AN IMPROVEMENT IN VALVE WATERCLOSETS AND IN WATER-SUPPLY VALVES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Finch, of High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, Sanitary Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
VALVE WATERCLOSETS AND IN WATER-SUPPLY VALVES"
Sealed the 20th July 1877, and dated the 2nd February 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Finch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1877
BENJAMIN FINCH, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Sanitary
Engineer "AN IMPROVEMENT IN VALVE WATERCLOSETS AND IN WATER-SUPPLY
VALVES"
My Invention has for its object improvements in valve water closets, and consists,
first, in the combination of a basın and trap, both made of pottery-ware, by the
introduction of a metal or other plate, constructed and arranged as herein described
Hitherto valve closets with a duect valve outlet at the bottom of the basın have
been fitted with a metal trap beneath the basin, which trap, by reason of its being
made of metal, is very liable to conode and become foul, and consequently
offensive
According to the first part of my Invention, which relates more particularly to
that construction of closet that stands complete above the floor, plat included, the
basin being fitted duectly upon the trap, I replace such metal trap by an earthen-
ware syphon trap immediately beneath the closet basın, and I overcome the difficulty
of fitting the basin upon the earthenware tiap, which hitherto has prevented the use
of earthenware traps in such closets, by inter position of a cast-iron or other plate
forming a cover for the earthenware tap, upon which it is fixed by bolts passing
through flanges on the trap This plato is cast with a socket, in which the bottom
or outlet of the basin is fitted, and with cars depending on the under side, on which
the spindle of the basin valve is hung This plate or cover is further cast with a
tiap for the overflow pipe from the basın The latter is made of white ware as
usual, but by my Invention the trap may be made of coarse brown pottery or terra-
cotta ware, and is moulded with bosses for the attachment of inlet or ventilating
pipes
My Invention relates, secondly, to an improved valve for regulating the water
supply of such closets, and preventing waste, which valve is also applicable generally

page_text: where a measured supply of water is required The Improvement in this valvo
consists in making the valve independant of the lever by which it is bfted, so that
the valve will gradually close itself after a certain tune, although the lever may still
be held up, thereby limiting quantity of water supplied This result is obtained by
the introduction of a hydraulic chamber between the lever and the valve provided
with a vent for the escape of the water contained at a regulated speed It also con-
sists in providing the after flush for the closet pan by another hydraulic chamber
with a regulated vent, as hereafter described
The valve is constructed with a tubular or cylindrical spindle, open at bottom, in
which is fitted to work or 1am oi piston on the end of a 1od jointed to the lever by
which the valve is operated, the said rod passing through a stuffing box in the valve
casing up into the tubulai spindle of the valve The space within the latter abovo
the piston forms the hydraulic chamber above referred to, it commumcates by a
small passage or vent, which is regulated by a screw plug, with the inlet water
space at the back of the valve, when the piston is raised by the lever it exerts
& sufficient pressure on the water contained in such chamber (which can escape but
slowly through the vent), to overcome the pressure of the water supply and of a
spring on the back of the valve, and the valve is opened
If the piston be kept in the raised position the valve will not remain open, but
will be gradually closed by the pressure on its back as the water escapes from
between it and the piston, the closing of the valve being timed or regulated by the
exit of the said water
To provide the after flush the lower end of the tubular spindle of the valve is
provided with a packing, and works in an annular chamber at the lower part of the
valve casing, also provided with a small passage communicating with the body of the
casing, and regulated by a screw plug, thus, if the piston be lowered at once,
the valve can only descend and close gradually at a speed regulated by the escape
of the water from the annular chamber above mentioned
*
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filod by
the said Benjamin Finch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd August
1877
BENJAMIN FINCH, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Sanitary
Engineci "AN IMPROVEMENT IN VALVE WATERCLOSETS AND IN WATER-SUPPLY
VALVES"
My Invention has for its object improvements in valve water closets, and consists,
fist, in the combination of a basin and trap, both made of pottery-ware, by the
introduction of a cast-11on or other metal plate, constructed and ananged as herein
described This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
accompanying Drawings, Figures 1 and 3 representing front and end elevations, and
Figure 2 a longitudinal vertical section of the watercloset apparatus
Hitherto valve water closets with a ducct valve outlet at the bottom of the basin
have been fitted with a metal trap beneath the basin, which trap, by reason of its
being made of metal, is very liable to conode and become foul, and consequently
offensive
According to the first part of my Invention, which relates more particularly to
that construction of closet that stands complete above the floor (trap included), the
basın being fitted directly upon the trap, I replace such metal tiap by an earthen-
wale syphon trap b immediately beneath the closet basın a, and I overcome the
difficulty of fitting the basin upon the earthenware trap which hitherto has pre-
vented the use of earthenware traps in such closets, by the interposition of a cast-
tion or other metal plate c, forming a cover for the earthenware tiap b, upon which
tis fixed by bolts d passing through flanges formed on the trap This plate is cast

