US193086A - holly - Google Patents

Description

1o sheets-sheen.

i B. HOLLY. A APPARATUS FOR UTILI'ZING STEAM IN HEATING,A&G.

amo. 193,086,

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NAFETERS, FMO{OLITHOGHAFHER, WASHINGTON D C 10 Sheets-Sheet 3'. B. HOLLY.`

APPARATUSFOR UTILIZING STEAM IN HEATING, &c. N0 193,086, .Patented Jul .17,1877.

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'N4 PETERS. FHOTO-LITMGRAFHEH. WASHINGTON. D. C.

B. HOLLY.

`10 Sheets-Sheet 4.

APPARATUS FoRUTILIzIN-e STEAM 1N HEAT'ImQ.'

N No. 193,0 6.

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N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

Patented .1111 Y17,187

APPARATUS For. UTI

B. HOLLY,

LIZING STEAM AIN' HEATING, &c.

A Patented 1111511118177..

10 Sheets-Sheet 5.

1o sheets-.snm e.

B. HGLLY.` APPARATUS FoR-UTILTZI'NG STEAM 1N. HEATING, Ac.

N'0 193,086,` Patented `1711157' 17,1877.

l N. PETERS, PHDTDLITHDGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

10 Sheets-Sheet 7.

, B. HOLLY. APPARATUS FoP. UTILIZING STEAM 1N HEATING, 2.o. No; 193,086. Panenteamly 17,1877.

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10 Sheets-7811942458.

l BA-HovLL. APPARATUS FOR UTIL-IZING STEAM IN HEATING, 2M.

Patented July 17,1877.

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" N.PETERS. FMOTO-L-ITHGRAPMEi/WASNINGTDNy D. C.

v10 She'ets--Sheet 9.: B. HOLLY.

APPARATUS. FOR UTILIZ'ING STEAM IN HEATING, sac.- No. 193,086. Patentea'smy 17,1877;

my QM??? 1o sheets-.sheet1o- B. HvOLLY.

APPARATUS Fon UTTLTZING STEAM 1N HEATING, sbc. No. 193,086. Paname@ Ju1y1T,1eT7.

. BIRD-smi HOLLY, on LocKPoRT, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IfN` APPARATUS FOR UTILIZLNG STEAM IN. HEAT|N`G,`&C.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,086, dated July 17, 1877 application filed May 14, 1877.

CASE A.

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I. BInnsILL. HOLLY. ni Lnknnfi'. iny thnnnnty Ofllin-snrannd Stnteof New York, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Utilizing Steam for Heating Buildings and Driving Machinery. and other Purposes. in cities and towns; endl d0 hernby declare that the` 'Qllowing is a full, clear, and enact description of `the ksame,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.,

making part of this specification, in which-f- Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of my inf vnntinn applied for heating n district ci] buildings in a city or town, `and for transmitting steam for use for pcwerin such districts. Fig. 21S an elevation of the sanne- Ilierennesents a horizontal section of one cf the junction service-boxes of ythe street-mains, and the connections thereof; and Fig, Lis a vertical longitudinal section of the sainein line x2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through a junction service-box of the mains,

and through a `stealnfregulator, and also an elevation of partsconnected therewith, and of a building to he warmed, and a fire-,engine to be supplied with steam from the mains. Fig. 6 is a .transverse section and partial elevation through the building, Vshown in Figs. `5 and 8. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section through thesame building, nearthe front wall thereof. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of junction srvifbox 0i' the mains, andof the building shown in Fig. 5. and a plan vie-W .0f the parte:

whichare above `the baselnentistcry, as well as those which are on a level with the street.

Fig. 9 is alongitudinal `section and elevation ot' a steamfmeter, with its metal frame L21 (shown in Figs. 7 and I,8). removed. Fig. 10 is` an end elevation `of the same. Fig, l1 isa plan viewof the record-ribbon of the'meter.`

Fig. 12is a vertical section ,of the steam-.trap shown atFig. 7, inconnection with .the radi ators of the building. Fig. `13 shows anelef vation of the trap, and v,section .through its wastefcock. Figrlei `is .a topview ofthe trap,

' Witha section `through the pipe `which leads iii-iter` of condensation intnthn trau Figs- 1,5 and L6 .ShOiv .a modification `of thetrap antlits manner of application to the buildngand a Ygreenhouse. Figs. 17 and 18` are a section and front elevation of a steam-gage, used for indicating the pressure of steam in the radiators. Figs. lt), 20, 2l, 22, and 23 are views in which a connection of the service-pipes with the mains is shown, as well as the casing of the servicefpipes. Fig. 24 is a vertical transverse section of one of the `Steam-mains, and shows protecting and heat-insulating covering with tile beneath.

