or mixed hot and cold at the same time. In this system
no cock or spigot is employed at the discharge-nozzle, but a controlling valve is
employed for each pipe and located in the cellar or basement of the house or at
any place above a few inches of lowest drainage level--said controlling valve
serving to turn on a supply of water to the pipe which has the discharge nozzle,
to cut off the supply, and also to drain or empty the said pipe.
In order to make the invention clearly understood I have shown several applica-
tions of the same in the accompanying drawing, in which:-
Figure 1 is an elevation showing a stationary wash-bowl and my improved
pipe system for hot and cold water with the controlling valves, and means for
operating same.
Figure 2 is a side view of one of the controlling valves.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the hot and cold water union and guide valve.
Figure 4 is a top view of the union-the screw cap being removed and showing
the guide valve.
Figure 5 is a view, separately, of the guide valve detached from the union.
Figure 6 is a section view of a controlling valve.
Figure 7 is a similar view showing the valve in the closed or cut-off position
as when draining the pipe.
Figure 8 shows a modification of my pipe system applied in this case for supply-
ing only cold water.
Figure 9 is also an elevation showing a water-closet and supply pipe.
This pipe system is applicable to dwelling houses, store houses, or other structures,
and may extend to the first, second, third, or other upper floors of such buildings.
The letter, A, designates the main cold-water manifold and, A', the hot-water
manifold, the latter leading from an ordinary circulating boiler (not shown).
The wash-bowl, B, is supposed to be located in a room on the upper floor. A
cold-water pipe, d, leads from the manifold, A, and in like manner a hot-water
pipe, e, leads from the manifold A¹, these two pipes connect with the union, C,
and from this union a single pipe, f, leads upward and terminates in an always-
open discharge-nozzle, f, over the bowl, B. No cock or spigot is employed, as
is ordinarily the case, in near relation to the said discharge nozzle. The valves
which control the water in the distributing pipes, d, e, are located as near as

page_text: possible to the lowest drainage level of the premises, where they should be secured
from freezing in winter; all the pipe above said valves is drained or freed from
water, and kept empty except when water is being drawn. These valves are
designated by the letters, F, F. As the valves are both alike, except being
right" and "left" action, a description here of one of them will be sufficient.
The valve case has two screw connections, g, g', for attachment to the pipe and
a third connection, h, for attachment of a drain-tube, h¹, the open end of which
leads to a drip-cup, i, that surrounds and is secured to the supply-pipe-the latter
pipe extending vertically through said drip-cup. A pipe, , connects from the
drip-cup to the drain-pipe, C. The valve, j, which is in the valve-case is a
rotary plug-valve and has a movement equal to a quarter turn; it contains two
ways or passages (as shown) which are of a familiar construction, one to furnish
a supply of water and the other serving to drain the upper part of the pipe empty.
The plug-valve has an end projecting through the wall of the case, and a gear-
wheel, k, is fixed on said end. By turning this wheel one way or the other the
valve-passages in the plug, j, are brought into the desired position. Attached to
the side of the valve-case is a laterally-projecting pivot-stud, p, whose position
is above but parallel with the plug-valve, j; a gear-wheel, k¹, is loosely mounted
on this pivot-stud and gears with the wheel, k, on the end of the plug-valve. A
sprocket-wheel, 13, is joined to the gear-wheel, k¹, on the stud.
Adjacent the discharge-nozzle, fi, in Figure 1 are two sprocket-wheels, L, L',
pivoted to a suitable support, q, each wheel has a lever handle, m, to facilitate
turning. A connection is made between each of these lever sprocket-wheels and
one of the valve sprocket-wheels, , on the pivot-stud.
The union, C, and guide-valve will be understood by reference to Figures 3, 4
and 5. At its top the union has a screw-cap, r, which covers the valve-chamber, s,
and the pipe, f, connects with this screw-cap. Two inclined valve-seats, t, t¹, are
in the chamber-one confronting the other; one of these seats has a cold-water
port and the other a hot-water port. A screw-cap, u, is on the bottom and forms
a small chamber, u¹, below the valve-chamber, s; a narrow slot r, opens down to
said small chamber. A flap-valve, w, is in the chamber, s, and has a lower end, w¹,
which projects down through the narrow slot, e, and by this construction the flap-
valve is free to be tilted or vibrated from one inclined seat to the other to allow
either cold or hot water to pass up, or if it is desired to draw mixed cold and hot
water at the same time, then the flap-valve, c, will stand upright, as indicated by
broken lines in Figure 3, and allow both waters to pass up. By turning the
sprocket-wheel, L, adjacent the always-open nozzle the controlling valve, F, of
the cold water pipe is operated; in this way cold water may be drawn to supply
the bowl, B, the flap-valve, w, tilting against the seat t¹, to allow the water to
pass, and when the wheel is turned to cut-off the flowing water, communication is
at once established between the nozzle pipe, f, and the drain-pipe, C, and said
pipe, f, is thereby emptied. It will be seen that when draining, the water in
the nozzle pipe, f, will be guided in its back flow by the inclined flap-valve, w.
Hot water will be drawn by sprocket-wheel, L', and drained in the same manner.
In the present instance the connection between the upper sprocket-wheels, L, L',
and the lower ones, ³, comprise a short chain, n, about each sprocket and twb
rods or wires, o, o, connecting the upper and lower chains. By the pivot-stud, p
separate from the valve-plug, j, and the inter-meshing gears on the said pivot-stud
and valve-plug, and by placing the lower sprocket-wheel, on said stud, all strain
due to pulling the chain comes on the pivot-stud, p, and not on the valve-plug, j
consequently the latter is saved from undue wear and may be used for a long
time without leaking.
Figure 8 shows an ordinary cock, f³, instead of an open nozzle; and the pipe, f
continues from the cock up through the roof, f³, or up to a point above the level
of the water-supply, where its end, f, is open. By this modification the cocks
may be used, and the pipes will empty whenever the valves, F, are properly turned.
Figure 9 shows the invention applied to a water-closet bowl, X; the supply

