Improvements in Means for Operating Water-closets and the like, and in Pumps and Valves applicable to Water-closets and other Devices.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th July. 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Operating Water-closets and the like,
and in Pumps and Valves applicable to Water-closets and other
Devices.
I, ERNEST PHILIP SANDS, of No. 134 Beekmau Street, in the City, County and State
of New York, United States of A:nerica, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to water-closets and analogous sanitary devices which
require to be operated, either for discharging the soil therefro:n, or for supplying
flushing water thereto, or both, and aims to provide improved means for operating
such devices. The invention is especially applicable to discharging and flushing
water-closets, particularly ships' closets, with reference to which the invention will be
described.
Heretofore a lever or handle to be operated by the user has been relied on for the
flushing and discharge of ships' closets. In such closets particularly, several
operations of such handle are desirable to thoroughly empty and flush the closet,
and in practice it is sometimes found that these operations are imperfectly performed
by the user of the closet, which renders it necessary that the occasional attention of
an attendant be given to keep the closet in proper condition.
My invention ains, firstly, to provide improved means whereby the closets can
be operated with facility without the exercise of strength or force on the part of the
user, and preferably automatically and to a precise extent when used; and secondly,
to provide an improved pump and valve especially applicable to water closets.
To this end in carrying out the invention, I provide a suitable motor having the
requisite power for effecting a number of operations of the closet, preferably using
an electro-motor, a suitable source of power, as for example a storage battery or
electric generator, for this motor, a suitable connection between such motor and the
operating parts of the closet for applying the power of the motor to these parts to
cause thein to operate, connecting by preference both the discharging and the
flushing apparatus to the motor in such manner as to operate each therefrom, suitable
means for throwing the motor into operation, such means preferably adapted to
operate at will, and also operating automatically incident to the use of the closet, and
suitable means for terminating the operation of the closet at predetermined or
desired periods or points in its operation, and preferably also separable means wheby
the closet can be operated manually, if circumstances render this necessary.
While my invention can be applied to various constructions of apparatus, I will
describe it as applied to a ship's water-closet, and in the form in which an electric
motor with a generator and switches is employed.
In the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred form of the invention,
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a ship's water closet provided with my
improvements;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof; and
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuits.
Referring to the drawings, let A. indicate a water-closet, B the bowl thereof, C the

page_text: seat thereof, E the discharge pipe therefrom, F the pump, G the soil pump or side
thereof into which the discharge pipe E opens, H the water or flushing side thereof
from which water is fed to flush the closet, I the plunger of the pump, J the
operating lever thereof, K the soil discharge pipe, L the flushing pipe, M the water
pipe, N an air relief pipe, O an air and water valve, and P the operating treadle therefor.
These parts may be of any usual or suitable construction and operation, those shown
comprising detail features of improvement incident to my present invention, and
being taken as one example of a sanitary apparatus to which the main features of my
present improvements are especially applicable. In the construction shown, the seat
is a hinged seat carried by a seat frame D.
According to certain features of improvement the pump F is a combined soil
discharge and flushing water pump having an oscillating plunger I swinging on the axis
of a spindle u, the plunger dividing the interior of the pump into two chambers, the
soil chamber or pump G, and the flushing chamber or pump H, each having separate
and independent suction and discharge pipes. The plunger I in its normal position
rests opposite and closes the soil outlet E from the howl. The soil discharge pipe K
leads from the pump G to the ocean, or to any other suitable place of discharge,
in a ship's closet, usually to a point below the water level. The water pipe M leads
from a source of flushing water, as for example from below the water level of the
ocean in a ship's closet, and supplies water to the flushing pump H, from which the
water as discharged passes through the flushing pipe L into the bowl B to flush the
latter. The valve O may be any suitable valve for preventing a flow of water through
the pipe M to the pump, except when desired, and for relieving the suction when the
flushing-pump is operated without a supply of flushing water, in which case the valve
may permit an inflow of air to the pump through the air pipe N, according to any well
known method of operation for this purpose. The treadle P is disposed near the
floor, where it can be conveniently depressed by the foot of the user of the closet, and
its purpose is to operate the valve O to close off the air pipe N and permit a flow of
water from the pipe M to the flushing pump. In ordinary use heretofore, such
closets have been operated by the user, who has placed his foot on the treadle Pand
then manipulated the pump manually by a handle fixed thereto, thus simultaneously
emptying and flushing the closet. Should the user neglect to depress the treadle, or
be ignorant of the desirability thereof, the relief valve would permit the manual
operation of the pump, and the closet would be emptied but not flushed.
