IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS, AND IN VALVES, EffluviA EJECTORS, AND TANK CONNECTIONS FOR THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of San Francisco, in the County of San
Francisco, State of California, one of the United States of America, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS, AND IN VALVES, EffluviA
EJECTORS, AND TANK CONNECTIONS FOR THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER LIKE
PURPOSES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1880.
SE
WILLIAM SMITH, of San Francisco, in the County of San Francisco, State of
IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER
California, one of the United States of America.
CLOSETS, AND IN VALVES, EFFLUVIA EJECTORS, AND TANK CONNECTIONS FOR THE
SAME, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
The object of my said Invention is to discard the use of pans, gates, or plungers
for retaining the water in the closet, and to retain sufficient water in the basin at
such height as to give the required area to the surface of the water; also to
thoroughly eject the contents from the basin after every time of usage. For this
purpose I construct the outlet of the closet in the form of an inverted syphon, the
outer end of which is sufficiently elevated so that when filled the water will rise to
the proper height in the basin, and I make use of a jet of water for emptying the
syphon. Also to provide a valve, which, when opened, shall close automatically
with the pressure of the water and control the supply to the basin, and shall operate
to admit the water in a triple manner or in three portions, first to the basin,
next to the ejector pipe, and last to the basin again.
It consists in the peculiar construction of a valve shell with ways or channels
within it, communicating with two outlets, a plunger valve controlling the
admission of the water to the several channels in regular order, and operated in
one direction by pressure from a lever or a stem, and in the opposite direction by a
spring and the pressure of the water, and a valve proper connected with and
operating at the same time as the plunger. And it also consists of a modified form
in providing a tank capable of containing a sufficient supply of water for the
purpose intended, the supply of water from such tank to the closet basin being
controlled by valves operated by means of a suitable connection made between
them and a hinged seat. It further consists in providing an attachment to be used
in connection with either form of valve or flushing connection, for withdrawing

page_text: and expelling the effluvia from water closets when in use, so arranged that the
effluvia is sucked or drawn into a receiver and expolled by means of jets of water
into an outlet or ventilating chimney, all of which will be hereinafter more fully
set forth,
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved
syphon closet with its supply valve and an effluvia ejector as applied to a water
closet basin; Figure 2 shows a modification of my improved valve; Figure 3 is a
vertical section through my improved effluvia ejector as applied to a water closet
basin Figure 4 is a vertical section through a water closet basin showing
the level to which the water rises therein after the solid contents have
been ejected; Figure 5 is a top view of the valve when it occupies a horizontal
position; Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the valve body and plunger,
and it shows the position of the parts when the valve is open to admit the water;
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the body of the valve and a view of the plunger
that controls tho admission of the water to the ways or channels in the body of
the valve; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the upper part or cap of the valve-shell;
Figure 9 is a view of the head of the valve; Figure 10 shews a plan view of the
perforated diaphragm used in the effluvia ejector; Figure 11 is a sectional view
showing the manner in which the ventilating flue of the effluvia ejector is recessed
into the seat of the water closet; Figure 12 is a detail view of the elastic washer i.
A¹ represents the main portion of the valve shell; L, the coupling having the
curved neck M, to which the supply-pipe is attached; and J, the cap or upper
portion within which the top of the plunger R works. The chamber I of the valvo
body has the two outlets N, N¹, one for the pipe E to supply water to the basin
and the other for the ejector pipe D that connects with the discharge pipe H of the
basin to force the contents of the closet up the inclined pipe H and into the pipe El¹,
connecting with the sewer. The basin represented in the Drawing is formed of
porcelain, and in one piece with a man hole, and cover at the bend of the pipes to
afford facilities for cleaning, and the valve is placed in a horizontal position within
a drip pan, and is operated by the pull rod Cand lever B as will be readily under-
stood from Figure 1. The interior of the valve consists of the water chamber A,
I, in which are the valve seat b at the bottom and the ways or channels d, e, e¹, at
the upper part of the chamber I and the chamber J for the upper end of the plunger R,
in which is formed the outlet-tube f, g, controlled by the plug O, Figures 8 and 9.
The parts within the valve for controlling the admission of the water are composed
of the valve a covering the scat b, the plunger R governing the channels d, e, e¹,
that lead to the outlets N, N', and the coil spring S for returning the valve to its
seat when the pressure upon the head of the spindle K is removed, Figure 6. The
rod of the valve « screws into the end of the spindle K and through the head of
the plunger R, so that these parts are all connected rigidly together, and the valve a
and plunger R move up and down at the same time. The plunger is provided with
the openings or ports c, which, as the plunger moves upward within the chamber,
admits the water in regular succession first to the lowest channel e, then to the
centre one d, and last to the upper channel e¹.
When the plunger is in its lowest position and the valve a is open to its fullest
extent these ports c are in line with the channel e, as seen in Figure 6, and the top
of the plunger is just within the chamber J, it being surrounded by the elastic
washer i that separates the chamber J from the valve chamber A, I. This washer
acts as a valve to allow the water to pass above the washer into the chamber, but
prevents any backward flow between the valve shell A' and the plunger R', as
seen at Figure 12, so that when the plunger and valve a are pressed down to admit
the water this upper chamber J becomes filled with water above the head of the
plunger. An outlet for this water is provided through the exhaust passage and
tube f, g, whereby it is discharged into the chainber I in a gradual manner, and
these passages are controlled by the plug O, by which the flow is graduated.
When the spindle K is relieved from the pressure upon it the plunger and valve a
are prevented from returning immediately into position by the presence of the

