Improvements in Drain Testing Appliances.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drain Testing Appliances.
We Joseph Suffield of 8, British Street Bow Road, E. Coppersmith and
JAMES WILLIAMS of 5, The Village, Old Charlton, Kent, Sanitary Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of an article in which can be placed a small glass tube
containing any required chemical such as essence of peppermint or the like and this
article can be floated down past the seal of the trap of any drain for a given
distance, when by pulling a string which is attached to the same the glass will be
broken and the strong smelling chemical deposited in the drain, when should there
be any fault in the drainage system the same will be discovered by the escape of
the perfume of the chemical.
In order to carry out our invention we form a thin metal case about 2 inches
long and about 14 inches wide and about an inch in side elevation.
This is made of thin sheet metal and is open at both ends, within this case we
hinge a spring arm capable of being moved down by a key and caught and retained
in position by mechanism hereinafter described.
Within this case and in such a position as to be struck and broken by the spring
arm, when the same is released, we place a thin glass tube capable of holding the
required amount of strong smelling chemical, this tube we seal at the end and
place within a spring attachment prepared to receive it which can slide within a
groove in the metal case. The spring arm before mentioned is retained downwards
by catching against the shoulder of another hinged arm, and this hinged arm is in
turn acted upon when required by the short arm of a lever pivotted near the bottom
of the case and arranged in such a manner as to catch against the turned down
edge of the hinged arm, the shoulder of which maintains the spring arm in a fixed
downward position.
When the long arm of the lever is pulled the hinged arm falls down by gravity
and the shoulder no longer retains the spring arm which returns violently to its
upward position braking the glass tube in its passage.
Around the metal case before mentioned we place two mutilated halves of a
sphere so as to fit over the metal case and form the same into the appearance of
a ball, these two halves are connected together by means of string, wire, or a
rubber band passing in a groove travelling the periphery of the ball.
Our invention is used as follows, by means of a small key we turn down the
spring arm until it catches in the shoulder of the hinged arm before mentioned,
this brings the lever arm into such a position that by placing a small pin through
the case we prevent any possibility of the spring arm being released for the time
being.
We now place the tube containing the chemical in the interior of the case and
attach a string to the lever arm controlling the catch movement, the pin is now
withdrawn and the two mutilated halves of the sphere secured around the case.
The ball is now gently let down into the water of say a water closet apparatus or
other trap and a flush of water is now given and the ball is washed through the
seal of the trap the other end of the string being carefully retained in the hands of
the operator.
When the ball has been washed down the drain to the full length of the cord
attachment, a slight pressure will be felt and if the string be jerked the catch will
be released and the spring arm will brake the tube containing the peppermint and
disseminate the same in the drain. The whole apparatus can be now pulled back
in hu moans of the cord attachment.

page_text: As our improvements are capable of some, modifications without departing from
the principle thereof we do not restrict ourselves to materials, dimensions, or to the
precise form or placement of the parts thereof.
Dated this 13th-day of October 1891.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drain Testing Appliances.
We, JOSEPH SUFFIELD of 8 British Street, Bow Road, E. Coppersmith and
JAMES WILLIAMS of 5, The Village, Old Charlton, Kent, Sanitary Engineer, 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:-
Our invention consists of an article, in which can be placed a small glass tube,
containing any required chemical, such as essence of peppermint or the like, and
this article can be floated down past the seal of the trap of any drain, for a given
distance, when by pulling a string which is attached to the same, the glass will be
broken and the strong smelling chemical deposited in the drain, when should there
be any fault in the drainage system, the same will be discovered by the escape of
the perfume of the chemical.
In carrying out our invention we form a metal case, made of thin sheet metal,
and open at both ends. Within this case we hinge a spring arm, capable of being
moved down by a key, and caught and retained in position by mechanism herein-
after described. Held by this case, and in such a position as to be struck and
broken by the spring arm, when the same is released, we place a thin glass tube,
capable of holding the required amount of strong smelling chemical. This tube
we seal at the end and place within a spring attachment prepared to receive it.
