IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS."
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Renison, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Plumber, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER-CLOSETS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Renison, at the
Offico of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
February 1862.
I, THOMAS RENISON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS, to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of water-closet of an exceed-
ingly simple, economical, and durable character, and not liable to derangement.
In one modification, the discharge outlet from the basin is to one side and
communicates with a chamber, the bottom of which leads by the usual trap
bend to the discharge pipe. The lower part of the valve chamber is made
with two inner shells rising up from the bottom round or outside of the outlet
in the bottom, and parallel to the sides, so as to form two narrow spaces
running round and open at the top. The valve or closing detail consists of
an inverted cup formed with two sides shaped so as on being lowered to enter
the narrow spaces described, as formed round the lower part of the valve
chamber. This inverted cup valve is opened by means of a rod and handle by
which it is lifted directly upwards, and the upper edges of the valve chamber

page_text: shells being on that side slightly below the basin outlet, the discharge takes
place across them into and down the centre of the chamber. The valve rod
is connected with the water supply in such a way as to cause the admission of
the requisite supply for flushing and for filling the basin to a determined height,
the supply being cut off when this height is obtained by any suitable means,
such for example as a float and cock in a small cistern or chamber at the side
in communication with the basin. The spaces in the valve chamber become
filled with water whilst the space between the shells of the cup or valve is
filled with air, and on the valve being lowered the air becomes compressed by
the water in the chamber spaces so that it will support a column of water in
the basin of a sufficient height determined by the proportions of the parts.
Should the water in the basin from any cause rise above this height, the air
will be forced down out of the space in the valve, and up into the inner chamber,
the water following it and thus overflowing, whereby the basin will be pre-
vented from filling above the proper height. The cup or valve and the chamber
spaces are shaped so as to work with perfect freedom and may consist of simple
castings devoid of expensive fitting or finishing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Renison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
RENISON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Plumber,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto , the said
Thomas Renison, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Renison, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Renison,
my 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 WATER-
CLOSETS," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Thomas Renison,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,

page_text: or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 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 Thomas Renison, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a novel arrangement of water-closet of an
exceedingly simple, economical, and durable character, and not liable to de-
rangement. And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended a sheet of
explanatory. Drawings representing the principal features of a water-closet, as
constructed with my improvements. Figure 1 is a vertical section, and
Figure 2 is a plan with the valve removed, whilst Figure 3 is a plan of the
discharge valve as detached and as inverted. In the modification represented
the discharge outlet or opening B, from the basin A is to one side, and
communicates with a valve chamber C, the bottom of which leads by the
usual trap bend D, to the discharge pipe. The lower part of the valve
chamber C is made with two inner shells e, f, rising up from the bottom
round or outside of the outlet D, in the bottom, and parallel to the sides, so
as to form two narrow spaces (which are indicated by the same referénco
letters, e, f,) running round and open at their top. The valve, or closing
detail consists of an inverted cup G, formed with two sides h, i, with a space i,:
between them, and shaped so as on being lowered, to enter the narrow spaces
c, f, formed round the outlet D, in the lower part of the valve chamber. This
inverted cup valve G, is opened by means of a rod and handle J, by which it
is lifted directly upwards, being guided by projections k, which work two of
them in the corners of the valve chamber C, and a third in a guide 1, formed
for it in the side of the chamber. The upper edge of the inner fixed shell f,
is made a little lower at the part next the basin opening B; and when the
valve G is lifted, the contents of the basin A discharge themselves across the
edges of the shells e, f, into the central space and away by the outlet D. The
valve chamber C is in communication by a pipe m with a small cistern N,
arranged at the back of the basin A, and in this cistern there is a float P, and
a lever Q, which works the stop-cock or valve R, of the water service pipe.
From this stop-cock R the flushing water finds its way by the branch S, and

page_text: fan T, into the basin A, in the usual way. When the valvo G is lifted, the
water leaves the cistern N as well as the basin, and the float P falls in con-
sequence, and the stop-cock R is thereby opened. The water flows into the
basin A and thence by the branch m into the cistern N, until (after the closing
the valve G,) the float P rises high enough to close the stop-cock R. When
closed the valve G, although not necessarily touching any part of the valve
chamber or its shells e, f, will support the water in the basin a considerable
height above itself. The spaces e, f, in the chamber become filled with water,
whilst the space i, in the valve G, is occupied by air, and when the valve is
lowered the air is compressed and acted upon by opposing columns of water in
such a way that the water in the basin is supported at the proper height. If
the water in the basin rises too high from any cause it overcomes the resistance
of the confined air and passes through the spaces e, i, f, and off by the outlet D,
in consequence of which a separate overflow to provide against overfilling is
rendered unnecessary. The cup or valve G, and the chamber spaces e, f, are
shaped so as to work with perfect freedom, and do not require to be in contact ;
consequently the parts may consist of simple castings requiring no fitting nor
finishing and of trifling cost, and they will also be the less liable to get out of
order.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but that what I
consider to be novel and original and claim as the Invention secured to me
by the berein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the constructing or
arranging of water-closets substantially in the manner herein-before described;
and more particularly the using therein of an inverted cup valve with two
shells or sides dipping down into separate spaces formed for them round the
outlet substantially as herein-beforo described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Renison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square,
Glasgow.
THOMAS RENISON. (L.S.)