My invention relates to a new and useful mode cf supplying large districts ot dwellings, and other buildings in cities and villages, 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 tire-engines ot a cityor town may at all times be utilized for the exti nguish ment of contlagrations, although such engines be constructed so as to dispense with steam-boilers and attendant mechanism for getting upsteam5 also, the means whereby ordinary hydrants ot' a city or town may at all times be economically and securely protected ,means for freeing the streets of cities of accumulatio'ns of snow and ice; also, the means whereby greenhouses,- conservatories, and

other outhouses may he heated; and, nally,

the means whereby steam and hot Water may be supplied for culinary and other domestic purposes.

In Letters Patent for steam-boilers for gen.- ,erating steam, of even kdate herewith, l have shown a series of boilers, and described their uses, which are particularly designed to carry into eliject the invention embraced in this patent; but I do ,not in this patent confine myself thereto, as steam-boilers ot' ordinary arrangement Vand construction would answer a good purpose to carry ont the invention embraced by this patent.

In Fig. lof the drawings I have illustrated,

in plan view, a section or district of a city or town having streets, as at A, B, CHD, E, and A1,.B, Gl, D1, and El, intersecting each other as shown. From acentral, ornearly a central, point `of such a section or district oi" a city or town .to any ginenpoint ot'iits `lJoundaryI intend shall be audistance ot" about one-halt' of a mile in extent.-` At this central point, and

Within a building designated 'as at A2, I erect the necessary boiler-works for the generating of steam to be distributed throughout said district for the purposes contemplated in carrying out my'invention. The steam in the building A2 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 shown at F1, 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 ofthe 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 on said streets, as indicated in the drawings.

The capacity of the steam-boilers in the boiler-house A2 should be sufficient to aEord a steady supply of steam to the main pipes F F1, or such other number of steam-mains as might be laid down, at a pressure within 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 said mains, at convenient points about one or two hundred feet apart, with junction serviceboxes F10, in which provision is made for the longitudinal movement of the end of a section of a large main which enters the expansionchamber of such box, while the chamber itself is notmoved by such movement of the mains. In Fig. 1 1 have indi-cated at F10 one of these junction service-boxes on the underground main Fl on the line of the street C, and in Fig. 2 have shown an end elevation of Fig. 1, and in Fig. 3 a plan and partly sectional view .of such a junction service-box placed in the ground along4 the line of the main pipe at intervals of about one hundred or twohundred feet apart. 4

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 frame-work F7, for the proper support of, and to hold in a fixed position, an expansion chamber, F9. This chamber is made of metal and rmly seated upon the cross-plates a1, and between the cross-plates a? 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 s. Annular bearings, as at a4, which project from two sides of the expansion chamber, seat themselves in gains7 a5 formed in the cross-plate a2,- and as a portion of this chamber, on two sides thereof, as at a6, have a flush bearing against the inside surface of the cross-plates a2 a2, said chamber is thus firmly seated in a fixed position in the metal frame F". The inner surface of the bearings a4 a4 are screwthreaded, and receive, as indicated in the figure, the ends of service-pipes a a, which thus communicate with the expansion-chamber F8, into the interior of which chamber, indicated at F9, steam is'admitted from the steam-main F1, and thence is passed into a building on either side oi' a street through vsaid servicepipes a a. h

The expansion-chamber F8 serves a double purpose, to wit: it receives the thrust of the end of a section of the large main, and perv mits 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 from the mains may be distributed, through small servicepipes, to buildings along` a street.

Cut-off valves, as at f1 f1, are provided for the service-pipes, in order to out off, by a keyrod, f, the flow of steam from the main to the buildings when desired. To the inner threaded end of these service-pipes hoods g and gl are screwed, which hoods may be turned up or down more or less, in order to admit into their open end z' either dry or wet steam from the interior of the expansion-chamber F8. In the figure the hood g is turned with its opening t' toward the zenith, and hence dry steam only will pass into its service-pipe, and thence into a building which the service-pipel enters, while the hood g1 is shown turned down in a horizontal position, thus admitting the wet steam, which will occupy a lower portion of said chamber; and, if desired, the hood may be turned downwith its opening i toward they 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 F8, forward of its curved portion a", terminates in a tubular portion, a8, with inwardly-projecting shoulders a9, which closely t and receive one end, f2, 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 a8 and a9 of the expansion-chamber, for the reception of suitable steam-packingj, so as to form a steam-tight joint-around the end]f2 of a section of the main pipe F1. 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 hereinafter described.

Projecting from the opposite wall of the expansion-chamber F8 are two sets of lugs, g2, which receive eyebolts g3, the bolts being retained in position within the lugs by a pin, as at i1. The forward ends of these bolts pass through doubly-beveled bolt-holes made in the rim of a sectionaltube, G, 4the interior of which is flaring, as shown at b; and at the point b1, where the inner end of the tube G adjoins a convex ring, g4, said tube is beveled so as to forma perfect fit to the convexity of the ring g4. Alike t is made between the opposite convex face of the ring g4and an annular pro jection, a1, of the expansion-chamber F8.

