IMPROVE- MENTS IN VENTILATORS FOR SEWERS AND DRAINS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Crocker Cross, of Redhill, in the
County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of “IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VENTILATORS FOR SEWERS AND DRAINS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Crocker Cross
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th May 1875.
I, BENJAMIN CROCKER CROSS, of Redhill, in the County of Surrey,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS FOR SEWERS AND DRAINS," to be as
follows:—
My improvement consists in so adapting a ventilator to the top of any
man-hole, lamp-hole, &c., that whilst sewer gas can pass up through
charcoal or other deodorant into the open air, any water that may get
through the covers may find its way into the sewer or drain without in
the slightest degree damping the deodorant by coming into contact with.
it; to obtain which object I have a frame of iron or other material of

page_text: any suitable configuration, into the bottom of which hangs a dirt box,
an overflow box, and a case.
The overflow box is at side of case, and is for the reception of the
water from the dirt box after such dirt box gets filled up to a certain
height.
At one extremity of the overflow box is a syphon trap, to the mouth
of which is fitted an air-tight valve. The syphon is so constructed that
should a large quantity of water find its way into the dirt box it will act
as a draw-off syphon, which idea would also be put into practice when it is
required to draw off the fluid matter and leave only the solid matter in
the boxos, which can then be easily taken out with a scoop or spade.
Around the top of the case and partially around the boxes is put a
fillet, so that any water that may soak through the sides of the cover will
either have to leak through the hanging joint or must pass along the
groove so formed at top, and empty into the dirt box or overflow box.
The cover is divided into two separate parts, one part being a solid cover,
which covers the deodorant and also the overflow box, and the other
part being a grating which covers the dirt box, and which is removeable
when about to clean out the dirt box without necessarily removing the
solid cover.
The receptacle for the deodorant is made with three solid sides, and
has moveable trays, so that they can be easily filled or emptied. This
receptacle fits into the case and drops into a groove at the bottom of the
case, which will be filled with fine charcoal or other fine material.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters 2
:
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Ben-
jamin Crocker Cross in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
November 1875.
. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
CROCKER CROSS, of Redhill, in the County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, 3
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of May, in the year of

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
cighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Crocker Cross, Her special
licence that I, the said Benjamin Crocker Cross, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin Crocker
Cross, 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 Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS FOR SEWERS AND DRAINS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Crocker Cross, my executors
or administrators, 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 on or before the Eighth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-five.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Crocker Cross, 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:-
My Invention consists in so adapting a ventilator to the top of any man-
hole, lamp-hole, or other opening from a sewer or drain for the purpose of
¡ inspection or ventilation, that whilst sewer gas can pass up through
charcoal or other deodorant into the open air, any water that may get
through the covers may find its way into the sewer or drain without in the
slightest degree damping the deodorant by coming into contact with it.
Having thus explained the nature of my Invention, I will now more
fully describe the construction and manner of putting the same into use,
for which purpose I shall have reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, which shews the general principles of my Invention.
I have a frame of iron or other material (a) of any suitable configu-
ration fixed or placed at the top of any shaft intended for ventilating a
sewer or drain, into the bottom of which hangs a dirt box (6), an over-
flow box (c), and a case (₫).

page_text: The overflow box is at side of the case, and is for the reception of the
water from the dirt box after such dirt box gets filled up to the top of
the partition (e).
At one extremity of the overflow box is a siphon trap (f), to the
mouth of which is fitted an air-tight valve (9), the object of this valve 5
being to effectually stop the gases from passing through the siphon at
such times when the overflow box may be empty of water. The siphon
is so constructed that should a large quantity of water find its way into
the overflow box from the dirt box so as to once reach the top of the
siphon it will then act as a draw-off siphon, which idea would also be 1
put into practice when it is required to draw off the fluid matter and
leave only the solid matter in the boxes, which can then be casily
emptied by a scoop or spade.
Around the top of the case and partially around the two boxes is put
a fillet (%), so that any water that may soak through the sides of the 1
cover will either have to leak through the hanging joint or must pass
along the groove so formed at top, and empty into the dirt box or the
overflow box.
The cover is divided into two parts, one part (i) being a solid cover,
which is placed over the deodorant and the overflow box, and thus 2
prevents water from falling on to the deodorant or any rubbish from
falling into the overflow box, and the other part (4) being a grating
which covers the dirt box, and which is removable when about to clean
out the dirt box without necessarily removing the solid cover.
The receptacle for the deodorant (7) is made with three solid sides, 2
and is arranged with trays in same, the top and bottom trays being
fixtures, and the intermediate tray or trays being made so as to slide
horizontally, so that they can be easily filled or emptied when necessary.
This receptacle fits into the case and drops into a groove at the bottom
of the case, which will be fitted with fine charcoal or other fine material, 3
thus effectually preventing any gas ascending by the side of the trays or
receptacle without first coming into contact with the deodorant.
The various parts of this Invention may be constructed of cast or
wrought iron either plain or galvanized, earthenware, timber, or other
suitable materials.
Having now fully described the nature of my Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be under-
3

page_text: stood that I do not bind myself to the exact details or arrangement
thereof shewn in the accompanying Drawings, as these may possibly be
modified or rearranged without in any way interfering with the general
principles of the Invention, but what I lay claim to as being part and
parcel of my Invention is,-
"
stood that I do not bind myself to the exact details or arrangement
thereof shewn in the accompanying Drawings, as these may possibly be
modified or rearranged without in any way interfering with the general
principles of the Invention, but what I lay claim to as being part and
parcel of my Invention is,-
Firstly. The arrangement of having an overflow box with a siphon, as
described and shewn fitted thereto.
Secondly. The arrangement of fixed and sliding trays for the reception
of the deodorant, and the manner of letting the receptacle for the same
fall into a groove.
Thirdly. The fillet around the top of the case and partially around the
dirt box and overflow box, thus forming a groove to prevent water from
coming into contact with the deodorant.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Crocker Cross, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
BENJAMIN OROOKER CROSS. (L.&.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
above-named Benjamin Crocker
Cross in the presence of
ARTHUR J. Gaut,
Clerk to Mr. Gaut,
88, Walbrook,
E. O.