IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUSHING CISTERNS FOR WATER CLOSETS, URINALS, AND DRAINS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Manwaring at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th September 1879.
GEORGE MANW RING, of Mansbridge Cottage, Swathling near Southampton, in
the County of Hampshire, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUSHING CISTERNS FOR
WATER CLOSETS, URINALS, AND DRAINS."
D. The guide for the column.
E. The lever that raises the column.
F. The inlet pipe to supply the tank.
G. The supply valve.
H. The floating ball of the supply valve.
J. The lever of the ball valve.
K. The studs on the column by which it is raised by the lever E.
L. The hook on the lever by which the stem of the ball is raised.
M. The perforation in column communicating with hollow of the column and so
acting as overflow.
N. The down pull working the lever E which gives the action to the whole
apparatus.
O. The counterbalance weight.
P. The suppply pipe from the inlet valve to prevent noise.
It is claimed that in manners to be hereinafter described, this cistern can stand
when not in use either full or empty, and can also be so attached to a moveable
closet seat that it shall be self acting, that is to say, worked not by hand, but by
the weight of the person using the closet.
Firstly. If required to stand full when not in use.
The counterbalance weight O is hung upon a hook fixed next the cistern. The weight
of the hollow column C (to the bottom of which is attached a leather washer) upon the
seating and discharge valve B keeps this valve closed, the lever E with its open hook L
is by its own gravity kept down, as is also the ball H, to the limits allowed by the
Prine 6d1

page_text: hook L, and the inlet valve G is consequently open, the water therefore enters the
cistern A through the inlet pipe F and valve G, and continues to run into the
cistern until the cistern is nearly full (as the space travelled through by the ball H
in closing the inlet valve G is very small); upon the water reaching to a certain
level, the hollow ball H. floats upon the water and as more water enters the cistern,
is raised by the water and almost immediately closes the inlet valve G. When
required to be emptied for the purpose of flushing out the soil pipe, the down pull
N is pulled by the person using the closet, the lever E is raised, raising with it the
column C, the discharge valve B is thus opened, the water escapes by this valve B
(the top of which outlet is made bell-mouthed to help increase the rush) down the
discharge pipe attached to the discharge valve B and effectually cleanses the soil
pipe. It will also be seen that in raising the lever E the hook L is also raised
raising in its turn the valve stem J and ball H and consequently keeping the
valve G closed all the time the contents of the cistern are escaping; by this means
water is prevented from flowing into and out of the cistern at one and the same
time.
In the event of there being any derangement of the inlet valve G, apertures M
are provided through the column C, communicating with the hollow space which
runs through the column, thereby providing an overflow for the water which might
otherwise overflow the cistern.
Secondly. If required to stand empty when not in use.
The counterbalance weight O is allowed to hang down freely; this weight is
sufficient to just counteract the weight of ball valve H, J; lever E, and column C;
it keeps the said ball valve and column always raised, the inlet valve G closed, and
the discharge valve B open; when required to be used, the weight O is lifted by
hand, the lever E drops, as does also the ball H, opening the inlet valve G, and the
column C closing the outlet valve B; when the cistern is full, the inlet valve closes
of itself by the floating of the ball H, as before described, and on once more releasing
the counterbalance weight Q the action is reversed, closing the inlet valve G and
opening the discharge valve B, by means of which latter the water escapes down
the discharge pipe to the pan as before described.
Thirdly. If required to be used as a self acting cistern.
The cistern itself is used as an empty cistern, and the mode of constructing and
working is as follows:-The closet seat may be hung upon pivots in such a manner
that a movement of not less than 3/4 of an inch be given to the back part of the
seat; upon a person sitting down on the seat the front part of the seat falls, and
being hung upon pivots the back part is raised to the required extent; to the
back part a rod is attached connected also to "the counterbalance weight (which in
this case is made sufficiently heavy to overcome the weight of the seat, as well
as of the parts previously mentioned); on the back part then being raised the
rod is raised, raising also the counterbalance weight ☐ and giving action to the
valves as described when speaking of "empty tank." Upon the person rising from
the seat, the counterbalance weight falls and the motion of the valves is reversed,
the inlet being closed, the outlet opened, and the water escaping to flush the drain
as already described to "empty cistern."
The same result can be obtained by hanging the seat to hinges at the back, and
attaching a wire cord to the front part of the seat, passing it over a small pulley
and connecting with counterbalance weight, so that on a person using the closet,
the seat is depressed, the cord over the pulley is drawn down, and the counter-
balance weight raised, the action of the valves being as above described.
Fourthly. By either of the last described processes the apparatus can be adapted
to the requirements of an urinal by attaching the treadle in front of the urinal
instead of the closet seat to the down pull.
Fifthly. Of the construction of the cistern itself it may be mentioned that its
shape is specially designed so that the ice which may happen to be formed in it if
used as a "full cistern" in expanding shall expand upwards, and exert little or no

page_text: pressure upon the sides; the column is also made very tapering to assist in this
purpose. In addition, the most of the working parts, that is to say, the inlet valve,
the ball stem, lifting lever, and column guide are all above the water and
consequently cannot be affected by ice formed.
Of course, if used as an empty cistern, water does not stand in it, and consequently
there is no possibility of its being affected by frost; from this point of view, many
may prefer to use it in this manner.
The apparatus is simplified by the omission of all joint pins which may set by
rust, and is so designed that the ball valve may be removed when necessary.
without interfering with the other fittings.