The convex ring g4, it will be seen, is screwed upon the steam-main F1, and may beremoved at pleasure by disconnecting the eyebolts 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 g1 screwed thereon, passes through the sectional tube G, and that when the screw-nuts shown upon the bolts g3 are tightened up the convex ring g4 will be firmly seated against the annular projection am of the expansion -chamber F11, thus forming a steam-tight joint between g4 and a1, s o that in the passage of the main supply of steam through the steam-mains F1 no steam will waste through such joint. And, further, it will be seen that, owing to the construction ot' this steam-joint between. g1 and a1, and the like joint between g4 and sectional tube G, and the beveled portions b in said tube, and the beveled bolt-holes in the rim ot' the tube G through which the bolts'g3 pass, the main pipe F1 on this side of the expansion-chamber F is capable of deflection from a right line to accommodate it to the grade or meet any other contingency oi'i position. l thus provide against a strain falling upon the main pipes at or near their connection with the junction serviceboxes, which would ensue from a deiiection of said 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 a main pipe, F1, is shown at f3, having a screw-thread cut into its outer surface, so that one end of said section may be screwed into a corresponding opening in the wall of the expansion-chamber, as shown. The opposite end of this section f3 engages with a metallic steamdischarge ring, G1, which has apertures h through it to admit of the free passage of steam from the main F1 into the interior F9 of the expansion chamber. By turning this dischargering in one direction it will be screwed along upon the section f3 asufiicent distance to allow of the removal of the metal ring or stuftingbox follower e, and

` thus give accessto the packing j should'such .giving access to the main F1.

packing need replacing; and after the ring c is thus removed the steam-discharge ring G2 can itself be removed either for repair or the substitution of a new one, its removal also By turning said ring Gr2 in an opposite direction to that just named it will force the metal ring e down j uponthe steampackingj, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby packing the joint and preventing the escape of steami'rom the main as well asfrom the interior ot' the expansion-chamber at the end f2 of a section of the main F1, which enters said chamber.

The outer surface of the end f2 of lastnamed section is intended to slide forward and backward in contact with the packing j,

`and the forward end of such section uwill be projected into the expansion-chamber F3 more or less, according to the longitudinal expansion or contraction of the main pipe F1, which is between the source of the supply of steam to lsuch pipe and the junction service-box F10. This iron section ofthe main F1 has its endf2 nickel-plated on that portion of its exterior surface which comes in contact with the steampacking 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 anti-frictional 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,inotwithstanding the very considerable longitudinal expansion and contraction to which long lines of such pipe are subjected, by reason of varying temperature.

The steam-mains F1 throughout their entire extent, up to and slightly within the junction service-boxes, are surrounded by a wrapping of asbestus, hair-cloth, or any other non-conducting substance, or with both asbestus and hair-cloth, as shown, 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 thispipe is then embedded in and covered, as in Fig 24, first with sheet-zinc or tile, and thereafter i, with some porous substance like tan-bark' or sawdust, to retain conned air, while underneath such outside pipe tiles w, Figs. 6 and 24, are properly laid to carry ott' water, which would otherwise Settle around it in the trenches in which the mains are laid. In Fig. 3 of the drawings the asbestus wrapping is designated atm, the hair-cloth at m1, and the water-tight pipe at "m2, which pipe is carried into and connected with the parts of the junction service-box F6, as shown, 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 4 Maese expansion chamber and the source of supply of-steam to the mains F1, a main stop-valve, indicated at V in Fig. 4, will be applied to the mains, in order that steam 'may be eut off from the expansion-chamber F8 during the act-fof repairs oran adjustment-of the mechanism therein. From these mains the servicepipes a conduct the steam to the buildings on either .side ofthe street along which said mains may be laid, in which buildings the steam may be used for either or all of the purposes heretofore named to which lmy invention relates.

yI'have described the mains F1 as having a longitudinal movement, by reason of their contraction and expansion 5 and'now, in order tO-show'that provision is made against undue straining of the service-pipes a, whether they pass at right angles-from the mainsto a building indicated at A14, or around corners before reaching a building, making themselves a right angle either to the right or left,or both tothe-right and left, `I will proceed to describe the `plan shown by Figs. 19, 20, and 21, and the plans Vshown -by Figs. 22 and 23. F1 in Figs. 19,20, and 2l shows the main, which, in

all-respects, is constructed, laid down, and protected-asbefore described and a is a service-l pipe leading'out at right angles from said main tothe curb-line, or to the back yard of a building. 1n plan 19 the connection of the servicepipe wwi-th the main F1 is made by cutting an oblong hole, A5, of about two inches length 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 takes place, to vibrate between :its inner end m4 and its connection with the main F1, a wooden tube, m3,having thesteain street-main F1 contracts and ex pands; and this, without much strain upon it, as the great length of pipe-between the fixed point-m4 and the point of connection with the main lwill cause =the movement ofv the-service-pipeat its fixed point m4 to be exceedingly slight. is to bebent so as to form an elbow, as shown in Fig-22, or is to be united to two elbows, as in Fig. 23,l for the purpose of leading thesteam into buildings not situated for a service-pipe,

