Improvements in Flushing Cisterns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flushing Cisterns.
We, GEORGE COLIN CASWELL of Stanley Villa, Tindall Road, Draughtsman and
GEORGE CLARK of 5 Princes Terrace, Huxley Road, Manager to a Lead & Glass
Merchant, both of Leyton, in the County of Essex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in flushing cisterns as applied to W.C.'s
urinals and the like, and has for its object a method and means whereby said flushing
is performed noiselessly and effectively with better results relatively to the quantity
of water employed as compared with such cisterns as hitherto made and used."
In order that our invention and the manner of operating the same may be the
better understood we have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a flushing cistern or tank provided with the
improvements constituting the subject matter of our invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with the cover removed for the purpose of
illustrating the position and formation of the respective internal parts.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the overflow arrangement drawn to a larger scale
that its manner of operation may be clearly defined, and
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the syphon, also drawn to an enlarged scale for the
purpose of explaining the particular formation thereof.
Similar letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout
the drawings.
In carrying our invention into effect we provide a casing or tank A as the outer
coutaining vessel, which may be of any size or shape externally, and of any suitable
material or substance, but preferably of cast iron, and furnished with a cover or
lid A' and provided with an inlet pipe, regulated by a ball cock after the manner of
such tanks or cisterns in general use. We construct a hollow float B made of
copper, iron, or any suitable inetal and of any desired shape, but preferably
rectangular, so as to present a large area as floating surface, attached to which is a
forked arın (by which it is pivotted within the tank or cistern A and in such a
manner that the arm C is as nearly as possible horizontal when the tank is charged
with the regulated quantity of water considered necessary for the purposes for which
it is required, such regulation being of course attained by the adjustment of the ball
cock in the usual way. The position of the float B within the tank A must be as far
as possible from the fulcrum of the pivotted arm C, or in other words (must be as
long as the dimension of A will admit. In a suitable position within the tank A we
provide a syphon D, the outlet or exhaust end of which g passes through the bottom
of A and is held in position and rendered water and air tight therewith by suitable
washers and the flange and nut e and d, the opposite end e terminating at a sufficient
distance from the bottom of A to admit the passage of water thereinto. The.
particular formation of D forms one of the salient features of our invention. It is
necessary for the proper exercise of the functions of the syphon D that its internal
area at the inlet e should be continued as far as the bend f when its area may be
extended without deteriorating the proper working thereof, and while exercising due
observance of this equality of area we desire to prevent the noise that usually
accompanies the emptying of such cisterns as hitherto made and used, and we find, in
practice that we attain this by partly flattening the end e as far as the bend f until
it assumes the shape shewn at Fig. 2 and by the enlarged view Fig. 4, the internal
area remaining the same as it was previous to its being flattened, and by this means
the tank exhausts, noiselessly. We also find in practice that the exhaust is th

page_text: better effected by gradually extending the internal area of D from f to g and finishing
perfectly circular.
Referring again to the float B, extending from the upper surface thereof in a
vertical direction we provide an arm E which passes through a slot formed in the
cover A³, said arm E is bent at the end so as to carry a chain F which depends
therefrom outside the tank A for purposes to be hereinafter explained.
The tank A being charged with water the float B would assume the position shewn
by Fig. 1 and the operation of flushing is carried out as follows. By a downward
pressure upon E which is attained by pulling the chain F, the float B descends
until E comes in contact with the upper surface of A, the displacement of water by B
causes a rise in the level thereof, which being in excess of the bend in D raises the
water therein and operates the syphon by which means the tank is emptied and the
flushing ceases. The extension of the area of the syphon at reduces the resistance
offered by the pipe, so that the flush continues to the full exhaust noiselessly. The
ball having fallen by the receding level of the water, re-charges the tank in the
usual way.
In order to comply with the regulations of the water supply companies and guard
against waste, we provide an overflow, or waste tell-tale, shewn by Fig. 3. This
arrangement also forms one of the salient features of our invention, and consists of
a vertical pipe G, within the tank A, passing through the bottom thereof and attached
thereto in the same manner as D at g the upper end of which h within the tank, must
be below the level of the bend fin D, so that should the tank be overcharged by
the imperfect action of the ball cock, the water cannot rise to a sufficient height to
operate the syphon as would be the case if it rose above the level of i in the bend f,
but would find its overflow at h and through G on to the closet floor, and so make
the waste known. In order that when the level of the water is raised by the
depression of B, it may not pass down G by overflowing has described we provide a
weighted plug H furnished with a vertical slot k through which passes a projecting
pin upon the forked arm C, said slot being adjusted in such a manner that the
rising of the float B as the tank is charged and consequently the arm C, the
projecting pin raises k and H so as to leave the mouth of G open to receive
the overflow as before mentioned, but as soon as B is depressed, the plug H falls by
its own gravity into G and is assisted by the weight of water above it to maintain
its seat until raised again by C as before described. We may in certain cases
dispense with the forked arm C and form the arm of a straight piece of metal, or
telescopic that its length may be adjustable, in either of the latter alternatives C
would be attached to B centrally in which case C would be arranged to pass through
the slot k and the pipe G would then be in the centre of the tank instead of near
the side as shewn by Fig. 2 and the ball cock shifted to permit of this re-arrangement.
We wish it understood that we may form the arm either straight and solid, or
telescopic, or forked, and the float B of any desired shape or conformation without
departing from the principle of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
First. In an improved flushing cistern the use and application of the float B in
combination with the syphon D and the overflow pipe G substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and shewn by the drawings hereunto appended.
Second. In an improved flushing cistern the construction and use of a float B, with
pivotted forked or adjustable arm C, and bent arm E, carrying the chain F,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn by Figs. 1 and 2 in
the accompanying drawings.
Third. In an improved flushing cistern the construction and use of a syphon D
with depressed inlet e and extended outlet g substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn by Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In an improved flushing cistern the construction and use of an overflow

page_text: pipe G, with plug H and slot k operated by the arm C substantially as described and
shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the appended drawings.
Dated this 20th day of October 1890.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.