IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER WASTE PREVENTING CISTERNS
Year: 1885

page_text: We JOHN HOWLETT of 10 Albert Terrace, Terry Street, Stepney, Hull in th
county of York Plumber and THOMAS PANARIO of 17 St. Philip's Street, Battersea
in the county of Surrey Clerk do hereby declare the nature of our said invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER WASTE PREVENTING CISTERNS to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide a cistern from which the water shall
be rapidly emptied when required by and through a syphon whereby a very
effective flush shall be delivered but we so arrange and fit this cistern and the
syphon therein that an overflow pipe can be provided and thus the great drawback
to the use of syphonic cisterns is avoided.
To carry out this object we construct a suitable cistern to which the water is
admitted through a pipe governed by a ball or other valve and from which any
surplus water can pass away through an overflow pipe. In this cistern in such a
position that the bend thereof is below the level of the water when the cistern
is properly full we arrange a syphon or a bent pipe the entrance mouth of which
is near the bottom of the said cistern. The other part or long leg of the syphon
is trapped and then passes through the bottom of the cistern to the closet or other
place where the flush is required. An air pipe is led from the syphon preferably
near the trap thereof to any suitable position above the level of the water when
the cistern is full in which pipe is fitted a valve or tap. Thus when the trap of
the syphon is filled with water and the cistern is properly filled through the ball
or other valve no water can pass away from the said cistern through the said
syphon until the air contained in the bend thereof is allowed to escape through the
air pipe and if any of the fittings are out of order the overflow pipe comes into
action as is desired but when the valve or tap in the air pipe is opened the air in
the bend of the syphon escapes the syphonic action is immediately established the
flush is effected and the cistern is emptied as is required.
The aforesaid trapping of the long leg of the syphon can be effected in any
usual or convenient manner, one method consists in bending the pipe that
constitutes the syphon into the usual or other form of a trap before it passes
through the bottom of the cistern. Another method consists in forming a tight
chamber in the bottom of the cistern into which the long leg of the syphon opens
passing down nearly to the bottom thereof while the discharge pipe also opens
into this tight chamber passing up nearly to the top thereof thus sealing or trapping

page_text: the leg of the syphon as is required. When the syphon consists of a cap placed
over the elevated end or entrance mouth of the discharge pipe which form is very
suitable for use in and for this our invention the trap consists of another similar
but smaller cap also placed over the discharge pipe and between these two caps is
placed a short piece of pipe tightly secured on the bottom of the cistern the space
between which and the inner cap constitutes the long leg of the syphon which is
trapped by the inner smaller cap. The air pipe in all these or other cases is
connected to the syphon as aforesaid preferably near the trap thereof.
The aforesaid air pipe can be led down to the closet or other place where the
flush is required and can there be fitted with the valve or tap which also can be
actuated by a handle and counterweighted to ensure the shutting of the said
valve or tap when the said handle is released. The air pipe can also terminate
immediately above or near the cistern or elsewhere and a lever moved by a pull
or an electric current or magnet or other usual or convenient means and appliances
can be used to actuate the valve or tap. In addition to this valve or tap aforesaid
another valve can also be fitted in the air pipe when desired which would be
governed by the usual or other ball lever and would be so arranged that when the
water is not at its proper full level in the cistern the passage through the said air
pipe is closed and the flush therefore cannot be effected even if the aforesaid valve
or tap he opened by hand or otherwise but when the water in the cistern has
attained its proper full level this supplementary valve is opened by the floating
ball and the air contained as aforesaid in the bend of the syphon has a clear free
passage to the aforesaid valve or tap by the opening of which the flush is effected
as is required.

