IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIVIES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Toussaint Lemaistre, Architect, of Paris, 3, Rue de
Grammont, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIVIES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Toussaint Lemaistre at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
July 1862.
I, TOUSSAINT LEMAISTRE, Architect, of Paris, 8, Rue de Grammont, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIVIES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in privies. In constructing
privies I arrange as heretofore a cesspool at the bottom of the house or
building, with which the privy is in connection, and from this a soil pipe
ascends to the highest story where a closet is required. In each of the closets
(if there be several) there is a seat with a pan communicating directly with
the soil pipe. Near the bottom of the soil pipe just above the cesspool, is a
valve which closes it air-tight, this valve is weighted so as to tend constantly
to close, but when soil descends the pipe on to the valve, the weight thereof.
causes it to open, and the valve is so geared with a scraping apparatus that as
it opens (and also as it returns in closing) a scraping blade is caused to pass

page_text: over its face, so as to prevent the adhesion of soil to the valve, otherwise the
weight of soil so adhering might cause the valve to remain open and allow the
passage of gases from the cesspool up the soil pipe into the house or
building.
In order to keep the soil pipe and cesspool free from noxious gases a
ventilating fan is employed, this is connected by a pipe with the cesspool from
which it exhausts the air and gases, and it discharges them by a pipe at the
house top or in other convenient locality. The air to supply the void in the
cesspool descends the soil pipe, but it does not enter the cesspool by the main
valve before mentioned, but by a small bye valve provided for the purpose,
and which is so lightly weighted that it yields freely to the pressure of the air.
The ventilating fan is put in motion by a weight and train of wheels, and I so
arrange apparatus that the entering one of the closets, or the use thereof
shall wind up the weight.
I prefer so to arrange the lock of the closet door, that the weight must
necessarily be wound up before the door can be opened, or the seat may be
so arranged that a pressure coming thereon winds up the weight, or other
arrangements may be made..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Toussaint Lemaistre in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, TOUSSAINT
LEMAISTRE, Architect, of Paris, 8, Rue de Grammont, send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me; the
said Toussaint Lemaistro, Her special licence, that I, the said Toussaint
Lemaistre, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Toussaint Lemaistre, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others from time to time, and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed; should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise and vend; within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRIVIES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Toussaint

page_text: Lemnistre, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe, and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office, within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Toussaint Lemaistre, do hereby declare
the nature of the. said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object a continuous disinfecting ventilator
applicable to the cesspools of privies, sewers, sumps, and other places where
decomposed matters produce deleterious gases. This apparatus by a movement
given by opening the doors of the closets, or by the fall of water, or by any
other suitable power establishes a current of air. This apparatus I composo
of three principal parts, which are indicated in the Drawings.
"
Figures No. 1 represent a pipe of cast-iron A of 10. inches diameter, placed
as a continuation of the descending pipe to the cesspool of the privy, and
above the top of the arch of the cesspool, this pipe carries at its upper
part a socket to connect it to the descending pipe, and a junction of cast-
iron with a collar, the opening of this junction is protected in the interior of
the pipe by a part B, so that the solid and liquid matters which descend into
the cesspool cannot get into this junction. The lower part of this pipe is
contracted interiorly so that the falling matters may descend on to the middle
of the valve herein-after described. Immediately beneath the contracted part
of the pipe is a projecting ring C, which is covered with india-rubber, which
serves to close hermetically the joint between the pipe and the valve. The
valve D is of copper or other metal, and moves on a bearing of metal which
allows the valve to take such a position that the matters descending upon it
can slide off readily; beyond the bearing it is provided with a counter
balance E. Upon the part forming the cover, and near to the pipe is a
circular opening F, this opening is for the purpose of facilitating the cleansing
of the valve and of the scraper without removing the descending pipes. To
close this opening is a short cast-iron pipe G, made in two parts, the lower
carries a collar with two lugs and a flange which receives the other part of
the pipe; this last which is closed at its upper part carries a junction H,
and a flange fitting against the flange of the junction pipe on the pipe A.
Between the two parts of the pipe G is another valve I of copper or other

