IMPROVEMENTS IN PANS FOR WATER-CLOSETS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Sharpe, of Swadlincote, in the County of
Derby, Earthenware Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PANS FOR WATER-CLOSETS."
Sealed the 22nd February 1856, and dated the 10th September 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Sharpe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
September 1855.
I, EDMUND SHARPE, of Swadlincote, in the County of Derby, Earthenware
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PANS POR WATER-CLOSETS " to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists in constructing pans for water-closets,
with one or more pipes or channels for water, extending partially or entirely
around the upper part of the pan. These pipes or channels have perforations
or other openings through which the water descends, so as to wash any required
part of the interior of the pan, and I so vary the size of the perforations or
openings as to allow a greater quantity of water to escape directly over those
parts which are found in practice the most difficult to cleanse; and I prefer to
form the pipes or channels in the body of the pan itself, but pipes or channels
may be attached thereto by any suitable means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edmund Sharpe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND
SHARPE, of Swadlincote, in the County of Derby, Earthenware Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edmund Sharpe, Her special licence that I, the said Edmund Sharpe, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such-others as I, the said Edmund
Sharpe, 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 PANS
POR WATER-CLOSETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, "the said
Edmund Sharpe, 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 Edmund Sharpe, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this Invention is to construct pans for water-closets with one
or more pipes or channels formed or placed upon and around or partially
around the upper part thereof, such pipes or channels having perforations or
openings formed therein, so as to allow the water to descend over any or every
part of the pan. In practice it is found to be important and desirable to permit
more water to flow over those parts of the pan where soil or other impurity is
liable to adhere or accumulate; and in order to accomplish this object more
effectually than heretofore, I perforate the pipes or channels, or make suitable
openings therein, according to one or other of the following methods, that is
to say I make one opening, slit, or aperture all round the under part of the

page_text: said pipes or channels immediately over the upper inside surface of the pan,
and I increase or diminish the width of such opening, slit, or aperture in those
places where I find it desirable to increase or diminish the flow of water; or 1
make in the said pipes or channels a number of separate openings or per-
forations in the under part thereof, through which the water escapes and flows
over those parts of the interior of the pan which require washing; and I
enlarge the size or increase the number of the openings or perforations in the
pipes or channels immediately above those parts where. I desire a heavier stream
of water to descend. By either of these arrangements I obtain and secure the
advantage of ample mechanical effect from the direct descent of the water; from
the pressure on the supply pipe, less water is sufficient for cleansing the pau
than would be required by any other method hitherto employed, and the water
being by these means distributed with certainty over any or every part of the
circumference of the upper part of the pan, when, from being acted upon in
its descent by the force of the pressure in the supply pipe, it becomes con-
centrated in its passage over the inner surface of the pan, and thus acquires a
rapid downward current; it more effectually cleanses the pan, and carries s away
every impurity in its passage through the waste pipe.
Several methods have been adopted in the pans heretofore manufactured in
order to distribute the water over a large portion of their interior surfaces.
"Fans" and "spreaders" of various descriptions and shapes have been designed
for this purpose. But even with the best constructed fans or spreaders only a
part of the pan is washed, and the remaining portion is liable to become or
remain dirty. Another method has been to turn down the rim of the pan, so
as to bring it nearly in contact with the inner side of the basin, leaving a space
all round between the rim and the body of the pan through which the water
escapes into the pan. Considerable uncertainty and irregularity, however, is
found to exist in the spaces thus left between the internal edge of the rim and
the body of the pan arising from the liability of earthenware to warp during.
the processes of drying and firing, so that the result obtained is uncertain and
very frequently unsatisfactory; the water in many instances flowing heavily
over those parts where only a small quantity is required, and scarcely any water
descending over the other portions of the pan; and even if the distance between
the rim and the body of the pan could be produced with certain regularity, it
would not possess the advantage of my method, by which I vary at pleasure
the flow of the water over the different portions of the pan. Others, again,
depend upon giving a spiral or spinning motion to the water in its passage
through the pan by laying the supply pipe almost horizontal, but slightly
inclining downwards.
All these methods have been found insufficient, and to

page_text: come far short of producing that degree of cleanliness which is desirable 'to be
obtained in a closet pan; or they have been attended with difficulties in the
uncertain.
manufacture, which have rendered the attainment of the object very
In the improved water-closet pans, for which I now desire to obtain Letters
Patent, the flow of water can be determined and regulated with the greatest
nicety, so that any or every portion of the pan shall have a quantity of water
Not the slightest
flowing over it which is found necessary or desirable.
difficulty exists in the manufacture, and a thorough cleansing of the pan is
effected.
In carrying out this Invention, I form the pan and construct the pipes or
channels with their openings by any of the usual methods adopted by the trade
for manufacturing pans or producing perforated articles in carthenware. These
methods being well understood, need not here be further described; but in
order that my Invention may be clearly understood, and readily carried into
effect, I will now proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, observing
that similar letters refer to similar parts in the various views.
Fig. I. is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a section, and Fig. 3 a plan, of a water-
closet pan constructed according to my Invention. A is the body of the pan;
B, the entrance thereto from the supply pipe; C, the pipe or channel, extending
partially on each side, or, as I prefer it, entirely around the upper part of the
pan D, D, the perforations or openings for the escape of the water from the
pipe or channel C; E, the outlet, communicating with the waste pipe; F, Fig. 2,
and G, Fig. 3, shew portions of the pipe removed, so that the water-course in
the pipe or channel C, and the perforations or openings D, D, may be more
clearly understood. The action of this pan is as follows:-On water being
admitted in the ordinary manner from the supply pipe or pipes into the entrance
pipe B, it immediately traverses the pipe or channel C, in the direction of the
arrows, and descends through the perforations or openings D, D, washing in
its course every portion of the pan beneath the perforations or openings, and
carrying off by its pressure all solids and impurities into the waste pipe through
the outlet E. Fig. 4 exhibits, in plan, perforations or openings of various shapes
in the pipe or channel C, through which the water is permitted to escape. The
openings at 1, 21, 3', are continuous, while those at 4' are separated. The
number and shape of the perforations or openings may be varied, and they
may extend partially or entirely around the pipe or channel, or be placed in any
position found in practice most calculated to produce the most effective distri
bution of the water. Sometimes I find it convenient to make the perforations
in an oblique direction, so that the water may take an oblique course therefrom;
and I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction shewn in the

page_text: Drawings, as they may be varied without departing from the principle of my
Invention; and although I prefer to form the pipe or channel in the body of
the pan itself, it may be made separately, or of a different shape or material,
and afterwards attached to the pan. When two supply pipes are used, I con-
nect a pipe or channel with each, one of which I use to cleanse one side of the
pan, and the other to cleanse the other side of the pan. These are merely
modifications of my Invention; but what I claim as new, and desire to secure
by Letters Patent, is, --
1. The construction of pans for water-closets with pipes or channels having
a series of perforations or openings for the escape of water therefrom, such
pipes or channels extending partially or entirely around the upper part of the
pan, substantially as herein-before described.
2. Instead of a series of perforations in each such pipe or channel, I claim
also the use of one continuous opening, varying in width and shape, for the
purpose of securing a differing and definite amount of water to pass over the
various portions of the inside surface of the pan.
3. I also claim the application to pans of water-closets of similar pipes or
channels formed separately, and afterwards attached to such pans.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Sharpe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
JOHN ROWLEY.
EDMUND SHARPE. (L.S.)