Automatic and Intermittent Syphon Flushing Tanks and Cisterns.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Automatic and Intermittent Syphon Flushing Tanks and Cisterns.
We, FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS, of 850, Stockport Road, Manchester,_Manu-
facturer, and FRANK TAYLOR HARROP, Brassfounder, and JAMES HERBERT HARROP,
Brassfounder, both of 22, Bridge Street, Manchester, and all in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce an automatic and intermittent
syphon flushing tank or cistern, to act without valves or such like appliances,
which are likely to get out of order, and thus render a system in-operative,
said cisterns or tanks to be for use with closets, urinals, and for any other purpose
where an automatic and intermittent flush is required, as for instance for irriga-
tion, drainage, or otherwise.
To acheive our purpose we first cover the egress pipe from said tank or cistern.
which said pipe is carried up into the cistern to a point above the line of water
level, on reaching which it is intended that the flush shall start, and which
egress pipe is also trapped by a water trap or bend, (preferably at its lowest
end) with an arrangement of cylindrical, or other form (hereafter called the
expansion chamber") made as light as possible, consistent with efficiency for
the work to be performed and of any suitable material.
The portion of the said expansion chamber standing above the line of highest
water level in the tank, when said chamber stands on the bottom of the tank is
of sufficient height above the top of the egress pipe, and of an area amply sufficient
to allow a full and easy flow for the greatest amount of liquid the egress pipe
can carry off at the time of strongest How.
The said expansion chamber is attached to one arm of a lever working on an
axis, and having at the end of the other arm a counterweight, said weight being
heavy enough on falling to raise the expansion chamber, when the water level
is at its heighest intended point, to a height sufficient to secure such a degree of
expansion, and attenuation of the air in the syphon system, as may be required
according to circumstances.
Let us assume the amount of air in the syphon system at highest water level
to be 232 cubic inches, if by raising the expansion chamber out of the water
we increase the space occupied by the air to 240 cubic inches (the end of the
long leg of the syphon being closed against the action of atmospheric pressure
on the water in the trap) the density of the air would be reduced from 15 lbs.
to 1450 lbs. pressure on the square inch, by Boyle's law the formula for
which is

page_text: We then place in the cistern, or tank, when empty one or more buoyant bodies,
in such a manner that as the liquid level rises they will be brought into contact
with studs, on the expansion chamber (or in other suitable manner,) and
exercise on it an upward pressure, the amount of buoyancy being such that at the
highest water level it shall sufficiently counteract the downward pressure of
the expansion chamber.
By thus reducing the downward pressure of the expansion chamber on one
arm of the lever, the downward pressure of the weight on the other arm pre-
ponderates, and when the water-level reaches a certain height, falls, and raises
the expansion chamber to the height required and holds it in that position, until
the liquid in the long leg of the syphon having gained a preponderating weight,
syphonic action is set up, the consequence of which will be, that the expansion
chamber owing to the pressure on its top outside surface (5 inches as above)
due to the weight of water in the long leg of the syphon beneath it, would
quickly fall to the bottom of the tank, carrying down with it the buoyant body,
and raising and holding up the weight on the other arm of the lever.
Assuming 10 feet to be the length of the long leg of the syphon, the pressure
on the top of the expansion chamber would be, when the long leg of the syphon
was full of liquid, nearly 5 pounds per square inch, or nearly 25 pounds on an
area of 5 inches.
Scientifically, the principle of this invention is the adaptation of the principle
of the hydro-static balance, to cause a certain measured partial vacuum inside a
syphon system such as is here described, whereby the resistance of the confined
air to the entry of the liquid is readily overcome, and the syphon starter.
