IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING THE SOIL AND WASTE WATER PIPES AND DRAINS OF HOUSES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF WATER TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR THE SAID PURPOSE
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Paton Buchan, of the City of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Master Plumber and
Gasfitter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING THE
SOIL AND WASTE WATER PIPES AND DRAINS OF HOUSES, AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF WATER TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR THE SAID
PURPOSE."
Sealed the 6th August 1875, and dated the 23rd April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Paton Buchan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd April 1875.
I, WILLIAM PATON BUCHAN, of the City of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Master Plumber and Gasfitter, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING
THE SOIL AND WASTE WATER PIPES AND DRAINS OF HOUSES, AND IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND FITTING OF WATER Traps or ApparATUS FOR THE SAID PURPOSE,"
to be as follows:—

page_text: structions and arrangements of syphon water traps to be used for
ventilating the soil pipes of waterclosets and the waste water pipes,
both leading or dipping into the house drains; and second, to the
construction and arrangement of the like traps for ventilating these
drains themselves on the inside of or before reaching the main trap
leading to the common sewer, all so as to thoroughly ventilate these
drains and pipes inside the houses, preventing both the accumulation
or concentration of the foul gases in these, and as heretofore also
preventing the passing back of the sewer gases into the houses.
As regards the improvements and novelty of the said first traps these
consist in forming a small lateral branch on the vertical inlet duct or or
branch of an ordinary syphon trap rather higher than the level of the
water in the trap, and the overflow bend leading into the outlet duct or
branch dipping into the house drain, this lateral branch being fitted
with an inlet air pipe led slightly upwards to where the current of
fresh air can freely enter and pass down this pipe, and branch up the
desending soil pipe or the waste discharge water pipe, up through the
ordinary ventilating pipes of these to the roof, so as to thoroughly
ventilate these pipes and the trap to which this air pipe is fitted, and to
prevent this inlet air pipe from getting choked its inlet outer end end
may be fitted with a perforate plate or grating.
The improvements and novelty of the traps (under the second part)
consist under one construction and application for ventilating the house
drains in making the inlet duct of the syphon nearly vertical, leading
to the lower bend or knee, turning up the overflow bend and duct with
only one tongue or division between these ducts, dipping below the
overflow, and in having the lower inlet end of the drain entering right
into this inlet vertical duct a little higher than the outlet, and just
below the throat of an air inlet duct, over the water inlet of the trap.
and fitted with a perforated plate or grating at the surface of the
ground; or it may be also fitted with another perforated plate below at
the throat to prevent rats or obstructive material getting into the drain,
and preferably having a close chamber between these gratings of bricks,
or of a piece of fire-clay pipe, all to allow of the free entrance of fresh
air, by this to cause a ventilating current through and from the drain up {
the rain pipes, and the ventilating pipes of the soil and wasto water
pipes leading into the drain, and this chamber between the two per-

page_text: forated plates may when desired be filled with charcoal open enough to
still allow the air to pass in.
Another construction consists in forming the trap in the form of a
small well or deep vessel with the duct or drain leading in near the top
on the one side, and the outlet overflow branch and duct placed a little
lower on the other, and a perforated air inlet plate and throat at the top
separated from the outlet branch by the dipping tongue or division, so
as to allow the fresh air to pass freely in and back up the drain to and
through the rain and ventilating pipes of the soil and waste water pipes;
and where there is danger of the sewer gas forcing its way past the dip
division a branch may be formed behind the trap, and connected and
led by a pipe up one of the rain pipes, or the ventilating part of a waste
water pipe; or a special ventilating pipe may be put in for this purpose,
the deep vessel admitting of sediment or solid matters, which could not
flow out under the dipping tongue, settling down into the bottom, while
this and the former construction of tap could be cleaned out through
the air entering throat by removing the perforated grates made portable
for that purpose. These traps may be built in brick or stonework, or
made of fire-clay, earthenware, iron, lead, zinc, copper, or other suitable
material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Paton Buchan in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PATON BUCHAN, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Master Plumber and Gasfitter, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Paton Buchan, Her
special licence that me, the said William Paton Buchan, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Paton Buchan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times

