AN IMPROVED CISTERN AND SELF-ACTING WATER WASTE PREVENTER, (SUPERSEDING THE BALL FLOAT).
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Daniel Duckett, of 29, Douglas Street, Mansfield
Road, Rotherham, in the County of York, Sanitary Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVED CISTERN AND SELF-ACTING WATER WASTE PREVENTER,
(SUPERSEDING THE BALL FLOAT)."
Scaled the 20th February 1877, and dated the 24th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Daniel Duckett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August 1876.
JOSEPH DANIEL DUCKETT, of 29, Douglas Street, Mansfield Road, Rotherham, in
the County of York, Sanitary Engineer "AN IMPROVED CISTERN AND SELF-
ACTING WATER WASTE PREVENTER (SUPERSEDING THE BALL FLOAT)"
This Invention has for its object the so regulating the supply of water to baths,
waterclosets, and such like purposes as to prevent or materially reduce the waste of
water, and consists of apparatus by means of which the above object is attained.
The apparatus consists of a cistern of a peculiar shape supported or suspended on
standards or a frame by pivots on which it is free to rock or oscillate, and the shape
of the cistern is such that when full the greater weight of water at the larger end
of the cistern presses down that end, and at that larger end of the cistern is placed
the supply pipe fitted with a tap. When the cistern is full of water a projection or
angular piece fitted to the larger end of the cistern presses on the top of the supply
pipe so as to close it. In the bottom of the cistern is fitted the outlet valve, which
when water is wanted to flow from the cistern is lifted off its seating by a lever, which
said lever is so arranged as that when it is acting to keep open the outlet valve it
is also acting on the larger end of the cistern so as to keep the projection or angular
piece pressing on the tap on the supply pipe, but as soon as enough water has
been drawn from the cistern and the outlet valve is allowed to close the action of
the lever upon the larger end of the cistern, and consequently on the projection or
angular piece, is removed and the cistern is allowed to oscillate on the pivots so as
to open the tap on the supply pipe, whereby the water from the supply pipe is
allowed to flow into the cistern until the cistern is again sufficiently filled, when
Price 6d1

page_text: the larger end of the cistern is pressed down by the weight of water at that end
and causes the projection or angular piece to press upon and close the tap of the
supply pipe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Joseph Daniel Duckett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
February 1877.
•
JOSEPH DANIEL DUCKETT, of 29, Douglas Street, Mansfield Road, Rotherham, in
the County of York, Sanitary Engineer "AN IMPROVED CISTERN AND SELF-
ACTING WATER WASTE PREVENTER (SUPERSEDING THE BALL FLOAT)"
This Invention has for its object the so regulating the supply of water to baths,
waterclosets, and such like purposes as to prevent or materially reduce the waste of
water, and consists of apparatus by means of which the above object is attained.
The apparatus consists of a cistern of a peculiar shape supported or suspended on
standards on a frame by pivots on which it is free to rock or oscillate, and the
shape of the cistern is such that when full the greater weight of water at the
larger end of the cistern presses down that end, and at that larger end of the cistern
is placed the supply pipe fitted with a tap. When the cistern is full of water a
projection or angular piece fitted to the larger end of the cistern presses on the tap
of the supply pipe so as to close it In the bottom of the cistern is fitted the outlet
valve which when water is wanted to flow from the cistern is lifted off its seating
by a lever, which said lever is so arranged as that when it is acting to keep open
the outlet valve it is also acting on the larger end of the cistern so as to keep the
projection or angular piece pressing on to the tap on the supply pipe, but as soon
as enough water has been drawn from the cistern and the outlet valve is allowed to
close the action of the lever upon the larger end of the cistern, and consequently on
the projection or angular piece, is removed and the cistern is allowed to oscillate on
its pivots so as to open the tap on the supply pipe, whereby the water from the
supply pipe is allowed to flow into the cistern until the cistern is again sufficiently
filled, when the larger end of the cistern is pressed down by the greater weight of
water at that end and causes the projection or angular piece to press upon and close
the tap of the supply pipe.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention I will now proceed to
describe the best means with which I am acquainted of performing the same or
carrying the same into effect, and for this purpose I will refer to the annexed
Drawings, in each of the Figures of which said Drawings the saine letters of
reference indicate the same or corresponding parts.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a cistern of peculiar and particular shape,
shewn in side elevation at Fig. 1; in vertical cross section at Fig. 2; in plan at
Fig. 3; and in vertical longitudinal section at Fig 4; also in vertical longitudinal
section at Fig 5, shewing the position of the lever, outlet valve, and rod or shaft
when at rest, [the dotted lines showing the position of the said lever, valve, and rod
or shaft immediately before the valve is open ]
Fig. 6 is a section of the inlet tap with angular projection and lever.
The scale on which Figures 5 and 6 are drawn is double that of the other
Figures of the Drawings.
The apparatus consists of a cistern A made of cast iron or other suitable material;
the cistern is supported or suspended on standards or frame B by pivots C on which
the cistern is free to rock or oscillate, the standards being connected by cross bars F
secured by screws and nuts. The longitudinal shape of the cistern is peculiar, as
will be readily understood by an inspection of the Drawings, being bevelled at one
end from full length at the top down to half the length at the bottom. At the
larger end of the cistern and rising above it there is an angular projection D, which