page_text: metal opening downwards into the lower part and closing against a seat,
the joint being rendered air-tight by a ring of india-rubber placed around
tho valve. This valve is moved by a chain or cord J. passing through an
opening formed in the upper part of the pipe, and thence passing over a
pulley K supported by a standard fixed to the cast-iron pipe, at the end of
the chain is a counterbalance to the valve. The lower part of the pipe A is
terminated by a flange; below this flange is a cistern L, of cast-iron carrying
a flange at its upper part which is fixed to the pipe A. This cistern is placed
upon the top of the arch of the cesspool, its lower part passing into the socket
of the pipe built into the thickness of the arch. In this cistern is a scraper M
of copper or other metal. This scraper carries at each end à journal which
turns in bearings in the ends of the arms N; these arms carry a bar of metal
which is provided with a metal pulley O, which runs on the under surface of
the valve D when it descends and causes the scraper to fall on to the valve.
'The two ends of the arms carry bolts passing through the sides of the cistern,
where it is strengthened, and pierced for the passage of these bolts, to which
another bar of metal P, provided with an eye at each end, is fixed by bolts Q.
In the centre of this bar is a counterbalance R to the scraper.
Figures No. 2 represent a machine S, composed of a frame of cast iron or
other material in several pieces. The piece T forming the support holds
all the frame, it carries four lugs, each pierced with a hole to receive a screw
to fix the machine to the wall or otherwise. This piece carries a horizontal
piece at its upper part, and a frame U, with two bearings. There is a cross
piece V having several arms, and carrying a collar X, upon this cross piece is
another frame Y, 'similar to that shown at U. Upon this cross piece are fixed
two pulleys Z, carried by supports fixed to the cross piece V. There is also
a frame a in the form of an inverted cross, and attached to the cross piece V,
at the centre of this frame a a hole is pierced, and at the extremity of the
two arms of the frame a are two cross pieces b, carrying at each end a pro-
jection, one end of each of which is fixed to the arms of the frame a by screws
and receiving at their other ends a cross piece c, fixed to them also by screws.
In the centre of this cross piece is a hole corresponding to that at the centro
of the frame a, one end of the arm of the frame a carries two projectious, and
is fixed by screws upon the piece T. At the end of the frame a, is a collar
made in two parts, carrying two double ears united by screws, and a bar
carrying projections fixed by screws. Upon the other side of the frame is a
cross piece e of metal carrying two projections at one end, and another at its
other end; to this cross piece is fixed another framing f, carrying projections

page_text: at its upper part, and fixed to the cross pieces e and V by screws: In the
two frames U and Y are two grooved pulleys 9, of cast iron or other material,
and two toothed wheels h. The combination of the two frames of the pulleys,
and the toothed wheels form the multiplier. The vertical frame carries three
toothed wheels i and a pinion j; each wheel i carries a pinion the wheels and
pinions are of copper or other material, and are mounted upon axes of steel or
other metal, having each at its extremity a socket for a centre pin. (These wheels
and pinions may be replaced by pulleys of metal or other material, giving
motion to each other by cords or chains.) In the two frames a and fare
pierced holes to receive the thumbscrews k, which are formed into pivots at
their ends, and fixed upon the framing by nuts l. These pivots receive the
two ends of the axes of the toothed wheels. The axis of the wheel j, is
prolonged at one end, and the screw le and the nut are fixed upon a move-
able part m, fixed with screws upon the framing f; at the other end the axis
is prolonged through the centre of the frame a, and receives the fan of the
ventilator. Upon the axis of the upper large wheel is a grooved wheel n, of
metal or other material, divided into two parts each receiving one of the cords or
chains carrying the weight and counterbalance which give motion to the ma-
chine; attached to this grooved wheel is a ratchet wheel o, of metal or other
material, with its spring catch. There is a weight P pierced through its centre,
and having on its under surface a cavity for the weight q of the same character,
but of smaller dimensions. The weight P carries at its upper part two eyes to
suspend it, the weight 9 has one eye, and the cord or chain which supports it
passes through the weight P. This weight P carries another eye upon its
side, and through which eye a rod s passes, which is attached to the cross
piece V, and serves as a guide; or the motive weight P may be guided by
two iron wires, instead of by the bar s, and by a support of cast iron, having
two screws to stretch the wires. The counterbalancer is of the samo
character as those just described. Fixed upon the cross piece V, above the
weight P, is a metal or india-rubber spring, or a weight suspended to give
motion to the weight P, to give motion to the train of wheels. The ventilator
t is a double circular box of zinc or other material carrying a cover hermeti-
cally closed, and carrying above and below pipes of the same substance as
the box, or otherwise the upper part is prolonged to the height of the chimney
pots of the house, and carries at its end a cowl u. The lower part of the
pipe v descends, making the necessary bends in the building in its course to
the ground. This pipe should be about 3 inches in diameter inside; it is
continued. in cast-iron of about 4 inches diameter through the cellar to the

