IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE DETECTION OF THE WASTE OF WATER FROM WATER MAINS, PIPES, AND FITTINGS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George. Frederick. Deacon of Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster Civil Engineer. for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO THE DETECTION OF THE WASTE OF WATER FROM WATER MAINS,
PIPES, AND FITTINGS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick Deacon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st March 1883.
GEORGE FREDERICK DEACON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE DETECTION OF THE WASTE
OF WATER FROM WATER mains, pipes aND FITTINGS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR
"
My Invention relates to certain Improvements hereinafter more particularly
mentioned in the detection of the waste of water from water mains, pipes and
fittings, in which detection are employed stethoscopic appliances and provides for
the application of such stethoscopic appliances to water maius and pipes without
the use of stopcocks
In order that the object of my present Invention may be rightly understood I
will explain generally the system employed in the detection of the waste of water
under previous Inventions for which I have obtained the following Letters Patent:—
N° 937/74264/7s, 50/75 and 105/79.
The apparatus described under my former Inventions differ entirely from
ordinary water meters in that they record by a digram for each and every instant
the rate of flow of water through them in units of volume per unit of time,
so that not only can the total volume passed within any given period be
ascertained, but the mode of flow is also made known. Among other advantages
due to this fact is the signal advantage that when such a meter is placed upon a
water main supplying any district whatever but preferably a district of 1000 to
2000, or 2500 persons the rate of continuous waste of water can be distinguished
程

page_text: -
from the rate of use of water at any given time. Thus for example when persons
are drawing water from taps whether with, or without the intervention of cisterns
the rate of flow in the main is not uniform but is an exact summation at any given
instant of all the rates of flow direct to the taps, or to the cisterns supplying the
taps as the case may be, but if for any given period as often happens during the
night the draughts of water from taps direct. from the mains entirely cease,
the irregularly varying flow in the main caused by such draughts also ceases and
there is left probably a uniformly varying flow caused by the filling of cisterns and
the rising of ball cocks. It almost invariably happens however that at some part
of the night the cisterns cease to fill up and the flow instead of being irregularly
varying, or even uniformly varying becomes absolutely uniform. It is then a true
measure of all the continuous waste going within the district. Upon the diagrams
of these meters the three modes of flow thus described are duly recorded and by
inspection of such diagrams the waste of particular districts is accurately
ascertained. In the complete application of the waste water meter system the
house service pipes in such a meter district are provided with stopcocks under the
public footways. It has long been known to plumbers and others that by using a
rod of metal, or of wood after the manner of a stethoscope upon any portion of a
water pipe the sound of water passing through a tap, or other contracted orifice
such as a burst pipe in the neighbourhood may be detected. The employment of
the waste water meters rendered possible the extensive and systematic application
of this system to the discovery of leakage by sounding the outside stopcocks with
rods, or other conductors during the night when the use of water had practically
ceased. When a stopcock was heard to "sound" it was closed and the consequent
retardation of flow in the main was instantly recorded upon the meter diagram.
By this means the night inspectors time was kept and by the subsequent reduction
of the actual waste, as distinguished from the use of water, the value of their work
With
was known. Without the meters such night work is found to be inefficient.
them not only is a great saving of labour effected as compared with the ordinary
system of house to house inspection but a large quantity of hidden waste is detected
and all unnecessary annoyance to householders is avoided.
In places where stopcocks on the service pipes outside the houses are not already
fixed the cost of providing and fixing them is often a bar to the complete
application of the waste water meter system just described.
My present invention consists in providing a means by which stethoscopic
investigations relating to the waste of water can be made outside the houses upon
the house service pipes, or main even though stopcocks are not provided. I effect
the object of my Invention by establishing a permanent metallic, or equivalent
communication from each service pipe; or main to some point which is accessible to
the inspector when making his stethoscopic investigation without entering the
building supplied. One form of the permanent metallic communication consists of
a forked bar the fork of the bar fitting over and contracting the sides of the house
pipe, the prongs of the fork being prolonged and passing through holes provided in
a plate, which plate serves as a bed for the service pipe to rest upon. This forked
bar extends up from the service pipe to the surface of the public footwalk, or other
convenient place, or there is provided a permanent opening to the service pipe
through which the stethoscopic instruement is passed. In this case the metallic, or
equivalent communication does not extend to the surface.
I cause the sound to be increased by accelerating, or eddying the flow as in
practice takes place in most stopcocks at, or near the point where the stethoscopic
instruement is used. This is done by the partial closing, or distorting of the service
pipe and if only a very short length of the pipe be so partially closed, or distorted such
contraction, or distortion while producing the desired result will have no injurious
effect upon the flow through the pipe for the house supply.
To intensify the sonorous, or other vibrations I use modifications of the electric
microphone, or other devices for the augmentation, or development of sound, or I
make the vibrations visible by the disturbance of finely divided materials upon