page_text: Improvements in Water Waste Preventing Cisterns.
We JOHN HOWLETT of 10 Albert Terrace Terry Street Stepney Hull in the
county of York Plumber and THOMAS PANARIO of 17 St. Philip's Street Battersea
in the county of Surrey Clerk 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 :-
The object of our invention is to produce and provide for use a cistern from
which the water shall be rapidly discharged when required by and through a
syphon whereby a very effective flush shall be delivered but we so arrange and fit
this cistern and the syphon therein that an overflow pipe can be provided and
thus the great and increasingly felt drawback to the use of syphonic cisterns is
avoided.
To carry out this object we construct a suitable cistern to which the water is
admitted through a pipe governed by a ball or other valve and from which any
surplus water can pass away through an overflow pipe. In this cistern in such a
position that the bend thereof is below the level of the water when the cistern is
properly full we arrange a syphon or a bent pipe the entrance mouth of which is
near the bottom of the said cistern. The other part or the long leg of the syphon
is trapped in any usual or convenient manner and then passes through the bottom
of the cistern to the closet or other place where the flush is required.
An air pipe
is led from the bend of the syphon preferably from near the trap of the said
syphon to any suitable position outside of the cistern passing out of the same above
the level of the water therein when the said cistern is full in which pipe is fitted
a valve or tap. Thus when the trap of the syphon is filled with water and the
cistern is properly filled through the ball or other valve no water can pass away
from the said cistern through the said syphon until the air contained in the bend
of the said syphon is allowed to escape through the air pipe and if any of the
fittings are out of order the overflow pipe comes into action as is desired but when
the valve or tap in the air pipe is opened the air which is under a pressure.
proportionate to the height of the water above the said bend of the syphon
immediately escapes therefrom and the syphonic action being thus and thereby
established the flush is effected and the cistern is emptied as is desired and
required.
In order the more clearly to explain this our invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed we refer to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is the vertical section of a cistern fitted according to this our invention
shewing one extremely suitable and convenient method of constructing and trapping
'the syphon.
4
A is any usual cistern to which the water can be admitted through the ball
valve B and from which the surplus water if any can pass away through the
overflow pipe C. According to this method the syphon and the trap thereof are
constructed as follows. The discharge pipe D through which the water passes
from the cistern to the closet or other place where the flush is required and which
constitutes the long leg of the syphon rises up through the bottom of the cistern A

page_text: terminating at a suitable height therein with an open mouth. Over this pipe D is
placed a cap E or a larger short piece of pipe with a closed top which top is raised
a suitable height above the mouth of the said pipe D while the bottom of this
.cap E is preferably a similar height above the bottom of the cistern A and outside
this cap E is again another larger short piece of pipe F secured on the said bottom
of the cistern A and rising therein a convenient height preferably just below the
level of the said mouth of the pipe D and outside again the said pipe F is another
larger cap G or a larger short piece of pipe with a closed top which top also is
raised a suitable height above the top edge or mouth of the said pipe F while the
bottom of this cap Ğ is preferably also a similar height above the said bottom of
the cistern A or thereabouts. All these short pieces of pipe aforesaid namely the
pipes EF and G may be of any shape in cross section whether square or rectangular
or rectilinear or as is most preferable circular and in every case an annular or other
shaped space is created and formed between the several pipes all round the same.
Thus in this method the space between the pipes G and F constitutes the entrance
mouth and short leg of the syphon the bend whereof is formed by the closed top
of the said pipe G over the top edge or mouth of the said pipe F and the other
part or long leg whereof is trapped by the pipe E descending or dipping between
the said pipe F and the pipe D and to the short leg of the syphon or to the said
pipe G is preferably fitted the usual small pipe H by which a small quantity of
air is admitted to the syphon when the flush has nearly terminated in order
gradually to so terminate the same and thus prevent the great noise that is created
when the mouth of the syphon is suddenly and at one instant uncovered by the
inrush of air thereto. From a convenient position in the bend of the syphon
preferably near the trap thereof an air pipe K is led upwards to a position above
the level of the water in the cistern A when the same is properly full and then
this pipe K is preferably continued down as shewn at K' to the closet or other
place where the flush is required where the said pipe K¹ may terminate in a
suitable chamber L and be fitted with any usual or convenient valve or tap M the
actuating lever or rod N whereof would be counterweighted to keep the said valve
or tap M normally shut and any suitable handle or other appliance would be fitted
by which the said lever or rod N could be raised when required to open the said
valve or tap M.
Thus according to this method of construction when the trap of the syphon or
the space between the pipes D and F is filled with water and the valve M is closed
and water is admitted to the cistern A through the ball valve B the air contained
in the bend of the syphon or the space between the pipes G and F and between
the closed top of the said pipe G and the top edge or mouth of the said pipe F
cannot escape and therefore the water cannot pass away from the said cistern A
through the syphon and the air in the said bend of the syphon is placed under a
pressure proportionate to the height of the water in the said cistern A above the
said bend of the syphon and with the object of somewhat equalizing the weight of
water on each side of the said bend of the syphon we preferably as is shewn in
the drawing raise the bend of the trap higher than the said bend of the syphon
so as to provide a higher column of water to be supported by the air so under
pressure as aforesaid on this the discharge side of the said bend of the syphon
and thus to a certain extent maintain a greater equality in the levels of the water
on the two sides of the said bend of the syphon. Then when the air valve M is
opened this air so under pressure immediately escapes from the bend of the syphon
and the syphonic action being thus and thereby established the flush is effected
as is desired.
According to this method of construction however if the air valve is held and
retained open the flush would be again effected immediately the water in the
cistern had covered the top of the trapped syphon and thus the water would be
continually flowing into the said cistern. Now to obviate and render impracticable
this waste of water we preferably fit in or connect with the air pipe another
valve constructed as follows. A suitable chamber P is formed in or interposed

