NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING STEAM FOR HEATING BUILDINGS, AND DRIVING MACHINERY, AND OTHER PURPOSES IN CITIES AND TOWNS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Ritson, of Pollokshields, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR UTILIZING STEAM FOR HEATING BUILDINGS, AND DRIVING MACHINERY,
AND OTHER PURPOSES IN CITIES AND TOWNS." A communication from abroad
by Tom Atkinson Ritson, of Buffalo, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Ritson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1878.
"
THOMAS RITSON, of Pollokshields, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
"NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING STEAM FOR HEATING BUILDINGS,
AND DRIVING MACHINERY, AND OTHER PURPOSES IN CITIES AND TOWNS." [A com-
munication from abroad by Tom Atkinson Ritson, of Buffalo, in the United States
of America.]
The Invention relates to a new and useful mode of supplying large districts of
dwellings and other buildings in cities and towns with steam, not only for the
purpose of warming, but also to supply power for driving machinery within
buildings in such districts.
Also, the means whereby the fire engines of a city or town may at all times be
utilized for the extinguishment of conflagrations, although such engines be con-
structed so as to dispense with steam boilers and attendant mechanism for "getting
up steam,
"
Also, the means whereby ordinary hydrants of a city or town may at all times
be economically and securely protected against freezing.
Also, a cheap and ready means for freeing the streets of cities of accumulations of
snow and ice.
Also, the means whereby greenhouses, conservatories, and other outhouses may be
heated.

page_text: And, finally, the means whereby steam and hot water may be supplied for
culinary and other domestic purposes.
I will by way of example describe the application of my Invention to a section
or district of a city or town, having streets intersecting each other. From a central
or nearly a central point of such a section or district of a city or town to any given
point of its boundary I intend shall be a distance of about one-half of a mile in
extent. At this central point and within a building 1 erect the necessary boiler
works for the generating of steam to be distributed throughout the district, for the
purposes contemplated in carrying out my Invention. The steam in the building
is conveyed by a proper pipe or pipes from the boilers therein to a short steam
"street main" pipe, which connects with and through which steam is supplied to
all the other steam main pipes within the district. All these steam mains are laid
underground on the line of the several streets of the city or town included in such
district, and about four feet below. the surface of the street; and service pipes also
in like manner laid underground convey steam from the said mains into the
dwellings and buildings situate on the said streets.
The capacity of the steam boilers in the boiler house should be sufficient to afford
a steady supply of steam to the main pipes, or such other number of steam mains
as might be laid down, at a pressure within the said pipes of about from forty to
sixty pounds to the square inch of interior surface, which pressure it has been deter-
mined by experiment will be sufficient for the various uses desired within a district
of the dimensions heretofore stated..
In rigorous climates, in fact, in all climates, these mains, although embedded
beneath the streets at considerable depth, are more or less subject to longitudinal
expansion and contraction.due to changes of temperature. Hence it is necessary
to provide against such expansion and contraction in order to avoid either breakage
of the mains, leakage of steam, or other damage, which would make the use of
lengthy underground steam mains impracticable. To this end I provide the said
mains, at convenient joints, about one or two hundred feet apart, with junction
service boxes, in which provision is made for the longitudinal movement of the end
of a section of a large main, which enters the expansion chamber of such box, while
the chamber itself is not moved by such movement of the mains.
Each junction service box is made of sufficient size and with a trap door so as to
be accessible for repacking the expansion joints and valves, and repairing the works
within the box. The interior of this box is at its bottom provided with metal
framework for the proper support of and to hold in a fixed position an expansion
chamber. This chamber is made of metal and firmly seated upon cross plates and
between the cross plates of the frame, and is provided with a metal cover; which
latter when in place upon the expansion chamber is held in positions by screws.
Annular bearings which project from two sides of the expansion chamber seat
themselves in "gains" formed in the cross plate, and as a portion of this chamber,
on two sides thereof has a flush bearing against the inside surface of the cross
plates; the said chamber is thus firmly seated in a fixed position in the metal frame.
The inner surface of the bearings are screw-threaded, and receive the ends of service
pipes, which thus communicate with the expansion chamber, into the interior of
which chamber steam is admitted from the steam main, and thence is passed into a
building on either side of a street through the said service pipes.
i
The expansion chamber serves a double purpose, namely, it receives the thrust
of the end of a section of the large main, and permits such end to alternately move
forward and backward in accord with the longitudinal expansion and contraction
of the large main, and it also serves as a chamber from which the steam from the
mains may be distributed through small service pipes to buildings along a street.
Cut-off valves are provided for the service pipes in order to cut off by a key rod
the flow of steam from the main to the buildings when desired. To the inner
threaded end of these service pipes hoods are secured, which hoods may be turned
up or down more or less in order to admit into their open end either dry or wet
steam from the interior of the expansion chamber. When a hood is turned, say,

page_text: with its opening toward the zenith dry steam only will pass into its service pipe,
and thence into a building which the service pipe enters; while if the hood is turned
down in a horizontal position it will admit the wet steam, which will occupy a
lower portion of the said chamber, and if desired the hood may be turned down
with its opening toward the nadir, in which case the commingled wet steam and
water of condensation which may have accumulated in the bottom of the chamber
will be forced through the service pipe into the building connected therewith.
One wall of the expansion chamber forward of its curved portion terminates in a
tubular portion with inwardly projecting shoulders, which closely fit and receive
one end of a section of the steam main. An annular space is thus formed between
a portion of a section of the main and parts of the expansion chamber for the
reception of suitable steam packing so as to form a steam-tight joint around the
end of a section of the main pipe. A removable metal ring is made to seat itself
upon this packing, and thus prevents the escape of steam, as will be herein-after
described.
Projecting from the opposite wall of the expansion chamber are two sets of lugs,
which receive eye bolts, the bolts being retained in position within the lugs by a
pin. The forward ends of these bolts pass through doubly-bevilled bolt holes made
in the rim of a sectional tube, the interior of which is flaring, and at the point
where the inner end of the tube adjoins a convex ring the said tube is bevilled so
as to form a perfect fit to the convexity of the ring. A like fit is made between
the opposite convex face of the ring and an annular projection of the expansion
chamber.
The convex ring is screwed upon the steam main, and may be removed at
pleasure by disconnecting the eye bolts from the sectional tube, and thus allow the
substitution of a new section of main pipe when necessary.
A section of the main which I have just referred to as having the metal ring
screwed thereon, passes through the sectional tube, and when the screw nuts upon
the bolts are tightened up the convex ring will be firmly seated against an annular
projection of the expansion chamber, thus forming a steam-tight joint, so that in
the passage of the main supply of steam through the steam mains no steam will
waste through such joint. And, further, owing to the construction of this steam
joint and the like joint between the convex ring and sectional tube, and the bevilled
portions in the said tube, and the bevilled bolt holes in the rim of the tube through
which the bolts pass, the main pipe on this side of the expansion chamber is
capable of deflection from a right line to accommodate it to the grade or meet any
other contingency of position. I thus provide against a strain falling upon the
main pipes at or near their connection with the junction service boxes, which would
ensue from a deflection of the mains for any cause from the proper condition as laid
down, and at the same time provide against leakage of steam by reason of such
deflection.
A short section of the main pipe has a screw thread cut into its outer surface, so
that one end of the said. section may be screwed into a corresponding opening in
the wall of the expansion chamber. The opposite end of this section engages with
a metallic steam discharge ring, which has apertures through it to admit of the free
passage of steam from the main into the interior of the expansion chamber. By
turning this discharge ring in one direction it will be screwed along upon the
section a sufficient distance to allow of the removal of the metal ring or stuffing
box follower, and thus give access to the packing should such packing need re-
placing; and after the metal ring is thus removed the steam discharge ring can
itself be removed, either for repair or the substitution of a new one, its removal
also giving access to the main. By turning the said ring in an opposite direction
to that just named it will force the metal ring down upon the steam packing,
thereby packing the joint and preventing the escape of steam from the main, as
well as from the interior of the expansion chamber at the end of a section of the
main which enters the said chamber..
The outer surface of the end of the last-named section is intended to slide

page_text: forward and backward in contact with the packing, and the forward end of such
section will be projected into the expansion chamber, more or less, according to the
longitudinal expansion or contraction of the main pipe which is between the source
of the supply of steam to such pipe and the junction service box. This iron section
of the main has its end nickel plated on that portion of its exterior surface which
comes in contact with the steam packing. This is done in order to avoid rust. and
the great expansion of brass, in case this section were to be made of brass, to avoid
rust; and besides this a smooth antifrictional surface is thus secured which is not
subject to great expansion.. In this manner expansion joints may be applied at
intervals where required throughout the whole system of the steam street mains,
thus rendering the use of such mains practicable notwithstanding the very con-
siderable longitudinal expansion and contraction to which long lines of such pipe
are subjected by reason of varying temperature..
The steam mains throughout their entire extent, up to and slightly within the
junction service boxes, are surrounded by a wrapping of asbestos, haircloth, or any
other non-conducting substance or with both asbestos and haircloth, thus confining,
and as it were insulating the steam within the mains, and so preventing its con-
densation. The mains with their wrapping are then enclosed in a water-tight out-
side pipe, either of wood or iron lined with wood, and this pipe is then embedded in
and covered first with sheet zinc or tile, and thereafter with some porous substance
like tan, bark, or. sawdust, to retain confined air while underneath such outside
pipe; tiles are properly laid to carry off water which would othewise settle around
it in the trenches in which the mains are laid.
At some convenient point within each junction service box, and between its steam
and expansion chamber and the source of supply of steam to the mains, a main stop
valve will be applied to the mains in order that steam may be cut off from the
expansion chamber during the act of repairs or an adjustment of the mechanism
therein. From these mains the service pipes conduct the steam to the buildings on
either side of the street along which the said mains may be laid, in which buildings
the steam may be used for either or all of the purposes heretofore named to which
the Invention relates.
I have described the mains as having a longitudinal movement by reason of their
contraction and expansion; and now in order to shew that provision is made
against undue straining of the service pipes, whether they pass at right angles from
the mains to a building, or around corners before reaching a building, making them-
selves a right angle either to the right or left, or both to the right and left, I will
proceed to describe plans which I adopt :-Take a main which in all respects is
constructed, laid down, and protected as before described; and a service pipe leading
out at right angles from the said main to the curb line or to the back yard of a building.
The connection of the service pipe with the main is made by cutting an oblong
hole of about two inches long through the wooden pipe or covering of the main.
To close this hole which is made in order to allow the service pipe when expansion
and contraction take place to vibrate between its inner end and its connection with
the main, a wooden tube having an internal flaring expansion chamber is placed
around the service pipe from its inner end to its connection with the main and
firmly strapped in place. The joint around the oblong hole and between the wood
pipes is made water-tight in any proper manner.
It is evident that the service pipe if made fast or impacted by earth at its end
will still have freedom by means of the flaring chamber of the wooden tube and the
oblong hole to vibrate when the steam street main contracts and expands, and this
without much strain upon it, as the great length of pipe between the fixed point
and the point of connection with the main will cause the movement of the service
pipe at its fixed point to be exceedingly slight. Now if the service pipe is to be
bent so as to form an elbow, or is to be united to two elbows for the purpose of
leading the steam into buildings not situated for a service pipe, I enclose it in a
water-tight wooden casing. The interior of this casing forms a flaring chamber,.

