IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSETS OR RECEPTACLES FOR SEWAGE MATTERS, AND IN THE MEANS OF OR APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING OR DEODORIZING SUCH MATTERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLOSETS OR RECEPTACLES FOR SEWAGE MATTERS, AND IN THE MEANS OF OR
APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING OR DEODORIZING SUCH MATTERS" A com-
munication from abroad by Arnold Hanel, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Architect
Sealed the 2nd March 1877, and dated the 12th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th September 1876
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSETS OR RECEPTACLES FOR SEWAGE MATTERS,
AND IN THE MEANS OF OR APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING OR DEODORIZING SUCH
MATTERS." A communication from abroad by Arnold Flanel, of Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany, Architect.
This Invention relates to improvements in closets or receptacles for sewage
matters, whereby the solid and liquid portions of the exciement are readily separated
the one from the other, and immediately removed froin the bagon in such a manner
as to prevent any emission of effluvion from the closet, whilst the solid fecal
inatters are disinfected and thoroughly dried so as to deprive them of all offensive
odour.
In carrying out this Invention, in order to obtain these results, the closet is con-
structed with an outer case of wood having a seat and cover as in the ordinary
manner, and with an inner casing and appurtenances composed by preference of
cast iron.
The said inner casing consists of the following parts, vist.
The closet basin, usually of cast non, enamelled.
-
A box below for separating the fàeces, with a flap at one end and a slide at the
other end, also of enamelled cast 110n.
A box for fumigating the faeces, with a grate and an air escape pipe, by preference
of cast iron, and an ash-pan below, with a petroleum or other lamp.
The closet basin, which is made of a cuived or expanded form at the front part,
and rectangular at the opposite side, is provided at the bottom with a rectangular

page_text: opening, at which part it rests on the separating box, and it is fastened to the
wooden closet seat, which lies loose on the sides of the box in such a manner that it
can be lifted off together with the seat.
The box for separating the facccs is located directly under the opening of the closet
basin, it consists of two solid side panels, and a bottom inclined from the sides to
the middle, and from the back to the front, with an outlet. The box is open in the
front for the most part; in the upper and back part it is entirely open When the
closet cover is opened the front part of the box, except a. small triangle above the
bottom, is closed by means of the slide, and the back part is entirely closed by
means of the flap turning on its axis.
•
The box for fumigating the faeces consists of two solid side panels and a solid
back panel, to which the air escape or ventilator pipe is connected, and it is provided
with a sliding grate having a handle This box is open at the bottom at the front
part thereof for the discharge of the dried excrements and the ashes, into the larger
of two compartments into which the ash-pan is divided, the smaller compartment
containing the lamp before mentioned.
The closet cover turns on two hinges, which on each side of the cast-iron inner
casing and between the latter and the side of the wooden case form a bell-crank
lever. Each of these levers is provided with a segmental arın carrying projecting
pins, one of which engages with the extremity of a front cross rod, which is con-
nected firmly with the slide by means of two rods. A tongue is provided on each
extremity of the lengthened axis of the turning flap near the outer sides of the
casing, such tongue being situate between the above-mentioned pins.
In moving the closet cover a movement of the slide takes place, and also of the
turning flap by means of the levers and iods applied to the lid.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :-The faces fall upon the
bottom of the separating box, whence the liquids flow underneath the slide to be.
collected in a suitable vessel, whilst by closing the closet cover the solid substances
are at once thrown into the lower box upon the grate by means of the slide, which
then returns to the place of the flap, which in its turn is elevated by one of the pins
acting on the tongue When the cover is opened the slide returns to its former
position, the flap directly falls again under the action of the other pin, and being.
pressed against the back opening of the case is securely closed.
Under the action of the flame of the petroleum lamp papers and the like are
burnt off on the grate, the fecal matters are highly heated, and exposed to smoke,
and become surrounded in all sides with lamp black or fine particles of carbon, and
are thus thoroughly dried. The gases of putrefaction are volatilized, and conducted
either through the escape pipe into a chimney, or through a special pipe carried
about the roof, while the carbon (lamp black) at the same time is absorbing ammonia
and sulphide of hydrogen. Danger of fire is entirely obviated by the cast-iron box 4
being isolated on all sides.
