IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH WATERCLOSETS AND LAVATORIES, AND IN WATER-SUPPLY APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND APPLICABLE OTHERWISE." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Grant, in the employment of Messieurs J. and
A. Law, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounders,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH WATERCLOSETS
AND LAVATORIES, AND IN WATER-SUPPLY APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND APPLICABLE
OTHERWISE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Grant at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1880.
George Grant, in the employment of Messieurs J. and A. Law, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED WITH WATERCLOSETS AND LAVATORIES, AND IN WATER-SUPPLY
APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND APPLICABLE OTHERWISE."
This Invention has for one of its objects the providing of simple and reliable
appliances for preventing waste of the water supplied to waterclosets, lavatories,
and the like, and comprises an improved construction of lavatory which is
advantageously applicable in ships' cabins and in other places when it is wished
that the apparatus should occupy as little space as possible when not in use.
A simple waste-preventing downlet valve made according to this Invention for
a watercloset cistern consists of two parts besides the valve seat. The lower part
is a hollow metal cone having its smaller end directed downwards and fitted at or
near its upper end with a flange or ring of vulcanised rubber or other suitable
flexible material. This rubber ring or flange closes down upon the valve seat,
whilst the metal cone guides the valve into its proper position and also serves as
a weight. The upper part consists of an inverted metal cup having a conical
spindle projecting downwards, and entering the hollow cone of the lower part. The
edge of the cup rests on the rubber or flexible flange of the lower part when both
parts of the valve are in their lowest positions, and the upper part is made heavy
enough to insure close contact of its edge when let down. The opening cord, wire,
or chain is connected to the upper part, and when raised the upper part raises the
lower part by suction and allows the water to enter the downlet pipe. A small
hole is formed through the upper part or cup to admit water slowly and destroy
the sucking action, and in a short time, depending on the size of the hole, the lower
part drops and closes the valve, notwithstanding that the upper part may be kept

page_text: raised. In this way the quantity of water discharged at each opening of the valve
is limited and waste thereby prevented.
In a modified arrangement for the same purpose an ordinary downlet valve is
connected to one end of a lever baving an inverted can or cylinder connected to
its other end, whilst the wire or chain for raising the valve is connected to an
intermediate part of the lever. When the lever is raised it tends to raise both
valve and can, but the latter being full of water the valve rises at once; the valve
being however heavier than the can the latter gradually rises as air enters a small
hole in the top of it, and the water runs out of it, and finally in a limited time
allows the valve to close. Or a hole or slot may be formed in the side of the can
in such a position that when the valve is opened the water level will get down to
the hole or slot on the predetermined quantity of water having left the cistern.
The air will then get into the can, and the weight of the valve overcoming that of
the can will at once close the valve.
An improved lavatory made according to this Invention has a supply cistern and
a waste receptacle combined with it; and the cistern has a measuring compartment
formed at the bottom of it. A three-way valve is connected with the main cistern,
with the measuring compartment, and with the basin inlet, and when the valve
plug is turned in one position it admits water to the measuring compartment, and
when turned into another position it lets the measured water pass down to the
basin. The plug or valve piece is also by preference made with a short lever which
is connected to the waste valve lever below in such a way that one movement of
the valve handle causes the used water in the basin to pass to the waste receptacle
below, and at the same time admits the water to the measuring compartment.
In a second modification the basin of the lavatory is carried on journals, and can
be turned up so as to occupy less space when not in use, and the turning up empties
the used water into a waste receptacle forming the lower part of the apparatus. A
cistern for clean water is formed in the movable part holding the basin, and a
measuring compartment is fitted to the same part so that when the basin is turned
down it is at the back and a little higher than the basin. The main cistern and
the measuring compartment are connected by a passage or valve, and are arranged
so that when the basin is turned up water from the main cistern passes into the
measuring compartment, and when the basin is turned down the water in the
measuring compartment flows down into the basin ready for use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Grant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th July
1880.