The expansion chamber is a weight, at highest water level, immersed in water
to a certain degree, and there is a weight on the other arm of the lever. The
weights on each arm being so proportioned to each other that on the expansion
chamber being made lighter, first, by the weight of the column of water inside
it being counterbalanced by the gradual rise of an equal column of water in
the tank outside it, and secondly, by the full upward pressure of buoyancy
acting on the downward pressure of the expansion chamber the weight on the
other arm of the lever so pro ponderates that it is able to lift the expansion
chamber, a sufficient height out of the water in the cistein to attain in the
expansion chamber the degree of attenuation of the confined air necessary to
cause the syphon to start and act efficiently.
This principle being adhered to correctly, the upward pressure of buoyancy
may be applied in various ways, to counteract the downward pressure of the
expansion chamber, for instance a ball float with its fulcrum at one end of the
tank, with a collar or otherwise round the expansion chamber to come in contact
with studs or otherwise placed suitably for the purpose, or by varying the form
of the expansion chamber, or by addition to it, we can increase its buoyancy.
In our invention we overcome the resistance of the air in the syphon system,
by expanding and attenuating it to the required degree, as against the inter-
mittent fountain principle of allowing a head of water to accumulate above
the top of the egress pipe; and employing valves or similar appliances, acting
automatically. to prevent the egress pipe acting as a waste pipe, before the
required height of water level is reached, or to allow the escape of the imprisoned
air in systems where as in our case a trap is used.
Although we have taken a lever whereby to illustrate our invention a move-
able sheave or wheel or other equivalent may be substituted.
The flush may be actuated by a pull cord, or otherwise, in the ordinary way
as well as automatically.
Dated this 24th day of March 1800
FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS,
JAMES HERBERT HARROP,
FRANK TAYLOR HARROP,

page_text: Automatic and intermittent Sypãon Flushing Tanks anu visterns.
We, FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS, of 850, Stockport Road, Manchester, Manu-
facturer, and FRANK TAYLOR HARROP, Brassfounder, and JAMES HERBERT HARROP,
Brassfounder, both of the Firm of Messrs. Harrop Bros. & Co., Bridge Street,
Manchester, all in the County of Lancaster, 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: —
The object of this invention is to produce an automatic intermittent syphon
flushing cistern or tank, to act without valves or such like appliances, which are
liable to get out of order, and thus render a system inoperative, said cisterns or
tanks to be for use with closets, urinals, and for any other purpose, where an
automatic and intermittent flush is required, as for instance for irrigation
drainage or otherwise.
To acheive our purpose, we first cover the egress pipe from said tank or cistein
which said pipe is carried up into the cistern to a point above the line of water
level on reaching which it is intended that the flush shall start, and which is
also trapped by a water trap or bend, (preferably at its lowest end) with an
arrangement of cylindrical, or other form (hereafter called the expansion
chamber), made as light as possible, consistent with efficiency for the work to
be performed, and of any suitable material.
The portion of the said expansion chamber standing above the line of highest
water level in the tank when when the said chamber stands upon the bottom of
the tank, is of sufficient height above the top of the egress pipe, and of an area
amply sufficient to allow of a full and easy flow for the greatest amount of liquid
the egress pipe can carry off at the time of strongest flow, as is fully set forth in
our Patent Specification No. 3525, A.1). 1898.
The said expansion chamber is attached to one arm of a lever, working on an
axis, and having at the end of the other arm a counterweight, said weight being
heavy enough on falling to raise the expansion chamber, when the water level
is at its highest intended level, to a height sufficient to secure such a degree
of expansion and attenuation of the air in the syphon system as may be required,
according to circumstances.
Let us assume the amount of air in the syphon system at highest water level
to be 232 cubic inches, if by raising the expansion chamber out of the water we
increase the space occupied by the air to 240 cubic inches (the end of the long
leg of the syphon being closed against the action of atmospheric pressure on
the water in the trap), the density of the air would be reduced from 15 lbs.
to 14°50 lbs. pressure, per square inch, the formula for which by Boyle's law is-

page_text: suitable form be attached to, or form part of the expansion chamber itself), and
exercise on it an upward pressure, the amount of buoyancy being such that at
highest water level it shall sufficiently counteract the downward pressure of the
expansion chamber.
