Improvements in Flushing Cisterns.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar.; 1899
Improvements in Flushing Cisterns.
I, HANS VON HOSSTRUP, Manufacturer, of 13, Schopenstehl, Hamburg, Ger-
many, 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 to a lever flushing-cistern in which an immediate flush
is obtained by the pulling of the chain and an after flush is produced by the
action of a syphon. The duration of the first flush is determined by the action
of a float.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings which shows, by way of example,
a convenient mode of carrying out the invention.
Fig. 1 shows the cistern in section with the valve closed.
Fig. 2 is a similar section but with the valve open.
Referring to the drawings;
-
a is the cistern, b, b is the usual ball or float valve which regulates the water
level within the cistern. c is a syphon arranged within the cistern and the
discharge from which runs into a pipe whose upper end projects into the
cistern and is provided with a rim c. The conical inner face of the rim con-
stitutes a valve seat upon which rests the valve f. This valve f, as shown, is
provided with an outer rubber ring or face and is screwed on to the lower end of
the spindle g which latter passes through a bracket h. Pivoted to the bracket
is a lever which has at one end a ball or float i and at its other end a curved
piece or segment 7. The spindle g is connected with the lever by means of a
inovable link m whilst the lever itself is pivotted upon the cistern in any suitable
and well known manner.
The modus operandi is as follows;-
:-
Owing to the action of the ball valve b the cistern fills up with water to a
certain height whereupon the float is lifted and the segment is, as a conse-
quence, pressed tightly against the spindle g. In this manner the spindle g
along with its valve f is forced downwards with considerable force thereby hold-
ing the valve tightly closed and preventing the unintentional escape of water.
If the lever n is now pulled by means of the chain or the like then the valve
spindle y will be raised and, in its movement, will act upon the segment and
force down the float i to a slight extent (see Fig. 2). The spindle g will be
locked in its raised position by the action of the float i which causes the segment/
to grip against the spindle and thereby prevent the latter falling down auto-
matically. The valve f being held open the water rushes out of the cistern over
the rim e into the pipe d and from thence into the pipe connected to it. As
the water level in the cistern sinks the float i also sinks until it reaches the
dotted position shown at Fig. 2 with the result that the segment / lets go its hold
upon the spindle g which latter falls down and closes the valve f. When the
valve f is closed the syphon c is put in action by the suction produced by the

page_text: water as it runs down the outlet pipe and this action of the syphon produces an
energetic after-flush.
In order to prevent the whole of the water in the cistern being sucked out by
the action of the syphon a small hole is provided at the top of the latter.
The action afore described is constantly repeated and a very good effect is
obtained by the thorough flush and after-flush produced.
It has to be pointed out that the float i effectually prevents leakage at the
valve f, which is at present a constant occurrence with such valves.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is:-
A syphon flushing cistern in which the spindle of the valve for closing the
outlet pipe is held fast by a curved piece or segment (1) connected with a float (i),
which rises and falls with the water level, for the purpose of producing a power-
ful flush by holding the valve open for a certain time and is then released so
that the valve may close automatically in order to produce an after flush by
syphonal action, substantially as described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 13th day of February 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow,
Agent.