Improvements in the Inlet, Cleansing, and Discharge Valves and Appliances of Domestic Water Supply Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Inlet, Cleansing, and Discharge Valves and
Appliances of Domestic Water Supply Apparatus.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby, declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention comprises improvements in the construction, arrangement, and
operation of inlet, cleansing, and discharge valves and appliances of domestic water
supply apparatus.
In carrying out my invention in the case of a cistern for supplying a water-closet,
or urinal, or the like, I have a fixed discharge siphon in the cistern and for starting
it I arrange at any convenient part of the cistern an open-topped cylinder within
which there is fitted to work loosely a disk connected to a lever connected to the
closet handle in such manner that the disk is depressed when the handle is drawn
up. A pipe from the bottom of the cylinder is connected to the descending leg of
the siphon near its upper end, and the siphon leg is made with an enlargement just
below the connection. When the disk is depressed water is forced through the pipe
into the siphon and starts its action. The jet is preferably made to enter the
descending leg of the siphon so as to strike the side next the ascending leg. The
water may be forced up the pipe by a rising disk or in any other convenient way;
or a branch from the main supply pipe may be connected to the siphon, such pipe
having on it a self-closing valve actuated from the closet handle.
The self-closing valve which I prefer to use in connection with the cistern or on any
other water supply pipe or branch, comprises a body part to be fixed to the supply
pipe or branch, and a separate piece formed for fixing to the body part by flanges or
a screw joint and containing the working parts, which can consequently be easily
separated from the body part when required. The delivery spout may be formed
in the removable part, or a delivery spout or continuation pipe may be formed on
or fixed to the body part. The removable part is formed with a cylindrical
chamber which projects into the body part, and which has fitted to work in it a
packed piston. The top of the piston acts as a valve to close against a port in the
upper end of the cylindrical chamber, this port communicating with the delivery
outlet or pipe. The piston valve is movable by a spindle extending out to a button
or lever, and a helical spring is applied to tend to close the valve. When the
spindle is pushed inwards the piston uncovers holes in the side of the cylindrical
chamber, through which holes the water has access to the valve port. A cap is
screwed or otherwise fixed on the inner end of the cylindrical chamber and has
formed in it a small hole. When the piston valve is pushed in it forces out the
water between it and the inner end of the cylindrical chamber; and afterwards on
the valve spindle being let go, the water returns in by the small hole and moves the
piston slowly and without concussion so as first to gradually cover the holes in the
sides of the cylindrical chamber, and finally to close tightly against the valve seat
of the port. If considered desirable for opening the valve quickly, a small check
valve may be fitted to the inner end of the cylindrical chamber to allow of the piston-
easily expelling the water.
I provide simple means for automatically securing an after supply of clean water
in waterclosets and the like. whenever a quantity of dirty water is emptied into the

page_text: closet basin this improvement being more particularly applicable to water closets
discharging (without valve) through a trap-bend or siphonal passage or pipe..
I arrange a small box close to the basin and communicating with the bottom
thereof through a small pipe or passage; and in this box I place a float which falls
and rises with the level of the water in the basin. The float is connected with a
valve or equivalent appliance in the water-supply cistern, or it might be on a branch
water-supply pipe, the arrangement being such that when the float falls through.
deficiency of water in the basin it opens the valve or otherwise brings about the
desired supply of water. A rod or stout wire fixed to the float may extend up a
pipe to a valve opening downwards in the cistern, the valve and its seat being
however by preference not in the bottom of the cistern but at the top of a tube, and
a little below the upper water level of the cistern, so that when the float rises it will
not have the full depth of the water in the cistern to contend with in closing the
valve upwards or the wire may act through a lever so as to move the valve upwards
to open it and downwards to close it.
The after-flush appliances hereinbefore described are applicable either to a single
watercloset or to a set of connected waterclosets.
My present invention also comprises an arrangement for distributing the flushing
water in a watercloset basin in an improved manner. I make the basin with a.
hollow rim which delivers the water only at two diametrically opposite points, one
point being close to the inlet horn or connection with the supply pipe. At each
outlet from the hollow rim there is a fan or shield shaped so as to direct the water
in two opposite streams; and there are thus four streams sweeping round the sides
of the basin. Each stream from one fan is met by an opposite stream from the other
fan and at the two meetings cascades are formed throwing the water over into the
middle of the basin, and a very effectual cleansing action is produced.