The valve is improved in that it contains the suction-valve S¹ for the flushing
pump, the water valve q beyond this valve S and closing on its seat with the
inflowing current, and the air-valve a seating over the air inlet pipe N, all these
valves being carried on the one treadle stem a", guided by passing through the inner
end of the pipe N, fixedly carrying the water and air valves, and closing the former
as it opens the latter, and loosely carrying the suction valve S as a clack valve.
Thus the air valve is always open when the water valve is closed, closing of the latter
is insured in any case by the inward pressure should the usual spring or other means
provided therefor fail, and the suction valve is always free to act and is provided for
in a simple and convenient way.
According to the main feature of my present invention, I provide improved means
for operating the closet, which I will now describe in detail in their preferred form as
applied to the closet shown. These improvements preferably comprise a motor Q
capable of operating the closet, a connection R between this motor and the operating
parts of the closet, means S for energizing the motor, controlling provisions T for
throwing the latter into operation, means U for terminating the operation of the
motor, and separable provision V permitting manual operation of the closet when
desired. These parts may be of any suitable character, construction or method of
operation, but I prefer to employ for these several features the parts, construction
and arrangement which I will now describe in detail.
The motor Qmay be any suitable engine or motor for driving the operating
mechanism of the closet, and the connection R may be any suitable connection by
which the driving effect of the motor is communicated or applied to the closet.

page_text: Preferably the motor is an electric motor having a rotative armature shaft a carrying
a toothed pinion b, which rotates with considerable speed while the motor is driven,
and the connection R consists of a spur-gear c, preferably having internal teeth
meshing with the pinion 4, and driven thereby, noninted to rotate on a fixed stud d,
and having a crank-pin or equivalent. provision e by which it is connected through a
link f with a pin 7 near the end of the operating lever J. As the gear is driven by
the pinion its crank-pin passes through a circular path, in travelling which its motion
is communicated to the lever J by the link f in such manner as to oscillate the lever
and throw the plunger from one extreme position to the reverse extreme position and
back. The crank-pin and lever are preferably connected so that at one point, which
will be termed the inactive position of the apparatas, the plunger I of the pump will
be opposite and close the outlet E of the bowl, so that while inactive, communication
between the pump and bowl will he closed. The inactive point of the crank-pin in
the construction shon, is its point of extreme depression, in which the axes of the
crank-pin, stad d, and lever piu g, are in aligninent. Movement of the gear e in
either direction from this point will swing the lever rearwardly, cansing the pump
plunger to move toward the flushing side of the pump, thus creating a suction in
the soil pump, and filling, the latter with soil from the closet, and simultaneously
discharging the water from the flashing pump into the howl, this operation continuing
until the end of the oscillation of the pump in that direction, when the continued
motion of the crank pin will reverse the oscillation and the contents of the soil
chamber will be discharged and the flushing chamber again filled with flushing water
by the reverse movement of the pump plunger.
When an electro-motor Q is employed, any suitable generator for energixing the
motor may be utilized, and the motor itself will be of a character adapted to the
current supplied by such generator. In vessels particularly, it is usual to employ
either a storage battery or a small dynamo for operating the incandescent or other
lights required through the vessel, and in such cases the inotor can he fed from sneh
generator withont other special provisions. For the sake of simplicity, I have shown
diagrammatically a battery S as the means for energizing the motor, the circuit
connections between the battery and motor comprising a positive wire X and a
negative wire Y. The wire X leads to and is connected with the binding post h of
the motor, and the wire Y leads to and is connected with the binding post thereof.
While the circuit between the battery and motor is closed, the motor is continuously
driven and the closet continuously operated, and upon breaking the cirenit the motor
becomes inactive and operation of the closet ceases.
Any suitable provisions for controlling the operation of the motor either manually
or automatically may he employed. I prefer to use one or inore switches for this
purpose, one lettered T being a manual or hand switch suitably disposed where most
convenient for operation by the hand of the user of the closet, and the others being
suitably disposed at such places or points as will necessitate their automatic operation
prior to, during or after, the use of the closet, as desired. Two automatic switches are
shown, one lettered T₁ being disposed on the seat frame under or adjacent to the
seat C, and closed by the depression of the latter against its spring riser ; when a
person sits on the seat, and the other lettered T being disposed under or adjacent to
the treadle P of the valve O, or otherwise suitably combined with this flushing valve,
so that it will he operated automatically with the operation of the valve. These
three switches are so disposed in the line that closing of either of them will close the
circuit and cause the operation of the motor so long as any of the switches are closed.
