Improvements in Water-closet Refillers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-closet Refillers.
I, DAVID STEEL WALLACE, of 192, N. Washington Street, Kokomo, in the County.
of Howard and State of Indiana, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: -
My invention relates to means for refilling the bowls of water closets after slops,
or other refuse and the liquid forming the water-seal have been siphoned therefrom
by the action of the closet-siphon, thus serving to refill the closet bowl, and to
re-establish the liquid seal against the escape of sewer-gas from the siphon of the
closet-bowl.
It is well known that slop-pails and other vessels are emptied into the bowls of
water-closets situated in dwellings without opening the flushing valve to supply
fresh water to the bowl after the slops or other refuse have been deposited in the
bowl. This frequently occurs through carelessness or negligence, and it is objec-
tionable for the reason that the water forming the seal is siphoned along with the
refuse out of the bowl, and in some instances the seal is entirely destroyed, while
in other cases a part of the objectionable slops are allowed to remain standing in
the bowl. The object of the present invention is to provide a water-closet with
mechanism which will automatically refill the bowl with fresh water when the
liquid forming the seal is siphoned with the slops and refuse from the bowl through
the closet-siphon and soil pipe, thereby again establishing a seal with fresh water
even though the flushing valve should remain closed when the slops are emptied
into and siphoned from the bowl.
A further object of the invention is to construct the refilling device to thoroughly
and effectually exclude the escape of sewer-gas through the refiller when the latter
is in its normal or inoperative condition. A further object of the invention is to
provide a bowl-refilling mechanism which may be used in connection with any
style or kind of siphon water-closet, and which may be readily supplied to, or
installed in, the water-closet bowl and the flushing tank of the apparatus.
With these ends in view, my invention consists in the combination with a water-
closet bowl having a siphon discharge pipe, and a flushing tank, of an automatic
refilling mechanism operatively connected with said siphon-pipe of the closet-bowl
and with the flushing tank to feed water from the tank to the bowl when its liquid
seal is siphoned from the bowl by dumping slops or other matter into the bowl in
such volumes as to establish the siphonic action in the siphon of the closet bowl.
The invention further consists in a novel construction of the refilling mechanisni
to embody in itself a siphon by which the water to be supplied to the closet bowl
is drawn from the flushing tank automatically when the siphon of the bowl is in
action.
The invention further consists in a novel construction of the siphon refilling
mechanism in a manner to form a liquid seal against the escape of sewer-gas through
the refilling mechanism.
And the invention consists, finally, in the novel combination of elements, and in

page_text: the construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described
and claimed.
To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated a preferred
embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speci-
fication, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing my improved refilling mechanism in
connection with one style of water-closet apparatus, the broken lines. representing
the level of the water in the tank and in the refilling mechanism when said refilling
mechanism is in its normal, inactive condition.
Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing by the broken lines, the action
of the siphonic refilling mechanism.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the refilling mechanism, on the plane
indicated by the dotted line 3-3 of Fig. 4.
Figure 4 is a cross section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 44 of
Figure 3.
Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
An ordinary water-closet apparatus is represented in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the
numeral 1, designates the closet-bowl, 2 is the siphon pipe connected with the
bowl to form the trap 3, and adapted to contain the water which rises to the level
indicated by the line 4, to form the usual seal. The bowl carries the usual rim 5,
and it is supplied with water from the flushing-tank 6 through the flushing-pipe 7.
The receiving end of the flushing-pipe is normally closed by a Hushing
valve 7, linked to an operating lever 8, provided with the usual
pendent handle and cord 8". Water is supplied to the flushing tank
through the inlet valve 9, and is controlled by a float 9. All of these elements
are of common construction in water closets, and no novelty therefor is claimed in
this application. In fact, the parts may be modified or changed as may be deemed
advisable because my refilling mechanism is designed for use in connection with
any or all styles of water closet apparatus in which a siphon discharge is com-
bined with the closet-bowl.
My automatic refilling mechanism is designated at 10 in the drawings, and in its
broadest sense this refilling mechanism is constructed in a manner to be operatively
connected with the flushing tank and with the siphon of the closet-bowl so as to
feed water from the tank to the bowl when the siphon of the bowl is operated,
without opening the flushing valve, by dumping matter into the closet-bowl in
sufficient volume to set up siphonic action in the siphon of the bowl.
In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, I have shown
the refilling mechanism for the closet bowl constructed to produce in itself a siphon,
the action of which depends upon, and is controllable by, the action of the siphon
forming a part of the closet-bowl. This form of my refilling mechanism I have
deemed the most practicable because of the simplicity of the construction involved
therein and its efficiency and reliability of operation.