At intervals the front flap of the case is opened, and the vessel containing the
liquid portion of the excrement is emptied. On drawing the grate handle outward
the dried excrements and the ashes by the aid of the fall into the ash-pan, and the
crevices of the grate are cleaned by means of fixed and movable serrated scrapers. 4
The plate forming the closed portion of the bottom of the upper box, and which
loosely laid in, is always greatly heated by the flame of the lamp, and hence the
plate must after a lapse of time be replaced. Between the said flame and the plato
arises a strong current of air, which produces the ventilation from the closet basin
to the escape pipe, and conveys the gases escaping during excretion downwards;
also when the cover is closed this current absorbs the offensive smell of the upper
box and of the wooden case. By these means the whole of the gases are removed
or absorbed within the closet, and during the excretion the exciements, the decoin-
position of which is counteracted, are collected as dried masses devoid of smell and
surrounded with carbon and ashes without necessitating subterraneous cosspools.
Where the nature of the buildings admits of such an arrangement the vessel for
the reception of the liquid portion of the excrement may be replaced by a urine

page_text: discharge pipe leading to the sewer, with ventilation to the escape pipe, and the
ash
-pan may be replaced by a funnel with waste pipe leading to a larger subter-
raneous receptacle.
When this Invention is applied to closets connected as in large public edifices
(such for example as hospitals, barracks, and hotels) any suitable number of con-
tiguous closets may be furnished with heating appliances and grates in common, and
these again, together with the closets when situate one over another, may be provided
with waste pipes in common.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
March 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSEIS OR RECEPTACLES FOR SEWAGE MATTERS,
AND IN THE MEANS OF OR APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING OR DEODORISING SUCH
MATTERS." A communication from abroad by Arnold Hanel, of Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany, Architect.
The said Invention relates to improvements in closets or receptacles for sewage
matters, whereby the solid and liquid portions of the excrement aic readily separated
the one from the other, and immediately removed from the pan in such a manner as
to prevent any emission of effluvium from the closet, whilst the solid fecal matters
are disinfected and thoroughly dried so as to deprive them of all offensive odour.
In carrying out the said Invention, in order to obtain these results, the closet is
constructed with an outer case of wood having a seat and cover as in the ordinary
manner, and with an inner casing and appurtenances composed by preference of
cast iron, the whole being arranged and combined substantially in the manner
shewn in the several Figures of the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, to which
I shall now proceed to refor, the saine letters indicating corresponding parts in all
the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section of the
closet or receptacle and apparatus complete, Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section
taken along the line Q, R, (Figure 3); Figure 3 is a sectional plan, one-half being
taken along the line M, N, and the other along the line O, P, (Figure 1); and
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line S, T, (Figure 3).
The inner casing consists of the following parts, videlicet:-
First. The closet pan A, usually of cast iron, enamelled.
1
Second. A box B below for separating the faeces, with a flap a at one end, and a
slide bat the other end, also of enamelled cast iron.
Third. A box C for fumigating the faeces, with a grate c, and an air escape pipe d,
by preference of cast iron; and
Fourth. An ash-pan D below, with a petroleum or other lamp 6.
The closet pan A, which is made of a curved or expanded form at the front part 1,
and rectangular at the opposite side 2, 1s provided at the bottom at 3 with a rectan-
gular opening, at which part it rests on the separating box B, and it is fastened to
the wooden closet scat 4, which lies loose on the sides 5 of the outer case of the
closet in such a manner that it can be lifted off, together with the seat.
The box B for separating the faeces is located directly under the opening 3 of the
closet pan, and it consists of two solid side panels 6, 6, and of a bottom 7, which is
inclined from the sides to the middle, and from the back to the front (Figures 1 and
4); the box is open in the front, where the slide b is situate for nearly the whole of
its area; in the upper and back part it is entirely open. When the closet cover 8
is opened the front part of the box, with the exception of a small triangular space
at above the bottom 7, is closed by means of the slide b, and the back part is

page_text: entirely closed by means of the flap a, which is mounted so as to be capable of
turning upon a centre r.
The box C for fumigating the faeces consists of two solid side panels 9, 9, and a
solid back panel 10, to which the nir escape or ventilator pipe d is connected, and it
is provided with a sliding grate c having a handle v. This box is open at the bottom
at the front part thereof, where the sliding grate c is situate for the discharge on
drawing out the said grate of the dried excrements and the ashes into the larger, 11,
of two compartiments 11, 12, into which the ash-pan D is divided, the smaller com-
partment 12 containing the lampe before referred to
The closet cover 8 turns on two hinges f, which on each side of the cast-iron inner
casing, and between the latter and the side of the wooden case, form a bell-crank
lever gf, h. Each of these levers is provided with a segmental arm 13, carrying
projecting pins g¹, k, the one g¹ of which is attached by a rod 14 to the extremity 7
of a front cross rod m, which is firmly connected by means of two rods p, p, with
the slide b. On each extremity of the prolonged axis of the turning flap a, near
the outer sides of the casing, there is provided a tongue or projection 8 situate
between the pins g¹, k.