The hand switch T is a passive switch which will ordinarily stand open, but when closed
will remain closed until again opened by hand; while the automatic switches T¹ and T
are spring switches which will automatically open and break the circuit as soon as.
released. These switches are preferably all placed in the wire X, which for this
purpose has a branch leading to the contact of the switch T, and a branch l¹.
leading from the spring thereof; also a branch ma leading to the contact point of
the switch T, and a branch m¹ leading from the contact spring n¹; and also a

page_text: branch o leading to the contact p of the switch T, and a branch a leading from the
contact. spring p' thereof back to the line.
As either of the automatic switches may be opened at any period of the operation
of the closet, and as it is desirable that the operation thereof should in any event
continue throughout a predetermined period, and is preferable that it should always
be arrested at the one point in the sequence of operations of the closet, my invention
provides means for continuing the operation of the closet. through one pumping and
discharge action, and for automatically terminating it at the position of rest of the
parts should the user have failed to have employed the hand switch T, or should
he open the latter switch at other than the time at which the parts are in this
position. These means are preferably an additional switch U automatically operated
by the moving parts of the closet, closing the circuit when these parts leave, and
preserving the circuit closed until these parts reach, certain predetermined positions.
The switch UI prefer to construct for the one part in a branch y leading from the
wire X to a contact spring fixed to any suitable point, as for example the easing of
the motor Q, and for the other part of a inovable and preferably circular contact piece
having an interrupter or notchill at one point, and a continuous conducting contact
surface throughout the remainder of its substantially annular face, which contact ring
makes electrical connection with the spring and is connected by the branch q with
the wire beyond the switch. The ring is preferably carried on the rim of the
gear c, and its interrupting notch is disposed to break the circuit through the
switch by coming opposite the spring at the instant that the parts reach
the position of rest shown in Fig. 1, and to close the circuit through the switch
immediately the parts leave this position, and keep it closed until they again reach.
this position. Thus should any other switches be closed even for an instant, the
switch U will necessitate one complete revolution of the gear e hefore permitting the
motor to discontinue operation, and when permitting such discontinuation, the parts
will be stopped at the desired position.
To provide for manual operation of the closet, my invention comprises an alternative
operating provision V, which preferably consists of an elongated hand lever 8, separably
seated in a socket t fixed to the spindle u. By oscillating this lever the pump can be
worked by hand if desired, and by lifting this lever out of the socket-piece the
automatic operation can proceed independently of manual manipulation. If automatic
operation is not required, the hand lever can be used, and the motor separated from
the closet by unscrewing the nut w and removing the stud g, so that the link is
disconnected from the lever J. This or any other suitable separable connection
whereby the automatic mechanism, or the inanual provision for operation of the
closet, can be used alternatively or in conjunction, is desirable.
In operation, should the user neglect to turn on the switch T, the automatic
switch T will throw the closet into operat on while the user is on the seat. If the
user depresses the foot trendle P, the closet will operate independently of the other
provisions, and thus it will be emptied as rapidly as supplied with flushing water.
In cases where the flushing water is taken from below the water level, this is important
as a security against flooding of the closet, as by my invention no flushing water can
pass to the bowl except while the pump is operated to discharge the latter. Should
the user neglect to operate the pump valve, the flushing will be omitted, but the soil
will be discharged by the pump and the closet, be left clean. If any person closes
and neglects to open the hand switch, the closet will simply continue to operate until
this is corrected by the attendant or a subsequent user. Such operation will be
harmless, and will not be in any sense undesirable. To avoid unusual resistance to
such continued operation, I employ in conjunction with my automatically operated
pump, the relief passage Z around the discharge valve of the flushing puin. This
passage consists of a pipe extending from the upper part of the flushing pipe I, to
the air pipe N, and avoids the vacuum incident to the action of the flushing pump
which would occur if the water or feed valve S¹ cannot supply water to the pump, by
reason of failure to permit a flow of water through the pipe M, due to the closing of
the valve incident to the elevated position of the treadle I. The hand lever V will

page_text: generally be uncoupled or rendered inoperative relatively to the pump, so that it will
not have to participate in all the movements of the latter; but it will be conveniently
place: so that at any time it can be employed should the motor or the source of
power fail, or be insufficient to overcome any unusual resistance to operation of the
closet.
It will be seen that my invention provides improve.nents which can be conveniently
and advantageously availed of for operating closets either for discharging or emptying
them, or for flushing them, or for inaugurating or terminating either of these
operations, and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular
use or adaptation shown and described as constituting its preferre form, but that it
can be employed for any analogous modification, as circumstances or the judgment of
those skilled in the art may suggest, without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
When automatic controllers or switches are employed for starting or terminating
the operation of the closet, it will be understood that they can be so disposed as to be
operated by any part necessarily moved precedent or subsequent to the use of the
closet or analogous device, many such parts being commonly employed, and all being
equally available for this purpose.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in Means for Operating Water-closets and the like,
and in Pumps and Valves applicable to Water-closets and other
Devices.