My refilling mechanism consists of a shell or casing 11, and a pipe 12, in which
the shell is constructed in a peculiar manner for use in connection with the pipe 12,
to produce a siphon forming a part of the refilling mechanism. As shown in the
drawing the shell or casing is cast, or otherwise made, to form a rim 14, and a short
rim 15, which with the walls or sides 16 complete the part of the refilling mecha-
nism that is to be placed in the flushing tank. The inner rim or partition 14 is
arranged parallel to the outer rim or wall 13, so as to form a continuous channel 17
which extends from one corner of the casing or shell 11, upwardly along one side
thereof, then bends or curves over at 18, and thence extends down near the other
side of the shell, this downwardly-extending part 19 of the channel terminating
close to the bottom of the casing or shell as at 19, in the form of an open receiving
mouth. The pipe 12 of my refilling mechanism is connected to the casing or shell
in line with the passage or channel 17, and this pipe and the channel 17, the
bend 18, and the downwardly-extending part 19 of the channel constitute the

page_text: siphon of such refilling mechanism. The channel 17, and the pipe 12, form the long
leg of the refilling-attachment siphon while the channel 19 forms the short leg of
the siphon; the channels 17, 19 being continuous with each other and connected
by the bend 18. The short rim or flange 15 is arranged between the sides of the
casing or shell and in parallel relation to the rim 13, for a part of its length at the
short leg of the siphon, and this rim or partition 15 in connection with a part of
the rim 13, forms an auxiliary channel 20, which extends upwardly from the open
mouth 19 of the short leg of the siphon to a suitable distance; the upper open
end of the auxiliary channel 20 terminating in a plane below the water level in the
flushing tank. The inner rim or partition 14 has one end joined to the bottom
of the shell or casing adjacent to the point where the channel 17 joins with the
pipe 12 but the other end of this recurved or bent inner rim or partition 14 termi-
nates a short distance above the bottom of the casing 11, to provide an inlet for the
water to the bottom of a chamber 22, which is situated within the casing or
shell 11, to form a trap-chamber against the leakage or escape of sewer-gas through
the refilling mechanism. This trap chamber 22, is formed by the doubled inner
rim or partition 14 and the walls of the shell or casing. The trap-chamber 22 is
normally filled with water to the level of the water in the flushing-tank through
the inlet-opening 23 which communicates with the auxiliary channel 20 adjacent
to the open mouth 19", of the refilling mechanism siphon. The upper end of the
trap-chamber 22 communicates with the refilling mechanism siphon by an air-
opening 24 formed in the inner rim or partition 14 at the angular or curved bend 18
in the siphon.
The pipe 12 of the refilling mechanism is extended below the casing 11, so as to
be attached to the bottom of the flushing-tank, and said pipe 12 thence extends
to the closet bowl to which it is attached at a point in the siphon 2 on the side next
to the bowl, and above the level of the water-line in said bowl 1.
In placing or installing my refilling mechanism to an ordinary water-closet
apparatus, it is necessary to adjust the casing in the tank to have the elbow 18
above the level of the water in the flushing-tank, and the open upper end of the
auxiliary channel 20 below the water-level, the pipe 12 being attached to the
siphon 2 of the closet-bowl 1, at the point described and shown clearly by Figs. 1
and 2. In the described positions of the elements of the refilling mechanism the
water in the flushing tank fills the auxiliary channel 20, the trap-chamber 22, and
the short leg 19 of the siphon, but the long leg of the siphon formed by the
channel 17, and the pipe 12 is filled with air or with sewer-gas but does not contain
any water.
The trap-chamber and the short leg of the siphon are filled with water
up to the level of the water in the flushing tank, and thus the chamber 22 contains
water which forms a seal against the leakage or escape of sewer-gas which may
flow through the pipe 12, the channel 17, and the air-vent or opening 24. The
normal position of the refilling mechanism is shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings,
but in case the contents of a pail is emptied into the closet-bowl, as graphically
represented in Fig. 2, then the parts will act as follows: As soon as the passage of
the slops or water through the siphon pipe 2, closes the open end of the pipe 12,
suction is at once set up in the pipe 12, and the air in the long leg of the refilling
siphon is exhausted sufficiently to start siphonic action and the emptying of the
water in the flushing tank begins. This continues after the passage of the slops
has ceased, and the water of the tank continues to flow down through the pipe 12
As this process
to the bowl 1, thus refilling the latter to establish the seal therein.
of refilling the closet-bowl would continue indefinitely or until the water had been
entirely discharged from the flushing-tank I have arranged the auxiliary channel 20
to terminate at the point where it is desired the action of the refilling mechanism
shall cease, and when the water has been drawn from the tank sufficiently to lower
the level of the water therein below the open mouth of the auxiliary channel 20,
the latter is exposed to the entrance of air thus breaking the power of the refilling
siphon and cutting off the supply of water to the channel 20, and to the short
leg of the siphon. This auxiliary feed-channel being thus exposed it forms a vent

page_text: As soon
through which sewer gas accumulating in the pipe 12 after the refilling siphon
ceases its operation, may escape, the water supplied by the refilling mechanism to
the bowl forming a seal to cut off the escape of gas through the bowl of the closet.