In moving the closet cover 8 a movement of the slide 6 takes place, and also of
the turning flap a by means of the levers, rods, and connections before mentioned.
The apparatus is thus capable of assuming one or the other of two positions, 2
videlicet, one corresponding to the open position of the cover, as shewn by ful and
simple dotted lines, and the other corresponding to the closed position of the cover,
as indicated by dotted and continuous lines in the Drawing.
The apparatus operates in the following manner:-The fueces fall upon the bottom
of the separating box B, whence the liquid portion immediately flows underneath 2
the slide b, to be collected in a suitable vessel. When the closet cover 8 is closed,
and the apparatus is thereby moved into the corresponding position, the solid
substances are conducted into the lower box C upon the grate c by means of the
slide b, which is moved to the place of the flap u, the latter in its turn being elevated
by the pin acting on the tongue or projection 8. When the cover 8 is opened the 3
slide b returns to its former position, as indicated by the full lines in the Drawing,
the flap a directly falls again by its own gravity, assisted by the action of the pin g¹,
and being pressed against the back opening of the case is securely closed.
Under the action of the flame of the petroleum lamp e papers and.the like are
burnt off on the grate c, the fecal matters are highly heated and exposed to smoke,
and become surrounded on all sides with lamp black or fine particles of carbon, and
are thus thoroughly dried The gases of putrefaction are volatilized and conducted
either through the escape piped into a chimney, or through a special pipe carried
above the roof, while the carbon (lamp black) at the same time is absorbing ammonia
and sulphide of hydrogen. Danger of fire is entirely obviated by the cast-iron box 4
being isolated on both sides
At intervals the front flap n of the case is opened, and the vessel containing the
liquid portion of the excrement is emptied. On drawing the grate c by the aid of
the handle v outwards the dried excrements and the ashes fall into the ash-pan D,
and the crevices of the grate are cleaned by means of fixed and moveable serrated
scrapers. The plate t, w, forming the closed portion of the bottom of the box C
being liable to deterioration by the flame of the lamp, requires to be renewed
occasionally, for which reason it is loosely fitted so as to admit of its being taken
out and another substituted when required Between the flame and the plate t, w,
arises a strong curent of air-from the closet pan to the escape pipe d, as indicated
by the arrows,
efficient ventilation is thus ensured, and the gases escaping during
excretion are conveyed downwards; this current when the cover is closed also
absorbs the offensive smell of the upper box and of the wooden case. By these
means the whole of the gases are removed or absorbed within the closet and during the
excretion and the excrements, the decomposition of which is counteracted, are col-
lected as dried masses devoid of smell, and surrended with carbon and ashes, without
necessitating subterraneous cesspools.

page_text: asenage pipe caug
with the escape pipe d, and the ash-pan may be replaced by a funnel with a waste
pipe leading to a larger subterraneous receptacle.
When this Invention is applied to closets connected as in large public edifices, such
for example, as hospitals, barracks, and hotels, any suitable number of contiguous
closets may be furnished with heating appliances and grates in common, and these
again, together with the closets when situate one over another may be provided with
waste pipes in common.
Closets constructed and arranged according to the said Invention possess the fol-
lowing advantages, videlicet.-
First. Facility for cleaning.
Second. Facility for erection wherever a ventilation pipe can be reached or
placed.
Third. Maximum durability with a minimum of repairs.
Fourth Non-liability to obstruction provided the ash-pan be regularly emptied,
and facility for the removal of any obstruction in the event of such a contingency
occurring.
Fifth Prevention of escape of noxious gases
Sixth Non-liability to derangement by reason of frost.
Seventh. Complete deodorization and disinfection.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and theretore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The peculiar arrangement and combination of apparatus whereby the liquid
portion of the fecal matters is separated from the solid portion thereof, and tho
latter is unmediately removed from the closet pan, and completely distinfected or
deodorized, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the accom-
panying Drawings.
Secondly. The application of fice in the interior of the closet for destroying the
gases of putrefaction, and disinfecting the fecal matters, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, the Eighth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)