page_text: and the service pipe is only impinged upon, and that loosely, at two or three points.
The elbowed portion of the pipe and all other portions thereof between the points
which are impinged upon loosely, and the elbows, will have freedom to vibrate in
the flaring chamber of the casing to any extent that the expansion and contraction
of the service pipe may render necessary.
I will now describe one practical plan for utilizing the steam from the mains in a
dwelling within a district of buildings. A junction service box is beneath the
street roadway, from which box through one of its service pipes steam is conveyed
into a conducting pipe which leads into a steam hydrant situated upon the side
walk. From an ordinary water main water is supplied to a street hydrant, from
which water can be furnished to a city fire engine, and in order to prevent the
water in the hydrant from freezing during the winter season the conducting pipe
is made to impinge against such hydrant.
The fire engine may have no boiler or fire, and take its steam from the steam
hydrant through a steam pipe or hose simultaneously with its supply of water from
the hydrant through a water hose.
The advantages are apparent in that the water in the hydrant is never frozen and
the steam in the hydrant is always "up" and ready for the engine; besides this,
the cost and weight of a fire engine may be reduced about one-half that of any
other; at the same time the alarming appearance caused by the fire, smoke, and
noise while running to and working at a fire, as well as attendant casualties, are
avoided.
7
I will here state that the steam admitted to the steam hydrant will be at high
pressure, and that proper cocks for letting on and cutting off steam to and from the
same are provided. In case there should be no city. hydrant adjacent to a building
to which steam is to be supplied, the conducting pipe leading steam into such
building will connect directly with the service pipe. A conducting pipe may
receive its steam from the conducting pipe which leads to the steam hydrant, and
thence passing into the building may supply steam directly to a heater or radiator,
and so warm an upper room, while a branch conducting pipe may lead into another
heater in the same or another apartment. It is desirable, however, not only to
regulate the supply of heat to a given building, but also to ascertain the amount of
steam supplied under a given pressure, as well as record such supply, in order that
a uniform proper price may be charged to the occupant of the building for the
steam used to heat the same, and for other purposes. To this end a cut-off cock is
applied to the conducting pipe to compel the steam to pass into and through a steam
meter, by means of which the pressure and supply of the steam is primarily regu-
lated within the building and the consumption recorded. Steam pipes connect such
meter with the conducting pipe, and cocks are applied to these steam pipes, so that
when the cut-off cock is closed and the other cocks are open the steam will pass
into the meter through one steam pipe and out of the meter through the other pipe,
back to and within the conducting pipe, and so on to the radiators, as well as to
other parts herein-after described. This meter, inay be conveniently constructed of
a metal cylinder, having a steam chamber to receive steam through a pipe, which
connects with the steam the conducting pipe herein-before described. The ends of
this cylinder are closed steam-tight with a properly fitting stuffing box at one end
and with a steam-tight tubular valve stem bearing at its other end. Within this
cylinder is a cone valve, connected at one of its ends with a valve stem and at the
other end with a screw-threaded stem, which takes into a nut of the valve stem
bearing.
The cone valve which admits the steam from the chamber into the pipes leading
to the different rooms and radiators passes through an annular diaphragm. The
area of the opening in the diaphragm when it surrounds the small end of the cone
valve must be of a sufficient size to supply all the radiators required in a given
dwelling, or have about an area of three-fourths of a square inch for every. hundred
thousand cubic feet of space to be warmed. The large end of this cone valve
should fill the diaphragm opening so as to form a close joint. The amount of steam

page_text: passing through the diaphragm will depend on the position of the cone valve as it.
moves forward and back through the said opening. Clockwork regulated to keep'
good time gives movement to a ribbon of paper. This ribbon passes over and is
moved forward by a roller fastened upon an extension of a shaft which in ordinary
clock work gives movement to the hour hand of a clock. The ribbon in its forward
movement is held down upon the roller by a loosely revolving roller, the ribbon
passing between them as the roller is slowly rotated by the clockwork. The ribbon
is ruled lengthwise with eight or ten black parallel lines, and with a red line on one
edge, which is termed the " zero " line of the ribbon, and on which zero line the
pointer will rest when the valve is closed. It is also ruled with black cross lines to
represent days, and with lines to represent half days, and with lines to represent
hours. Any number of these ribbons may be provided in advance of their use, as
the same ribbon will answer for all the different sizes of meters within the district
of buildings to which the steam is supplied, as well as for all pressures of the
steam.
As before stated, the amount of steam passing through the diaphragm depends
on the position of the cone valve, and its position is accurately recorded upon the
ribbon by a pence finger secured to a sliding bar, which latter is supported in hori-
zontal position by the frame of the clockwork, and in such manner as to allow of a
sidewise movement either to the right or left. This bar has a clutch attached to
one of its ends, which clutch travels in a circular groove cut around the valve stem,
and at the opposite end of the said bar a flat spring is secured to the bar.
The spring moves with the bar to right and left, according as the bar is moved, and
upon the plane surface of a metal frame which encloses the cylinder of the meter,
and also supports its clockwork. The pointer is so adjusted in position upon the
bar that its pencil will always press upon the ribbon at a point where the ribbon is
in firm contact with the periphery of the roller, while at the same time the clutch
is so adjusted on the said bar as to travel in the groove of the valve stem, and in
these positions the said bar and clutch are always held by the tension of the spring
upon the cover during the forward and backward movement of the valve stem and
cone valve; in other words, the pencil finger is automatically held to its work by
the spring, and as the pencil, is moved crosswise of the ribbon through the con-
nection of the bar with the valve stem, the slightest movement of the cone valve
will be felt by the pencil and such movement recorded upon the ribbon. The cone
valve is moved backward or forward through the diaphragm by means of a screw
movement, but it is practicable to effect the opening and closing of the cone valve
by a lever without revolving the valve.
I will here state that while the steam in the mains as well as the valve chamber
is always at high pressure, yet, by being "wire drawn" around the cone valve
through the diaphragm, the steam is reduced to low pressure, and in this con-
dition can be safely used for warming the building.
My object in using high pressure in the mains and a low pressure in the
dwellings is to keep the said mains as small as possible on account of expense
and loss of condensation, while low pressure in the buildings is not as liable to
cause leakage in the joints, valves, and packing, besides being considered safer.
Each different size meter should have its number, and each ribbon of paper
placed on a meter should be numbered to correspond with the number of the meter
on which it is to be used. This being done, the value of the steam between the
longitudinal lines will be known by its number. This value may be computed
with considerable accuracy by the area of the diaphragm aperture, and the velocity
of steam at given pressures. But when greater accuracy is required, a company or
producer supplying a city or town with these works should be provided with an
apparatus for that purpose, consisting simply of a surface condenser or coil of pipe
submerged in cold water of sufficient size and length to condense all the steam that
will pass through the largest meters within a given time. Then the value is
obtained as follows:-Supposing the meter is to be used with a pressure of forty
pounds above the cone valve, and at or near the pressure of the atmosphere below.