page_text: thin vibrating surfaces and if such materials are capable of being attracted by a
magnet the motion is increased by the proximity of such a magnet.
The arrangement according to my present invention does not enable the inspector
to shut off the water from the particular premises at which waste is taking place
and thus to check the time of the inspectors. I therefore require the inspectors to
shut and open the main valve controlling the supply to the meter and district both
when they enter the district and when they leave it. This operation produces
each time upon the meter diagram a sudden drop to zero and a rise a few seconds
later and thus records the exact time during which the night inspectors are at
work. In some districts where cisterns are commonly used it is found advantageous
to keep the main valves closed at the beginning of the operations for a.somewhat
longer period, in order that any leaks from pipes, or fittings. supplied by cisterns
may have the effect of partly emptying them and thus causing a greater flow
through the ballcocks which is more readily heard at the places provided for the
purpose.
In the application of this my present invention to the detection of the waste of
water the procedure is very much the same as when stop cocks are provided, namely
the inspector stethoscopically tests the service pipes by applying his instruement to
the metallic or equivalent communicator
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Frederick Deacon in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st September 1883.
GEORGE FREDERICK DEACON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE DETECTION OF THE WASTE
OF WATER FROM WATER MAINS, PIPES AND FITTINGS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR
My Invention relates to certain improvements herein-after more particularly
mentioned in the detection of the waste of water from water mains pipes and
fittings, in which detection are employed stethoscopic appliances, and provides for
the application of such stethoscopic appliances to water mains and pipes without
the use of stopcocks.
In order that the object of my present Invention may be rightly understood,
I will explain generally the system employed in the detection of the waste of water
under previous Inventions for which I have obtained the following Letters Patent
N° 937/4264/ 50/7 and 105/.
73
The apparatus described. under my former Inventions differ. entirely from
ordinary water meters in that they record by a diagram for each and every instant
the rate of Bow of water through them in units of volume per unit of time, so that
not only can the total volume passed within any given period be ascertained, but

page_text: the mode of flow is also made known. Among other advantages due to this fact is
the signal advantage that when such a meter is placed upon a water main
supplying any district whatever but preferably a district of 1,000 to 2,000, or 2500
persons, the rate of continuous waste of water can be distinguished from the rate of
use of water at any given time. Thus for example when persons are drawing
water from taps whether with, or without the intervention of cisterns, the rate of
flow in the main is not uniform, but is an exact summation at any given instant
of all the rates of flow direct to the taps, or to the cisterns supplying the taps.
as the case may be, but if for any given period as often happens during the
night, the draughts of water from taps direct from the mains entirely cease,
the irregularly varying flow in the main caused by such draughts also ceases
and there is left probably a uniformly. varying flow caused by the filling of
cisterns and the rising of ball cocks. It almost invariably happens however
that at some part of the night the cisterns cease to fill up and the flow instead of
being irregularly varying, or even uniformly varying becomes absolutely uniform.
It is then a true measure of all the continuous waste going on within the district.
Upon the diagrams of these meters the three modes of flow thus described are duly
recorded and by inspection of such diagrams the waste of particular districts is
accurately ascertained. In the complete application of the waste water meter
system the house service pipes in such a meter district are provided with stopcocks
under the public footways. It has long been known to plumbers and others that
by using a rod of metal, or of wood after the manner of a stethoscope upon any
portion of a water pipe, the sound of water passing through a tap, or other con-
tracted orifice, such as a burst pipe, in the neighbourhood may be detected.
employment of the waste water meters rendered possible the extensive and
systematic application of this system to the discovery of leakage by sounding the
outside stopcocks with rods, or other conductors during the night when the use of
water had practically ceased. When a a stopcock was heard to "sound" it was
closed and the consequent retardation of flow in the main was instantly recorded
upon the meter diagram. By this means the night inspectors time was kept and
by the subsequent reduction of the actual waste as distinguished from the use of
water the value of their work was known. Without the meters such night work
is found to be inefficient. With them not only is a great saving of labour effected,
as compared with the ordinary system of house to house inspection, but a large
quantity of hidden waste is detected, and all unnecessary annoyance to house-
holders is avoided.
The
In places where stopcocks on the service pipes outside the houses are not already
fixed, the cost of providing and fixing them is often a bar to the complete
application of the waste water meter system just described.
My present Invention consists in providing a means by which stethoscopic
investigations relating to the waste of water can be made outside the houses upon
the house service pipes, or main, even though stop cocks are not provided. I effect
the object of my Invention by establishing a permanent metallic, or equivalent
communication from each service pipe, or main to some point, which is accessible to
the inspector, when making his stethoscopic investigation, without entering the
building supplied. One form of the permanent metallic communication consists of
a forked bar, the fork of the bar fitting over and contracting the sides of the house
pipe, the prongs of the fork being prolonged and passing through holes provided in
a plate, which plate serves as a bed for the service pipe to rest upon. This forked
bar extends up from the service pipe towards the surface of the public footwalk, or
other convenient place, or there is provided a permanent opening to the service
pipe through which the stethoscopic instrument is passed. In this case the
metallic, or equivalent communication does not extend to the surface.
I cause the sound to be increased by accelerating, or eddying the flow as in
practice takes place in most stopcocks at, or near the point where the stethoscopic
instrument is used. This is done by the partial closing, or distorting of the service
pipe and if only a very short length of the pipe be so partially closed, or distorted;