I, ERNEST PHILIP SANDS, of No. 134 Beckman Street, in the City, County and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 relates to water closets and analogous sanitary devices which
require to be operated, either for discharging the soil therefrom, or for supplying
flushing water thereto, or both, and aims to provide improved means for operating
such devices. The invention is especially applicable to discharging and flushing
water closets, particularly ships' closets, with reference to which the invention will be
described.
Heretofore a lever or handle to be operated by the user has been relied on for
the flushing and discharge of ships' closets. In such closets particularly, several
operations of such handle are desirable to thoroughly empty and flush the closet,
and in practice it is sometimes found that these operations are imperfectly performed
by the user of the closet, which renders it necessary that the occasional attention
of an attendant be given to keep the closet in proper condition.
My invention aims, firstly, to provide improved means whereby the closets can be
operated with facility without the exercise of strength or force on the part of the
user, and preferably automatically and to a precise extent when used; and secondly,
to provide an improved pump and valve especially applicable to water-closets.
To this end in carrying out the invention, I provide a suitable motor having the
requisite power for effecting a number of operations of the closet, preferably using
an electro-motor, a suitable source of power, as for example a storage battery or
electric generator, for this motor, a suitable connection between such motor and the

page_text: operating parts of the closet for applying the power of the inotor to these parts to cause
them to operate, connecting by preference both the discharging and the flushing appa-
ratus to the motor in such manner as to operate each therefrom, suitable means for
throwing the motor into operation, such means preferably adapted to operate at will,
and also operating automatically incident to the use of the closet, and suitable
means for terminating the operation of the closet at predetermined or desired periods
or points in its operation, and preferably also separable means whereby the closet can
be operated manually, if eircumstances render this necessary.
While my invention can be applied to varions constructions of apparatus, I will
describe it as applied to a ship's water-closet, and in the form in which an electric
motor with a generator and switches is employed.
In the drawings left with my Provisional Specification, which show the preferred
form of the invention, and to which I will now refer,
Fig. is a fragmentary side elevation of a ship's water closet provided with my
improvements;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof; and
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuits,
Referring to the said drawings, let A indicate a water-closet, B the howl thereof,
C the seat thereof, E the discharge pipe therefrom, F the painp, G the soil pump
or side thereof into which the discharge pipe E opens, H the water or flushing aide
thereof from which water is fed to flush the closet, I the plunger of the pump,
J the operating lever thereof, K the soil discharge pipe, L the flushing pipe,
M the water pipe, N an air relief pipe, O an air and water valve, and P the operating
treadle therefor.
These parts inay be of any usual or suitable construction and operation, those
shown comprising detail features of improvement incident to my present invention,
and being taken as one example of a sanitary apparatus to which the main features
of my present improvements are especially applicable. In the construction shown,
the seat is a hinged seat carried by a seat frame D.
According to certain features of improvement the pump F is a combined soil
discharge and flushing water pump having an oscillating plunger I swinging on the
axis of a spindle w, the plunger dividing the interior of the pump into two chambers,
the soil chamber or pump 6, and the flushing chamber or pump H, each having
separate and independent suction and discharge pipes. The plunger I in its
normal position rests opposite and closes the soil outlet E from the bowl.
The soil discharge pipe K leads from the pump G to the ocean, or to any other
suitable place of discharge, in a ship's closet, usually to a point below the water
level. The water pipe M leads from a source of flushing water, as for example
from below the water level of the ocean in a ship's closet, and supplies water to
the flushing pump H, from which the water as discharged passes through the
flushing pipe L into the bowl B to flush the latter. The valve O may be any
suitable valve for preventing a flow of water through the pipe M to the pump,
except when desired, and for relieving the suction when the flushing pump is
operated without a supply of flushing water, in which case the valve may permit
an inflow of air to the pamp through the air pipe N, according to any well known
method of operation for this purpose. The treadle P is disposed near the floor,
where it can be conveniently depressed by the foot of the user of the closet, and its
purpose isto operate the valve O to close off the air pipe N and permit a flow of water from
the pipe M tothe flushing pumpy In ordinary use heretofore, such closets have been operated
by the user, who has placed his foot on the treadle Pand then manipulated the pump manu-
ally by a handle fixed thereto, thus simultaneously emptying and flushing the closet.
