US662632A - Apparatus for supplying water to occupants of buildings. - Google Patents

Description

' Patnted Nov. 27, I900.

J. H. VAIL.- APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TU'OCCUPANTS 0F BUJLDIN GS.

(Application filed Feb. 24. 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet ll.

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No. 662,632. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

J. H. VAIL.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPL'YING WATER T0 OCGUPANTS 0F BUILDINGS.

(Application filed Feb. 24, 1900.)

(Ho Ilodel.) 2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

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arena l0 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYlNG WATER TO OCCUPANTS 0F BUILDINGS.

SEEGIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 662,632, dated November 27, 1900.

Application filed February 24, 1900. Serial No. 6,844. No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN I-I. VAIL, a. citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Water to Occupants of Buildings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention aims to provide an apparatus through the operation of which water at a predetermined temperature and ate. predetermined pressure will be supplied to all the fancets throughout a building in which it may be installed.

To such end my improvements comprehend the provision of" water installation system for a building in communication with a source of water supply, and provided with mechanical means through the operation of which the water supplied to said system will be repeatedly circulated therethrough; it further comprehends the provision of means by which water is automatically supplied to the pipes composing the installation system and to replace water drawn olif by the occupants of the building; it also comprehends the provision of a refrigerating agent or device within or under the influence of which the circulated water passes; the result of the foregoing arrangement being that Water is supplied to the occupants of a building in which the system is installed at a uniform pressure and at a uniform low temperature.

In the accompanying drawings I show, and herein 1 describe, a good form of a convenient embodiment of my invention, the particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a partly diagrammatic view illustrative of the several parts included in the preferred embodiment of my invention, illustrative of their general relationship to each other and their connection, rather than of their precise construction.

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional elevation of a form of pressu re controlled valve regulating device I prefer to employ.

Figure 3 is a vertical central section of a valve showing in connection therewith an elecirically operated valve controlling device.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A water supply pipe 1, which is in communication with a city main or other source, is in circuit, first, with a boiler 2; second, with a filter 3; and, third, with a storage tank 4.

The boiler is conveniently provided with a steam coil supplied with steam from any suitable source. Said boiler is also conveniently provided with a dished bottom for the reception of sediment, which may be periodically removed through a hand hole formed in said bottom. Preferably two filters 3, counterparts of each other, are employed, to and from which lead suitable branches of the water supply pipe. The filters may be contemporaneously active, or they may be employed in alternation, so that one may be cleaned or repaired at a time without interrupting the operation of the apparatus as a whole.

In Figure 1 are shown a series of pipes connected together in any preferred manner, form, and duplication, according to the requirements and dimensions of the building in which the apparatus is installed.

The entire series of pipes preferably constitute a complete system of uninterrupted continuity, so that water is free to circulate through every part thereof.

The circulation pipe system in what I consider its best form, and'that in which I prefor to employ it, will consist of What may be termed main pipes typically represented in Figure l by the vertically disposed lines 5 assu med to be pipes of considerable diameter, and branch or cross pipes, as I term them, extending from one of the main pipes to the other, and of very much less cross sectional area, the arrangement preferably being one in which the aggregate sectional area of the branch or cross pipes equals that of one of the main pipes.

Each of the branch or cross pipes illustrated in Figure 1 as connective of the two main pipes,-typifies or represents the water supply for an entire floor, of which floors six are supposed to exist in the building in which an apparatus of the form shown in Figure 1, and which has six branch or cross pipes, may be installed.

Each branch pipe supplying a given floor will have the requisite number of branches, supply faucets, or fittings, according to the requirements of the occupants of the floor.

In the preferred arrangement of my invention, furthermore, wherever a faucet is to be placed, a loop is formed, constituting a continuation of the pipe which supplies said faucet, through or along which loop the water constantly circulates.

When, then, a faucet is turned on, the water Withdrawn therefrom is part of the mass of water contained in the circulating pipe system, and isconsequently at the same predetermined low temperature as the rest of the water in the pipes.

This arrangement is to be distinguished from one in which the faucet is located at the free end of a branch pipe, and in which branch pipe, in said last named and usual construction, the water stands indefinitely, so that when withdrawn it is of a heightened temperature and must be allowed to waste before Water of the desired lower temperature from a main pipe emerges from the faucet.

The aggregate area of the branch or cross pipes being equal to that of one of the main pipes, the circulation throughout the circulating pipe system is at a uniform rate; the supply drawn from the system at one floor can never interfere with or lessen the supply desired on another floor; and the precise diameters of the various pipes to be purchased and installed can be calculated with precision.

Faucets and attachments of the usual kinds, including an air chamber 6, are to be applied to the system wherever required.

