IMPROVE- MENTS IN WATERCLOSETS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Owen, of Sussex Place, South Kensington, in the
County of Middlesex, Sanitary Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATERCLOSETS."
Sealed the 9th May 1879, and dated the 4th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Owen at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th March 1879.
HENRY OWEN, of Sussex Place, South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex,
Sanitary Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS."
This Invention relates to improvements in water closets, the object of the
improvements being chiefly to allow of the whole of the trappage being above the
floor level, and to effect the discharge of the water in the pan or basin through a
valve fixed immediately in front of the pan or basin instead of through the
ordinary valve in the bottom of the basin or pan.
The improved water closet is constructed of a pan or basin of suitable material
with an opening in the front thereof, such opening being provided with a collar or
flange for fixing it to a flange on the trap, which trap consists of a pipe somewhat
in the form of a syphon having a suitable outlet for gas over the soil pipe and a
clearing out opening in front of the pan or basin. The said discharge opening in
front of the pan or basin is provided with a valve preferably of metal encased in
india rubber and moving on a pivot in the upper part of the hereinbefore described
trap. The said valve is connected to the usual pull up by which it is opened when
the basin is to be emptied, the same operation flushing the water closet. The pull
up being released the valve is closed by a suitable counterweight or by means of a
spring.
The overflow from the basin passes through a small syphon pipe inserted in the
upper portion of the valve, by which means the water is only allowed to come up
to a certain fixed level in the basin.
The hereinbefore described trap is provided with a suitable foot and flange for
fixing it to the floor, and has a suitable connection for the soil pipe.
For common water closets the hereinbefore described valve may be dispensed
with, and to allow of the basin and trap being made in one piece I do away with
the bottom of the basin, in which case the upper portion of the trap would form
the bottom of the basin, thus forming it into a single trapped closet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Owen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th September
1879.
HENRY OWEN, of Sussex Place, South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex,
Sanitary Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS."
This Invention relates to improvements in water closets, the object of the
improvements being chiefly to allow of the whole of the trappage being above the
floor level, and to effect the discharge of the water in the pan or basin through a
valve fixed immediately in front of the pan or basin instead of through the
ordinary valve in the bottom of the basin or pan.
The improved water closet is constructed of a pan or basin of suitable material
with an opening in the front thereof, such opening being provided with a collar or
flange for fixing it to a flange on the trap, which trap consists of a pipe somewhat
in the form of a syphon having a suitable outlet for gas over the soil pipe, and a
clearing out opening in front of the pan or basin. When no trap is used the collar
or flange is fixed to a pipe leading direct to the soil pipe. The said discharge
opening in front of the pan or basin is provided with a valve, preferably of metal,
incased in india rubber, and moving on a pivot in the upper part of the hereinbefore
described trap. The said valve is connected to the usual pull-up by which it is
opened when the basin is to be emptied, the same operation flushing the water
closet. The pull-up being released the valve is closed by a suitable counterweight
or by means of a spring.
The overflow from the basin passes through a small syphon pipe inserted in the
upper portion of the valve, by which means the water is only allowed to come up
to a certain fixed level in the basin.
Instead of the valve being placed in front of the pan, as herein before described,
it will be understood that it may be placed at the back or side of the pan.
The hereinbefore described trap is provided with a suitable foot and flange for
fixing it to the floor, and has a suitable connection for the soil pipe.
For common waterclosets the hereinbefore described valve may be dispensed
with, and to allow of the basin and trap being made in one piece I do away with
the bottom of the basin, in which case the upper portion of the trap would form
the bottom of the basin, thus forming it into a single trapped closet; or if made in
two pieces the bottom of the basin is lowered so as to form a dish for holding the
required amount of water.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, which represents a section of a water
closet constructed according to my Invention.
a, a, is the pan or basin of suitable material; b is the opening in front of the
pan; c is the collar or flange for fixing it to the flange d on the trap e, e, such trap
consisting of a pipe somewhat in the form of a syphon, as shewn; f is the outlet
for the gas over the soil pipe g; h, clearing out opening; i is the valve of the
opening b, such valve moving on a pivot at j; the valve i is connected in any
suitable manner with the usual pull-up; k is the small syphon in the valve i.
By this construction of water closet it will be understood that the level of the
water in the bottom of the pan will reach the top of the syphon k, as shewn in
dotted lines. When it is wished to empty the pan the valve i is raised by the
pull-up, and the contents of the pan will be discharged through the opening b
without necessarily coming in contact with or against the valve i, as is the case
when the usual valve in the bottom of the pan is employed. When the pull-up is
released the valve i is carried back to its seat by a spring or a counterweight, and
any excess of water in the pan will be discharged through the syphon k.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not

page_text: confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the Drawing,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the
Invention; but what I do claim is,―
The construction and employment of the improved water closet, the pan of which
is trapped by means of a syphon-valve placed in front (or at the back or side),
arranged and operating in the manner and for the purposes herein before described,
and represented in the accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Owen, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
HENRY OWEN. (LS)