IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS
Year: 1856

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Henderson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th April
1856.
I, HENRY HENDERSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of the said 'Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS," to be as follows, that is is to say:-
This Invention relates to that "portion of water-closets which affects the
supply of the 'cleansing water delivered to the soil basin after the water-
closet has been used, and consists of a simple species of "cataract" valve, or
valvular apparatus of slow adjustable action, capable of being set to any
desired rate of cut-off. This apparatus is capable of application to water-closets
in connection with water supply valves of various kinds, but it is intended to
employ it more particularly in connection with the improved stop-cocks or
valves, for which Mr. Henderson has already made application for British
Letters Patent. The supply stop-cock, whether of the improved or the
common kind, is connected by a spindle and lever, or other movement, with
the regulating valve, in such manner that the stop-cock and regulating valve
shall work in concert. The regulating valve apparatus consists of a hollow,
flexible, and air-tight ball or bag of india-rubber or other suitable material.

page_text: This flexible chamber is disposed in an open cup, so as to give it a good fair
bearing below. The valve spindle connecting the apparatus with the supply
valve movement works through a guide frame, and has its lower end connected
to the top of the flexible chamber in such manner, that when the closet has
been used, the weighted lever on the supply valve spindle tends to press down
the spindle and compress the chamber. An aperture is formed in the lower
side of the flexible chamber, and in communication with a passage leading
from the bottom of the supporting cup of the chamber. A pipe from this
passage has upon it a stop-cock or small air-regulating valve, so that the air
discharge from the flexible chamber can be regulated with the greatest nicety.
-When the water-closet is standing unused, the flexible chamber is nearly
emptied of atmospheric air, being compressed to its smallest dimensions by the
external pressure.upon the chamber, resulting from the action of the weighted
lever upon the spindle. When the water closet has been used, and the
ordinary handle has been drawn for the supply of the cleansing water, the
withdrawal of the spindle's pressure allows the atmospheric air to enter the
flexible chamber and distend it; then when the supply handle is returned to
its normal. position the external pressure comes again upon the chamber,
which thus gradually collapses as the air in it flows off from the stop-cock
.beneath. Thus, by setting this stop-cock more or less open, the water supply
valve, which is only closed when the flexible chamber is compressed, will be
shut off at a corresponding earlier or later period. With this arrangement
the supply of cleansing water may be taken directly from the street service
'mains, as no reservoir whatever is needed.