When arranging a number of watercloset basins or urinals in a connected set in
a manner suitable for a school, for example, several basins or urinals may discharge
directly down into a single pipe or channel extending along the set; and cleansing,
or flushing water distributed in each basin preferably in the manner hereinbefore
described, may be made to flow continuously into all the basins during certain short
periods determined by the managers of the establishments. Or each watercloset:
basin of a set may be provided with a separate water-supply valve, preferably of the
self-closing kind hereinbefore described, the valve being opened by depression of
the closet seat when the closet is used and the water flowing as long as the seat
remains depressed.
·
Dated this Eighth day of February 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Inlet, Cleansing, and Discharge Valves and
Appliances of Domestic Water Supply Apparatus.
1, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said invention comprises improvements in the construction, arrangement, and
operation of inlet, cleansing, and discharge, valves and appliances of domestic water
supply apparatus.
Apparatus as made according to my invention is shown on two accompanying
sheets of explanatory drawings,
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, thereof being a vertical section of one modification of a

page_text: Cistern, Figure, 2, being a plan, and gues
modification of the same, as taken at right angles to each other.
Figure, 5, is a plan, and Figures, 6, and, 7, are respectively an elevation and a
vertical section of a supply valve, as at right angles to each other.
Figure, 8, is a sectional elevation of a watercloset basin and cistern as made with
some of my improvements.
Figure, 9, is a plan and Figure, 10, is a vertical section of an improved water-
closet basin.
Figures, 11, and, 12, on Sheet, 2, are vertical sections, as at right angles to each
other, of a series of connected watercloset basins.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out my invention in the case of a cistern, A, (such as is shown in
Figure, 1) for supplying a water closet, or urinal, or the like, I have a fixed discharge
siphon, B, J, in the cistern, and for starting it I arrange at any convenient part of
the cistern an open-topped cylinder, C, within which there is fitted to work loosely
a disk, D, connected by a rod, E, to a counterweighted lever, F, turning on a centre, G,
and connected to the closet handle (not shown) in such manner that the disk is
depressed when the handle is drawn.
A pipe, H, communicating with the bottom of the cylinder, C, is connected to the
descending leg, J, of the siphon near its upper end and the siphon leg is made with
an enlargement, K, below the connection. When the disk, D, is depressed water
is forced through the pipe, H, into the siphon, B, J, and starts its action. The jet
of water is preferably made to enter the descending leg, J, of the siphon so as to
strike the side next the ascending leg, B. The water may be forced up the pipe, H,
by a rising disk (not shown) or in any other convenient way, or a branch (not
shown) from the main supply pipe, L, may be connected to the siphon, B, J, such
pipe having on it a self-closing valve actuated from the closet handle.
The modification shown in Figures, 2, 3, and, 4, is the same as that shown in
Figure, 1, excepting that instead of a separate ascending leg, (B) of the siphon,
there is employed a short open-mouthed branch, H 1, which is formed in a piece
with the pipe, H, and therewith forms the ascending leg.
The self-closing valve which I prefer to use in connection with the cistern, A, or
on any other water supply pipe or branch, is shown in Figures, 5, 6, and, 7. The
valve comprises a body part, M, to be fixed to the supply pipe or branch and a.
separate piece, N, formed for fixing to the body part, by flanges, N 1, (or it might
be a screw joint) and containing the working parts which can consequently be easily
separated from the body part when required. The delivery spout, N 2, is formed
in the removable part, N, or a delivery spout or continuation pipe may be formed
on or fixed to the body part, M. The removable part, N, is formed with a cylindrical
chamber, P, which projects into the body part, M, and which has fitted to work in
it a packed piston, Q. The top of the piston, Q, acts as a valve to close against a
port, Q1, in the upper end of the cylindrical chamber, P, this port communicating
with the delivery outlet or pipe, N 2. The piston valve, Q, is movable by a
spindle, Q2, extending out and screwed to a button, Q 3, which is acted on by a
small handle lever, Q4, turning on a pin, Q5, in the upper part of the removable.
piece, N. A helical spring, Q 6, is applied in a recess beneath the button, Q3, to
tend to close the valve, Q. When the spindle, Q 2, is pushed inwards the piston, Q,
uncovers holes, P 1, in the side of the cylindrical chamber, P, through which holes
the water has access to the valve port. A cap, P 2, is screwed or otherwise fixed
on the inner end of the cylindrical chamber, P, and has formed in it two small
holes, P 3, and, P 4, the latter, the larger of the two, being closed by a check
valve, P5, opening inwards, and being provided to enable the water to be quickly
expelled from the cylindrical chamber when the piston valve, Q, is depressed.