' suchas is shown in Fig. 19, I inclose it in a water-tightwooden casing, such as is show-n at m5 in Fig. 23, or as shown at m6 in Fig. 22,'

accordingly asthe case. may require. The -in- Now, if the service-pipe aV terior of these casings forms aflarin g chamber', m, and the service-pipe a is only impinged upon, and that loosely, at the points m9 m10 in Y y the plan shown in Fig. 22, and at the Apoints m11 m12 m13 in the plan shown in Fig. 23. With either of the constructions shown by Figs. 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 Haring chamber of the casings m5 and m6 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'frorn said mains in a dwelling within the district of buildings shown `in Fig. l, such description having reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings. In Figs. 5,6, and 8 the roadway of the street is indicated at lPI and the sidewalk at I. In Fig. 5

a junction service-box F10 is shown beneath the street-roadway H, from which box, through one of its service-pipes, at, steam is conveyed into a conducting-pipe, u, which leads into a steam -hydrant, P, situated upon the sidewalk. In this said ligure an ordinary watermain 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 vcity fire-engine; and in order to prevent the ywater in the hydrant P1 from freezing during the winter season the conducting-pipe n is made `to impinge against such hydrant, as signified in Figs. 5 and 7. y

At Q, in Figs. 5 and 8, a tire-engine is represented which has no boiler or fire, and which takes its steam from the steam-hydrant P, through Va steam-pipe or hose, g4, simultaneously with its supply of water from the hy- -drant P1 through a water-hose, 11,15.

The advantages are apparent in that the water in hydrant P1 is never frozen, and the steam in the hydrant P is always up"7 and ready for the engine. Besides this, the cost and weight of a tire-engine may be reduced about one-half that of any other 5 at the same time the alarming appearance caused by the ire, 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. Incase 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. In this instance a conducting-pipe, n1, receives its steam from the conducting-pipe n, and thence passing into the building, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 7, mays-upply steam directly to a heater or radiator, L, and so warm an upper room, as shown inthe-latter figure, while a branch conductleaosc 5 ing-pipe, nconnecting with the pipe nl, may

cut-ofi' cock, d, is applied to the. conductingpipe al tocompel the steam to pass into and through asteam-nieter, by means oi" which the pressure and supply of the steam is primarily regulated within the building and the consumpt'ion recorded. The steampipes n3 and a4 (shown in Figs. 7 and 9) connect such meter with the pipe nl, and cocks, as at dl and d2, are applied to the pipes 7a3-and n4, so that when the cock d is closed .and the cocks dl and 0l2 are open, theV steam will pass into the meter through pipe n3, and out of the meter through the pipe n, back to and within the pipe nl, and so on to the radiators L and L, as well as to other parts hereinafter described. This meter is more clearly Vshown by Fig. 9 than. in the other igures, and is, preferably, constructed mainly as shown, though other constructions might be used to effect the same results for which it is intended. In this figure, cis a metal cylinder, having a steam-chamber, c1, to 'receive steam through the pipe n3, which connects with the pipe n1,1(shown in Fig. 7,) heretofore described. The ends of this cylinder are closed steam-tight with a properlyfitting stuiiing-box, c2, at one end, and with a steam-tight tubular valve-stem bearing, c3, at its other end, as shown. Within this cylinder is a cone-valve, c4, connectedl at one ofv its ends with a valvestem, c5, and at the other end witha screw-threaded stern, c6, which takes into a nut of the valve-stem bearing c3, as shown. The cone-valve c, whichradinits the steam from the chamber c1 into the pipes leading to the different rooms and radiators, passes through an annular diaphragm, c7. The area ot' the opening c8 in the diaphragm, when it surrounds the small end of the cone-valve, must be ot' a sufficient size to supply all the -radiators required in a given dwelling, or have about an area ot' three-fourths of a square inch for every hundredthousand cubic feet of space to be warmed. The large end of this cone-valve c4 should fill the diaphram-opening z8-so as to form a close joint; The amount of steam passing through the diaphram c7 will depend on the position of the cone-valve as it Vmoves forward and back through said opening o8. M in said Fig. 9 indicates clockwork regulated to keep good time. which gives movement to a ribbon of paper, M. This ribbin passes over and is moved forward by a roller, r1, fastened upon an extension of a shaft which in ordinary clockl-work gives movement to the hour-hand of a clock. The

ribbon in its forward movement is held down upon the roller r1 by a loosely-revolving roller, T2, the ribbon passing between them, as shown, as the roller r1 is slowly rotated by the clockwork. The ribbon M', asin Fig. ll, 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 zero7-line ot' ther ribbon, and on which zero-line the pointer i2 will rest when the valve c4 is closed. It `is also ruled with black cross-lines, as at 24. 24, to represent days, and with lines as .at el to represent half-days, and with lines e2 to represent hours. Any number of these ribbons may be provided in advance ot their use, as

