Improvements in Apparatus for Flushing Water Closets.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Flushing Water Closets.
1, JOHN SHARPLES of No. 3 Monk Street in the Borough of Accrington, Contractor
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
--
It is intended to provide a simple means by which the pans or vessels of water-
closets may be flushed. It has also in view the disposal and further use of waste water
which has already been employed for domestic or other purposes. The cavity of the pan
is made to serve as a temporary cistern, into which waste water or other liquid may
from time to time be run. It has a trapped overflow outlet to prevent the rise of the
liquid to an objectionable height. The main outlet is situated at the bottom of the
vessel-preferably to one side or it may be quite outside, and has sufficient area to
permit a rapid discharge of the vessel's contents. It (the main outlet) is furnished
with a valve which may be either of the slide, flap, or lift variety, and which may be
operated either at will by means of a handle and suitable attachments, or automatically
by connections with a hinged seat.
Although mainly intended for the economical use of waste or "slop" water, the
above arrangements are obviously not limited to the employment of that medium.
Dated this 21st day of February 1889
HENRY GARSIDE,
Agent for John Sharples.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Flushing Water Closets.
I, JOHN SHARPLES of No. Monk Street, in the Borough of Accrington and County
of Lancaster, Contractor 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 :--
As set forth in my Provisional Specification, the full description of my Invention
was intended to include the employment of the water-closet vessel as a cistern for the
first reception of waste liquids which had already been used for domestic purposes.
But, finding that a Patent was issued many years ago, for an invention so far sub-
stantially similar, in which the use of waste water was contemplated, and its discharge
provided for through a valve operated by hand, I now limit my description and claim
to the method I employ for discharging the vessel automatically or involuntarily by
connection of the valve with a hinged seat, the pan or vessel being introduced merely
to indicate the relation of the several parts.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 shews the arrangement in its
simplest form. Fig. 3 may be taken in association with it to shew in plan the
relative positions of the vessel and its outlet valve. The valve (a) is connected by
the rod (6) with the lever (c). The unequal ends of this lever are to be so propor-
tioned that they may be in the ratio of the desired lift of the valve to a convenient
rise of the seat. I prefer that the stud on which the lever swings should, for the sake
of firmness, be fixed to the vessel. The short end of the lever is connected with the.
seat through the link (d) and a fixing attached to the seat. The depression of the
seat causes the lifting of the valve, and the weight of the valve with its attachments,
when in the act of closing, restores the seat to its raised position.
This arrangement has the imperfection that the fæcal matter may be introduced and
held for an objectionable length of time after the discharge of the vessel's contents.
I meet that defect by the modification shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Here the valve is
lifted on the rise of the seat.

page_text: The valve (a) is connected by a rod with the piston (e) which slides with an easy
fit in the cylinder (f). The upper end, of this cylinder is open, and has a bridle by
which it is attached to, and is lifted by, the rod (b). There is a small hole in its
lower end through which the liquid in which the cylinder is suspended may pass to or
from the space beneath the piston. Loose fitting in the piston, or at the point where
its rod passes through the bottom of the cylinder, renders the small hole unnecessary.
The rising pipe (9), within which the cylinder moves, is outside, but open to, the closet
vessel, and is carried above the point of overflow (a). The rod (b) has a slot at its
upper end where it engages with the lever (c). This lever is actuated by the lever (h),
which in turn engages with the fixing (i) attached to the seat of the closet. A
weight (w), having mass sufficient to lift the valve and raise the seat is fixed to the
lever (h).
The conditions assumed in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are that the closet is in use, the
outlet valve closed the vessel full to overflow, the seat depressed, and with it the remote
end of the lever (c); the cylinder too having fallen by its own weight through the
distance permitted by the slot in the rod (b). When the closet is out of use, the
weight (w) operates, lifting both the closet-seat and the valve; the vessel is immediately
emptied, the valve meanwhile, slowly falls to close the outlet in proportion as the liquid
gradually escapes from the space in the cylinder already referred to.
It is found practicable that the slot in the rod (b) may be dispensed with, and the
cylinder at once forcibly pushed down by the depression of the seat. In that case
it is desirable that it be guided vertically, as by radial webs between its exterior and
the bore of the upright pipe. It may be mentioned too, that in fitting the piston, a
cupped leather is considered preferable to the plain india-rubber or leather ring fixed
between plates as shewn in the drawings.
In Fig. 2. the lever (h) is left out, so as to avoid confusion. Its roundid ends
engage with the fixing (i) and the lever (c) respectively.
Either system may be applied to closet vessels of various forms; or to cisterns
connected or detached, but in close proximity to, the vessel proper.
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 :
The combinations or systems of apparatus, substantially as herein described, for
operating the valves of water-closets when flushed with waste water.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1889.
Agent for John Sharples.
'TICIVA IATATOU