IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS FOR STREET GUTTERS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Whitehouse at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1883.
JOHN WHITEHOUSE of the firm of J and J Whitehouse of Tipton in the
County of Stafford Ironfounders "IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS FOR STREET
GUTTERS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES "
My invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter
described of stench traps for street gutters and other like purposes.
My invention is especially applicable to the gutter openings of street sewers
and I will describe it as applied to the said gutter openings.
By my invention the escape of sewer gas into the atmosphere is effectually
prevented and the cleaning of the trap of the dirt and mud deposited in it is
much facilitated.
I make the box or body of the stench trap without the ordinary internal
partitions or diaphragms and I make at opposite sides of the box or body and near
the top thereof openings which are in communication with the sewer passage.
These openings in the box or body are closed by valves situated on the exterior of
the said box and opening outwards. The said valves are self closing that is they
take a vertical position by their own weight so as to close the openings in the box
or the closing of the said valves may be assisted by a weighted lever on the pin or
axis of the joint of the valve or by a spring or otherwise. The said valves are
opened to permit of the escape of water from the trap into the sewer by the
incoming current of water or the opening of the valves may be assisted by buoys
or floats in the body of the trap connected with the said valves.
Near the top of the body or box is an outer horizontal shoulder which seats
itself upon an inner horizontal shoulder or ledge made in a frame fixed over the
opening in the gutter passing to the sewer. The month or top of the box or body
is covered by a grating which has on its underside and opposite each other two
depending curved plates or partitions which plates or partitions when the grating
is in its place are situated opposite and enclose the valved openings in the sides of
the box or body of the trap. The bottom edges of the said depending plates or
partitions are situated at a lower level than the bottoms of the valved openings
described so that the sewer gas cannot escape through the trap so long as the level
D

page_text: of the water in the body or box is preserved above the bottom edges of the
partitions as is well understood.
Sbould the level of the water in the trap sink by evaporation below the bottom
edges of the partitions the escape of sewer gas is still prevented by the valves
closing the openings to the sewer. Thus the trap is furnished with a double
provision for preventing the escape of sewer gas through the grating into the
atmosphere the said trap being especially suitable for use in street gutters where
in dry weather the ordinary trap becomes inoperative. As the curved plates or
partitions are connected to or form one piece with the grating of the trap instead
of forming part of the body of the trap as usual the said grating when lifted
from its seat at the mouth of the body or box carries the said partitions with it
leaving the said body or box free from projecting parts so that the mud or deposit
in the said body or box may be readily removed