page_text: the cone valve, first close the cone valve and thus station the pencil on the zero or
red lines of the ribbon; then open the cone valve until the pencil reaches the first
black line, which runs lengthwise of the ribbon and there stop. This will allow a
small quantity of steam to pass into the condenser, where it will be condensed and
come out pure distilled water. Let the valve remain open one hour, then close it
and weigh the water. Multiply the weight in pounds by 27.7, which will give the
number of cubic inches of water. Each cubic inch of water was a cubic foot of
steam at the pressure of the atmosphere before entering the condenser. Then
multiply the cubic feet of steam by 24 (the hours in a day), and the result by 30
(the days in the month), and this will give the number of cubic feet of steam for one
month. Then again open the cone valve till the pencil reaches the second black
line running lengthwise of the ribbon, and repeat the process at each of such lines
until the cone valve is wide open; the movement of the valve during this process
being effected by a hand key applied to a valve stem.
If the result of the above test should show an increase of one hundred cubic feet
of steam for every successive longitudinal line reached by the pencil over the
number of cubic feet shewn for the immediately preceding longitudinal line, then
the meter would be of proper size for a dwelling or other building containing
fifteen thousand cubic feet of space to be warmed. I will suppose this meter to be
in operation in a dwelling, and at the end of a month the amount recorded averaged
five full spaces, and each of such spaces between the hour lines, and between the
red-lines, and black lines, and so on, of the ribbon represents the consumption of one
hundred cubic feet of steam for one hour.
F
To obtain the cost for one month or one year is as follows:-Example. One
hundred cubic feet per hour multiplied by the number of hours in a day shews the
consumption of twenty-four hundred cubic feet each day, which multiplied by the
number of days in a month, shews the consumption of seventy-two thousand cubic
feet for one month, which multiplied by the sum charged for a thousand cubic feet
will give the amount per month for each full space, and such sum being multiplied
by five, the number of spaces will make the total sum per month. These ribbons
may be collected once a month, and any broken spaces indicated by the pencil
arranged before they go to a book-keeper, who having a table with the price per
month of of each of the said full spaces of the ribbons for the different size meters, will
know at once how to make out his bills. This meter will work practically correct,
even if the mean pressure of steam should vary five pounds either way from forty
pounds pressure, in which case the loss or gain to the consumer would not exceed
two per cent.
.
I have described the meter only as a meter for steam, but it is equally as good
for measuring many other fluids either hot or cold, where the pressure below the
cone valve is less than above it. It may be opened or closed by hand, and after
having been opened it may be more or less opened and closed automatically by the
pressure of the steam below the cone valve, and thus the steam in the house kept
at a uniform pressure as will be herein-after shewn. I have also spoken of trans-
mitting steam through long lines of pipe. The same apparatus is equally good for
hot fluids, either water, air, or oil.
As the steam passes out of the meter back into the conducting pipe it will be under
low pressure, and then passes directly into the radiator through such pipe, and into
another radiator through another pipe, the cocks of the radiator being opened; also
through a pipe into a pressure gauge to indicate the pressure in the .building;
also through a pipe into a diaphragm regulator attached to the key of the meter to
regulate the pressure in the building.
A steam trap has been constructed expressly for use in connection with this
improved apparatus for warming, which I am now describing: This trap answers
a double purpose, that of a reheater and a steam trap. In many places it can be
used as follows:-For instance, in order to warm a large dwelling or store where
there are a number of radiators in the rooms above ground, the steam will come
into the basement through the meter, then up through all the radiators as just

page_text: described. The condensed steam being returned to the basement through pipes
into the trap, a balanced valve being opened at the upper end receives the water
from the return pipe, and will remain full or up to the top of its centre tube. The
top of the tube and the water in the float being about eight inches higher than the
water surrounding the float, gives the water in the centre tube that much "head,"
and forms a current, of hot water down through the bottom of the float. The
temperature of the descending water being hotter than that in the trap below will
increase its temperature, and cause it to ascend in the space between the float and
the interior of the trap a little above a pipe, through which pipe it will leave the
trap and circulate through a radiator in the basement, then back through a pipe
into the bottom of the trap, when it ascends and is reheated by the hot water
descending through the centre tube. If the temperature of the circulating water is
too low to warm the basement radiator, live steam by opening the valve can be
admitted to the trap through a pipe coiled in the bottom of the trap, and so reheat
the water and raise its temperature as high as required. The steam condenser in
this coil will be forced up through the pipe into the top of the trap, and increase
the temperature of the water descending through the centre tube.
When the water rises too high in the trap the float (which is connected by a rod
and a cord to a lever) will ascend and lower the weighted end of the lever, which,
by means of a rod and another lever, will open a cock in a waste pipe which com-
municates with the trap, and thus allows the surplus water to pass off into a hot
well; and if at the same time it should be desirable to heat a greenhouse with the
water of condensation returned to the trap, a hot water pipe may be used to lead
such water from a pipe which connects with the trap to the greenhouse and through
heating pipes therein, and thence be returned through pipes to the trap in which it
is reheated for repeated circulation, while all surplus water will be discharged into
the reservoir or hot well as before described.
It is manifest that the hot water from the trap may be carried to a tank in the
kitchen of a building, there to be used for culinary and other domestic purposes, a
return pipe being provided to return the water from such tank to the trap in a like
manner as provided by the pipe for returning the hot water from the radiator to
the trap, and in like manner hot water can be supplied for use throughout the
building wherever needed. In this manner I am enabled to utilize either in the
_condition of steam or in the condition of hot water nearly all the heat let into
the building.
I will here state that while I prefer to use the trap above described, still a trap
of ordinary construction might, with good results, be substituted therefor for the
purpose of heating by steam only.
In the foregoing description I have spoken of the trap as a reheater for warming
either the basements of buildings or greenhouses by circulating hot water. But
this combined trap and reheater need not be used simply to heat such localities.
If desired, the trap proper may, for instance, be located in the upper story of a
building, and warm all parts of a building as well as a greenhouse by circulating
hot water from such upper story; and there being no danger of fire from its use,
the trap proper may be located in any back hall or closet. The outer shell or
cylinder of the trap may be made with two sections or main parts, an upper one, in
which the float operates, and a lower one, in which the coil is located, the two
sections freely communicating through an annular opening. There is thus
practically a float chamber for the upper section and a coil chamber for the lower
section, the two communicating through the annular opening.
I will now suppose that it is desirable to locate the trap proper in the third
story of a dwelling; in this case the coil chamber or lower section will be located
in the basement, and thus act partially as a heater for such room, while the upper
section will be located in the third story of the house, and thus act partially as a
heater for such story, and from this latter section the hot water will circulate through
all the radiators on that floor, then descend to the next, and so on until it reaches
the basement, from whence it may circulate through a greenhouse, and finally be

page_text: returned to the bottom of the trap, and so be reheated for repeated circulation, while
all surplus water will be discharged into a hot water reservoir. In this supposed case
the live steam after having passed through the meter is taken into an "upright,"
from which the steam passes through a pipe, and its coil in the lower section, along
up the said pipe, and discharges into the upper section in the third story. It will
thus be seen that any one or more of the buildings situate within a district of
buildings can, at option, be heated either by steam or by circulating hot water,
as may be desired; or parts of the same building may be heated by steam,
while other parts may be heated by circulating hot water, the agent for doing all
this being the steam generated in the building located at or near the centre of the
said district, and passed through mains under high pressure.
I have a pressure gauge to indicate the pressure of the steam let into the radiators
and other steam fixtures of a dwelling. This gauge may be situated in the base-
ment of a building, and receives steam through a pipe when the steam leaves the
meter. It consists of a cylindric frame, its upper extended portion being provided
with a scale indicating pounds and half pounds. It is provided with an index
pointer and with a short lever arm which receives a rod that is attached to a rear
portion of a vertical lever. The extremity of the curved rear portion of this lever
seats itself loosely beneath a projecting part of an annular rim, while a projecting
portion rests upon a boss which is secured centrally upon a flexible diaphragm
which covers and is secured over the steam chamber of the gauge. A rod connects
the lever with a flat spring secured at its rear end to the frame. This spring,
when not under tension by the action of the steam in the chamber, will cause the
pointer to rest at the zero point of the scale, and to this normal position the
pointer will always return after the pressure of the steam has ceased to act within
the chamber. Supposing the pointer to be at zero and the diaphragm at rest; if
steam is now let into the chamber through the pipe the flexible diaphragm will be
forced outwardly from the steam chamber, thus forcing outwardly the forward part
of the lever, and at the same time drawing down the rod, which in turn draws
down the short arm, thus causing the pointer to move forward upon the scale.
This act puts the spring under tension, and it will remain under any given tension
corresponding to a given pressure of the steam so long as such pressure is
maintained, and as the pressure varies the pointer will indicate the varying
pressures upon the scale, and when all pressure ceases the pointer will return to its
normal position at the zero point.
The steam after passing through the meter also passes from the conducting pipe
into a pipe which conducts it into a diaphragm regulator. This regulator is con-
nected with a key upon an arbor on the end of the valve stem of the cone valve,
and regulates the pressure of the steam within the building. The regulator is of
simple construction, having a steam chamber to receive steam from the pipe, and a
flexible diaphragm held in place by an annular ring. A lever is pivoted at its rear
end to an upright projection of the ring, and a downward projection of the lever
rests upon a boss secured to the flexible diaphragm. The lever is provided with a
movable weight, which may be slid along the bar as desired. A cord has one end
secured to the forward end of the bar, while the other end of the cord is secured to
a weight. This cord, when the regulator is to come into action, is passed over a
sheave of the key.
I will now suppose the cone valve to be closed and that the operator desires to
let a quantity of steam into the radiator, sufficient to heat it, and that such
quantity will be furnished at a pressure of two pounds. To do this the key is
turned forward by the hand of the operator, thereby opening the valve. The
forward movement of the key is continued until the pressure guage indicates the
two pounds pressure. This done, the operator raises the cord over the sheave
above described, and adjusts the weight along the lever of the regulator until the
lever assumes a horizontal position, care being taken during such act not to further
open the cone valve. This being done a steady heat at two pounds pressure of
steam will be furnished to the said heater. After a while it becomes desirable to