Should the user neglect to depress the treadle, or be ignorant of the desirability
thereof, the relief valve would permit the manual operation of the pump, and the
closet would he emptied but not flushed,
The valve O is improved in that it contains the suction valve S₁ for the flushing
pump, the water valve q beyond this valve S¹ and closing on its sent with the
inflowing current, and the air valve a' sealing over the air inlet pipe N, all these valves

page_text: being carried on the one treadle stem a", guided by passing through the inner end of
the pipe N, fixedly carrying the water and air valves, and closing the former as it
opens the latter, and loosely carrying the suction valve S as a clack valve. Thus
the air valve is always open when the water valve is closed, closing of the latter is insured
in any case by the inward pressure should the usual spring or other means provided
therefor fail, and the suction valve is always free to act and is provided for in a
simple and convenient way.
According to the main feature of my present invention, I provide improved means
for operating the closet, which I will now describe in detail in their preferred form
as applied to the closet shown. These improvements preferably comprise a motor Q
capable of operating the closet, a connection R between this motor and the operating
parts of the closet, means S for energizing the motor, controlling provisions T for
throwing the latter into operation, means U for terminating the operation of the
motor, and separable provision V permitting manual operation of the closet when
desired. These parts inay he of any suitable character, construction or method of
operation, but I prefer to employ for these several features the parts, construction
and arrangement which I will now describe in detail.
The motor Q may be any suitable engine or motor for driving the operating
mechanisin of the closet, and the connection R may be any suitable connection by
which the driving effect of the motor is communicated or applied to the closet.
Preferably the motor is an electric motor having a rotative arinature shaft a carrying
a toothed pinion b, which rotates with considerable speed while the motor is driven,
and the connection R consists of a spur-gear c, preferably having internal teeth meshing
with the pinion b, and driven thereby, mounted to rotate on a fixed stud d, and
having a crank-pin or equivalent provision e by which it is connected through a
link with a ping near the end of the operating lever J. As the gear is driven by
the pinion its crank-pin passes through a circular path, in travelling which its motion
is communicated to the lever J by the link f in such manner as to oscillate the lever
and throw the plunger from one extreme position to the reverse extreme position and
back. The crank-pin and lever are preferably connected so that at one point, which
will be termed the inactive position of the apparatus, the plunger I of the pump will
be opposite and close the outlet E of the bowl, so that while inactive, communication
between the pump and bowl will be closed. The inactive point of the crank-pin
in the construction shown, is its point of extreme depression, in which the axes of
the crank-pin, stud d, and lever pin, are in alignment. Movement of the gear c in
either direction from this point will swing the lever rearwardly, causing the pump
plunger to move toward the flushing side of the pump, thus creating a suction in
the soil pump, and filling the latter with soil from the closet, and simultaneously
discharging the water from the flushing pump into the bowl, this operation
continuing until the end of the oscillation of the pump in that direction, when ite
continued motion of the crank pin will reverse the oscillation and the contents of
the soil chamber will be discharged and the flushing chamber again filled with
flushing water by the reverse movement of the pump plunger.
When an electro-motor Qis employed, any suitable generator for energizing the
motor may be utilized, and the motor itself will be of a character adapted to the
current supplied by such generator. In vessels particularly, it is usual to employ
either a storage battery or a small dynamo for operating the incandescent or other
lights required through the vessel, and in such cases the motor can be fed from such
generator without other special provisions. For the sake of simplicity, I have shown
diagrammatically a battery S as the means for energizing the motor, the circuit
connections between the battery and motor comprising a positive wire X and a
negative wire Y. The wire X leads to and is connected with the binding post h of
the motor, and the wire Y leads to and is connected with the binding post i thereof.
While the circuit between the battery and motor is closed, the motor is continuously
driven and the closet continuously operated, and upon breaking the circuit the motor
becomes inactive and operation of the closet ceases.

page_text: Any suitable provisions for controlling the operation of the motor either manually
or automatically may he employed. I prefer to use one or more switches for this
purpose, one lettered T being a manual or hand switch suitably disposed where most
convenient for operation by the hand of the user of the closet, and the others being
suitably disposed at such places or points as will necessitate their automatic operation
prior to, during or after, the use of the closet, as desired. Two automatic switches
are shown, one lettered T¹ being disposed on the seat frame under or adjacent to the
seat C, and closed by the depression of the latter against its spring riser when a
person sits on the seat, and the other lettered T being disposed under or adjacent
to the treadle P of the valve 0, or otherwise suitably combined with this flushing
valve, so that it will be operated automatically with the operation of the valve.