page_text: pipe, f, may be attached directly to the bowl; this works satisfactorily where
the water-pressure is considerable. The supply water-pipe instead of attaching
to the bowl, may deliver into an elevated reservoir or flush tank, as shown by
broken lines. The lever, y, on the tank operates a combined tubular plug and
overflow pipe to open and close the flush-port in the bottom of the tank; a chain, z,
connects the lever with a double sprocket-wheel, L2, and the parts are so adjusted
that when the handle, m¹, is turned to open the supply valve, F, the flush port
will be closed, and the flush tank will fill with water; and when the handle is
turned to close the valve, F, the tubular plug will be raised and will open the
flush port and water will flow from the tank and flush the bowl, leaving the tank
normally empty.
The system may also be used for bath tubs, sinks, or any other special purpose
about a house, such as fire-plugs, sprinklers, etc.
It will thus be seen that by my invention the water distributing pipes throughout
the house are emptied every time water is drawn, and all of said pipes are thus
kept dry except at the time it is desired to draw water. This arrangement prevents
any drip of water and prevents freezing of the pipes, and avoids leakage and
consequent damage to walls, plastering, and property.
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. In a system for water-distributing pipes in houses, the combination of a
lower distributing pipe for hot water and another for cold water; a union with
which both of said pipes connect; a single pipe leading upward from said union
and terminating in an always-open discharge nozzle: a valve in said union which
opens communication with either the hot-water pipe and the discharge nozzle
or the cold-water pipe and the discharge nozzle; a drain-water pipe: and a valve-
controlled drain-tube connecting from the hot and cold water pipes, respectively,
to said drain-water pipe.
2. In a system for water-distributing pipes in houses, the combination of a
lower distributing pipe for hot water and another pipe for cold water; a union
with which both of said pipes connect; a single pipe leading upward from said
union and terminating in an always-open discharge nozzle; a valve in said union
which opens communication between either the hot-water pipe and the discharge
nozzle or the cold-water pipe and the discharge nozzle; a controlling valve in
each distributing pipe; and means located adjacent the discharge nozzle and
connecting therefrom to the said controlling valves, as set forth.
3. In a system for water-distributing pipes in houses, the combination of a
lower distributing pipe for hot water and another pipe for cold water; a union
with which both of said pipes connect: a single pipe leading upward from said
union and terminating in an always-open discharge nozzle; two inclined valve-
seats in said union one having a hot-water port and the other a cold-water port:
a tilting or vibrating valve to close either one of said ports; a drain-water pipe; a
valve-controlled drain-tube connecting from the hot and cold water pipes, respect-
ively, to said drain-water pipe; and means located adjacent the discharge nozzle
and connecting therefrom to the said controlling valves, as set forth.
4. In a system for water-distributing pipes in houses, the combination of a
lower distributing pipe for hot water and another pipe for cold water; a union
with which both of said pipes connect; a single pipe leading upward from said
union and terminating in an always-open discharge nozzle; a valve in said union
which opens communication between either the hot-water pipe and the discharge
nozzle or the cold-water pipe and the discharge nozzle; a drain-water pipe; a
controlling valve in each distributing pipe: a drain-tube connecting from each
of said controlling valves to the drain-water pipe; and means located adjacent each
discharge nozzle and connecting there from to the said controlling valves, as set
forth.

page_text: 5. In a system for water-distributing pipes in houses, the combination of a
distributing pipe; an always-open discharge nozzle; a drain-water pipe in the
lower part of the building; a valve-case in said distributing pipe; a drain-tube
connecting from said valve-case to the drain-pipe; a rotary plug-valve in said
valve-case and provided with a gear-wheel; a sprocket-wheel and gear-wheel loosely
mounted on said valve-case-the gear wheel engaging the gear-wheel on the plug-
valve; and an endless-chain connection from a point near the said always-open
nozzle to the sprocket-wheel on the valve-case, as set forth.
6. In a system for water-distributing pipes in houses, the combination of a
distributing pipe having an always-open end; an ordinary draw-off cock on said
pipe; a valve and valve-case in said distributing pipe in the lower part of the
building; a drain-tube connecting from said valve-case; a lever handle and
sprocket-wheel near the ordinary draw-off cock; and an endless-chain connection
from sprocket-wheel to the lower valve.
7. In a system for water-distributing pipes in houses, the combination of a
distributing pipe having an always-open discharge nozzle; a valve and valve-case
in said distributing pipe; a drain-tube connecting from said case; a lever handle
and sprocket-wheel, and an endless-chain connection therefrom to the valve; a
flush tank for a water-closet; and a connection from the lever handle to the flush-
valve in the flush-tank, whereby when the lever handle is turned to the open or
closed position, the flush-valve will be simultaneously closed or opened.
Dated this 27th day of July. 1897.
EDWARD WALTER GILES.