IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER- CLOSETS AND ALL SANITARY VESSELS THAT REQUIRE FREQUENT FLUSHING
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Culpin, of Number 24, Dowgate Hill, in the
City of London, Engineer, for the Invention of" IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-
CLOSETS AND ALL SANITARY VESSELS THAT REQUIRE FREQUENT FLUSHING."
Sealed the 27th July 1860, and dated the 31st January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Culpin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st January 1860.
1, THOMAS CULPIN, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS AND ALL SANITARY VESSELS THAT REQUIRE
FREQUENT FLUSHING," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist, first, in the application of a flexible dia-
phragm to retain the water in closets and other sanitary vessels at any
required level. In the centre of this diaphragın I have a hole; -through
which the contents of the vessel are discharged into a common trap when-
ever the closet handle is lifted, the handle being connected to the diaphragm
by a weighted lever so as to force it down below the water line.
Second, in an arrangement of pan closets so as to admit of those parts
usually made of iron and copper to be constructed entirely of earthenware. In
this arrangement 1 hang the pan upon a flexible hinge, and to avoid noise and
percussion I cause it to rest upon flexible stops. This pan is connected to
the closet handle by a lever and weight, which causes it to be discharged
Paine 87

page_text: when the handle is lifted. For some purposes I make the pan of flexible
material, such as india-rubber or leather. When so made, I connect the
handle of the closet to the bottom of such flexible pan by a crooked rod, so
that when the handle is lifted the bottom of the pan is forced upward, thus
discharging the contents by a direct action without the intervention of any
lever or weight.
When a
Third, in a mechanical arrangement for making the flushing apparatus of
such water-closets and other sanitary vessels self-acting. For this purpose
I use a lever, having its fulcrum or centre of motion at a point about two-
thirds of the whole length of such lever from one end. To the long end is
attached a jaw or pall. To the other end is attached a weight.
person sits upon the closet or stands upon the urinal, as the case may be,
the weight of the person causes the long end of the lever to descend, and
in that position the jaw or pall takes hold of a rod in connection with the
flushing apparatus, and immediately the weight of the person is removed
the descent of the weight produces the required action.
Fourth, in an arrangement of valves in connection with such water-closets
and other sanitary vessels. In this arrangement I use a valve opening against
the pressure by means of a weight acting upon one or more cam levers.
When it is an object to save space, I use two levers in order to give the
weight a vertical descent, and in cases where it is an object to economise
water, I use a second valve so connected with the apparatus that this second
valve cannot be opened without first bringing the cam lever or levers into
such a position as to allow the other valve to close.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Culpin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
CULPIN, of Number 24, Dowgate Hill, in the City of London, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in the
year
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Thomas Culpin, Her special licence that I, the said
Thomas Culpin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as

page_text: I, the said Thomas Culpin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands,and Isle of Man,an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS AND ALL SANITARY VESSELS THAT REQUIRE FREQUENT
FLUSHING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Culpin, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Thomas Culpin, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say) :-
These improvements consist, first, in the application of a flexible diaphragm
to retain the water in closets and other sanitary vessels at any required level.
In the centre of this diaphragm I have a hole, through which the contents of
the vessel are discharged into a common trap whenever the closet handle is
lifted, the handle being connected to the diaphragm by a weighted lever so
as to force it down below the water line.
Second, in an arrangement of pan closets, so as to admit of those parts
usually made of iron and copper to be constructed entirely of earthenware.
In this arrangement I hang the pan upon a flexible hinge, and to avoid noise
and percussion I cause it to rest upon flexible stops. This pan is connected
to the closet handle by a lever and weight, which causes it to be discharged
when the handle is lifted. For some purposes I make the pan of flexible
material such as india-rubber or leather. When so made, I connect the
haudle of the closet to the bottom of such flexible pan by a crooked rod, so
that when the handle is lifted the bottom of the pan is forced upward, thus
discharging the contents by a direct action without the intervention of any
lever or weight.
Third, in a mechanical arrangement for making the flushing apparatus of
such water-closets and other sauitary vessels self-acting. For this purpose
I use a lever having its fulcrum or centre of motion at a point about two-
thirds of the whole length of such lever from one end. To the long end is
attached a jaw or pall, to the other end is attached a weight. When a person

