IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY' CLOSETS, COMMODES, AND URINALS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry John Girdlestone, Civil Engineer, and
John Ward Girdlestone, Civil Engineer, both of 37, Norfolk Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry John Girdlestone
and John Ward Girdlestone at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 24th December 1869.
We, HENRY JOHN GIRDLESTONE, Civil Engineer, and JOHN WARD-
GIRDLESTONE, Civil Engineer, both of No. 37, Norfolk Street, Strand,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY' CLOSETS, COMMODES, AND URINALS," to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus employed
for discharging, casting, or distributing a regulated supply of earth or of
other disinfecting, deodorizing, or absorbent substances over excremental
matter in "dry" closets, commodes, and urinals.

page_text: One form of apparatus which has been heretofore employed consists in
part of a bottomless reservoir containing the disinfecting, deodorizing, or
absorbent substances, all hereafter referred to as "earth." The reservoir
is provided with two trunnions or pivots, one of which is usually placed
above the middle and towards the back of each of the sides of the t
reservoir. The reservoir is usually freely suspended by means of these
trunnions in bearings situated at a convenient height in the framework
of the closet, commode, or urinal. Beneath and partly within the
reservoir is a hopper, which like the reservoir is mounted on trunnions
or pivots, and is capable of being moved to and fro by means of an
ordinary handle or otherwise. On the employment of the apparatus the
reservoir is made to oscillate and a regulated charge of the carth that has
previously passed through the bottom of the reservoir into the hopper
is at the same time cast by the movement of the hopper over the
excremental matter in the receptacle beneath the seat.
1. According to one part of our Invention we in some cases employ a
bottomless oscillating or swinging reservoir somewhat similar to that
above referred to, and we carry the back of the reservoir lower down
than the front thereof. We then cut a shallow horizontal slot through
the front of the reservoir. The slot may extend from side to side of the
reservoir. Through the slot we pass a loosely fitting sheet or plate of
metal or other material (which sheet may be conveniently termed a
"cutter"). We fix the cutter on a stationary bearer outside the reservoir.
We likewise fix within and at the back of the reservoir a second cutter
at about an inch either above or below the first specified "cutter,"
to which it may be parallel. We generally make these "cutters" of
such a length that when the reservoir is right back (i.e., in its normal
position) their edges nearest to one another shall not overlap, and so
that when the reservoir has been swung forward their edges shall overlap
for a distance sufficient to enable them to support the earth within the
reservoir, but shall not approach within about an inch of either the front
or the back of the reservoir. We fix beneath the reservoir and on a
stationary bearer and close up to the back of the reservoir a tray of any
convenient material. We so construct the cutters and reservoir as to
allow one charge of earth to fall on to the tray, and we construct the tray
of any convenient form provided that it will hold the charge of earth that
has fallen thereon. On the employment of the apparatus the reservoir
is swung sharply forward by means of a suitable handle or otherwise, and

page_text: the lower back portion of the reservoir (which may be of any convenient
form) discharges the earth that has previously fallen on to to the tray, and
at the same time the "cutters" overlap and prevent a further amount of
earth falling upon the tray until the reservoir is returned to its normal
position, when a fresh charge will fall on to the tray. In some cases wo
employ only one of the two cutters above specified.
2. Another modification of our apparatus consists of a swinging
reservoir similar to that last described, except that it is not slotted, and
has no "cutters." We fix beneath the reservoir and on a stationary
bearer and close up to the back of the reservoir a tray of convenient
material, and of adequate length; upon this tray there falls some of the
earth from the reservoir, which remains until on the employment of the
apparatus the reservoir is swung sharply forward and by any convenient
means the lower back portion thereof carries forward along the tray the
earth previously standing thereon, discharging therefrom one charge of
carth, and leaving thereon a quantity sufficient with the tray to support
the column of earth in the reservoir.
3. In some cases we place either wholly or in part within an orifice at
the bottom of an earth reservoir, and over a suitable shoot or tray, or
either wholly or in part within a suitable shoot immediately beneath
the reservoir a cylindrical brush, the axis of which may be horizontal
and at right angles to the direction in which it is intended the earth
shall be discharged. We effect or promote the discharge of the earth in
this case by causing (by any convenient means) the brush to rotate on.
its axis.
'
4. In some cases for the purpose of increasing the spread of the earthi.
we employ beneath or in front of the hopper tray or shoot a suitable
grating or seive (which grating or seive may be either fixed or moveable,
through which the earth is made to pass on its way to the excremental'
deposit).
5. In some cases for the purpose of preventing the waste of earth.
consequent on slightly shaking the apparatus we form angular teeth or
notches on one side of the bar first acted upon, such as shall when.
connected in any convenient way with a suitable pawl prevent any
one moving the bar in one direction, and we form angular teeth or
notches on another side of the bar, such as shall when connected in any
convenient way with a suitable pawl prevent any one moving the bar in
the opposite direction, and by the aid of suitable stops and catches we

