IMPROVEMENTS IN TRINALS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lowe Greatorex, of East Grinstead, in the
County of Sussex, Plumber, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRINALS"
Sealed the 9th November 1869, and dated the 12th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lowe Greatorex
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 12th May 1869.
I, JOHN LOWE GREATOREX, of East Grinstead, in the County of
Sussex, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN URINALS," to be as follows:-
My improvements have for their object cleanliness, convenience in
To effect these objects I con-
use, and general efficiency in urinals
struct and arrange the parts of urinals in the manner herein-after
explained.
I make the basins of the urinals with a slab at back and with a groove
or perforations all round their hollow inside edges. A stream of water
passing down the back and through the said groove effects the constant
washing of the whole of the inside of the basin, and secures. perfect
cleanliness. The rims of the basins have a groove on their outer side,
so as to prevent any urine running down the outside of the basin.
The

page_text: basin is furnished with a trap by which the water is kept at the required
level in the basin and the escape of effluvia from the drain prevented.
I make the basin taper from back to front, so that in use no part of it
will come against the trousers. When the supply of water is limited I
make the basin shallow at front, so that water is retained in the basin
only near the trapping part. In fixing the basins I support them at the
usual height against the wall and supply them from a main running
horizontally over the basins. The pipes by which the water is delivered
from the main to the basins rise up vertically from the main a short
distance before passing down to the basins. By this arrangement should
there be a deficient or intermittent supply of water it becomes equally
divided between the several basins. The drain for the urinals passes
along the back of the slate slabs. This drain is trapped at the end com-
municating with the main drain, the other end having a screw cap, or
plate, or other opening to render it unnecessary in case of stoppage to
take up the slate slabs or flooring. Where the drain cannot be carried
behind the slates I prefer to place it under the floor immediately below
the basins, connecting the basins therewith by galvanized iron pipes.
The screens I employ are not continued down to the floor, but terminate
a little below the basins. Where it can be conveniently done I let these
screens into the back wall, and fix them with dowels at the back of the
slates. When this cannot be conveniently done I support the screens by
wrought galvanized iron supports. I lay the floors of the urinals either
level or slightly inclined downwards from the back, so that flushing
water will rapidly and completely run off.
By constructing urinals according to my Invention the small openings
which usually corrode are done away with, any stoppage in the waste
pipes cannot take place, there are no open waste pipes on the floor, and
the exposed surface with which the urine is brought into contact is
reduced to a minimum.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Lowe Greatorex in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LOWE GREATOREX, of East Grinstead, in the County of Sussex, Plumber,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Lowe Greatorex, Her special licence
that I, the said John Lowe Greatorex, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Lowe Greatorex, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
URINALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jolin
Lowe Greatorex, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same .was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Lowe Greatorex, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction
of urinals whereby cleanliness, convenience in use, freedom from
obstruction, and general efficiency are ensured.
The basins are formed, by preference, of a Gothic shape in carthen-
ware, with a square slab at back, and also a projection which forms an
overflow, and with a two-inch waste pipe in communication with the
bottom. By the construction of the slab. and overflow forming their
own trap, and standing permanently half filled with water, they are
enabled to effect the irrigation of the whole of the interior parts of the
basin and back by means of perforations or openings in the hollow
moulding and rim of basin. At the soffit of the top moulding I provide
a guard to prevent any spray of water from the perforation at the soffit.
I provide the rim or top of basin on the outside and under side with a

page_text: projecting ledge with undercut groove or hollow, the ledge presenting
a peaked rim or border throughout, from which the moisture drops,
instead of running down the outer surface of the basin, in order to prevent
any urine or liquid' running down the outside of the basin. The basin is
constructed in two forms, the one being shallow and dry, the other
standing, as before stated, half full of water. By this construction of
basin an overflow is impossible, nor can any effluvium arise from drains.
There are no perforations or openings in the bottom of the basin to
become corroded or choked, or to open the waste delivery on to the floor,
as hitherto, and which result is so objectionable. I carry the tube drain
4 inches behind the backs of the slates, with 3-inch junctions to each
one or more of the urinals; from each junction I fix a 3-inch pipe to
receive the waste from the urinals. At the end next the main drain I
fix a trap to prevent any foul air passing from the sewer into the drain
of the urinals. At the top end I fix a plate or screw cap for communi-
cation for brushing out the drain, if necessary. I lay the floor by
preference in two pieces; the back piece which forms the channel with
a slight incline from each end to the centre. At this centre, under the
floor, I fix a 4-inch syphon trap and drain to communicate with the
drain of the urinals, and I fix in the drain a 2-inch air pipe in the most
convenient situation to give free action to the outlets of the urinals. The
front parts of the floor or landing I fix with inclinations of inch
inwards from front line, and fix over the trap a brass grate and rim.
The basins are fixed the usual height from the floor, and I let the pro-
jection at the back into the slate backs. The basins are seated on the
drain pipe with a bed of putty or other suitable adhesive compound, and
are fixed by screws in the ordinary manner. All the screens I terminate
two inches below top of basin, except the outside ones; they are carried
down to the floor; the dwarf screens are let into the walls 4 inches and
grouted in with cement or fixed with dowels, which makes them self-
supporting. By this arrangement all waste pipes and surplus surface
and obstructions are cleared away, which would otherwise cause offence;
and this method also gives an easy access for flushing the floor.
The main for water supply is made by fixing a galvanized wrought
iron pipe above the slates of sufficient size to be proportionate to the
number of urinals; from this main I fix to each urinal a in. copper
supply pipe rising vertically about 6 inches, and descending to each
urinal, being there connected with the slab of the urinal. I fix to thi
main two stop taps or valves, the flushing tap the same size as the main

