IMPROVEMENTS IN STINK TRAPS FOR WATERCLOSETS, SINKS, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1863

page_text: Sealed the 23rd May 1864, and dated the 26th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Simmonds at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th November 1863.
I. JAMES SIMMONDS, of Holland Street. Clapham Road, in the County of
Surrey. Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STINK TRAPS FOR WATERCLOSETS, SINKS, AND OTHER PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:
My Invention of improvements in stink traps relates. first. to watercloset
traps, and consists in so forming them that access can be had to the trap for
clearing obstructions or other purposes without generally disturbing the closet;
a D trap. for instance. I make of cast iron, and near one extremity and at
the overflow end 1 raise a neck some three or four inches, which is furnished
with a suitable plug or cover from which I carry up the air pipe.
The trap
is fixed so that this neck comes through the floor, and is level therewith; the
flat end of the D trap being horizontal, as well understood. is a little below
the flooring. To get at the trap. it is simply necessary to take down the front
of the seat and unfix the cover of the neck. which being some four inches in
diameter. a man's hand will have ready and easy access to the trap. For the
[Price 8d.1

page_text: waste pipe I form a short extension of the casting with a flange upon it some
little distance from the end with which the waste or soil pipe can be readily
united. I also furnish 8 and other traps with access openings arranged so as
to occupy a position similar to that before described to afford the facilities
before mentioned for cleaning the trap. To afford facilities for uniting waste
water pipes from wash-hand basins and others, I form a boss on the side of
the casting, and screw into it a brass socket having a flange in the middle of
its length; the pipe to be united being furnished with a union, can be readily
brought up and fixed tight thereto. The upper and flat part of the D trap I
furnish with a flange by which the cover is secured, the soil pipe from the
closet being formed thereon or passing through it.
Traps for sinks I form of cylindrical, square, or other form, but without a
fixed flange at top. The interior of the vessel has a division dipping below
the spill water or overflow, and cutting the air of the one half of the vessel off
from the other as usual. The spill or overflow passes off from the vessel at
the side, the channel being formed exterior of the body of the trap. The
dividing partition unites with the side of the vessel by an inclined diaphragm
covering in the overflow; in this inclined part of the partition or diaphragm I
form a neck piece and cover which can be removed, and access so had to the
overflow waste pipe; this cover in use is of course fixed air-tight. In fixing
this trap, it having no fixed flange, I push it up from below, and drop a
cupped flange on it from above, and fix it by screws or other fastenings, and
upon this again I screw down or otherwise fit the grating of the trap. Traps
of this kind can be used for any purposes where it is desired to prevent the
escape of noxious effluvia, at same time allowing a free escape for the fluid,
which traps can be readily cleaned out, as described, in the event of a
stoppage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Simmonds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SIMMONDS, of Holland Street. Clapham Road, in the County of Surrey,
Plumber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November. in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three. in the twenty-seventh

page_text: year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Simmonds, Her special licence that I
the said James Simmonds, ny executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said James Simmonds, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 STINK TRAPS FOR WATERCLOSETS AND OTHER
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others), that I, the said James
Simmonds, 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 James Simmonds, 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. reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of improvements in stink traps relates, first. to watercloset
traps, and consists in so forming them that access can be had to the trap for
cleansing obstructions or for other purposes without generally disturbing the
closet; a D trap, for instance. I make of cast iron, and at or near one
extremity and at the overflow end I raise a neck piece some three or four
inches which is furnished with a suitable cover; from this cover I carry up
the air pipe. The trap is fixed in such position that this neck rises through
the floor, and is level with the upper surface thereof. the flat part of the D trap
being horizontal, as well understood, and a little below the flooring. To get
at the trap, it is simply necessary to take down the front of the seat and unfix
the cover of the neck piece, which being some four inches in diameter, permits
of a man's hand being readily and easily inserted, and access so had to the
trap. The waste pipe, as also the neck piece, I make in the form of short
extensions of the casting with flanges upon them, with which the cover in the
one case and the waste or soil pipe in the other can be readily united. I also
furnish S and other traps with access openings arranged so as to occupy a
position similar to that before described to afford the facilities before-men-
tioned for clearing the trap. To afford facilities for uniting pipes from