page_text: set another heater in operation, and accordingly the inlet valve is properly turned
and steam admitted. This act at once reduces the two pound pressure in the
chamber of the regulator, whereupon the weighted lever will commence to fall below
a horizontal position, and so draw upon the cord, at the same time elevating the
weight, and thereby opening the cone valve until the given pressure is re-established
for both heaters, the same as it previously had been for only one. After another
interval of time it may be found, desirable to only use one of the heaters; accor-
dingly the steam is cut off from one heater, and this act increases the steam
pressure in the regulator. This extra pressure in the chamber under the diaphragm
of the regulator will accordingly raise the weighted lever, and close the cone valve
just enough to keep the right supply of heat to the remaining heater and practically
under the original two pounds pressure.
In large cities many narrow streets during the winter season become at times
so much obstructed by snow and ice as to impede travel, as well as entail a heavy
expense for the removal of the same.
In carrying out this improved mode of heating buildings in cities and other
large towns I provide for a ready and inexpensive removal of such snow and ice.
At one side of the street an opening is made along the curb, a cover being provided
for such opening when not in use. This opening leads into a large underground
tank or box, provided with an exit pipe which is made to communicate with an
underground sewer. This box may be located near one of the steam hydrants
above described, or if deemed best a special steam hydrant may be provided at
convenient points on the side walk. Such hydrant is made to take steam from one
of the street mains through a pipe, and it is also provided with proper valves to let
on and cut off the steam when desired. A pipe situated near the steam hydrant
passes from near the surface of the side walk down into the box, and is coiled upon
the bottom of the said box. This coil may be perforated or it may be imperforated,
but open at its termination so that a heavy flow of high-pressure steam may be
let into the box...
The opening to the underground tank is of such width and length as to admit of
one, two, or more cart loads of ice and snow gathered from the street to be dumped
through it at one time, and with steam let on during such dumping the snow and
ice will melt and run off into the sewer with very great rapidity. There is a short
connection pipe between the hydrant and the pipe leading into the box. This
connecting pipe need only be used when steam is let into the box, and when not
wanted for such purpose it can be removed and its cover adjusted over the pipe. I
thus have provided a ready and inexpensive means for freeing streets from accumu-
lations of snow and ice, and if needed an auxiliary steam pipe connecting with the
hydrant can also be brought into action either to melt the snow in the box, or for
clearing the side walk and street of snow, by throwing hot steam thereon.
In the foregoing description I have described a practical way of distributing
steam and the condensation of steam throughout buildings within a district of
buildings; but I do not confine myself to the relative location of the several
devices employed for such purpose, as the same may be varied according to locality
and surrounding circumstances without departing from this Invention.
It is manifest that in some cases where the steam is to be used as a motor for
propelling machinery and under a higher pressure than necessary for simply
warming a building, the steam may be conducted directly to an engine in a building
in the said district of buildings by a steam pipe connecting with an outlet pipe.
In such case a meter might be used of a size large enough to pass such a volume
of steam, and under such pressure as would suffice to furnish the power required,
and thus preserve a record of the amount of steam used; or a rubber hose might
have one of its ends connected with high-pressure steam in the pipe before the
steam enters the meter, and its other end movable, so that it could be taken to any
part of the house to extinguish small fires, or for the purpose of boiling clothes,
running washing machines, sewing machines, or other machines requiring power to
work them.

page_text: Finally, I would state that in case any hissing noise should be communicated
through the steam pipes leading from the meter to radiators in rooms above, the
same may be remedied by having such pipes made with a short section of rubber
tube at some convenient point of their length in the basement.
It may be desirable under some circumstances to take steam from the mains at
other points than the junction service boxes, as, for instance, at a four-way branch,
where one street connects with another but does not cross, a service pipe could be
taken out from the fourth or unoccupied side of the four-way branch. And I do
not limit myself to an expansion chamber to receive the longitudinally expansive
thrust of the main pipe, which shall also serve as a chamber from which to dis-
tribute steam to the service pipe, as it may in some instances be desirable to use an
expansion chamber to receive the longitudinally expansive thrust of the main pipe
without having a service pipe connected therewith.
In laying the main pipes I sometimes employ saddles, placed near the middle of
their length, for confining the respective sections from longitudinal displacement at
or near the points where the service pipes leading from the mains are located, and
thereby preventing very great lateral deflection of the said service pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Ritson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st February
1879.
THOMAS RITSON, of Pollok shields, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
"NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING STEAM FOR HEATING BUILDINGS,
AND DRIVING MACHINERY, AND OTHER PURPOSES IN CITIES AND TOWNS." (A com-
munication from abroad by Tom Atkinson Ritson, of Buffalo, in the United States
of America.)
The Invention relates to a new and useful mode of supplying large districts of
dwellings and other buildings in cities and towns with steam, not only for the
purpose of warming but also to supply power for driving machinery within
buildings in such districts.
Also, the means whereby the fire engines of a city or town may at all times be
utilized for the extinguishment of conflagrations, although such engines be con-
structed so as to dispense with steam boilers and attendant mechanism for " getting
up steam."
Also, the means whereby ordinary hydrants of a city or town may at all times
be economically and securely protected against freezing.
Also, a cheap and ready means for freeng the streets of cities of accumulations of
snow and ice.
Also, the means whereby greenhouses, conservatories, and other outhouses may
be heated.
And finally, the means whereby steam and hot water may be supplied for
culinary and other domestic purposes.
Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of the Invention applied for heating a district of
buildings, in a city, or town, and for transmitting steam for use for power in such
districts; Figure 2 is an elevation of the same.
Figure 3 represents a horizontal section of one of the junction service boxes of
the street mains and the connections thereof; and Figure 4 is a vertical longi-
tudinal section of the same in line x² of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section through a junction service box of the
mains, and through a steam regulator; and also an elevation of parts connected
therewith, and of a building to be warmed, and a fire engine to be supplied with
steam from the mains.
Figure 6 is a transverse section and partial elevation through the building, shewn
in Figures 5 and 8.
Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same building near the
front wall thereof.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section of a junction service box of the mains and of the
building shown in Figure 5, and a plan view of the parts which are above the
basement story, as well as those which are on a level with the street.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section and elevation of a steam meter, with its metal
frame L2 (shewn in Figures 7 and 8 removed); Figure 10 is an end elevation of
the same.
Figure 11 is a plan view of the record ribbon of the meter.
Figure 12 is a vertical section of the steam trap shewn at Figure 7 in connection
with the radiators of the building.
Figure 13 shews an elevation of the trap, and a section through its waste cock.
Figure 14 is a top view of the trap with a section through the pipe which leads
water of condensation into the trap.
Figures 15 and 16 shew a modification of the trap and its manner of appli-
cation to the building and a greenhouse.
Figures 17 and 18 are a section and front elevation of a steam gauge used for
indicating the pressure of steam in the radiators.

page_text: Figures 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, are views in which a connection of the service
pipes with the mains is shewn, as well as the casing of the service pipes.
Figure 24 is a vertical transverse section of one of the steam mains, and shews
protecting and heat-insulating covering with tile beneath.
In Figure 1 I have illustrated a section or district of a city or town having
streets as at A, B, C, D, E, and A', B', C¹, D', and E', intersecting each other
as shown. From a central, or nearly a central point of such a section or
district of a city or town to any given point of its boundary I intend shall be a
distance of about one-half of a mile in extent. At this central point and within a
building erect the necessary boiler works for the generating of steam to be
distributed throughout the district for the purposes contemplated in carrying out
the Invention. The steam in the building A is conveyed by a proper pipe or
pipes from the boilers therein to a short steam "street main" pipe F, which connects
with and through which steam is supplied to all the other steam main pipes, as
shewn at F1, within the district. All these steam mains are laid under ground on
the line of the several streets of the city or town included in such district, and
about four feet below the surface of the street; and service pipes, as at a, also in
like manner laid underground convey steam from the said mains into the dwellings
and buildings situate in the said streets, as indicated in the Drawings.
: The capacity of the steam boilers in the boiler house A should be sufficient to
afford a steady supply of steam to the main pipes F, F, or such other number of
steam mains as might be laid down at a pressure within the said pipes of about
from forty to sixty pounds to the square inch of interior surface, which pressure it
has been determined by experiment will be sufficient for the various uses desired
within a district of the dimensions heretofore stated.
In rigorous climates, in fact in all climates, these mains although embedded
beneath the streets at considerable depth are more or less subject to longitudinal
expansion and contraction due to changes of temperature. Hence it is necessary
to provide against such expansion and contraction, in order to avoid either breakage
of the mains, leakage of steam, or other damage, which would make the use of
lengthy underground steam mains impracticable. To this end I provide the said
mains at convenient points, about one or two hundred feet apart, with junction
service boxes F10, in which provision is made for the longitudinal movement of the
end of a section of a large main which enters the expansion chamber of such box,
while the chamber itself is not moved by such movement of the mains. In
Figure 1 I have indicated at F10 one of these junction service boxes on the under-
ground main F' on the line of the street C; and in Figure 2 have shewn an end
elevation of Figure 1; and in Figure 3 a plan and partly sectional view of such a
junction service box placed in the ground along the line of the main pipe at intervals
of about one hundred or two hundred feet apart.
Each junction service box is made of sufficient size and with a trap door, so as to
be accessible.for repacking the expansion joints and valves and repairing the works
within the box. The interior of this box is, at its bottom, provided with metal
framework F for the proper support of and to hold in a fixed position an expansion
chamber F. This chamber is made of metal and firmly seated upon the cross
plates a' and between the cross plates a² of the frame F7, and is provided with a
metal cover a³, which latter when in place upon the expansion chamber F8 is held in
position by screws 8.. Annular bearings, as at at, which project from two sides of the
expansion chamber, seat themselves in "gains" as formed in the cross plate a²; and as
a portion of this chamber on two sides thereof, as at aº; has a flush bearing against the
inside surface of the cross plates a², a², the said chamber is thus firmly seated in a
fixed position in the metal frame F7. The inner surface of the bearings a*, a*, are
screw threaded, and receive, as indicated in the Figure, the ends of service pipes a, a,
which thus communicate with the expansion chamber F³, into the interior of which
chamber, indicated at F, steam is admitted from the steam main FI, and thence is
passed into a building on either side of a street through the said service pipes a, a.
The expansion chamber F8 serves a double purpose, namely, it receives the thrust