page_text: and a smaller one for permanent supply, or a limited supply system.
This small tap when adjusted will not require to be used, but may
remain open so that the irrigation may be constant, thus neutralizing
the water in the basins. And to the top of the arched pipes I apply
an air vent in the form of a vertical tube of exceedingly small bore; this
prevents the pipes from acting as syphons, limiting them to their
purpose of conveying water by pressure alone.
By the arrangement of supply pipes and basins each basin will have its
due portion of water, and all surface that has a tendency to generate
effluvium will be reduced to a minimum. Under certain circumstances
where the waste pipes and screens cannot be fixed in the back wall I
bring the waste in front of slates, and support the screens on in.
round iron standards.
In order that my said Invention may be completely understood I
annex the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a front
view of the urinal; Fig. 2, a transverse section; Fig. 3 shews a plan
partly in horizontal section; Fig. 4 is a section of floor and trap; and
Fig. 5, a transverse section shewing waste in front.
denote corresponding parts in cach Figure.
Similar letters
a, a, are the basins; and b, b, the back slabs of slate; c, c, the
screens; d, the main pipe for water supply; e, e, the junctions
descending to the back of the basins, the water flowing through channels
shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 in the sectional view through the
bowl or basin; ff, the orifice around the interior ledge of the basin
for the conduct of water; g, the external lip or flange for the ready
discharge of spray or fluid to the floor without flowing over the side of
the basin; h, h, the waste pipes; i, the tap for the water supply to
flush the floor; j, the regulating valve for the flushing; k, the junction
for the constant irrigation with its valve. The section of the basins
is shewn by the Figs. 2 and 3, the first being shallow and dry over the
greater portion of its area, the second being deeper and presenting a
larger water surface. In Fig. 3 a plan of the waste in front is shewn;
a section above the bowl, and a plan of the floor are shewn, with the top
of the screens, the brass grate or rim in the floor, also shewn in the
section of the trap, Fig. 4. The drain for the urinals passes along the
back of the slate slabs; but where the drain cannot be carried behind
the slates I prefer to place it under the floor immediately below the
basins, connecting them with the drain by galvanized iron pipes.

page_text: The remaining details of the construction will be easily comprehended
by the Drawings. In Fig. 5, where the waste pipe is shewn in front of
the slabs, it will be observed that the pipe takes an elbow curve, passing
under the rear of the basin, and descends to the brass grate by a
junction. It is also evident that the basins cannot become choked or
stopped up, as is the case with those which are perforated in order to
drain the contents, through any foreign substances cast or thrown into
them, since in basins constructed according to this Invention whatever
substance is thrown in may remain without any hindrance to the flow
of the contents, because the system is on the overflow principle and not
on the straining method, so that the attendant may easily remove any
substance thrown in. Consequently, there is no risk whatever of pipes
becoming stopped up nor any occasion to displace parts of the structure
for the purpose of removing obstructions. The plan of constant
irrigation applied to the interior of the basins affords an efficient means
of keeping them free from sediment or from effluvia. Even in the
form of basin shewn at Fig. 5 the flow of water will maintain
neutrality of its contents, and, in that shewn at Fig. 2, where the
greater portion is left exposed, the irrigation immediately and continuously
keeps its surface free and clear of all offensive liquid, while the
well or deepened portion of the trap serves for the constant overflow.
Then with respect to the flushing of the basins or the floor by opening
the flushing valve in the main pipe and the flushing tap a plentiful
supply of water is afforded, which may only be necessary once or twice
a day, the ordinary irrigating pipe serving for the continuous limited
service, which is rendered equal to each basin in proportion to the supply.
The cleanliness of the floor is ensured by the dwarf screens permitting
an uninterrupted surface of floor throughout the divisions of the urinal,
and since no water can flow over the basins except the spray from the
ledges, it follows that the floor will be comparatively dry and clean
as no urine can flow over the sides. The shape of the basin being
a taper from back to front avoids the risk of contact with the
trowsers.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark that
I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of parts
which I have expressed and shewn, as the same may be varied without
departing from the objects sought; but what I claim and desire to be
secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent arc,-

page_text: 1st. The construction of basin with irrigating back slabs, perforations,
or grooves, traps, and overflow in conjunction with the main drain pipes
cither in front or at back of slates or other part of urinal, more especially
in regard to the means of preventing the choking or stopping up of the
flow.
2ndly. The means of irrigating the basins by constant supply, or of
flushing them and the floor of the urinal by the service pipes, junctions,
valves, and tap.
3rdly. The method of adjusting the screens by dowels, or by grouting
them in the wall, or by supporting them on standards.
4thly. The arrangement of the floor with grating and trap valve for
carrying off the accidental discharge of liquid in front of the basins and
for preventing the escape of effluvia, all substantially as herein specified
and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lowe Greatorex, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
JOHN LOWE GREATOREX. (L.S.)
) Witness,
ALEX. C. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
No. 4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.