Improvements in Water Closets, more especially in Closets for Utilizing Waste Water.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Closets, more especially in Closets for
Utilizing Waste Water.
I, JOHN DAY, of 26 Canal Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates, more especially, to water closets for utilizing waste water
such as sink water, overflow rain water and the like, but is applicable also to water
closets generally.
The main object of the invention is to provide beneath a closet seat an auto-
matically tipping appliance for receiving water and falling excreta which when
tilted over to discharge its contents shall still be capable of receiving water and
falling excreta, which shall discharge in opposite directions alternately so as to
thoroughly cleanse the container within which it is mounted, and which shall
present the minimum of surface in turning which can be fouled by falling excreta.
The invention comprises, however, a modified form of tipper which tips in one
direction only; and includes an improvement in the upper portion of the down
piping from the seat, to prevent the fouling of the other portion of such piping and
to facilitate the cleansing of such upper portion.
According to this invention, a double pan or duplex tipper is pivoted within a
suitable container in position below the closet seat. The pans of the tipper are so
placed in relation to one another that when one pan is in position below the seat to
receive the supply of water and any falling excreta the other pan is in the position
which it has assumed in discharging; and when the upward or receiving pan has
become charged it is thereby overbalanced and discharges its contents around one
side of the container, and the other pan is thereby balanced up into place to act as
the receiving pan.
When this last-mentioned pan has become charged it is over-
balanced in the opposite direction to that in which the other pan was overbalanced,
and thus discharges its contents around the opposite side of the container and brings
the other pan into its upward position for again receiving the water supply and
falling excreta.
The pans are, preferably, formed spoon-shaped with their narrower ends towards
the direction in which they overbalance to discharge.
By using within the container a double-acting or duplex tipper tipping alternately
in opposite directions, it will be seen that the container is thoroughly cleaned out
all round; and, moreover, as one pan is turned out of position for receiving excreta
another pan is turned into position therefor, so that there is always one pan in
position for receiving excreta. The hinder edge of one pan is, preferably, in
position so close to the hinder edge of the other pan as to leave but the minimum
of surface for lodgement for excreta as such edges of the pans pass across under the
seat during the overbalancing of the tipper.
When the tipper is used for a waste water closet the waste water may run from
the sink or other source of supply direct to the tipper which, of course, automatically
discharges as each pan becomes charged; but in the case of a closet using water-
works or other service water it is preferred, for the sake of economy, to charge the
pan which is at the time in use from a service cistern which will deliver a specified
quantity only each time it is set in operation.
A modified form of the tipping appliance, which will meet some of the objects of
this invention, consists in an arrangement of three or more pans in one tipper, in
which case the turning of the tipper is always in one direction and the pans
discharge consequently only to one side of the container. There will, however, in

page_text: such case always be a pan presented for receiving water and falling excreta, and
there will be a minimum of surface exposed to be fouled by falling excreta as the
tipper turns.
There is frequently, more especially in the case of waste water closets, a con-
siderable distance between the seat and the container or other part into which the
excreta falls, and therefore a considerable length of down piping from the seat has
often to be used. When this is the case the upper portion of such piping only can
conveniently be cleansed, and it is desirable therefore to construct the piping so as
to avoid fouling any portion thereof which is at too great a depth to be conveniently
cleansed. This is accomplished, according to a further part of the invention, by
making a short length of the upper portion of such piping (such as can conveniently
be cleansed) of a less diameter than the remaining portion, and forming such upper
portion to continue downwards for a short distance into the top of the other
portion, the downwardly continuing part being gradually curved or slanted inwards,
thus somewhat contracting the bore or diameter, so as to give any liquid flowing
down the sides of such upper portion a tendency to shoot somewhat inwards towards
the centre of the piping as it falls from the inwardly curved or slanted lower end
of such upper portion; thus such liquid is prevented from falling against the sides
of the other portion of the piping; and, moreover, when the upper portion is
washed out the inwardly contracted lower end causes the spreading of the water
around the circumference and ensures the better cleansing of the edge. The upper
portion of the piping is, of course, set in relation to the other portion thereof so as
to leave a margin all round between their circumferences. The portion of smaller
diameter may be made in one piece with the portion of larger diameter, or the
portions may be made separately from one another and afterwards put together.