The spring arm before mentioned is retained downwards by catching against the
shoulder of another hinged arm, and this hinged arm is in turn acted upon when
required, by the short arm of a lever pivotted near the bottom of the case, and
arranged in such a manner as to catch against the lower side of the hinged arm, the
shoulder of which maintains the spring arm in a fixed downward position.
When the long arm of the lever is pulled, the hinged arm falls down by gravity
and the shoulder no longer retains the spring arm, which returns violently to its
upward position breaking the glass tube in its passage. Around the metal case
before mentioned we place two mutilated halves of a sphere so as to fit over the
metal case, and form the same into the appearance of a ball. These two halves are
connected together by means of string, wire or a rubber band passing in a groove
traversing the periphery of the ball, or in any other convenient manner.
Our invention is used as follows:-By means of a small key we turn down the
spring arm until it catches in the shoulder of the hinged arm before mentioned;
this brings the lever arm into such a position that by placing a small pin through
the case we prevent any possibility of the spring arm being released for the time
being.
We now place the tube containing the chemical in the interior of the case, and
attach a string to the lever arm controlling the catch movement; the pin is now
withdrawn and the ball gently let down into the water of, say a water closet
apparatus or other trap. A flush of water is now given and the ball is washed
through the seal of the trap, the other end of the string being carefully retained in
the hands of the operator or fastened to any convenient object.
When the ball has been washed down the drain to the full length of the cord
attachment, a slight pressure will be felt and the catch will be released and the
spring arm will break the tube containing the peppermint, and disseminate the same

page_text: in the drain. The whole apparatus can be now pulled back again, by means of the
cord attachment. As our improvements are capable of some modifications without
departing from the principle thereof, we do not restrict ourselves to materials,.
dimensions, or to the precise form or placement of the parts thereof.
In order that this invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to.
the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, in which
Fig. 1, is a front elevation and Fig. 2, a vertical section of the device,
Figs. 3 and 4 sections of the case showing the parts in two positions, and
Fig. 5 a plan of the case.
AA are the two half spheres of wood or other suitable material, having the
case B, held between them, recesses being formed in both parts to allow of this.
C is an arm, provided with a strong spring C¹, attached to the case, and an
arbor C, projecting into the upper part of the sphere, which is furnished with a
hole D, in which a key can be inserted to turn the spring arm downwards. E is a
pivotted arm having a shoulder E', close to its pivotted end, against which, when
turned back, as shown in Fig. 3, the end of the spring arm abuts. F is a pivotted
lever, one arm of which can bear against the pivotted arm, the other consisting of
a loop F, to which is attached a cord or chain G. The tube H, containing the
substance to be used, is placed in the spring holder J, fastened to the case, the tube
projecting in front of the case in such a position that the spring arm, when released,
will come into contact with it, breaking it and emptying its contents. K is a small
piece of cork, rubber or other elastic material, to take the blow of the spring arm
when released, as the impetus will carry it beyond its proper position. L is a pin,
used to secure the device in the position shown in Fig. 3, if desired, being pushed
through a hole in the ball, and passing through the ring or loop F', thus preventing
its motion.
A elight pull of the cord will be sufficient to turn the lever F, and release the
arm E, and as the shoulder E' is inclined, the pressure of the spring arm will cause
it to be moved away and release the spring arm. Two small screw holes M are
shown in the lower side of the case, by means of which the case is screwed to the
lower half of the ball, corresponding holes N being provided at the top, large
enough to admit of a screwdriver being inserted.
The upper part of the ball is attached to the case, by means of the rod O, which
is passed through a hole in the ball, and rivetted at the top.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1) A device for testing drains, consisting of a case B, carrying spring arm C,
hinged arm E and lever F, and a spring holder J adapted to hold a tube or other
article, containing a strongly smelling substance, substantially as described and for-
the purposes specified.
(2) A device for testing drains, consisting of a case B, inserted in a ball, formed
of two parts A, and provided with spring arm C, having an arbor C³, to receive a
key for turning the arm, pivotted arm E, with shoulder E, lever F with loop F,
to which the cord or chain G is attached, and holder J, substantially as described
and shown and for the purposes specified.
(3) Our improved device for testing drains, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th dox of An 1800
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.