When, hereafter, in the specification and claims I refer generally to the circulating pipes, reference is had to a closed system or series of pipes disposed in the area in which the water is to be employed, and through which the water supplied thereto may ,repeatedly circulate, regardless of the form arrangement, and extent, of such pipes.

To secure the proper working of the parts all the pipes included in the circulating pipe system are kept full of water.

7 is a coil mounted in the circulating pipe system, and inclosed in a tank 8.

10 is a feed pipe connective of the storage tank and the circulating pipes, intermediate of the length of which is a feed pump 9.

11 (see Figure 2) isa valve mounted in the feed pipe 10 between the storage tank and the feed pump, and adapted to be operated by a pressure regulator 12, controlled by the pressure of the water in the circulating pipes 5.

As shown in the drawings, (see Figure 2), the regulator consists of a casing supported over the pipe 10, and the hollowv interior of which is provided with a diaphragm 13, the space beneath which diaphragm constitutes a pressure chamber 1 1.

A connecting rod 15 connected to the diaphragm extends to the exterior of the easing 12.

16 is a lever pivotally connected at its innerend to the casing 12, to which lever the end of the rod 15 is also connected.

17 is a second lever pivotally supported beneath the regulator casing, connected as to one end to the stem of the valve 11 and as to its other end connected to a link 18 which is in turn connected to the lever 16.

Through the levers 16, 17, and the link 18, the movement of the diaphragm and its rod is communicated to the valve.

19 is a pressure pipe leading from the circulating pipes 5 to the pressure chamber 14 in the casing 12. The water in the pressure chamber, and in said last mentioned pipe, will be at the same pressure as that in the circulating pipes 5, and when said pressure is sufficient to occasion a given elevation of the diaphragm, the movement of said diaphragm, communicated through the rod 15, the lever 16, the link 18, and the lever 17, will cause the seating of the valve, 11, and the closing of the feed pipe 10.

Of course, any desired form of pressure controlledregulator, and any preferred form of valve, and any preferred connection between the regulator or diaphragm and the valve, may be employed.

As will be understood, the feed pump 9, in its operation constantly draws the water from the storage tank and discharges it within the circulating pipes 5.

When, however, the operation of said pump feeds water to the circulating pipes more rapidly than it is withdrawn therefrom by the consumers, the pressure in said circulating pipes increases, and suchincreased pressure, acting upon the diaphragm 13, closes the valve and shuts off the supply to the said circulating pipes.

Manifestly, therefore, the pressure in the circulating pipes will never exceed a predetermined fixed limit.

The feed pump 9, similarly to the circulating pump and the refrigerator circuit pump, whereof hereinafter, is of a conventional form, having a piston head and rod, to which rod is connected a link engaged with a crank ona crank shaft 20,operated by a motor 21,the arrangement being such that the one crank shaft is common to all three of the pumps.

Of course, any preferred form of pump may be employed in lieu of the form illustrated in the drawings.

I provide special means for inducing a circulation of the water throughout the circulating pipes, such means consisting, in the form of apparatus shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, of a circulating pump 22, in communication, through branch pipes 23 and 24, with the circulating pipes 5.

The circulating pump in its operation occasions a constant circulation of the water in the circulating pipes.

When the circulating pump is in operation the cook 25 is closed, and the cooks 26 27 IIO open, this being the normal set of the cooks referred to.

The cooling coil 7 which is in circuit with the circulating pipes 5, is designed to be artificially cooled by a cooling agent brought into contact With it, with the object of cooling the water which exists in, and passes through the circulating pipes 5, and to such end, the casing or boxing in which the coil 7 is contained is preferablysupplied with a liquid refrigerating agen t, of any preferred character. t

The coil 7 and boxing 8 constitute a temperature changer.

I prefer to employ as the refrigerating agent, brine, from a brine vat circulated through said boxing and in contact with the coil 7.

28 is a brine tank and 29 is a refrigerator circuit or brine pump. 30isa pipe leading from the temperature changer boxing to the brine tank. 31 is a pipe leading from the brine tank to the brine pump, and 32 is a pipe leading from the brine pump to the temperature changer boxing. valve mounted in the pipe 31.

The brine tank and the pipes connective of said tank and the temperature changer boxing, together with the appliances associated with said pipes, I generically term the refrigcrating circuit.

The brine tank and the temperature changer boxing and the pipes connective thereof,are normally full of brine, maintained in circulation by the operation of the pump 29, so that a continuous flow of fluid from the tank 28 is, in the passage of the water through the pipes of the refrigerating circuit, forced into the presence of the cooling coil 7 of the circulating pipes, with the result that the water in the circulating pipes is main tained at a low temperature.

