IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH WATEROLOSETS, URINALS, CISTERNS, BATHS, VALVES, AND OTHER APPARATUS IN WHICH WATER IS CONSUMED, CONTAINED, CONVEYED, OR CONTROLLED
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT
t.o Andrew Ferrier Shanks, of Barrhead, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, Plumber and Gasfitter, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
CONNECTED WITH WATEROLOSETS,
URINALS, CISTERNS, BATHS, VALVES, AND OTHER APPARATUS IN WHICH WATER IS
CONSUMED, CONTAINED, CONVEYED, OR CONTROLLED."
AND
IN
Sealed the 7th March 1876, and dated the 11th September 1875.
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left
by the said
Andrew Ferrier
Shanks at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 11th September 1875.
:
I, ANDREW FERRIER SHANKS, of Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Plumber and Gasfitter, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED, WITH WATER-
URINALS, CISTERNS, BATHS, VALVES, AND OTHER APPARATUS IN
WATER IS CONSUMED, CONTAINED, CONVEYED, OR CONTROLLED,"
CLOSETS,
that is to say:-
WHICH
to be as follows,
This Invention has principally for its object the making in an
improved and more economical, efficient, and durable manner various

page_text: In a watercloset embodying some of the improvements the basin is
formed with an outlet passage inclined downwards to a vertical pipe or
cylinder at one side. The rim of the basin is turned over inwards to
form an annular passage, to which the flushing water is admitted by one
or two inlets at the front of the basin. The annular passage is closed
(excepting a few perforations) for a short distance on each side of the
inlet into it, but the remainder of it is open at the bottom, and the
water is consequently directed round the basin in two streams, which
meet at the back and there combine in a strong downward flush; the
back of the basin is made nearly vertical. The main discharge valve
seat and valve are in the vertical side pipe, the seat being by preference
of brass, whilst the valve which is attached directly to the closet handle
comprises a bearing piece of vulcanised rubber in the form of the zone
of a curved cone, and held by an inward flange formed at its upper part.
A curved pipe fixed above the rubber bearing piece serves to guide the
valve and to act as an overflow, being formed with a trap cover at its
upper end.
The basin may be made of earthenware or of iron coated with
hydraulic or other cement, which is firmly attached to the iron in a
manner herein-after explained with reference to baths, cisterns, and the
like.
An improved cistern for waterclosets and urinals is made of a
rectangular form in plan, with a measuring compartment formed by an
L shaped partition, and leaving an L shaped compartment, the long part.
of which conveniently-contains-the-supply-cock with its lever and float,
whilst the other part contains the valve for admitting water to the
measuring compartment, and which valve is connected to the lever so
as to close when the main valve opens, and vice versa. When what is
termed a service box is fitted below the cistern the air passage for it is
formed in the L shaped partition.
The float cock or supply valve is rendered much simpler and less
liable to get out of order than as hitherto made. The float lever is made
with a fork, one side of which is in a separate piece fixed to the lever by
a screw, which can be got at from above. The nozzle of the cock is

page_text: formed with two pins to enter holes in the fork sides and serve as the
fulcrum for the lever. The valve is a solid plug fitted to work loosely...
in the nozzle, and closing up against an internal seat with the usual
rubber or leather washer. The sides of the plug are grooved or flattened
to give passage to the water when the plug is drawn a little away from
the seat. The plug projects below the nozzle, and is jointed to the lever
fork by pins formed on it or on the fork.
An improved bath, which may be either fixed or portable, according
to size, is made to consist of an outer metal shell of wrought iron and añ
inner metal shell of copper; zinc, or other not easily corroded metal, the
space between being filled with felt or cement, or other non-conducting
material. A bath made in this way, whilst not liable to breakage like,
earthenware or cast iron, does not absorb so much heat from the water
as cast iron, and keeps the water in it from cooling rapidly. When the.
inner shell or bottom part of it is made of copper, spaces may be formed:
underneath for the direct application of heat by means of gas burners.
This triplicate construction is applicable to cisterns, troughs; lavatories,.
jaw boxes, and other vessels for containing water.
According to a modified construction, which may be terined com-
posite or duplex, baths, cisterns, troughs, basins for lavatories, urinals;
and waterclosets, and other vessels for containing water, are made with
a shell of wrought iron, cast iron, or other suitable metal, having
attached to it à coating of hydraulic or other suitable cement.
The secure attachment of the cement is obtained by perforating the
metal so that the cement may enter into the perforations. In the case
of wrought iron and similar metals the perforations may be made by'
means of a blunt tool, which bends up jagged bits of the metal well
adapted for holding the cement. In the case of cast iron the plates
are cast with dovetail or countersunk holes to retain the cement.
In some cases the cement may be applied on both sides of the metal,
and then the holes may be quite plain.

