Improvements in water Closets.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in water Closets.
I, GEORGE BETHELL HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at 523,
Cherry Street, Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia and State of Penn-
sylvania, U.S.A., 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:—
The present invention relates to water-closets and more particularly to the
syphon type, although applicable to other types and the chief object is to pro-
vide a compact and effective system of water ways for flushing the bowl and ex-
hausting the syphon, or hopper, as the case may be, the same to be supplied
directly from a water main, dispensing with an elevated tank such as ordinarily
used with this type of closet, i.e., a tank for each closet, it being understood that
it is within the perview of my invention to utilize a water supply from a large
general supply tank.
With the above stated and other objects hereinafter made apparent in view
the invention consists in a number of novel features of construction and combina-
tions of parts, all of which are recited in the appended claims, and a preferred
form of embodiment of which is specifically described hereinafter with reference
to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.
Of said drawings,
Figure I represents the closet in perspective as viewed from the rear.
Figure II represents the same in cross-sectional rear elevation.
Figure III is a central longitudinal section.
Figure IV is a horizontal section taken on line IV-IV of Figure III.
Figure is a central longitudinal section of a modified form of closet; and
Figure VI is a section taken substantially on line VI-VI of Figure 5.
The bowl a, is of well known form being made with an overhanging flushing
rim a', and in the present instance the latter, in addition to having the usual
discharge holes in its underside is formed with a number of holes a", extending
downwardly through its inner wall at an angle of 45° so as to direct streams of
water upon floating paper which might otherwise remain partially dry and fail
to leave the bowl. The syphon has its shorter limb b, opening into the bottom
of said bowl while its longer limb b', stands vertically in rear of the latter and
[Price 11

page_text: may have the usual sewer connection. In the construction shown in Figures I
to IV, the substantially triangular space between the limbs of the syphon is
closed by side-webs 2, having circular openings around which are formed
cylinders c, standing out from said webs. Water-ways d'and e, open out of the
upper sides of said cylinders respectively and extend vertically along the side
webs and the sides of the syphon, the water way d, being formed with a forward
bend at its upper end and united with the flushing rim with which it communi-
cates by the port ; while the water way e, is given an inward and slightly
rearward bend at the top whereby it is carried over the dome of the syphon and
above the longer limb thereof with which it communicates through a jet open-
ing or port el.
The structure thus far described is of earthenware and produced by well
known methods. A metallic pipe, f, passes through the cylinders c, and the
space between the syphon limbs, said pipe having an annular flange f', taking
over the end of one cylinder and a screw threaded end-portion protruding beyond
the other cylinder and receiving a cap-nut f. Gaskets g, are interposed between
the cylinders and the flange and cap-nut and when the latter is screwed home it
will be apparent that water-tight closures are made between the metal pipe and
the earthenware structure. The said pipe is formed in its upper side with
ports and ell, communicating respectively with the waterways d and e, and
in its front side at the middle with a port j, in registry with a port j', made
through a thickened portion of the rear wall of the bowl; and beyond its flange
the pipe is contracted somewhat and unites with a valve-casing h, having on one
side a screw-threaded nipple h¹ whereby a connection is effected with a water
main or water supply conduit. A valve structure of an appropriate type is
arranged within said casing to properly control the water supply, the valve-stem
being designated by the letter i, and being jointed to one end of a lever i¹, which is
pivoted intermediate of its length to a bracket 22, on the casing, and is equipped
at the forward end with a handle 3, and a weight to normally close the valve.
A hard pull upwardly upon the said handle, will open the valve and water
will immediately rush into the pipe f, and thence up the water-ways d and c,
one stream discharging into the flushing rim and the other into the dome of
the syphon, the result being that syphonic action is set up to exhaust the con-
tents of the bowl, while the latter is being flushed from the rim by the other
stream of water. It will, of course, be understood that water stands normally
in the bowl to the height of the short limb of the syphon, effecting a seal, and
when the discharge has ceased, a diminished supply of water through the flush-
ing rim, re-establishes such seal.
The establishment of the seal in the bowl ensures a similar seal in the water-
ways, d and e, for the reason that the small ports j and j', afford communication
between the bowl and the pipe f, the object of providing said ports being to
accomplish this result which is important as the absence of a water seal in said
ways would permit escape of sewer odors through the rim of the bowl.
In the construction shown in Figures V and VI the rear limb of the
syphon is not formed in connection with a horizontal sewer conduit in the
earthenware structure as before, but terminates some distance above the base-
plane of the latter and a swivel connection is effected between the same and a
horizontally extending metallic pipe k, so a discharge can be had in any
direction desired. Said metallic pipe is formed with an upward opening bell ki,
embracing the syphon limb and formed with an outstanding flange, against
the underside of which fits a flat ring m, apertured at intervals to receive
clamping bolts m¹. These bolts extend through apertures in the flange m³, of
a ring m³, surrounding the syphon limb and cupped to receive a rubber
gasket m', against which the flange 12 of the bell abuts. By turning up
nuts m on the bolts m³, below the ring m, the gasket m will be forced into
intimate contact with the syphon limb in an obvious manner and a water-tiglit
joint will be made. Upon loosening the clamping devices the pipe can be