page_text: throw the one pawl out of gear during the passage of the bar in one
direction, and the other during the passage of the bar in the opposite
direction.
6. In some cases and specially with a view to economy of earth we
provide apparatus, which may be made self-acting, and be so constructed 5
that the charge of earth shall be cast only at regulated intervals, as, for
instance, after each 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th time that the closet or
urinal has been resorted to.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry John Girdlestone and John Ward Girdle-
stone in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
JOHN GIRDLESTONE, Civil Engineer, and JOHN WARD GIRDLESTONE,
Civil Engineer, both of 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Henry John Girdlestone and John
Ward Girdlestone, Her special licence that we, the said Henry John
Girdlestone and John Ward Girdlestone, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henry John Girdlestone and
John Ward Girdlestone, our 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 'DRY' CLOSETS, COMMODES, AND
URINALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Henry
John Girdlestone and John Ward Girdlestone, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals,
or under the hand and seal of one of use or them, 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

page_text: 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 John Ward Girdlestone, on behalf
of myself and the said Henry John Girdlestone, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus employed
for discharging, casting, or distributing a regulated supply of earth or of
other disinfecting, deodorizing, or absorbent substances over excremental
matter in closets, commodes, and urinals.
One form of apparatus which has been heretofore employed consists
in part of a bottomless reservoir containing the disinfecting, deodorizing,
or absorbent substances, all such substances being hereafter referred to
as "earth." The reservoir is usually provided with two trunnions or
pivots, one of which is usually placed above the middle and towards the
back of each of the sides of the reservoir. The reservoir is usually freely
suspended by means of these trunnions in bearings situated at a con-
venient height in the framework of the closet, commode, or urinal.
Beneath and partly within the reservoir is a hopper, which like the
reservoir is mounted on trunnions or pivots, and is capable of being
moved to and fro by means of an ordinary handle or otherwise. On the
employment of the apparatus the reservoir is made to oscillate, and a
regulated charge of the earth that has previously passed through the
bottom of the reservoir into the hopper is at the same time cast by the
movement of the hopper over the excremental matter in the receptacle
beneath the seat.
According to our Invention we employ a bottomless oscillating.or
swinging reservoir somewhat similar to that above referred to, and we
carry the back of the reservoir lower down than the front thereof. We
fix beneath the reservoir on a stationary bearer and close up to the
back of the reservoir a tray of convenient form and material and of
adequate length. Upon this tray there falls some of the "earth"
from the reservoir, which remains thereon until on the employment
of the apparatus the reservoir is swung forward by any convenient
means, and the lower back portion thereof carries forward along the

page_text: tray, the "earth" previously standing thereon discharging therefrom
one charge of "earth," and leaving thereon a quantity sufficient with
the tray to support the column of "earth" in the reservoir.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention we will proceed to
describe more fully the manner of performing the same.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section, and Figure 2 a sectional elevation of
a "dry" closet constructed as above described. a is the reservoir freely
suspended on axes b, the back of the reservoir being carried lower down
than the front thereof; c is the tray fixed beneath the bottom of the
reservoir; d is a handle attached to the front of the reservoir, by means
of which the oscillation of the reservoir may be effected. When the
reservoir is swung forward a regulated amount of "earth" is swept off
from the tray c by the back of the reservoir a, and is cast into the
receptacle over the excreta. When the reservoir is swung backward a
regulated amount of "earth" flows from the reservoir through the
opening e at the bottom thereof on to the tray c, on which it rests
until the reservoir is again swung forward. In order to prevent an
accumulation of "earth" on the tray behind the back of the reservoir,
such as would impede the free oscillation of the reservoir, we usually
slot the back of the tray c, and through the opening thus formed the
"earth" will pass and may be conducted into the receptacle by means
of the inclined plate g.
In some cases the oscillation of the reservoir may be effected by means.
of a pull-up handle. This we do by preference in the manner shown
in the vertical section, Figure 3. In this Figure the same letters of
reference indicate like parts to those shown at Figure 1. In this case.
the lower end of the reservoir is so connected by a link with one arm of
the bell crank h, the other arm of which is so connected with a pull-up
handle k as that on raising this handle the reservoir is swung forward,
and a regulated amount of "earth" is cast into the receptacle.
In other cases the oscillation of the reservoir may be effected by the
movement of the seat. This we do by preference in the manner shown
in the vertical section, Figure 4. In this Figure the same letters of
reference indicate like parts to those shown at Figure 1. In this case
the reservoir (at or towards its lower extremity) is connected by the link /
with one arm of the lever m, the other arm of which is connected by
the link n with the under side of the seat of the closet. The seat is

page_text: connected with the closet by hinges situated at or towards the back edge
of the seat. The front edge of the seat when in its normal position is
slightly raised by means of the counterweight o. When the front edge
of the seat is depressed the reservoir is by means of the lever m and the
link swung backward, and on the seat recovering its normal position
the reservoir is swung forward, and a regulated amount of earth is as
before cast into the receptacle.
We would remark that we do not confine ourselves to the three modes
herein-before described of causing the reservoir to oscillate, as any other
convenient methods of effecting such oscillation may be employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ward Girdlestone, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
JOHN WARD GIRDLESTONE. (L.S.)