Improvements in and relating to Lavatories and Wash Basins.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 8th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Lavatories and Wash Basins.
I, JOHN MERRILL of Albany Road, Sheffield in the County of York, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, the automatic emptying of lavatory basins and
other wash basins; thus dispensing with either the tipping of the basin, or the
removal of the plug, and I also avoid the risk of damage from overflow.
I propose to make the basin with a hole at the bottom similar to the usual
plughole, and under the basin I fit a valve or door or tap plug that when open will
perinit the water in the basin to escape down the pipe.
The valve, door, or tap is operated by a pedal or small platform on which the
person using the basin will stand while washing.
The platform is so pivotted that when the weight of a person is upon it, the valve
is closed and directly the weight is removed by the person stepping off the
platform, the valve is opened by suitable means and retained in this, its normal
position.
I may also attach a lever or other action to a small cistern connected with the
water supply so as to supply a suitable quantity of water to the basin by the same
action which closes the valve.
D 4th der of December 1892.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Lavatories and Wash Basins.
I JOHN MERRILL of Albany Road, Sheffield in the County of York, Manu-
facturer, 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 has for its object, to automatically open the outlet of lavatory
basins, and other like wash basins, so as to permit the escape of the contents, and
thus to dispense with the tipping of the basin, or the removal of the plug, and the
risk of overflow is also avoided.
The accompanying drawing clearly illustrates how the invention may be put into
practice; the apparatus is shown in section.
The basin B, is made with a hole H, at the bottom similar to the usual plughole,
and is constructed to form the seating of a valve V, preferably by the insertion of
the waste pipe or outlet O, the rod R, of the valve passes downwards through a
stuffing box or gland G, and is connected at its lower end either directly or by
means of an intermediate spring, to an extension E, from, or directly to the end of
a small platform P, upon which the person using the basin will stand while
washing.
A spring S, is placed underneath the valve rod having sufficient power to raise
the valve V, to its normal position from the seating.
The platform is pivotted at or near its front end E, so that when the weight of a
person is upon it the valve is drawn down and closed, any excess of weight being
taken by the plug upon which the spring S, is placed, or a short spring may be.
placed between the valve rod and the platform.

page_text: When a person steps upon the platform to use the basin, the valve V, is drawn
down tightly upon its seating and prevents the escape of water, and after use on
stepping off the platform, the spring raises the valve, and thus opens the outlet
through which the water escapes, and drains completely from the basin.
Although I have shown and described a complete arrangement, I wish it to be
understood that I do not bind myself to the exact construction shown, as for
example instead of the mushroom valve, I may use a tap plug, or a flap valve,
operated by the vertical rod R, and I'may substitute a weight for the spring S.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same may be carried into practice, I declare
that what I claim is :-
1. The arrangement of mechanism for opening and closing the outlet of wash
basins substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
-
2. A. wash basin, having an outlet that is closed on forcing down a platform P,
and which is opened automatically when such pressure is removed, substantially as
described and shown.
Dated the 4th day of Santambor 1902
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.