IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH CLOSET APPARATUS AND IN THE MEANS FOR WORKING THE SAME
Year: 1885

page_text: Working the same.
I, JOHN DUNNELL GARRETT of Southwold in the County of Suffolk, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH
CLOSET APPARATUS AND IN THE MEANS FOR WORKING THE SAME to be as
follows:-
The main object of this invention is to adapt the earth closet system to towns
and cities; by providing a facile means for supplying the deodorant used and for
removing the excrementitious matter contained in the pans or receptacles.
For this purpose I propose to give access to the closets of the building from the
exterior, so that the operations of replenishing the apparatus with the deodorant
and clearing the pans or receptacles may be effected without entering the dwelling,
a result which has not hitherto been attained.
In carrying out my invention I arrange the earth closets of houses, whether
built in rows or in large blocks, with an exposed wall, accessible to the scavenger.
In this wall at about the level of the closet floors, I form an opening some four feet
high and two feet wide, more or less, which I close with a glazed sash window or
it may be a strong door or doors.
The pan of the closet I fit with trunnions, and mount it in suitable bearings Bo
that it may be free to rock or tip therein and this pan I enclose within a seat as
usual. The top of the seat I make removable securing it to a hopper by a loose
connection. This hopper depends from pivots in a position to discharge its contents
into the pan and is capable, when tipped on its pivots, of presenting its upper end
to the opening closed by the window or door so as to receive its supply of
deodorant. When it is desired to charge the hopper and remove the contents of
the pan the outer door or sliding sash to which the scavenger has access is opened
and the hopper being raised will through its loose connection with the seat give a
clearance to the pan, the pan is tipped and thereby caused to discharge its contents
into a receiver brought into position for the purpose. The hopper, when raised as
explained, will present its open top to the scavenger, and when refilled it is dropped
into position at which time the top of the seat carrying the hinged cover will be
restored to its place and bed upon the pan. A channel is provided leading from the
pan to the open air for the purpose of ventilation and provision may be made for
stimulating the draught in the channel by a gas jet.

page_text: In buildings not provided with external galleries at the several floors where the
earth closets are situated, I propose to form raised landing stages adjacent to the
closets and to give access to these stages by crane gear which can be locked when
not in use or by a vertical ladder affixed to the wall of the building, similar to
those used on railways at signal posts. The vessel for collecting the contents of
the various pans I fit with trunnions to enable it to be hitched onto a trolly for
facilitating its transport from place to place. This vessel I attach to a hauling
chain pendent from a barrel which turns in bearings carried by the wall of the
house and upon a chain pulley attached to this barrel, I fit an endless chain, which
depends to near the ground. By pulling at this chain, the barrel may be rotated
and caused to wind up the chain to which the vessel is attached, thus the vessel
may be raised to the first, second or third floor, at pleasure, and when it has
received the contents of the pans it may be lowered in a similar manner.
When applying my invention to several adjacent closets as in a hotel or public
building, I propose to group the closets around a central flue and to mount the
tipping pans in frames carried by a circular platform to facilitate the discharging
of the contents of the pans at a given spot. The central flue will constitute a
ventilating shaft receiving a draught of air from the basement of the building
which draught may be quickened by connection with a furnace. Around this
shaft any given number of compartments may be arranged. Supposing six to be
the number adopted, there will be five closets for use and a sixth compartment
abutting on to an external wall in which an opening is made for access thereto.
This opening will be closed in the manner already explained and it will provide
access for the scavenger to the pans, which may be severally brought round for
discharge opposite the opening and when emptied, moved again into position for
use. Openings will be made into the shaft immediately above each pan and also
near the ceiling of the closet and to keep apart the gases drawn from the pans and
the air from the closet, the flue will be fitted with conical guides which will ensure
a separate updraught from the different levels ventilated, gas jets being, if necessary,
employed in these passages to quicken the draught.