page_text: said projection rests upon the top of the plug of the tap E connected to the supply
pipe, the tap being supported by the adjustable cross bar F¹. The tap shewn in
the Drawing is one which is closed by a plug or plunger, being pressed down on to
a valve seating, a washer of india-rubber, leather, or other elastic material being
interposed, as shewn at Fig. 6.
When the cistern contains the requisite quantity of water the shape of the
cistern is such that the greater volume and weight of water contained in the larger
end acting on that end of the cistern causes it to oscillate on the pivots C so as to
press the angular projection D down with sufficient force upon the top of the plug
of the tap on the supply pipe as to effectually close it by pressing the plug or
plunger on to the seating, thus dispensing with and superseding the old ball float
and cock arrangement
In order to regulate the apparatus to suit different pressures of water the pivots
upon which the cistern is supported or suspended are adjustable and are capable of
being moved longitudinally within dovetailed frames Ġ fixed to the sides of the
cistern. These pivots can be secured at any point within the frame by means of
pins passing through corresponding grooves at the back of the frames and pivots, as
shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.
Inside the cistern at the bevilled end is placed across the cistern a partition H,
the top of such partition being below the top water line; the space J within this
partition always remains filled with water, and so acts (when the larger end is
emptied) as a counterbalance to the larger and heavier end of the cistern resting
upon the top of the tap, thus relieving the tap from the pressure that would other-
wise remain upon it and prevent the supply water from flowing freely.
In the bottom of the cistern is fitted the outlet valve and pipe K through which
the water passes into the bell-shaped mouth of the downfall pipe, allowing the
cistern to rock or oscillate on the pivots freely and without check. When a supply
of water is required to flow from the cistern the outlet valve K is lifted from its
seating by a lever L, to which it is connected by a rod or shaft M; the fulcrum of
the said lever is raised and supported above the top of the cistern on brackets N
(in which it also rests and revolves) cast or otherwise fixed to the adjustable cross
bar F. Upon the under side of the lever arm and immediately above the top edge
of the cistern is a quadiantal projection O, so arranged by means of a slot hole P
at the top of the connecting rod M of the outlet valve K that when the said valve K
is at rest upon its seating the quadrantal projection is disengaged and rests clear of
the top of the cistern, but immediately the lever handle is pulled down or depressed
for the purpose of raising the outlet valve the quadrantal projection O presses upon
and works round upon the cistern edge, exerting sufficient pressure upon the top of
the plug of the tap on the supply pipe as to keep it securely closed so as not to
admit of any waste of water during the time the outlet valve is open or partly
open for the outlet of water. The same action is repeated when the lever handle
is released, the weighted end of the lever L brings the said lever L into its first
position, and by means of the slot hole in the connecting rod allows the valve to
rest upon its seating before the quadrantal projection is disengaged from acting on
the edge of the cistern, which disengagement of the quadrantal projection removes
the pressure from the tap of the supply pipe.
When the lover resumes its first position the cistern is free to rock or oscillate on
the pivots so as to open the tap of the supply pipe.
The cross bar F¹ is adjustable, working in a slot hole, inasmuch as when the
pivots are moved the cross bar must be moved a corresponding distance.
The above apparatus is applicable for supplying a given quantity of water to
baths, kitchens range, boilers, and for other purposes as well as supplying water-
closets.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven
tion, and the manner in which the same may be performed or carried into effect, I
declare that what I claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the apparatus herein-before described and illustrated

page_text: in the Drawings hereunto annexed (or any mere modification thereof), constituting
the improved cistern and self-acting, water waste preventer, by the use whereof I
am enabled to dispense entirely with the use of a ball cock or ball float.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Daniel Duckett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOSEPH DANIEL DUCKETT. (L.S.)
ཚཱུ
Witness the signature of
Joseph Daniel Duckett
H. DONDEN,
Clerk to Messrs. Kearsey, Son, & Hawes,
Solicitors,
35, Old Jewry,
London, E.C.