Improvements in Trough Closets or Latrines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trough Closets or Latrines.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said invention relates to trough closets or latrines in which a number of
seats are arranged upon a trough which is flushed or cleansed by water passed
along the trough, and my object is to improve the construction of the trough and
arrangements connected therewith in a manner to obtain a better cleansing action.
When the trough is made with a flat or nearly flat bottom or with the longitudinal
central part deeper, and the flushing water enters in a single central jet at one
end, the cleansing of the sides imperfect. To remedy this in the case of a
flat-bottomed trough I make the water inlet in the form of a horizontal slot almost
of the full width of the trough, the ends of the slot being by preference curved
a little upwards to increase the effective action along the sides of the trough. I
however prefer to form the bottom of the trough with two parallel concavities
having a ridge between them thereby forming two channels but with the ridge not
extending up to the water level. With this form of bottom I may cause the flushing
water to enter by two nozzles, preferably terminating in straight portions measuring
some inches, the two jets producing strong and effective currents along the two
channels. Or I may cause the flushing water to enter through a transverse slot as
herein before described for a flat-bottomed trough.
At the discharge end of the trough I have the part facing the current or currents
made of a curved form, that is with lateral concavities meeting in a central
inwardly projecting part. This prevents the formation of an eddy or whirlpool
round the discharge orifice, and insures the instant discharge of matters carried
along by the flushing current or currents.
Dated this Eighteenth day of March 1897.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-that is to say:-
My said invention relates to trough closets or latrines in which a number of
seats are arranged upon a trough which is flushed or cleansed by water passed
along the trough, and my object is to improve the construction of the trough and
arrangements connected therewith in a manner to obtain a better cleansing action.
When the trough is made with a flat or nearly flat bottom or with the longitudinal
_central part deeper; and the flushing water enters in a single central jet at one
end the cleansing of the sides is imperfect. To remedy this in the case of a
flat-bottomed trough I make the water inlet in the form of a horizontal slot,
the ends of the slot being by preference curved a little upwards to increase the
effective action along the sides of the trough. I however prefer to form the bottom
of the trough with two. parallel concavities having a ridge between them and I
may cause the flushing water to enter by two nozzles.
At the discharge end of the trough I have the part facing the current or currents
made of a curved form.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to in describing my improvements.
Figure 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a horizontal section of one
modification of my improvements. Figure 2, is a transverse vertical section!
of a second modification. Figure 3, is a transverse vertical section corresponding
to the modification shown in Figure 1. Figure 4, is a similar view of a third
modification. In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the
same or like parts whereever they are repeated.
In the case of a trough, A, made with a flat bottom, B, as shown in Figure 2,
I make the water inlet pipe, C, end in the form of a horizontal slot, D, almost of
the full width of the trough, A, the ends of the slot, D, being, by preference, curved
a little upwards to increase the effective action of the flushing water along the
sides of the trough, A.
I prefer, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, to form the bottom of the trough, A, with
two parallel concavities, E, F, having a ridge, G, between them thereby forming
two channels but with the ridge, G, not extending up to the water level. I cause
the flushing water from the inlet pipe, C, to enter the trough, A, by two inlets, H, J,
the two jets producing strong and effective currents along the two channels, E, F.
The trough, A, shown in Figure 4, is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 3,
but the flushing water is made to enter through a transverse horizontal, slot, D,
as herein before described and shown in Figure 2, as for a flat-bottomed trough, A.
At the discharge end of the trough, A, shown only in Figure 1, I have the part
facing the current or currents made of a curved form, that is with lateral con-
cavities, K, L, meeting in a central inwardly projecting part, M. This prevents
the formation of an eddy or whirlpool round the discharge orifice, N, and insures
the instant discharge of matters carried along by the flushing current or currents.
Near the discharge end of the trough the bottom rises gradually from the part
shown by the line, P, to the line, Q, so as to form a weir.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a trough closet or latrine forming the bottom of the trough with a flat
bottom rounded at the sides and causing the flushing water to enter through a
transverse horizontal slot the end of the trough at which the discharge takes place
being made with two concavities meeting in a middle ridge substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. Forming the bottom of the trough with two parallel concavities having a
ridge between them and causing the flushing water to enter by two inlets or through
a transverse horizontal slot, the end of the trough at which the discharge takes

page_text: place being made with two concavities meeting in a middle ridge substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this Sixteenth day of Decambon 1807