Improvements in or relating to Lavatory Wash Basins, Baths, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1895--Accepted, 23rd Nov.,
1395
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to Lavatory Wash Basins, Baths, and
the like.
1, CHARLES HEYWORTH of 59 Faulkner Street, Manchester, Plumber, 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 lavatory wash basins, baths, sinks and the like, and has
for its object to dispense with the loose plug or stopper usually employed for
retaining the water, which is liable to be lost, or is objectionable in handling, and
to substitute therefor more convenient means for retaining the water, and of
allowing such water to drain away after using.
"
In accordance with my invention, and as applied, say to a wash basin or bath I
aange the bend
or "trap" of the outlet pipe to almost equal the depth or
I also
height of the water in the basin or bath when full to the overflow level
cause the inlet end of the outlet pipe to project into the basin, but to prevent such
pipe end projecting above the floor of the basin, and for the purpose of creating a
secondary "tap," I form a well or recess in the earthenware, of corresponding
depth (more or less), and over such pipe end and within such well or recess,
place a cover or domo with feet to support it upon the bottom of the sand recess,
& thus forming the desned trap. The height of this "trap" and that of the
ordinary "trap or bend aforesaid, correspond collectively to the total height of
the water in the bastu when full to the overflow level.
"
Water poured into the basin flows into the well aforesaid and immediately forms
a seal with the wall of the outlet pipe cover, and owing to the larger bend being
(by preference) previously filled with water a column of an 18 imprisoned between
Water
the water under the said cover, and in the water in the said larger bend
continuing to flow into the basin has the effect of gradually driving the air forward
and of gradually depressing the level of the water in the first limb of the pipe
beud, and as this action continues the weight of the water in the basin, which is
constantly varying, is sustained by the resistance of water and air in the outlet pipe
until the basin is full, when the two forces Just balance each other and are in
equilibrium. Any additional water entering the basin only displaces a
corresponding amount out of the outlet pipe bend into the waste pipe, and the level
of the water in the basin ceases to use. If the extra water enters the basın
en masse, or at a sufficient rate to flood the water under the pipe covor into the
outlet pipe, a syphonic action takes place and the basin is immediately drained.
From this it will be seen that the basin forms its own overflow, and that the
draining of the basin can be effected by overfilling, but in practice I do not propose
to use the overfilling of the basin for draining as that would result in a considerable
waste of water, and 1 prefer 1ather to employ a simple form of self-closing air
valve, itted to the basin top (near the taps), and communicating by a small tube
10 the outlet pipe at a point where the an is located when the basin is filling, and
which valve ou being opened allows of the escape of the said au, and so destroys
the balancing of the water and causes the draming of the basin.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will

page_text: now proceed to describe the same WILI the assistance of the various gures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig is a vertical section of a lavatory wash basin (shown about half size) with
my invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2 18 an enlarged section of the valve for allowing of the escape of air from
the outlet pipe
"
(A) designates the lavatory basin specially formed with the well or pocket. (B)
and opening (B). (C) is the outlet pipe, with bend o trap" (D), and connected
to the basin by a metal union (F) and Hange pipe (E) projecting into the basın
(G) is the cover aforesaid fitting over the open end of the pipe (E) and
resting upon the feet (G) within the well or pocket (B). This cover is, by
preference, made of earthenware to match the basin, and is of sufficient weight to
emain stationary in the water, but it may be made of other materials and of
slenderer proportions, and be held down by attachment to the pipe (E) or to the
basın.
To the pipe (E) is connected the tube (II), leading to and connected with the
Bir valve (J) fitted to the lavatory top, and under the pressure of a spring or weight
18 self-closing, and provents the escape of the air in the pipe (C) when filling the
basın.
Under ordinary conditions the "trap" (D) is filled with water, and the space
above the level of the water is filled with air, or open to the atmosphere. Water
entering the basin from the ordinary supply taps flows into the pocket (B) and
immediately forms a seal with the cover (G), but owing to the resistance of the
water in the bend (D) and the intervening air, cannot pass into the outlet pipe, and
gradually fills up the space around the cover (G) and accumulates in the basın.
As the water accumulates it gradually raises its level under the cover (G), and
dives forward the strata of an in the outlet pipe, which in tuin depresses the water
in the downward part of the pipe (C), every inciement of rise and depression being
balanced until the surface of the water reaches the bend (D) when the total weight
oi resistance of the water in the upward or outlet part of the pipe (C), and that of
the water under the cover (G) and intervening air, just equals that of the water in
the basin.
In order now to drain the basin, the valve (J) is opened, allowing the imprisoned
air to escape out of the pipe (C), and as such air escapes it naturally gives place to
the water in the basin. To enable the well (B) to be drained as much as possible
each time the basin is emptied, and so ensure of the outlet pipe and covei being
opened to the atmosphere, or recharged with an, I provide a small syphon pipe (1)
overhanging the edge of the pipe (E) and with its shorter limb coming close to the
basin surface. As an additional assurance 1 find in practice that a considerable
amount of an is carried into the pipe by the water itself, and thus in case the
syphon pipe should fail to perform its function there will be sufficient air to create
the desired balancing
To prevent soap, cte, getting into the space around the cover (G), I may form
the top of the cover with a suitable edging to overlap the basin, but as such space
18 90 contracted and the cover removable, said edging is not altogether necessary.
The area of the aunular space within the cover (G) should be equal to the area
of the pipes (C) and (E) and any diminution in diameter of the cover (G) must be
compensated by an increase of depth in order to maintain the weight of water in
the basin, or to depress the water in the bend (D) without permitting the water
under the cover to flow into the outlet pipe
It will be obvious that an economy of fittings is effected by reason of the outlet
pipe also serving as the overflow pipe, and by reason of the downward pressure of
the water and syphonic action (both of which elements are missing in the ordinary
overflow arrangements, and the basin filling at a greater rate than it overflows) the
draining of the water out of the basin 18 effected more rapidly and with greater
certainty thau heretofore
It will be also obvious that in lieu of the arrangement of cover (G), two bends

page_text: may be formed in the outlet pipe, but as the space beneath a lavatory basm or bath
18 usually contracted such an arrangement would not be so convenient
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or exact
adaptation thereof, and what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is
-
"
1st. In menus for automatically retaining and draining the water or other liquids
poured into a lavatory basin, bath, or similar receptacle, the use of a set of " traps
or "bends" in the outlet passage, and an air valve and tube communicating with
the air space between said "bends," and said "bends "so arranged and proportioned
that when filled with water they will balance or sustain the water in the basın or
bath substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved filling,
draining and overflow apparatus for lavatory wash basins, baths and other similar
receptacles as set forth.
Dated t
1005
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.