page_text: such contraction, or distortion while producing the desired result will have no
injurious effect upon the flow through the pipe for the house supply.
To intensify the sonorous, or other vibrations, I use modifications of the electric
microphone, or other devices for the augmentation, or development of sound, or I
make the vibrations visible by the disturbance of finely divided materials upon
thin vibrating surfaces and if such materials are capable of being attracted by a
magnet the motion is increased by the proximity of such a magnet.
Before the year 1880 I first employed microphonic apparatus for the purpose of
increasing the intensity of the sound waves passing along the conductors. For this
purpose I have successfully used the mouthpiece of an ordinary Bell telephone and
sounding boxes of various forms with ear pieces.
The arrangement according to my present Invention does not enable the
inspector to shut off the water from the particular premises at which waste is
taking place and thus to check the time of the inspectors. I therefore require the
inspectors to shut and open the main valve controlling the supply to the meter and
district both when they enter the district and when they leave it. This operation
produces each time upon the meter diagram a sudden drop to zero and a rise a few
seconds later and thus records the exact time during which the night inspectors
are at work. In some districts where cisterns are commonly used it is found
advantageous to keep the main valves closed at the beginning of the operations for
a somewhat longer period in order that any leak from pipes, or fittings supplied by
cisterns may have the effect of partly emptying them and thus causing a greater
flow through the ball cocks which is more readily heard at the places provided for
the purpose.
In the application of this my present Invention to the detection of the waste of
water the procedure is very much the same as when stop cocks are provided,
namely the inspector stethoscopically tests the service pipes by applying his
instrument to the metallic, or equivalent communicator..
The beforegoing being the nature, object and purposes of my Invention, I will
now proceed to illustrate how the same may be practically applied and to describe
a form and arrangement of apparatus suitable for being employed in carrying my
Invention into practice and for that purpose I have hereunto attached a sheet of
Drawings illustrative thereof which are marked with letters and figures of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation, like letters and figures
being used to denote the same, or corresponding parts throughout the various
views
In the Drawings
-73
A is a metal bar, or rod, the lower end of which is provided with a fork, the
prongs B of which pass through holes C in the plate D. E is a lead service pipe
which cominunicates between the water main and the house. It will be seen that
the prongs B of the rod A pass over the contracted part of the service pipe E which
lays on the plate D as shown in the Drawings. The other end of the rod A extends
upto, or near to the footwalk. Thus the forked rod A establishes a permanent
metallic communication from the service pipe to a point, which is accessible to the
inspector when making the stethoscopic investigation. The use of the plate D and
the contracting of the pipe E by the prongs B of the rod A affords a meaus of
stethoscopically investigating leakage, or waste of water between the house and
the main, in cases where stop cocks are not provided. The permanent rod A also
provides a convenient means of testing the waste of water by modifications of the
electric microphone or other devices for the augmentation, or development of sound.

page_text: Such devices are conveniently applied to the end A¹ of the rod A. In like manner
the rod A provides a means of making the vibrations visible by applying a thin
vibrating surface to the end of the rod A and providing steel filings, or like divided
materials, capable of being attracted by a magnet, as before described.
Having now described my Invention and shown how the same may be put into
practical operation what I claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is :-
First The method substantially herein set forth of detecting the waste of water
from water mains, pipes and fittings which method consists in establishing a
permanent metallic, or equivalent communication from the service pipe, or the
main, of water supply systems to a point, which is accessible to the inspector when
making his stethoscopic investigations as herein set forth.
Second The use in connection with water supply systems of a permanent
metallic communicator such as the forked rod A one end of which contracts the
water pipe, while the other end provides an accessible point for the inspectors
stethoscopic investigations substantially as herein described and shown in the
Drawings hereto annexed.
Third The method substantially herein described of causing vibrations in service
pipes, or mains of water supply systems, which method consists of distorting, or
irregularly leading, or forming the pipe so as to give vibrations to such pipe that
are capable of stethoscopic detection as herein set forth.
Fourth The system substantially herein set forth of detecting the waste of
water on particular premises, which system consists of contracting the service pipe
and providing a permanent metallic communicator between the service pipe and a
convenient place, such as the footwalk and causing the inspector to control the
supply to the district when he enters it and when he leaves it, so that when meters
are used, this action produces on the meter diagram a sudden drop to zero, and also
a rise, thus recording the inspectors time.
In Witness whereof, I, the said George Frederick Deacon have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
ED EDERICK DEACON
GEORGE FREDERICK DEACON