IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO WATER CLOSETS, URINALS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, ALFRED STEPHENS, of 19 East Street, Leeds, in the County of York, Plumber,
and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO WATER CLOSETS, URINALS AND FOR
SIMILAR PURPOSES "to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of siphon, and to a method
of charging the same, used in flushing water closets, urinals, and for similar
purposes.
The service cistern as usual has two compartments, the first one being supplied
with water from any suitable source, automatically by means of a ball-tap which
is well understood, the second compartment, is supplied from the first one by means
of a small orifice therein.
The flushing pipe leading to the closet, urina or otherwise, I fix in the bottom
of said second compartment, and which projects vertically a short distance above
the water line in the cistern. I make the top of this pipe bellmouthed or of a
funnel shape, or the funnel part may be made separately and attached thereto.
Around said flushing pipe I fix an outer casing somewhat larger in diameter than
the said pipe so as to form an annular space between them.
This outer casing may either be open at the bottom or have a number of
perforations or openings around it close to the bottom. On the top of the outer
casing is fixed in an air tight manner a suitable cover such a distance above the
funnel or bellmouthed part as to admit water to flow over the edge thereof and to
direct its course downward during the flushing operation.
The flushing pipe with its funnel shaped or bellmouthed top, the outer casing and
its cover, constitute the improved construction of the siphon.
When flushing is required to take place, I use for charging or putting the siphon
into operation, what I call a "displacer" which consists of a hollow vessel or float,
of metal or other suitable material, this is attached to a lever and floats on the
surface of the water in the second compartment of the cistern, on depressing the
.
A37

page_text: said float or displacer by means of a handle in connection with the lever, water is
forced up the annular space between the outside of the flushing pipe and the outer
casing and over the edge of the funnel or bellmouth. Air contained in that part
of the outer casing which is above the water line of the cistern, being in the
meantime expelled by the upward flow of the water as above referred to, the
siphon becomes charged and continues to draw the water from the cistern until air
enters into the bottom of the said outer casing, upon which the action of the
siphon ceases. Water is now admitted into the second compartment through the
beforementioned small orifice in the first one, and the "displacer" having assumed
its normal position, the apparatus is ready for another flushing.

page_text: VA
I, ALFRED STEPHENS, of 19 East Street, Leeds, in the County of York, Plumber
and Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO WATER-CLOSETS, URINALS AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved construction of siphon, and to a method
of charging the same, used in flushing water-closets urinals and for similar
purposes.
The service cistern as usual has two compartments, the one supplied with water
from any suitable source automatically by means of a ball-tap as is well understood,
and the other compartment being supplied from the first by means of a small orifice
therein, called the weeping hole.
The flushing pipe leading to the closet, urinal or other place to be flushed is fixed
in the bottom of the abovementioned second compartment and projects vertically a
short distance above the water line in the cistern.
The top of this pipe is of a bellmouthed or funnel shape, or the bellmouth or
funnel part may be made separately and attached to the pipe.
Around the flushing pipe is fixed an outer casing somewhat larger in diameter
than the said pipe so as to form an annular space between them. This outer casing
may either be open at the bottom or have a number of perforations or openings
around it close to the bottom. On the top of the outer casing is fixed in an
airtight manner (or made in one piece therewith) a suitable cover such a distance
above the funnel or bellmouthed part as to allow of water to flow over the edge
thereof, and to direct its course downward during the flushing operation.
The flushing pipe with its funnel shaped or bellmouthed top, the outer casing
and its cover, constitute the improved siphon.
When flushing is required to take place, there is used for charging or putting the
siphon into operation, what I call a displacer, which consists of a hollow vessel or
float of metal or other suitable material (or if preferred the said displacer may be
solid). This is attached to a lever and which floats on the surface of the water in
the second compartment of the cistern, or it may be in close proximity thereto,
or slightly immersed therein so long as the object for which it is provided is
attained.
On depressing the said float or displacer by means of a handle in connection
with the said lever, the head of water in the cistern becomes raised, and by
reason of such extra head, water is forced or caused to flow up the annular space
between the outside of the flushing pipe and the outer casing, and over the edge of
the funnel or bellmouth; air contained in that part of the outer casing which is
above the ordinary water line of the cistern, being in the meantime expelled by the
upward flow of the water as above referred to, the siphon becomes charged and
continues to draw the water from the cistern, until air enters the bottom of the
said outer casing, upon which the action of the siphon ceases.
Water is now

page_text: admitted into the second compartment of the cistern through the beforementioned
small orifice (the weeping hole) in the first one, which receives its supply by means
of the ball-tap previously referred to, and the displacer having resumed its normal
position the apparatus is ready for another flushing.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, like letters refer to like
parts in both views. Fig. 1, is a plan, and Fig. 2, is a sectional elevation on the
line x, x, of apparatus according to my invention. A, is the cistern, B, the first
compartment in which is the float C, for actuating the ball-tap D, for admitting a
supply of water by means of the pipe E. The remaining portion of the cistern
forms the second compartment which receives its supply of water from the first-
named one through the small orifice or weeping hole F. This hole is fitted externally
with a lid or flap valve F',-G, is the flushing pipe having its upper part C¹, funnel
shaped or bellmouthed-H, is the outer casing surrounding the upper part of the
flushing pipe and connected thereto by supports I, or their equivalent. The
funnel or bellmouthed part of the flushing pipe and its outer casing being a
suitable distance above the ordinary water level, the said parts G, and H, constitute
a siphon as previously stated. J, is a lever having its fulcrum at J', and K, the
displacer which is attached to the lever J, and as I prefer it is by the action of a
counterweight Jº, caused to float on the surface of the water or otherwise as
previously referred to. L, is a rod or chain with handle attached to the end of the
lever J.-When it is desired to produce a flush, the handle is pulled downward on
which the flap valve F¹ of the weeping hole closes and prevents water being driven
into the first compartment by the action of the displacer K, which being plunged
into the water raises the same above the top of the siphon. This extra head of
water causes a quantity to flow up the annular space within the casing H, of the
siphon and over the edge of the funnel or bellmouth of the pipe G, as indicated by
the arrows G, G³, thus expelling the air from that part of the casing H, which is
above the original water-line and charging the siphon which continues to draw
water from the cistern until air enters at the bottom of the casing H, whereupon
the action of the siphon ceases.
•
Immediately the siphon is charged the displacer may be allowed to resume its
normal position represented in Fig. 2, by the action of the counterweight J'. The
second compartment is then refilled through the said weeping hole and the apparatus
is once more ready for use.
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
1st The improved siphon substantially as described with reference to the
drawings.
2nd The use of a displacer such as K, or its equivalent for displacing water in
a cistern to charge a siphon. substantially as described with reference to the