By thus reducing the downward pressure of the expansion chamber, on one
arm of the lever the downward pressure of the weight on the other arm pre-
ponderates, and when the level reaches a certain height falls, and raises the
expansion chamber to the height required, and holding it in that position
until the liquid in the long leg of the syphon having gained a preponderating
weight, syphonic action is set up, the consequence of which will be that the
expansion chamber owing to the pressure on its top outside surface, (5 inches
as above) due to the weight of water in the long leg of the syphon beneath it,
would quickly fall to the bottom of the tank; carrying down with it the buoyant
body, and raising and holding up the weight on the other arm of the lever.
Assuming 10 feet to be the length of the long leg of the syphon. the pressure
on the top of the expansion chamber would be when the long leg of the syphon
was full of fluid nearly 5 pounds per square inch, or nearly 25 lbs. on an area
of 5 inches.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood, we have annexed
hereto a sheet of drawings illustrating the application thereof to a cistern.
In Fig. 1, A is the longitudinal section of a cistern and X an inlet whereby
to regulate the ingress of liquid, B is the egress pipe from the cistern with its
upper end above the overflow pipe Y, and its lower end passing liquid tight
through the bottom of the cistern into J a water trap attached to the cistern
itself, and in Fig. 2, said water trap J is shewn at the lowest end of the egress
pipe B, when carried down some distance below the bottom of the cistern L is
the egress pipe from said trap.
CD is the expansion chamber, and short leg of the syphon, and a hollow
belt or chamber E is shewn round it, giving, when fully immersed in liquid the
amount of buoyancy requisite for the proper working of the system.
F is a lever working on the fulcrum, &, carried by a bracket G¹ across the
top of the cistern, having on its lower arm the expansion chamber C D, and
on the other arm a weight fitted as described below.
The upper arm of the lever is thus constituted, the lever F is formed with a
jaw I, the sides of which are inclined upwards, and may be outwards to any
degree required.
The arm K of the lever F carrying the weight H, works freely on a pin M
in the lever, allowing the weight H to fall either in the direction of the ful-
crum, G, or away from it, the angle of inclination being if desired regulated
by the screw pins N N.
The weight H is screwed on to the arm of the lever K, or attached in any
other suitable manner to allow of the regulation of the height of the weight.
The object of said arrangement being that when the arm K is sufficiently
inclined, so that the weight H may be over the fulcrum G, it tends to prevent
the expansion chamber gradually rising as the water level grows higher, and
no motion of the weight ensues, until the highest intended water level A¹ has
been reached, and the expansion chamber C D attained its greatest amount of
buoyancy, when the weight H is canted over, away from the fulcrum G¹ and
falling, raises the expansion chamber the height required, & holds it up until
the action is reversed by the preponderating weight on the expansion chamber
due to the weight of fluid in B the long leg of the syphon, below it.
The said inclination of the weight over G, by preventing any material rise of
the expansion chamber until the fixed on water level has been reached in the
cistern, prevents the syphon starting dribbling, and the leg B acting as a waste
water pipe, whereby the egress of liquid being as great as the ingress, the
required liquid level in the cistern might never be reached and consequently
no full flush obtained, whereby the cistern may become entirely inoperative.

page_text: In Fig. 1," we shew a short lever O attached to the axis G of the lever F
whereby by means of a pull chain Q our system may be actuated otherwise than
automatically.
This system of weight and lever, either with the jaw as in Fig. 1. or without
the jaws as in Fig. 1, together with the short lever O, and pull chain Q may be
used to actuate the system described in our Patent Specification No. 3525,
A.D. 1898, in addition to any other method therein shewn."
Scientifically, the principle of this invention is the adaptation of the principle
of the hydrostatic balance to cause a certain measured partial vacuum to be
formed inside a syphon system, such as is here described, whereby the resistance
of the confined air to the entry of liquid is readilly overcome and the syphon
started.
