Improvements in and relating to the Water Supply to Dwellings and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 24th Sept.. 1896-Accepted. 14th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Water Supply to Dwellings
and the like.
I, RICHARD MILES of 299 Mile End Road, London E. Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved container or reservoir for use in private
dwellings and other places for the storage of clean water coming directly from the
main, the object of which is to provide a constant supply of clean fresh water,
without the need of the usual ball cock, and irrespective of whether the main
supply be constant or otherwise.
I carry my invention into effect by fixing in any convenient elevated position
within the dwelling or other place, a preferably cylindrical reservoir, of any
capacity, made of cast or wrought iron, and galvanized inside and out, and of
sufficient strength to withstand the force or pressure of the main supply, with
which the upper portion of the said reservoir is connected.
The said reservoir is covered by a suitable fixed lid, in which an air inlet is
provided, and beneath this within the said lid, and retained within a skeleton cage
or frame, is a small rubber ball, which, as the reservoir is filled from the main,
rises and closes the said air inlet, the pressure from the main keeping the said ball
in this position, but as water is drawn off from the lower end of the reservoir,
whereat the domestic supply service is connected, the said ball would lower just
enough to permit an inlet of air sufficient to prevent a vacuum being formed, and
by this means I dispense with the usual ball cock, and the simple and automatic
action of the ball valve entirely obviates the need of an overflow pipe, as waste of
water is impossible, while the water is at all times fresh and cannot become
stagnant.
Dated this 20th day of Fahr 1896
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to the Water Supply to Dwellings
and the like.
I, RICHARD MILES, of 299 Mile End Road, London E. Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to an improved water tank or reservoir to be fixed in any
suitable or convenient position upon the inside or outside of private dwellings and
other places, and connected to the main supply and the usual fittings as hereinafter
described, the object of my said invention being to provide a reservoir that shall
act automatically for the prevention of overflow or waste without the employment
of the usual ball cock, and provide a constant supply of clean fresh water
irrespective of whether the main supply thereto be constant or otherwise.

page_text: In order that my said invention, and the manner in which I prefer to carry the
same into effect may be fully understood, I have hereunto appended a sheet of
drawings of which,
Fig. 1 is a vertical central sectional view of my improved tank or reservoir,
substantially as I prefer to construct the same for general or domestic use.
Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of same, while
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached view of the automatic valve forming part of my
said invention, and used in connection with the said tank or container.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct of cast or wrought iron, a tank
or reservoir of any dimensions, consisting of a preferably cylindrical body A,
closed at its lower end by a concave bottom B, and at its upper end by a lid or
cover E, bolted, screwed or otherwise firmly connected together and galvanized
inside and out. The said bottom B may be in the form of a sector of a sphere in
cross section, as shewn in full lines, or in the form of an inverted coue as shewn
by dotted outline, in Fig. 1, or partly spherical and partly conical as may be
found most convenient, the object of the bottom B being of this formation is to
prevent accumulation of decomposing matter thereon. In the lowest part of the
bottom B a hole would be formed for receiving an outlet pipe such as C, secured
thereto in the usual way, from which may branch service pipes in any manner or
direction desired.
The supply from the main would enter by the pipe D, at the highest possible
part of A below the cover E, and in the centre of said cover an internally
threaded hole is formed, into which is screwed a valve F, (shewn enlarged and
detached at Fig. 3) in the body of which is formed a vertical central passage G,
covered at its upper end by a perforated zinc or other metallic bonnet or hood H,
the lower end of the said passage being arranged for periodical closure by a
rubber, wood or other suitable ball J, enclosed by a perforated or wire gauze
frame, or a wire frame such as K, preferably the latter as shewn. The manner of
operation is as follows.
The water under pressure from the main would enter the tank or reservoir by
the supply pipe D, and when the level of the water reaches the ball J, this would
rise and close the passage G, thus gradually expelling though the bonnet H nearly
the whole of the air previously contained in the tank, thus forming almost a
hermetic seal, the said ball being retained in this position by the main service
pressure, and would so remain during the continuance of such pressure notwith-
standing that water may be drawn off by the service pipe C, but if the supply be
not continuous and ceases, if water be then drawn off from C the level of the water
would be lowered and the ball would fall by the pressure of air through the
bonnet H until this had reached the position shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 3, but
would again automatically rise and close the passage G when the water from the main
again filled the tank, thereby rendering overflow or waste impossible, and the usual
overflow pipe consequently unnecessary;
In providing a water supply to w.c's and the like, it is common practice to
employ a conduit coming directly from the tank or reservoir, or the main supply
pipe to the flushing tank, the said flushing tank being of course in direct com-
munication with the w.c. or the like, and in consequence it has hitherto been
possible, under certain conditions, that noxious vapours from such w.c. or the like
may enter the said reservoir or main. In order to prevent this, I connect the
pipe L, serving such flushing tank, with the pipe C, and arrange that some part
of L, (anywhere between the pipe C and the said flushing tank) shall be horizontal
or approximately so, and in the said horizontal portion I form a downward bend or
curve such as M, so that, notwithstanding the tank or reservoir according to my
invention, and consequently the conduit L, may, under exceptional circumstances,
become empty, the water that would remain in the bend M, would form a water
seal, and prevent any noxious gases coming from such a source as before mentioned
from entering either the tank or reservoir or the main service.
In order that my said improved tank or reservoir may be further guarded from

page_text: dust or dirt when fixed inside a dwelling or other place, or from rain collecting in
the concave cover E when outside a dwelling or other place, I may provide a wood
or other cover for same, as suggested by dotted outline at N Fig. 1, or by
constructing the cover E of stouter inaterial so as to be capable of withstanding
the pressure from the main supply, this may be fixed upon A in a position the
reverse of that shewn at Fig. 1, so as to be convex upon its upper surface instead
of concave as shewn.
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.
1st. In a water tank or reservoir for private dwellings and like places, the
employment of a cupped coned or otherwise concave bottom, and a concave or
convex fixed cover or lid, the latter provided with a ventilated ball valve arranged
to automatically close and prevent overflow by the pressure from the main supply
or the rise of the level of the water or both, substantially as herein described and
shewn.
2nd. In a water tank or reservoir, the combination of a cylindrical or other
shaped body A, connected at its upper end with the main supply D, and closed at
its lower end by a concave bottom B, and at its upper end by a fixed concave or
convex cover E, the former in connection with the consuming service pipe C, and
the latter provided with a valve such as F, having a central passage G, covered
a ventilating hood or bonnet such as H, and arranged for closure by a ball J,
retained within a perforated cage, or wire frame such as K, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of June 1896.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.