page_text: of the end of a section of the large main, and permits such end to alternately move
forward and backward in accord with the longitudinal expansion and contraction
of the large main F¹, and it also serves as a chamber from which the steam froni
the mains may be distributed through small service pipes to buildings along a
street.
Cut-off valves, as at f¹, f¹, are provided for the service pipes, in order to cut off
by a key rod 12 the flow of steam from the main to the buildings when desired.
To the inner threaded end of these service pipes hoods g and glare screwed, which
hoods may be turned up or down more or less, in order to admit into their open
end either dry or wet steam from the interior of the expansion chamber F³. In
the Figure the hood g is turned with its opening i toward the zenith, and hence dry
steam only will pass into its service pipe, and thence into a building which the
service pipe enters while the hood gis shewn turned down in a horizontal position,
thus admitting the wet steam, which will occupy a lower portion of the said chamber,
and, if desired, the hood may be turned down with its opening i toward the nadir,
in which case the commingled wet steam and water of condensation which may have
accumulated in the bottom of the chamber will be forced through the service pipe
into the building connected therewith. One wall of the expansion chamber 8,
forward of its curved portion a', terminates in a tubular portion as with inwardly
projecting shoulders a³, which closely fit and receive one end f³ of a section of the
steam main F¹. An annular space is thus formed between the portion f2 of a section
of the main, and the parts as and aº of the expansion chamber for the reception of
suitable steam packing j, so as to form a steam-tight joint around the end f2 of a
section of the main pipe F. A removable metal ring, as at e, is made to seat itself
upon this packing, and thus prevents the escape of steam, as will be herein-after
described.
Projecting from the opposite wall of the expansion chamber F8 are two sets of
lugs g², which receive eye bolts g³, the bolts being retained in position within the
lugs by a pin, as at . The forward ends of these bolts pass through doubly-
beveled bolt holes made in the rim of a sectional tube G, the interior of which is :
flaring, as shewn at 6; and at the point 61, where the inner end of the tube G
adjoins a convex ring 9, the said tube is beveled so as to form a perfect fit to the
convexity of the ring 9'. A like fit is made between the opposite convex face of
the ring g and an annular projection a¹º of the expansion chamber F8.
The convex ring g³, it will be seen, is screwed upon the steam main F¹, and may
be removed at pleasure by disconnecting the eye bolts g³ from the sectional tube G,
and thus allow the substitution of a new section of main pipe when necessary.
It will also be seen that a section of the main F¹, which I have just referred to
as having the metal ring g' screwed thereon, passes through the sectional tube G,
and that when the screw nuts shewn upon the bolts gs are tightened up, the convex
ring g' will be firmly seated against the annular projection a¹ of the expansion
chamber F, thus forming a steam-tight joint between 9' and a¹º, so that in the
passage of the main supply of steam through the steam mains F', no steam will
waste through such joint. And further, it will be seen that owing to the construc-
tion of this steam joint between 9 and a¹0, and the like joint between 9* and
sectional tube G, and the beveled portions b in the said tube, and the beveled bolt
holes in the rim of the tube G, through which the bolts g³ pass, the main pipe F¹ on
this side of the expansion chamber F8 is capable of deflection from a right line to
accommodate it to the grade, or meet any other contingency of position. I thus
provide against a strain falling upon the main pipes at or near their connection with
the junction service boxes, which would ensue from a deflection of the mains for
any cause from their proper condition as laid down, and at the same time provide
against leakage of steam by reason of such deflection.
A short section of the main pipe F¹ is shewn at f³, having a screw thread cut
into its outer surface, so that one end of the said section may be screwed into a
corresponding opening in the wall of the expansion chamber, as shewn. The opposite
end of this section engages with a metallic steam discharge ring G³, which has

page_text: apertures h through it to admit of the free passage of steam from the main F¹ into
the interior F of the expansion chamber. By turning this discharge ring in one
direction it will be screwed along upon the section f³ a sufficient distance to allow
of the removal of the metal ring or stuffing box follower e, and thus gives access to
the packing should such packing need replacing; and after the ring e.is thus
removed, the steam discharge ring G can itself be removed, either for repair or the
substitution of a new one, its removal also giving access to the main F¹. By
turning the said- ring G in an opposite direction to that just named, it will force
the metal ring e down upon the steam packing j, as shewn in Figure 3, thereby
packing the joint and preventing the escape of steam from the main; as well as from
the interior of the expansion chamber at the end f* of a section of the main F¹,
which enters said chamber.
The outer surface of the end- f2 of the last-named section is intended to slide
forward and backward in contact with the packing j, and the forward end of such
section will be projected into the expansion chamber F8 more or less, according to
the longitudinal expansion or contraction of the main pipe F1; which is between the
Bource of the supply of steam to such pipe and the junction service box F. This
iron section of the main Fhas its end f nickel-plated on that portion of its exterior
surface, which comes in contact with the steam packing j. This is done in order to
avoid rust and the great expansion of brass, in case this section were to be made of
brass to avoid rust, and besides this a smooth antifrictional surface is thus secured,
which is not subject to great expansion. In this manner expansion joints may be
applied at intervals where required throughout the whole system of the steam street
mains, thus rendering the use of such mains practicable, notwithstanding the very
considerable longitudinal expansion and contraction to which long lines of such pipe
are subjected, by reason of varying temperature.
The steam mains F throughout their entire extent up to and slightly within the
junction service boxes are surrounded by a wrapping of asbestos, hair cloth, or any
other non-conducting substance, or with both asbestos and hair cloth, as shewn,
thus confining and as it were insulating the steam within the mains and so
preventing its condensation. The mains with their wrapping are then inclosed in
a water-tight outside pipe, either of wood or iron lined with wood; and this pipe is
then embedded in and covered, as in Figure 24, first with sheet zinc or tile, and
thereafter with some porous substance like tan bark or sawdust to retain confined
air, while underneath such outside pipe tiles x, Figures 6 and 24, are properly laid
to carry off water which would otherwise settle around it in the trenches in which
the mains are laid. In Figure 3 of the Drawings the asbestos wrapping is designated
at m, the hair cloth at m', and the water-tight pipe at m², which pipe is carried
into and connected with the parts of the junction service box. F, as shewn, the
fitting of this pipe with the junction box being a loose one.
At some convenient point within each junction service box, and between its
steam and expansion chamber and the source of supply of steam to the mains F¹, a
main stop valve, indicated at V in Figure 4, will be applied to the mains in order
that steam may be cut off from the expansion chamber F8 during the act of repairs
or an adjustment of the mechanism therein. From these mains the service pipes a
conduct the steam to the buildings on either. side of the street along which the said
mains may be laid, in which buildings the steam may be used for either or all of
the purposes heretofore named to which the Invention relates.
I have described the mains F¹ as having a longitudinal movement by reason of
their contraction and expansion; and now in order to shew that provision is made
against undue straining of the service pipes a, whether they pass at right angles
from the mains to a building indicated at A¹ or around corners before reaching a
building, making themselves a right angle either to the right or left, or both to the
right and left, I will proceed to describe the plan shewn by Figures 19, 20, and 21,
and the plans shewn by Figures 22 and 23. F¹ in Figures 19, 20, and 21 shews
the main which in all respects is constructed, laid down, and protected as before.
:. .

page_text: described; and a is a service pipe leading out at right angles from the said main to
the kerb line or to the back yard of a building.
In plan 19 the connection of the service pipe a with the main F' is made by
cutting an oblong hole A5 of about two inches long through the wooden pipe or
covering m² of the main. To close this hole, which is made in order to allow the
service pipe, when expansion and contraction take place, to vibrate between its
inner end m and its connection with the main F¹, a wooden tube m³ having an
internal flaring expansion chamber m² is placed around the service pipe from its
inner end m' to its connection with the main F¹, and firmly strapped in place, as
illustrated at A³ and A4, Figure 20. The joint around the oblong hole A5 and
between the wood pipe m² and the wood pipe m³ is made water-tight in any proper
manner.
It is evident that the service pipe a if made fast or impacted by earth and its
end m will still have freedom by means of the flaring chamber of the wooden
tube m³ and the oblong hole A* to vibrate when the steam street main F¹ contracts
and expands; and this without much strain upon it, as the great length of pipe
between the fixed point m' and the point of connection with the main will cause
the movement of the service pipe at its fixed point m' to be exceedingly slight.
Now if the service pipe a is to be bent so as to form an elbow, as shewn in
Figure 22, or is to be united to two elbows, as in Figure 23, for the purpose of
leading the steam into buildings not situated for a service pipe, such as is shewn in
Figure 19, I enclose it in a water-tight wooden casing, such as is shewn at m³ in
Figure 23, or as shewn at me in Figure 22, accordingly as the case may require.
The interior of this casing forms a flaring chamber m², and the service pipe a is
only impinged upon, and that loosely, at the points m³, m10, in the plan shewn in
Figure 22, and at the points m, m2, m¹³, in the plan shewn in Figure 23. With
either of the constructions shewn by Figures 22 and 23 the elbowed portion of the
pipe a and all other portions thereof between the points which are impinged upon
loosely and the elbows will have freedom to vibrate in the flaring chamber of the
casings m³ and me to any extent that the expansion and contraction of the service
pipe a may render necessary.
"I will now describe one practical plan for utilizing the steam from the said mains
in a dwelling within the district of buildings shewn in Figure 1, such description
having reference to Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawings. In Figures 5, 6, and 8 the
roadway of the street is indicated at H and the side walk at I. In Figure 5 a
junction service box F10 is shewn beneath the street roadway H, from which box,
through one of its service pipes a, steam is conveyed into a conducting pipe n
which leads into a steam hydrant P situated upon the side walk. In this said
Figure an ordinary water main is indicated at R, from which through pipe r water
is supplied to a street hydrant P¹, from which water can be furnished to a city fire
engine; and in order to prevent the water in the hydrant P' from freezing during
the winter season the conducting pipe n is made to impinge against such hydrant,
as signified in Figures 5 and 7.
At Qin Figures 5 and 8 a fire engine is represented which has no boiler or fire,
and which takes its steam from the steam hydrant P through a steam pipe or
hose simultaneously with its supply of water from the hydrant P¹ through a
water hose y*.
The advantages are apparent in that the water in the hydrant P' is never frozen,
and the steam in the hydrant P is always "up" and ready for the engine. Besides
this, the cost and weight of a fire engine may be reduced about one half that of any
other, at the same time the alarming appearance caused by the fire, smoke, and
noise, while running to and working at a fire as well as attendant casualties are
avoided.
I will here state that the steam admitted to the steam hydrant P will be at high
pressure, and that proper cocks for letting on and cutting off steam to and from the
same are to be provided. In case there should be no city hydrant adjacent to a
building to which steam is to be supplied, the conducting pipe leading steam into

