IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAPS OR APPLIANCES FOR FLUSHING AND INSPECTING DRAINS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Newman of Ryde in the Isle of Wight, Civil
Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAPS OR APPLIANCES FOR
FLUSHING AND INSPECTING DRAINS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Newman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th May 1883.
FRANCIS NEWMAN of Ryde in the Isle of Wight, Civil Engineer
MENTS IN TRAPS, OR APPLIANCES FOR FLUSHING AND INSPECTING DRAINS
"IMPROVE-
"
My invention has for its object to provide simple and efficacious means in drains
for effecting the periodical flushing and inspection thereof, such means being by
preference applied to the traps of drains. For this purpose according to one
arrangement I construct the part of the trap into which the liquid flows on its way
to the main drain or sewer with a conical seating, above which I form a vertical
extension carried up to any desired height such as the ground line and closed by
a cover or grating. When it is desired to flush the trap and drain, the cover is
removed and a conical disc or valve is introduced so as to rest upon the conical
seating, by preference with a caoutchouc packing to form a watertight joint. The
trap being thus closed, the liquid flowing from the house or other locality into the
cylindrical extension of the trap. will accumulate therein above the valve to any
desired extent, whereupon the valve is pulled up and the body of liquid allowed to
rush through the trap and drain. At the same time, by inspecting the liquid as it
flows into the extension of the trap it can be readily ascertained whether the part
of the house or other drain from which it flows is charged with deposit or otherwise
obstructed, and also whether there exists any appreciable leakage.
According to another arrangement, instead of forming a conical seating in the
trap, I form two or more projecting lugs therein, and when it is desired to close the
trap I introduce an expanding plug or disc-valve having notches corresponding to
the lugs so that it can be lowered past the same and be then turned so as to bear
against the underside thereof, whereupon the disc valve is expanded by turning a
screw or otherwise in a manner well known in connection with expanding plugs or
valves for other purposes.
Although it is preferable to apply the above contrivances to the trap of a drain,
yet they may also be applied to a part of the drain where there is no trapping of
the liquid.

page_text: at the overflow, then, if the water supply be stopped, and the water level in C
remains stationary, it will shew that there is no leakage in the drain. If, on the
other hand, the level sinks, it will shew that the drain is defective.
Fig. 2 shews a section and Fig. 3 a plan of the trap A detached, with the valve
removed, and Figs 4 and 5 shew respectively a section and plan of the valve with
its handle. The valve is by preference provided with caoutchouc at A³ in order to
form a watertight seating. Fig. 6 shews a section and Fig. 7 a plan of an
arrangement for applying the valve to a part of the drain not requiring the
trapping of the liquid. In the modification shewn at Fig. 8 the upper part of the
trap is not enlarged to form the seating for the valve, a metal or other seat E being
fixed in the pipe. B is the valve with tubular handle as before. In the
modification shewn in section and plan at Figs 9 and 10 three projecting lugs A¹
are formed in the pipe, and the valve in this case consists firstly of a ring F, having
notches formed in it corresponding to the lugs, so that it can be lowered past the
Jugs and then turned partly round so as to bear against the underside thereof;
secondly, a conical valve or plug F' with a caoutchouc ring F' is drawn upwards
by the stem G, provided with a screw or cam lever, so that the ring F* is
expanded against the sides of the pipe and thus forms the required watertight
joint.
Figs 11 to 16 shew modifications in which the trap is divided at the seating, the
lower part A being similar to an ordinary P trap, but with the conically enlarged
seating A¹ formed thereon, while the upper part A2 is an ordinary junction pipe
with a branch at right angles, near the spigot end of the pipe, which fits the
socket A on the part A, as shewn at Fig. 13. In the arrangement shewn at
Fig. 14 the socket As is itself formed conical, to receive the coned spigot end of the
junction pipe, which, in this case, forms the seating of the valve. Figs 15 and 16
shew the two parts of Fig. 14 detached.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim :-
First. Constructing traps and other parts of drain pipes with a seating for the
reception of a removeable valve introduced through a vertical extension of the trap
or drain above the seating, into which extension the liquid flows, substantially as
and for the purposes herein described.
Second. The use in combination with a trap or drain pipe having a valve
seating and a vertical extension, of a removeable valve, so arranged that when
the valve is inserted the liquid will accumulate above it, and will serve to flush
the drain when the valve is with drawn, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof I the said Francis Newman have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty first day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
FRANCI
CIS NEWMAN
(L.S.)