NEW OR IMPROVED DRY CLOSETS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Johnston, of the City of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of
"NEW OR IMPROVED DRY CLOSETS."
Sealed the 26th April 1876, and dated the 3rd December 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Johnston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd December 1875.
I, DAVID JOHNSTON, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "NEW OR IMPROVED DRY CLOSETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to a new or improved construction or
arrangement of the parts of a dry soil or earth closet susceptible of
various modifications of the new or improved parts or mechanism
(forming the essential feature or "differenti" thereof) for removing and
distributing the dry earth, sand, ashes, sawdust, or other material to
absorb or deodorise the moisture and offensive gases of the soil or

page_text: excreta, which improvements render such closets fitted with them more
simple and efficient in their action and better for health and sanitary
The parts
arrangements than the dry or water closets heretofore in use.
of these closets which are not new, but common to them, and those in
present use are the rectangular frame and close box, and portable pan
in the middle of the box below the opening in the hinged seat, which is
made to rise an inch or so in front by the reaction of a weight or spring,
and pressed down against this power by the weight of the person while
seated on it, and having the large angled hopper containing the dry
earth or other absorbent to be used erected as usual over the back part
of the box with a broad, shallow, angled shoot or spout open at the
lowest part in front over the pan, which is removed for being emptied
at suitable intervals through the top opening when the seat is raised,
or through a hinged door in front, according as these are fitted for that
purpose.
The essential nature and novelty of this Invention consist in the new
or improved mode of taking the earth or other absorbent out of the
bottom of the hopper by a removing thin plate, scoop, or shovel, herein-
after appropriately termed the "excavator" with vertical strengthening
feathers at the sides, and longitudinal, transverse, or angled openings or
wide slits through its thin bottom, and reciprocated within the spout,
forcing the excavator inwards into the earth by the downward action of
the seat, and outwards by the reaction of the before-mentioned reacting
weights or springs, so that the excavator (and the holes in it) draws
out a layer of the earth from the bottom of the hopper and shakes or
spreads it over the front edge of and down through the holes in the
excavator over the soil into the pan after each use of the closet through
or by a new or improved set of two segmental tooth geared or coupled
levers working on fixed studs projecting inwards from both sides of the
box, that is (under the first arrangement of segmental toothed levers),
by two bell-crank levers, each with a long vertical arm and a short
horizontal segmental toothed arm, and fulcrumed on a stud below the
front and sides of the spout near the bottom sides of the box with
slotted or other equivalent connection at the top of the vertical arm,
connected or taking on to the projecting ends of a light rod fixed across
the under front edge of the excavating shovel, and having the toothed
segment projecting towards the front of the closet or box, and gearing
into the segment on the longer back arm of a straight horizontal lever

page_text: fulcrumed on a stud at each side (in nearly the same level line as the
studs of the bell-crank levers), and having the free end of their short
arms connected to the lower ends of two vertical rods reciprocating
between guides very near the front and sides of the box and seat, so
that the heads of two screw set pins, each fixed by a jamb nut in the
upper ends of these rods, bear up against the under front corners of the
seat, or a bearing piece on it, so as to raise it when not held down, and
draw out and scatter the earth as stated by a weight cast on the back
or long segmental arm of each of the horizontal or straight levers, while
vice versa, the pressing down of the seat would raise the geared
segmental arms of both sets of levers, so as to raise and throw back the
vertical arms of the bell-crank levers, which would push the excavator
or shovel back into the spout and earth ready for bringing out a fresh
layer as soon as the seat was released.
The forward and downward action of the vertical arms and vibration
against the stops assist the distribution of the discharge, and these stops
might be made with or without springs, which would prevent noise,
and give a greater vibration or shake to throw all the charge off the
excavator.
The pinching screws at the top of the vertical front rods could be set
to give the desired equal action and strain on the seat and levers and
parallel action to the excavator to suit the different positions of the
fulcrum studs of the levers and the throw of the excavators.
Instead of coupling the long weighted back arm of the straight
horizontal lever to the short horizontal arm of the bell crank or vertical
lever by toothed segments this might be done by a lateral stud fixed in
either arm working into a hole in the other, this hole being made a
little oblong to compensate for the differential radial action, but without
much play or shake in the direction of motion; or they might be
coupled by an oscillating link, and when a link or connecting rod is
used to connect the levers the back levers might be made straight, and
the front levers bell cranks, and the arms of both levers might be made
to lie at other angles than those described.
A sliding shutter may also be fitted on the open mouth of the gutter
to regulate the discharge of the absorbent or deodorising material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Johnston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st June 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
JOHNSTON, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said David Johnston, Her special
licence that I, the said David Johnston, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David Johnston, my
executors, administrators, 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
"NEW OR IMPROVED DRY CLOSETS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said David Johnston, 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 David Johnston, 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 in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say:-.
My said Invention has reference to a new or improved construction
and arrangement of the parts of a dry soil or earth closet, susceptible of
various modifications of the new or improved parts or mechanism