Dated this 16th day of August 1892.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Closets, more especially in Closets for
Utilizing Waste Water.
I, JOHN DAY, of 26 Canal Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
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 :-
This invention relates, more especially, to water closets for utilizing waste water
such as sink water, overflow rain water and the like, but is applicable also to water
closets generally.
The main object of this invention is to provide beneath a closet seat an automatically
tipping appliance for receiving water and falling excreta which when tilted over in
discharging its contents shall still be capable of receiving water and falling excreta,
which shall discharge in opposite directions alternately so as to thoroughly cleanse
the container within which it is pivoted, and which shall present the minimum
of surface in turning which can be fouled by falling excreta. The invention
comprises, however, a modified form of tipper which tips in one direction only; and
includes an improvement in the upper portion of the down piping from the seat, to
prevent the fouling of the other portion of such piping and to facilitate the cleansing
of such upper portion.
According to this invention, a double pan or duplex tipper is pivoted within a
suitable container in position below the closet seat. The pans of the tipper are so
placed in relation to one another that when one pan is in position below the seat to
receive the supply of water and any falling excreta, the other pan is in the position
which it has assumed in discharging; and when the upward or receiving pan has
become charged it is thereby overbalanced and discharges its contents around one

page_text: side of the container, and the other pan is thereby balanced up into place to act as
the receiving pan. When this last-mentioned pan has become charged it is over-
balanced in the opposite direction to that in which the other pan was overbalanced,
and thus discharges its contents around the opposite side of the container and brings
the other pan into its upward position for again receiving the water supply and
falling excreta. The hinder edge of one pan is, preferably, in position so close to
the hinder edge of the other pan as to leave but the minimum of surface for
lodgement of excreta as such edges of the pans pass across under the seat during
the overbalancing of the tipper.
A modified form of the tipping appliance, which will meet some of the objects of
this invention, consists in an arrangement of three or more pans in one tipper, in
which case the turning of the tipper is always in one direction, and the pans
discharge consequently only to one side of the container. There will, however, in
such case, always be a pan presented for receiving water and falling excreta, and
there will be a minimum of surface exposed to be fouled by falling excreta as the
tipper turns.
There is frequently, more especially in the case of waste water closets, a
considerable distance between the seat and the container or other part into which
the excreta falls, and therefore a considerable length of down piping from the seat
has often to be used. When this is the case, the upper portion of such piping only
can conveniently be cleansed, and it is desirable therefore to construct the piping
so as to avoid fouling any portion thereof which is at too great a depth to be
conveniently cleansed. This is accomplished, according to a further part of the
invention, by making a short length of the upper portion of such piping (such as
can conveniently be cleansed) of a less diameter than the remaining portion, and
forming such upper portion to continue downwards for a short distance into the top
of the other portion so as to leave a space all round between itself and the interior
of the latter portion, the downwardly continuing part being curved or slanted
inwards, thus somewhat contracting the bore or diameter, so as to give any liquid
flowing down the sides of such upper portion a tendency to shoot somewhat inwards
towards the centre of the piping as it falls from the inwardly curved or slanted
lower end of such upper portion; thus such liquid is prevented from falling against
the sides of the other portion of the piping; and, moreover, when the upper portion
is washed out the inwardly contracted lower end causes the spreading of the
water around the circumference and ensures the better cleansing of the edge.
The main length of the upper portion is parallel-sided, or approximately so, and
even the diameter of the lower edge, which is somewhat contracted as described is
such that excreta, paper and the like, will usually fall through without touching
such edge.
A closet constructed according to this invention, and a tipping appliance which
discharges its contents in opposite directions alternately, is illustrated in vertical
section by Figure 1. A double pan or duplex tipper A A' is pivoted on an axis a
within a container B which is provided with a syphon or trap c at the bottom.