GEORGE GRANT, in the employment of Messrs. J. and A. Law, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED
WITH WATERCLOSETS AND LAVATORIES, AND IN WATER-SUPPLY APPARATUS
THEREFOR, AND APPLICABLE OTHERWISE."
My said Invention has for one of its objects the providing of simple and reliable
appliances for preventing waste of the water supplied to waterclosets, lavatories,
and the like, and comprises an improved construction of lavatory which is advan-
tageously applicable in ships' cabins and in other places when it is wished that the
apparatus should occupy as little space as possible when not in use.
My said Invention and the manner of performing the same will be most readily
understood with the aid of explanatory Drawings, two Sheets of which are hereunto
appended, and in which the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
A simple waste-preventing downlet valve made for a watercloset cistern, according
to my Invention, is shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings. This downlet valve consists of two parts besides the valve seat, the valve
seat 9 used with it being of a form presenting an upwardly projecting rim with a
narrow edge. The lower part of the valve is a hollow metal cone 10 having its smaller
end projecting downwards, and being fitted at or near its upper end with a flange or
ring 11 of vulcanised rubber or other suitable flexible material. This rubber ring
or flange 11, the shape of which when unbent or free is best seen in Figure 3, closes
down upon the valve seat 9, whilst the metal cone 10 guides the valve into its
proper position and also serves as a weight. The upper part of the valve consists
of an inverted metal cup 12, having a conical spindle 13 projecting downwards and
entering the hollow cone 10 of the lower part. The inside of the the cup 12 at
and near the edge rests on the outer part of the rubber or flexible flange 11 of the
lower part when both parts of the valve are in their lowest positions, and united,
as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the upper part 12, 13, is made heavy enough
to insure close contact when it rests on the lower part 10, 11. The upper part
12, 13, is formed with a ring or staple 14, by means of which it is connected
to the cord, wire, or chain used for lifting the valve, and which may be connected
in the ordinary way to the closet handle. When the valve is being opened the
upper part 12, 13, raises the lower part 10, 11, and allows the water to enter the
downlet pipe 15. A small hole 16 is made into the space between the upper and
lower parts, which hole may be either through the upper or lower parts, but pre-
ferably in the lower part, as shown in Figure 2, being in that position less liable to
become choked with sediment. This small hole 16 admits water or air slowly into
the space between the upper and lower parts of the valve, and in a short time,
depending on the size of the hole 16, the sucking action between the parts is
destroyed, and the lower part 10, 11, drops and closes the passage, notwithstanding
that the upper part 12, 13, may be kept raised. In this way the quantity of water
discharged at each opening of the valve is limited, and waste thereby prevented.
Figure 3 shows the lower part 10, 11, closing the passage with the upper part
12, 13, still held up; it is not however necessary to raise the upper part so high as
shown.
In a modified arrangement for the same purpose of preventing waste, and shown
in vertical section in Figure 4, an ordinary downlet valve 17 is connected by a
rod 18 to one end of a lever 19, having an inverted can or cylinder 20 connected to
its other end, whilst an intermediate part of the lever 19 is connected through a
rod 21 and lever 22 or in any other convenient way to the wire or chain 23 from

page_text: the closet handle. When the closet handle is pulled, and the lever 19 thereby
raised, it tends to raise both the valvo 17 and the can 20, but the latter being full
of water the valve 17 rises at once; the valve 17 being however heavier than the
can 20 the latter gradually rises as air enters a small hole 24 in the top of it, and
the water runs out of it, and finally in a limited time allows the valve 17 to close;
or instead of the air hole 24 at the top of the can 20 a hole or slot 25 may be
formed in the side in such a position that when the valve 17 is opened the water
level will get down to the hole 25 on the predetermined quantity of water having
left the cistern. The air will then get into the can, and the weight of the valve 17
overcoming that of the can 20 will at once close the valve. Dotted lines in
Figure 4 show the parts in various positions, and how the valve 17 can close with
the lever 19 still in its raised position.