To overcome this objection I have constructed the refilling mechanism with the
trap-chamber 22. When the siphonic action is established in the pipe 12 and the
channels 17, 18, and 19, the passage of the water through the elbow 18 and over
the air opening 24 has the effect of emptying the chamber of the air contained
therein above the liquid, and thereafter the trap-chamber 22, remains entirely full
of water so long as the siphoning continues in the refilling mechanism.
as the refilling siphon ceases, and the long leg of the siphon tends to establish a
vent for sewer-gas, the chamber 22 begins to discharge a part of the water contained
therein, such discharge being effected through the inlet-opening 23 in consequence
of the return of the air through the aperture 24. The water in the flushing tank
rises in the chamber and in the short leg of the siphon until a common level is
established between said parts and the water in the tank itself thus forming an
effective water seal against the escape of sewer gas from the pipe 12, through the
casing or shell 11, of the refilling mechanism.
From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings it will
be observed that I have provided a simple mechanism for refilling a closet-bowl auto-
matically in the event of the liquid forming the water seal being siphoned with
other liquid matter out of the bowl, and thereby re-establishing the water-seal
against the admission of the sewer-gas from the soil-pipe.
it will also be observed that the refilling mechanism provides, under all con-
ditions of service, an effective water-seal against the escape of gas through the
refilling mechanism itself.
The device is extremely simple in construction, readily installed in ordinary
water closet systems and is efficient and reliable in operation.
I am aware that changes in form, and proportion of parts, and in the details of
construction, herein shown and described as the preferred embodiment of my inven-
tion can be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or
sacrificing the advantages of my invention. I, therefore, reserve the right to
make such modifications and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In combination with a flushing tank, and a closet-bowl, of a refilling mecha-
nism operatively connected with said bowl and said tank to supply water to the
bowl and re-establish a liquid seal therein when the original seal is destroyed by
emptying other matter into the bowl, for the purpose described, substantially as
set forth.
2. In combination with a flushing tank, and a siphon pipe of a closet bowl, of a
refilling siphon having its short leg in communication with said tank and its long
leg connected with the siphon of the closet-bowl, for the purposes described, sub-
stantially as set forth.
3. In combination with a flushing tank and a closet-bowl, of a refilling siphon
extending through the tank above the water level therein and having its short leg
immersed in the water of the tank and its long leg connected with the closet-bowl
at a point to establish siphonic action in the refilling-siphon on the passage of
liquid contents of the closet-bowl past the open end of the long leg of said refilling
siphon, as and for the purposes described.
4. In combination with a flushing tank, and a siphon-pipe of a closet-bowl, of a
refilling siphon having its long leg connected to the bowl-siphon at a point to be
exposed to the liquid contents of the bowl in flowing through the bowl-siphon,
the short leg of the refilling siphon being immersed in the water of the flushing
tank, as and for the purposes described.

page_text: 5. In combination with a flushing tank, and a closet-bowl, of a siphonic refilling
mechanism having a trap-chamber for the purposes described, substantially as
set forth.
6. A refilling mechanism for water-closet systems having a siphon and a trap
chamber which communicates with the elbow of the siphon and provides a water-
seal against the escape of sewer-gas through such refilling mechanism, as and for
the purposes described.
7. A refilling mechanism for water-closet systems comprising a casing which is
divided internally to produce a trap-chamber within the same and between the
channels therein which form the short leg and a part of the long leg of the siphon
forming part of the refilling mechanism, said trap-chamber connected at one end
with the elbow of the refilling siphon and having at its other end free communica-
tion with the water inlet to the short leg of the siphon, as and for the purposes
described.
8. In combination with a flushing tank, and a closet-bowl, of a refilling siphon
having its long leg connected to the closet-bowl and its short leg immersed in the
flushing tank, a trap-chamber between the legs of the siphon and connected with the
siphon-elbow and with the water inlet to the short leg of the siphon, and a feed
channel extending from the short leg of the siphon to a point below the water level
in the flushing tank, as and for the purposes described.
9. In combination with a flushing tank, and a closet-bowl, of a refilling siphon
arranged to have its elbow terminate above the water level in the flushing tank
and with its long leg connected to the closet-bowl and its short leg terminating in
the flushing tank, the short leg of the siphon being connected with a feed channel
which terminates below the water level in the flushing tank, as and for the
purposes described.
Dated this Qth day of October 1907