A Frictionless Direct Acting Syphon Cistern.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Frictionless Direct Acting Syphon Cistern.
JOHN ALSTON, of Brandon Street, Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Plumber and
Gasfitter do hereby declare the nature of my invention for flushing out water
closets and urinals and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Ordinary service cistern fitted with usual supply valve and overflow pipe. The
discharge pipe A stands upright in centre of cistern its upper end either above or
below the level of same, as may be required to meet the rules of the various water
companys.
This pipe being made of lead with malleable iron screwed nipple B cast in
its lower end. The lead entirely covering the inner surface of same so as to
leave no part exposed to the action of the water.
This pipe has a ruff C or projecting part cast on to secure nipple, and to
rest in Bunk portion of flange. This flange D made of cast iron (galvanized) or
copper has opening in centre for nipple and is sunk to receive ruff or projecting
part of discharge pipe the under surface of outer part of flange being of an inch
clear from bottom of cistern, and has perforated openings to allow water to pass
through. Fitted firmly to this flange a cylinder E made of copper or galvanized
steel 3 inches deep, its lower edge leaving sufficient opening for water to flow
between it and bottom of cistern. Inside this cylinder and resting on flange an
annular ring F or disc of thin metal to cover perforated openings in same, but
sufficiently open when raised to allow water to pass freely upward between it and
discharge pipe. This flange and cylinder being secured to cistern by ordinary jam
nut on screwed nipple of discharge pipe. A bent or elbow coupling tail G with
ring to fit nipple to connect discharge pipe to service flushing pipe. This bent
coupling tail has opening in heel in line with centre of discharge pipe.
The
From this opening a brass or copper pipe Hof an inch in diameter passes up
through discharge pipe, its upper end being of an inch above same.
moveable part or syphon cover J consists of pipe or cylinder made of copper or
galvanized steel slightly tapered and with closed top, the internal diameter suf-
ficiently large to allow water to pass up between it and discharge pipe. This cover
or cylinder has flange or curved disc K at its lower end capped of an inch on
edge and fitted to move freely in fixed cylinder in bottom of cistern. The lower
edge of this capped disc, when in its lowest position, and with closed end of cover
resting on small inner tube of discharge pipe being of an inch above perforated
flange. This cover has also a tube Lan inch in diameter and 3 inches long
fixed to inner surface of cover and passing downwards over the small tube in
discharge pipe. This cover has also a wire or small rod M passing downwards
inside small fixed tube of discharge pipe, with hook at its lower end to connect with
chain, pull, or other appliance for starting the action. This wire or rod being long
enough to allow syphon cover to rise 2 inches in fixed cylinder. The hook then
resting against elbow coupling preventing it rising higher. This has also two
floats N or half balls of thin copper attached to it by curved rods, one on either side,
when at lowest position of an inch from bottom of cistern. These floats are of
sufficient power to raise, and keep in its highest position the syphon cover with
chain, pull, or other appliance for starting the action. The action is as follows.
When water flows into cistern through supply valve the floats gradually rising
bring the syphon cover with chain, pull, or other appliance, to its highest position,
the water flowing until shut off by supply valve 1 inches below the level of
overflow pipe.
To start the action, gently pull the chain or other appliance, when the syphon

page_text: cover will sink in fixed cylinder, the water contained therein being forced up
between cover and discharge pipe, displacing the air downwards through service
pipe, and starting the syphon action. The loose ring or disc in fixed cylinder
rising allows the water to flow up through the perforated openings in flange. This
continues until cistern is nearly empty and air gets underneath the fixed cylinder,
stopping the syphon action.
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
1st. Improved construction of discharge pipe and coupling tail.
2nd. Direct application of power to start the action without the use of levers or
weights, and consequently greater freedom from noise or friction thereby ensuring
durability of the acting parts.
3rd. Certainty of action with great security against waste, the arrangements
enabling the action to be started when the water level reaches within 24 inches of
overflow pipe.
4th. Neatness and compactness, occupying little space, and may be turned
or placed in any position to suit the fittings to be flushed.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1892.
JOHN ALSTON.