An obvious modification of this part of the invention is to enlarge the central
flue sufficiently to enable the scavenger to get access from the basement to the
several closets for the purpose of charging the receiving boxes with deodorant and
tipping the contents of the pans into a receptacle provided for the purpose and
admitted through an opening at the base of the flue.
For ventilating the closets an opening may be made near the top of the closets,
to the flue, and also near the pan, as already explained. A similar arrangement
may be provided where the closet backs onto an outer wall.

page_text: Improvements in Earth Closet Apparatus and in the Means for
Working the same.
I JOHN DUNNELL GARRETT of Southwold in the County of Suffolk, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: -
The main object of this invention is to adapt the earth closet system to Towns
and Cities, by providing a facile means for supplying the deodorant used, and for
removing the excrementitious matter contained in the pans or receptacles.
For this purpose I propose to give access to the closet fittings of the buildings
from the exterior, so that the operations of replenishing the apparatus with the
deodorant, and clearing the pans or receptacles, may be effected without entering
the building or removing the receptacles therefrom, a result which has not hitherto
been attained.
In carrying out my invention, I arrange the earth closets of houses, whether
built in rows or in large blocks, with a back-wall accessible to the scavenger. In.
this wall, at about the level of the closet floors, I form an opening, which opening
I close with a glazed window sash and doors, or it may be sliding shutters.
When it is desired to charge the earth box and remove the contents of the pan,
the sliding shutters to which the scavenger has access, are opened, as will be
presently explained.
Figure 1, Sheet I, of the accompanying drawings, shews, in sectional elevation,
part of a building having an earth closet on the ground and first floors, and the.
apparatus in place for supplying the deodorant to the closets, and for removing the
contents of the pans.
Figure 2 is an elevation of a portion of the outside of the building, shewing the
width of the opening in the wall of the building, and the sashes and sliding doors
covering the same.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the portable crane, with the hoisting gear.
Figure 4, Sheet II, is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a closet fitted
with an automatic earth feed mechanism for delivering the deodorizer to, and
distributing it in the pan.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the earth box detached, shewing more clearly the
mechanism for feeding and distributing the earth.
Figures 6 and 7, Sheet III, shew in side and end elevations, the scavenger's cart
and hand truck used in the transference of the excrementitious matter and the
earth or other deodorant.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4, A A is a rectangular frame, in which the
shutters A, that close the opening in the outer wall, slide. This frame is fitted
with inetal cheeks a for receiving the trunnions 6 of the pan B.-The pan is
covered by a seat C, which is hinged to the bottom of the earth box D, for the
purpose to be presently explained. This seat C carries a hinged lid, as usual, and
at its front edge the seat is hinged to the front part C¹ of the box or casing which

page_text: encloses the pan. This part C is free to slide on guide pins to allow of the rise
and fall-of the seat. The box D hangs upon pivots d* resting in bearings in the
frame A, and it is capable of being tipped to the dotted position of Figure 4, for the
purpose of receiving its charge of deodorant from outside the building. When it is
thus tipped, the seat rises and leaves the pan free to be tipped into the dotted
position of Figure 4, to discharge its contents into a vessel provided to receive the
same. The box D, the seat C, and the front panel C¹ of the casing, are connected
together, and move simultaneously, to afford access to the receptacles of the closet
from outside of the building.
In Figure 1 means are shown as applied to the building for raising an earth
supply box, and also a vessel for receiving the contents of the charged pans.
