Improvements in the Flushing of Soil Pipes, Drains, and Sewers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Flushing of Soil Pipes, Drains, and Sewers.
I NIMROD SIMMONS of Victoria Street Clifton in the City and County of
Bristol B.Sc., F.R. Met. Soc., Mem. Soc. Arts, Certified Inspector of the Sanitary
Institute Civil and 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:-
My invention is for an improved Sanitary System for Dwelling Houses, Hotels,
Public Institutions, Hospitals, Military or other Encampments, and provides means
whereby any person of ordinary intelligence can thoroughly cleanse and wash out
the interior of soil pipes and drains; and at the same time thoroughly test the
joints of the pipes in the Sanitary System. The ordinary Flushing of a Water
Closet is accomplished with two or three gallons of water, and this water is
quite inadequate for the cleansing of any part of the soil pipes beyond the
immediate connections to the Water Closet. In consequence of this the soil pipes
become encrusted with soil of an offensive nature, and in time the accumulation
is such as to become a serious matter. When hotwater is discharged into the
drains from Lavatories and Sinks dangerous odours are generated, and until the
soil pipes are actually renewed there is no chance of abating even temporarily,
the nuisance. In all ordinary cases it is quite impossible to find out the
condition of the interior of the soil or drain pipes, as the pipes are rigidly
jointed together with various compositions or metallic lead which necessitates the
breaking of a pipe if it is desired to remove one of them. In my improved
system I joint the soil and drain pipes with my improved detachable joint, for
which letters patent have been granted me (No. 7355, 1894) and I provide at
any suitable point on the pipes a Flushing Valve, which may be closed to retain
a head of water in any part of the soil pipes and drains. The said water when
suddenly released effects a thorough scouring of the soil pipes and drains right
through to the Sewer so that the cleanliness of the pipes is not dependent on the
small amount of water discharged from a Closet flushing Cistern. I provide at a
suitable place upon the soil pipes, an Indicator which shows upon a dial the head of
water in feet gathered in the pipes; and I provide graduated glass vessels connected
to the soil pipes and fitted with Taps suitably whereby water may be drawn from the
said pipes and examined or tested, so that the condition of th einterior of the pipes
is easily ascertained and when necessary disinfectants can be introduced into the soil
pipes and drains through the said glass vessels.
I use any kind of clear way Valve to hold the water in the said pipes, but
preferably I use my improved Flushing Valve for which letters patent have been
granted (No. 7356, 1894).
It is obvious that when a system of soil pipes is filled with water, the said water
would find overflow at the first Closet on the soil pipe Stack and to obviate this I
use my combination Closet for which I have applied for letters patent (No. 1640,
21st Janry. 1897) in which provision is made for an automatically closing Valve, the
said Valve discharges the Closet and is normally closed against any influx of water
from the soil Pipes. When the soil pipes are filled with water the Closet Valve is
CD 031

page_text: temporarily held by the said water, and pressed tightly on its seating, and an
Indicator is placed over the Closet to show that for the moment the Closet Valve is
held fast. The said Indicator is operated by water from the soil pipe, and is shown
blank when the water is discharged.
The soil pipes and drain pipes are filled with water from a storage Tank fitted in 5
any suitable position, or by a connection to the pipes from water mains, or by a
force pump, or water may be accumulated by the repeated discharging of Closets on
various floors until a sufficient head is gathered.
This system can be rapidly fitted together by means of the improved detachable
joints mentioned, and each pipe and joint can be thoroughly tested with a head of 1
water as the system is constructed, and thus prove the reliability of the System as
regards immunity from leakage or defective parts. The flushing Valve is quickly
jointed on any part of the system of pipes by means of the said detachable joints, and
a head of water thereby raised as may be convenient. This system is also applicable
to main or tributary Sewers where a large volume of water is dammed up in the 1
Sewer by the closing of my improved Valve. The Valves are easily operated by
unskilled workmen, and in the case of large Sewers are of special strength.
object of thus gathering a head of water in the soil pipes and drains is to
effectually cleanse and scour the interior of the pipes and connections, and to
test the same when erected, and from time to time to ensure the discovery of 2
defective parts and leaking joints. The Flushing Water discharged with an ordinary
single Closet Flush, some two or three gallons, is altogether inadequate to prevent or
remove the incrustation of solid matter from the interior of the soil pipes.
The
My improved system is well adapted for temporary or permanent Hospital
Sanitation or for Military Field Sanitation. Under such circumstances the facility:
with which the pipes and connections are fitted up or disconnected is particularly
effective, and valuable, and the System lends itself to rapid construction at any point
without liability to leakage and contamination.
The water from an ordinary flushing Cistern is discharged through a pipe not more
than one inch and a half in diameter, and although it is under favorable conditions
sufficient to wash out the Closet pan and trap, it is not enough to cleanse the soil
pipes and connections which are usually four inches in diameter and of considerable
length. It is safe to say that the small quantity of water discharged from a closet
cistern, never carries solid matter through the pipes and drains to the Sewer, but
dribbling slowly along, leaves some lodgment which rapidly increases from time to
time unless the Closet is quite close to the Sewer, a very remote probability. The
foul matter gathered and solidified on the interior of the pipes, and aided by
coagulated grease gives off an offensive smell when disturbed by hot water discharged
from Scullery sinks baths and lavatories, and is a serious danger quite beyond ordinary
inspection.
Ordinary Water Closets when placed on various floors are liable to have the trap
or seal water drawn out by siphonic action from the lower Closets when an upper
Closet is flushed, and to prevent this ventilating, or anti-siphonage pipes have to be
fitted and carried above the building. In my improved system this difficulty is
entirely obviated by the improved Valve Closet used and no loss of seal water is
possible.
With reference to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a section of a building
showing my improved Closets as mentioned, on two floors; and the lettering
corresponds with the specification wherein the said Closets are described in detail.
The soil pipes in my improved sanitary system are shewn at m. m. and they are
jointed with my improved detachable joints at n. n. in any convenient lengths and
junctions are provided at m² for connection between the soil pipes and the Closets in
various floors. The soil pipes and junctions with bends and other shaped pieces are
plain at the ends where they are connected one to the other; that to say they are
socketless and therefore may be cut at any point for convenience of fitting; and with
my improved joint are rapidly erected or disconnected when desired. At the foot
of the pipe system is connected one of my improved clear way flushing Valves, for