page_text: with a socket e, in which the bottom or outlet of the basın a is fitted, and with
cars depending on the under side, in which the spindle g of the basin valve h is
hung This plate or cover c is further cast with a continuation of the overflow
pipe from the basin a, forming with a cup 7 a trap for the said overflow pipe
The basin a is made of white ware as usual, but by my Invention the tiap b may
be made of coarse brown pottery or terra cotta waie, and is moulded with bosses for
the attachment of inlet and ventilating pipes l, m, if desired, and with an aperture n
closed by a cover to give access to the trap for cleaning The basın 'a and overflow
pipe haie comented in then respectivo sockets in the usual way
My Invention relates, secondly, to an improved valve for regulating the water
supply of such closets, and preventing waste, which valve is also applicable generally
where a limited supply of water is required This improved valve is represented in
central vertical section in Figure 4. The improvement in this valve consists in
making the valve C independent of the means by which it is lifted from its seat, so
that the valve will gradually close itself after a certain time, although the pull-up
handle may still be held up, thereby limiting the quantity of water supplied This
result is obtained by the introduction of a hydraulic chamber D between the 10d J
and the valve C, provided with a vent L for the escape of the water contained at a
egulated speed It also consists in providing the "after flush" for the closet pan
by another hydraulic chamber G with a regulated vent, as hereafter described
The valve C is fixed on a hollow cylinder C' open at bottom and accurately bored,
in which is fitted to work a ram or piston E, provided with a cup leather secured
by nut and washer, and fixed on the end of a rod J Jointed to the lever K, the said
10d J passing through a stuffing box M in the valve casing up into the cylinder C¹
of the valve The space D above the piston E forms the hydraulic chamber first
above referred to, it communicates by a small passage or vent L, which is regulated
by a screw plug I, with the inlet water space at the back of the valve to which the
inlet bianch A leads When the piston E is raised by the lever K. it exerts a
sufficient pressure on the water contained in chambei D (as the water can escape
but slowly through the vent L) to overcome the pressure of the water supply and of
a spring N that beais on the back of the valve, and the valve is consequently raised
off its seat
The stroke of the lever K, and consequently the rise of the plunger E, is con-
trolled by a stop in the pull-up handle stand, so that the plunger E cannot touch the
top end of the cylinder C¹
If the piston E be kept in the raised position the valve C will not remain open,
but will be gradually closed by the pressure on its back as the water escapes fiom
the chamber D, the closing of the valve being timed or regulated by the exit of the
said water
To produce the "after flush" the lower end of the tubular spindle O' of the
valve C terininates with an annular piston F, which fits and works within an
annular chamber G at the lower part of the valve casing, also provided with a small
passage H communicating with the main body of the casing, and regulated by a
screw plug H. By this means, should the piston E be lowered at once, the valve C
can only descend and close gradually at a speed regulated by the escape of tho water
from the annular chamber G through the vent above mentioned When the piston E
15 lowered water is diawn into chamber D through oufice L, and, similarly, when
the valve C and cylinder C² are raised water is drawn into the annular chamber G
through orifice H
Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st The combination of a watercloset basın and trap both made of earthenware
with an intervening metal plate, constructed and arranged substantially as herein
shown and described
2nd. In valves for controlling the supply of water to closets, urinals, and othor
places, making the valve close independently of the rod by which it is raised by

page_text: interposing an hydraulic chamber fitted with a plunger and provided with a regulated
escape orifice between the valve and the rod, substantially as shown and described,
to allow the valve to be gradually closed by the pressure at its back after the lapse
of a certain time, notwithstanding the rod may be held up, thereby limiting the
quantity of water supplied
3rd In water-supply valves for such closets as require an "after flush," providing
a second hydraulic chamber with plunger and regulated escape orifice, substantially
as shown and described, to prevent the valve closing immediately the rod by which
it was raised is lowered, and ensure a regulated "after flush"
4th The combination with a water-supply valve of the two hydraulic chambers
above specified, together with the plungers and regulated escape orifices, con-
structed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein shown
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Finch, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
THAT TH TOTAT