page_text: crown of the cesspool through the arch a, at its highest part, and communicates
with the cesspool. This pipe may be connected to the ventilator pipe of the
cesspool, as low as possible near the cesspool. In the box t of the ventilator
is a fan Y, which may be made of any light material, metal, wood, cardboard,
&c., and may have two, three, four, or more vanes. That shewn on the
Drawing is of iron wire, mounted with two discs of copper on a shaft of wood,
it has four wings or vanes covered with fine light cloth, which is very strong
and light. This fan turns upon a metal shaft fixed to the shaft of the small
toothed wheel j at one end, and the other end of this shaft is hollowed out,
and turns upon a pivot z, in all respects similar to k and 1; or this apparatus
may be arranged to work continuously, and to go for six hours, and it may
be wound by a winch and escapement. The double cord is wound upon this
winch, and serves to wind up the motive weight, which is niuch larger than
in the intermittent machine. The lock and the pulleys are dispensed with in
the continuous machines, as also the counterbalance weight, which serves to
wind up the motive weight. The two large pulleys of the multiplier may be
otherwise arranged.
The apparatus shown by Figures No. 3 is composed of a lock a¹, giving
motion to the apparatus. This lock is fixed to the door of each closet or
privy, and gives motion to the machine each time the door is opened. This
lock is composed of its case, a spring bolt, a lever 1, a pulley wheel c', provided
with a ratchet wheel, and spring catch, and a projection taking into the toothed
rack d'. Upon the box case a sliding button of metal or other material gives
motion to the bolt, upon the exterior a handle of metal with a counterbalance
is placed. Upon the pulley wheel c' a cord or chain is wound, which passes
through an opening in the lock and a tube e', of metal or otherwise. There
is also a pulley of metal or wood f on a plate, and sustaining the cord or
chain at the hinge of the door. Also a draft cord or chain 9' running over
two pullies h¹, of metal or wood fixed upon the wall or partition, a stop i¹ and
a weight j', of metal or wood, attached by means of small eyes to the draft
cord of the lock,.and at the end of the draft cord there is a counterbalance
weight. This supplemental draft cord is attached to each lock. Each of
these draft cords gives motion to the principal draft cord l, arranged to suit
the situation. It runs round the large pulley 9 of the multiplier, descends
through the floors of each closet of the house, and receives in each closet the
draft cord from each lock; at the lower end of this draft cord is a counter-
balance to the weight q. The principal draft cord may be put in motion by
any other means than the lock and its draft cord. It may be moved by

page_text: springs which are on opening and closing the of the Closet, or by weights
increasing according to the size of the opening, by pedals placed under the
threshold of the doors, by the covers of the seats when opening or closing
them, or by other means. The lock may be of various sizes according to the
situation:
MOVEMENT OF THE APPARATUS, AND ITS UTILITY.
:
When a person opens the door of a privy by turning the handle three times
round, the weight 9 rises by means of the multiplier, this takes with it the
weight P, the cord or chain of this weight is wound upon the grooved wheel
N by the weight of the counterbalance r, which falls whilst the weight P
rises. When the weight P has arrived at the top of its course, it falls
again by its own weight, and by the spring which gives it an impetus, gives
motion to the grooved wheel, and the first toothed wheel, from which motion
is communicated to the other wheels of the gearing, and multiplies the velocity
till it arrives, at the small wheel j, which is mounted upon the shaft of the
fan y. This fan being put in motion strikes the air contained in the box of
the ventilator forces it by means of its vanes to rise through the upper pipe
to the atmosphere, and draws the air contained in the cesspool, which rises
into the ventilator to be again raised. The cesspool being well sealed by the
valve of the cistern, and of the tube shown at Figs. No. 1, does not allow
any air or gas to escape from the cesspool into the descending pipe. When
the machine is put in motion and the fan turns quickly, a partial vacuum is
formed in the cesspool in consequence of the air being withdrawn by the fan.
Then the column of air contained in the descending pipe being much more
dense than the air in the cesspool, bears upon the valve I, causes it to descend,
and allows the air in the descending pipe to pass into the cesspool, then the
current of air is maintained so long as the fan turns.
When the fan stops
the air in the cesspool again coming to the ordinary pressure, the valve I
again closes hermetically, and prevents any passage of gas from the cesspool
into the descending pipe. The speed of the current of air, which I cause
through the cesspool when the fan rotates may vary.
In the apparatus represented in the Drawing it is arranged so that the
velocity given to the current of air is about a cubic yard per minute. The
weight which gives the velocity descends through the distance of about six
feet, and takes about 25 minutes to do this. The speed is therefore about
25 cubic yards in 25 minutes. In a house where there are many occupants
if the fan be kept in motion 16 hours a day it will.cause to pass through the

page_text: cesspool nearly 1000 cubic yards of air, the. gases which are disengaged
immediately they are formed are carried off. There cannot, therefore, be any
more bad odours in closets, nor in the rooms, because there will be no longer any
odour in the cesspool. The speed given to the several parts of the machine,
and also the duration of its motion are optional, and may be varied by
changing the diameters of the wheels and pullies, and the mass of the weights,
also by altering the arrangement of the gearing which drives the fan.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Toussaint Lemaistre; have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
T.. BASSET,
TOUSSAINT LEMAISTRE. (L.S.)