IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER-CLOSETS FOR SHIPS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Williams, of No. 16, Cannon Street East, in
the County of Middlesex, Plumber, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER-CLOSETS FOR SHIPS."
Sealed the 17th June 1856, and dated the 3rd January 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Williams at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
January 1856.
I, GEORGE WILLIAMS, of Number 16, Cannon Street East, in the County
of Middlesex, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER-CLOSETS FOR SHIPS" to be as
follows:-
I would observe, firstly, that in the water-closets now generally used on
board ships the soil is carried off by the ordinary straight leaden shoot ;.
this is objectionable, from its allowing the sea water to rush up, and also
from its being exposed to the action of the wind, which spreads the smell
about the ship. To remedy this, I propose to construct the closets with an
outlet, furnished with a syphon and self-acting angle valve, which, while
allowing the soil to pass, will effectually prevent the passage of the water, and
also resist the action of the wind.
My Invention will be at once understood by a reference to the accompanying

page_text: Drawings. A are the basins; B, the receiver or hopper; C, the self-acting
angle valve; D, the syphon which allows the soil to pass through the ship
side; E is the cleaning valve, shewn in front section, for the removal of any
accumulation that may choke soil pipe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd July 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WILLIAMS, of No. 16, Cannon Street East, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year Her of
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Williams, Her special licence that I, the said George
Willams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Williams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER-CLOSETS FOR SHIPS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Williams, 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 In-
vention, 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 George Williams, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
In the water-closets now generally used on board ship the soil is carried off
by the ordinary straight leaden shoot; this is very objectionable, from its
allowing the sea water to rush up, and also from its being exposed to the action

page_text: of the wind, which spreads the smell about the ship. To remedy this, I con-
struct the closets with an outlet, furnished with a siphon and self-acting angle
valve, which, while allowing the soil to pass, will effectually prevent the passage
of the water, and also resist the action of the wind.
My Invention will be at once understood by a reference to the accompanying
Drawings. A are the basins; B, the receiver or hopper; C, the self-acting
angle valve; D, the siphon which allows the soil to pass through the ship's
side; E is the clearing valve, shewn in front section, for the removal of any
accumulation that may choke the soil pipe.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as
my Invention the exclusive use of the siphon pipe and self-acting valve except
when applied in the manner and for the purposes abovo described.
And I hereby declare that I claim as my Invention the adaptation of a
siphon pipe and self-acting valve to ships' water-closets, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Williams, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
G. WILLIAMS. (L.S.)