page_text: between the two parts of the air pipe K just above the level of the water when
the cistern A is properly full and in this chamber P is preferably secured an air
tight but flexible diaphragm R through which passes and to which is attached the
rod T of the valve V by which valve V the said pipe K at the entrance thereof to
or at the exit thereof from the said chamber P can be tightly closed or the said
rod T of the valve V may pass through a stuffing box in the proper position in
the walls of the said chamber P whereby the said diaphragm R would be dispensed
with. The rod T of the valve V is actuated by a ball lever W in such a manner
that when the cistern A is not filled up to the desired proper level the valve V is
forced against its seat on the end of the pipe K and thus the air cannot escape
from the bend of the syphon even if the valve M is held and retained open but
when the water has reached its proper level in the said cistern A the said ball
lever W draws the said valve V by the said rod T away from its seat on the end
of the said pipe K and the air has a clear passage from the said bend of the
syphon to the said valve M and the flush can immediately be effected by opening
the said valve M.
Figure 2 is the vertical section of a cistern fitted according to this our invention
shewing another method of constructing and trapping the syphon.
According to this method the syphon and the trap thereof are constructed as:
follows. The discharge pipe D which constitutes the long leg of the syphon as
hereinbefore described rises up through the bottom of the cistern A in a similar
manner terminating therein with an open mouth but preferably at a lower level
than is herein before stated and over the said pipe D is placed a cap X the closed
top of which cap X is raised a suitable height above the mouth of the said pipe D
while the bottom of this cap X is tightly secured on the bottom of the said
cistern A and thus a tight chamber is formed by the said cap X in the said.
cistern A into which the said discharge pipe D opens. The bent pipe Z in this
case constitutes the syphon and the entrance mouth thereof is situated at a con-
venient height above the bottom of the cistern A and the bend thereof is below
the level of the water in the said cistern A when the same is properly full while
the other part or long leg thereof enters the chamber formed by the cap X as
herein before described passing down nearly to the bottom of the said chamber and
terminating below the level of the mouth of the discharge pipe D whereby the
said syphon Z is trapped by the water retained in the said chamber formed by the
tight cap X aforesaid by the elevated mouth of the said discharge pipe D and this
syphon Z also is preferably fitted with the small pipe H for the purpose herein-
before declared. The air pipe K is also connected to and with the syphon Z in
manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described and the said air pipe K is
also fitted with the valve M and may be fitted with the valve V as hereinbefore
described and thus when the trap of this syphon Z or the space inside the chamber
formed by the tight cap X is filled with water up to the level of the mouth of the
discharge pipe D and water is admitted to the cistern A through the ball valve B
the air contained in the bend of the said syphon Z cannot escape until the said
valve M is opened and therefore the water cannot pass away from the said
cistern A through the said syphon Z and the air in the said bend of the syphon Z
is placed under a pressure as is herein before described but when this air so under
pressure is allowed by the opening of the said valve M to escape through the
said air pipe K the syphonic action is immediately established and the flush is
effected as is desired.
According to another method the pipe that constitutes the syphon can be bent
into the usual or other form of a trap before it passes through the bottom of the
cistern or after such passage as may be desired. In this method the pipe is first
bent into the desired form of the syphon and is then again bent upwards and
afterwards downwards to form the trap and the bend of the syphon in this case
is also below the level of the water in the cistern when the same is properly full
as is hereinbefore stated while the bend of the trap thereof may be at any desired
or convenient level is respect of the said bend of the syphon and this syphon also

page_text: is fitted with an air pipe and preferably with the small pipe in manner as and for
the purpose herein before described and declared.
We have thus particularly described and shewn in what manner this our
invention is to be performed but we would have it clearly understood that we do
in no wise limit ourselves to the precise details of the construction and the fitting
of the several parts of this our apparatus or to the shapes and forms of the same or
to the exact methods of actuating working and governing the same as so described
and shewn although we consider the said details and shapes and forms and methods.
are extremely suitable and convenient for carrying out our object hereinbefore.
declared. For instance instead of the valve V hereinbefore described any usual or
suitable apparatus or appliance may be fitted to render it impossible to hold and
retain the actuating air valve M continually open. Again the air pipe K instead
of being continued down to the closet or other place where the flush is required
can terminate any where above or below the cistern or elsewhere and there and in
that position be fitted with any desired air valve which valve also can be actuated
by a pull or an electric current or magnet or other usual or convenient means or
appliances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what|
we claim is
1. In a cistern the combination of the trapped syphon and an air pipe sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and declared.
2. The combination of the pipes D and F the caps E and G and the air pipe K
with valve M substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination of the pipes D and Z the cap X and the air pipe K with
valve M substantially as herein before described.
4. The combination with a trapped syphon of the air pipe K with valve M and
the valve V substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
declared.
Dated this 951 love of January 1990