Improvements in Water-closets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan.,
1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-closets.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Arthur O'Brien
and George B. Child, both of the City of Helena, Lewis and Clarke County, State
of Montana, U.S.A. Inventors,) to be as follows :-
This our invention has reference to certain new and useful improvements in
water-closets whereby they are more efficiently flushed and ventilated.
By this our invention I provide a bowl which is preferably constructed of
earthenware, and of the usual shape. A channel is formed integrally therewith
and around the top edge thereof. This channel communicates with the interior of
the bowl through a series of slots. An opening leads from the said channel and is
arranged in line coincident with the channel. A coupling adapted to be passed
through a wall or other support is connected with the aforesaid opening. Suitable
openings are formed in the said coupling, and have connections with a vent-pipe
and an overflow-pipe. The bowl is provided with a flushing rim and with a water
supply therefor. There is also the usual opening in the lower portion of the bowl
which is connected with the soil-pipe.
This oth 1 T..1- 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-closets
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Arthur O'Brien
and George B. Child, both of the City of Helena, Lewis and Clarke County, State
of Montana, U.S.A. Inventors,) and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My present invention has reference to wash-out water-closets, the object being
to improve the general construction and operation of such apparatus, and to
provide improved means for preventing the overflowing of the bowl, and for
ventilating the bowl and soil-pipe.
To these ends my invention consists in forming an annular chamber above the
flushing-rim, which has connection with a vent and overflow-pipe and with the
interior of the bowl through a series of passages, this chamber serving the purpose
of carrying off the overflow, and for ventilation.
My invention also consists in the general construction and arrangement of the
several parts constituting my improved water-closet, all of which will be herein-
after described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 represents a top plan view, partly in section, my improved water-closet
adapted for dwellings.
Fig. 2 is a central vertical section, Fig. 3 an inverted plan view, Fig. 4 a front
elevation, and Fig. 5 a rear elevation of the same.
Fig. 6 is a top plan view partly in section of a closet adapted for use in
connection with prisons or the like.

page_text: Fig. 7 a vertical central section, Fig. 8 a rear elevation, and Fig. 9 a front
elevation of the same.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views of the
drawings.
Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, A represents
the bowl, which is of porcelain, and formed with the usual basin a, trap a', and soil-
pipe a².
The flushing-rim b is inclined slightly from front to rear, its chamber b¹
having connection with the interior of the bowl through an annular passage b².
This chamber terminates at its rear in a branch 3, to which is connected a water-
supply pipe. (Not shown.) c is an annular channel formed integrally with the
bowl and located above the flushing-rim. It has connection with the interior by
means of a series of openings or passages c¹ and terminates in a branch-chamber c²
as shown. This branch-chamber leads to two passages de, one of which d forms a
vent and extends upward and communicates with a vent-pipe. (Not shown.) The
other passage e extends downward and forms an overflow, as will be presently
explained. is a vent formed in the wall of the soil-pipe. immediately below the
basin, which communicates with the overflow by means of a suitable pipe fl.
(Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.) By means of this construction a thorough
ventilation of the bowl and soil-pipe is had at all times, the air from the bowl
entering the channel c and passing off through the vent leading from passage d,
and the air from the soil-pipe passing through the vent f, pipe f¹, overflow, and
vent d, and as there is a constant draught through the seat-opening and the vent-
pipe the air in the room in which the closet is located is kept pure. In the event
of the trap becoming clogged or from other causes the bowl should have a tendency
to overflow, the water when it reaches the passages c¹ will pass by them to the
channel c and thence to the overflow-pipe vent f, and be discharged through
the soil-pipe, or the overflow may be carried off by a separate pipe, as will be
evident.
In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive I have shown a construction embodying all the essential
features in the foregoing description. This construction is, however, especially
designed for use in connection with prisons or public places, and the changes are
but incidental to this special purpose. The bowl is preferably of steel, and is
adapted to be secured by means of bolts or rivets to the wall or other upright; or
screw-threaded lugs and bolts may be employed with equal facility. In this
construction I dispense with the trap, the passage from the basin to the soil-pipe
being substantially a direct one. The water is supplied at one side of the centre,
and is delivered through the flushing-rim in the same manner as that previously
described, no change in the construction of said rim being made. The vent and
overflow are formed in a casting made separate from the bowl and is passed
through an opening and connected with a screw-threaded socket h made in the
bowl-casting after the bowl is put in place. The operation is substantially the
same as that described hereinbefore with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, with the exception
that the ventilation of the soil-pipe is had through the passages c³, channel c, and
vent-passage d.
It will be evident from the foregoing that by my construction I am enabled to
produce a water-closet in which the operation is improved and rendered very
effectual and a perfect ventilation established. The parts are few, simple in
construction, and very compact, and the liability to get out of order is reduced to
the minimum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a water-closet, the combination, with the bowl, of a channel formed
integral therewith and communicating with the interior of the bowl through a series
of slots, a passage forming a continuation of said channel and arranged in a line
coincident therewith, a vent, and an overflow forming a continuation of said

page_text: passage, an overflow pipe connected with the overflow, a flushing-rim below said
channel, and a water-supply therefor, the combination permitting a ventilation of
the bowl and soil-pipe and the carrying off of the overflow through the same
channel.
2. In a water-closet adapted for prisons or the like, the combination, with a
bowl, of a channel formed integrally therewith and communicating with the
interior of the bowl through a series of slots, an opening leading from said channel
and arranged in line coincident with the channel, a coupling adapted to be passed
through a wall or other support and connected with said opening, openings in said
coupling, having connections with a vent-pipe and an overflow-pipe, a flushing-rim,
and a water-supply therefor, and an opening in the lower portion of the bowl for
connection with the soil-pipe, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 10th day of December 1892.
W. H. MUNNS.