The valve 33 is provided with a stem 34: projecting through the body of the pipe in which said valve is mounted, and connected to a weighted valve lever 35 pivotally connected to a supporting arm 36.

37 is a core, connected to the lever 35, mounted in the hollow interior of a solenoid 38, in electric circuit with a battery 39 and a thermostat L0.

The thermostat 40 is in position to be affected by the water of the circulating pipes 5, and the respective ends of the electrical conductors in circuit with the battery and so: lenoid are in said thermostat provided with terminals of a very sensitive character which in the alteration of their condition of electrical contact under expansion and contraction due to the alteration of the temperature of the water, open or close the electric circuit, with the result that the position of the core 37 with relation to the solenoid 38 is correspondingly altered, occasioning through the lever 35 a corresponding movement of the valve The thermostat 40 consists of a structure having a double wall with the result that two 33 (see Figure 3) is a chambers are formed, one within the inner wall, being a closed terminal chamber, and the other an annular water chamber between the inner and outer walls, into which water chamber the adjacent ends of the circulating .pipe open.

The water discharged into said water chamber circulates past and in contact with the wall of the terminal chamber, but without access to the interior thereof.

The acting parts of the thermostat are accordingly maintainetlinadry condition under all circu instances, but at the same time owing to the contact of the water with the wall of the terminal chamber the acting parts of the thermostat are in a position to be very readily affected by the changes in temperature of the water.

Assuming that as the water in the circulating pipes 5, becomes slightly warmer than desired, the terminals in the thermostat expand and approach each other, energize the solenoid, and attract its core, overcoming the weight on the lever 35,-it will be seen that the result of this operation will be to tilt said lever 35 and open the valve 33.

Thereupon the liquid in the refrigerating circuit is free to circulate under the actuation of the pump 29, which is, in the form of my apparatus illustrated, supposed in constant operation.

As soon as, by the circulation of the liquid in the refrigerating circuit, the liquid in the circulating pipes has been cooled to the desired degree, the separation of the terminals in the thermostat interrupts the current in the solenoid, and consequently the lever connected to the core of the solenoid, under the stress of its weight, moves in the direction which closes the valve 33 and stops the circulation in the refrigerating circuit.

Any desired form of thermostat, various forms of which are well known in the art, may be employed in this connection.

The pipes embraced in the apparatus illustrated in the drawings are to be provided with manually operated valves disposed wherever they may be found useful.

It will thus be seen that so soon as the water in the circulating pipes exceeds the highest temperature the parts are set to allow, the valve of the refrigerating circuit is opened, and the pump 29 circulates the cold liquid through the refrigerating circuit pipes and into contact with the cooling cylinder 7 of the circulating pipes 5.

As soon as the water in the circulating pipes 5 has been sufficiently cooled the thermostat, operated by the change of temperature, 00- casions, through the means described, the closing movement of the valve 3%.

As will be understood, the weight on the lever 35 tends to maintain the valve normally closed, and the energizing of the solenoid tends to throw said valve open.

Having tints described my invention, I claim 1. A water supply installation for buildings, including, in combination, a series of pipes constituting a circulation pipe system, and provided with a series of spigots or outlets, means for maintaining the pipes constantly full of water, means for occasioning the repeated circulation of the water through the circulation pipe system, and a cooling agent so arranged with reference to a portion of the circulation pipe system that water circulated through the latter is caused to come repeatedly within the influence of said cooling agent, substantially as set forth.

2. A Water supply installation for buildings, including, in combination, a series of pipes constituting a circulation pipe system, a valve controlled feed pipe or port opening thereinto, means for occasioning the repeated circulation of the water through the circulation pipe system, and a cooling agent, so arranged with reference to a portion of the circulation pipe system that the Water circulated through the latter is caused to come repeatedly within the influence of said cooling agent, substantially as set forth.

3. In a water supply system, in combina tion, a series of connected pipes which form a circulation system through which water supplied thereto may repeatedly circulate,a feed pipe, a pump in circuit with said feed pipe, a circulation pump in circuit with said circulation system, a refrigerating circuit, the liquid in which cools the liquid in the circulation system, and a pump operative in connection with said refrigerating circuit, substantially as set forth.

at. In a water supply installation for a building, in combination, a series of pipes constituting a house circulation system or circuit through which water supplied thereto may continuously circulate, faucets or outlets connected to pipes of the system for drawing off water as required, means for supplying water to such house system or circuit and maintaining the water in such system or circuit at a regulation pressure, and mechanical means for occasioning the circulation, through such system or circuit, of the water supplied thereto, substantially as set forth.

