Improvements in Water Closet Cisterns.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Closet Cisterns.
I ARTHUR WILLIAM DAMP of 25 George Street, Leamington Spa, in the
County of Warwickshire, Gas and Hot Water Fitter, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to cisterns for supplying water to water closets, and for all
similar purposes.
The main object of my said invention, is to provide a valveless, after flush
syphon cistern.
My improved cistern is so designed that the soil pan of a water closet can be
flushed, and after flushed, without fitting a special flushing valve to the cistern.
According to one form or modification of my invention I construct and fit my
improved cistern as follows.
The complete cistern is divided into two principal compartments an upper and
lower one, at one end of the upper compartment-that furthest from the inlet or
supply cock-a small pocket or recess is formed, open at the top and bottom, and
in height somewhat less than the depth of the upper compartment, a ball float,
attached to one end of the float arm, rises and falls within this pocket with the
water, thereby regulating the supply of same to the cistern from inlet cock.
Further, within the cistern I fit a syphon pipe the short leg of same being turned
down to within about an inch-more or less of the bottom of the lower compart-
ment, the crown of syphon stands above the bottom of the upper compartment to
a height somewhat less than that of the ball float pocket, and the long leg of the
syphon passes down through both compartments to the soil pan and forms the flushing
or discharge pipe.
Over the float arm I fit a cranked spindle extending from side to side of the
cistern taking its bearings in same, the crank on the spindle is so situated and
arranged that when the latter is turned, it (the crank) depresses the float arm,
and thereby the ball float, for the purpose, and in manner hereinafter described.
The spindle is turned by a pull chain attached to the outer end of a short lever
which is connected to the spindle on the outside of the tank, a weighted arm is
also provided on the spindle which restores it, and therefore the crank, to its
original position after the pull chain is let go.
The pulling of this chain and lever operates the cistern.
The action of my cistern is as follows:- -When the chain is pulled the crank on
the spindle depresses the float arm and ball float sufficiently to immerse the latter,
thereby displacing a quantity of water in the float pocket equal to the bulk of
the ball float, the level of water is thus raised above the crown of syphon, starting
it into action, and an immediate discharge with force of the contents of the lower
compartment into the long leg of the syphon ensues with the result that the soil
pan is flushed.
While the lower compartment is being emptied by the syphon the upper one
(and following upon same the float pocket and lower compartment) is being refilled
from the inlet cock and the water continues to flow until the ball float is again
waterbourne thereby closing the cock.
For trap pan closets the following modification is adopted whereby an afterflush
is secured which traps the pan.
Taking it that the cistern is empty and the supply just turned on, the action is
as follows:-The water flows from inlet cock into the upper compartment of the
cistern and from thence through a small hole provided in the ball float pocket-
situated at about on a level with the crown of the syphon-into the lower

page_text: compartment, but this hole being small the supply is greater from inlet cock than can
pass through the hole and therefore it-the water-flows over the top of the ball
float pocket until the ball float is waterbourne, the water supply from inlet cock
being then shut off. When the water has risen sufficiently in the ball float pocket
to cover the small hole in same-which occurs simultaneously with the rising of
the ball float the syphon is set in action, as the level of the water within the
ball float pocket and upper compartment, is then above the crown of the syphon
and the water is consequently discharged from the long leg of the syphon in
volume equal to the bore of the small hole, until the water level is reduced below
the crown of the syphon this water forms an after flush which traps the soil pan.
In flush out closets where no after flush is required the flushing will follow the
pulling of the chain, but in trap pan closets an arrangement of levers or other
suitable mechanism will be provided whereby the act of pulling the closet handle
will at the same time pull the cistern lever.
Dated this 21st day of April 1891.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Closet Cisterns.
ARTHUR WILLIAM DAMP, of 25 George Street, Leamington Spa, in the 2
County of Warwickshire, Gas and Hot Water Fitter, 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 :-
My invention relates to cisterns used for flushing water closets, and for all similar
purposes.
My improved cisterns are constructed without a special flushing valve, neverthe-
less by means of my improvements they will more efficiently flush and after flush
the pan of a water closet-to which they are connected-than cisterns fitted with
a flushing valve or valves.
2
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe 3
same with reference to the accompanying drawing in which,
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of my improved cistern.
Fig. 2, a plan on top of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, a sectional end elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, a side elevation shewing various modifications in my invention hereinafter 3
described in detail.
Fig. 5 a plan on top of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 a sectional end elevation of Fig. 4.
Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.
According to one form or modification of my invention I construct and fit my 4
improved cistern in following manner.
The complete cistern is divided into two principal compartments A and B, at
one end of the compartment B a pocket C is formed communicating with both
the compartments A and B, a ball float D attached to the float arm d' is free to
rise and fall with the water in the pocket C thereby regulating the supply of
water to the cistern from the inlet cock e.
Within the cistern I fit a syphon pipe E the short leg e' being turned down to
within about an inch-more or less as desired-of the bottom of the lower com-
partment A, the crown of the syphon E stands above the bottom of the
compartment B to a height somewhat less than the top of the pocket C and the
long leges of the syphon passes down through the bottom of both compartments
to the soil pan and forms the flushing or discharge pipe.
Above the float arin I sometimes fit a cranked spindle a extending across-and

