Improvements in Valves for Water Closets.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov.. 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Water Closets.
I, DAVID THOMAS KENNEY, of North Plainfield, in the County of Somerset, and
State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America, Plumber, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to valves for water closets; and it consists in the novel
construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section through the flushing valve of
the closet. Figure 2 is a plan view of the top of the casing. Figure 3 is a
sectional plan view taken on the line in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section taken
on the line y-y in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a vertical section showing a modification
of the flushing valve. Figure 6 is a sectional plan view on the line - of
Figure 5. Figure 7 is a vertical section showing a second modification of the
flushing valve. Figure 8 is a vertical section showing a modification of the main
valve seat. Figure 9 is a front view, partly in section, showing a system of
supplying a series of closets with water when on the same floor; and Figure 10 is
an end view of the same. Figure 11 is a side view, partly in section, showing a
system of supplying a series of closets with water when on different floors.
A is a flushing valve which is preferably arranged in close proximity to the
bowl B of the closet to which it pertains, and a is an operating lever for actuating
the valve. B is the outlet chamber of the flushing valve, which is connected to
the bowl in any approved manner.
C is the inlet chamber of the flushing valve, which is screwed onto the nozzle c
on the upper part of the outlet chamber B. C is a cap which is screwed into the
inlet chamber C and which forms the top part of it.
D is the water inlet pipe which is screwed into a branch which projects
laterally from the side of the inlet chamber.
E is a nozzle projecting from the upper part of the outlet chamber B above
the nozzle c, and e is the main valve seat at the top of the outlet chamber. Fis
a cylindrical chamber or casing screwed onto the nozzle E and arranged inside the
inlet chamber C. The casing F is provided with a water inlet passage f, con-
sisting of one or more holes, and it has a top fl which closes its upper end.
G is the main valve which is preferably cylindrical and hollow. The valve G is
provided with a tubular stem which affords a water passage gl. G₁ is a facing
of leather or other soft material which is secured to the valve G and which rests
on the main valve seat e.
His a weighted relief valve which is provided with a facing plate h of leather
or other soft material. This facing plate rests on a valve seat h¹ formed on the
main valve G, and the relief valve normally closes the water passage g¹ through
the main valve.
If desired, the leather facings can be secured to the valve seats instead of to
the valves, or they may be omitted altogether, and the valves ground to their
sonte

page_text: The valve G slides in the casing F, and a very narrow annular passage i is
provided between the valve G and its casing, so that the said parts are not in
contact, and so that only a very small quantity of water can pass between them.
The relief valve H slides freely in the main valve G, an ample water space being
provided between them.
I is a small inlet opening in the upper part of the casing F. The passage of
water through the opening I is regulated by any approved means. I¹ is a plate
which is pivoted to the top of the casing by a screw ¹. When the screw i¹ is
slacked, the plate I can be turned so as to adjust the area of the water passage
through the opening I, or close it altogether.
J is an inlet port in the side of the casing F close above the top edge of the
main valve when closed. More than one inlet port J can be provided, if desired,
and the ports can be of any size, or of different size, and they may be arranged
one above the other, or side by side, as found convenient in operating the valve
under different pressures of water. In some cases it may be desirable to place a
small port or ports above the port J, as shown in Figure 1.
K is a controller consisting of a plate which slides freely on the tubular stem g
of the main valve. A collar or projection is provided, for raising the plate K,
and m is a support consisting of a projection or projections on the outlet chamber,
for supporting the plate K when in its lowest position. The collar is preferably
screwed on the stem g, or it is otherwise secured to it so as to be adjustable verti-
cally, and thus to permit the times of lifting and lowering the plate K to be
regulated. The plate K does not fit the outlet chamber, but merely obstructs it
and permits a limited quantity of water to pass through it.
N is the stem of the relief valve provided with a projection n for striking the
tubular stem and raising the main valve.
The operating lever a projects from a spindle n which is journaled in a
bearing on the outlet chamber. An arm is secured on the spindle n¹ inside
the outlet chamber, and ol is a connecting rod pivoted to the free end of the arm o
and to the lower end of the stem N.
Any approved means may be used for keeping the spindle a watertight. When
the bearing is very long the spindle will be substantially watertight in it. A
small cavity p is formed inside the bearing to catch any water which may be
forced into it, and 2 is an inclined drain hole leading from the cavity back into
the outlet chamber, or to any other convenient point. When the drain hole leads
back into the outlet chamber water is not forced upwards into it because of the air
in the drain hole and cavity.
P is a thimble which is screwed onto the end portion of the spindle n¹, and which
is journaled in a boss q on the outlet chamber. The thimble P is provided with
a collar q which runs in a recess in the boss q. R is a cap screwed into the said
boss, and which prevents the spindle from moving too far endwise. The cap also
prevents water from leaking out from the outlet chamber.