The pans A A' are in such position in relation to one another, as shewn, that when
one pan (for instance the pan A) is in position below the closet seat C to receive
the supply of flushing water through the opening d, and any falling excreta, the
other pan (for instance the pan A¹) is in the position which it has assumed in
discharging its contents. When the pan A has become charged it is thereby
overbalanced in the direction of the arrow b, and discharges its contents around the
one side of the container B and into the syphon or trap c at the bottom thereof;
and the pan A' is thereby balanced up into place to act as the receiving pan.
tipper is shewn by broken lines in position with the pan A tipped down, and the
When
pan A in place to receive the flushing water and any falling excreta.
the pan A has become charged, it is overbalanced in the direction of the arrow (1
(that is to say in the opposite direction to that in which the pan A was overbalanced),
and thus discharges its contents around the opposite side of the container B to that
on which the contents of the pan A were discharged, and assumes again the position
The

page_text: shewn by Figure 1; and brings the pan A also into its position shewn by such
figure, so that such latter pan may again receive the water supply and falling
excreta. As each pan is balanced up into position to receive the flushing water
and falling excreta, its nose comes in contact with, and is stopped by, one or other
of a pair of stop pins g surrounded with indiarubber or other soft material to lessen
the shock and noise. The hinder ends of the pans are brought as close together as
is practicable, as shewn in the illustration, so as to expose the minimum of surface
exterior to the pans, for the lodgement of excreta, as the tipper is tilted over.
The container is provided with a dome-shaped cover D, to allow of the movement
in a curved direction of the hinder ends of the pans as the tipper turns; and the
down pipe E from the seat joins into the top of the cover, as shewn. The opening d
for the flushing water supply is formed in the side of the cover D, as shewn, and is
connected with piping e from the waste water supply, such as from the sink and
bath; or clean water may be supplied through the opening d, if desired.
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus shewn by Figure 1, with the parts above
the container B removed. The pans are, preferably, of a spoon shape, as shewn,
with the narrower ends, respectively, towards the direction in which they over-
balance to discharge; and the container is, of course, of a shape to suit the shape
of the pans and their movement within it.
By using within the container a double-acting or duplex tipper tipping
alternately in opposite directions, it will be seen that the container is thoroughly
cleaned out all round; and, moreover, as one pan is turned out of position for
receiving excreta another pan is turned into position therefor, so that there is
practically always one pan in position for receiving excreta.
When the tipper is used for a waste water closet, the waste water may run from
the sink or other source of supply direct to the tipper which, of course, auto-
matically discharges as each pan becomes charged; but, in the case of a closet
using waterworks or other service water, it is preferred, for the sake of economy,
to charge the pan which is at the time in use from a service cistern which will
deliver a specified quantity only each time it is set in operation.
A multiplex tipping appliance constructed according to this invention, in which
each of the pans discharges its contents in the same direction, is illustrated in
vertical section by Figure 3 of the drawings herewith. The appliance is shewn in
the illustration as a combination of three pans A2 A3 and A', capable of turning
upon a common axis a'. Each pan, as it becomes charged, discharges its contents
by overbalancing in the direction of the arrow f; and as each pan overbalances it
brings up into place the pan immediately behind it, that is to say, as the pan A'
overbalances and discharges its contents the pan A³ assumes the position in which
the pan A is shewn in the illustration, and as the pan A overbalances and
discharges its contents the pan A₁ assumes the position in which the pan A³ is
shewn in the illustration. For the purpose of ensuring the proper action of the
apparatus, a hollow h is formed in the middle of the tipper, and has as many sides
as there are pans, and within this hollow is placed a cylindrical-shaped piece of
lead i, or a lead ball or two or more balls. As the tipper is turned, by the over-
balancing of one of the pans, the lead rolls along one of the sides of the hollow
and settles into the lowest rounded corner thereof, and thus as the tipper over-
balances, assists in bringing it into and then keeping it in the desired position, that
is with the pan which has immediately followed the discharging pan ready to
receive the water supply and any falling excreta. The appliance is, of course,
pivoted within a container as in the case of the duplex tipper previously
described.