When the piston valve, Q, is pushed in it forces out through the holes, P 3, and,.P 4,
the water between it and the inner end of the cylindrical chamber, P ; and after-
wards on the valve spindle, Q2, being let go, the check valve on the hole, P 4, is

page_text: closed by the pressure and water finds its way in only by the small hole, P 3, and
moves the piston, Q, slowly and without concussion so as first to gradually cover
the holes, P1, in the sides of the cylindrical chamber, P, and finally to close tightly
against the seat of the port, Q 1. In some cases the hole, P 4, and check valve, P 5,
may be dispensed with."
I provide simple means for automatically securing an after supply of clean water
in waterclosets and the like whenever a quantity of dirty water is emptied into the
closet basin, this improvement being more particularly applicable to a watercloset
(such as is shown in Figure, 8) discharging without valve through a trap-bend, S,
or siphonal passage or pipe. I arrange a small box, R, close to the basin, S 1, and
communicating with the bottom thereof through a small pipe, R1; and in this
box, R, I place a float, R 2, which falls and rises with the level of the water in the
basin, $ 1. The float, R 2, is connected with a valve, R 3, or equivalent appliance
in the water-supply cistern, A, or it might be on a branch water-supply pipe, the
arrangement being such that when the float falls through deficiency of water in the
basin, S 1, opens the valve or otherwise brings about the desired supply of water.
A rod or stout wire, R4, fixed to the float, R2, extends up a pipe, S2, to the
valve, R 3, opening downwards in the cistern, A, the valve and its seat being
however by preference not in the bottom of the cistern but at the top of a tube, R 5,
and a little below the upper water level of the cistern, so that when the float rises
it will not have the full depth of the water in the cistern to contend with in closing
the valve upwards. Or the wire, R 4, may act through a lever (not shown) so as to
move the valve, R 3, upwards to open it and downwards to close it. When the
valve, R 3, is open water from the cistern, A, descends by the pipe, S 2, and branch
pipe, S 3, into the basin, S 1, and fills it up to the proper level.
The after-flush appliances hereinbefore described are applicable either to a
single watercloset or to a set of connected waterclosets.
My present invention also comprises an arrangement for distributing the flushing
water in a watercloset basin in an improved manner. As shown in Figures, 9,
and, 10, I make the basin, S 1, with a hollow rim, T, which delivers the water
only at two diametrically opposite points, one point being close to the inlet horn or
connection, T 1, with the supply pipe. At each outlet from the hollow rim, T,
.there is a fan or shield, T 2, shaped so as to direct the water in two opposite streains;
and there are thus four streams sweeping round the sides of the basin. Each stream
from one fan, T 2, is met by an opposite stream from the other fan and at the two
meetings cascades are formed throwing the water over into the middle of the basin,
and a very effectual cleansing action is produced.
When arranging a number of watercloset basins or urinals in a connected set, in
a manner suitable for a school for example, several basins (or urinals) may as
shown in Figures, 11, and, 12, discharge directly down into a single pipe or channel, V,
extending along the set; and cleansing or flushing water distributed in each basin
preferably in the manner hereinbefore described may be made to flow continuously
into all the basins during certain short periods determined by the managers of the
establishments. Or each watercloset basin, S 1, of a set may be provided with a
separate water supply valve, V 2, preferably of the self-closing kind hereinbefore
described the valve being opened by depression of the closet seat, W, when the
closet is being used and the water flowing as long as the seat remains depressed.
Each supply valve, V 2, is connected by a small pipe, X, to a branch pipe, X 1,
from the main supply pipe, L, and the main supply pipe is fitted with a regulating
valve, X 2, and a regulating stopcock, X 3, the former being for regulating the
flow of water to the supply valves and the latter for additional cleansing or clearing
of the pipe or channel, V.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved siphonal water-delivering

page_text: apparatus for cisterns substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figure, 1, of the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of parts constituting the improved siphonal water-delivering
apparatus for cisterns substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures, 2, 3 and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved self-closing water-supply
valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures, 5, 6, and, 7,
of the accompanying drawings.
4. For a watercloset after-flush, arranging a box in connection with the basin and
containing a float connected to a valve in the cistern, the parts being arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described with reference to Figure, 8, of the
accompanying drawings.
5. Constructing a watercloset basin with a hollow rim with fans at diametrically
opposite points arranged to direct the water each in two opposite streams which
combine to form opposite cascades substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures, 9, and 10, of the accompanying drawings.
6. Combining and arranging the parts of a set of connected watercloset basins
and their supply and discharge connections substantially in the manner and for the
purposes bereinbefore described with reference to Figures, 11; and, 12, of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this Seventh day of November 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.