page_text: such building will connect directly with the service pipe a. In this instance a
conducting pipe n¹ receives its steam from the conducting pipe n and thence passing
into the building, as indicated in Figures 5 and 7, may supply steam directly to a
heater or radiator L, and so warm an upper room as shewn in the latter Figure,
while a branch conducting pipe n² connecting with the pipe 'n' may lead into
another heater, as at L', in the same or another apartment. It is desirable however
not only to regulate the supply of heat to a given building, but also to ascertain
the amount of steam supplied under a given pressure as well as record such supply,
in order that a uniform proper price may be charged to the occupant of the building
for the steam used to heat the same, and for other purposes. To this end a cut-off
cock d is applied to the conducting pipe n' to compel the steam to pass into and
through a steam meter, by means of which the pressure and supply of steam is
primarily regulated within the building and the consumption recorded. The steam
pipes ns and n (shewn in Figures 7 and 9) connect such meter with the pipe n²,
and cocks as at d¹ and d² are applied to the pipes n³ and n', so that when the cock d
is closed and the cocks d¹ and d² are open the steam will pass into the meter through
the pipe n³ and out of the meter through the pipe n¹ back to and within the pipe n',
and so on to the radiators L and L' as well as to other parts herein-after described.
This meter is more clearly shown by Figure 9 than in the other Figures, and is
preferably constructed mainly as shewn, though other constructions might be used
to effect the same results for which it is intended. In this Figure is a metal
cylinder having a steam chamber o' to receive steam through the pipe n³ which
connects with the pipe n' (shewn in Figure 7) herein-before described. The ends of
this cylinder are closed steam-tight with a properly fitting stuffing box c³ at one
end, and with a steam-tight tubular valve stem bearing at its other end as shewn.
Within this cylinder is a cone valve c connected at one of its ends with a valve
stem c, and at the other end with a screw-threaded stem co which takes into a nut
of the valve stem bearing c³ as shewn.
The cone valve c, which admits the steam from the chamber c¹ into the pipes
leading to the different rooms and radiators, passes through an annular diaphragm c.
The area of the opening c8 in the diaphragm when it surrounds the small end of the
cone valve must be of a sufficient size to supply all the radiators required in a given
dwelling, or have about an area of three-fourths of a square inch for every hundred
thousand cubic feet of space to be warmed. The large end of this cone valve c
should fill the diaphragm opening c³ so as to form a close joint. The amount of
steam passing through the diaphragm c' will depend upon the position of the cone
valve as it moves forward and back through the said opening c³. M, in Figure 9,
indicates clock work regulated to keep good time, which gives movement to a ribbon
of paper M. This ribbon passes over and is moved forward by a roller r¹ fastened
upon an extension of a shaft which in ordinary clockwork gives movement to the hour
hand of a clock. The ribbon in its forward movement is held down upon the roller
by a loosely revolving roller r², the ribbon passing between them as shewn, as the
roller is slowly rotated by the clockwork. The ribbon M¹, as in Figure 11, is ruled
lengthwise with eight or ten black parallel lines and with a red line on one edge
indicated at 8, 8, which is termed the "zero" line of the ribbon, and on which zero
line the pointer i² will rest when the valve c* is closed. It is also ruled with black
cross lines as at 24, 24, to represent days, and with lines, as at e¹, to represent half
days, and with lines e² to represent hours. Any number of these ribbons may be
provided in advance of their use, as the same ribbon will answer for all the different
sizes of meters within the district of buildings to which the steam is supplied as
well as for all pressures of the steam.
As before stated the amount of steam passing through the diaphragm c7 depends
on the position of the cone valve c, and its position is accurately recorded upon the
ribbon M' by a pencil finger is, secured to a sliding bar i³, which latter is supported
in a horizontal position by the frame of the clockwork, and in such manner as to
allow of a sidewise movement either to the right or left. This bar is has a clutch
attached to one of its ends, which clutch travels in a circular groove ³ cut around

page_text: .
the valve stem c" as shown, and at the opposite end of the said bar a flat spring
as indicated at 2 is secured to the bar. The spring moves with the bar to right
and left, according as the bar is moved, and upon the plane surface of a metal
frame L (shown in Figures 7 and 8) which incloses the cylinder c of the meter,
and also supports its clockwork M. The pointer 2 is so adjusted in position upon
the bar that its pencil will always press upon the ribbon M' at a point where
the ribbon is in firm contact with the periphery of the roller r', while at the
same time the clutch is so adjusted on the said bar as to travel in the groove i³
of the valve stem c5, and in these positions the said bar and clutch are always
held by the tension of the spring upon the cover L² during the forward and
backward movements of the valve stem c5 and cone valve c In other words
the pencil finger 2 is automatically held to its work by the spring 16, and as the
pencil is moved crosswise of the ribbon through the connection of the bar is with
the valve stem c5 the slightest movement of the cone valve c will be felt by
the pencil, and such movement recorded upon the ribbon M', as indicated by the
zig-zag line on said ribbon in Figure 9. The cone valve c it will be seen in
the Figures is moved backward or forward through the diaphragm c7 by means
of a screw movement, as indicated at c³ and c, but it is practicable to effect
the opening and closing of the cone valve by a lever without revolving the
valve.
I will here state that while the steam in the mains, as well as the valve chamber c',
is always at high pressure, yet by being "wire drawn" around the cone valve
through the diaphragm the steam is reduced to low pressure, and in this con-
dition can be safely used for warming the building.
My object in using high pressure in the mains F¹ and a low pressure in the
dwellings is to keep the said mains as small as possible, on account of expense and
loss by condensation, while low pressure in the buildings is not as liable to cause.
leakage in the joints, valves, and packing, besides being considered safer.
Each different size meter should have its number, and each ribbon of paper placed
on a meter should be numbered to correspond with the number of the meter on
which it is to be used. This being done the value of the steam between the longi-
tudinal lines will be known by its number. This value may be computed with
considerable accuracy by the area of the diaphragm aperture c³ and the velocity of
steam at given pressures. But when greater accuracy is required a company or
producer supplying a city or town with these works should be provided with an
apparatus for that purpose, consisting simply of a surface condenser, or coil of pipes
submerged in cold water, of sufficient size and length to condense all the steam that
will pass through the largest meters within a given time. Then the value is
obtained as follows:-Supposing the meter is to be used with a pressure of forty
pounds above the cone valve c, and at or near the pressure of the atmosphere below
the cone valve, as at n³, Figure 9, first, close the cone valve c', and thus station the
pencil on the zero or red lines 8, 8, of the ribbon; then open the cone valve until
the pencil reaches the first black line 7, which runs lengthwise of the ribbon and
there stop. This will allow a small quantity of steam to pass into the condenser
(the condenser being attached to n¹ or other convenient pipe communicating with n¹),
where it will be condensed and come out pure distilled water. Let the valve
remain open one hour, then close it and weigh the water. Multiply the weight in
pounds by 277, which will give the number of cubic inches of water. Each cubic
inch of water was a cubic foot of steam at the pressure of the atmosphere before
entering the condenser. Then multiply the cubic feet of steam by 24 (the hours in
a day) and the result by 30 (the days in the month), and this will give the number
of cubic feet of steam for one month. Then again open the valve till the
pencil reaches the second black line 6, running lengthwise of the ribbon, and
repeat the process at each of such lines until the cone valve c is wide open, the
movement of the valve during this process being effected by a hand key K,
Figure 8, applied to k' of the valve stem c³.
If the result of the above test should show an increase of one hundred cubic feet

page_text: of steam for every successive longitudinal line reached by the pencil over the
number of cubic feet shewn for the immediately preceding longitudinal line, then
the meter would be of proper size for a dwelling or other building containing fifteen
thousand cubic feet of space to be warmed. I will suppose this meter to be in
operation in a dwelling, and at the end of a month the amount recorded averaged
five full spaces, and each of such spaces between e², e³, and between 8 to 7, and so
on of the ribbon M³, represents the consumption of one hundred cubic feet of steam
for one hour.
To obtain the cost for one month or one year is as follows:-Example. One
hundred cubic feet per hour multiplied by the number of hours in a day shews the
consumption of twenty-four hundred cubic feet each day, which, multiplied by the
number of days in a month, shews the consumption of seventy-two thousand cubic
feet for one month, which, multiplied by the sum charged for a thousand cubic feet,
will give the amount per month for each full space, and such sum being multiplied
by five, the number of spaces, will make the total sum per mouth. These ribbons M'
may be collected once a month, and any broken spaces indicated by the pencil
arranged before they go to a book-keeper, who, having a table with the price per
month of each of said full spaces of the ribbons for the different size meters, will
know at once how to make out his bills. This meter will work practically correct,
even if the mean pressure of steam should vary five pounds either way from forty
pounds pressure, in which case the loss or gain to the consumer would not-exceed
two per cent.
I have described the meter shewn by Figures 9, 10, and 11 only as a meter for
steam, but it is equally as good for measuring many other fluids, either hot or cold,
where the pressure below the cone valve is less than above it. It may be opened or
closed by hand, and after having been opened it may be more or less opened and
closed automatically by the pressure of the steam below the cone valve, and thus
the steam in the house kept at a uniform pressure, as will be herein-after shewn.
I have also spoken of transmitting steam through long lines of pipe. The same
apparatus is equally good for hot fluids, either water, air, or oil.
As the steam passes out of the ineter, Figure 9, through the pipe n back into
the pipe n', it will be under low pressure, and then passes directly into the radiator L
through pipe n¹, and into radiator L¹ through pipe n³, the cocks d³ and № of the
radiators being open; also through pipe n into a pressure gauge G³ to indicate the
pressure in the building; also through pipe n into a diaphragm regulator K.
attached to the key of the meter to regulate the pressure in the building.
In Figures 7, 12, 13, and 14 I shew a steam trap constructed expressly for use
in connection with my improved apparatus for warming, which I am now describing.
This strap answers a double purpose, that of a reheater, and a steam strap.
In many places it can be used as follows:-For instance, in order to warm a
large dwelling or store, as indicated in Figure 7, where there are a number of
radiators in the rooms above ground, the steam will come into the basement through
the meter, then up through all the radiators, as just described. The condensed
steam being returned to the basement through pipes n³, no, and junction pipe n¹0
into the trap I, the balanced float f being open at the upper end, as shewn,
receives the water from the return pipe n10, and will remain full, or up to the top
of its centre tube t. The top of the tubet and the water in the. float f* being
about eight inches higher than the water surrounding the float gives the water in
the centre tube t that much "head," and forms a current of hot water down
through the bottom of the float. The temperature of the descending water being
hotter than that in the trap below will increase its temperature, and cause it to.
ascend in the space t¹ between the float and the interior of the trap I', a little above
the pipe n, through which pipe it will leave the trap and circulate through a
radiator L in the basement, then back through pipe n12 into the bottom of the
trap I', when it ascends, and is reheated by the hot water descending through.
tube t.
. If the temperature of the circulating water is too low to warm the basement

