IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWAGE AND OTHER DRAIN TRAPS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Perks, of Burton-upon-Trent, in the County of
Stafford, Physician and Surgeon, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SEWAGE AND OTHER DRAIN TRAPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Perks at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th August 1880.
CHARLES PERKS, of Burton-upon-Trent, in the County of Stafford, Physician
and Surgeon. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWAGE AND OTHER DRAIN TRAPS."
The object of this Invention is to prevent or considerably reduce the ingress of
solid matter into the drains or pipes, to prevent the choking of the traps, and to
avoid the entrance of sewer and other gases into dwellings or other buildings,
which object I attain as follows :―
I form a circular or other-shaped trap-box or chamber, with a grating or
perforated plate or cover on the top, properly secured in place. Within such trap-
box or chamber I place a moveable box or tray without a top, having a finer grating
or perforated plate for its bottom; the sides of such tray may also be provided with
small openings. This tray is made removeable in order to facilitate the cleansing
and examination of the trap. The removal of the said tray does not interfere with
the action of the trap.
If the trap is not intended to be used as a gully, the tray can be made a
receptacle for charcoal or other absorbent, or an air-tight cover can be fitted to it,
and the ventilation may be effected by means of a pipe; in the latter case the tray
would be unnecessary.
Below the bottom of the said tray is a continuation of the circular or other-
shaped trap-box or chamber for receiving the sewage or other liquids from the sink
or other pipe or pipes, as well as the liquids passing through the said gratings.
The said pipes are provided at their entrance into the said continuation of the
circular or other-shaped trap-box or chamber with suitable valves, the object of
which valves is to prevent the entrance of any matter, whether gaseous, liquid, or

page_text: solid into such pipes, and through them into dwellings or other buildings. The
said pipes are formed syphon-shaped, or otherwise trapped either immediately prior
to their entrance into the said continuation of the circular or other shaped trap-box
or chamber, or in some other convenient part of their course.
Where the said trap-box is intended to be used only as a gully, the above-
mentioned continuation thereof would not be made to receive the before-mentioned
sink or other pipe or pipes.
At the bottom of the said continuation of the circular or other-shaped trap-box
or chamber, and below the entrance of the said pipes therein, I place an exit
syphon-pipe or other trap, which pipe at its other end is connected to the main or
other drain.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Perks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
February 1881.
CHARLES PERKS, of Burton-upon-Trent, in the County of Stafford, Physician
and Surgeon.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWAGE AND OTHER DRAIN TRAPS."
The object of this Invention is to prevent or considerably reduce the ingress of
solid matter into the drains or pipes when used as a gulley, to prevent the choking
of the traps, and to avoid the entrance of sewer and other gases into dwellings or
other buildings.
In order that my said Invention may be more fully understood and be more
readily performed, I will explain the same with the aid of the accompanying
Drawing which forms part of this Specification, reference being made thereto by
the numerals and letters marked thereon. The same index letter refers to similar
parts in each Figure of the said Drawing.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my improved trap.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with grating, tray, and valves removed.
Figs. 3 and 5 are vertical sections of the disconnecting chamber when the trap
is not used for gullies.
Figs. 4 and 6 are plans of the same.
Fig. 7 is a horizontal section thereof on the line A, B, Fig. 3, and Fig. 8 is a
similar horizontal section on the line C, D, Fig. 5.
When my improved trap is used in its entirety, that is, as a gulley and chamber
for disconnecting or isolating the different house-drains from the main house-drain
and the common sewer, as shown in Fig. 1, I form a circular or other-shaped trap-
box or disconnecting chamber a, with a grating 6 or perforated plate on the top
properly secured in place.
Within such trap-box a I place a removeable box or tray c without a top, having
a finer grating c for its bottom. This tray below its said grating c has by
preference a funnel-shaped continuation, as shown in Fig. 1, so arranged or formed
as to protect the valves e.
Below the bottom c' of the tray c is a continuation of the trap-box a for receiving
the sewage or other liquids from the sink or other pipe or pipes h, as well as the
liquids passing through the gratings b and c'.
These pipes are provided at their entrance into the said continuation of the
trap-box a with suitable valves e, which consist of a ball resting upon india-rubber,
but other kinds of efficient valves may be used, the object of which valves e is to
prevent the entrance of any matter, whether gaseous, liquid, or solid into the pipes h,
and through them into dwellings or other buildings. These pipes are formed
syphon-shaped, as shown in the Drawing, or are otherwise effectually trapped
either immediately prior to their entrance into the trap-box a, or in some other
convenient part of their course.
The said tray c is made removeable, so that the trap may be examined and
cleansed when requisite. Such removal of the said tray does not interfere with the
action of the trap.
At the bottom of the trap-box a, and below the entrance therein of the side
pipes h, I place the exit pipe i, which may be provided with a syphon or other
trap; the other end of such pipe i is connected to the main or other drain.
When my said improved trap is not required to be used as a gulley, the tray c
may be superseded by a suitable receptacle for charcoal or other efficient disinfectant;
also an air-tight cover f can be fitted to the trap, as shown in section in Figs. 3
and 5; ventilation may be then effected by a pipe g, Fig. 5. In the latter case the
grating 6 would be unnecessary.

page_text: When my said improved trap is intended to be used only as a gulley, the said
pipes and their valves e would be dispensed with or effectually closed.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the method of performing the same, without restricting myself to the precise
forms and dimensions of the several details now specified, I claim as my Invention,
and desire to secure by the herein before-mentioned in part recited Letters
Patent,-
Firstly. The loose or unfixed tray c with grated bottom and funnel-shaped
continuation, as shown in Figure 1.
Secondly. The side inlet pipes with syphon and valve traps.
Thirdly. The combination of the several parts in forming the said sewage and
drain trap, except the upper grating and outlet syphon-pipe when used.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Perks, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-one.