page_text: T
Office on the-10th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THEST PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
FERRIER SHANKS, of Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, 5
Plumber and Gasfitter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc- [
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Andrew Ferrier Shanks, Her
special licence, that I, the said Andrew Ferrier Shanks, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew
Ferrier Shanks, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
WATERCLOSETS, URINALS,
Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
CISTERNS, BATHS, VALVES, AND OTHER APPARATUS IN WHICH WATER IS CONSUMED,
CONTAINED, CONVEYED, GR CONTROLLED," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Andrew Ferrier Shanks, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly. describe and ascertain the
nature-of-the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
-be-performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date_
of the said Letters Patent:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrew Ferrier Shanks, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say:-
My said Invention has principally for its object the making in an

page_text: apparatus in which water is consumed, contained, conveyed, or controlled,
such as waterclosets, urinals, cisterns, baths, valves, and the like.
In applying my improvements to a watercloset the basin is formed
with an outlet passage inclined downwards to a vertical pipe or cylinder
at one side. The main discharge valve seat and valve are in this vertical
side pipe, and the valve, which is formed of vulcanised rubber, and is of
an improved form, is attached directly to the closet handle, but has also
in connection with it a pipe acting as a guide and as an overflow
outlet.
A cistern for waterclosets and urinals is made of a rectangular form
in plan with a measuring compartment formed by an L shaped partition,
and leaving an L shaped compartment, the long part of which con-
veniently contains the supply cock with its lever and float, whilst the
other part contains the valve for admitting water to the measuring
compartment. The float cock or supply valve is, by improvements
herein-after described, rendered much simpler and less liable to get out
of order than as hitherto made.
An improved bath, which may be either fixed or portable according
to size, is made to consist of an outer metal shell of wrought iron, and
an inner metal shell of copper, zinc, or other not easily corroded metal,
the space between being filled with felt, cement, or other non-conducting
material. A bath made in this way, whilst not liable to breakage like
earthenware or cast iron, does not absorb so much heat from the water
This
as cast iron, and keeps the water in it from cooling rapidly.
triplicate construction is applicable to cisterns, troughs, lavatories, jaw
boxes, and other vessels for containing water.
According to a modified construction which may be termed composite
or duplex baths, cisterns, troughs, basins for lavatories, urinals, and
waterclosets, and other vessels for containing water, are made with a
shell of metal, having attached to it by dovetails a coating of Portland
or other suitable hydraulic cement.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood I hereunto append two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings, to be herein-after referred to, and representing
various modifications of apparatus embodying my improvements. In
these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same
or like parts wherever they are repeated.

page_text: Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings is a vertical section of a modi-
fication of watercloset arranged with my improvements. The basin 1
which-is-of-ordinary-construction is fitted at its outlet orifice to a pipe
or passage 2 inclined downwards to join a vertical side pipe 3 with which
the part 2 is cast in one piece, and to the lower part of this vertical &
pipe 3 is fitted the main discharge valve seat 4, which is by preference
of brass. The discharge valve is made of vulcanised rubber, and is in
the form of a zone of a curved cone, having inside of it a short tubular
iron piece 6, to which is attached the rod 7 of the closet handle 8. The
rubber bearing piece 5 of the valve is formed with an inward flange,
which is held between an outward flange on the tubular piece 6 and a
corresponding inward flange on a pipe 9, which last serves to guide the
valve and to act as an overflow, a trap cover 10 being supported by ribs
in the cover on the upper end of the pipe 9; the lower part of the pipe 9
is formed with a concave curvature. The basin I may be made of 1
earthenware or of iron coated with hydraulic cement, which is to be
firmly attached to the iron in a manner herein-after explained with
reference to bath cisterns and the like.
Figure 2 is a plan, and Figure 3 is a vertical section of my improved
cistern for waterclosets and urinals. The cistern is divided by an L shaped 2
partition 11 into two main compartments 12, 13, one of which 12
acts as a measuring compartment, whilst the other 13, which is Ľ shaped,
contains in its long part the valve 14 for supplying water to the cistern
with its float lever 15 and float 16, and in the short part the valve 17
for admitting water to the measuring compartment; the valve 17 rests 2
on a seat in the top 18 of a small compartment communicating with the
measuring compartment 12, and is connected to a lever 19 centered on a
bracket 20 fixed to the partition 11; on the other side of its centre this
lever 19 is connected-to-the-discharge valve. 20, and when this valve 20-
is opened by the pulling of a cord or wire at the end of the lever, 19
projecting beyond the cistern the admission valve 17 is closed, and vice
versa; a service box 21 is fitted below the cistern to retain a portion of
the water for the after flush, and an air passage 22 is formed for it in
. the partition 11.
Figure 4 is an elevation; Figure 5, an inverted plan; and Figure 6, 3
a vertical section of one modification of my improved arrangement of
float cock and lever. The float lever 15 is made with a fork, one side 24
of which is in a separate piece having a projection on it fitting into a