the same ribbon will answer for all the ditferent 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 vthrough the diaphragm cFI depends on the position of the cone-valve c4 and its position Ais accurately recorded upon the ribbon M by a pencil-linger, i2, secured to a sliding bar, i3, which latter is supported in a horizontal posi tion by the frame of the clock-work, and in such manner as to allow of a sidewise movement eitherto the right or left. This bar 113 has a clutch, i, attached to one ot' its ends, which clutch travels in a circular groove, t", cut around the valve-stem c5, as shown, and at the opposite end of said bar a fiat spring, as indicated at is, is secured to the bar. The spring moves with the bar to right andV left,

according as the bar is moved, and upon the Y plane surface cfa metal frame, L2, (shown in Figs. 7 and 8,) which incloses the cylinder c of the meter and also supports its clock-work M. The pointer 112 is so adjusted in position upon the bar i3 that itepencil will always press upon the ribbon M at a point where the ribbon is in firm contact with the periphery of the' roller r1, while at the same time the clutch Q14 is `so adjusted on said bar as to travel in the groove t5 ofthe valve-stein o5, and in these positions said bar Vand clutch are always held by the tension ot' the spring t6 upon the cover L2 during the forward and backward movements ot' the valve-stem c5 and cone-valve c4. In other words, the pencil-fin ger fi? is automatically held to its work by the spring 6, and as the pencil is moved crosswise ot' the ribbon through the connection of the bar 113 with the valve-stem c5 the slightest movement of the cone-valve c4 will be felt by the pencil, and such movement recorded upon the ribbon M', as indicated by the zigzag line on said `ribbon in Fig. 9. The cone-valve c, it will be seen in the Iigures, is moved backward or forward" Varound the cone-valve through the diaphragm,

- water.

thefsteam is reduced to.low pressure and in thiscondition can be safely used for. warming thebuilding. My object in. using high press ure in the mains F1 anda low pressure inthe dwellingsisto keep; the said mains., as small asrpossible, on account of expenseand loss. by

l condensation,- while low pressure in thebuildl .ings is not as liable to.y cause leakage in the joints, valves, andpacking, besides being con,- sidered safer.

Each diierent 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 tofbe used. This being done the value of the steamA between. the longitudinal lineswillbe known by its number. This value may be computedwith considerable accuracy by the areaof the.diaphragin-aperture c8 and the ve locity of steam..atgivenipressures. But when greater` accuracyA is required, a company or producer supplying acity or town withy these wor/ksv should be provided with an apparatus for that purpose consisting simply of a sur. face-condenser, or coil of pipe submerged in coldV water,ot`: sufcient size andlength to con.- dense all the steam that will pass through the largest meters within a given time. Then the value is obtainedas. follows supposing the meter is tobe used witha pressure of forty ponndsabove the cone-valve ofi-and at or near the pressurek of the atmosphere below the cone-valve, as at n?, Fig. 9y first, close the cone-valve c4 and thus station the pencil t2 onV the zero or red lines 8 8 of the ribbon then open the cone-valve until they pencil reaches the first black line7which runslengthwise of the ribbomand there stop. This will allowV a small quantity of steam. to pass intothe conf denser, (the condenser beingattached -ton4 or other convenientpipe communicating..V with 01.4,) where it will, be condensed. andicome: out purel distilled water. Let the` valve remain open one hour, then close it and` weigh the Multiply the weight inv poundsby 27.-.7.y which will` give the number of cubic inches of water. Each. cubicv inch. of water wasa cubic foot of steam at the pressure of the atmosphcre,l before entering the condenser.` Then multiply the cubic feet of steamE by 24 (thev hours inA a dayland 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 c4 till the pencil i2 reaches the, second black. line, 6.r-unningI lengthwise. of the ribbon,J andI repeat the process at each of suchlines untilthe cone-valve c4 is4 Wide open--thev movement of the valve by the pencil, over the number of cubic. feet.

