IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH CLOSETS, APPLI CABLE ALSO TO URINALS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Fraser Baird, of Pimlico, in the
County of Middlesex, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Bengal Staff
Corps, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH CLOSETS, APPLI
CABLE ALSO TO URINALS."
Sealed the 5th September 1868, and dated the 9th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Fraser Baird
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th March 1868.
I, AUGUSTUS FRASER BAIRD, of Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex,
Lieutenant-Colonel in the Bengal Staff Corps, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH CLOSETS,
APPLICABLE ALSO TO URINALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to improvements applicable to earth
closets, and is a further development of the Invention patented by me
15th August 1867, (No. 2351, A.D. 1867). As in the former arrange-

page_text: ments I have a hopper for supplying the earth, a shoot or valve or flap
box and a weighted flap or valve working therein whereby the deo-
dorizing earth is supplied to the receptacle for excrementitious deposits;
but in lieu of the arrangement for putting the closet in and out
of action described in Specification of the Letters Patent aforesaid, I
now purpose to adopt the following arrangements :-I make the
weighted flap or valve (which is to move on its pivots or axle having
bearings in the shoot or valve box) with the weighted portion at a right
or other angle to the non-weighted portion which has a part thereof
(that should be curved) projecting from therefrom and of sufficient size
to form a flap or valve for closing the entrance from the hopper at the
same time that the weighted portion is leaving the entrance from the
shoot or valve box to the receptacle for deposits open. Another smaller
projection is placed just behind the angle or otherwise as may be
convenient, so that by having a rod or rail attached to the seat of
the closet by means of side pieces or portions of the seat (which is to
be a moving seat as in the arrangements specified under my Patent
aforesaid), the same will cause the flap or valve to open the hopper to
the shoot and the shoot to the receptacle for deposits as may be required.
Instead of this arrangement being actuated by the seat it might be
actuated by a moving floor or by levers, rods, or other gearing. And for
urinals arrangements of that characters would be most suitable. Should
there be necessity for agitating the earth to prevent clogging an
arrangement of levers and prongs can be attached to the closet so that
the rising or falling of the weighted flap may act on the said arrange-
ment of levers in such a way as to agitate the earth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Augustus Fraser Baird in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTUS 30
FRASER BAIRD, of Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Lieutenant-
Colonel in the Bengal Staff Corps, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs. and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Augustus Fraser Baird, Her special
licence, that I, the said Augustus Fraser Baird, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Augustus
Fraser Baird, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH CLOSETS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO
URINALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Augustus Fraser Baird, 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 I, the said Augustus Fraser Baird, do
hereby declare the nature of my said 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. has reference to improvements applicable to earth
closets and is a further development of the Invention patented by me
15th August 1867,. (No. 2351, A.D. 1867). As in the former arrange-
ments I have a lopper for supplying the earth to a shoot or valve
or flap box, and a weighted flap or valve working therein, whereby
the deodorizing earth is supplied to the receptacle for excrementitious
deposits; but in lieu of the arrangements for putting the closet into
and out of action described in the Specification of the Letters Patent
aforesaid, I adopt the following arrangements :-I make the weighted
flap or valve (which is to move on its pivots or axle having bearings
in the shoot or valve box) with its weighted portion at a right or other
angle to the non-weighted portion, which latter has a part or projection
thereof or therefrom so curved or formed that being of sufficient size
it shall act as a flap or valve for closing the entrance from the hopper
at the same time that the weighted portion is leaving open .the
entrance from the shoot or valve box to the receptacle for deposits,

