An Improved Apparatus for Drawing Off Fixed Quantities of Liquids.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
An Improved Apparatus for Drawing Off Fixed Quantities of
Liquids.
I, WILLIAM TURNBULL, of 54, Lambton Quay, Wellington, New Zealand,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for " An improved
apparatus for drawing off fixed quantities of liquids," 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 apparatus used for drawing off liquids in fixed quan-
tities and is more especially applicable for use in water closets, for flushing
drains, drawing beer and like purposes.
'
The object of the invention is to provide apparatus whereby, a fixed maximum
of water to be drawn for such purposes as flushing a water closet cannot be ex-
ceeded each time the apparatus is operated.
With the apparatus at present in use it is possible to leave the water running,
but such waste is prevented when my apparatus is used, because the water will
be shut off after the determined quantity has passed independently of holding
or releasing the handle which sets the apparatus in operation.
With my invention the noise occasioned in water closets by the syphon is
entirely avoided, two or more water closets may be served from one cistern and a
saving of cost thus effected in a building provided with a number of closets,
escape of gas from the drain cannot take place as occurs with the present ball
cock when the water is shut off at the main, and since the cistern may be large
and is not emptied each time my apparatus is used the closets may be flushed
for some time after water has been shut off at the main.
:
In order that the invention may be readily understood I will now give a detailed
description of the apparatus as applied to flushing a water closet, from which
description a skilled person will be able readily to adapt the apparatus to other
purposes. A drawing is appended and forms parts of this specification.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same partly in section.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of part of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a view of the top of a dome.
Figure 5 is a view of the top of a weight.
Figure 6 is a side view of the top of a piston rod.
Similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the views.
Describing the invention by aid of the drawing, the dome or vessel (1) has a
piston (2) a weighted valve (3) and a piston rod (4) passing through the weight (5)
valve seat (6) and valve (7) to the slotted lever (8) to which it is coupled by means
of its jaw (9) and pin (10).
The lever (8) is fixed to the spindle (11) and operated by the handle (12). The
said spindle (11) is carried in a bracket (13) formed upon the outer casing (14),
the pivot (15) fitting into the end (16) of the said bracket, which at its outer end
has a stuffing box (17) to receive the collar (18) of the spindle (11). By means
of the gland (19) the spindle may be held in position and leakage of water pre-

page_text: The piston (2) has a vent screw (20) preferably split (shewn solid in drawing)
so that by turning the screw the size of the passage through the vent may be
increased or decreased as desired.
14
J
The valve (3) has a face (21) of leather or the like, which in normal conditions
rests upon the seating (22) formed upon the base or nozzle (23). The inverted
cup (24) is secured to the valve (3) by the screw (25) and preferably has a scalloped
edge (25").
The dome (1) screws upon the base (23) and is perforated with holes (26).
In the top of the dome is a vent (30) which may be made similar to vent (20) or
as shewn comprises a valve seat with a screw (31) fitted into the upper part of the
same. The conical end of the screw may be brought to close the opening (32) in
the dome, and by adjusting the said screw. the flow of water through the vent may
be regulated as required. The vent is shewn in section in Figure 1, in elevation
in Figure 3, and in plan in Figure 4.1 The arrows indicate the direction in which
the water enters.
The nozzle (27) is connected to the water main or to a supply tank and the
base (23) to the pan of the closet.
When the lever (8) is raised the piston (2) will be drawn upwards, the water
contained in the upper part of the dome (1) lifting the valve (7) and its weight (5)
and finding its way around the weight (5) and through the holes (6) will pass
into the outer casing (14). A partial vacuum will be formed between the
piston (2) and valve (3) with the result that the valve (3) with its valve face (21)
will follow the piston (2) in its upward stroke as shewn by Figure 3, and un-
covering the valve seat (22) will leave a passage for the water from the outer
casing (14) to the base (23) and thence to the pan of the closet:
As soon as the movement of the lever (8) is arrested the valve (3). will commence
to descend and the valve (7) will close. The speed at which the valve (3) will
descend is regulated by adjusting the vents (30 and 20) through which the
water is allowed to flow from the outer casing (14) at any desired speed.
an unlimited quantity of water cannot pass from the nozzle (27) to the closet by
holding the handle (12) after the lever (8) has been raised, but the valve (3) will
fall whether the handle is held or released.
