Improvements in Water Closet Flushing Apparatus'and'the like
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1900
Improvements in Water Closet Flushing Apparatus'and'the like.'
19
I, HENRY MARTYN WILLIAMS, of No. 24, East Wayne Street," in the City 'of
Fort Wayne, County of Allen, and State of Indiana, United States of America,
Manufacturer, 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: -
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus
for flushing tanks, closet bowls, and the like, having. for its object to provide
simple and effective means for accomplishing this without the employment of
the usual overhead water-tanks, and with this object in view the invention. con-
sists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more parti-
cularly described.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and. in
which like letters of reference designate corresponding parts:
Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of apparatus embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof; and
Figure 3 is a detail view of the valve and its operating mechanism..
Briefly stated, the invention comprises à bowl provided with a siphon discharge
pipe leading therefrom and connecting at its lower end with the usual goose-neck
trap. Leading to the bowl at its upper edge is a water inlet pipe provided with
a valve and means for operating the same, and means are also provided for creat-
ing a vacuum in the siphon discharge pipe whenever the inlet valve is open,
whereby the water standing in the goose-neck trap. is drawn upwards until it
meets the water in the bowl, resulting in the contents of the bowl being siphoned
out.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, A designates the bowl.ofra closet
which may be of any suitable shape and is preferably provided interiorly at its
upper edge with an annular water distributing passage 1. Connecting with this
passage, 1, and extending. tangentially to the same is a water inlet pipe; 2, pro-
vided with a valve casing, 3, formed with a valve seat for a valve, 4. Leading
from the bowl, A, is a siphon-pipe, 5, the short arm, 6, of which extends from
a point about centrally of the depth of the bowl and the long arm, 7,: connects
with a water-trap, 8. Connecting the top of the siphon-pipe, 5, and the water
inlet pipe, 2, is a suction pipe, 9, entering the inlet pipe in the same general
direction of the flow of water therethrough.
Assuming now the water in the bowl to be at the level designated at ☛ and
the inlet valve to be open water will rush through the inlet pipe, 2, and dis-
tributing passage, 1, into the bowl. The rush of water past the mouth of, the
suction pipe, 9, creates a suction therein causing the air to be exhausted there-
from and from the long leg of the siphon and creating a vacuum therein. This
vacuum thus created is sufficient to draw the water in the trap, 8, up to the
top of the siphon where it unites with the water in the bowl and completes the
siphon, causing the water in the bowl to be withdrawn until it reaches the level

page_text: at y, when the end of the short arm of the siphon is uncovered and air rushes
into the siphon and the discharge of the water is arrested.
When the water reaches the level y, it is necessary that the inflow of water
through the inlet pipe 2, be discontinued, otherwise another vacuum will be
created and the bowl will again be emptied, and it is also necessary that water
be supplied to the bowl to raise the level therein from the point y to the point..
In order to accomplish this, automatic means are provided for closing the inlet
valve, 4, at a predetermined time, and while different means may be provided
for effecting this purpose, it is preferred to employ those which will now be
described on account of the simplicity and effectiveness.
The valve, 4, is provided with a stem, 10, projecting upon opposite sides thereof
and surrounding one end and interposed between the valve and its casing is a
coil spring, 12, which serves to hold the valve to its seat. The opposite end of
the valve is provided with a longitudinal groove, 19, and projects into a circular
chamber, 14. Within this chamber is a cam 14", mounted upon a short arm, 15,
of an operating lever 16, the said arm 15 being arranged at right angles to the
long arm of the lever and extending into the casing through the side thereof.
When the lever, 16, is lifted the cam is brought into contact with the end of the
valve-stem, 10, and forces the valve, 4, from its seat, allowing the water to rush
through the inlet pipe 2, and at the same time flow through the groove, 19, in
the valve stem to the chamber 14. Extending longitudinally through the
lever, 16, and its arm is a channel 17, which communicates with the chamber 14
through a passage 18, in the cam, 14". Upon the opposite end of the lever, 16,
is a reservoir, 19, which likewise communicates at its bottom with the
channel, 17, and at its top with the external atmosphere and said reservoir is
provided with a handle, 20, by means of which it and the lever, 16, may be
lifted. In operation when the lever, 16, and reservoir, 19", are elevated the
cam, 14, is turned and presses upon the valve stem, 10, forcing the valve, 4,
from its seat. The water then flows into the bowl, A, and at the same time flows
into the chamber 14, and thence through the passage, 18, and channel 17, to the
reservoir, 19. When the reservoir becomes filled with water the weight thereof
is sufficient to overcome a counter-weight, 20, at the opposite end of the lever, 16,
and the lever and reservoir drop to their lowered position, thereby effecting the
closing of the valve 4. As before stated, when the inlet valve closes, the water
in the bowl is at the level y, but the water stored within the reservoir now being
undeterred, flows through the channel 17, passage 18, and groove, 19, into the
inlet pipe, 2, and thence into the bowl, bringing the level of the water therein
to the point x.
In order to limit the downward movement of the lever, 16, it is provided with
a projection, 21, adapted to make contact with a pin, 22, extending from the
bowl or its frame. It is sometimes desirable that the bowl or tank be flushed
for a longer time than at others and in order to effect this, a screw valve, 23,
is provided for controlling the channel through the lever, 16, and it will readily
be seen that if the said channel be partially closed a longer time will be required
to fill the reservoir, 19ª, and in consequence the lever 10, will not drop nor the
valve, 4, be closed as soon as it otherwise would if the channel were wholly open.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
is claimed is:-
1. In flushing apparatus, the combination of a bowl, a siphon discharge pipe
leading therefrom and communicating with a water trap, an inlet pipe leading to
the bowl, a spring-seated valve within the pipe, a grooved stem connected to the
valve, a chamber 14 into which said stem projects, a cam within said chamber to
engage the end of the stem, a tubular angle lever having its short arm journaled
in the side of the chamber and on which the cam is mounted, said tubular lever
being in communication with the chamber, a reservoir on the free end of the long

page_text: arm of the lever also in communication therewith, a hand-hold on the reservoir,
and a counterbalancing weighted arm extending from the short arm of the lever,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a bowl, an inlet pipe leading
to the bowl, a valve within said pipe, means embracing a movable counter-
balanced reservoir for operating the valve, and a tubular connection between the
inlet pipe and the reservoir, said reservoir receiving water from the inlet pipe
through the tubular connection when the valve is open, and discharging the water
so received into the inlet pipe, through the same tubular connection, when the
valve is closed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated the 5th day of December 1899.
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.