page_text: by which new arrangements the valve or flap itself can thus be pro-
vided with a cavity or portion into which the dry earth is to be
received from the hopper and discharged by the action of the mechanism
into the receptacle for excrementitious deposits, and thus also act as
a measure for measuring out a sufficient quantity of dry earth at each
action and no more. At the angle at back (though any other con-
venient position may be adopted) another smaller projection is provided,
so that by having a rod or rail attached to the seat of the closet
by means of side pieces or portions of the seat (which is to be a
moving seat as in the arrangements formerly specified under my present
Patent above referred to), such seat will eause the flap or valve to
open the hopper to the shoot and the shoot to the receptacle for
deposits as may be required. Or, as above-mentioned, the valve itself
is rendered a moving shoot or measure for transferring from the hopper
by the action of the mechanism the proper quantity of dry earth to
the receptacle for deposits. Instead of being actuated by the seat the
mechanism might be actuated by a moving floor or by levers, rods,
or other gearing. And for urinals, arrangements of that character would,
I consider, be found most suitable. Should it be thought necessary
to agitate the earth to prevent clogging an arrangement of levers or
prongs can be attached to the closet so, that the rising or falling of
weighted flap may act on the said arrangement of levers in, such
away as to agitate the earth.
1°
I have thus particularly described the nature of the said Invention,
and in further compliance with the said condition in the said Letters
Patent contained, I now proceed to particularly describe and ascertain
in detail in what manner the same is to be performed or carried into
practical effect, which I shall do by referring to the Drawings accom-
panying these Presents, that is to say :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Fig. 1, section of shoot or measure shewing the opening to the
reservoir opened and the shoot closed, the dotted lines shew the opening
to the reservoir shut off and the shoot or measure open; Fig. 2, section
shewing shoot or measure open to the reservoir, the casing in which
the valve acts being curved in front; Fig. 3, section of the same shewing
opening closed; Fig. 4, section of shoot or measure without a casing,
but instead thereof having sides above the weighted portion of the valve
itself. This Figure shows the shoot or measure open to the reservoir;

page_text: Fig. 5, section of the same shewing shoot or measure closed to the
reservoir and in the act of throwing the earth over deposit; Fig. 6
section of a closet with my Invention applied thereto; Fig. 7, section
of a urinal with my Invention applied thereto.
The following letters refer to all the Figures marked thereon:-A,
A, weighted shoot valve or flap; a, pivots on which the same works; b,
weighted portion of valve; c, curved projecting part; d, smaller projection
upon which is a rod acting in connection with the seat or floor of the
closet, so that the valve is actuated by the raising and depressing of
the seat or floor; e, shoot flap (and hinged shoot flap) to receptacle for
deposits; and in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, h denotes the hopper. The
shape of the casing in which the shoot valve acts need not terminate
in a straight line, but the curve may be continued as in Figs. 2 and 3, the
capacity of the shoot ormeasure of earth may be also varied by the shape
of the weighted portion of the valve, the upper surface (e) of which
may be more or less above the pivots (a). The shoot valve or measure
may also be formed without the use of a casing for the valve to work
in by putting sides above the weighted portion of the valve itself, as
shewn in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7. The valve will only be hung on two
supports and will work directly under the opening of the hopper.
There is also an arrangement by which a hinged shoot flap for the
shoot is provided by hanging it to the end of the weighted portion
of the valve so that when the weight is lifted by a person sitting
down (or by other means) the hinged shoot flap hangs straight from
the end of the weight as in Figs. 4 and 6, and when the weight
falls the hinged shoot flap is thrown into a proper position to cast
off the earth into the pan or receptacle as in Figs. 5 and 7.
In Fig. 6 (section of closet) and Fig. 7 (section of urinal) S refers
to the seat or floor, H the hinge or link with which it is secured,
but which allows it to be depressed by the sitter (or otherwise) or
raised by the action of the weighted valve r, the rod (above referred
to) resting on smaller projection d and acting in connection with the
seat or floor through the lever L, L; P, the closet pan or shoot for urine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be carried into
practical effect, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improve
ments in Earth Closets applicable also to Urinals," the nature whereof
is described in the outset of this Specification by the words preceding

page_text: the words "Description of the Drawings," it being understood that I
do not claim the mere details of construction when considered per se
and apart from the purposes of my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus Fraser Baird, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the a
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
A. F. BAIRD. (L.S.)
A. P. WRIGHT,
Secretary to the Inventors' Patent Right Association Limited,.
21, Cockspur Street,
. Charing Cross..