Improvements in Apparatus and Means for the Automatic Supply of Disinfecting Agent to Water Closets.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
Improvements in Apparatus and Means for the Automatic Supply of
Disinfecting Agent to Water Closets.
I, BRUNO CLAUDER, Engineer of 37 Ottostrasse, Ehrenfeld-Koln, Germany,
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:-
The contrivance forming the object of the present invention for the automatic
disinfecting of water closets, consists of a receiver containing a determined mixture
of a fluid disinfectant, such as say, carbolic acid, sulphate of copper, solution of
chloride of iron, and allows this to flow by means f the opening of the flush
cock into the flushing pipe of the closet. On the shutting of the flushing
cock, the receiver then fills itself again as it is in connection with the reserve
receiver providing the disinfecting fluid. The receiver is closed by means of a
special valve on the side of the reserve receiver as well as on the side of the flushing
pipe, which is set in motion by the lever of the flushing cock in such a manner that
the one valve is opened whilst the other one is closed.
This contrivance is represented in three different plans, according to the annexed
drawing.
Figures 1 and 2 show an apparatus in lengthwise section and cross section
according to x x of Figure 1:
A receiver or box 6 closed on all sides is furnished with a horizontal pipe a at its
base, which is inserted into the flush pipe of a closet. The inner portion of the
receiver is connected with the pipe a by an opening c, which is closed by means of
a valve d. The cover of the receiver b is also furnished with an opening, which
can be closed by means of a valve f and which is connected with a reserve receiver
placed higher for the disinfectant by means of a pipe g in such a manner
that the receiver b must fill itself with the disinfecting fluid when the valve ƒ is
opened.
The valve d is kept closed by means of the pressure of the fluid contained in b
which effect can be still further increased by a force spring h upon the collar d' of
the valve rod. The opening of the valve d'is effected by means of a forked lifter i,
which is arranged on a shaft m passing straight through the receiver b. Another
lifter k which is placed on the nave of the lifter i, keeps the valve fopen, so long as
the valve d remains closed, so that the disinfecting fluid can flow from the reserve
receiver to b. The shaft m is furnished on one end outside the box b with a lever n
which is connected in some appropriate manner with the lever working the flush
valve, that when the flush valve is closed, the valve d is also closed, and the
lifters and are in the position shown in Figure 1.
When the water flows
towards the closet pan through pipe a, then the lever n moves in a downward
direction and thereby the shaft m is so turned that the lifter k also moves down-
wards, therefore the valve f is closed, whilst the lifter i moves upwards and
through contact with the collar d', opens the valve d. The disinfecting fluid
contained in b flows now through c into the pipe a mingles with the flush water and
in conjunction with the latter reaches the closet pan.
The apparatus for disinfecting purposes, shown in Figure 3 in a lengthwise
section, and in Figure 4 in a cross section through x, x, of the Figure 3 differs from
those shown in Figures 1 and 2 in such manner that the valve is made in the form
of a ring with a centre perforation and the valve rod of a pipe formation. By this
means, it has become possible to use the valve d with its rod as a water conducting
pipe for the flowing through of the flush water, and thereby to bring the pipe a in

page_text: the vertical for descending action. The flush_waterpipe is connected above and
below by the box or receiver by means of the usual joints.
The method of operation is the same as with Figures 1 and 2.
The arrangement shown in Figure 5 is particularly suitable for the disinfecting
of groups of closets. Here the box or receiver b is connected by means of a branch
pipe p with the perpendicular chief pipe a for conducting water which serves to
flush the pan, and out of which pipe the various closets receive their portion of flush
water. The connection of the downflow pipe o' with the pan can be closed by
means of a ball cock. This stop cock in every case should be placed underneath.
the receiver b, near to w. The openings for the entrance and exit of the disinfecting
fluid are to be found in the cover and on the bottom of lying one over the other,
and both valves f and d are placed on a single rod but at such a distance one from
another, that when the one valve is shut, the other is open.
The closing of the valve d and opening of valve fis effected automatically by
means of pressure in the water in conducting pipe o and branch p.
When the cock is shut, then the pressure in the conducting pipe o and the branch
pipe p predominates. In consequence of this the lower valve d is raised and pressed
against its seat 9, whilst the valve fis raised from its seat, so that the disinfecting
fluid flows through pipe 7 to b and can fill this receiver.
As soon however as the stop cock is opened, water flows, a lessening of pressure
takes place in o¹ in consequence of which and also in consequence of the suction
the valves d and f sink and the contents of 6 flow away into w, whilst the valve f
keeps the aperture for the inlet of the disinfecting fluid closed. The air valve r
allows the entrance of air into the receiver 6 during the discharge of the disinfecting
fluid.
This arrangement can be advantageously modified as is shown in Figure 6 in
which the valves f and d are not placed together on a single rod, and the discharge
valve d is regulated by a float t. The latter is placed in the chamber beneath
the box 6 and is in connection with the branch p. The valve d is affixed to the
float t, which in this instance is cylindrical, and the seating as a collar d³ is furnished
with discharge openings d² and a valve rod d' which reaches nearly under the inlet
valve f.
According to this arrangement when the float lifts itself under the operation of
the pressure of the water entering into p, first of all the discharge valve d becomes
closed, and the valve opened by the rod d lifting it for b to be charged with
disinfectant, the outlet for the disinfecting fluid in the direction of 6 only ensues
after the discharge valve d is closed.
If, however, the water contained in p and in the float space flows out in
consequence of the opening of a closet cock, then the float with the valve d sinks;
the discharge aperture d of the same, however, is first free after the valve f
has been closed through the pressure of the disinfecting fluid above, after it is freed
from the rod d⭑.
According to this arrangement, by the slow opening and shutting of the closet
cock, it is avoided that the water out of p can enter into the receiver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A contrivance, Figures 1 and 2, (for the automatic disinfecting of closets by
means of a fluid disinfectant) consisting of a receiver b, which on the one side is
connected with a reserve receiver for the disinfectant, and on the other with the
flush pipe, separated however, from each other by special valves f and d, which
can be opened alternately by means of lifters k and i under the lever of the flush
cock or pull, so that the receiver b can fill itself in turns and can empty itself into
the flush water pipe.
2. A contrivance of a kind shown at
which effects the closing of the receiver
Figures 3 and 4, by which the valve d
against the flush pipe is furnished with

page_text: a central opening, and the valve rod is formed in the shape of a pipe, in order to
be able to use the valve d with its rod as a channel for the flush water.
3. The arrangement shown at Figure 5 by which the valves and d are arranged
on the same rod one over the other, and are put into motion by means of the
pressure predominating in the flush water conductor.
4. The arrangement shown at Figure 6, whereby the discharge valve d is moved
by the pressure in the flush water conductor, and directed by means of a float t,
whilst the inlet valve is capable of being opened through the pressure of the
rod d' of the valve d.
Dated this 22nd dow of March 1901
'H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Bruno Clauder.