These three switches are so disposed in the line that closing of either of them will
close the circuit and cause the operation of the motor so long as any of the switches
are closed. The hand switch Tis a passive switch which will ordinarily stand open,
but when closed will remain closed until again opened by hand; while the automatic
switches T and T are spring switches which will automatically open and break the
circuit as soon as released. These switches are preferably all placed in the wire X,
which for this purpose has a branch & leading to the contact of the switch T, and a
branch leading from the spring thereof; also a branch m leading to the contact
point n of the switch T, and a branch m² leading from the contact spring ; and
also a branch o leading to the contact p of the switch T, and a branch of leading
from the contact spring pl thereof back to the line.
As either of the automatic switches may be opened at any period of the operation
of the closet, and as it is desirable that the operation thereof should in any event
continue throughout a predetermined period, and is preferable that it should always
be arrested at the one point in the sequence of operations of the closet, my invention
provides means for continuing the operation of the closet through one pumping and
discharge action, and for automatically terminating it at the position of rest of the
parts should the user have failed to have employed the hand switch T, or should be
open the latter switch at other than the time at which the parts are in this position.
These means are preferably an additional switch U automatically operated by the
moving parts of the closet, closing the circuit when these parts leave, and preserving
the circuit closed until these parts reach, certain predetermined operations. The
switch U I prefer to construct for the one part in a branch q leading from the wire X
to a contact spring r fixed to any suitable point, as for example the casing of the
motor Q, and for the other part of a movable and preferably circular contact piece 1
having an interrupter or notch at one point, and a continuous conducting contact
surface throughout the remainder of its substantially annular face, which contact
ring makes electrical connection with the spring r and is connected by the branch q
with the wire X beyond the switch. The ring is preferably carried on the rim of
the gear c, and its interrupting notch 11 is disposed to break the circuit through the
switch by coming opposite the spring at the instant that the parts reach the
position of- rest shown in Fig. 1, and to close the circuit through the switch
immediately the parts leave this position, and keep it closed until they again reach
this position. Thus should any other switches he closed even for an instant, the
switch U will necessitate one complete revolution of the gear c before permitting the
motor to discontinue operation, and when permitting such discontinuation, the parts
will be stopped at the desired position.
u.
To provide for manual operation of the closet, my invention comprises an
alternative operating provision V, which preferably consists of an elongated hand
lever 8, separably seated in a socket t fixed to the spindle . By oscillating this
lever the pump can be worked by hand if desired, and by lifting this lever ont of the
socket-piece the antomatic operation can proceed independently of manual
manipulation. If automatic operation is not required, the hand lever can be used,
and the motor separated from the closet by unscrewing the nut w and removing the
study, so that the link f is disconnected from the lever J. This or any other
suitable separable connection whereby the automatic mechanism, or the inanual

page_text: provision for operation of the closet, can be used alternately or in conjunction, is
desirable.
In operation, should the user neglect to turn on the switch T, the automatic
switch T will throw the closet into operation while the user is on the seat. If the
user depresses the foot trendle P, the closet will operate independently of the other
provisions, and thus it will be emptied as rapidly as supplied with flushing water.
In cases where the flushing water is taken from below the water level, this is
important as a security against flooding of the closet, as by my invention no flushing
water can pass to the bowl except while the pump is operated to discharge the latter.
Should the user neglect to operate the pump valve, the flushing will be omitted, but
the soil will be discharged by the pump and the closet will be left clean. If any
person closes and neglects to open the hand switch, the closet will simply continue
to operate until this is corrected by the attendant or a subsequent user. Such
operation will be harmless, and will not be in any sense undesirable. To avoid
unusual resistance to such continued operation, I employ in conjunction with my
automatically operated pump, the relief passage Z around the discharge valve
the flushing pump. This passage consists of a pipe extending from the upper part
of the flushing pipe L to the air pipe N, and avoids the vacuum incident to the
action of the flushing pump which would occur if the water or feed valve S¹ cannot
supply water to the pump, by reason of failure to permit a flow of water through
the pipe M, due to the closing of the valve q incident to the elevated position of
the treadle P. The hand lever V will generally be uncoupled or rendered inoperative
relatively to the pump, so that it will not have to participate in all the movements
of the latter; but it will be conveniently placed so that at any time it can be
employed should the motor or the source of power fail, or be insufficient to overcome
any unusual resistance to operation of the closet.
of
It will be seen that iny invention provides improvements which can be
conveniently and advantageously availed of for operating closets either for discharging
or emptying them, or for flushing them, or for inaugurating or terminating either of
these operations, and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the
particular use or adaptation shown and described as constituting its preferred forin,
but that it can be employed for any analogous modification, as circunstances or the
judgment of those skilled in the art may suggest, without departing from the spirit
of the invention.