page_text: (forming the essential feature or "differenti" thereof) for removing and
distributing the dry earth, sand, ashes, sawdust, or other material to
absorb or deodorize the moisture and offensive gases of the soil or
excreta, which improvements render such closets fitted with them more
simple and efficient in their action, and better for health and sanitary
arrangements than the dry or water closets heretofore in use.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my
said Invention may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to
describe the two Figures on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings
which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing the best
modes and means I am at present aware of for putting the same into
effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating the same parts
in both Figures where shown, Figure 1 being a sectional elevation, and
Figure 2 a corresponding transverse section of a dry closet constructed
in accordance with and illustrative of one modification or arrangement
of my said Invention.
Referring to these Figures 1 and 2 the parts of this dry closet which
are not new but common to them and others in present use are, the
rectangular frame and close box a, a', of the seat b, b', and portable
panc in the middle of the box below the opening b' (covered in by the
closing lid ) in the hinged seat b, which is made to rise an inch or so
in front by the reaction of a weight or spring, and pressed down against
this power by the weight of the person seated on it, and having the
large angled hopper d, d', containing the said dry earth z, or other
absorbent to be used, erected as usual over the back part of the box a, a³,
with a broad, shallow, angled shoot or spout e, E, stationary, and open at
the lowest part E in front over and higher than the pan c which is
removed for being emptied at suitable intervals through a hinged
door a¹ in front, or it might be through the top opening when the seat is
raised, according as the box a, a', is constructed or. fitted for that
purpose..
The improvements forming the substance of my Invention consist in
the new or improved mode of taking the earth or other absorbent
before mentioned out of the fixed or stationary shoot e, E, at the bottom
of the hopper d, d', by a removing thin plate, scoop, or shovel A, A', A",
(herein-after appropriately termed the "excavator") with vertical
strengthening feathers at the sides, and longitudinal slits or openings A¹
through its thin bottom; or these might be formed transversely or at

page_text: an angle across the bottom, and be reciprocated within the stationary
spout e, E, so as to force the excavator A, A', inwards into the earth
by the downward action of the scat b, b', in front, and then outwards
automatically by the necessary reacting weights or springs herein-after
more particularly referred to, so that the excavator A draws out a layer
of the earth from the bottom or open mouth E of the hopper d, d³,
and shakes or spreads it over the front edge of and down through the
holes or slots A' in the excavator over the soil in the pan c, after each
use of the closet; all through or by a new or improved set of two
segmental tooth geared or coupled levers B, B', and C, C', working on
fixed lateral studs B*, C*, projecting inwards from the opposite sides of
the box a, a, that is to say, in the arrangement shown in Figures 1
and 2, the two bell-crank levers B, B¹, have cach a long vertical arm B,
and a short horizontal segmental toothed arm B¹ with their fulcrum
stud B*, preferably below the front and sides of the spout E near the
bottom and sides of the box, with a slot or other equivalent connection
at the top of the vertical arm connected or taking on to the projecting
ends A" of a light rod fixed across the under front edge of the excavating
shovel A, A', and having the toothed segment B¹ projecting towards the
front a¹ of the closet or box a, a', and gearing into the segment C¹ on
the longer back arm of the straight horizontal lever C, C¹, fulcrumed on
the stud C at cach side in nearly the same level line as the studs B* of
the bell-crank levers B, B', and having the free end of their short arm C
connected to the lower ends of two vertical rods D, D', reciprocating
between guides D" secured near the front and sides of the box a, a¹, and
seat b, so that the upper ends D' of these rods bear up against the
under front corners of the seat or a bearing piece D³ on it, so as to
raise it by the counterweight of the segments B', C', of the horizontal
arms of these new or improved levers (when not held down by the
weight of the person using it), and draw out and scatter the earth
automatically by the weight of the segments B', C¹, cast heavy enough
for that purpose, all as before stated, while vice versa, the pressing down
of the front of the seat b, b', raises the geared segmental arms B', C', of
both sets of levers B, B³, C, C', so as to raise and throw back the vertical
arms B of the bell-crank levers B, B', which force the excavating or
shovel part A, A¹, back into the spout E, e, and earth
bringing out a fresh layer as soon as the seat is released.
ready for
The forward and downward action of the vertical arms B, B, and
downward action and vibration of the heavy toothed segments B', C³,

page_text: against the stops F, F', assist the discharge and distribution of the
carth or other absorbent over the soil. These stops F, F¹, might be
made with a layer of india-rubber F¹ on them, or with springs or other
equivalent which would prevent noise, and assist the vibration or
shaking action to throw and distribute all the charge off the excavator.
In some cases the upper ends D¹ of the rods D, D', might be fitted
with pinching screws and jamb nuts D, as shown in the detached side
and edge view of one of these rods in Figure 1D, for being set or
adjusted to give the desired equal action and strain on the seat and
levers, and parallel action to the excavator A, A', A", to suit the exact
positions of the fulcrum studs B* and C* of the levers, and the desired
throw of the excavator.
Instead of coupling the weighted back arm C' of the straight lever
C, C', to the horizontal arm B' of the bell-crank lever B, B', by toothed
segments, this might be done by a lateral stud fixed in either arm
B¹ or C¹, working into a hole in the other, this hole being made a little
oblong to compensate for the differential radial action, but without much
play or shake in the direction of motion; or otherwise these arms
might be coupled by a lateral stud G in cach, connected by an oscillating
link G¹ on them as indicated in red lines in Figure 1. When these levers
are so connected without segmental gearing or racks B', C¹, they might
have counterweights instead fitted on them, or otherwise be drawn down
by the action of springs when preferred.
A sliding shutter might sometimes be fitted on the open mouth E of
the stationary spout e to regulate the depth or thickness of the layer or
discharge of the absorbent or deodorizing material being drawn out on
the excavator or shovel A, A¹.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that
I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or
delineated, but what I believe to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction or arrangement of an earth or dry
closet with mechanism for delivering or distributing the earth or other
absorbent or deodorizer automatically, all substantially as herein

page_text: described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings,
or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The application and use in earth or dry closets of the duplex
levers B, B, and C, C¹, for reciprocating the excavator or delivering
plate or shovel A, substantially as herein described and shown in the b
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The application and use of a delivering and distributing
excavator, plate, or shovel A, within a fixed or stationary shoot or
spout e, E, in earth or dry closets, substantially as herein described
and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification 1
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Johnston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.