An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Heating Horticultural Hot-beds and for similar Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1887.
Complete Left, 1st July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Aug., 1887.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Heating Horticultural
Hot-beds and for similar Purposes.
I, JACOB SIEM, of Homburg vor der Höhe, near Frankfort on the Main in the
Empire of Germany, Landscape gardener do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for producing and maintaining the heat of hot beds
for horticultural purposes, by means of hot-water.
The advisability of warming hot-beds by artificial heat instead of by manure has
already given rise to many experiments in this direction, but hitherto with unsatis-
factory results, the heat having invariably been unequally and irregularly distributed
over the bed.
According to the present invention these defects are obviated by arranging a hot
water reservoir below the bed, in which reservoir, by a peculiar arrangement of the
inlet and outlet pipes, the water heated outside continually circulates, in such a nanner
that the entire surface has an uniform temperature.
The water reservoir, which is advantageously constructed of cement upon a founda-
tion that does not conduct heat, is separated by thin cement plates from the earth of
the bed. These cement plates rest upon small cement columns. The reservoir is
devided by a partition into two compartments which communicate with each other
through pipes hereinafter described.
In front of the reservoir below the level of the same is placed a small circulating
boiler which serves to heat the water in the reservoir and to maintain it at the desired
degree of heat.
A pipe conveys the hot water from the boiler through the first compartment directly
into the second compartment, the hot water flowing through the said pipe giving up
a portion of its heat to the water in the first compartment.
A second pipe passing along the transverse rear wall and one side wall of the second
compartment and then also along one side wall of the first compartment conveys the
water which is in proximity to the back wall of the second compartment into proximity
to the transverse front wall of the first compartment.
A third pipe passes through the transverse back wall of the first compartment to
near the back wall of the second compartment then back again through the second

page_text: compartment and then through the rear wall of the first compartment back to the
circulating boiler.
By means of this system of pipes a good circulation of the water is maintained
and an uniform temperature at all points of the reservoir is ensured.
On the outside of the reservoir is a small channel which is in connection with the
said reservoir through a short pipe. This channel serves for filling the reservoir at
the beginning of the operation, the air contained in the reservoir being able to escape
through suitable rising pipes.
This channel also serves for emptying the reservoir.
The rising-pipes extend from the top of the reservoir above the level of the mould
in the hot bed, and permit the insertion of a thermometer to determine the temperature
of the water. Should this temperature rise beyond the desired degree, the burning of
the roots can be obviated by temporarily letting off part of the water through the
channel, the water then recedes slightly from the cement top of the reservoir. It is,
however, essential under ordinary circumstances that the heating water should touch
the top of the reservoir that is to say of the lower surface of cement plates upon which
the mould rests. This condition can be maintained by means of the said channel.
Openings are formed in the side walls of the compartments of the reservoir in front
of which glasses are fixed in the cement wall. These openings serve to receive ther-
mometers the scale of which is visible through the glasses the said thermometers
indicating the temperature of the water in the reservoir. This arrangement is very
suitable during severe cold when it is not desirable to open the frames to let down the
thermometers through the rising pipes.
In order that a tight joint shall always be formed around the circulating pipes
which pass through the front wall of reservoir, a pipe is placed perpendicularly in this
front wall and connected by soldering with the said circulating pipes.
The bottom and side walls of the reservoir are isolated from the soil by wooden
planks or by any other material that does not conduct heat.
As any mixture in the mould cannot escape downwards it is necessary to provide
the forcing hed at the bottom with small drain pipes that conduct any water which
may collect through the frame wall to the outside.
As stated at the commencement of this specification trials have already frequently
been made to artificially heat hot beds. Usually however an air space has been formed
beneath the supports of the bed, so that powerful heating is required in order that the
earth above shall be warmed. By heating in this manner it is altogether impossible
to prevent the earth from becoming dry or even from burning. Heated water has
also been used below the beds, the vapours rising from the water being employed to
effect the heating of the earth, but such vapours have conveyed too much moisture to
the earth, thereby injuring the growth of the plants, apart from other disadvantages
which here shew themselves.
The present invention differs essentially from the means heretofore employed in the
fact that the water reservoir is tightly covered at the top with cement plates,
the hot water being in contact with the lower surfaces of these plates. Now, as the
mould to be heated rests upon these plates which are very uniformly heated the said
mould will also be heated in the most uniform and beneficial manner, without moisture
from the heating water coming into contact with the mould.
A bed heated in the manner before described can be used for raising plants and
forcing flowers and vegetables. It can also be used to heat the ground for pot plants
which are in the open air and for warming the ground of forcing houses.
Dated this 19th day of March 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Heating Horticultural
Hot-beds and for similar Purposes.
I, JACOB SIEM, of Homburg, vor der Hohe near Frankfort on the Main in the
Empire of Germany, Landscape Gardener, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to means for producing and maintaining the heat of hot beds
for horticultural purposes by means of hot water.
The advisability of warming hot-beds by artificial heat instead of by manure has
already given rise to many experiments in this direction, but hitherto with unsatis-
factory results, the heat having invariably been unequally and irregularly distributed
over the bed.
According to the present invention these defects are obviated by arranging a hot
water reservoir below the bed in which reservoir by a peculiar arrangement of the
inlet and outlet pipes, the water heated in a boiler outside continually circulates, in
such a manner that the entire surface has an uniform temperature.
In the accompanying drawings
Figures and show an horizontal section of a heating apparatus constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same.
The water reservoir a which is advantageously constructed of cement upon a founda-
tion of non-conducting material, is separated by thin cement plates from the earth s
of the bed. These cement plates rest upon small cement columns c. The reservoir a
is divided by a partition e into two compartments d, d which communicate with each
other through pipes hereinafter described.
In front of the reservoir below the level of the same is placed a small circulating
boiler m which serves to heat the water in the reservoir a and to maintain it at the
desired degree of heat.
A pipe conveys the hot water from the boiler m through the first compartment.
directly into the second compartment, the hot water flowing through the said pipe
giving up a portion of its heat to the water in the first compartment.
A second pipe g passing along the transverse rear wall and one side wall of the
second compartment, and then also along one side wall of the first compartment
conveys the water which is in proximity to the back wall of the second compartment
as at h into proximity to the transverse front wall of the first compartment as at i.
From the first compartment a third pipe w passes through the transverse back wall
of the first compartment to near the back wall of the second compartment thence back