When automatic controllers or switches are employed for starting or terminating
the operation of the closet, it will be understood that they can be so disposed as to
be operated by any part necessarily moved precedent or subsequent to the use of the
closet or analogous device, many such parts being commonly employed, and all
being equally available for this purpose.
Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings is an enlarged section of the valve O
showing the treadle broken out and turned at right angles. As shown, the
pipes N, M and L are connected to a casing 1, the pipe N ending in a neck 2,
being part of the casing, which neck has a central aperture through which the
stem a passes, and a top seating face 3 through which the pipe N opens into
the casing below the valve a¹. At its lower end the casing has a seat 4 against the
lower side of which the valve q seats, while on the upper side of this seat the
clack-valve S1 seats. The valve q is fixed to the stem a, and the valve S¹ is
movable on this stem. The valve a is fixed to the stein, and seats to close the
pipe N when the stem is depressed to open the pipe M. Then the valve S' is free
to act as a clack-valve, rising from its seat to perimit inflow of water and closing to
check backflow. The stem is coupled to a rubber bulb 5, which serves as a spring
for elevating the stem. A hood 6 covers the bulb and guides the upper end of the
stem.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I

page_text: 1. In water closets and the like, the combination with a bowl and the power driven
operating mechanism thereof, of a motor connected to, operating and driving, such
mechanism, and a source of power connected to such motor for energizing it,
substantially as described.
2. In power driven water closets and like devices, the combination with a bowl and
the operative mechanism of such devices, of a motor, means onnecting such motor
with said mechanism and operating and driving the latter from the former, and means
controling the operation of such motor, substantially as described.
3. In non-automatic water closets and like devices, a bowl, and soil discharge
apparates therefor, in combination with a motor operating and driving such
and means controlling the operation of such motor, substantially as described.
qoratus,
4. In water closets, a bowl and, power actuated flushing apparatus therefor, in
combination with a motor, a connection between such motor and said apparatas oper-
ating ani driving the latter from the former, and means controlling the operation i
such inotor, substantially as described.
5. For operating power actuated closets and like devices, the combination with a
water closet bowl and the operating apparatus thereof, of an electro-motor, and a o
tion between the latter and sach apparatus operating and driving such apparatus with
the operation of the motor, and means controlling the operation of such motor,
substantially as described.
6. A water closet bowl, a power driven closet operating mechanism, an electro-
motor driving such mechanisni, in combination with a connection between the latter
and the operative mechanism of such devices, a source of electric energy, a connection
between such souree and said motor, and a switch controlling such connection, and
automatically operated by the use of the closet, substantially as described.
7. In water closets and the like, the combination with a bowl and mechanism for
cleaning it, of a motor connected to, driving and moving the said mechanism of the
closet, and means terminating the operation of such motor and operated by the
movement of such mechanisin, substantially as described.
8. In power operated water closets and the like, a bowl, and mechanism for cleaning
it, in combination with an electro-motor driving the operating mechanism of the
closet, a connection between the latter and the operating mechanism of the closet,
and a switch controlling operation of such motor and controlled by the operating
mechanism of the closet, such switch operated at a predetermined position of such
mechanism, and then discontinuing action of such motor therein, substantially as
described.
9. In power operated water closets and the like, a bowl, and a passive discharge
pump connected with the soil passage of the closet and having a plunger closing such
passage when in one position, in combination with power driven means operating said
pump, and means terminating automatically the operation of such pump when said
plunger is opposite and closing such passage, substantially as described.
10. In means for operating closets and the like, a flushing pump, in combination
with operating means automatically operating the latter, and a valve controlling the
flushing operation, and means automatically starting said operating means when said
valve is operated, substantially as described.
11. In means for operating closets and the like, a combined flushing and discharge
pump, in combination with operating means automatically operating said pump, a
valve controlling flow of flushing water thereto, and a relief passage relieving the
vacuum at the flushing side of said pamp when said valve is closed, substantially us
described.
12. In means for operating force actuated closets and other devices, the combina-
tion with a bowl and the operating inechanism of such devices, of an automatic power
operator and a manual operator for operating and driving such mechanism, the one
separably connected thereto, whereby one operator can be used independently of the
other, substantially as described.
13. In means for operating force driven water closets and like devices, the combina-
tion with a bowl, and the operating mechanism thereof, of an automatically operated

page_text: power motor connected thereto and driving such mechanism, and a separable
connection between such motor and such mechanism, substantially as described.
14. In water closets and the like, the combination with the bowl, and the driven
operating mechanism thereof, of an electro-motor connected thereto and operating
and driving such mechanism, an electric circuit in such motor, and a plurality of
switches in such circuit controlling operation of the motor.