sho-wn for the immediately-preceding longi.-

tudnal line, their the, meter would, beef proper size for. a dwelling or, other .building con.; taining fifteen thousand cubic feet of space to be warmed. I will suppose this. meter to be in operation in ay dwelling, and atthe end of amonththeamount. recorded averaged five full spaces,.and each of such spacesbetweene.2 e2, and between 8 to 7. and so.on,.of, the ribbon M', represents the consumptionofone hundred cubicfeetofsteamfor onehour. To obtain-the costfor onev month or one year is as follows: Example: One hundred cubic feet per hour multiplied by the number .of hours in a. day shows'the consumption of twenty-fourhundred cubic feet each day, which, multiplied by the number of days in a4 monthshows the con.- sumption of seventy-two thousand cubicfeet for one month, which, multiplied by two, the number. of. cents charged fora thousandcubic feet,` will'amount to one dollar andy forty-four centsper montlrfor each full. spaceand. such sum being multiplied by tive,`the` number of spaceswill make atot-al sum of seven dollars and twenty. cents per month.; or,.a.grandl total of; fifty-sevendollarsand sixty centsn per year, if thesaid value per monthv be multiplied. by eight,y which. isv the estimated years. use of steam for warming; the. building. Theseribbons M may be collected: once a,monthand 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 eachof said full. spaces of theribbons for thedii'erent size meters, will know` at once` how tomake out` his bills.` This meter will work practically correct,.even it the mean pressure of steam shouldvary iive pounds either way, fromv forty pounds pressure, in which case the loss; or gain to theconsumer wouldnot exceed two per. cent.

I have describedthe meter shown. by Figs.` 9, l0, and 11 only as a meter for steam; but. it isequally as goodfor. measuring many other uids, either hot or cold'where the pressure below the cone-valve is lessthan above it, It may beopenect or closed. by hand, and after. having; been opened, it may be moreor less opened. and. closed automatically by thepressureof the steam below the cone-valve, and th-usthesteam in the house kept at. av uniform pressure, as will be. hereinafter shown... I. have alsospokenotransmittin g steam-th rough long lines of pipe.. The same appara-tus is equally good for hot fluids,l either. water, air, l or oil.v

l Asi thesteaml passes out of. the meter, Fig.. `{9,through they pipe. n4 back into the pipe n.5. iit willi. be under-lowpressure,.and then passes directly intothe radiator L through pipe nl, andl intoradiatorlu1 through pi'penz, the cocks d? and d* ofi the radiators being open;y also lindicate; the pressure iny thel building;l alsov through pipe. us into a.diaphragmregulator, K, attached.. toA the key of thel meter to reguglatethe pressurei-n the building'.

In Figs.`7, '12 13, and 14 1 show a. steam.- ftrap, which L have constructed expressly for througlr pipe n? into a pressure-gaga.Gr3,.to

`its center` tube t. p the `water in the -oat f4 `being about eightl ruse in connection `with `my improved iappairatus for warming, `which l am '-now describ-I ing. This trap answers .za `double `purpose, that lof a neheater and :a steam-trap. In many 4 places it can be used ast'ollows: hier instance,

in .order to warm ,a large-dwelling or store, as indicated in Fig. 7, where there are a number Yof radiators inthe rooms `above ground, thel steam will `come into `the basement through? Vthe meter7 then upthrough :all the .radiators,; as justdescniibed. The-condensed steam `he-i ingfreturned to the basement :through pipes nai a9 and junction-pipe n10 Vinto the trap l', theI balanced-oatfi, being =open at the upper end,

,as-shown, receives .the water from the returnpipe n10 and will .remain full,ior1up to the top :ot` The top of the tube t and g inches higher than the water surrounding the i Amuch headf and :forms a current-of hot water down through the bottom of the float. The 1 temperature :of the `descending water ibeing` hotter than -that inthe trapbelow `will increase its temperature and cause it to ascend in the space t1 beween the float and the interior of the trap l', a little above the pipe n, through which pipeit will leave the trap `and circulate through a radiator, L3 in the basement, then back through pipe n into the bottom of' `the trap I', when it ascends and is reheated .by the `hot water descending through tube t. It' the temperature of the circulating water `is too low i to warm the basement-radiator L3, live steam, by openingthe valve-dican be admit- .ted tothe trap through the pipe ri-coiled as fhl, 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 11.7 into the top ot' the trap I', and increase the temperature of the water descending through the center tube tf When lthe water rises too high in the trap, the iloat f4-(whch `is `connected by a rod,u, and a cord, u1, to -a lever,w, as shown) will ascend and lower the weighted end ot' the lever W, which, by means ot' the `rod w and lever w1, will open the cock wz in a nu, and thence to the trap l',.in which it` 1s reheated for repeated circulation, while all surplus water will be discharged into the reservoir Z, as: before described. A wayccck, asv at d6 is provided t'or the pipe n, and pipes am will be provided with a similar cock. ,p

Itis manifest that the hot water from the trap may be carried through pipe n toa tank or closet.

vin Vthe `kitchen -of the building, `there to be needed.

in this `manner iI am `enabled to utilize .either in :the-condition of steam or in the condition of hot water, 4nearly all the `heat let into the building.

l. will here state that While l `prefer to use Vthetrap above described, Still 'a trap'of lordinary construction might, with-good results, be substituted therefor', for the purpose ot' heating by steam only.