The water stands under pressure in the inlet chamber C and in the casing F.
When the relief valve is raised the pressure in the casing F above the main valve
is relieved, and the main valve is easily raised by the projection of the relief valve
stem. The plate K is raised by the collar on the tubular stem of the main valve,
and all the said parts are pushed into the upper part of the casing F by moving
the lever a¹ by hand:
The
The hand lever is then let go and the valves commence to descend.
weighted relief valve descends first, by gravity, onto its seat, because the descent
of the main valve is retarded by several causes, one of which is the friction between
it and the fine annular stream of water which is passing upward through the
narrow annular opening or passage i between the main valve and its casing. The
port J is closed by the main valve, and the water that enters the upper part of
the casing must enter it by the passages i and I.
The main valve descends by gravity, and the time of its descent is regulated
by the areas of the passages i and I. The area of the passage i is constant and

page_text: is very small, and the area of the passage I is regulated and adjusted by the
means provided for that purpose. When a very slow closing valve is desired the
passage I is closed altogether.
The bowl of the closet is flushed by the water which passes through the main
valve seat. Before the main valve reaches its seat, the controller or plate K
descends into the outlet chamber and obstructs the free flow of water through the
main valve seat, but does not cut it off altogether. The syphoning action of
the bowl ceases when the supply of water is thus controlled and reduced, and the
plate K then descends onto the stationary support m. The main valve finally
conies down onto its seat and cuts off the water altogether. The water which
passes through the main valve seat after the plate K enters it operates as a gentle
re-fill or after-rush which fills the bowl to the desired height after the syphoning
action has ceased.
The inlet port J is provided in order to prevent the main valve from fluttering
just before it descends onto its seat. The conditions when the main valve is near
its seat are different from what they are when the valve is at a greater distance
from it, and it is found that the fluttering of the main valve is stopped by per-
mitting it to uncover the port J and admit a free supply of water to the casing F
just before the main valve comes onto its seat.
When the main valve is provided with a controller which is not attached to
it, and a stationary support for the controller, as hereinbefore fully described, the
downflow of water has practically no influence upon the main valve as its power is
expended in pressing or drawing down the controller upon the stationary support,
and the valve therefore closes more gently than it would if the means for obstruct-
ing the free flow of water were attached or secured to the main valve.
The controller K operates to increase the time during which the small quantity
of water may flow after the large flow has been stopped; and after the controller
touches its stationary support the water between it and the valve acts as a buffer
which retards the closing of the valve to a slight extent.
Instead of letting the water pass downward out of the bottom of the stem g,
holes 12 may be formed laterally through the stem at any desired points. When
a hole 12 is formed in the stem between the main valve and the controller, the
water which issues from it, when the relief valve is opened, assists in raising the
main valve gently from its seat.
In the modification of the flushing valve shown in Figure 5, the main valve is
inverted, and the weight H which operates the relief valve H is made separate from
the said relief valve, and is placed on the relief valve stem below the main
valve where it also serves as a projection for raising the main valve. The
weight H may be applied in any other equivalent manner so as to cause the
descent of the main and relief valves. The weight may be connected by a lever
to the spindle n' outside the flushing valve, and the lever a' may be placed as
shown in Figure 5 so that it serves as a weight for depressing the valves."
The casing F is screwed into a nozzle on the outlet chamber instead of onto a
nozzle as shown in Figure 1.
When screwed into the nozzle, as shown in Figure 5, the casing secures in
position a facing plate of soft material for the main valve to descend onto. A
notched screw 12 is shown for regulating the passage of water into the casing, as
the equivalent of the plate I¹.
Instead of letting the plate K descend onto projections m as shown in Figure 1,
the plate may be provided with perforations, and it may then descend onto an
imperforate flange or seat. This construction is illustrated in Figures 5 and 7 in
which the plate K is provided with holes s, and in Figure 7 a facing plate s¹ of
leather is shown which rests on the seat S. A seat for the main valve is here
formed on the upper side of the plate K'. The operation of the parts is the same
as hereinbefore described. The rush of water for flushing the bowl is cut off
when the plate descends onto its stationary support, and the after-rush is subse-
quently cut off by the main valve.

page_text: In Figure 5 the projection k for raising the plate K¹ is placed on the relief
valve stem instead of on the stem of the main valve, and the plate K' is provided
with an extension for the said projection to strike against. A plate 7 is also
provided above the plate K' as a means for regulating the passage of water through
its holes. The plate 7 is provided with holes 8 and may be turned around so that
the holes in the two plates are in line with each other, or are covered more or less
according to the amount of after-rush or re-fill required.