page_text: thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING THE SOIL AND WASTE WATER
PIPES AND DRAINS OF HOUSES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF
WATER TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR THE SAID PURPOSE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Paton Buchan, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samo
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Paton Buchan, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention has reference, first, to new or improved constructions
and arrangements of syphon water traps to be used for ventilating the
soil pipes of waterclosets and the waste water pipes, both leading or
dipping into the house drains; and second, to the construction and
arrangement of the like traps for ventilating these drains themselves on
the inside of or before reaching the main trap leading to the common
sewer, all so as to thoroughly ventilate these drains and pipes leading
from the inside of houses, thus preventing both the accumulation or
concentration of the foul gases within these or the houses, and also, as
heretofore, preventing the passing back of the sewer gases into the
houses.
The improvements and novelty of the said first syphon traps consist
in forming a short lateral branch on the vertical inlet duct or branch
part of an otherwise ordinary form of syphon trap rather higher than the
level of the water in the trap and the overflow bend leading into the outlet
duct or branch dipping into the house drain. This lateral branch being
fitted with an inlet air pipe led slightly upwards to where the current of
fresh air can freely enter and pass down this pipe and branch, up the

page_text: descending soil pipe or the waste discharge water pipe, and up through
the ordinary ventilating pipes of these to the roof, so as to thoroughly
ventilate these pipes and the trap to which this air pipe is fitted, and to
prevent this inlet air pipe from getting choked its inlet outer end may
be fitted with a perforated plate or grating.
The improvements and novelty of the traps consist under one con-
struction and application for ventilating the house drains in making the
inlet duct or well part of the syphon vertical or nearly vertical leading
to the lower bend or knee, turning up the outflow bend and duct with
only one tongue or division between these ducts dipping below the said
outflow, and in having the lower inlet end of the drain entering right
into this inlet vertical duct a little higher than the outlet and just below
the throat of an air inlet duct over the water inlet duct or pool of the
trap, and which is fitted with a perforated plate or grating at the surface
of the ground, or it may be also fitted with another perforated plate
below at the throat to prevent rats or obstructive material getting into
the drain, and preferably having a close chamber between these gratings
of bricks or of a piece of fire-clay pipe, all to allow of the free entrance
of fresh air, by this to cause a ventilating current through and from the
drain up the rain pipes and the ventilating pipes of the soil and wasto
water pipes leading into the drain, and this chamber between the two
perforated plates may, when desired, be filled with charcoal open enough
to still allow the air to pass in.
Another construction consists in forming the trap in the form of a
small well or deep vessel, with the duct or drain leading in near the top
on the one side and the outlet overflow branch and duct placed a little
lower on the other, and a perforated air inlet plate and throat at the top
separated from the outlet branch by the dipping tongue or division so as
to allow the fresh air to pass freely in and back up the drain to and
through the rain and ventilating pipes of the soil and wasto water pipes ;
and where there is danger of the sewer gas forcing its way past the dip
division a branch may be formed behind the trap and connected and led
by a pipe up one of the rain pipes or the ventilating part of a waste
water pipe, or a special ventilating pipe may be put in for this purpose,
the deep vessel admitting of sediment or solid matters which could not
flow out under the dipping tongue settling down into the bottom, while
this and the former construction of trap could be cleaned out through
the air entering channel or throat by removing the perforated grates

page_text: made portable for that purpose. These traps may be built in brick or
stonework, or made of fire-clay, earthenware, iron, lead, zinc, copper,
or other suitable material.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my
said Invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to describe
the several Figures on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which I
have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing the best modes and
means I am at present aware of for carrying my said Invention into
effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating the same or like
parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 1D show a sectional elevation and plan of one modi-
fication of my new or improved ventilating syphon trap A (by itself, or
detached from its connecting pipes and fittings), as constructed of cast
iron for the smaller sizes, as, say, from 6 inches diameter, and all below
that size, for connection with the outlet watercloset soil pipe B¹ of one or 1
more waterclosets in a set or column, or for connection to the discharge
end of the outlet or waste discharge pipe B¹ of pantry or kitchen sinks y
or wash basins z, and shown as applied thereto in the general sectional
elevations 1A and 1B.
Figure 2 shows a sectional elevation of a very similar form or con- 2
struction of trap A to that shown in Figures 1 and 1 D, except that the
upper part C¹ of the well or pool C, and lateral inlet branch B are formed
in one piece, and the lower syphon or trap part C with the outlet
branch D is formed in a different piece and attached by a spigot and
faucet joint b, so as to enable the inlet and outlet branches B, D, to be 2
set at any desired angle to each other, to suit the circumstances or
position of the waste discharge pipes B¹ and house or other drains B³,
as in Figures 1A, 1B, 5 A, and 5 B, leading to the main drains æ
or sewer X.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a modification corresponding to 3
Figure 1, with the well part C, C³, made rather higher to suit when the
inlet and outlet branches B and D require to enter on the same side or
in nearly the same vertical plane.
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional elevations of my said new or improved
ventilating syphon trap A without its connecting pipes and fittings, as a
made in fire-clay for the large sizes of six inches and upwards (they may