In Figure 3, this apparatus is shewn in front elevation. E is a wooden frame,
consisting of two parallel bars braced together at top and bottom, and forming
guides for a runner F, in which is mounted a winch F fitted with a ratchet wheel f
and pawl f; short radial arms projecting from the winch barrel are provided for
turning the same. At the top of this frame is a block E³, through which is passed
a rope or chain e for carrying receptacles for the earth or other deodorant and the
contents of the discharge pans. This chain or cord e is connected, at one end, to a
winch G, mounted in bearings near the foot of the frame E, and provided with a
ratchet wheel, a retaining pawl, and a brake g-g' is a winch handle for operating
the winch G. Attached to the pendent end of this rope or chain, is a frame H, in
which is pivotted an earth supply box I, and dependent from the frame H is the
vessel K, which is intended to receive the contents of any pans required to be
emptied. Attached to this vessel K are two side bars k, hooked at their ends to
receive the links of the ropes or chains e¹ pendent from the frame H. The
frame E of this portable crane is supported in a slanting position against the
frame A of the ventilator on the closet; and for the purpose of guiding the vessels I
and K clear of the wall, a cord f from the winch F¹, attached to the pivot axle of
the pendent frame H, is wound up on the barrel, when the pendent wheels will
take the position indicated by dotted lines at Figure 1. The receptacles, it should
be remarked, are only brought slightly in contact with the frame in hoisting, but
on being lowered, they are brought into close contact with the frame, which then
acts as a Brake to the descending load. The side bars of the vessel K carry
trunnions for the purpose to be presently explained, and fitted also to this vessel
are platforms for the reception of a workman. For working this apparatus, two
scavengers will be required; the one at the winch handle g₁ lets down the earth
box I with its frame H, which is permanently attached to the chain or rope e, and
the other hitches on the chains e¹ to the hooked bars of the vessel K, which vessel,
fitted by its trunnions to a hand truck, is run under the slanting frame E for the
purpose. The man at the winch G then winds up the chain, and with it the
vessels I and K, to the desired level for use, the other scavenger standing on
the platform of the vessel K, and rising with the load. When the proper height is
attained, the winch G is locked in position by its pawl, and the man on the
platform runs up the shutters A¹, to get access to the back of the closet. He then
brings the earth closet D into the tipped position of Figure 1, ready to receive the
lower end of the supply box I into its mouth. The man on the platform next
slackens the rope f, to bring the suspended vessels into the drawn position, and
for this purpose he guides the pivot axle of the frame H into the hooks h on the
frame A, tipping forward, at the same time, the lower end of the box I in the
direction of the mouth of the feed box D.-A slight slackening of the chain will;
then seat the pivot axle in the bearing hooks h, and cause the lower end of the
vessel I to enter the box D. This. vessel I may be considered as a hopper, closed at
bottom by a valve, which serves to regulate the discharge of earth into the earth
box D. Before filling the earth box 1 of the first floor closet, he tips the pan
into the drawn position, thereby discharging its contents into the vessel K, which
has, by the before mentioned operations, been brought into position to receive the
contents of the pan.
.
B

page_text: The scavenger then returns the pan to its nearly vertical position, and partially
raises the earth box D. When this box has gained a suitable position for filling,
the man discharges earth from the vessel I into the box D by opening the valve
with which it is fitted.
! The man at the windlass G¹ then lifts the pendent vessels, and causes the
vessel I to swing clear of the earth box D. The scavenger on the platform then
brings the earth box D to its normal position, by means of gearing, provided for
the purpose.
The scavenging duty having been performed, the sliding shutters are drawn
down and secured.-The next thing is to draw taut the cord f by the winch F¹,
and thereby to bring the pivot axle to bear upon the frame E, when it will act as
a brake in combination with the receiver F. This will ensure the steady descent
of the pendent vessels I, K, on the slackening of the chain e of the winch G, and
will give the man on the platform a control of the lowering apparatus.
The earth box D is provided with suitable well known means for regulating the
delivery of its contents into the pan B.
