improvements in Flushing Cisterns.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept.,'" 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
improvements in Flushing Cisterns.
I, EDGAR HARRISON PARKINSON, of 18, Claremont, Bradford, in the County
of York, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to improvements in syphon flushing cisterns for water-
closets, urinals or the like.
To carry out my invention I employ two syphons with the longer or delivery
leg of the first syphon discharging into a bend or sealed vessel in connection with
the bottom of the shorter arm of the second syphon. The height from the bottom
of the shorter leg of the first syphon to the maximum level of the water in the
cistern is a little less than the aggregate length of the two shorter legs of the
syphons consequently when the cistern is full the longer leg of the first syphon is
more or less filled with air and to discharge the contents of the cistern I allow the
air to escape from this air space. To allow the air to escape from the said air
space when required I provide an air pipe (which may be carried above the level
of the water in the cistern) connected to it and carried down into a suitable vessel
of mercury, or its equivalent, in a convenient position below. Then to release air
I lower the level of the mercury in the vessel below the lower orifice of the air
pipe thus leaving the air in said air space-free to escape and the contents of the
cistern are at once discharged.
The level of the mercury may be lowered, by bodily lowering or by inclining
the vessel containing it or by more or less withdrawing a plunger partly immersed
in the mercury or in any other convenient manner. In any case the mercury is
enclosed as far as is practicable.
The two syphons may be arranged on the same level or the second one may be
fixed more or less below the first. Or three or more syphons may be arranged
in the same way. When required they may be so arranged that an“ after flush'
is obtained.
"
Instead of flushing the cistern by discharging the air from the said air space
I may force more air into said air space to sufficiently disturb the equilibrium of
the water in the syphons to commence the flush. A pneumatic tube and hand ball
may be used for this purpose.
Dated this 27th September 1895.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Patent Agents.
“Improvements in Flushing Cisterns.
I, EDGAR HARRISON PARKINSON, of 18, Claremont, Bradford, in the County
of York, 'Architect, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in syphon flushing cisterns³fof water-
closets. urinals, or the like

page_text: To carry out my invention I employ two syphons with the longer or delivery
leg of the first syphon discharging into a bend or sealed vessel in connection with
the bottom of the shorter leg of the second syphon. The height from the bottom
of the shorter leg of the first.syphon to the maximum level of the water in the
cistern is a little less than the aggregate length of the two shorter legs of the
syphons consequently when the cistern is full the longer leg of the first syphon is
more or less filled with air and to discharge the contents of the cistern I allow the
air to escape from this air space. To allow the air to escape from the said air
space when required I provide an air pipe (which is carried above the level of the
water in the cistern) down into a suitable vessel of mercury, or its equivalent, in a
convenient position. Then to release air I lower the level of the mercury below
the lower orifice of the air pipe thus leaving the air in said air space free to escape
and the contents of the cistern are at once syphoned out.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings forming a part of
this Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in each of the figures.
Figure 1, represents a sectional view of a cistern fitted with my improvements.
Figure 2, represents a plan view of the same.
Figure 3, represents an elevation partly in section of a modified device I may
employ to release the air.
Figure 4, represents a plan view of the same.
The cistern A may be of any convenient form and the flush pipe B is fitted with
two syphons C, C 2. The air imprisoned in the bend of the first syphon C in
conjunction with the water on both sides of it forms an "air trap" and prevents
the water rising high enough in the syphon C to flow over the top of the bend into
the syphon C 2 notwithstanding that the top of the water in the cistern is above the
level of both syphons as shown by the broken lines Figure 1.
The air pipe D leading from the top of the first syphon passes above the
maximum water level in A to a convenient position and its lower end D2 is
hermetically sealed by dipping into the mercury E contained in the vessel F
consequently to release the imprisoned air on C it is simply necessary to lower the
mercury below the end D2 of the air pipe when the air will escape und the water
in A will be syphoned off.
A convenient arrangement for this purpose is to float the iron weight G in the
mercury E and provide an external ring G 2 by which the weight may be lifted
which lowers the mercury below the end D2 of the pipe D. The vessel F is
completely enclosed with the exception of a passage F 2 for the air to escape.
In the modified arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 the vessel F is formed
at the end of a lever H pivoted on the stud J which may be fixed to a wall-
plate J 2. The lever H is provided with a weight H 2 at its opposite end which
normally keeps it in the position shown with the end D 2 of the pipe D immersed
in the mercury E and to allow the air to escape it is simply necessary to lower the
vessel F by pressing upon the press piece H 3. Studs or projections J 3, J 3 are
provided to limit the movement of the lever H.
A pipe L of the usual type and commonly termed an "air" pipe is connected
to the crown of the syphon C.
When the main or service pipe pressure is not sufficient for a full sized syphon
of this class to work satisfactorily one of smaller calibre may be employed to start
an ordinary single syphon. In which case the double syphon would be connected
to the long leg of the ordinary syphon and its suction end preferably located at a
little higher level than the suction end of the ordinary single syphon.
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. In a flushing cistern, the combination with two "syphons" having an air trap

page_text: between them, of a passage communicating with said air trap and closed by a
mercury seal, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. The combination with a double syphon of the type specified, of the devices.
herein shown and described for breaking the mercury seal.
Dated this 27th day of July 1896.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Patent Agents.