The expansion chamber is a weight, at highest water level, immersed in water
to a certain degree, on one arm of the lever and there is a weight on the other
arm of the lever the weights on each arm being so proportioned to each other
that on the expansion chamber becoming lighter, first by the weight of the
column of water inside it, being counterbalanced by the gradual rise of an equal
column of water outside it. in the tank, and secondly by the full upward
pressure of buoyancy, acting on the downward pressure of the expansion
chamber, the weight on the other arm of the lever so preponderates that it is
able to lift the expansion chamber a sufficient height out of the water, in the
cistern to attain in the expansion chamber the degree of attenuation of the
confined air necessary to cause the syphon to start and act effectually.
The principle being adhered to correctly, the upward pressure of buoyancy
may be applied in various ways to counter-act the downward pressure of the
expansion chamber, for instance a ball float with its fulcrum at one end of the
tank with a collar-or otherwise round the expansion chamber to come in contact
with studs or otherwise placed-suitably for the purpose, or by varying the form
of the expansion chamber, or by addition to it. we can increase its buoyancy.
In this our invention, we overcome the resistance of the air in the syphon
system, by expanding it and attenuating it, to the required degree, as against
the intermittent fountain principle of allowing a head of water to accumulate
above the top of the egress pipe, and employing valves, or similar appliances
acting automatically, to prevent the egress pipe acting as a waste pipe before the
required level of water is reached, or to allow of the escape of the imprisoned
air. in systems where as in our case a trap is used.
Although we have taken a lever whereby to illustrate our invention, a move-
able sheave, or wheel over which the expansion chamber. and weight may work
may be substituted.
As regards the application of the apparatus herein described for irrigation or
drainage purposes the system is virtually the same, as with closet cistern.
The tanks may be longer or broader which will make no difference whatever,
simply increasing the quantity of liquid to be drawn off.
If the depth of the liquid however is increased, then the length of the portion
of the egress pipe B. which is inside the tank, will also be proportionally
increased. necessitating a longer and somewhat heavier expansion chamber, the
said extra weight requiring an adjustment of buoyancy E & counterweight H.
If as is probable the egress pine B is increased in internal diameter, or mar
be in length also, the result will be simply an increase of the volume of air
confined within the syphon system: to be dealt with, as is fully set forth in
our Patent Specification No. 3525 A.D. 1898.
It is to be observed that in the case of irrigation & drainage purposes. the
ingress of liquid into the tank will not be as is the case with closet cisterns.
generally uniform. as in times of flood the volume of influx may he very great
whilst through drought or otherwise it may be very small, a mere dribble in
fart but in either case dribble or flood, on our system, when the required level A¹
is reached in the tank the full flush is immediately obtained.

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
-
First: The combination of an expansion chamber on one arm of a lever with
a weight on the other arm of the lever, said expansion chamber on the fixed on
height of liquid in the vessel being attained exercising by its buoyancy an
upward pressure on the lower arm of the lever, sufficient to cant & throw over
the weight on the upper arm of the lever. Said weight being sufficient to raise
the expansion chamber a certain required height. and to hold it up until full
syphonic action is set up. and the action reversed by a preponderating weight
in the long leg of the syphon being attained, substantially in the manner & for
the purpose hereinbefore described.
Second: The method described of fitting and arranging the weight and the
arm of the lever on which it works so as not only to prevent it raising the
expansion chamber but also to cause it to resist the raising of the same, until
the highest fixed on level in the vessel has been attained.
Third. The method of actuating any such system otherwise than automatically,
.e. by pull chain and lever on the axis of the lever as shown Fig. 1^.
D11
1000
FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS, .
FRANK T. HARROP.
JAMES HERBERT HARROP.
FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS,
FRANK T. HARROP.
JAMES HERBERT HARROP.