page_text: taking its bearings in the sides of cistern, the crank on the spindle is so situated
and arranged that when the latter is turned the former depresses the float arm
and thereby the ball float for the purpose and in manner hereinafter more fully
described.
The spindle a, is turned by pulling a chain, attached to the outer end of a
short lever g, connected to the spindle on the outside of the cistern, a weighted
arm or counterbalance h, on the spindle restores it-and therefore the crank i,-to
its normal position after the pull chain f, is let go.
Instead of fitting the hereinbefore described mechanism for actuating the ball
float I may sometimes in place thereof provide that the float arin shall be continued
past the ball float and beyond one end of the cistern the ball float being fixed to
the float arm and a pull chain, to the end of same, (see Figs. 4, 5, and 6,) it is
obvious that the adoption of this modification will secure the like result as obtained
when fitting the cranked spindle and its corresponding parts, and without inter-
fering with the essential features of my invention.
The pulling of the chain f, or f³, operates the cistern, the action of which is as
follows.
When the chain f, or ", is pulled the ball float is depressed whereby a quantity
of water is displaced in the float pocket C, equal to the bulk of the ball float, or
rather to the bulk of the hitherto uninimersed portion of same, the level of water is
thus raised above the crown of the syphon E, starting it into action and an
immediate discharge with force of the contents of the lower compartment A, into
the long leg of the syphon ensues with the result that the soil pan is flushed.
While the lower compartment A, is thus being emptied by the syphon the upper
one B, (and following upon same the float pocket C, and lower compartment A,)
is being refilled from the inlet cock and the water continues to flow into the
cistern until the ball float D, is again waterborne whereby the inlet cock is closed.
For trap pan and wash out closets the following modification is adopted whereby
an after flush is secured which traps the pan or fills the hollow in wash out pans.
Taking it that the entire cistern is empty and the water supply just turned on,
the action is as follows:-The water flows from the inlet cock e into the upper
compartment B and from thence through a small hole K (provided in the ball
float pocket C see Figs. 4, 5 and 6) into the lower compartment A, but the water
supply is greater from the inlet cock e than can pass through the hole K in a
given time, and therefore it-the water-first fills the compartment B, and then
flows over the top of the pocket C into the lower compartment A until the ball
float is waterborne, the water supply from inlet cock being then shut off.
When the water has risen sufficiently in the ball float pocket C to cover the
hole K-which occurs simultaneously with the rising of the ball float-the syphon
is put in action as the level of the water within the ball float pocket and upper
compartment is then above the crown of the syphon and water is consequently
discharged from the long leg of the syphon until the water level is reduced below
the crown of the syphon, this water forms an after flush which traps the soil pan.
My improvements are applicable to any description of water closet pan, and I
may make my cisterns and the corresponding parts of same of any desired shape
provided the essential features of my invention as hereinbefore described are
retained.
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 :-
:-
1st. The construction of syphon cisterns without a valve for flushing purposes,
but nevertheless adapted for flushing and after flushing the pans of water closets-
with which they are connected-in manner substantially as hereinbefore set forth
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2nd. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting my invention for

page_text: improvements in water closet cisterns, substantially as, and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 19th day of January 1892.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.