In the aforegoing description, have spoken ot' the trap I as a reheater forwarmingeither the basements ot' buildings, or greenhouses, by circulating ihot water. But this combined trap and reheaterpneed not be used simplyto heatsuch localities.- It' desired, thetrap proper may, for instance, be located in the upper story of a building and `warm allparts of the building, as well as a greenhouse, by circulating hot water Vfrom such upper story, as signitied .by Figs. 15 and 16; and, there lbein'g no danger of fire from its use, the trap proper (sectionicz) may be located in any back hall In nig. 7 I have shown the outer shell or cylinder of the trap `made with two sections `or 'main parts, 1an upper onepe, in which `the float operates, and a lower one, e3, i-n which the coil h is located, the two sections freely communicating through an annular opening, b2. There is thus practically a doet-chamber for the upper section, anda coil-chamber t'or the lower section, the two communicating through b2.

We will now suppose that it is desirable to locate the trap proper in the third story-of a dwelling, `as in Fig. 15. In this case `theco'ilchamber or lower section `c" 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 `ot' the house, and thus act partially 4as a heater t'or such story; and from this latter section e2 the hot water will circulate through all the radiators on that iioor, then descend to the next, andso on until it reachesl the basement, from whence it may circulate through `a greenhouse, B', and, finally, be returned to the bottom e3 of the trap, land so be reheated t'or repeated circulation, while all surplus water will be discharged into a hot-water reservoir,

as signified in Fig. 7. In this supposed case 4 the live steam, after Vhaving passed through the meter, is taken from the pipe al, (shown in Fig. 7,) into an upright as at V', Fig. 15, from which the steam passes through thie pipe fnf and its coil h in `the section e3, along up said pipe a7, and discharges into the upper section e2, in the third story. The corresponding parts of the trap shown in Figs. 7 and 15 ber 01. posed to be at zero, and the diaphragm t2 at perform the same function and are designated the same letter. It will thus be seen that any one or more of the buildings situate within the district of buildings signified in Fig. l,

can, at option, be heated either by steam, or

by circulating hot water, as may beV 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 build- .ing A2 located at or near the center of said district, and passed through mains F1 under high pressure.

In Figs. 17 and 18 I have shown a pressuregage, to indicate the pressure of the steam let into the radiators and other steam-fixtures of a dwelling. This gage may be situated in the basement of a building, as indicated in Fig. 7, and receives steam through pipe a5, when the steam leaves the meter, as shown in said figure. It consists of a cylindric frame, e, its upper extended portion, e5, being provided with a scale indicating pounds and halfpounds, as at b4. It is provided with an index-pointer, i7, pivoted at p, and with a short lever-arm, pl, 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, t3, while a projecting portion, r2, rests upon a boss which is secured centrally upon a liexble diaphragm,

pointer will always return after the pressure of the steam has ceased to act within the cham- As seen in Fig. 17, the pointer is suprest. If steam is now let into the chamber el" through pipe a5, the flexible diaphragm t2 will be forced outwardly from the steam-chamber, thus forcing outwardly the forward part ofthe lever p3, and at the same time drawing down the rod p2, which, in turn, draws down the short arm p1, thus causing the pointer to move forward upon the scale b4. This act puts the spring p5 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 i7 will return to its normal position at the zero-point.

The steam, after passing through the meter, also passes from pipe nl into a pipe, a6, which conducts it into a diaphragm-regulator, K. (Shown in Figs. 5 and 7.) This regulator is connected with a key, la, upon an arbor, k1, on the end of the valve-stem o5 of the cone-valve c, and 'regulates the pressure of the steam within the building. The regulator is of simple construction, having a steam-chamber, c, to receive steam from pipe n, and a flexible diaphragm, t4, held in place by an annular ring, t5, similar to that shown in Fig. 1 7. A lever, l, is pivoted at j', at its rear end, to an upright projection of the ring t5, and a downward projection, l, of the lever rests upon a boss secured to the flexible diaphragm t, corresponding to the boss shown in Fig. 17. The lever is provided with a movable weight, @05, 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, ws. This cord, when the regulator is to come into action,

