AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Benjamin George Bennett
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1883.
WILLIAM BENJAMIN GEORGE BENNETT, of Cranleigh, Portswood, in the Town and
County of the Town of Southampton, Civil Engineer, "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC
FLUSHING APPARATUS."
My invention relates to an improved construction of automatic flushing apparatus,
and it is designed to periodically, regularly, and thoroughly flush sewers and drains,
tidal or otherwise. It is of the following nature :-
A tank is provided of capacity proportioned to the desired amount of flush, and
connected to the sewer or drain by a suitable pipe. At or about the desired level
of the water in the tank is an elongated open float, pivotted at it sides to suitable
supports, at such a position that the weight of the Boat is unequally divided, its
normal position, when the tank is empty, tending to the vertical. The heavier end
of this pivotted float nets as a counterpoise to a heavy ball valve, connected to its
lighter end, and normally holds the ball raised from its seating in the mouth of the
connecting pipe, thus freely admitting the inlet of the tidal waters or other liquids
from the sewer or drain. The connection of the valve ball to the lighter end of the
pivotted float is conveniently effected by a chain running over a pulley, and the
ball travels in suitable guides.
Upon the entry of the water into the tank the foregoing normal conditions are
disturbed. The rising water overcomes the counterpoise of the open float by
flotation, and the float assumes a horizontal position, thereby allowing the ball to
drop on to its seating, and to close the connecting pipe.
This
The open float is cupped deeper at the heavier end, and over it is a ball cock
with its orifice proportioned to fill the float to sinking point within any given
time, such, for instance, as when the tide or sewage has left the sewers.
ball-cock is operated by the rise of the water or liquid in the tank, and is connected
to the service pipes or other suitable source of supply
Immediately the flotation of the float is overcome by the weight of the water
from the ball cock its value as a counterpoise is restored; the ball valve is thereby
opened, and the water or sewage, suddenly free to flow through the connecting
pipe, empties from the tank and hanging fluat, and flushes the sewers or drains;
the ball cock is closed; and the apparatus is ready to receive a fresh charge.

page_text: Where the water is derived from tides, the tank may be divided into two
compartments each containing floats etc., set at different levels; for instance,
high water level of the neap tide in one compartment, and high water level of the
spring tide in the other.
A second pipe may be employed for the entry of the water or sewage, and the
tank may be filled from the water mains or other suitable source of supply, or it
may form an intercepting tank in the course of the sewer or drain, and intermit-
tently discharge as it is filled.
In place of the ball cock hereinbefore specified to be operated by the rise of the
water or sewage in the tank in order to overcome the flotation of the counterpoise,
I may construct one or both the supports hollow and in communication with a
suitable water supply. On the side or sides of the float, or in one or both of the
pivots (made hollow and in communication with the inside of the float) are ports
placed to correspond with others constructed on the support and to admit the water
into the float upon the said float reaching any desired position. The ports are
diminished proportionately to the time in which it is desired to fill and sink the
float and cause the flush; and they are provided with suitable stuffing boxes.