In Figure 8 a modification of the main valve seat e is shown in which the
seat e is carried up to a point above the level of the top of the inlet passage f in
the casing F. This construction is specially adapted for high pressures of water,
as it prevents the water from bearing against the lower portion of the periphery
of the main valve, which as shown in Figure 1 comes opposite the inlet holes.
When the valve is constructed as shown in Figure 1 and used for high pressure
water it makes a noise when it opens, but when constructed as shown in Figure 8
it opens silently and with greater freedom.
In the valves shown in Figures 5 and 8, and also in the valve shown in Figure 1
when the lateral holes 12 are used and the bottom of the tubular stem is closed,
the water in the chamber above the main valve flows into the chamber between the
main valve and the controller when the relief valve is raised. As this latter
chamber has an outlet of small area the water is trapped in it and is retained in
it under pressure, thereby permitting the main valve to be raised easily.
In Figure S the extension on the controller forms a cup in which the lower end
of the tubular stem slides. This cup forms a shield for the said stem, and prevents
the water which flows through the main valve seat from having any effect on it.
When the valve stem is exposed the water in rushing past it tends to drag it
downward,
In all the valves the chamber above the main valve inside the casing F, and the
chamber between the main valve and the controller, both constitute retarding
chambers which regulate the movement of the main valve and constrain it to close
slowly.
In order to supply a series of closets with water from a single cistern, the
cistern T is arranged above the highest closet of the series, and a main pipe T
is provided. The water inlet pipes 1) are all connected to the main pipe T
When the closets are all on the same floor, the main pipe T₁ is arranged with a
horizontal extension in any position which will permit the pipes I) to be coupled
to it as directly as possible, and the extension is preferably arranged in the wall
behind the closets.
The flushing valves are all arranged close adjacent to the closets to which they
pertain, and their peculiar construction, as herein before described, enables them
to cut off noiselessly the solid body of water which extends from the cistern
through the main pipe.
When valves of this construction are used it is practicable for a series of closets
to be supplied from a single cistern or tank, and a separate cistern for each closet
is not required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A main valve provided with a retarding chamber which regulates its move-
ment, a controller which obstructs the flow of water when the valve is partly
closed, and a separate support for the controller, substantially as set forth.
2. A main valve provided with a retarding chamber which regulates its move-
ment, a controlling plate which obstructs the flow of water when the valve is
partly closed, and a support for the said plate, substantially as set forth.
3. A main valve provided with a retarding chamber which regulates its move-
ment, a controlling plate having a water passage and means for varying the area
of the said passage, said plate operating to obstruct the flow of water when the

page_text: valve is partly closed, and a support for the said plate, substantially as set
forth.
4. A main valve provided with a retarding chamber which regulates its move-
ment, a stem having a lateral projection, a controller which obstructs the flow of
water when the valve is partly closed, and a separate support for the controller,
said projection operating to raise and lower the said controller, substantially as
set forth.
5. A main valve provided with a retarding chamber which regulates its move-
ment, a stem having an adjustable projection connected to it, a controller which
obstructs the flow of water when the valve is partly closed, and a separate support
for the controller, said controller being operated by the said projection, substan-
tially as set forth.
6. The combination, with a main valve, and a relief valve for equalizing the
pressure on each side of the main valve; of a controller which obstructs the flow
of water when the main valve is partly closed, a separate support for the controller,
and means for raising the relief valve, the main valve, and the controller, one after
the other, and permitting the controller to descend onto its support before the main
valve closes, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, with a main valve, of a controller, and a separate support
for the controller in the outlet passage of the valve, thereby forming a retarding
chamber on the delivery side of the valve, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination, with a main valve provided with a relief valve, of means
for obstructing the flow of water discharged by the relief valve and thereby form-
ing a pressure on the discharge side of the main valve, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination, with a main valve provided with a retarding chamber
which regulates its movement, and a relief valve which controls a passage between
said chamber and the discharge side of the main valve; of a controller which
forms a second retarding chamber in the delivery passage of the main valve, sub-
stantially as set forth.
10. The combination, with a casing having a small inlet passage, and a port J
in its side; of a main valve slidable in the said casing and operating to uncover
the said port just before it closes, and a relief valve controlling the outlet from
the said casing, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination, with a series of water closets each having a separate
flushing valve arranged in close proximity to its bowl, each said valve being
provided with a retarding chamber, a controller which obstructs the flow of water
shortly before the valve closes, and a separate support for the said controller; of
a single cistern, and pipe connections between the said cistern and the flushing
valves, substantially as set forth.
1011 1
1000
CASSELL & Co.,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, W., Agents for the Applicant.