is passed over a sheave, y, of the key k. (Shown in Figs. 5 and 8.) I will now suppose the conevalve c4 to be closed, and that the operator desires to let a quantity of steam into the radiatorL sufficient to heat it, and that such quantity will be furnished at a pressure of two pounds. To do this the key lois turned forward by the hand of the operator, thereby opening the valve. The forward movement of the key is continued until the pressure-gage Gr3 indicates the two pounds pressure. This done, the operator raises the cord u2 over the sheave y, and adjusts the weight w5 along the lever l of the regulator K, untilthe lever l assumes a horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 5, care being taken, during such act, not to further open the cone-valve c4. This being done, a steady heat at two pounds pressure of steam will be furnished said heater. After a while it becomes desirable to set the heater Ll in operation, and accordingly the inlet-valve d4 is properly turned and steam admitted. This act at once reduces the two-pound pressure in the chamber c ofthe regulator K, whereupon the weighted lever l will commence to fall belowa horizontal position, and so draw upon the cord u2, at the same time elevating weight we, and thereby opening the cone-valve until the given pressure is rie-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 L1. Accordingly the steam is cut off from radiator L1, and this act increases the steampressure 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 twopounds 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, l provide for a ready and inexpensive removal of such snow and ice, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings. In the latter figure, at one side of the street H, an opening, f5, is made lesmsa 9 along the sidewalk-curb be, a cover, f6, being provided for such opening when not in use. This openingf5leadsinto a largeunderground tank or box, B3, provided with an exit-pipe, a, which is made to communicate with an underground sewer of the city or town. This box may be located near one ofthe steam-hydrants P, above described or, if deemed best, a special steamhydrant, as at P2, in Figs. 6 and 8, may be provided at convenient points on the sidewalk I. Such hydrant P2 is made to take steam from one of the street-mains F1 through apipe, als, and it is also provided with proper valves to let on and cut off the steam when desired. A pipe, as indicated ata", Fig. `8, situated near the steam-hydrant P2, passes from near the surface ofthe sidewalk down into the box B3, and is coiled upon .the bottom of said box. This coil may be perforated, or it maybe imperforated, but open at its termination, so that a heavy flow of high-pressure steam may be let into the box. The opening jsuis of lsuch 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 01T into the sewer of the city uwith very great rapidity. At f18 I have shown a short connection-pipe between the hydrant P2 and the pipe n.17, leading into the box B3. This connecting-pipe need only lbe used when steam is let into the box B3, and, :when not :wanted for such purpose, it can befremoved,and its cover g5 adjusted over the pipe nl".

I thus have provided a ready and inexpensive means. for freeing streets from accumulations of snow andice,and, if needed,'an auxiliary steam-pipe, as at w20, connecting with the hydrant P2,can also be brought into action, either to melt the snow in the box or for clearingthe sidewalk and street of snow by throwing hot steam thereon.

In my aforegoing description I have illustrated and described a practical wayof distributing steam, and the condensation of steam throughout buildings within a district of buildings signied in Figs. l 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. Y

It is manifestthat in some cases where the steam is to be usedas 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 buildin-gs, by a steampipe connecting with an outlet-pipe, as signified at a4 of a meter shown in Figs. 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 pipe nl or pipe a3, Fig. 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. Y

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 rem-` edied 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 longi tudinally-expansive thrust of the main pipe F1, which shall also serve as a cham-ber 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.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. 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 longitudinally, 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' steamconveying pipes of a building, for conveying steam to heat the building, and for other purposes, a steam-meter constructed to control the press- `ure 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-A radiator, and with a steam-trap, which answers the double purpose of a reheater and a lsteam-trap, substantially as described.

7. An underground steam street-main in connection with steam-supplyingapparatus,

and with a heater of a building, and with a water-hydrant, substantially as and for the purpose described. l

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. l

9. Underground street-mains connected with steam-supplying apparatus, and with a heatradiator, and with an automatic steam-regulator or governor, substantially as and for the purpose described. j

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 said reservoirs for the escape cf steam therein, sub- Lstantially as and for the purposes described.

`11. A steam street-main expansion-chamber, F8, substantially as described.

12. An adjustable hood, g, in combination with street-main F1, service-pipe a, andan eX- pansion-chamber, which serves as a steamchamber, substantially as described.

13. The combination of the expansion-chamber F", 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 a 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 g4 ofthe steammain Fl, the wall of the expan- Sion-chamber, tube G, and eyebolts g3, substantially as and for the purpose described.

17. Steam street-mains, insulated as described, drained by tiles, as at w, substantially 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, c, a laterally-traveling pencil-iinger, '112, clock movement M, and ribbon M', substantially as and for the purpose described.

19. One or more than one radiator heated heated by steam supplied through the passage of the cone-valve c, in combination with the regulator K, whereby the same deter- 22. The suspended trap-float f4, provided with a tube, t, of less height than thedepth of the chamber of the float, in combination with the pipe nu, pipe n, cock wz, and pipe w3, substantially as and for the purpose described.

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 nl in combination with the trap I', substantially as and for the purpose described.

25. A street steam-hydrant connected with the street-main F1, and located in close contiguityrto a Water-hydrant, which is warmed by a pipe, a, connected to said main F1, whereby steam and water may at all times be simultaneously supplied from the same locality to an engine for extinguishing lires', substantially as described.

26. The casings m5 and m6 for the servicepipes, 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 andtowns, and for driving machinery, and for other purposes in said dis,

tricts, consisting of steam-supplying apparatus, street-mains having expansion junctionservice-boxes, service-pipes having connecting-pipes, and meters, substantially as described. l

Witness my hand in the matter of my application for a patent for new and improved apparatus for utilizing steamfor heating and other purposes in cities and towns, this21st day of April, A. D. 1877.

BIRDSILL HOLLY. Witnesses:

SAML. Roenes, I. H. BABoooK.

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