Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Preventing the Closure of Water-tanks by Freezing.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Preventing the
Closure of Water-tanks by Freezing.
We, CLARENCE LADD DAVIS, Attorney-at-Law, of 108 Fulton Street,
GERARD DIEDERIK MOLL, Fire Insurance Surveyor, of 146 Broadway and
JOHN CORNELIS LEBRET, Patent Agent of 5 Beekman Street, all in the City
of New York, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In cold climates wherever elevated water tanks are used, and especially in tanks
designed to supply water to automatic-sprinkler or fire-extinguishing plants, great
trouble has hitherto been experienced in cold weather by the closure of such tanks
by the formation of a film of ice on the top of the water therein, so as to prevent
the air pressure from acting upon such water when the out-flow pipes of the tank
are opened to draw water therefrom for any purpose.
The objects of this invention are, first, to provide a new and improved method
of preventing the closure of water tanks by freezing; and second, to provide a
new and improved apparatus for carrying such method into effect, which is
operated without heat, which will unerringly permit the water to flow from the
tank with freedom whenever the out-flow pipes are opened, and which shall be
absolutely automatic in action,
Referring to the drawing:-
Fig. 1, is a side view of a water-tank, in central vertical longitudinal section
thereof, showing the improved apparatus in position therein, a portion of the wall
of the lower part of such apparatus being broken away; and
Fig. 2, an enlarged detail view of the main part of such apparatus in central
vertical section thereof.
In said drawing, A designates the tank, B the outlet pipe thereof, C the body of
water, D a layer of ice formed at the top of the water, and E the improved anti-
closure apparatus in position in the tank A.
The tank A which may be of any desired shape, is formed preferably of wood
as the same being a non-conductor will to a large extent act as an insulator. The
anti-closure device or apparatus E consists of a pipe 1, which is always of sufficiently
large area to allow of a perfectly free flow of water through the outlet pipe B
when such pipe 1 is acting as an air-vent to the outlet pipe B. The pipe 1 is
supported in an upright position in the tank A, preferably at or near the centre
thereof, in any desired manner, for instance by passing through a hole in a wooden
support 2 which is secured to the top of the tank. In any event such pipe 1 is in
communication with the interior of the tank at about midway between the top and
bottom of the body of water C by way of suitable perforations 3, or in any other
desired manner, and if the pipe extend clear to the bottom of the tank, like
perforations or holes 4 are provided adjacent to the bottom of the tank.
The pipe 1 is preferably provided with a head 6, of somewhat larger diameter
than the pipe 1, which head consists preferably of a lower portion 7 and an upper
portion 8, the top piece 8 being secured to the bottom portion 7, which is in turn
secured to the top of the pipe 1, in any desired manner that will render the various
joints air-tight, for instance by screw-joints and suitable packing rings or gaskets 9
and 10, as shown.
The top-piece 8 has a central air-inlet orifice 11 which is provided with a
downwardly extending flange 12, as shown in Fig. 2, and the lower edge of such
flange 12 is preferably ground or dressed to complete smoothness so as to form an

page_text: air-tight joint around the entire circumference of the air-inlet orifice 11, when
brought into contact with the face of the valve 13, which is preferably provided
with a suitable circular groove 14 designed to receive such flange 12, the tightness
of the joint between the face of each flange and the valve being preferably further
increased by a rubber ring 15 lying in the bottom of such groove 12, and by a
liquid seal formed by filling such groove with a suitable non-freezing liquid 16,
such as mercury, oil, or the like.
The valve 13 opens inwardly, and is preferably hinged to the lower portion 7 of
the head 6, by a pin 17, running through the same at one side of the centre thereof,
the ends of which pin preferably slide easily up and down in suitable slots or
ways 18 formed for that purpose in opposite sides of the bottom portion 7, and to
facilitate the closing of such valve 13 the same is preferably provided with a hook
or ring 19, as shown.
Located in one side of the head 6, is a filling-channel 20, in communication with
the interior of the lower portion 7 and consequently with the interior of the pipe I
also, through a suitable liquid-seal 21, which is of such size and form that all the
sealing liquid in the filling channel when forced by pressure into the main portion
of such seal will not be sufficient to cause the same to overflow, and such liquid-
seal 21 is of course filled with any suitable non-freezing liquid, and at the outer
end of the filling channel 20, is located a suitable air-tight stop-cock 22, which
may be turned so as to bring the interior of the head 6 into or out of communication
with the atmosphere by way of the filling channel 20 and liquid-seal 21.
