Improved Apparatus for Flushing Stench Traps and other Pipes and Passages, principally applicable to Water Closets and Sinks.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Flushing Stench Traps and other Pipes
and Passages, principally applicable to Water Closets and Sinks.
I, DAVID MORGAN, of Elizabeth Street, Launceston, in the Colony of
Tasmania, Engineer, 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 has been devised for the purpose of providing cheap, simple and
effective apparatus for cleansing and removing obstructions from stench traps in
closets and other places and in pipes from sinks, drains, &c. Its essential feature
consists in a novel apparatus by which to apply pressure water for the purpose
indicated. Hitherto the use of such water has sometimes been only partially
successful in accomplishing its object, and this has been due to the way in which
it has been applied.
Now my invention consists in certain apparatus by which high pressure water is
so applied as that its pressure is constantly maintained and exerted against any
obstruction in the trap or pipe into which it is conducted until it gives way and is
flushed out. Its essential feature is the introduction of a back pressure valve in
the pipe or passage above the point of entrance of the pressure water so as to
prevent the escape of any pressure in that direction and concentrate it on any
obstruction that may exist in the trap or pipe in question, and I prefer so to
construct and arrange this valve as that the pressure water shall when forcing its
way into the pipe to be cleansed open such valve, the opening of which will close
the pipe to be cleansed against any back pressure.
In order to provide for the possible contingency of the pressure being greater
than the pipe or trap can bear, I prefer to provide such back pressure valve with a
safety valve by which any excess of pressure can escape.
In applying my invention to water closets (for which it is specially suited) I
have invented certain arrangements by which the water can first be drawn into the
pan so as to cleanse it and carry its contents into the discharge pipe below, and
afterwards convey the pressure water into such discharge pipe so as to act against
any obstruction in the trap or passage and completely flush it, carrying it away
ultimately into the sewer.
For the purpose of preventing the back passage of any gases from the sewer I
use an ordinary flood-gate or valve beyond the stench trap.
For the purpose of regulating the quantity of water discharged at each use of
the closet, I employ. a cistern into which the pressure water enters and from which
it passes through a two-way tap into one or other of two pipes, one of which leads
to the pan and is for sluicing it out, whilst the other retains its high pressure and
leads into the discharge pipe as before described.
In order to prevent the possibility of any gases passing from the closet into the
cistern or water main, I introduce a spring valve between the cistern and the two-
way tap before referred to, which keeps the valve closed except when water is
being drawn through it."
It must be clearly understood, however, that although this description and the
drawings which are attached to this Specification illustrate mainly the method of
applying my invention to a water closet, it is not confined to closets, but is applicable
to all traps, pipes, and passages which require to be cleansed and flushed:
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating the application of this invention in its
simplest form.
Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the application of this invention to a
water closet.

page_text: Figure 3 is a front elevation of the appliances illustrated in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 in Figure 2.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A represents the back pressure valve which is, according to this invention,
inserted in the pipe or passage B (to be cleansed) above the point of entrance of
the pressure water, and C represents the pipe through which such pressure water
is directed into said pipe or passage B, said valve A being so arranged as to close
the upper end of the pipe or passage to be cleansed, and thus cause the pressure of
water to be concentrated within it so as to effectually remove any obstruction
that may exist in the pipe or passage B. The pressure water inlet pipe C is
fitted with a valve or cock F, to enable the pressure water to be turned on or off as
required.
When this invention is applied to the flushing of a water closet (for which it is
specially suited), it is preferably applied as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the
valve A being fitted with a spring safety valve a, through which any excess of
pressure over and above that which the pipe or sewer is calculated to stand can
escape. In the case of water closets the water is first delivered into the pan D
through the pipe C₁ so as to cleanse said pan and carry its contents into the
discharge pipe or sewer below, after which the pipe C¹ is closed and the pipe C is
opened, thus leading the pressure water directly into the stench trap E below the
pan D. In order that these pipes may be conveniently opened in the order just
mentioned, I use a plug, F, formed with two ports or openings ff adapted to open
and close the pipes C C₁ respectively. This plug may be fitted with a wheel or
lever, having a counterbalance weight f³ attached so as to automatically return
to its normal position after user, and thus close both pipes C C¹.
G represents the flood-gate or valve which is fitted in the sewer or discharge
pipe beyond the stench trap E in order to prevent the back passage of any gases
from the sewer into the closet.
H represents the water regulating cistern which I employ when it is required to
limit the quantity of water used at each flushing operation. According to this
invention, said cistern H is fitted with a sliding piston h, having a pin hole h¹ through
it for a purpose hereinafter described. 2 is a small by-pass leading from the water
main I up to the top of the cistern H. A flap valve ³ is fitted at the lower end of
this pipe 2, and serves to close said end as well as to prevent any back pressure
from the cistern H into the water main I. h is a small back pressure valve which
is situated within the pipe h², and is arranged to open upwardly. The action of
this part of the invention is as follows: When the water is turned into the pan,
sink, or sewer by opening the tap F, the pressure in the main I closes the valve h³
against the lower end of the pipe and raises the piston h, forcing the water which
is above it out through said tap F with practically the same pressure as that in
said water main
until said piston reaches the top of the cistern H.
When the
tap F is again closed said piston falls by its own weight (the pressure above and
below it being equalised through the pin hole '), and as the valve h³ falls into the
position illustrated in Figure 2 the water below said piston will be forced through
the valve into the upper part of the cistern H ready for a fresh operation.
J represents a small spring back pressure valve, which is inserted in the water
main above the tap F to prevent gases from passing back into said main.
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
claim is :
First. In apparatus for flushing stench traps and other pipes and passages, the
employment of a back pressure valve (such as A) inserted in said stench trap or
other pipe or passage to be flushed, above the point where the pressure supply pipe
is led into it, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in
my drawings.
Second. In apparatus for flushing stench traps and other pipes and passages the

page_text: employment of a back. pressure valve (such as A) fitted with a safety valve (such
as a) and inserted in said stench trap or other pipe or passage to be flushed, above
the point where the pressure supply pipe is led into it, substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in my drawings.
Third. In apparatus for flushing stench traps and other pipes and passages, the
employment of a cisteru (such as H) fitted with a piston and having a by-pass
pipe (such as ³) leading from the water main to its upper end and provided with
valves (such as h³ h) to ensure the water in said main forcing said piston upwards
whilst allowing such water to flow into the upper part of said cistern when the
discharge is stopped, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as
herein described and explained and as illustrated in my drawings.
Dated this Thirty-first day of May One thousand eight hundred and ninety-
three
DAVID MORGAN.