Improvements in the Method of and Appliances for Trapping Soil Pipes, Drains, Sewers, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug, 1885-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Appliances for Trapping
Soil Pipes, Drains, Sewers, and the like.
I, DAVID GEORGE HOEY of Commercial Bank Buildings, S Gordon Street, Glasgow,
Lanarkshire, Ventilating Engineer, 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 relates to improvements in the method of and appliances for trapping
soil pipes, drains, sewers and the like, and it has for its object the absolute prevention
of any foul gas entering dwelling or other houses from the drains or sewers.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings illustrating, by way of example, con-
venient modes of carrying my invention into effect or practice.
1
On the dra vings, fig. I represents in longitudinal section, one form of my invention
comprebending two trapping appliances intended to be used together but which may
be used separately.
Figs. 2 and 3 represent, in vertical section to an enlarged scale, slight modifications
of the arrangement, for trapping the soil pipe, shown in fig. 1.
:
Fig. is a part. sectional view of a dwelling house fitted with my appliances for
irapping the soil pipe and drain.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the trapping appliance for the drain shown
at fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section and fig. 7 a sectional elevation of another arrangement
of trapping appliance for the drain.
The illustration at fig. 1 shows two arrangements of atmospheric trapping appliances
the first being fitted to the soil pipe and the second in the ground, for the purpose of
preventing foul gas from the drain entering the house. In the first of these traps as
will be seen, the soil pipe is made in two portions leaving a hiatus or gap between
the lower end of the upper portion of the pipe and the upper end of the lower
portion of the pipe. For the purpose of preventing soil or other matters escaping
there, this hiatus or gap is provided or fitted with a box or equivalent, which may be
of the construction shown in section at fig. 1 and in side elevation at fig. 4. The
upper end or cover of the box c is perforated or made with a number of holes d or
slots in it, and is made so as to be easily removable, or, if desired, the cover of the
Instead of making the
box may be dispensed with and only the lower part used.
hoxe of the form shown at fig. 1 it may be of an inverted conic shape as shown in
section at fig. 2 and have a grating e made either fixed or removable, fitted on its
top or it may be of the double cone shape illustrated in section at fig. 3, the upper
conic piece being perforated or inade with a number of holes d. Any other suitable
modification of shape other than the examples illustrated may however, if desired, be
used. Under normal conditions a current of cool fresh air is continually passing from
the outer atmosphere through the perforations d in the cover of the box cup the
pipe into the dwelling house, and another current of cool, fresh air is passing by
means of the said perforations from the outer atmosphere through the box c down the
pipe to the drain thus forming an atmospheric cut off or absolute automatic trap
between the house and the gases in the sewer or drain.
The second arrangement of atmospheric trap which is intended to be used in con-
junction with but may be used apart from the box or air trap c, consists of another
appliance as shown. This appliance consists essentially of a round, square, oblong
or other shaped box or vessel covered by a perforated grating or its equivalent,
which is laid upon a beading lugs or other supports so as to be easily lifted off for
inspection. If desired, the cover may be dispensed with and the top railed round or

page_text: otherwise protected, or left open. Placed in the box y, which in this view is round
and supported removably therein on three or more projections i, cast or formed at
equidistant points around the inner circumference of the bottom of the box, is a
hollow cone 7. This cone is placed above and covers over the orifice of the drain
pipe k.
