An Improved Automatic Flushing Cistern.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Flushing Cistern.
I, JAMES MINTO of Redfern, Sydney in the Colony of New South Wales,.
Plumber 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:-
This invention has for its object, the automatic discharge of water from a cistern
for flushing drains, closets, urinals and the like, and consists of a cistern, divided
into two compartments; in the upper compartment is arranged a syphon, of any
known type, the outlet of which passes through the bottom of the upper compart-
a similar
ment to near the bottom of a tumbling box such as is now used for
purpose. This tumbling box is pivotted in a frame, in the lower compartment,
which is preferably air tight, and in the bottom of which is an outlet.
The ordinary syphon used for this purpose, is not certain in its action, as it is.
liable to allow water to run to waste, when set to run very slowly, and very often
it will not act; and the use of a tumbling box alone would be prohibitive, owing
to the space required, and its unwieldiness.
By combining the syphon with the tumbling box, a perfect automatic flushing
cistern is obtained, as the weak point in the syphon is overcome, and the tumbling
box is reduced to practical dimensions.
To facilitate explanation drawings are annexed, in which similar reference letters
denote similar parts.
Fig. 1 is a side vertical section.
Fig.
2 is a front vertical section.
Fig. 3 is a plan.
The tubes
a is a cistern, which may be of any suitable material, but preferably of
galvanized iron, divided into two compartments b and c.
and e, form
a common type of syphon, the tube e being hermetically sealed in the division
plate f; the tube d which is sealed at the top, rests on the plate and is scalloped
as at g, to allow the water free passage. The tube e extends to near the bottom
of the tumbling box h, which latter is pivotted at j in the frame k, which is secured
to the cistern by any suitable means. The outlet is for discharging the water..
At m is shewn a water supply pipe, having a regulating cock n.
To operate the cistern, the cock n is regulated to allow a certain quantity of
water to flow into the compartment b in a given time; when the water reaches the
level of the top of the tube e, it overflows into the tumbling box h, which gradually
fills, and at the critical point overbalances, when it assumes the position shewn in
dotted lines at * and einpties into the lower compartment c.
This sudden action starts the syphon which now empties the water out of the
cistern, the water being discharged through the outlet !.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
·
1. In automatic flushing cisterns, the combination of a syphon with a tumbling
box, substantially as described and shewn on the drawings, and for the purpose
herein set forth.
2. In automatic flushing cisterns, the combination of the syphon and tumbling.

page_text: box, with the compartments b and c, substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
3. The automatic flushing cistern as a whole, substantially as described and
shewn on the drawings and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this Second day of November 1896.
JAMES MINTO.