page_text: radiator L³, live steam, by opening the valve d³, can be admitted to the trap through
the pipe n' coiled as h¹ in the bottom of the trap, and so reheat the water, and
raise its temperature as high as required. The steam condensed in this coil h¹ will
be forced up through the pipe n² into the top of the trap I', and increase the
temperature of the water descending through the centre tube t.
When the water rises too high in the trap the float f1 (which is connected by a
rod u and a cord u¹ to a lever w, as shewn) will ascend and lower the weighted
end of the lever W, which, by means of the rod w and lever w¹, will open the
cock win a waste pipe w³, which communicates with the trap I¹ through the
pipe n¹, and thus allows the surplus water to pass off into a hot well Z; and if at
the same time it should be desirable to heat a greenhouse with the water of con-
densation returned to the trap a hot water pipe, as in Figures 6 and 7, at n¹³, may
be used to lead such water from a pipe n", which connects with the trap I¹ to the
greenhouse H, and through heating pipes therein, and thence be returned through
pipe n¹ to pipe 21, and thence to the trap I', in which it is reheated for repeated
circulation, while all surplus water will be discharged into the reservoir Z, as before
described. A way-cock, as at d³, is provided for the pipe n¹, and pipes n¹s will be
provided with a similar cock.
It is manifest that the hot water from the trap may be carried through pipe n¹¹
to a tank in the kitchen of the building, there to be used for culinary and other
domestic purposes, a return pipe being provided to return the water from such tank
> to the trap I' in a like manner, as provided by the pipe n¹², for returning the hot
water from the heater L³ to the said trap; and in like manner hot water can be
supplied for use throughout the building wherever needed. In this manner I am
enabled to utilize either in the condition of steam or in the condition of hot water
nearly all the heat let into the building.
I will here state that while I prefer to use the trap above described still a trap
of ordinary construction might with good results be substituted therefor for the
purpose of heating by steam only.
In the aforegoing description I have spoken of the trap I¹ as a reheater for
warming either the basements of buildings or greenhouses by circulating hot water,
but this combined trap and reheater need not be used simply to heat such localities.
If desired the trap proper may, for instance, be located in the upper story of a
building and warm all parts of the building, as well as a greenhouse, by circulating
hot water from such upper story, as signified by Figures 15 and 16, and there being
no danger of fire from its use the trap proper (section e²) may be located in any
back hall or closet. In Figure 7 I have shewn the outer shell or cylinder of the
trap made with two sections or main parts, an upper one e² in which the float
operates, and a lower one e³ in which the coil h' is located, the two sections freely
communicating through an annular opening 62. There is thus practically a float
chamber for the upper section and a coil chamber for the lower section, the two
communicating through 62.
I will now suppose that it is desirable to locate the trap proper in the third
story of a dwelling, as in Figure 15. In this case the coil chamber or lower
section es will be located in the basement and thus act partially as a heater for such
room, while the upper section e² will be located in the third story of the house, and
thus act partially as a heater for such story, and for this latter section e³ the hot water
will circulate through all the radiators on that floor, then descend to the next, and
so on, until it reaches the basement, from whence it may circulate through a green-
house H', and finally be returned to the bottom es of the trap, and so be reheated
for repeated circulation, while all surplus water will be discharged into a hot-water
reservoir, as signified in Figure 7. In this supposed case the live steam after
having passed through the meter is taken from the pipe n¹ (shewn in Figure 7),
into an "upright," as at V1, Figure 15, from which the steam passes through the
pipe n', and its coil h¹ in the section e³ along up the pipe n', and discharges into the
upper section e² in the third story. The corresponding parts of the trap, shewn in
Figures 7 and 15, perform the same function, and are designated the same letter.

page_text: It will thus be seen that any one or more of the buildings situate within the
district of buildings signified in Figure 1 can at option be heated either by steam or
by circulating hot water as may be desired; or parts of the same building may be
heated by steam while other parts may be heated by circulting hot water, the agent
for doing all this being the steam generated in the building A³, located at or near
the centre of the district, and passed through mains F¹ under high pressure.
In Figures 17 and 18 I have shown a pressure gauge to indicate the pressure of
the steam let into the radiators and other steam fixtures of a dwelling. This gauge
may be situated in the basement of a building, as indicated in Figure 7, and receives
steam through the pipe n³ when the steam leaves the meter, as shown in the Figure.
It consists of a cylindrical frame e, its upper extended portion e³ being provided
with a scale indicating pounds and half pounds, as at b. It is provided with an
index pointer i, pivoted at p, and with a short lever arm p' which receives a rod p²
that is attached to a rear portion of a vertical lever p³. The extremity of the curved
rear portion of this lever p³ seats itself loosely beneath a projecting part of an
annular rim t, while a projecting portion rests upon a boss which is secured
centrally upon a flexible diaphragm t, which covers and is secured over the steam
chamber c¹ of the gauge, as shown. A rod, as at p*, connects the lever p³ with a
flat spring po, secured at its rear end to the frame e. This spring when not under
tension by the action of the steam in the chamber c¹ will cause the pointer i to
rest at the zero point of the scale 64, and to this normal position the pointer will
always return after the pressure of the steam has ceased to act within the chamber c¹º
As seen in Figure 17 the pointer is supposed to be at zero and the diaphragm t2 at
rest. If steam is now let into the chamber co through the pipe n5 the flexible
diaphragm t2 will be forced outwardly from the stean chamber, thus forcing out-
wardly the forward part of the lever p³, and at the same time drawing down the
rod p³, which in turn draws down the short arm p¹, thus causing the pointer to
move forward upon the scale b*. This act puts the spring p³ under tension, and it
will remain under any given tension corresponding to a given pressure of the steam
so long as such pressure is maintained, and as the pressure varies the pointer will
indicate the varying pressures upon the scale, and when all pressure ceases the
pointer will return to its normal position at the zero point.
The steam after passing through the meter also passes from the pipe n¹ into a
pipe no which conducts it into a diaphragm regulator K (shown in Figures 5 and 7):
This regulator is connected with a key k upon an arbor k' on the end of the valve
stem c of the cone valve c4, and regulates the pressure of the steam within the
building. The regulator is of simple construction, having a steam chamber c¹ to
receive steam from the pipe no and a flexible diaphragin held in place by an
annular ring t5 similar to that shown in Figure 17. A lever is pivoted at j' at its
rear end to an upright projection of the ring t5, and a downward projection of the
lever rests upon a boss secured to the flexible diaphragm corresponding to the
.
boss shown in Figure 17. The lever is provided with a movable weight w³ which
may be slid along the bar as desired. A cord, as at u², has one end secured to the
forward end of the bar, while the other end of the cord is secured to a weight wo
This cord, when the regulator is to come into action, is passed over a sheave y of
the key k (shown in Figures 5 and 8).
I will now suppose the cone valve c' to be closed, and that the operator desires
to let a quantity of steam into the radiator L, sufficient to heat it, and that such
quantity will be furnished at a pressure of two pounds. To do this the key k is
turned by the hand of the operator, thereby opening the valve; the forward move-
ment of the key is continued until the pressure gauge G³ indicates the two pounds
pressure. This done, the operator raises the cord u over the sheave y, and adjusts
the weight walong the lever l of the regulator K, until the lever / assumes a
horizontal position, as indicated in Figure 5, care being taken during such act not to
further open the cone valve c¹. This being done a steady heat at two pounds.
pressure of steam will be furnished to the said heater. After a while it becomes
desirable to set the heater L¹ in operation, and accordingly the inlet valve d¹ is.