page_text: sits upon the closet or stand upon the urinal, as the case may be, the weight
of the person causes the long end of the lever to descend, and in that position
the jaw or pall takes hold of a rod in connection with the flushing apparatus,
and immediately the weight of the person is removed the descent of the
weight produces the required action.
Fourth, in an arrangement of valves in connection with such water-
closets and other sanitary vessels. In this arrangement I use a valve opening
against the pressure by means of a weight acting upon one or more cam levers.
When it is an object to save space, I use two levers in order to give the
weight a vertical descent, and in cases where it is an object to economise
water, I use a second valve so connected with the apparatus that this second
valve cannot be opened without first bringing the cam lever or levers into
such a position as to allow the other valve to close.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation in section of a water-closet constructed according
to my Invention. B, B, is a flexible diaphragm of waterproof material sepa-
rating the trap T., T, from the basin N, N; C, C, is a ring or tube attached
to the diaphragm. When the diaphragm is reversed, and the tube lowered
to the position of the dotted lines, the contents of the basin will be discharged
through the tube C, C, into the trap T, T. This action, and the opening of
the supply valve A, will be readily understood by referring to Fig. 2, which
is a side view partly in section, the same letters referring to the same parts.
The dotted lines S, S, S, S, Fig. 1, indicate the shape of a pipe which I
sometimes use instead of the trap T, T.
Fig. 3 is a self-acting motion constructed according to my Invention. A is
the connecting rod to any flushing apparatus; B, B, B, B, is a sliding socket
carrying a steel jaw C; D, D, is a lever with its fulcrum at E. The weight
of a person using the apparatus is received by the rod G, pushing the slide
B, B, B, B, down the rod A. When the weight of the person is removed,
the jaw C will grip the rod A, and the required motion will be produced
by the weight F. This drawing is half size. The others are full size.
Fig. 4 is a pan-closet constructed of earthenware according to my Inven-
tion.
A, A, A, is the receiver; B, B, B, is the pan; C, C, is the basin;
D is a flexible hinge; and E is a stop of india-rubber or other flexible
material.
Figs. 5 and 6, and Figs. 7 and 8, are modifications of the water supply
valve A, Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 7, A is the inlet, capable of being moved
to any angle to meet the direction of the service pipe; B is the outlet
leading to the vessel to be flushed; C,C, is the bolt by which these parts are
held firmly together; D, Fig. 8, is the lever for controling the valve E, E.

page_text: Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are arrangements of valves according to the last part
of my Invention.
Fig. 9 is for supplying a common water butt or cistern. A is the main or
service pipe; C is the valve opening against the pressure by the action of
two cam levers K, K; H, H, is the buoy or float; M, M, is an iron shield
or casing, which may be fixed to the side of the butt or cistern.
Fig. 10 is to regulate the closing of a valve; M, M, is a close cistern;
H, H, does not in this case act as a float but as a weight, having a hole at
its top at P, the size of which hole determines the period of time occupied
by the closing of the valve. The discharge pipe from the cistern may be in
any convenient position.
Fig. 11 is an apparatus to prevent the waste of water. A is the discharge
valve; C is the supply valve opened by the descent of the cam lever K.
The discharge valve A cannot be opened without first lifting the lever K
into such a position as will allow the supply valve C to close. In applying
this part of my Invention to drinking fountains, street posts, &c., where it
is an object to save space, two levers are used, as in Fig. 9, to give the float
a vertical descent.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I claim,-
1st, the application of a flexible diaphragm to sanitary vessels in the
manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
2nd, the self-acting arrangement explained in relation to Fig. 3.
3rd, the application of a perforated hollow weight in a closed cistern to
regulate the closing of a valve.
Lastly, the various combinations of mechanical parts as explained in
relation to my other Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Culpin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
FRED. HATTON,
17, Essex Street, Strand,
Solr.
THOS. CULPIN. (L.s.)