page_text: wash-hand basins, and others. I form a boss on the side of the casting, and
screw into it a brass socket having a flange in the middle of its length, the
pipe to be united being furnished with a union, can be readily brought up and
fixed air-tight thereto. The upper and flat part of the D trap I furnish with
a flange, by which the cover is secured, the soil pipe from the closet being
formed thereon or passing through it.
Traps for sinks I form of cylindrical, square, or other form, but without a
fixed flange at top. The interior of the vessel has a division dipping below the
spill water or overflow, and cutting off the air and space of the one half of
the vessel from the other, as usual. The spill or overflow passes off from the
vessel at the side, the channel being formed exterior of the body of the trap.
The dividing partition unites with the side of the vessel by an inclined
diaphragm covering in the overflow. In this inclined part of the partition or
diaphragm I form a neck piece and cover, which can be removed and access 50
had to the overflow waste pipe; this cover is of course fixed air-tight while in
use. In fixing this trap, it having no fixed flange, I push it up from below
the slab or plate in which it is to be fixed, and drop a cupped flange on it
from above, and fix it by screws or other fastenings, and upon this again screw
down or otherwise fit the grating to the trap. Traps of this kind can be used
for any purposes where it is desired to prevent the escape of noxious gases or
effluvia, at same time forming a free escape for the fluid, which traps can be
readily cleaned out, as described. in the event of a stoppage.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. represents a side view of a D closet trap fitted and furnished
according to my Invention, while Fig. 2 represents a plan, and Fig. 3 a
lateral vertical section of the same.
The shape of the trap. as indicated by coupling with it the letter D. is the
same as usual, but which, according to my Invention, is made with additional
means of communication. A represents the D trap. and B the dip pipe
communicating with the closet pan; this is made of a piece with the cover C
of the D trap.
To the trap AI cast a short piece of pipe E. being the spill
or outlet leading to the drain: and I also cast another short length F of pipe
on the top of the trap at the junction of the body with pipe E: this latter is
of the ordinary size, while I make the pipe F sufficiently large to introduce à
man's hand. I make this piece F with its cover g just to reach the level of
the floor, as seen by the dotted line, and from this cover I carry up the air
It will
pipe I usually applied to closets, and leading outside the house.
thus be understood that the trap A, with parts E and F, are all cast in one

page_text: piece, also the bar a across the top on which to joint and fix cover C. The
continuation of the spill or outlet pipe E is bolted on by a flange on the neck E.
as seen, and as well understood. The trap A being so fitted and furnished,
if at any time it becomes choked it is simply necessary to take off the cover G.
when access may be readily and conveniently had to the trap to clean it, as
also to the outlet E, without disturbing the closet. I is a junction for waste
pipe or pipes from cisterns or lavatories, and being below the level of the
fluid in the trap A, all smell is prevented from rising from or coming through
the trap, as is usually the case in such waste pipes. This pipe is fur-
nished with a union joint for uniting it to the pipe from the lavatories; the
other joints and fittings are made in the ordinary manner, and require no
description.
Fig. 4 represents a lateral vertical section of an 8 trap, having a like
arrangement of hand hole F applied, being cast on the upper bend, and fitted
with a cover G, as before, which comes through the floor of the closet, and
permits of ready access being had to the trap by removing the cover G. for the
purpose of cleaning it or the outlet pipe, as before explained, without dis-
turbing the closet. This trap may also be furnished with a junction I for
the waste from lavatories or spill water of cisterns, as before explained. The
application of the hand hold F to other kinds of traps will be readily under-
stood from the foregoing. without further illustration; these traps are appli-
cable to rain water pipes and other purposes.
The second part of my Invention relates to traps for sinks and like pur-
poses; this is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawings annexed, Fig. 5
being an external view of a trap constructed according to my Invention, and
Fig. 6 a section of same, while Figs. 7 and 8 represent parts detached.
L is a basin or receptacle, having a separate diaphragm M: this diaphragm
where it dips in the contents of L. is vertical, but a little above that point it
is inclined, and runs off and terminates in the side of the basin L. P is the
outlet passage to the drain passing through the side and exterior of the
basin L. In the inclined upper part of the diaphragm M is an opening R,
furnished and closed air-tight by a plate T fixed thereon in any suitable
manner, or it may be plugged; if fitted with a plate, an india-rubber or other
packing is inserted, and the plate screwed down tight by means of screws
around its edge screwing into the diaphragm when the upper grating is
removed, as also this plate T; ready access can be had to the outlet pipe by a
cane or otherwise to clear it of any obstruction that may occur. The outlet P
being external of basin I, it is necessary to fit it up from below the sink or
position in which it is fixed; I therefore fit on the top a supporting flange C,

page_text: of a cupped form to receive the grating V (each seen separately in Figs.
and 8.) The flange fits in the recess in the sink, and is screwed down by
screws b, b, to the basin L, which so fixes it: the grating V is then screwed
down above the screw heads, and in the recess cupped to receive it in
piece U. By preference, I make the several parts of all these traps of
enamelled iron.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,--
First, the formation of watercloset and other traps with hand holes or
apertures, furnished and fitted as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Secondly, I claim the arrangement and construction of sink and other
traps, herein-before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Simmonds, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JAMES SIMMONDS. (L.S.)