Both the pipe 1 and the head 6 are protected from the cold by means of a
covering 23 of any suitable insulating material, which extends down on the pipe 1
to or nearly to the top of the perforations 3, or such pipe and head may, if desired,
be wholly formed of any suitable insulating material. The covering 23 when used
is preferably treated so as to make it water-proof. Passing down alongside of the
pipe 1, preferably within the covering 23, are two conducting wires 24, insulated
one from the other, by a covering 25, which wires 24 pass through blocks 25', of
suitable insulating material inserted in the pipe 1 a short distance above the tops
of the perforations 3 therein, as shown in Fig. 2, and such wires 24 have included
in their clectric circuit a suitable source of electric energy 26, an electric bell 27,
and an annunciator or electric visual signal 28, which signals are preferably located
at any convenient point where the same can be seen and heard when actuated, and
if desired, in addition to such electric signals for indicating the rise of the water
in the pipe 1, the device may also be provided with a pressure gauge 29 in
communication with the interior of the head 6 by way of a suitable pipe 30, and
the fall of pressure indicated upon such gauge will show whenever the water in
the pipe 1 has risen from its normal depressed position therein.
In communication with the interior of the tank A at or near the bottom thereof
is the out-flow pipe B, which is ordinarily in communication with such tank A,
only at the lowest point thereof, as shown at 32, but in extremely cold climates,
where there is danger of a layer of ice forming on the bottom and sides of the
tank as well as on the top of the water therein, any desired number of additional
out-flow pipes 33 and 34, are added, extending up into the interior of the tank A
a different distance from the others. These additional out-flow pipes and also the
pipe B, are covered within and without the tank with a covering of suitable
insulating water-proof material.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
The anti-closure device E being in position in the tank A, and such tank being
filled with water to the height shown in Fig. 1, so long as the valve 13 is open,
the interior of the device will be in free communication with the atmosphere, and
the water in pipe 1 will consequently stand at the same level as does the water in the
tank A and of course freeze as easily and as quickly as does the water in the tank
outside of such pipe.
To prepare the device for use so as to prevent the complete closure of the tank
by freezing, the cap 23, which is formed of a suitable insulating material, and

page_text: which normally covers the stop-cock
suitable air-compressor or pump (not shown) is attached in any convenient manner
to such stop-cock 22. The stop-cock 22 is then opened and the valve 13 having
been lifted up into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, is held in such raised
position so as to tightly close the air-inlet orifice 11, the tightness of the joint being
increased by filling the groove 14 with a non-freezing liquid 16, such as mercury,
oil, or the like. The air-pump is then actuated, and air under pressure is forced
into the interior of the head 6 through the stop-cock 22, filling channel 20 and
liquid-seal 21, and emerging from the inner end of the liquid-seal 21 in the form of
bubbles gradually fills such head 6, and consequently the pipe 1, and as the
pressure therein increases, the water in the pipe 1 is forced lower and lower, and
the valve 13 is by the same pressure forced tighter and tighter against its seat.
The pumping is continued until the water in pipe 1 has been forced down to the
level of the perforations 3, which is indicated by the escape of air through same
and the rising of the same in the form of bubbles to the surface of the water in
the tank, whereupon the pumping is discontinued. The stop-cock 22 is then closed,
the air pump disconnected, and the cap 23' replaced, when the device will be in
operative condition
The device being in operative condition, if freezing weather should then ensue,
while a crust of ice of greater or less thickness will of course form over the top of
the body of water C as shown at D in Fig. 1, at all points outside of the pipe 1, the
water in the pipe, so long as the air pressure therein is maintained and the water
remains below the level of the lower side of the ice-film D, will not freeze over, for
the reason that the pipe, being heavily insulated, and the air therein being out of
communication with the surrounding atmosphere and consequently acting as an
insulating medium interposed between the outside air and the water in the pipe 1,
there will be but slight loss of heat from the water in the pipe, and it will be
impossible for such water surface in the pipe 1 to freeze over until such time as the
latent heat of liquefaction of such water has been absorbed or dissipated, but such
freezing can in no event take place until the water surface in such pipe has also
taken up and dissipated so much of the sensible heat of the surrounding body of
water as is readily communicable by induction to the portion so freezing, but when
the pipe 1 and head 6 are properly insulated, this could not take place, except in
the event of very cold weather.
Now, if the out-flow valves or cocks of the outlet pipe B should for any purpose
be opened, the pressure of the air in the pipe 1 and head 6, will force the water in
the tank A out through said outlet pipe B, until the pressure in the head 6 is
reduced to that of the atmosphere, or nearly thereto, when the valve 13 will fall by
gravity into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, which will bring the
interior of the head 6 and pipe 1 into free cominunication with the atmosphere, and
as the water continues to flow from the tank A, air will pass down through the
pipe 1, out through the perforations 3 and rising to the top of the water outside of
the pipe 1 will form an air space underneath the crust of ice D.
This will of course continue until all the water has been drawn from the tank ;
and if the film of ice D is of such strength as not to fall of its own weight when
deprived of the support of the water beneath the same, the tank may be refilled to
its original height, by simply breaking a hole in the ice-layer D and pouring water
through the same, or through the air-inlet orifice 11, as desired, after which the
valve 13 may be closed, and the head 6 and pipe 1 filled with compressed air, as
hereinbefore described, when the device will be again ready for automatic operation,
in the manner set forth.
