Improvements in and relating to the Testing and Flushing of Drain Pipes, Soil Pipes, and such like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Appl cation 10th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov. 1:94
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Testing and Flushing of
Drain Pipes, Soil Pipes, and such like.
1, WILLIAM KEITH, County Sanitary Inspector, Alloa, Clackmannanshire,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in the
mode of, and in permanent fittings for and to be applied to drain and soil pipes and
such like for, testing these by water as to their tightness or possible escape of
noxious gases, and for flushing same, which will be more simple and convenient
than the mode and means heretofore used for doing so by smoke and smelling
vapours and complicated portable appliances, for the forcing of these through
the pipes.
The nature and novelty of the invention or improvements consist in fitting a
hand operated valve, preferably a slide or sluice valve, on the main horizontal
drain or soil pipes leading to the trap of these and in or on same before entering
the main sewer. This valve could be opened or shut by a handle through the
vertical branch for cleaning out the trap and perforated portable plate of box at
surface of ground used also for admitting the air to ventilate the drain pipes up to
above the roofs of the houses, by ventilating cowls or otherwise, when the valve
would be open. This valve, however, is fitted for being shut and closing the drain
or soil pipes, so that it may be filled with water from any of the water closets,
baths, sinks, lavatories, or cisterns drained by it on the ground flat or floor and
so show whether any of these drain or soil pipes were leaking or not, at any of the
joints or otherwise, by the falling of the level of the water in the pipes or observing
the escape of the water of any of these. This testing might also be done in like
manner from any of the flat levels in succession above the ground flut, by fitting a
blind flange in one of the flange joints of the branch pipe leading from each water
closet, hath, sink, and lavatory on the ground flat beyond the water trap to the
vertical soil pipe or drain pipe and then filling this with water from the flat above
the water closets or the like so shut off, this would test the pipes so filled up to the
level of this story, and so on in succession to the top story when desired, putting
in a blind flange or slide sluice or a ball hydrant in the pipes of each story below
that to be tested.
When the soil pipes are so filled from the ground flat or any of those above, the
mere opening of the valve at the trap of the perforated plate box at the ground
level, would allow the whole of the water in the vertical and horizontal drain or
soil pipes to rush through and flush out these and their traps effectually scouring
them of all lodgements of excreta, loose paper, and silt, down to the main sewer in
a volume, thereby preventing all choking, and rendering all private drains and
soil pipes leading thereto, sweet and clean each time this valve was so closed and
opened.
Instead of the blind flanges fitted in each branch leading from the closets, baths,
sinks, or lavatories to their soil pipe an india rubber elastic ball or expansion plug
might be inserted into the discharge throat of each water closet and secured in a
handle for the purpose of inserting and removing it; or otherwise a short elastic
rubber branch or sleeve might be fitted in each branch between the water closet

page_text: and the soil pipe with a lever or screw arrangement for compressing and closing
this elastic branch as the pipes of each flat were to be so filled with water and tested
for leakage as described.
Instead of the said elastic ball or plug, or rubber sleeve branch fitted as
described, a rubber faced slide or sluice valve or an ordinary ball hydrant may in
some cases be used as an equivalent. Although these shutting off arrangements
have been described only as applied to the branches of water closets and their soil
pipes, it will be understood that they are also applicable to the branches leading
from baths, lavatories, sinks, cisterns and other such fittings to their vertical soil
and drain pipes to test and flush these up each fat in succession as described in
reference to the vertical soil pipes, and make the drain or soil pipes fitted with
these improvements act in a similar manner to an automatic flush tank. All the
other fittings and air ventilating pipes from the traps of the closet may remain the
same as heretofore, unless fitted with my improved water closet with valve, or
screw, or ball hydrant, as described for closing while water testing and the keeping
back of foul gases.
As sinks, baths, and the like, are frequently fitted with brass ground and screw
rings and plugs for merely stopping the outflow of the liquids where these fittings
are in use they may all be used instead of the new appliances of rubber stoppers
for the new purpose of testing and flushing the drain and soil pipes leading from
them to the sewers.
Dated 9th November 1893
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Testing and Flushing of
Drain Pipes, Soil Pipes, and such like.
