IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO DRY EARTH AND OTHER CLOSETS, PAILS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR RECEIVING, STORING, OR TRANSPORTING HUMAN EXCRETA AND HOUSEHOLD REFUSE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Weare, of Manchester, in the County of Lancastor,
Sanitary Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE
TO DRY EARTH AND OTHER CLOSETS, PAILS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR
RECEIVING, STORING, OR TRANSPORTING HUMAN EXCRETA AND HOUSEHOLD
REFUSE."
Sealed the 2nd December 1879, and dated the 3rd June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Weare at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1879.
ROBERT WEARE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Sanitary Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO DRY EARTH AND OTHER CLOSETS, PAILS,
AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR RECEIVING, STORING, OR TRANSPORTING HUMAN
EXCRETA AND HOUSEHOLD REFUSE."
As at present constructed dry earth and other closets are objectionable on account
of the rapidity with which the receptacle employed becomes filled, necessitating
frequents removal; and this Invention has for its object certain improvements in
the apparatus whereby the liquid is separated or drained from the solid portion of
the refuse, and the receiving, storing, and transporting of the latter is rendered
innocuous and unobjectionable.
In carrying out my Invention I construct the receptacle of a rectangular or
cubic form, with vertical passages by preference at each corner, and having per-
forations into the inside, these passages serving to drain off the liquid portion of the
contents, which I prefer to run away through glazed drain or lead pipes into a
liquid receiver common to several closets, or into the ordinary sewer; and in order
to deodorise any gas which may arise from the liquid or sewer I construct a channel
in the brick, slate, or other basement of the closet, which I fill in by preference with
powdered or dust charcoal, and I arrange a narrow rim or edging around the
bottom of the receptacle to drop or dip into the charcoal channel, and thus if any
gas arises from the liquid receiver or drain it becomes purified or rendered harmless
by passing through the charcoal before it can escape into the outer atmosphere.
My improvements in closet receptacles further consist in arranging a similar channel
to contain charcoal around the upper edge of such receptacle, so that in being

page_text: transported from place to place one receptacle can be placed upon another with the
rim of the upper one dipping into the charcoal channel of the lower receptacle, and
the top-most receptacle can be covered with a suitable lid, having a rim or edge to
dip into its channel, and thus the contents of all the receptacles will be sealed, and
the transportation be effected without nuisance. The aforesaid improvements also
partly apply to pails for receiving, storing, and transporting human excreta and
household refuse generally, but in order to separate the solid from the liquid portion
of the contents in this case I arrange an earthenware basin-shaped and perforated
receptacle in the upper part of such pails, so as to drain or separate the liquid into
an earthenware lining or loose pan, which fits into the lower part of the said pail,
whilst the more solid portion is retained by the perforated basin.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Weare in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
December 1879.
ROBERT WEARE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Sanitary Engineer.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO DRY EARTH AND OTHER CLOSETS, PAILS,
AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR RECEIVING, STORING, OR TRANSPORTING HUMAN
EXCRETA AND HOUSEHOLD REFUSE."
As at present constructed dry earth and other closets are objectionable on account
of the rapidity with which the receptacle employed becomes filled, necessitating
frequent removal; and this Invention has for its object certain improvements in
the apparatus whereby the liquid is separated or drained from the solid portion of
the refuse, and the receiving, storing, and transporting of the latter is rendered
innocuous and unobjectionable. And in order that this part of my said Invention
may be the more readily understood and carried into practical effect, I have hero-
unto annexed a Drawing, upon which Figure 1 represents a sectional view, and
Figure 2 a plan (with the cover removed) of my improved receptacle shewing the
same in position in a dry earth closet arranged in accordance with this Invention.
b
In carrying out my Invention I construct the receptacle a of galvanised iron or
other suitable material, and of a rectangular or cubic form, with vertical passages
by preference at each corner, as illustrated, passing through the bottom c, and
having perforations & into the interior of the receptacle, these passages b serving to
drain off the liquid portion of the contents, which I prefer to run away through
glazed earthenware drain or leadpipes e into a liquid receiver common to several
closets; or the pipe e may communicate with the ordinary sewer or drain. And in
order to deodorise any gas which may arise from the liquid or sewer I construct a
channel fin the brick, slate, or other basement 9 of the closet, which I fill by pre-
ference with powdered or dust charcoal, and I arrange a narrow rim or edging h
around the bottom of the receptacle to drop or dip into the charcoal channel f, and
thus if any gas arises from the liquid receiver or drain it becomes purified or
rendered harmless by passing through the charcoal before it can escape into the
outer atmosphere. Figure 3 represents a modification of my Invention specially
designed for hospitals, which only differs from the illustrations, Figures 1 and 2, in
having a false bottom, which forms a cavity b', into which the vertical passages b
drain, and which cavity is provided with an outlet ferrule i capable of fitting into
the ordinary drain pipe, a tight joint being ensured by the application of an
india rubber tubular ring k, as illustrated. My improvements in closet receptacles
further consist in arranging a channel to contain powdered charcoal around the
upper edge of such receptacle, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, so that in being trans-
ported from place to place one receptacle can be placed upon another with the rim h
of the upper receptacle dipping into the charcoal channel of the lower receptacle,
whilst the topmost receptacle can be covered with a suitable lid m, having a rim or
edge to dip into its channel, and thus the contents of all the receptacles will be
sealed, and the transportation be effected without nuisance.
These improvements further apply partly to pails for receiving, storing, and
transporting human excreta and household refuse generally, as seen in section,
Figures 4 and 5. In this case I arrange an earthenware or metal basin shaped and
perforated receptacle o in the upper part of such pails resting upon a suitable rim
or projection, and thus I drain or separate the liquid either into the pail itself,
as in Figure 4, or into an earthenware or other lining or loose pan q, as in Figure 5,
which fits into the lower part of the pail, whilst the more solid portion is retained
by the perforated basin, which is capable of removal separately, being provided
with a fall down handler, as illustrated. Figures 6 and 7 shew an inverted plan
and side section of a form of hollow lid applicable to my improved pail, which

page_text: being filled with powdered charcoal or other disinfecting powder can, by means of
the circular "ventilator" grid 8, actuated by the knob t, be caused to sprinkle a
small quantity of the disinfecting powder upon the solid contents of the pail, and
thus to deodorise and disinfect the same as often as required. The covering of
such ventilator grid being capable of returning to its closed position by the appli-
cation of a spiral or other spring z, a tight joint is ensured between the lid and the
pail by the application of the india rubber tubular ring t¹, whilst such ventilator
grid can be removed bodily when it is necessary to introduce a fresh supply of
powder by slackening the screws y.
In use a wooden seat u is applied to the top of the pail, as illustrated in Figure 4
and 5, and to the receptacle illustrated by Figure 3, the opening in which latter
is fitted with a similar cover to that used on my improved pail, but in this case I
illustrate a spring disc valve v as a means of discharging the disinfecting powder,
which is opened by pushing down the knob w, and when released closes itself by
the action of the spring w¹.
In Figure 5 the dotted portion illustrates a connection fitted with a screwed
cap for the purpose of withdrawing the liquid contents when the pail is used with-
out the loose pan 2.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions of the
various parts of the apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accom-
panying Drawing, as the same may be considerably varied without departing from
the Invention, but I claim, the improvements in dry earth and other closets, pails,
and receptacles, whereby the liquid and solid portions of the contents are separated,
and the same rendered innocuous and unobjectionable, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Weare, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of December, in the year of our Lord 1879.
ROBERT WEARE. (LS)