Thus
In practise the handle (12) will usually be released immediately after it has
been operated and in such cases the piston (2) and valve (3) will descend together
and the regulating of the descent of the two parts falling together may be effected
by the vent (30) alone.
The apparatus may be adjusted to different pressures by screwing down the
dome until the holes (26) are partially covered, and the cup (24) is provided to
descend through and partially close the passage into the base (23) and thus shut
off the water without shock when the valve (3) reaches its seat (22). The scal-
loped edge (25) of the cup provides for the still more gentle closing of the
valve (3).
I prefer to place the nozzle (27) near the top of the apparatus to prevent air
collecting in that part, but I also provide a screw cap (28) which may be un-
screwed to allow air to escape in the event of its accidentally collecting.
The top of weight (5) has ribs (29) to arrest the lift of the said weight and pre-
vent the holes (6) from being so covered as to impede the passage of water.
By my apparatus the amount of water allowed to flow from the main or from a
'cistern may be regulated with the greatest exactitude.
It is obvious that I may dispense with the lever (8) and handle (12) and carry
the piston rod upwards through the cap (28) and operate the same directly by
the hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
1. In an apparatus for drawing off fixed quantities of liquids in combination

page_text: an outer casing a dome within the casing having perforations in its lower part
a piston having a vent a weighted valve and a vent in the top of the dome a
piston rod carrying the piston. and passing through the top of the dome means for
operating the piston and a valve below the piston, substantially as set forth herein.
2. In an apparatus for drawing off fixed quantities of liquids in combination
an outer casing having a nozzle at its upper part and nozzle at its lower part a
vent in the upper part of the outer casing a dome within the casing having per-
forations in its lower part a piston having a vent a weighted valve and a vent in
the top of the dome ribs upon the top of said weighted valve a piston rod carrying
the piston a lever and handle for operating the piston and a valve below the
piston, substantially as set forth herein.
3. In an apparatus for drawing off fixed quantities of liquids in combination
an outer casing a dome within the casing having perforations in its lower part
said dome being screw threaded so that its perforations may be partially closed
a piston having a vent a weighted valve and a vent in the top of the dome a
piston rod carrying the piston and passing through the top of the dome means for
operating the piston and a valve below the piston, substantially as set forth
herein.
4. In an apparatus for drawing off fixed quantities of liquids in combination
an outer casing a dome within the casing having perforations in its lower part
a piston having an adjustable vent a weighted valve and a vent in the top of the
dome a piston rod carrying the piston and passing through the top of the dome a
lever and handle for operating the piston a bracket having a stuffing box for
carrying the spindle of the said lever and handle and a valve below the piston,
substantially as set forth herein.
5. In an apparatus for drawing off fixed quantities of liquids in combination
an outer casing a dome within the casing having perforations in its lower part a
piston having a vent a weighted valve and a vent in the top of the dome a piston
rod carrying the piston and passing through the top of the dome means for
operating the piston a valve below the piston capable of rising in the dome and a
cup with a scalloped edge attached to the said valve to partially cut off the flow
of liquid, substantially as set forth herein.
6. In an apparatus for drawing off fixed quantities of liquids a piston a
weighted valve below the piston a dome for containing the said piston and valve
means for raising the said piston so that a partial vacuum is formed below the
piston to raise the valve vents in the piston and dome to provide for the descent
of the valve and a weighted non-return valve in the top of the dome, substantially
as set forth herein.
7. The improved apparatus for drawing off fixed quantities of liquids consisting
of mechanism and parts constructed arranged and operating substantially as and
for the purposes set forth herein and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.