page_text: however when desired be made smaller), the former with the inlet and
outlet branches B and D at right angles to each other, and the latter
with these in the same line on opposite sides of the well O.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a syphon trap A, the same as shown
in Figure 5, but shown with a close hinged lid J fitted over the top of
the inlet chamber or well part C, C', and having an inlet air branch
and chamber Q* and C" formed in and fitted over a length of the waste
water drain pipe B* leading into the said trap A; and Figures 5 A
and 5 B show sectional elevations of my new or improved ventilating
syphon trap A (shown detached in Figure 5) as fitted to the watercloset
soil pipes B¹ of houses, and to the drain pipes B² and x, leading from
these to the main sewer X, all in accordance with my said Invention,
complete with the air pipes and fittings for ventilating the soil pipes,
drains, and traps, to prevent the accumulation of foul gases and smells
within the houses fitted with these improved traps and connections;
while Figure 5C is a sectional elevation of my improved ventilating
syphon trap A (shown in' Figuro 5) as fitted to a close cesspool W to
retain the soil for use and removal as manure at intervals as required.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the improved construction of
this ventilating syphon trap A consists in connecting or leading the inlet
branch B into the pool or well part O with a perpendicular or "square"
drop at c of a few inches above the level of the overflow water or outlet
bend in the discharge syphon branch D, with a bevelled or angled air
inlet part c' at the top of the branch B, and having only a single dipping
or trapping tongue & between the discharge bend D and well O, which
latter is preferred to be vertical, or nearly so, and formed with a faucet C¹
at top, so that when the trap is fitted in its place it may have an open
well or inlet chamber formed by a piece of fire-clay pipe C" above the
faucet C, surmounted by a stone C™ fitted with a portable or removable
perforated plate C, through which the air enters, as shown in Figures
1A and 1B, and in large scale plan at Figure 10, and fitted by pre-
ference with an open or wire gauze disc C³ resting on the bottom of the
faucet O' (shown particularly in the plan Figure 1D of the trap A in
Figure 1) with a thin close plate or disc C' some little distance below it,
either resting on a narrow rim in the well or hung by chains or wires
from the wire grating C' as shown respectively in Figures 1 to 3, or
Figures 5 A and 5 B, so as to prevent the frost or cold passing into the
well C and divert the inlet current of air through the angle part or

page_text: channel c¹ into the inlet branch B of the waste water discharge pipes B¹,
all as indicated by the arrows in Figures 1A and 1B.
The trap A in Figure 1 A is shown as fitted to a kitchen sink y on the
lower flat of a house, discharging its waste water through an ordinary
syphon trap y' and the waste discharge pipe B¹ into and through the 5
trap A, thence into the ordinary large drain pipe leading to the main
or common sewer.
In Figure 1B the improved trap A is shown as fitted to the lower end
of the waste discharge pipo B¹ of a wash basin ≈ on an upper floor, and
thence through the trap A to the drain x, as in Figure 1A, the pipe B¹ 1
in this case being fitted at top above the junction " of the pipe
leading from the basins, with an air ventilating pipe and rose B", b, for
the escape of the air entering at the grate C³, circulating through the
trap A and pipe B₁, as indicated by the black arrows in the several
Figures, the green arrows indicating the flow of the waste water and 1
soil.
Referring to Figure 5 A, the ventilating trap A (of the large fire-clay
form and construction shown in Figure 5) is fitted to the lower outer
end of the discharge soil pipe B¹ placed inside the house, leading from
the syphon trap of a pan watcrcloset w on an upper floor, having an air 2
ventilating pipe B" led up through the roof above, surmounted by a
revolving screw ventilator B outside.
To ventilate and prevent the collection of gases in the trunk or lower
receiver of the watercloset w I fit a small inlet and an outlet air tubeƒ,ƒ¹,
to the close cover, the former dipping a few inches into the trunk w, 2
while the latter is taken away from the top to insure the ventilation or
circulation of air therein, which as well as that through the trap A and
pipe B¹ is indicated by the black arrows, while the green arrows indicate
the flow of the liquids and soil, as before stated in reference to the former
Figures.
Figure 5B shows an arrangement of two waterclosets w, w, in different
flats, having the discharge pipes w¹ from their traps led through the wall
into the vertical discharge soil pipe B¹ outside, the lower end of which is
connected to and discharges into the ordinary house drains B³ below, led
at an angle to give some current into the branch B of the improved
ventilating trap A, which discharges into the main sewer X through the

