An Improved Closet or Commode.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Closet or Commode.
I, EUGENE DAVID BUSH of Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria, Sanitary 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:-
The Improvements to which this Invention relates consist in a closet or commode
which is so arranged that at all times except when it is in use, its contents are hidden
from view and when not in use, an air-tight covering is formed over the pan or closet
vessel. The main feature of the Invention is the employment of a partly globular or
spherical bowl, the axis of which is supported under the seat in such a manner as to
allow of the bowl being rotated through half a revolution every time the weight of
tbe person about to use the closet comes upon a spring footboard at its front. This
bowl or pan consists of about three-fourths of a spherical shell which forms a receptacle
into which the excreta is first passed and from which when the bowl is rotated
through a half revolution by the rising of the footboard, its contents are delivered to
a pan or closet beneath. In this inverted position the solid surface of the pan being
uppermost, it forms a cover for the lower. pan. Around the upper part of the
bowl is an annular packing ring of rubber or other elastic material to form an
air-tight joint and from such joint downwards is a short cylindrical tube the lower
end of which is also furnished with a rubber ring against which the upper lip of the
cess-pan or closet is pressed by the pan being seated on a table, which is capable of
being raised by a lever or otherwise. The bowl may either have a reciprocating action
imparted to it when taking its half revolutions or the intermittent half revolution
may be imparted to it in one direction only such actions being derived from suitable
rack and pinion devices operated by the foot-board. Again, immediately the bowl is turned
mouth downward, a spray of disinfectant or other liquid issues from a rose or other
device into the bowl so as to thoroughly cleanse it. Also the disinfectant may, if
desired, be introduced through the axis or trunnions of the bowl, during its use.
When the contents of the cess-pan are run off direct to the sewers, I arrange a
conical vessel under it; the bottom of which is provided with a stench trap or valve
such conical vessel being furnished with a flush pipe.
Although in the closet or commode I have described the bowl as being overturned by
the action of the foot-board it may also be operated from its hinged spring seat or by
a pull-handle; also, the bowl may be formed of two or more sections.
In order that my Invention may be better understood, I will now describe it with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate Fig. 1 a front view and in
Fig. 2 a side view of the closet, shewing parts in section; Fig. 3 a plan with the top
frame removed, and the seat shewn in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a detail of the pan platform
and its crank; and Fig. 5 shews the method of arranging the closet when it delivers
its contents to a sewer.
A is the bowl supported on its axis A³, under the hinged seat B which is held up at
its front end by coiled springs B' to allow of the half revolution of the bowl when the
person about to use the closet stands on a spring footboard C. When the bowl
opening A¹ is uppermost, the seat when in use holds it in that position by pressing
upon the bowl. After use, and when the person leaves the foot-board, the bowl makes
another half revolution and delivers its contents to the pan D or closet beneath, and
the solid surface of the bowl being uppermost, forms an air-tight cover for the whole
arrangement. Around the upper part of the bowl there is a packing ring A' of
rubber or other elastic material to form an air-tight joint and from this ring downwards
there is a short cylindrical tube E the lower flange of which is also furnished with a rubber
or elastic ring E, against which the upper lip of the cesspan or closet is pressed by

page_text: the pan being seated on a table 'D' which is capable of being raised by an outside
lever D² operating a horizontal crank-bar D³. Again, immediately the bowl is over-
turned, a spray of disinfectant or other liquid issues from a rose F or similar device
into it so as to thoroughly cleanse its surface, the supply valve G' for admitting the
spray being actuated from the foot-board C by the lever G2 of the valve being raised
by the spring catch G³ in the upward movement of the foot-board; the ball or weight
at the end of the lever causing it to fall again and so close the valve when the lever
is released from a slot G₁ in te spring catch by the latter being pushed off it by the
projecting bracket G.
The spring catch is attached to the bowl frame C³
which forms the connection between. the treadle bars Cof the foot-board C
and the rack gear C. Again, when it is desirable the disinfectant. may be
introduced into the bowl during use by a hollow axis or trunnion being
provided through which it could be passed. The bowl may either have a
reciprocating action imparted to it when taking its half revolutions or it may revolve
intermittently in one direction both actions being brought about by the axis A³ being
connected by suitable rack gear or other devices with the foot-board C which is held
up by springs C².
When the contents of the bowl are run off direct to the sewers, a funnel shaped
vessel D having a stench-trap De at its discharge opening should be arranged and
secured under the tube E.
I would point out that the use of a foot-board or treadle at the front of the closet is
of itself not novel as I am well aware of its being already in use and of its being
described in the specification of Letters Patent No. 703 of 1884 granted to
J. B. McCallum, therefore I do not claim the foot-board or treadle action by itself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is ;-
(1) The combination of the axially supported bowl A with the short tube E
preferably furnished with an elastic ring upon its upper and lower flanges sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described and as shewn in the drawings.
(2) In cesspan closets seating the pan on a platform which is capable of being
raised and lowered by such means as a crank bar or equivalent device substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
(3) The combination and arrangement with the bowl of a valve actuated from the
foot-board for controlling and regulating the injection of a liquid spray therein,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
(4) The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved closet,
substantially as herein described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of February A.D. 1890.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.