IMPROVE- MENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO RAIN WATER FLUSHING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM DUNDAS SCOTT-MONCRIEFF, Engineer, of 86, Newman Street, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO RAIN WATER FLUSHING APPARATUS,” 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 certain improvements in or applicable to rain water
flushing apparatus; and has been devised with the object of collecting, storing
and utilizing rain-water descending from roofs and other parts of buildings, for
and in effecting in an improved and efficient manner the flushing of drains and
sewers.
To this end, the Invention consists in combining with rain water gutters and
pipes, rain-water gutter-boxes or flushing-heads operating substantially in the
manner hereinafter described, in collecting and storing rain water at the elevation
of the gutter box or head until the same is fully or sufficiently charged, and in
then automatically discharging the contents, with the improved flushing effect due
to the sudden discharge and fall of the mass of water and its head or the vertical
distance of its fall, and in thus preventing the dribbling away and waste of the
water which occurs in gutters and gutter-boxes and heads and rain-water pipes,
constructed and combined as ordinarily.
I am aware that rain water flushing apparatus has formerly been used in which
the water drips down the rain water pipe and is stored in a chamber at the level
of or below the ground, or in tanks at some distance above the ground; I lay no
claim to such arrangements which are defective in principle, and of inutility in
practice, and by the use of which to produce any given effect an apparatus is
required of much greater capacity and size and of more costly construction than
is required with such improved means as are herein described, when constructed,
applied and used substantially in the improved manner also described.
On the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, represents, in sectional elevation, one
modification of constructing a rain water head in accordance with the present
Invention, that is so as to render it available and suitable for flushing purposes.
Fig. 2, represents a similar view of another modification thereof.
And Fig. 3, represents a similar view of one modification of a gutter box
constructed or adapted in accordance with the present improvements.

page_text: These modifications are alike in their mode of operation, and merely differ in the
detail of their construction.
1, represents the improved flushing gutter boxes or rain water heads which may
be made of any desired or suitable forms, (but as regards a flushing head a semi-
cylindrical or rectangular form in plan view offers advantages in facility of fixing
to a wall or support) and of any desired capacity, but a generally serviceable
capacity is from about 5 to 15 gallons.
The gutter box or head may be cast or otherwise formed or provided with lateral
or other lugs of a usual or suitable formation (not illustrated) to permit of its being
bolted or secured to the appropriate part of the building, and in the proper position
as regards elevation and as regards connection to the gutter or gutters, 2, or rain
water pipe or pipes, 3, with which it is required to be connected.
The flushing head may be made only with a lower faucet end or outlet, 4, as
represented in Fig. 2, so that it may be adapted for connection only with the top
end of an upper length of pipe, or as represented in Fig. 1, it may be made also
with a socket, 5, at its upper part, so as to adapt it for connection to and between
any two lengths of pipe according to the effect desired or to the inflow of waste
and other waters from other parts of a building.
Both the gutter box and head are closed at their sides, and are open at the top,
and may be there left open, vide Figs. 1, and, 2, or may be covered by open iron
work, 6 vide Fig. 3, or provided with a removable grating, or otherwise suitably
provided for preventing the entrance thereinto of leaves or other matters likely to
interfere with the efficiency of its operation, but permitting of access to the interior
for examining, cleaning or other purposes.
7, represents an inner or central tube, with which each head or box, 1, is formed
or provided, and which extends from the level of the water in the head or box
when fully charged, downwards, and at its bottom is formed or provided with a
syphon seal or dip, 8. The syphon tube, 7, also supports a removable concentric
bell syphon, 9, which is formed with guiding webs, fins, or equivalent parts, 10, and
encloses the upper end of the syphon tube, 7, and extends downwards, its open
bottom end being situated a short distance above a diaphragm, 11, which closes off
a collecting chamber, 12, in the head or box, 1. The bell syphon, 9, can be removed
by being simply lifted, so as to afford access to the interior of the box or head for
any necessary purpose.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 1, the head, 1, tube, 7, seal, 8, and
diaphragm, 11, are shown as cast in one piece; but in Fig. 2, the parts are
represented as separately made, the seal, 8, being made in one piece with the
pipe, 7, and formed with a flange, 13, and with a threaded portion at, 14, so that
upon being passed through a hole, 15, in the diaphragm, 11, it may be secured
water tight by a nut, 16. The diaphragm, 11, may be cast with the head, or for
facility of connection with the other parts may be separately made and rusted or
cemented into position.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, the diaphragm, 11, is represented as
made of brass, zinc, or lead, and as soldered into position in the box, 1, and to the
pipe, 7, the seal, 8, being separately formed and attached to the pipe, 7, by
arms, 17.
It is obvious that these and other details of construction may be considerably
varied, without in anyway affecting the nature, principle or mode of operation of
the present Invention.
The operation of the above described improved rain water flushing apparatus is
such that upon the box or head, 1, being charged with water (entering by its top,
or by means of the gutter or gutters, or rain water pipe or pipes, or by means of
any connected waste water pipes,) to about the level of the top of the tube, 7, the
overflow into and from the seal, 8, which is below the diaphragm, 11, automatically
causes the desired syphonic effect, and the contents of the box or head are quickly
discharged, and owing to the head. or vertical height and fall of the body of water,
it is rendered of considerable utility in flushing the drain or sewer in connection,

page_text: much more effectively than is done by any existing apparatus of like capacity used
for the same purpose.
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 combination with rain water gutters and pipes of rain water flushing
gutter boxes or heads operating substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
2. The improved construction of apparatus applicable to or for the purpose of
the Invention, substantially as herein before described with reference to the
accompanying drawings..