Improvements in Water-closets.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
CODE DEI DR MOTIVATION.
Improvements in Water-closets.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MCNAMARA of No. 22 Burlington Road Dublin, Co. Dublin
Ireland, Surgeon Major 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 improvements are applicable to water closets which may also be used as sinks
and urinals, the object to be attained being, to have the pans of the water closets
altogether outside the house, so as to avoid the dangers of sewer gases escaping into
the house, and at the same time to afford sufficient protection from chills, and give
sufficient comfort to persons using such closets.
As herein afterwards explained, persons using the closets cannot leave them,
without causing the pans to be exposed, and completely cutting them off from the
house, and flushing out the closets. The improvements may be applied to water
closets commonly in use, by fixing the frame described hereafter, in the same plane as
the front boards of the seats of such closets, and removing as much of the walls
behind, as is necessary for the full exposure of the pans to the open air. My
invention is carried out, by fixing pans such as those of the "Kensington Sanitary
Closets," modified as described hereafter in the back walls of closets, with the
openings of the pans outside. A box of sufficient size to enable a person to sit
comfortably, and so constructed as herein afterwards described, as to swing outwards
through a frame, in the back wall of the closet, over the pan when the closet is about
to be used, and inwards so as to expose the pan when not in use. The inward
movement causes the flushing of the closet, and the outward the refilling of a cistern,
by moans described hereafter, such a cistern being one of those ordinarily in use fixed
in a convenient situation.
A simple contrivance described hereafter, prevents the door of the closet being
opened, until the box is drawn inwards.
And in order that the improvements herein before referred to may be properly
understood, I hereunto append sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereafter referred
to and representing modifications of apparatus made according to my invention. In
these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my improved water closet ready for use. Above the
water closet is a cistern 5 in communication with pan 6 by means of pipe 7, lever 8
is shown with opening to pipe 7 closed, the lever being at rest. This lever 8 is also
attached to ball of ball-cock which allows the cistern in the position indicated in
Fig. 1. Box 9 swings through frame (ten) 10, which is fixed in the back wall of
the water closet. It is hung on hinge 11 and the lower side is curved in such a
manner, as in all positions to fill up the frame. On the upper aspect of this side of
the box, and separated from each other by sufficient space to seat a person are two
levers, one, 12 shown in the figure. Each lever moves on a hinge in the middle,
and is furnished with a spring 13 which when in action, causes a bolt to project
downwards at the far end. These levers are connected behind, by a cross bar running
at the junction of the back and lower side of the box. They are bent downwards in
front, and joined by another bar, with the handle 14 in the middle. The upper
surface of pan 6 Fig. 2, conforms in size and shape, to the under surface of the seat
of the box, between and under the levers. This surface of the pan bas a bar of iron
let into it's outer edge, on each side, and flush with the surface. At each end, of each
bar, is a slot, one bar with back slot, is shown in Fig. 2, 15. In the position of the
box 9 shown in fig. 1 the springs of the levers are in action, and bolts fitting into
back slots of the bars of the pan. The front part of the seat 16, works on a hinge

page_text: and has india rubber piping on its under surface, to make it fit accurately, and prevent
air entering between it and the pan, this seat can be lifted when the closet is used as
a urinal or for slops.
When the box 9 is in position for use, as shown in fig. 1 it keeps the lever 17 in
the position indicated in the sketch, with one arm over the closet door at its hinge
edge. Lever 17 works on a hinge at its angle, this prevents the door being opened,
while the closet communicates with the pan.
When the closet is no longer in use, handle 14 is depressed, which releases bolts
from backmost slots, the box is then drawn forwards as shown in fig. 2, the bolts
running along irons on the upper surface of the pan, until they fit into the anterior
slots, and so the closet is closed. The bar joining the levers at the back, presses
down an india rubber bar as described hereafter through back handle of box, against
front part of pan, so as to prevent all entrance of air.
When the box is drawn in, in the manner described, the door of the closet can be
opened, as the lever 17 may be moved by it into the position indicated in fig. 2.
The lever S is in the position indicated in fig. 2 so that the tank can empty itself,
and the water supply is cut off.
The limits to which the box swings backwards and forwards, are determined by
ledges attached to it, and resting against the frame, the joinings being made to fit
accurately by means of india rubber piping.
The shape of the pan is sufficiently indicated in the sketches.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale, showing lever 12 with bolt in the
back slot of the bar, on the edge of the pan 6 and spring 13 and transverse section
of india rubber bar 18.
Fig. 4 shows a transverse section of the angle of the box, with a transverse
section also of the bar 19, connecting the levers 12 at the back, and the india rubber
bar 18, and sufficiently indicates how the bar presses down the india rubber. The
india rubber bar corresponds in length to the width of the pan.
Having now particularly described and ascertained, the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I have to state that I do
not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but I declare
that what I claim is the combination of parts forming the improved water closet
substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings and
herein before described.
Dated this 6th day of June 1890.
W. H. MCNAMARA,
Surgeon Major.