page_text: recess in the lever 15, and fixed to the lever by a screw 25 which can be
got at from above. The nozzle 14 of the cock is formed with two
pins 27 to enter holes in the fork sides and serve as the fulcrum for the
lever 15. The valve is a solid plug 28 fitted with the usual rubber or
leather wad in a cup formed in its upper end, and works loosely in the
nozzle. 26 closing up against an internal seat 29, made with the usual
projecting edge round the orifice. The sides of the plug 28 are grooved,
as shown in horizontal section in Figure 7, to give passage to the water
when the plug is drawn a little away from the seat. The plug 28
projects below the nozzle 26, and is jointed to the fork of the lever 15
by pins 30 formed in the fork, and fitting into holes in an enlargement
at the lower end of the plug; or these pins 30 may be formed on the
plug and fit into holes in the lever fork. Two projections 31 on the
ends of the fork, by bearing against the nozzle 26 when the float falls,
limit the extent to which the plug 28 can be lowered. The grooved
form shown in Figure 7 is preferable to that with two flattened sidės, the
plug being better guided.
⚫ Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a vertical section and inverted plan of
a second modification of my improved float cock. The bottom of the
nozzle 14 is slotted to receive the float lever 15, which is of the common
straight form, and the nozzle is enlarged at 32 where a hole is formed to
receive the pin 33 serving as a fulcrum for the lever 15. The plug 28
is formed with grooved sides and has a slot in it through which the
float lever 15 passes. The mode of connecting the lever 15 to the
plug 28 shown in Figures 8 and 9 is not new.
Figure 10 is a vertical section, and Figure 11 an inverted plan of a
third modification of my improved float cock. In this example the
parts are similar in construction to those already described with
reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6, except that the grooves for the passage
of the water are formed in the nozzle 26, as shown in the horizontal
section Figure 12, and the plug 28 is a solid cylinder.
The grooves
might also be formed both in the nozzle and in the plug, and the
straight lever, as in Figures 8 and 9, may of course be combined with
the grooved nozzle.
Figure 13, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, is a vertical longitudinal
section showing one modification of my improvements relating to baths.
The bath consists of an outer shell 34 of wrought iron and an inner

page_text: shell 35 of copper, the space between being filled with felt. Blocks of
wood 36 support the bath and form a space underneath it, in which is
placed a gas pipe 37 fitted with one or more rows of Bunsen burners for
the direct application of heat. The outer metal shell 34 is cut away
and the felt removed at the part immediately above the gas burners in
order that the heat may act directly on the inner metal shell 35. The
outlet fittings shown are of the kind described in the Specification of
Letter's Patent granted to John Shanks, and dated 20 September 1871,
(No. 2471,) but any other suitable kind may be substituted.
Figure 14 is a face view, and Figure 15 is a section of a piece of a
bath, basin, or cistern of composite construction, and in this modification
consists of a perforated shell 43 of wrought iron, having attached to it a
coating of cement 44. The perforations 45 into which the cement
enters are made by means of a blunt tool which.bends up jagged bits of
the metal and ensures the secure attachment of the cement. In the
case of cast iron the plate 43 is cast with dovetail or countersunk
holes 46 to retain the cement, as shown in Figures 16 and 17. Figure 18
shows this duplex construction applied to a jaw box in a manner which
will be readily understood from the Drawing. In some cases the cement
may be applied on both sides of the metal, and then the holes may be
quite plain.
In my Provisional Specification deposited on applying for the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, I described certain improvements
relating to the rim and water inlet of a watercloset basin, but I do not
"now make any claim thereto, as I have since learned that the same are
comprised in the Specification of certain earlier Letters Patent.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner
of performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to
the precise details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe
to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The shaping of the rubber discharge valve (5) and the combining
of it with the improved guide and overflow pipe (9, 10,) as herein-before
described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings..
2. The making of the cistern with the L shaped partition (11) cast in
the same piece as the main part and with the air passage (22) from the

page_text: service box (21) formed in such partition as herein-before described
with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
3. The connecting of the float lever (15) with the nozzle (14) and
plug (28) of the supply cock by means of the fork piece (24) fixed by
a screw accessible from above, as herein-before described.
4. The forming of grooves in the plug (28) or in the inside of the
nozzle (14) of the cock, or in both parts for the passage of the water, as
herein-before described.
•
5. The triplicate construction of baths, cins, troughs, lavatories,
jaw boxes, and other vessels for containir a with outer and inner
metallic shells, and an intermediate thickness of felt or cement, or other
suitable non-conducting substance, as herein-before described.
6. The duplex or composite construction of baths, cisterns, troughs,
basins for lavatories, urinals, and waterclosets and other vessels for
containing water, with a metallic shell having a coating of Portland or
other suitable hydraulic cement secured by dovetail or equivalent holes
in the shell or with plain holes when the coating is applied on both sides.
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Ferrier Shanks, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
siv
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
A. F. SHANKS. (L.S.)