An improved lavatory made according to my Invention is shown in Figures 5
and 6 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, these Figures being vertical
sections as at right angles to each other. This lavatory, made of castiron or partly
so, or of some other suitable metal or material, and which may be ornamented
'externally in any desired way, is constructed for being fixed against a wall or
vertical partition. The apparatus is made with a main cistern 26 at its upper
part, which cistern may be supplied by means of a ball-float valve 27, where this
is convenient, but which when fitted on shipboard will be filled periodically in the
ordinary way. A measuring compartment 28 is formed at the bottom of the main
cistern 26, and a three-way cock or valve 29 is connected by pipes 30, 31, 32, with
the main cistern 26, with the measuring compartment 28, and with the basin
inlet 33. When the valve 29 is turned into one position, that in which it is shown,
it admits water into the measuring compartment 28, the displaced air passing by a
pipe 34 to the top of the main cistern 26. When the valve 29 is turned a quarter
round from the position in which it is shown, it shuts the communication with
the main cistern 26, and allows the water in the measuring compartment 28 to run
down into the basin 34. The plug or valve piece 29 is also, by preference, made
with a short lever 35, which is connected to the waste-valve lever 36 below in
such a way that one movement of the valve handle causes the used water in the
basin 34 to pass to the waste receptacle 37 below, and at the same time admits the
water to the measuring compartment 28.
In a second modification of my improved lavatories shown in plan in Figure 7,
and in vertical section in Figure 8, the basin 34 is carried on journals 38, and can
be tilted or turned up so as to occupy less space when not in use, and the turning
up empties the used water into a waste receptacle 37 forming the lower part of the
apparatus. A cistern 39 for clean water is formed in the movable part holding the
basin 34, and a measuring compartment 28 is fitted to the same part, so that when
the basin 34 is turned down in the position in which it is shown in the Figures it
is at the back and rises a little higher than the basin. The main cistern 39 and
the measuring compartment 28 are connected by a passage 40 at the back, which
when the cistern 39 with the basin and compartment 28 are tilted up in the
position indicated by the dotted lines is at the bottom and allows water to pass
into the compartment. When the parts are turned down however the entrance
into the compartment 28 is at the highest part of that compartment, and the
water cannot get back that way, but it then passes into the basin 34 by a pipe 41
indicated by dotted lines, and which extends round to the front of the basin, so as
to have its discharge opening in an elevated position when the parts are turned up.
When the measuring compartment 28 is filling the air passes out of it by the
pipe 41, whilst a small hole 42 admits air into the main cistern 39. An inlet
closed by a screw plug 43 is provided for filling the cistern, being at the part
which is uppermost when the parts are turned up. The parts may be enclosed
above by an ornamental casing which may be fitted with supports for soap dishes
and the like, and will cover and enclose the cistern and basin 39, 34, when turned
up. The used water passes from the basin 34 over the middle of the measuring

page_text: compartment 28 into the waste receptacle 37 below, or a passage may be made for
it through or under the measuring compartment 28.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The improved waste-preventing compound valve shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
of the accompanying Drawings and herein before described.
2. The improved waste-preventing apparatus hereinbefore described with
reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
3. The lifting of the downlet or discharge valve (17) by means of a lever (19),
to the other end of which a can (20) is connected, such can rising and allowing the
valve to close in a short limited time in consequence. of water flowing out of it,
the parts being arranged and acting substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The improved construction of lavatory herein before described with reference
to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
5. The combination of the main cistern (26) and the measuring compartment (28)
with the three-way valve (29), arranged and acting substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6. The combination of the parts referred to in the fifth claim with the waste
valve lever (36), arranged and acting substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. The making of a tilting lavatory with a main clean-water cistern in the
tilting piece carrying the basin, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
8. The making of a tilting lavatory with a main clean-water cistern, and with a
measuring compartment in the tilting piece, the parts being arranged and acting
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Grant, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT.
Patent Agent,
Glaswow.
GEORGE GRANT. (L.S.)