The
The means by which the lower portion of the down piping from the seat is
prevented from becoming fouled is shewn by the upper portion of Figure 1.
portion of the piping immediately below the seat is made of a less diameter than
the remainder of the down piping, and terminates in a part which is continued
downwards for a short distance into the top of the portion of larger diameter so
as to leave a space all round between the part and the interior of the portion of

page_text: larger diameter, the part being curved or slanted inwards around the bottom or
edge, as shewn, so as to give any liquid flowing down the sides of the portion j a
tendency to shoot inwards towards the centre of the piping, and to cause the water
used in cleansing the part j to spread around the circumference and ensure the
better cleansing of the edge. The main length of the upper portion ; is parallel-
sided as shewn, or approximately so, and the contracted diameter of the part k is.
such as to leave an opening of considerable size through which excreta, paper and
the like, will usually fall without touching the edge. The portion of smaller
diameter may be made in one piece with the portion of larger diameter E, as.
shewn, or the portions may be made separately from one another and be afterwards.
put together. The advantages of this part of the invention will be secured, to a.
considerable extent, even if the projecting part & extends for some distance around
or along the bottom of the part at front and back thereof only, as it is at front.
and back only where there is usually a liability of the down piping becoming
fouled. The part may, therefore, if under any circumstances it should be desired,.
be of the same width sideways as the portion E. It is much preferred, however,
to make the portion of a smaller diameter in all directions than the portion E,.
and to carry the projection k entirely around the bottom of the part j. The
portion is contracted only sufficiently to prevent the piping below from becoming
fouled, in order to leave as large an opening as possible through the portion k and
thereby reduce to a minimum its own liability of becoming fouled.
The part may be formed inclining or curving inwardly without projecting into.
the lower portion of the down piping, and when made to project into such lower
portion the latter may be of no greater diameter than the main length of the
upper portion; but neither of these arrangements is recommended, as the advantage
obtained by their use is obviously inferior in degree compared with that resulting
from the use of the part k when formed to project into an enlarged lower portion
of the down piping.
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. Water closet apparatus fitted with an automatic flushing tipper, consisting of
two or more pans, which is pivoted below the seat in position to catch the flushing
water and any falling excreta, and constructed so that as one pan discharges its
contents another pan moves up into position to receive the flushing water and any
falling excreta, substantially as described.
2. Water closet apparatus fitted with an automatic flushing tipper pivoted below
the seat in position to catch the flushing water and any falling excreta, and which
discharges its contents alternately in opposite directions, substantially as described.
3. Closet apparatus fitted with a duplex automatic flushing tipper pivoted below
the seat in position to catch the flushing water and any falling excreta, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings herewith.
4. An automatic flushing tipper, for use in closet apparatus, constructed and
operating substantially as and for the purpose described with reference to Figure 3
of the drawings herewith.
5. In closet apparatus requiring a considerable length of down pipe or conduit
between the seat and the container or other, part into which the excreta falls, an
inwardly curved or inclined part around the upper portion thereof, or around or
along the front and back of such upper portion, for the purpose of preventing the
lower portion from becoming fouled, substantially as described.
6. In closet apparatus requiring a considerable length of down pipe or conduit
between the seat and the container or other part into which the excreta falls, an
inwardly curved or inclined part k projecting downwards from the upper portion of
such piping or conduit into an enlarged lower portion; substantially as described and
shewn for the purpose set forth.
7. In closet apparatus requiring a considerable length of down pipe or conduit

page_text: between the seat and the container or other part into which the excreta falls, the
upper portion of such down pipe or conduit formed parallel-sided, or approximately
so, for the main portion of its length, and formed of a smaller diameter from back
to front than the portion below, and having the lower end thereof projecting into
the lower portion so as to leave a space at front and back between itself and the
interior of such lower portion; such lower end of the upper portion being formed
contracting towards its edge, preferably in a curved direction, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
8. In closet apparatus requiring a considerable length of down pipe or conduit
between the seat and the container or other part into which the excreta falls, the
upper portion of such down pipe or conduit formed parallel-sided, or approximately
so, for the main portion of its length, and formed of a smaller diameter than the
portion below, and having the lower end thereof projecting into the lower portion so
as to leave a space all round between itself and the interior of such lower portion;
such lower end of the upper portion being formed contracting towards its edge,
preferably in a curved direction, substantially as described and shewn by Figure 1
of the drawings herewith.
Dated this 16th day of May 1892
SPEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
SPEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.