IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET GULLIES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Johnston, of Elland Road, Leeds, in the County of
York, Sanitary Tube Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET
GULLIES."
Sealed the 23rd September 1879, and dated the 24th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Johnston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1879.
JAMES JOHNSTON, of Elland Road, Leeds, in the County of York, Sanitary Tube
Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET GULLIES."
The object of my Invention is to prepare street gullies in such a manner that
the same will ventilate the sewers, receive the surface water from the streets, and.
prevent a considerable portion of the solids flowing with the surface water from
passing into the drains."
I accomplish my object in the following manner :-I construct a vessel having an
outlet branch near the top of the same, which leads into the sewers; in front of
this outlet branch inside the vessel I fix a grid or sheet of perforated galvanized iron
or other metal suitable for such a purpose; immediately in front and parallel with
the grid or perforated sheet I fix another sheet of metal, which is "not" perforated.
The water from the street flows into the vessel at the top, and passes between the
two plates before mentioned, through the grid or perforated plate, into the sewer;
by these means the grid will prevent the solid matter from passing into the sewer.
When the vessel or drain pipes, leading from the same requires cleaning the plates
can be easily withdrawn, so that the attendant has free access for cleaning and
inspection to the interior of the vessel and drain pipes immediately connected
therewith.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Johnston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
September 1879.
JAMES JOHNSTON, of Elland Road, Leeds, in the County of York, Sanitary Tube
Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET GULLIES."
The object of my Invention is to prepare street gullies in such a manner that the
Bame will ventilate the sewers, receive the surface water from the streets, and
prevent a considerable portion of the solids flowing with the surface water from
passing into the drains.
I accomplish my object in the following manner-I construct a vessel having an
outlet branch near the top of the same which leads into the sewers; in front of this
outlet branch, inside the vessel, I fix a grid or sheet of galvanized iron or other
metal suitable for such a purpose; immediately in front and parallel with the grid
or perforated sheet I fix another sheet or plate of metal which is not perforated;
this plate is placed such a distance from the grid, that the water which flows from
the streets will rise between the plate and grid and flow through the grid into the
sewers, and in a great measure retain the solid matter in the vessel. If in case
the bottom part of the vessel gets filled up with solid matter, so that the water
cannot rise between the plate and grid, the water will then rise and overflow the
top of the plate in front of the grid, and pass through the grid into the sewers.
When the vessel requires clearing of the solid matter deposited therein, by lifting
the street grate the whole area of the vessel is open to inspection, and can therefore
be easily cleaned, and by lifting out the grid and metal plate the branch outlet and
sewer immediately connected therewith is open to inspection.
By this arrangement of street gullies I am enabled to obtain thorough ventilation
of the sewers, as the gasses formed therein have a free and uninterrupted passage
from the sewers through the gullies to the atmosphere.
Such being the nature and object of this my Invention, I will proceed to
describe the same more in detail, and in order that the same may be fully under-
stood I have hereunto annexed one Sheet of Drawings to be hereafter referred to,
and have marked the same with letters of reference.
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved street gully. Figure 2 is a cross section through
line A, B. Similar letters represent similar parts.
The letter C indicates the sides of the vessel or gully, which may be formed of
metal or earthenware, and is sunk below the level of the street, and fitted with à
grate in the ordinary manner. At one side of the gully I place a branch D, to
which is connected the sewerage pipes; at each side of the branch I form projec-
tions E, E, in each of which is a groove F, into which I place a perforated plate G,
which rests upon the projection H. In front of perforated plate G, and attached
thereto, is another plate J, which is "not" perforated; but is parallel with the grid G,
and is such a distance from the same that the water which falls from the street runs
under the plate J, in the direction of the arrow, through the grid plate G, into the
sewers, and the solids are in a great measure retained in the space K. When the
space K is filled with solid matter up to the level of bottom of pláte J, or there is
such a flow of water that it cannot pass underneath, the water will then rise and
overflow the top of plate J, and pass through the grid into the sewers, the solid
matter falling towards the bottom of the vessel.
By drawing the grid plate G and plate J out of the grooves E, E, the attendant
is enabled to examine the sewers immediately in contact with the gully. The
gasses formed in the sewers have a free course to escape from the same to the
atmosphere through the space M; thus I obtain a thorough ventilation of the
sewers.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner in which the same is or
may be carried into effect, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the

page_text: precise details herein described and deliniated, as the same may be modified without
departing from the characteristic nature of my Invention; but what I believe to be
new and original, and claim as the Invention secured to ine by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The arrangement of a perforated plate in combination with a plate not perforated,
which are placed opposite the outlet branch in street gullies, substantially in the
manner hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Johnston, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine..
JOHN WAUGH,
Engineering and Patent Offices,
Bradford, Yorks.
JAMES JOHNSTON. (L.S.)