page_text: which letters patent have been granted (No. 7356, 1894) and in this figure the said
Valve is shown at q fully opened, being operated by the hand wheel r, and the soil
pipes which are here considered as a reservoir for flushing water are consequently
shown empty.
When the valve q is firmly closed upon its scating the soil pipes are cut off from
the drains, and the said soil pipes may be filled with water for the purpose of flushing
and scouring or testing the pipes and drains as before mentioned, and for testing the
pipes and joints with the head of water gathered. The soil pipes are filled from a
storage Tank or from a water main, or by means of a force pump, at a connection as
shewn at o controlled by a tap or Valve p or the pipes can be filled by repeatedly
flushing Closets on various floors.
My improved Closet as used in connection with this Sanitary System is provided
with an automatically closed Valve d, so that the Flushing water cannot overflow at
the Closet-basin; and the normal level of the water in the Closet basin is shewn at x
in the upper Closet. When the Closet is discharged the water assumes the level y
shown in the lower Closet, and still maintains a liberal water seal. When the
Closet Valve closes upon its seating as regulated, an after flush of clean water from
the Flushing Cistern h¹ restores the water in the basin to the higher level x as shown
with the Valve closed. It is obvious that the Valve d could be temporarily removed
without putting the Closet out of use, as the water seal at the level y in the lower
Closet forms a trap equal to that in any form of the common wash down closet in
general use.
In Figure 2 the soil pipes m m are shewn filled with water, the Valve qat the foot
being closed. A connections is fitted to the soil pipes, and an indicator u (patent
applied for) controlled by a tap t shows the pressure and height of water in the soil
pipe. A second tap t¹ admits water from the soil pipe into the glass Vessel v for
examination as to cleanliness, and a tap t2 controls a second glass vessel w whereby
disinfectants or chemicals may be introduced to the water in the Vessel v for
testing the same. By this means the condition of the interior of the pipes can
be readily ascertained without disconnecting any of the pipes.
When the soil pipes are filled with water, the Closets are for the moment out
of use, and an indicator z is placed over the Closet to show when the pipes are
charged. The said Indicator is connected by a tube z¹ to the soil pipes and is
operated by the water therein.
The flushing operations are generally conducted in the morning, and if
regularly attended to, the Closets are never out of use, but occasioually it may
be desirable to flush the pipes during the day, and the said indicator then comes
into operation.
When the drains are branched in various directions the Flushing water may be
concentrated in any one drain by the use of my Flushing Valves on the various
branches, and by the closing of the said valve as may be desired.
My system of gathering a head of water in the pipe for flushing and scouring
is applicable to main or tributary Sewers, when large bodies of water can be
accumulated at a low pressure, as after rain storms, or with an artificial supply; and
an efficient means of testing the Sewers and drains is. hereby provided, and without
complication, so that the same may be operated by ordinary workmen, or any person
without special skill.
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. In an improved Sanitary System the combination with the soil pipes and drains,
of a Valve fitted Closet, and a clear way flushing Valve, substantially as described and
shown.
T
2. In an improved Sanitary System the combination with the soil pipes of an
All
L

page_text: 3. In an improved Sanitary System the combination with the soil pipes of a
gauge or indicator near the foot of the soil pipes for the purpose described.
4. In an improved Sanitary System the combination with the soil pipes of Glass
or other Vessels for examination or testing of water substantially as shown and
described.
5. In an Improved Sanitary System the combination with main or branch Sewers
of a Flushing Valve as described for the purpose named.