Improvements in Syphon Cisterns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Syphon Cisterns.
We, FREDERIC GEORGE SISON HAM of 24 Southbrook Road, Lec, and
REUBEN THOMAS PRESTON of the firm of J. Stone and Company, Deptford both in
the County of Kent, Engineers declare the nature of our invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to syphon cisterns as used for flushing water closets and
the improvements specially refer to the means of starting them.
We provide the flushing cistern with a syphon pipe one leg of which communicates
with the down pipe to the water closet and the other or inlet end with the interior
of the cistern this inlet end being by preference bell mouth shaped and opening
laterally into the cistern.
At a point near to the bend at the top of the syphon inlet pipe we connect a
smaller pipe which is carried down to a bell or dome shaped chamber and which by
one or more small holes at bottom communicates with the cistern and has a piston
in the form of a plate which fits fairly well in the chamber and which by a spindle
passing through a hole in the top and thence to the top of the cistern is connected
with a lever fitted on the side of the cistern.
The cistern is fitted with the usual ball 'cock.
When it is required to use the cistern for flushing the water closet, the lever
connected to the spindle of the piston is pulled down by the chain in the usual
manner and this raises the piston which forces all the water that has entered the
chamber up through the pipe connecting it with the inlet leg to the syphon pipe
and the water then flows over the bend and down the outlet pipe from the tank to
the water closet.
The action of the water passing over the bend and down the outlet pipe thus
makes a partial vacuum in the syphon pipe and starts the syphon into action so as
to empty the cistern.
Dated in 1
19na
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Syphon Cisterns.
We, FREDERIC GEORGE SISON HAM of 24 Southbrook Road, Lee and
REUBEN THOMAS PRESTON of the firm of J. Stone and Company, Deptford both
in the County of Kent, Engineers, 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 syphon cisterns as used for flushing water closets and
the improvements specially refer to the means of starting them.
We provide the flushing cistern with a syphon pipe one leg of which communicates
with the down pipe to the water closet and the other or inlet end with the interior
of the cistern this inlet end being by preference bell mouth shaped and opening
either laterally or vertically into the cistern.
At a point near to the bend at the top of the syphon inlet pipe we connect a
smaller pipe which is carried down to a bell or dome shaped chamber and which by
one or more small holes at bottom communicates with the cistern and has a piston' in
the form of a plate which fits easily in the chamber and which by a spindle passing

page_text: through a hole in the top and thence to the top of the cistern is connected with a
lever fitted on the side of the cistern.
The cistern is fitted with the usual ball cock.
When it is required to use the cistern for flushing the water closet the lever
connected to the spindle of the piston is pulled down by the chain in the usual
manner and this raises the piston which forces all the water that has entered the
chamber up through the pipe connecting it with the inlet leg to the syphon pipe
and the water then flows over the bend and down the outlet pipe from the tank to
the water closet.
The action of the water passing over the bend and down the outlet pipe thus
makes a partial vacuum in the syphon pipe and starts the syphon into action so as
to empty the cistern.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical longitudinal section through
a syphon cistern constructed according to our invention and fitted with an ordinary
trapping box below. The flushing cistern A is provided with a syphon pipe one
leg C of which through the trapping box B communicates with the down pipe E to
the water closet, while the other or inlet D of the syphon communicates with the
interior of the cistern A, the inlet end being by preference bell mouth shaped and
opening vertically into the cistern as shown, or it might be laterally. At a point
near to the bend at the top of the syphon we connect a smaller pipe which is
carried down to a bell or dome shaped chamber G which by one or more small holes H
at the bottom communicates with the cistern A. and has a piston I in the form of a
plate which fits easily in the chainber G and which by a spindle I passing through
a hole in the top or cover is connected with a lever K fitted on the top of the
cistern. The latter is fitted with the usual ball cock as shown. The spindle I
is here shewn guided in a cup leather in the cover but any other well known suitable
guide may be applied. When it is required to use the cistern for flushing the
water closet, the lever K is pulled down by the chain L in the usual manner and
this raises the piston I which forces all the water that has entered the chamber G
up through the pipe F and through the inlet leg D of the syphon, and the water then
flows over the bend and down the other leg C and down the outlet pipe E to the
water closet. The action of the water passing over the bend and down the leg C
thus makes a partial vacuum in the syphon and starts its action so as to empty the
cistern.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 3 a plan view of a reverse arrangement
that is to say where the cylinder or chamber G communicates with the cistern A
by one or more small holes H in the cover or upper part of said cylinder G while
the slanting pipe F communicates with its lower part, the piston I in this case
acting by its down stroke which is effected by its spindle I¹ being connected to a
joint in the lever K intermediate between its fulcrum and the pull chain L which
latter in this case passes down along the side of the cistern A.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section shewing an arrangement like Fig. 1 except that
the trapping box B is omitted, so that the syphon leg C is continued directly into
the down pipe, and that the lever K has its fulcrum in a link M which is mounted
on the cistern A. This mode of connection works more freely than those previously
described and obviates the use of an oblong hole in the lever where the spindle (¹
connects therewith.
Any other suitable form of piston I may be used such as one with cup leathers
or with rolling packing but the fit must be so easy that the water may pass
freely around it when in the position of rest as the cistern is filled by the ball
cock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
In a syphon cistern the application and use of a syphon the inlet leg of
which at or near the upper part or bend is by a pipe connected with a chamber

page_text: or cylinder in the cistern having an easily fitting piston connected to the pull chain
in such manner that the contents of said cylinder by the upstroke or downstroke of
the piston are forced into the upper part of the syphon so as to start its action
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 15th dow of In 1901
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.