page_text: swung in a horizontal plane to any desired position and again clamped to the
syphon limb, this pipe being preferably formed with a lug to rest upon the
surface above which the pipe extends. This construction of closet is particularly
adapted to marine use but may of course be utilized in other connections.
In this modified form of closet there are no side-webs closing the space between
the limbs of the syphon and consequently an earthenware cylinder extends
through such space to accommodate the metal pipe f, such cylinder being in-
tegral with the rest of the earthenware structure and ported as shown at d³
and e, for communication with the water ways d and e and as shown at j" for
registry with the port j in the metal pipe.
The water-way, instead of opening directly into the flushing rim, is shown
in Figure Vas opening into a refilling chamber n, formed between said rim
and communicating by a port n', with the latter and by a smaller port 2, with
the bowl. The port ', being at the top of the chamber, the latter fills before
the water flows to the rim and thus a supply of water is retained which even-
tually escaping through the small port n2, at the bottom of the chamber, ensures
the re-filling of the bowl to the proper height after each action of the syphon.
It will be seen that either of the above described constructions is well calcu-
lated to thoroughly fulfill the object primarily stated in addition to others herein
stated, but at the same time it is to be understood that the invention is capable
of embodiment in other forms than that here shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the, nature of 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, the combination of a bowl having a flushing rim, a syphon,
a horizontal water-pipe extending between the limbs of the syphon and having
a supply connection at one end and ports in its upper side on opposite sides of
the syphon; and water ways communicating with said ports respectively, one
of said water ways leading to the dome of the syphon and the other to the flush-
ing rim, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a water closet, the combination of a bowl having a flushing rim, a syphon
whose short limb opens into the bottom of the bowl and whose long limb is in
rear of the same, webs closing the space between the syphon limbs, water-ways
extending vertically along opposite sides of the syphon structure, one opening
into the flushing rim and the other opening into the dome of the syphon, a
horizontal water pipe extending transversely between the limbs of the syphon
and through the side webs, said pipe having ports communicating with the
water-ways respectively, and a valved water-supply connection for one end of
said pipe.
3. In a water closet, the combination of a bowl having a flushing rim, a syphon
whose short limb opens into the bottom of the bowl and whose long limb is in
rear of the same, webs closing the space between the syphon limbs, cylinders out-
standing from said webs, water ways extending vertically from said cylinders
respectively and along the webs, one of said ways opening into the flushing rim
and the other into the dome of the syphon, a water pipe extending through the
cylinders, the webs and the space between the syphon limbs, and having ports
communicating respectively with the water-ways, and a valved water supply
connection for said pipe.
4. In a water closet, the combination of a bowl having a flushing rim, a
horizontal water-conduit extending transversely behind the bowl and communi-
cating at one end with a water supply and having a port in its upper side, and a
water-way extending upwardly from the said port on one side of the bowl and
communicating with the flushing-rim.
5. In a water closet, the combination of a bowl having a flushing rim, a
yphon, a water-conduit extending transversely behind the bowl and communi-
ating with the lower part thereof and also with a water-supply, and water-

page_text: ways leading from said conduit on opposite sides of the bowl and communicating
with the flushing rim and syphon respectively.
6. In a water closet, the combination of a bowl having a flushing rim, a
syphon, a water conduit extending transversely between the limbs of the syphon
and communicating with a water supply and having a port whereby communica-
tion is established with the lower portion of the bowl, and water-ways leading
upwardly from the said conduit on opposite sides of the syphon and communi-
cating respectively with the flushing rim and the long limb of the syphon.
Dated this 25th day of April 1899.
GEORGE BETHELL HOWELL.
F. Wise Howorth,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.