page_text: bend D and drain pipe x, all as indicated by the green arrows.
The air
ventilating current, as indicated by the black arrows, enters the per-
forated plate O' of the well O of the trap, passing along the drain
pipes B and up the vertical soil pipe B' through the ventilating pipe B",
assisted by and escaping through the revolving ventilator B above the
roof of the house.
When it is desired to ventilate the discharge pipe D or drains or X
into which it leads, a branch G may be formed on one of these outside
tho trap A, and a ventilating pipe g may be connected and led therefrom
to the roof of the house, either fitted or not as desired with a revolving
ventilator B, as indicated by the red lines and arrows in Figure 5 B.
. When surface or other waste water is desired to be run off through
the same house drain B³ and ventilating traps A used for the water-
closets, a small close well or chest H, surmounted by a perforated
plate C, might be fitted to a branch B³, with a dipping or trapping
tonguo h at its entrance, which would allow such surface or waste water
to flow through the pipes and trap A without disturbing the action of
the air ventilating current, indicated by the black arrows through the
trap A or pipes B³, B¹, B¹¹.
Referring to Figure 5 0, the improved ventilating trap A (shown in
Figure 5) is fitted substantially as shown in the other Figures, except
that the branch D discharges direct into the close cesspool W, which is
surmounted by a portable or removable stone or cover W', for allowing
it to be emptied and cleaned out when desired, the green arrows
indicating the current of the waste water and soil, and the black arrows
that of the air through the trap A and drains B², as in the other Figures;
and to prevent the accumulation of any foul air within the tank or
cesspool W exercising a pressure upon the water in the trap A, and its
consequent escape and passage back into the house drain I introduco a
wire cage V filled with charcoal, to allow of the free escape of such foul
air up through the charcoal and out at a grate V¹ fitted above.
Referring to Figure 6, this arrangement is more particularly applicable
for exposed situations, where the cold air or frost passing down the well
O, C', might freeze the water in the trap A; and where a little extra
expense to prevent this is of no consequence, it may be effected by simply
placing the grate 0 and air entering channel C", O", (as herein-beforc
described in reference to this Figure 6) over a faucet on the drain B³
some distance back from the trap A.

page_text: Figure 7 represents a sectional elevation of a modification of my said
improved ventilating trap, in the form of a deep well or vessel A, pre-
ferably cylindrical, with the inlet branch B and air passage C¹ near the
top at one side, and with the overflow duct in the form of a branch Da
little lower on the other side, and with a dipping or trapping tongue di
projecting down into the water in the well A a little below the outlet
.branch D; the well. A having the faucet C₁ above, fitted with the wire
grate C³ and disc O* for directing the air into the branch B of the drain
pipes, all substantially as shown in the other traps, Figures 1 to 3, and
Figures 5 A and 5 B. This arrangement is particularly applicable where
sand or heavy sediment or solid matters get into the trap, as they can settle
down into the bottom of the well A. without proventing its action, and be
cleaned out at intervals through the air passago C" by the removal of the
grate C³ at the surface, as the other traps also, Figures 1 to 6, may be when
desired; and when the grating 03 and passages C" in any of these traps
]
are used for allowing the surface water to flow into the trap they may
be formed with an extra faucet as shown at C³ above the faucet O¹ as
shown in Figure 7, and indicated in red lines in Figuro 4 for jointing
the pipe C into to make it liquid tight instead of only setting this pipe
C² on the top of the faucet O' as shown in Figures 6 and 1A, 1B, 5 A, 2
5 B, and 5 C. Or instead of this faucet C³, Figure 7, a thin metallic loose
faucet O made of lead, zinc, copper, iron, or other metal, and which
would not interfere with the easy removal of the wire grating O³, may
be used when desired, as indicated by the red lines 0°, Figure 6.
"
The advantages to be derived from the "square or vertical drop c
2
are, that owing to the fall which the water gets over the sharp edge
ate the accumulation of floating soil which so often takes place on the
inner surface of the water in other traps is hereby prevented, and instead
of the rush of water down the drain pipe merely running away under-
neath the floating soil, the rush or flow of the water down the drain and 3
the force derived from its fall over the sharp edge of the drop c break
up the said floating soil and carry it quickly away in the current under-
neath the dipping tongue & and thenco on towards the sewer.
Another advantage of my syphon trap herein described is the small
surface of water exposed on the inner side of the trap or well O, which, 8
as just explained, not only allows of the soil being washed away the
more readily, but also affords less surface for evaporation or for the
exhalation of any bad gases.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be performed, I have to state
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described
and delineated, but what I believe to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,—
-
First. The constructing and ventilating of syphon traps generally for
the drain pipes of houses, all substantially in the new or improved
manner herein described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings or
any mere modification thereof.
Second. The constructing of ventilating syphon traps for the drain
pipes of houses, with a vertical or square" drop c for the liquid or soil,
and an air ventilating channel c', respectively below and above the
entrance of the inlet branch B to the well C of the trap A, substantially
as described in reference to, and shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7,
of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Paton Buchan, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
W. P. BUCHAN. (L.S.)