page_text: properly turned, and steam admitted. This act at once reduces the two pound
pressure in the chamber c" of the regulator K, whereupon the weighted lever will
commence to fall below a horizontal position and so draw upon the cord u², at the
same time elevating the weight w, and thereby opening the cone valve until the
given pressure is re-established for both heaters, the same as it previously had been
for only one. After another interval of time it may be found desirable to only use
one of the heaters L and L', accordingly the steam is cut off from radiator L³, and
this act increases the steam pressure in the regulator. This extra pressure in the
chamber under the diaphragm of the regulator will accordingly raise the weighted
lever and close the cone valve just enough to keep the right supply of heat to the
radiator L and practically under the original two pounds pressure.
In large cities many narrow streets during the winter season become at times so
much obstructed by snow and ice as to impede travel, as well as entail a heavy
expense for the removal of the same.
In carrying out my improved mode of heating buildings in cities and other large
towns I provide for a ready and inexpensive removal of such snow and ice, as
indicated in Figures 6 and of the Drawings. In the latter Figuro at one side of
the street H an opening f is made along the kerb be, a cover f being provided for
such opening when not in use. This opening f leads into a large underground
tank or box B provided with an exit pipe n¹s which is made to communicate with
an underground sewer. This box may be located near one of the steam hydrants P
above described, or if deemed best a special steam hydrant, as at P2 in Figures 6
and 8, may be provided at convenient points on the side walk I. Such hydrant P²
is made to take steam from one of the street mains F¹ through a pipe n¹6, and it is
also provided with proper valves to let on and cut off the steam when desired. A
pipe, as indicated at n¹7, Figure 8, situated near the steam hydrant P² passes from
near the surface of the side walk down into the box B³ and is coiled upon the
bottom of the said box. This coil may be perforated, or it may be imperforated,
but open at its termination so that a heavy flow of high-pressure steam may be
let into the box.
The opening f is of such width and length as to admit of one, two, or more cart-
loads of ice and snow gathered from the street to be dumped through it at one
time, and with the steam let on during such dumping the snow and ice will melt
and run off into the sewer with very great rapidity. At f18 I have shown a short
connection pipe between the hydrant P2 and the pipe n7 leading into the box B³.
This connecting pipe need only be used when steam is let into the box B³, and when
not wanted for such purpose it can be removed and its cover 9° adjusted over the
pipe n. I thus have provided a ready and inexpensive means for freeing streets
from accumulations of snow and ice, and if needed an auxiliary steam pipe as at n20
connecting with the hydrant P2 can also be brought into action either to melt the
snow in the box or for clearing the side walk and street of snow by throwing hot
şteam thereon.
In the aforegoing description I have illustrated and described a practical way of
distributing steam, and the condensation of steam throughout the buildings within
a district of buildings signified in Figures 1 and 2, but I do not confine myself
to the relative location of the several devices employed for such purpose, as the
same may be varied according to locality and surrounding circumstances without
departing from my Invention.
It is manifest that in some cases where the steam is to be used as a motor for
propelling machinery, and under a higher pressure than necessary for simply
warming a building, as indicated in the Drawings, the steam may be conducted
directly to an engine, in a building in the said district of buildings, by a steam
pipe connecting with an outlet pipe, as signified at n* of a meter shown in Figures
7 and 9. In such case a meter might be used of a size large enough to pass such
a volume of steam, and under such pressure as would suffice to furnish the power
required, and thus preserve a record of the amount of steam used. Or a rubber
hose might have one of its ends connected with high-pressure steam in the pipe-

page_text: n' or pipe n³, Figure 7, before the steam enters the meter, and its other end
movable, so that it could be taken to any part of the house to extinguish small
fires, or for the purpose of boiling clothes, running washing machines, sewing
machines, or other machines requiring power to work them.
Finally, I would state that in case any hissing noise should be communicated
through the steam pipes leading from the meter to radiators in rooms above, the
same may be remedied by having such pipes made with a short section of rubber
tube at some convenient point of their length in the basement.
It may be desirable under some circumstances to take steam from the mains
at other points than the junction service boxes, as for instance, at a four-way
branch, where one street connects with another, but does not cross; a service pipe
could be taken out from the fourth or unoccupied side of the four-way branch;
and I do not limit myself to an expansion chamber to receive the longitudinally
expansive thrust of the main pipe F¹, which shall also serve as a chamber from
which to distribute steam to the service pipe a, as it may in some instances be
desirable to use an expansion chamber to receive the longitudinally expansive
thrust of the main pipe, without having a service pipe connected therewith.
In laying the main pipes I sometimes employ saddles placed near the middle
of their length, for confining the respective sections from longitudinal displacement
at or near the points where the service pipes leading from the mains are located,
and thereby preventing very great lateral deflection of the said service pipes.
Figure 25 is a top view of portions of a street main with saddles as just
mentioned; Figure 26 is a transverse section of the same.
;
A in the Figures represents a foundation for sustaining the parts; B is a strong
saddle firmly sustained by its lateral portions being projected out into the earth,.
and made secure by the use of water, limé, cement, and pounded stone; C, C¹, are
sections of a street steam main pipe provided with service pipes a, a, near the
saddle B. The section C of the main pipe is firmly supported and bolted to the
saddle B, as indicated at b. Each section C of the main pipe being, say, about one
hundred feet long, there will be about fifty feet of main pipe on each side of the
saddle, and the longitudinal expansion and consequent movement of these fifty feet
of metal pipe must not be restrained on either side of the saddle, and to provide
for this movement without any leakage taking place, the respective ends of the
section of pipe which is bolted to the saddle are inserted for some considerable
distance into enlarged ends c of the other sections C' of the main, and made steam-
tight by a ring of packing pressed upon by a screw follower, as shown, or in 'any
other proper manner.
Under this mode of construction of and laying main pipes and their service pipes
for steam, warming apparatus, the expansion near the saddle will be so slight that
the service pipes a, a, will not be materially deflected from a right angle with the
main, and the aggregated expansion on each side of the saddle will lengthen the
pipe, say, about one or two inches, and this increased length will be received in
the enlarged packed ends of the section C¹, and thus the expansion is permitted,
and bodily movement of the main pipes and their service pipes prevented by the
strong and permanently seated saddle.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
1. An underground steam street main in combination with steam supplying
apparatus, and with a meter constructed to control the pressure of steam in a
building, and also record the consumption of steam from such main, substantially as
described.
2. Underground street mains connected with steam supplying apparatus and
with junction boxes, which permit expansion and contraction of the mains longi-
tudinally, and with heat radiators in buildings contiguous to streets where the
mains are laid, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In combination with steam conveying pipes of a building for conveying steam
to heat the building and for other purposes, a steam meter constructed to control

page_text: .
the pressure of steam in such pipes, and also record the consumption of steam in
the building, substantially as described.
4. An underground steam street main in combination with steam supplying
apparatus, and with a heat radiator of a building, and with a meter, substantially
as described.
5. Underground street mains connected with steam supplying apparatus, and
with a heat radiator, and with a steam trap, substantially as described.
6. Underground street mains connected with steam supplying apparatus, and
with a heat radiator, and with a steam trap, which answers the double purpose of a
reheater and a steam trap, substantially as described.
7. An underground steam street main in connection with steam supplying
apparatus, and with a heater of a building, and with a water hydrant, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
8. An underground steam street main connected with steam supplying apparatus,
and with a heater of a building, and with a street steam hydrant, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
9. Underground street mains connected with steam supplying apparatus, and
with a heat radiator, and with an automatic steam regulator or governor, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
10. Underground steam street mains connected with steam supplying apparatus,
and with a heat radiator of a building, and with underground snow and ice
reservoirs, having open-ended or perforated steam pipes in the said reservoirs for
the escape of steam therein, substantially as and for the purposes described.
11. A steam street main expansion chamber F8, substantially as described.
12. An adjustable hood in combination with the street main F¹, service
pipe a, and an expansion chamber which serves as a steam chamber, substantially
as described.
13. The combination of the expansion chamber Fs, the street main F¹ screw-
threaded as at f³, the adjustable ring G², and the follower e, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
.
.
14. The wall of the expansion chamber F8 of the junction box F10, made to
support the inner end of section of the steam main, and the outer covering m² of
the steam main, substantially as described.
15. The section f2 of the steam main made of nickel-plated metal, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
16. The combination of the convex ring g' of the steam main F¹, the wall of the
expansion chamber, the tube G, and eye bolts g³, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
17. Steam street mains insulated as described, drained by tiles as at a, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
18. The meter cylinder c having inlet n³, an outlet n, and an annular
diaphragm c in combination with a longitudinally adjustable cone valve ct, a
laterally traveling pencil finger i², clock movement M, and ribbon M', substantially
as and for the purpose described.
19. One or more than one radiator heated by steam supplied through the passage
of the cone valve c¹ in combination with the regulator K, whereby the same
determined pressure of the steam is practically maintained either in one radiator or
in more than one radiator, whether only one radiator or more than one radiator is
in use at the same time, substantially as described.
20. The spring in combination with the bar is, the pencil finger i, clutch **,
and valve stem c³, substantially as and for the purpose described.
21. The combination of the conducting pipe n', and steam pipe n', having a
coil h¹, and the trap I', having connected chambers e² and e³, and pipe n¹¹, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
22. The suspended trap float f* provided with a tube t of less height than the
depth of the chamber of the float in combination with the pipe n¹, pipe n¹²,
cock w², and pipe w³, substantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 23. A reheater interposed between radiators which are heated by steam from the
source of supply, and radiators which are heated by water of condensation from the
same steam, substantially as and for the purpose described.
24. The reheater pipe n' in combination with the trap I', substantially as and for
the purpose described.
25. A street steam hydrant connected with the street main F, and located in
close contiguity to a water hydrant, which is warmed by a pipe n connected to the
said main F', whereby steam and water may at all times be simultaneously supplied
from the same locality to an engine for extinguishing fires, substantially as
described.
26. The casings m³ and mo, for the service pipes, the said casings serving for
preventing the major portion of the service pipes from becoming impacted by
earth, and for permitting them to expand and contract freely, substantially as
described.
27. A contrivance or contrivances for supplying steam for warming districts of
dwellings in cities and towns, and for driving machinery and for other purposes in
said districts, consisting of steam supplying apparatus, street mains having
expansion junction service boxes, service pipes having connecting pipes and
imeters, substantially as described.
28. In combination with steam-tight slip-jointed sections of a street main, saddles
placed near the middle of their length for confining the respective sections from
longitudinal displacement, at or near the points where the service pipes leading
from the mains are located, and thereby preventing very great lateral deflection of
the said service pipes, substantilly as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Ritson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-ninth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-nine.
THOMAS RITSON. (L.S.)