Improved Flushing Apparatus for Urinals, Water-closets, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Flushing Apparatus for Urinals, Water-closets,
and the like.
I, JOHN WILLIAM WITTER, of Spa Road, Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Sanitary Engineer and Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-that is to say: -
It relates to flushing apparatus for urinals, water-closets, drains and the
like of the class wherein the flushing operations are automatically performed
and consists in constructing and arranging the parts forming said apparatus in such a
manner that the said flushing actions are controlled and regulated to act in accord-
ance with the requirements of the urinals, water-closets or the like in connection with
which same are used thus the oftener the urinals or water-closets are used the oftener
will the flushing of them be performed and vice versa, by which means the waste
of water incident to the employment of automatic flushing apparatus which is con-
tinually acting at regular periods irrespective of the requirements of the places to be
flushed as has heretofore been the case is entirely avoided.
In carrying my invention into effect I arrange the urinals, water-closets or the like
so that the matter discharged therein, or a portion of same, will pass through or
be emptied into a swivelling tank normally counterbalanced in such a manner that
on said matter being deposited therein, its equilibrium will be overcome and so it
will revolve to empty its contents into the drain or sewer.
Arranged in connection with this swivelling tank (or a stationary one adjoining
or coupled to same as hereinafter described) is a hall valve or one operated by a
float, so that on the emptying of said tank, the flushing actions of the water from
the main or other supply are started and so the contents of the urinals, water-closets
or the like are thereby washed away.
After the swivelling tank has discharged its contents into the sewer it is returned
by its counter weight back to its normal position so that it may be again filled to
raise the float or ball and close the valve through which the flushing water is sup-
plied, until its equilibrium is again destroyed by what is passed through or discharged
from the urinal or closet to restart its actions.
All the matter discharged by the urinals or closets may be passed through the
swivelling tank or only a portion of this matter may be thus conducted, since by
an appropriate bye-pass arrangement, wherein the more solid matter is allowed to
float by (as over a grid, grating or the like) while certain of the fluids may pass into
the tank, sufficient quantities may be supplied thereto to put it into operation.
Instead of the float or ball being arranged to operate within the swivelling tank
I may arrange same to act in an adjoining tank or in one which is coupled to
the swivelling tank by an opening through one or other of said tank's pivotal
bearings, thus matter which might otherwise interfere with the operations of the
ball or float are kept from it.
To enable the flushing actions to be started by hand so that whenever an extra
flush is desired it may be readily performed, the valve in the main supply pipe or

page_text: that operating in connection with the tank or even the swivelling tank itself, is
arranged by appropriate lever, rod or cord and pulley connections being secured
thereto to allow this to be carried into effect.
JOHN W. WITTER,
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent,
Improved Flushing Apparatus for Urinals, Water-closets,
and the like.
I, JOHN WILLIAM WITTER, of Spa Road, Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Sanitary
Engineer and Plumber, 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 that is to say :-
It relates to flushing apparatus for urinals, water-closets, drains and the like
of the class wherein the flushing operations are automatically performed, and
consists in constructing and arranging the parts forming said apparatus in such a
manner that the said flushing actions are controlled and regulated to act in
accordance with the requirements of the urinals, water-closets or the like in con-
nection with which same are employed, thus the oftener the urinals or water-closets
are used the oftener will the flushing of them be performed by which means the waste
of water incident to the employment of the automatic flushing-apparatus which is
continually acting at regular periods irrespective of the requirements of the places
to be flushed as has heretofore been the case, is entirely avoided.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings which are illustrative of my inven-
tion:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of urinal with my improved apparatus applied.
Fig. 2 is a general view of a water-closet illustrating how my device is arranged in
connection therewith.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of parts shown by Fig. 2 as seen from above.
Fig. 4 illustrates a flushing tank constructed in accordance with my invention, and
as seen from above.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the tank shown by Fig. 3.
Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse and longitudinal sections of the tank shown by
Figs. 4 and 5.
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate modifications in the construction of the tank and the
arrangement of parts in connection therewith.
Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation illustrative of my improved apparatus in connection
with latrine.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In carrying my invention into effect I arrange the urinals, water-closets or the
like so that the matter discharged therein, or a portion of such matter, will pass
through or be emptied into a swivelling tank a normally counterbalanced in such a
manner that on said matter being deposited therein, its equilibrium will be overcome
and so it will revolve on its pivotal axis a¹ a¹¹ to empty its contents into the drain or
sewer b.
Arranged in connection with this swivelling tank a (or in connection with a
stationary tank c Fig. 9 adjoining or coupled to same as hereinafter described) is a
ball valve d (or one operated by a float other than the ball d might be used if desired)
so that on the emptying of said tank a, the flushing actions of the water from the

