Improvements in Water Closets, and Apparatus for Working the same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Water Closets, and Apparatus for Working
the same.
THOMAS GARFORTH RHODES Engineer, Albert Terrace, Kirkstall, RAYMOND
GAUNT, Engineer, The Mount Stanningley near Leeds JAMES BARKER LEDGARD,
Engineer, Salisbury View, Armley, near Leeds. We do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention as for its object the following (1) an arrangement for effecting the
flushing automatically as follows-In connection with the closet is arranged, a series
of levers & balance weight, connected with a foot board, so that if the person using
the closet sits down on the seat or stands on the foot board, the flushing of the
closet cannot be effected, but upon leaving the said foot board, by means of the
said lever & balance weight, the flushing apparatus is brought into action.
An alternate arrangement consists of placing a air cylinder in connection with
the flushing apparatus, which may be made to flush the closet, some time after the
party using the same has left the seat.
Dated this 17th dan of A noil 1905
THOMAS GARFORTH RHODES.
RAYMOND GAUNT.
JAMES BARKER LEDGARD.
Improvements in Water Closets, and Apparatus for working
the same.
THOMAS GARFORTH RHODES Engineer, Albert Terrace, Kirkstall Leeds
RAYMOND GAUNT Engineer The Mount Stanningley near Leeds, JAMES
Barker LEDGARD, Engineer, 12, Salisbury View, Armley, near Leeds. We 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 has for its object the following (1) An arrangement for effecting
the flushing automatically as follows. In connection with the closet is arranged a
series of levers, and balance weight connected with a foot board, so that if the
person using the closet sits down on the seat, or stands on the foot board, the
Alushing of the closet cannot be effected, but upon leaving the said foot board, by
means of the said levers and balance weight, the flushing apparatus is brought into
action.
An alternate arrangement consists of placing an air cylinder in connection with
the flushing apparatus, which may be made to flush the closet, some time after the
party using the same has left the seat.
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 shows a side elevation of a water closet fitted with the improved
apparatus. A is a foot board or plate coupled up to the end of the lever B, this

page_text: lever is also operated by the seat C, by the. extension of the end B₁ again the
end B is coupled up to the valve rod D which in its turn is coupled to the flushing
valve or syphon contained in the cistern.
Fig. 2 Sheet 1 is a plan of the foot board A showing the same connected to the
ends of the lever, B which are if desirable in duplicate.
Fig. 3 Sheet 1 is another side elevation of a water closet showing an alternate
arrangement. A is the foot board or plate, B the lever operated by the seat C,
the lever B works on a fulcrum or centre B³, the end of the lever B³ is connected
to the valve rod D, also the valve rod D is extended as indicated by D' it then
couples to the lever E, working in a bearing or centre F, and couples by centre, or
centres G to the foot board A.
Fig. 4 Sheet 1 shows another arrangement in which the board A lifts bodily
with the lever E, the lever works on the centre F and couples to the valve rod D,
G is a centre or centres for the foot board, or plate A to be lifted up for
cleaning.
The action of the apparatus is as follows
Suppose a person to use the closet, first he steps on to the foot board A which
by reason of the lever B lowers the seat and raises the valve rod D, further
upon the person sitting down on the seat C, this retains foot board A, or if the
weight of the person be again thrown on to the foot board A. it retains the seat C,
so that the flushing of closet cannot be brought into operation until the person
again leaves the foot board A, when by reason of the valve rod D being the
heaviest portion of the apparatus the valve or syphon contained in the flushing
cistern, is brought into operation, and the closet flushed.
Fig. 5 Sheet 1 shows an arrangement in which an air cylinder is placed between
the two parts of the valve rod, in place of the combined seat and foot action. It
consists of the cylinder H Fig. 6 and 7 Sheet 1 working in connection with the
piston I. The piston is provided with a leather or other packing for keeping
the chamber air tight at this part. The cylinder H is also provided with a hole H
for slowly admitting air, the valve rod J and J' couples up to the air cylinder as
shown, the lower end of the valve rod J is operated by means of the lever K
working on a centre K³, also the end of valve rod J is provided with a counter
weight L.
The action of the apparatus is as follows
Suppose a person to use the closet, the seat J' acting on the end of the lever K,
operates the valve rod J, this acting on the cylinder H causes it to be drawn out on
the piston I, and to draw in air at H2, when the person leaves the seat J³ the
counter weight L slowly causes the air to be exhausted at H in the cylinder H,
and through the valve rod J' coupling to the cylinder H, the valve or syphon
contained in the flushing cistern may operate some time after the person using the
closet has left the seat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
(1) An arrangement of water closet like Fig. Sheet 1 consisting of the foot
board or plate A lever B, with ends B and B³, also centre B' seat C, and valve
rod D, also foot board or plate A and levers B. B. like Fig. 2 Sheet 1, all
arranged substantially as described and set forth.
(2) An arrangement of water closet like Fig. 3 Sheet 1 consisting of the foot
board or plate A lever B, with end B and centre B³, the scat C and valve rod D,
also extension of valve rod D lever E, centre F, and centres for foot plate G all
arranged substantially as described and set forth.
(3) An arrangement of lever and foot board like Fig. 4 Sheet 1 consisting of
lever E, centre F foot board A working on centre or centres G, and valve rod D
all arranged substantially as described and set forth.
(4) An arrangement of water closet like Fig. 5 Sheet 1 consisting of seat J³,

page_text: lever K, centre K' valve rod J and J¹, cylinder H Fig. 6 and 7 Sheet 1-hole H³,.
piston I, leather or other packing I counterweight L'all arranged substantially as-
described and set forth.
Dated this 17th day of January 1896.
THOMAS GARFORTH RHODES,
Engineer,
Albert Terrace, Kirkstall, Leeds.
RAYMOND GAUNT,
Engineer,
The Mount, Stanningley..
JAMES BARKER LEDGARD,
Engineer,
12 Salisbury View, Armley..