15. In water closets and tlie like, the combination with a bowl, and the driven
operating mechanism of the closet, of an electro-motor connected thereto and oper-
ating and driving such mechanism, an electric circuit leading to such motor, and a
hand switch and an automatically operated switch controlling energizing of such
motor.
16. In water closets and the like, the combination with a bowl, and the driven
operating mechanism thereof, of an electro-motor connected to and operating and
driving such mechanism, an electric circuit leading to such motor, and an electric
switch controlling such circuit and automatically operated by the use of the seat of
the closet, substantially as described.
17. For operating closets and the like, the combination with the operative
mechanism of the closet, of an electro-inotor connected to and operating such
mechanisin, a switch controlling energizing of such motor, and a second switch con-
trolling energizing thereof operating coincidently with the operation of the closet,
and terminating operation of such motor at a predetermined period in the operation
of the closet, substantially as described.
18. An electrically operated pump water closet, comprising a bowl, and an
electrically driven pump for cleaning it.
19. A pump water closet, comprising a bowl, and a soil pump, in combination with
electrical means controlling operation thereof.
20. An oscillating plunger pump water closet, comprising a bowl and an oscillating
plunger pump for cleaning it, in combination with electro-magnetically operated
means oscillating said pump.
21. For water closets and other purposes, the combination with a bowl, of a pump
comprising a casing and an oscillating plunger swinging therein through the arc of a
circle, and dividing the interior of said casing into two distinct and isolated chambers,
the one a soil pump at one side, of said plunger communicating with the outlet from
said bowl, and a discharge passage from said soil chamber, and the other a water
chainber at the other side of said plunger, a water supply passage for said water
chamber, and a flushing pipe leading therefrom to said bowl, said plunger when
oscillating in one direction emptying said bowl and forcing flushing water thereto,
and when moving in the other direction discharging the contents from said bowl, the
suction and discharge of said soil pump being isolated from and independently of
those of said water pump, and means normally holding said plunger opposite said soil
passage for closing it, substantially as described.
22. In pumps for water closets and the like, a pump casing having a suction
inlet and a discharge outlet, in combination with a pump having an oscillating
plunger moving in said casing on an axis parallel with said inlet, and when in one
position covering and closing communication through said suction inlet, substantially
as described.
23. In pumps and the like, a casing having an internal chamber having an arc-
shaped wall, converging walls extending toward each other therefrom, and an
intervening arc-shaped wall connecting said converging walls, and side walls closing
said chamber and one having an inlet passage, and an oscillating plunger working in
said casing with its edge crossing and closing said passage, and having walls fitting
and making a leak-tight joint with the walls of said chamber, said plunger partition-
ing the interior of said casing into two distinct and isolated pump chambers, separate
suction and discharge valves communicating with said casing at each side of said
plunger, and inlet and discharge passages for said pump, those of one chamber
independent of and isolated from those of the other, substantially as described.

page_text: 24. For closets and the like, an oscillating pump F having a single shell having
two separate pump chambers G and H, and intermediate oscillating plunger I, a soil
suction pipe E parallel with the axis of said plunger and crossed thereby, and a
soil discharge pipe K lading from said chamber G, a water pipe M, a flushing pipe L,
and an air relief pipe N communicating with said chamber H, and independent of
said pipes E aul K, substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
25. For pumps and the like, a suction valve $1 and a discharge valve V, a coin-
municating passage between said valves, remote from the pump, and a passage
leading froin said passage to a pump, in combination with an automatically closing
water valve beyond said suction valve controlling flow of water thereto, and indepen-
dent thereof in its operation, and closing with the flow, and means for opening said
water valve temporarily, substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
26. In valves for pumps and the like, a water valve and a relief valve connected to
move together, a water passage controlled by the one and a relief passage controlled by
the other, a valve stem connection and moving said valves, and means moving said
stem, said valves disposed, the relief valve to close with the movement of the water
valve to the open position, and to open with the movement of the water valve to the
closed position, and a check valve movable independently of said valves and controlling
back flow through said water valve, substantially as described.
27. In valves, a water valve opening against a current, and a clack-valve opening
with the current, and means carrying both said valves permitting movement of the
one relatively to the other, substantially as described.
28. In pump valves, a pump, and a normally closed supply valve, and 'discharge
pipe and suction and discharge valves therefor, in combination with a normally open
cominunicating conduit extending from said discharge pipe to the suction side of
said discharge valve, and means closing said conduit when said supply valve is open,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
041 dew of Tule 1807
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered l'atent Agents.