I, WILLIAM KEITH, County Sanitary Inspector, Alloa, Clackmannanshire,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :―
This invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in the
method of, and in the fittings to be applied to drains, soil pipes and such like, for
testing them by water as to their tightness or possible escape of noxious gases and
for flushing same, which will be more simple and convenient than the mode and
means beretofore used for doing so by smoke and smelling vapours and complicated
portable appliances, for the forcing of these through the pipes.
This invention consists in fitting a hand operated valve, preferably a slide or
sluice valve, on or in the soil pipes or in the main drain before its junction with the
sewer. This valve, which is preferably fitted in or near to the drain trap, could be
operated by a handle extending through the vertical cleansing branch of the trap,
which latter, as usual, may be fitted with a portable perforated cover plate at the
surface of the ground for admitting air to ventilate the drain. The valve is so
arranged that it can be shut tight so as to close the drain and soil pipes and allow
them to be filled with water from any of the water closets, baths, sinks, lavatories
or cisterns on the ground flat or floor drained by or which drain into them and
thereby show by the falling of the water level or by observing any escape whether
any of these pipes were leaky.
The same test can, in like manner, be applied successively at the different flat or
floor levels above the ground flat, by fitting a blind flange in one of the flange
joints of the branch pipe leading from each water closet, bath, sink or lavatory on
the ground that beyond the water trap to the vertical soil or drain pipe and then
filling this with water from the flat above the water closets or the like so shut off.

page_text: In this manner the pipes at each flat could be tested in succession. Instead of
using a blind flange, a slide, sluice or other suitable valve may be employed.
When the soil pipes are so filled from the ground flat or any of those above, the
mere opening of the valve at the drain trap on the ground level, would allow the
whole of the water in the vertical and horizontal drain or soil pipes to rush through
and flush out these and their traps effectually scouring them of all lodgments of
excreta, loose paper and silt, down to the main sewer in a volume, thereby pre-
venting all choking, and rendering all private drains and soil pipes leading thereto,
sweet and clean each time this valve was so closed and opened.
Instead of the blind flanges fitted in each branch leading from the closets, baths,
sinks or lavatories to their soil pipe an india-rubber elastic ball or expansion plug
might be inserted into the discharge throat of each water closet and secured to a
handle for the purpose of inserting and removing it; or otherwise a short elastic
rubber branch or sleeve might be fitted in each branch between the water closet
and the soil pipe with a lever or screw arrangement for compressing and closing
this elastic branch whenever the pipes at each flat were to be filled with water and
tested for leakage as described.
Instead of the said elastic ball or plug, or rubber sleeve branch fitted as described,
a rubber faced slide or sluice valve or an ordinary ball hydrant may in some cases
be used as an equivalent.
Although these shutting off arrangements have been described only as applied to
the branches of water closets and their soil pipes, it will be understood that they
are also applicable to the branches leading from baths, lavatories, sinks, cisterns
and other such fittings to their vertical soil and drain pipes to test and flush these
up each fat in succession as described in reference to the vertical soil pipes, and
make the drain or soil pipes fitted with these improvements act in a similar manner
to an automatic flush tank. All the other fittings and air ventilating pipes from
the traps of the closet may remain the same as heretofore, unless fitted with my
improved water closet with valve, or screw, or ball hydrant, as described, for
closing while water testing and keeping back foul gases.
As sinks, baths and the like, are frequently fitted with brass ground and screw
rings and plugs for merely stopping the outflow of the liquids where these fittings
are in use they may all be used, instead of the new appliances, for the new purpose
of testing and flushing drains and the soil pipes leading from them to the sewers.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, which show, by way of illustration or
example, a few methods of carrying out my invention.
On the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a drain trap having a slide valve fitted therein.
Fig. 2 is a part plan of the drain trap.
Fig. 3 is a side view and Fig. 4 a back view of the valve.
Fig. 5 shows in side view, Fig. 6 in back view, and Fig. 7 in plan another form
of valve which may be used.
Fig. 8 shows in section and Fig. 9 in front view another form of valve which is
suitable for insertion in drain or soil pipes.