In sheet II, at Figures 4 and of the drawings, the hinged lid is shown as the
means for giving motion to the delivery wheel d-Pivotted to this lid is a
tumbling lever c, formed with two spurs below its fulcrum, for limiting its rocking
motion in opposite directions. This lever catches on to a pin projecting from a
lever c¹ mounted loosely on the axle of the delivery wheel d. Keyed to this axle
is a ratchet wheel d, and into its teeth takes a pawl c³ carried by the lever c'. On
raising the lid C, the pawl c will slip over the teeth of the ratchet wheel, leaving
the feed wheel & quiescent. On shutting down the lid, the pawl will pull round
the feed wheel, and effect a discharge of deodorant into the pan below. To provide
for the distribution of the deodorant as it falls into the pan, I employ a dash
plate d², which is carried by a pair of arms pivotted to the opposite sides of the
earth box D. One of these arms is extended beyond the pivot in the form of a
fork, which is intended to receive a stud pin on the lever c.-As, therefore, the lid
is brought down and caused to rotate the feed wheel, through the pawl c² of the
lever c¹, that lever will also give a smart rocking movement to the forked arm of
the dash plate d2, and cause that plate to strike the stream of falling earth, and
distribute it over the pan. To ensure the level distribution of the contents of the
pan, I give a slight traverse motion to the delivery box D, mounting, for that
purpose, on the axle of the feed wheel, an excentric d³.-This excentric ds bears
against a roller b' fixed to the frame of the closet. As, therefore, an intermittent
axial motion is given to the feed wheel axle, the excentric will cause the earth
box D to tip on its pivots, and advance or move back its discharge opening, the
traverse of that opening corresponding to the amount of excentricity of the
excentric d³ As, in the use of earth as a deodorant, stones. and other extraneous
matters are liable to be mixed there with, provision should be made for preventing
the choking of the feed wheel.-This result I obtain by using a hinged piece d
on the face of the box, and' on the level of the feed wheel, and holding this hinged
piece in place, so as.to maintain the size of the discharge opening by means of a
pressure spring. Should an obstruction occur from the admission of a stone
between the feed wheel and the hinged piece, to the latter will yield to the
pressure of the stone, and provide for its discharge from the earth box.
To provide for the earth box D being tipped from the outside, to bring. it into
the proper position for receiving a fresh supply of earth, it is fitted with a sector
rack do, into which gears a worm de keyed to an axle d' having a squared end
to receive a winch handle for turning it. This arrangement serves also to lock the
earth box in its tipped position, ready to receive its supply of deodorant.
A modification of this mode of tipping the earth box is shewn in dots at
Figure 4, where a loop ds, at the back of the earth box, is provided for the insertion
of a hand spike for tipping the box, and a pawl fitted to the wainscot of the
closet, and taking into a catch on the top of the box, will retain the box in its
tipped position ready to receive a supply of earth.

page_text: To prevent the feed wheel d from turning, and thereby discharging earth when
the box is tipped, and also to remove an obstruction to the free tipping of the box,
the tumbling lever c is provided with spurs, which limit its notion in either
direction, causing it, when the box is tipped and the seat raised, to disengage
itself from the pin of the lever c¹, and when the seat is lowered, to take the proper
position for hitching on to the pin.
For ventilating the closet, an opening is made, near the ceiling, direct to the
atmosphere above the glazed windows, as at L, see Figure 1; and immediately
below this air passage, is another L', which forms the outlet for a vertical
passage L leading upwards from below the seat C. This vertical passage is
formed by an inner glazed window extending from the horizontal passage L1, down
to the earth box, from which point the earth box D, and the casing enclosing the
pan B, complete the passage L'.
I have said that the vessel K is fitted with trunnions which support it in a hand
truck. These trunnions I also utilize for supporting the vessel when transferring
its load. When this vessel is charged to the extent, say, of 5 cwts, with excre-
mentitious matter, I propose to empty it into a cart suitably constructed for
supplying fresh earth to the earth boxes, and for receiving the contents of the pans
from the collecting vessel. Such a cart is illustrated in Sheet III, which represents
the body of the cart divided longitudinally into three compartments, the middle
compartment M being intended to receive. the contents of the vessel K, and the
side compartments N containing fresh earth or other deodorant, for transference to
the portable supply boxes K*, which are carried by the hand truck. Pivotted to
opposite sides of the cart, and standing up above the sides, are sector frames OO,
which are braced together above the cart by a cross piece O¹, which forms also a
screen for ensuring the contents, shot out from the vessel K, falling into the cart.
