An Improved Flushing Apparatus for Water-closets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Flushing Apparatus for Water-closets.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Arthur O'Brien
and George B. Child, both of the City of Helena, Lewis and Clarke County, State
of Montana, U.S.A. Inventors,) to be as follows:-
This our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in flushing
apparatus for water-closets, but more especially to that class of water-closet
described in and forming the subject matter of the Specification accompanying
another application for British Patent.
By this my invention I combine with a closet-bowl a flushing apparatus which
consists of a water-supply adapted to compress the air within the apparatus, and
to be checked by the said compression. A water discharge leads from a flushing
rim within the bowl and an air pipe leads from the apparatus to the air channel
and certain passages in the closet. A stop-cock and valves are provided whereby
the flow of water can be controlled and simultaneously operated by a float contained
within the reservoir of the apparatus.
W. H. MUNNS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Flushing Apparatus for Water-closets.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Arthur O'Brien
and George B. Child, both of the City of Helena, Lewis and Clarke County, State
of Montana, U.S.A. Inventors,) and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My present invention relates to water-closets, and to flushing-apparatus therefor,
the object being to improve the general construction and operation.
My invention consists in providing a closet with a series of air-vents, and in a
flushing apparatus wherein the inflow of the water checked by the pressure of
air within the apparatus; in a valve for releasing the said air-pressure whereby
the water may continue to enter and be discharged through a valve operated by a
float, and in the improved and novel construction of the several parts, their
arrangement, and operation, all of which will be hereinafter fully described and
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification
Figure 1 represents in vertical sectional view my improved flushing apparatus
and preferred form of water-closet.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the flushing apparatus taken at right angles of the
line of section of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in section of the water-
closet.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views of the drawings.
I will first describe my invention with reference to the form of water-closet
preferably employed.
The letter A represents the bowl, which is formed with the usual basin a, trap a',
and soil-pipe a². The flushing-rim is inclined slightly from front to rear, its

page_text: a
chamber having connection with the interior of the bowl through an annular
passage 62. This chamber terminates at its rear in a branch 63 to which is con-
nected the water-supply pipe 64.
c is an annular channel formed integral with the bowl and located above the
flushing-rim. It has connection with the interior by means of a series of openings
or passages c¹ and terminates in a branch chamber c³ which leads to two passages,
one of which d forms a vent and communicates with a vent-pipe d¹. The other
passage e extends downwards and communicates by means of a pipe f¹ with a
vent in the soil-pipe.
I will now describe the construction of the flushing apparatus preferably
employed in connection with the aforesaid construction of closet.
g denotes the outer casing, which is secured in any suitable manner to a wall or
upright and above the closet. In the centre of the base g¹ is an opening g², which
is screw-threaded to permit of the insertion of a hollow screw-threaded plug /
having a valve-seat. The main water-supply pipe is shown at i and is connected
with the said plug by means of the coupling . The upper reduced end of the
plug extends a short distance above the base and serves as a means for connection
therewith of a cap, formed with a series of openings 3, to permit of the escape
of the water from the pipe i. The valve j is conically shaped and has a stem j
which passes through an opening in said cap. This valve is operated by the action
of the float k which is loosely mounted on a rod having connection at its lower
end with the valve-stem, and the upper end enters a recess formed in a screw-plug k²
in the top of the casing.
k³ is a stop on the rod which engages with the float when the water has reached
a certain level. The lower end of the rod has hinged connection with a lever
which is pivoted in a bracket bolted to the base. The other end of this lever
is connected with a stop-valve m', which is operated thereby simultaneously with
the valve j.
m is a siphon discharge-pipe, the return bend of which terminates at a point near
the bottom of the casing and is normally closed at this point by the valve m¹.
The bend of the siphon is located at a point a short distance below the normal
position of the stop ³, and the lower end is connected with the closet supply-
pipe 64.
n is an air-pipe which is provided with a short section n', having a seat o' therein,
which is adapted to be closed by a float-valve o when by reason of leakage the
water rises to a point above the predetermined level, which prevents the passage
of water into and through the air-pipe. The lower end of the air-pipe is con-
nected by means of the pipe d' with the vent passage d and the air channel and
passages in the bowl. This pipe d¹ has a suitable stop-cock (².
The operation is as follows:-
-
The parts being in the position shown in the drawings the stop-cock d² is closed.
The water from the main enters through the main supply-pipe at a pressure of,
say, 30 pounds, and continues to flow until the pressure of the air within the casing
equals the pressure of the water, the inflow of which is then checked. The parts
are now in their normal condition. When it is desired to flush the closet the stop-
cock is opened and the pressure from the air being relieved the water again flows
into the casing, until the float engages the stop and operates the rod and lever.
This movement closes the valve in the supply-pipe and opens the siphon-valve, and
the water is carried by said siphon to the closet in the usual manner. The
discharge of the water continues until the descending float operates the lever and
shifts the valves to their normal position. The air-pipe cock is then closed, and
the parts are in position for the next operation.
If by reason of leakage or otherwise the inflow of water is not checked by the
action of the compressed air, the water will upon reaching the surface level close
the air-pipe float-valve and prevent the water from entering said pipe, as has been
already stated.
It will be evident from the foregoing that I have made the systems heretofore

page_text: employed in flushing water-closets in such manner as to render the operation
perfect. My invention is also simple in construction and operation, has but few
parts, and is not liable to get out of order.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a water-closet and flushing apparatus therefor, the combination, with a
bowl having a flushing-rim and air-passages above said rim, of a flushing-apparatus
comprising a water-supply, a water discharge leading to the flushing-rim, an air-
pipe leading to said air-passages, valves for said water-supply and discharge
adapted to be simultaneously operated by a float and valve in the air-pipe, the
combination being and operating substantially as set forth.
2. In a water-closet and flushing apparatus, the combination, with a bowl having
a flushing-rim and air-passages as described, of a flushing apparatus consisting of a
water-supply adapted to compress the air within the apparatus and to be checked
by the said compression, a water-discharge leading to the flushing-rim, an air-pipe
leading from the apparatus to the air-channel and passages in the closet, and
having a stop-cock, as described, and valves for controlling said water-supply and
discharge and adapted to be simultaneously operated by a float, all substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of December 1892