The electric alarm signal, hereinbefore described, has for its purpose to indicate
a rising of the water in the pipe 1, if this should become possible through a
decreased air pressure, caused by leakage. The construction should be so that the
electric circuit between the two wires 24 should be closed by the rise of the water
in the pipe 1. This may be effected in various manners well known in the art and
needs no further description.

page_text: While we prefer to use compressed air as a non-freezing fluid for keeping the
water in the pipe insulated from the atmosphere, we do not by any means intend to
limit ourselves to the use of the same for such purpose. as any suitable non-freezing
fluid may be used in place of air with similar effect, and of course when the
non-freezing fluid is one which is heavier than air, and one which will not mingle
with air, the valve at the upper end of the pipe 1 may be omitted, and the
pressure of the atmosphere be thus at all times exerted upon the water surface
in such pipe 1 through the medium of the body of such fluid contained in
such pipe.
While we have set forth herein the method and apparatus which we prefer to use
for the purposes stated, we do not intend to limit ourselves strictly thereto, as it is
evident that many changes other than those mentioned may be made without
departing from the scope of this invention, within which we consider included any
means whatever for insulating in any manner one portion of a water surface from
another portion of the surface of the same body, combined with means for insulating
such insulated surface from the air by covering it with a body of non-freezing fluid,
and also combined with means for bringing atmospheric pressure to bear upon the
main body of the water through the medium of the insulated surface, when desired.
Neither is this invention limited to use in connection with tanks, or for preventing
the freezing of water only, for as used by us herein, we consider the word "tank
to cover and include any reservoir or receptacle whatsoever for holding liquids, and
the word "water to include any liquids capable of being frozen.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. The herein described method of preventing the closure of water tanks by
freezing, which consists in insulating a portion of the water surface from the rest,
and then insulating such insulated surface from the atmosphere by covering the
same with a non-freezing fluid, in such manner that the pressure of the atmosphere
will be exerted upon the insulated surface when the main surface is frozen over and
water is drawn from the tank.
2. The herein described method of preventing the closure of water tanks by
freezing, which consists in insulating a portion of the water from the rest by
enclosing the same in an insulating pipe in communication with the tank below the
water level thereof and also in communication at the other end with the
atmosphere by way of an inwardly opening valve, and then insulating the water
surface in the pipe from the atmosphere by filling the pipe with a non-freezing
fluid.
3. The herein described method of preventing the closure of water tanks by
freezing, which consists in insulating a portion of the water from the rest by
enclosing the same in an insulating pipe in communication with the tank below the
water level thereof and also in communication at the other end with the atmosphere
by way of an inwardly opening valve, and then insulating the water surface in the
pipe from the atmosphere by filling the pipe with air or compressed air.
4. The herein described method of preventing the closure of water tanks by
freezing, which consists in depressing a portion of the water surface below the
level of the surface of the main portion thereof and insulating such depressed
surface from the atmosphere in such manner that the pressure of the atmosphere
will be exerted upon such depressed surface when the main surface is frozen over
and water is drawn from the tank.
5. The combination with a tank, of a suitable pipe in communication with the
tank below the surface of the water therein and also in communication with the
atmosphere through an air-inlet orifice, of an inwardly opening valve for closing
the air-inlet orifice, and a non-freezing fluid filling the pipe between the valve
and the water surface therein, substantially as shown and described and for the
purposes set forth.

page_text: 6. The combination with a tank, of a suitable pipe in communication therewith
below the surface of the water therein and also in communication with the
atmosphere through an air-inlet orifice, an inwardly opening valve for closing
the air-inlet orifice, and a non-freezing fluid filling the pipe between the valve and
the water surface therein in such manner as to depress such surface, substantially
as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.
7. The combination with a tank, of a suitable pipe in communication therewith
below the surface of the water therein and also in communication with the
atmosphere through an air-inlet orifice, of an inwardly opening valve for closing
the air-inlet orifice, and a body of air or compressed air filling the pipe between the
valve and the water surface therein, substantially as shown and described, and for
the purposes set forth.
8. The combination with a tank, of a suitable pipe in communication-therewith
below the surface of the water therein and also with the atmosphere through an
air-inlet orifice, and a valve for closing the air inlet orifice normally shutting off
communication between the interior of the pipe and the atmosphere but adapted to
yield and admit air to the pipe whenever the pressure in the pipe falls below a
predetermined point, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set
forth.
9. The combination with a tank, of a suitable pipe in communication therewith
below the surface of the water therein and also in communication with the
atmosphere, means for retaining the water surface in the pipe in a depressed
position below the level of the surface of the main body of water in the tank, and
means for indicating the rising of the water in the pipe, substantially as shown and
described and for the purposes set forth.
10. In a device for preventing the closure of water tanks by freezing, the
combination with a pipe formed of or covered with a suitable insulating material
and adapted to insulate a portion of the surface of a body of water from the main
surface, of an inwardly opening valve for closing the outer end of the pipe, a
channel 20 in communication with the interior of the pipe and with the atmosphere,
and means for closing such channel 20, substantially as shown and described and
for the purposes set forth.
Thin 5th day of February 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.