Pivotted to these frames are slings or hangers P, formed with hooks to receive
the trunnions of the vessel K, and connected to the cross piece 01, is a chain leading
to a winch Q at the front of the cart. By turning this winch, the sector frames
are caused to rock on their pivots, and lift the vessel K over the cart. When the
vessel has risen to the required height, the slings are held to the frames in any
desired position, by inserting a pole transversely through slots made in the rocking
frames to receive it.
The vessel K can then be tipped on its trunnions, to discharge its contents into
the central compartment of the cart, as shewn by dots in the Figure.
When applying my invention to several adjacent closets, as in a hotel or public
building, I propose to group the closets around a central flue, which constitutes a
ventilating shaft, and to mount the tipping pans in frames carried by a circular
platform, to facilitate the discharging of the contents of the pans at a given spot.
In sheets IV and V, this arrangement of earth closets is illustrated in several
views.
Figure 8 is a central vertical section of the apparatus.
Figure 9 is a sectional plan, taken on the line 1. 2. of Figure 8; and Figures 10
and 10% are diagrams illustrating, in transverse section, at two levels (lines 3, 4
and 5 and 6, Figure 8) the varying areas of the ventilating shaft.
R is the central flue or ventilating shaft, receiving a draught of air from the
basement of the building, which draught may be quickened by connection with a
fireplace, which may also be used, if desired, for deodorizing purposes.
The shaft is built up, from the basement, of cylindrical castings socketted one
into the other, and it is lined with brickwork, to give it stability, from the ground
to the level of the first group of earth closets. Each group of closets is provided
with a circular platform S, of cast iron, which serves to carry the pans B and the
earth boxes D. The inner periphery of this platform is formed with a sleeves,
which surrounds the flue R. The platform rests upon the end of the cylinder R
immediately below it, and it is further supported by antifriction rollers having
their supports in parts of the main building. The platform is cast on the upper

page_text: face with radial webs 8¹ for carrying the side partitions which divide up the space
of the platform, for say six closets.
On its under face, near its outer periphery, the platform is cast with a ring of
rack teeth s³, into which gears a pinion s³ for imparting rotary motion to the
platform. The spindle to which this pinion is keyed, has its bearing on the outer
wall of the building, at an opening in the wall, which provides access from the
outside to the several closet fittings, as they are brought in succession opposite the
opening.
In the drawing I have shewn the platform space around the shaft divided up
into six parts, which will provide for five closets, the sixth space being for the
operations of the scavenger.
The opening in the outer wall will be closed in the manner already explained
with reference to Sheets I and II, the closing doors or shutters being opened to
give access to the several divisions of the platform as they are brought round in
succession opposite the opening.
The scavenger, when engaged, in replenishing the earth boxes and emptying the
pans, gives rotary motion to the platform, through the gearing 82 83 before
mentioned, by means of a winch handle fitted to the spindle of the pinion s³.
By turning this handle, he brings the pans and earth boxes opposite the opening to
be emptied and filled respectively, and returns them again into position for use.
Ventilating openings L L are made into the shaft, near the ceiling of the closet,
and also immediately above each pan; and to quicken the draught in the flue,
conical guides R', of sheet iron, are provided, the base of the cones resting against
the sides of the shaft. Immediately above the top of each cone is an annular
deflector R, above which, near the ceiling of the closets, the ventilating openings L
are made into the shaft R.-This arrangement serves to keep apart the gases drawn
from the pans, and the air from the closets, and ensures a separate updraught from
the different levels ventilated.-Gas jets may, if necessary, be employed in these
passages to quicken the updraught and to give light to the interior of the closets.―
As the sides of the closet are composed of movable and stationary parts, it is
necessary to provide for the closing up of the joints, at the vertical edges, of the
moving parts of the partitions. For this purpose, I fit the moveable parts of the
partitions with sliding plates A, after the manner described in the Specification of
my Patent dated 30th May 1884, No 8434. These plates are operated by excentrics
to thrust them apart, the inner of these plates pressing against the shaft R, and
the outer plates overlapping the fixed part of the partitions.