page_text: main or other supply pipe F are started in order that the contents of the urinal
troughs g, or the water-closet basins h may be thereby washed away.
After the tank a has discharged its contents into the sewer bit is returned by its
counterweight or by the extra weight that it has on one side of its axis a¹ all,
back to its normal position so that it may be again filled to raise the float or ball d
and close the valve d' through which the flushing water is supplied, until its
equilibrium is again destroyed by what is passed through or discharged from the
urinals or closet to re-start its actions.
All the matter discharged by the urinals or closets may be passed through the
swivelling tank a or only a portion of this matter may be thus conducted, since by
an appropriate bye-pass arrangement, shown by Fig. 8, the more solid inatter is
allowed to float over as by passing through the open end of the pipe p while certain
of the fluids will pass through a smaller opening shown in broken lines at p¹, into
the tank a sufficiently to put said tank a into operation.
Instead of the float or ball d being arranged to operate within the swivelling
tank a I may arrange same to act in an adjoining tank c which is coupled to the
tank a by a passage made through the pivotal shaft a¹ of said tank a thus matter
which might otherwise interfere with the operations of the ball or float d are kept
from it.
To enable the flushing actions to be started by hand, so that whenever an extra
flush is desired it may readily be performed, the tank a is arranged by appropriate
rod connections being secured thereto and to the handle t to allow this to be carried
into effect.
Again in connection with the tank a when same is to be used in a water-closet I
mount a pan w therein to retain the more solid matter, while the liquids might flow
over it into said tank a to disturb its equilibrium and so start the flushing operations.
I also hinge the seat at 1 so that it may be held by springs y in a slightly
raised position, in order that on the person using the closet, sitting on said seat it is
depressed to cause the rod y¹ to turn the locking lever y² to prevent the tank a from
tipping during the time the person using the closet is so seated. The return of the
seat to its normal position removing said lever y² from locking said tank a imme-
diately the user has left it free to act.
To prevent fouling of the receptacle at which contains the tank a by any matter
adhering to the walls thereof a perforated pipe a³ (through which a portion of the
flushing water may be turned at each flushing operation) is arranged around the inner
walls of said receptacle at as shown by Fig. 8.
When my improved apparatus is used in connection with a latrine as shown by
Fig. 10, the liquids in the trough z flow over the end 3 and so fill the tank a which
is coupled by the rod 4 to a flushing tank 5 by which means whenever the equili-
brium of the tank a is disturbed it also disturbs that of the tank 5 and the flushing
actions take place, the solid matter together with the bulk of the liquids being
carried at such time over the end 6 and so to waste pipe or sewer b.
Should any
difficulty be experienced in regulating the quantity of liquid so as to overcome the
equilibrium of the tanks a and 5 as desired, I may also mount a ball valve in the
tank a as shown in broken lines Fig. 10.
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. In apparatus used for flushing water-closets, urinals or the like, a swivelling
tank arranged to be operated to effect said flushing actions as herein specified.
2. In apparatus used for flushing water-closets and the like, a swivelling tank for
starting the flushing actions and means for preventing same from being choked with
matter, all the several parts being constructed and arranged to operate in combina-
tion substantially as herein specified.
3. In apparatus of the class described, the several parts formed or constructed and
arranged in combination substantially as specified.

page_text: 4. In apparatus used for flushing water-closets and the like, a swivelling tank and
a ball or float valve operated by the contents of said swivelling tank, the same being
arranged in combination substantially as herein specified.
5. In apparatus used for flushing water-closets and the like, means whereby a
portion of the flushing water may be utilized for regulating the flushing actions of
said apparatus substantially as herein specified.