Clear spaces are left all round the bottom of the cone between the projec
tions for the free passage of soil or other matters. With this arrangement in
abnormal conditions of the sewer or drain, that is to say, when the sewer or drain is
choked or clogged up any foul gas generated therein, which may produce a back
current from the sower along the drain k, or from the drain itself, strikes against and
is baffled by the hollow cone and with its initial velocity thus neutralized escapes
through the clear spaces left all round the lower edges of the cone and expands in
the box g, ultimately escaping through the grating to the outer atmosphere. In
normal conditions when the drain and sewer are clear the appliance g, in conjunction
with the drain, fulfils the second function of the box c in conjunction with the
pipe hereinbefore described, that is to say, it allows the passage of a current of
cool fresh air to pass continuously from the outer atmosphere down the drain to the
.sewer. The appliance is kept as far as possible from the dwelling house in order
that any gases issuing therefrom when the normal conditions are disturbed may not
pass into the rooms. The part of the drain between this appliance and the house
is preferably covered by a removable grating to afford ready means for
inspection and cleaning out when necessary, and this grating is by preference
perforated at the end nearest to the appliance g. Instead of using a box g of
round shape a box of square or other rectangular shape may be used as
abown in figs. 4 and 5. Although in fig. 4 and also in fig. 6 the centre
part of the underside of this box is shown raised above the general level this is for
the purpose of constituting it a water trap, as subsequently explained, but under the
arrangement, at present being considered, as an air trap it is not so raised but kept
on the general level of the bottom as shown at figs. 1, 5 and 7. The box g is shown
in fig. 4 as being close to the dwelling house whereas in reality it is at some distance
from it, the greater the distance the better. The box is only so shown for convenience
as saving drawing space. With the rectangular arrangement shown instead of using
a cone a plate or cover j of "A" shape may be used and be placed removably in
and supported on four or more projections i one, at least, at cach corner being in all
cases provided. This cover which has lateral openings underneath its lower edges
occupying its entire length on both sides except where the projections occur, for the
passage of soil or other matter and to allow any foul gases when the drain is in an
abnormal state to escape, acts in the same manner as the cone herein before
described in reference to fig. 1 tis. to baffle the foul gases passing up from the sewer
when it is in an abnormal state and allowing fresh air to pass down the sewer when
in its normal condition.
.
As shown at figs. 1 and 4 the lower end of the lower portion of the soil pipe is
preferably made telescopic, or it may, where occasion requires it have a telescopically
fitting bend on it, by which means it can, when the box g is to be cleansed or
inspected be slid upwards, enabling the grating to be lifted off and the cone or
angle plate to be taken out so as to expose the interior of the box and the moutli
of the drain pipe to view.
The appliance g can be used, when so desired as shown at figs. 4 and 6 as a water
trap to prevent or aid in the prevention of foul gas passing upwards from the drain.
When it is desired so to use the box, the centre part of the underside over the
entrance into the drain is raised above the general level so as to constitute with the
sides as shown, a water trough or trap, by means of the lower part of the plate ; or
cone sitting with the clear spaces left at the bottom thereof, entirely below the
water level, thas acting as a seal and preventing, as thoroughly as any water trap
can prevent, any gas passing towards the house from the drain, whilst at the same
time, it has the great advantage of the easiest and readiest access for inspection or
cleansing by disconnecting the soil pipe putting the covering grating to one side
and lifting out the cone or angle plate. When the box is so used it will be

page_text: advantageous to have a short pipe connection m (fig. 4) from the bottom of the
box or trough to the drain. This connection m is closed at top by a plug n, the
handle of which projects above the water level, so that when the box is opened for
inspection or cleansing the plug can be drawn up and the dirty water and soil
collected in the trough he run off.
To enable the plate ; or cone to be easily lifted up out of position, recesses
or niches o are preferably made therein.
Instead of using perforated plates to cover the boxes c, and 9 wire gauze or its
equivalent may be employed.
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
claim is;
1. The method of trapping soil pipes, drains, sowers, and the like wherein the
pipe connection from the house is left with a gap or hiatus at a certain point, said
gap or hiatus being provided or fitted with a box, or its equivalent, having an
opening or openings for air ingress substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In trapping soil pipes, drains, sewers and the like, the provision, where the
pipe connection is made or left with a gap or hiatus, of a box such as c figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4
ior enclosing said hiatus or gap, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
on the drawings annexed.
3. In trapping soil pipes, drains, sewers and the like, the combination of the box c
and the trapping appliance substantially as herein before described and shown on
the drawings annexed.
4. The construction of a box or trapping arrangement having a cone shaped
baffle or seal fitted therein substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
figs. 1, 6 & 7 of the drawings annexed and for the purposes set forth.
5. The construction of a box or trapping arrangement having an angled baffle or
scal of "A" shape fitted therein, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to figs. 4 & 5 of the drawings annexed and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Ninth day of 1000
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agent.