5. In a water supply installation for a building, in combination, a series of pipes constituting a house circulation system or circuit through which Water supplied thereto may repeatedly circulate, faucets or outlets connected to pipes of the system for drawing off water as required, means for supplying water to such house system or circuit and maintaining the water in such system or circuit at a regulated pressure, and a refrigerating agent or medium which cools the water within the pipes of the system, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for supplying water, under constant pressure, to a building, a system of circulating pipes mounted in said building, a feed pipe in communication with a source of supply and leading to said system of cir culation pipes, a valve controlling said feed pipe, a casing, a diaphragm mounted in said casing and constituting one wall of a pressure chamber, mechanism connective of said diaphragm and said valve, a pressure pipe leading from the system of circulation pipes, to the pressure chamber, and a pump in communication with the feed pipe at a point between the valve and the system of circulation pipes, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus for supplying water to occupants of a building, in combination, a series of pipes connected together and composing a normally closed circulation pipe system, a series of faucets connected to said pipes, a feed pipe adapted to supply water to the pipes of said circulation pipe system, means for automatically closing said feed pipe when the pressure in the circulation pipe system reaches a given strength, a circulation pump the action of which occasions the repeated circulation of the water through the pipes of the system, and a refrigerating or cooling agent under the influence of which the water is brought in its circulation, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for supplyingwater, in combination,a circulation pipe system, means for supplying water thereto, a refrigerating circuit, provided with means for occasioning the circulation of refrigerating fluid therethrough, and means controlled by the temperature of the water in the circulation pipe system for controlling the operation of the refrigerating circuit, substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus for supplying Water to a building, a normally closed system of pipes constituting a circulation pipe system, a series of faucets connected therewith, a refrigerating circuit so arranged that therefrigerating material is brought into the presence of the circulation pipe system, a valve mounted in a pipe of the refrigerating circuit, a device sensitive to differences in temperatu re,mounted in the circulation pipe system, and operative appliances connective of said sensitive device and the valve in the refrigerating circuit, substantially as set forth.

10. In an apparatus for supplying water to buildings, a series of pipes constituting a circulation pipe system, a series of pipes connected together and constituting a refrigerating circuit, a temperature exchanger common to the circulation pipe system and the refrigerating circuit, a thermostat mounted in communication with the circulation pipe system, a Valve mounted in the refrigerating circuit, a solenoid, having a core movable and controlled by the current in said solenoid, a connection between said core and said valve, and a batteryin circuit with said thermostat and said core,substantially as set forth.

11. In an apparatus for supplying water to buildings, in combination, a series of pipes forming a circulation pipe system, a series of faucets connected to the pipes of said system, means for supplying water to said pipes,

meansfor occasioning the circulation of the water through said pipes, a coil, formed as a part of the system, a boxing for said coil, a thermostat in communication with said circulationpipe system, a tank of refrigerant, a pipe leading from said boxing to said tank, a pipe leading from the tank to the boxing, a force pump in circuit with said last mentioned pipe, a valve mounted in said last mentioned pipe between the tank and the force pump,

electrically operated mechanism which controls said valve, and a battery, line wires from which are in circuit with said electrically operated mechanism and said thermostat, substantially as set forth.

12 In an apparatus for supplying water to a building, a series of pipes constituting a circulation pipe system, a feed pipe for supplying water thereto, a valve mounted in said pipe, a device controlled by the pressure in the circulation pipe system which operates said valve when the pressure in the circulation system reaches a given strength, a refrigerating circuit the liquid of which is brought into the presence of a portion of a pipe of the circulation pipe system, a valve mounted in a pipe of the refrigerating circuit, a thermostat mounted in communication with a pipe of the circulating pipe system, electrical connections through which the movements of parts of the thermostat occasion corresponding movements of the valve in the refrigerating circuit, a force pump in communication with the feed pipe, and a force pump in com- 1n n nication with the refrigerati ng circuit,sulostantially as set forth.

13. In an apparatus for supplying water to a building, a series of pipes constituting a circulation pipe system, a feed pipe for supplying water thereto, a valve mounted in said pipe, a device controlled by the pressure in the circulation pipe system which operates said valve when the pressure in the circulating system reaches a given strength, a refrigerating circuit the liquid of which is brought into the presence of a portion of a pipe of the circulation pipe system, a valve mounted in a pipe of the refrigerating circuit, a thermostat mounted in communication with a pipe of the circulating pipe system, electrical connections through which the movements of parts of the thermostat occasion corresponding movements of the valve in the refrigerating circuit, a force pump in communication with the feed pipe, and a force pump in communication with the refrigerating circuit, and a circulating pump in communication with the circulation pipe system, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 17th day of February, A. D. 1900.

JONATHAN H. VAIL.

In presence of F. NORMAN DIXON, THOS. K. LANCASTER.

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