It will be obvious that preparatory to the turning of the platform S, to bring
the pans B to their discharging position, it will be necessary to draw in the locking
plates A, which must be done by an attendant, belonging to the building, entering
the several closets for the purpose.
:
The apparatus for lifting the deodorant box and the receiver for the contents of
the pans, to the required level in the shaft, is clearly shewn in Figure 8, and
consists in affixing a capstan or windlass to the outer wall, from which depends the
lifting chain e and the operating endless chain e-Pendent from the chain e is the
earth box I, and depending from this box are chains carrying a vessel K for
receiving the contents of any pans requiring to be emptied. The transference of
the receiver K from the building to the scavenger's cart, may be conveniently
effected, as before described, by means of the hand truck constructed as illustrated
at 'Figure 6.
An obvious modification of this part of the invention is to enlarge the central
flue sufficiently to enable the scavenger to get access from the basement to the
several closets, for the purpose of charging the receiving boxes with deodorant,
and tipping the contents of the pans into a receptacle provided for the purpose.
This arrangement is illustrated at Sheets V and VI.
Figure 11 is a central vertical section of the modified form of the shaft or flue,
with the closet fittings in place; and
11

page_text: By reference to these Figures, it will be seen that the shaft R is rectangular in
plan, and that consequently a different distribution of the closets is required.
Moreover, the rotary platform is rendered unnecessary. Openings into the shaft
are made from each closet, and these openings are closed in precisely the same
manner as was described with reference to figures 1 and 2, the sliding shutter
being raised to provide for the tipping of the pans B and the earth boxes D,
the pans to discharge their contents, and the earth boxes to receive their supply
of deodorant.-Access to the interior of the shaft is made at the base thereof,
as shewn in Figure 12, for the admission of the scavenger and the supply and
receiving vessels.
For ventilating the closets, openings are made into the flue, near the top of the
closets, and also near the pans, as already explained, and provision may be made
for preventing the return into the closets of the gases from the pans. The shaft is
provided with hauling gear similar to that already described for raising and.
lowering the earth supply box I and the receptacle K for the contents of the
pans. These pans, and the boxes in the closets, are mounted on trunnions to allow
of their being tipped, as in the first described arrangement.
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
First.—The arrangement of each closet apparatus as described with reference to
figures 1 and 4, whereby the feed box may be charged, and the pan or receptacle
for the excrement may be emptied, without removal from the closet, access being
had thereto from the open air.
Second. Arranging earth closets around a central shaft, to which access may be
had from the basement of the building, such shaft having openings in the rear of
each closet (closed by shutters or doors), to give access to the pans and the earth
boxes, for the purpose of emptying the pans and filling the boxes as explained.
Third. The arrangements above described for giving an independent ventilation
to the pans and the closets.
Fourth. Mounting the earth box on pivots, as described with reference to
sheet I of the drawings, and hingeing the earth box to the seat, and the seat to the
front panel of the pan casing, for the purpose of allowing the box to be tipped to
receive a fresh supply of deodorant, and providing also for the tipping of the pan
for discharging its contents.
Fifth. Arranging the fittings of groups of earth closets upon a circular platform
surrounding a central shaft, and capable of receiving rotary motion through
gearing or its equivalent, for the purpose of bringing such closet fittings in
succession opposite an opening in the external wall of the building, to discharge
the contents of the pans, and to receive a fresh supply of deodorant as explained.
Sixth. The use of a hauling chain or rope and pendent vessels, as I K, arranged
as described for facilitating the charging and discharging respectively of the earth
box and the tipping pan of the closet.