page_text: again through the second compartment and then through the rear wall of the first
compartment at back to the circulating boiler m. By means of this system of pipes
a good circulation of the water is maintained and an uniform temperature at all points
of the reservoir is ensured.
On the outside of the reservoir is a small channel n which is in connection with the 5
said reservoir through a short pipe. This channel serves for filling the reservoir a
at the beginning of the operation, the air contained in the reservoir being able to
escape through suitable rising pipes o.
This channel n also serves for emptying the reservoir.
The rising pipes o extend from the top of the reservoir to above the level of the
mould in the hot bed and permit the insertion of a thermometer to determine the
temperature of the water. Should this temperature rise beyond the desired degree,
the burning of the roots can be obviated by temporarily letting off part of the water
through the channel n the water then recedes slightly from the cement top of the
reservoir. It is however essential under ordinary circumstances that the heating
water should touch the top of the reservoir, that is to say, of the lower surface of
cement plates upon which the mould rests. This condition can be maintained by
means of the said channel n.
Openings p are formed in the side walls of the compartments d, d of the reservoir
in front of which glasses are fixed in the cement wall. These openings serve to
receive thermometers the scale of which is visible through the glasses, the said
thermometer indicating the temperature of the water in the reservoir. This arrange-
ment is very suitable during a severe cold when it is not desirable to open the frames
to let down the thermometers through the rising pipes o.
In order that a tight joint shall always be formed around the circulating pipes /
and we which pass through the front wall of reservoir, a pipe is placed perpendicularly
in this front wall and connected by soldering with the said circulating pipes and w.
The bottom and side walls of the reservoir are isolated from the soil by wooden
planks or by any other material that does not conduct heat.
s is the forcing bed or mould bed, t are the plants, the windows and y indicates a
section of the windows.
As any moisture in the forcing bed or moulds cannot escape downwards it is neces-
sary to provide the said forcing bed at the bottom with small drain pipes that conduct
any water which may collect through the frame wall a to the outside.
As above stated trials bave frequently been made to artificially heat hot beds.
Usually however, an air space has been formed beneath the supports of the bed, so
that powerful heating is required in order that the earth above shall be warmed. By
heating in this manner it is altogether impossible to prevent the earth from becoming
dry or even from burning. Heated water has also been used below the beds, the
vapours rising from the water being employed to effect the heating of the earth, but
such vapours have been found to convey too much moisture to the earth, thereby
injuring the growth of the plants, apart from other disadvantages which have shown
themselves.
The present invention differs essentially from the means heretofore employed in the
fact that the water reservoir is tightly covered at the top with cement plates, the hot
water being in contact with the lower surfaces of these plates. Now, as the mould to
be heated rests upon these plates which are very uniformly heated, the said mould
will also be heated in the most uniform and beneficial manner without moisture from
the heating water coming into contact with the mould.
A bed heated in the manner before described can be used for raising plants and
forcing flowers and vegetables. It can also be used to heat the ground for pot plants
which are in the open air and for warming the ground of forcing houses.
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.
First The improved method of and apparatus for heating hot beds, and for similar
purposes, consisting in supporting the earth of the hot bed upon cement plates the

page_text: lower surface of which is continually laved by hot water, substantially as and for the
purpose, specified.
Second The improved method as described in the first claiming clause consisting
of the water reservoir a covered by cement plates b, b, and divided by a partition e
into two compartments d, d in combination with three pipes f, g, which set the
circulating boiler m in connection with the reservoir a and the two compartments of
the latter with each other, in such a manner that a uniform heating of the whole
quantity of water is obtained and the latter kept in regular circulation, as and for
the purpose specified.
T
P T.1
1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.