Fig. 10 shows in vertical section a valve suitable for waterclosets.
Figs. 11, 12 and 13 show in vertical section another form of valve suitable for
water closets, sinks, lavatory basins and baths.
Fig. 14 is a side view of the key for turning the plug valve Fig. 11.
In the arrangement shown at Figs. 1 to 4 a metal slide valve b having a rubber
ring 6 on its face fitted in the earthenware drain trap a. This valve can be
worked up and down in the vertical grooves c, c¹ made in the sides of the trap so as
to open and close the passage way e. Secured to the back of the valve by means
of a projection g cast on the valve and a catch or button / screwed to the projection,
is.a wedge plate i having a vertical slot j in it. The part of the plate i may be
made thinner and be countersunk at in order to save metal and decrease the
weight. As will be seen the handle fis fitted in the socket of the wedge plate i.

page_text: The arrangement is such that when it is desired to water-test or flush the drain
the valve plate b is lowered into the grooves c, c² of the trap so as to seal up or close
the passage way e and prevent water passing through it. By pressing down the
wedge plate in the grooves c, c¹ the rubber face ring 6' is pressed very tightly
against the face of the passage way e and a thorough water tight closure is thus
effected. The drain and soil pipes leading to the house can now be filled with water
and thoroughly tested. When the testing is finished the valve i may be drawn up
out of place and the water allowed to rush down to the sewer and thoroughly flush
and scour out the pipes and drain.
The slot j and projection g guide the wedge plate i in its up and down movements.
The valve i may be kept in the house and only used when desired or it may be
kept in the manhole above the trap.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a common form of sluice valve which may be used instead
of the valve i. The sliding door / which moves in the vertical guides l, fitted on
the flange m of the drain or soil pipe, can be operated by the handle o.
Figs. 8 and 9 show a sluice or disc valve p, which may be fitted in the drain or
soil pipe and raised and lowered so as to open or close the passage way by means
of a screwed spindle g.
Fig. 10 shows a screw down plug valve r as applied to a water closet basin for
water testing and flushing. is the screwed spindle. a brass seating and a
rubber ring on valve face.
Fig. 11 shows a plug cock suitable for water testing or flushing. The hollow
plugs, as shown is fitted in the outlet branch of the water closet, bath, sink, or
the like. is the opening or passage way in the plug. is a brass lining fitted
in the earthenware of the branch is the square pin for turning the plug.
(Fig. 14) is the key.
Fig. 12 shows an india-rubber faced screw down cup valve t, adapted to a water
closet for water testing and flushing. The valve is fitted in the outlet branch t¹ as
shown. is the handle and t the screwed spindle. The spindle as shown passes
through a cover t having a screwed nut or sleeve t for its reception.
Fig. 13 shows another form of plug valve u adapted to a water closet for flushing
and testing purposes. The valve spindle has a pin u on it which traverses the
slot in the cylinder u whenever the valve is raised or lowered. When the pin u³
enters the horizontal part u', of the slot u', the valve is locked in the up or open
position and whenever the pin enters the slot u the valve is locked in the down or
closed position. The valve is operated by merely pulling it up or down, and, at
the same time, giving it a partial turn to either right or left, as the case may be, in
order to lock it in position.
If desired in some cases a stopper may be inserted in the drain pipe instead of
baving a valve.
It is of course evident that other well known forms of valves or plugs may be
used for the purposes of my invention, and it is, therefore, to be understood that I
do not confine myself to the constructions shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. The method of testing and flushing drains and soil pipes by first closing the
discharge outlet to the sewer by means of a suitable valve and then filling the drains
on the house side with water, substantially as and for the advantages hereinbefore
Bet forth.
2. The method of testing and flushing the drains and also the soil pipes at the
different floors of high buildings, by first closing the drain, or its outlet, by means
of a valve or its equivalent and then closing the baths, sinks, lavatories and water
closets on the floor below the one to be tested, and thereafter filling the drain and
those parts of the soil pipes to be tested with water, substantially as and for the
advantages herein before set forth..

page_text: 3. A drain trap having a valve fitted therein, for the purpose of water testing
and flushing, made substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. I
to 4 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th day of July 1894
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.