page_text: water in the chamber J, which counteracts the pressure against the back of the
valve a and the action of the spring S, and thus tho valve a rises in a gradual
manner to shut off the water, which, as the plunger rises, is directed first into the
channel c and then into the channels d and ei until the valve a rises to its sent and
closes the opening. The rapidity at which the water in the chamber J is discharged
regulates the time of closing of the valve a, and thus by increasing or diminishing
the outlet through the passage f and tube g, by turning the plug O, the water
admitted through the valve a and to the closet is increased or diminished in
quantity as the plunger is caused to rise with a slower or quicker motion after the
spindle K has been depressed and relieved. The outlet N connecting with the
pipe D constitutes the ejector, and the oue N', on the opposite side of the valve,
supplies water through the pipe E, and as these two outlets communicate with
the channels d, e, el, governed by the plunger R, the water passes first through
the lowest channel and to the basin to wet its contents, then through the
channel to the ejector D, and finally to the basin again through the channel e¹
to fill up the basin with clean water ready for use again. A proper quantity
of water is at this time supplied to the basin to cover the mouth of the
inclined pipe H, and effectually close it against the escape of any gases, as is
clearly shewn in Figure 4.
In the modified form of this valve which is shewn in Figure 2, although some-
what different in construction, yet is identical in the principle of its operation.
X represents a water tank, which is divided into an upper and a lower compart-
ment. The lower compartment is subdivided into lesser compartments or water
spaces X, X. These two lower compartments are connected by a hole or opening w
at the foot of the partition which divides the two, and this partition is of less
height than the surrounding walls of the said lower compartment. A cross bar,
which is secured to either side of the upper compartment, supports a split post, in
which is placed. a weighted arm or lever, which by means of connecting rods or
chains operates two valves y, y'. That represented by y opens and closes the
passage leading from the upper compartment X to the lower compartiment X', and
that represented by y' opens and closes the passage which opens into the pipe p
which leads down to the basin or closet beneath. From the pipe p extends a
branch pipe p, which opens upon a semi-circular water spreader m of earthenware or
metal connected with the basin, so that water coming from the branch pipe p¹ will
be caused to spread out fan-like in a thin stream, and wash all sides of the basin at
once, sufficient space being left between it and the basin to permit a sheet of water
to pass out. The upper compartiment is provided with an overflow pipe O, and
through which the rod or chain connecting the lever with the valve y' passes. The
operation will be as follows, to wit:-The upper tank being filled, and the weighted
arm being raised by the pulls, which is operated by a downward pressure upon
the seat of the closet to which it is connected, will raise the valve y and permit the
water in the upper compartiment to pass down into the compartment X', and fron
thence through the hole wand over the dividing partition into the compartiment X².
During the time that the valve y is raised the valve y' is lowered, and the opening
to the pipe p is closed. The pressure upon the seat being removed the weighted
arın or lever will resume its original position, and the valve y will be closed, and
the valve y' will be opened, the water in the lower compartiment will descend
through the pipe p. As the water descends through this pipe the air within the
pipe finds vent through the branch pipe pl and spreader m, thus permitting the
water to descend in a solid body, giving the basin a thorough flushing and removing
the contents therefrom. It should here be observed that the water will continue
to flow with force so long as the compartments X, X, are full, but as the contents
of them become lessened the force will be lessened, and the trickling or dripping
down the main pipo by means of the reserve in the compartment X' is gradual,
and fills the basin with water, as shown in Figure 4. If the water be permitted
to flow with its initial force, as in case of its being taken direct from one compart-
ment or reservoir in the ordinary way, it would be carried up or forced over the

page_text: bend in the soil pipe, and if the supply be shut off suddenly there would be no
water left in the basin, in which case gas from the sewer would be permitted to
escape into the building, but in the use of my device this serious defect is over-
come. By this means also I provide an automatic or self-operating and self-emptying
water closet of great utility. The effluvia ejector which I use in connection with
either form of my improved valve is also applicable to any form of closet in which
a basin is used, but I prefer to use it in connection with that form which is shown
in Figure 1. T represents the receiver, which by preference is located at that side
of the receiving basin which is opposite to the valve, and it may be enclosed in the
casing and seat of the closet.
Froin near the upper end of the receiver extends a curved annular pipe T',
passing under the seat and extending into the basin or hopper, as is clearly shewn
in Figure 11. The end of this pipe is provided with a flaring mouth, which forms
the suction inlet t. Just above the entrance of this pipe, where it leads into the
receiver, is placed a perforated diaphragm U, through which the water from the
cock or valve U' above passes into the receiver below. This cock or valve receives
its supply of water from the independent pipe u. About midway of the receiver is
placed an outlet chimney or ventilator V, through which the effluvia passes as it is
forced down by the small jets of water. In the bottom of the receiver is placed
the waste pipe or conduit VI, which lends into the soil pipe of the watercloset, and
thus prevents any effluvia from being received from that source, and also affords an
exit for the water passing into the receiver through the perforated diaphragm. Its
operation will be as follows:-The piston or plunger W being operated admits
water from the supply pipe u into the chamber below the cock or valve, which
passes through the perforations or holes v of the diaphragm into the receiver in fine
jets or spray, which creates a vacuum and sucks the foul air or effluvia from the
water closet or bowl, which causes it to rush in through the pipe T¹ to the receiver,
when it is forced out into the discharging chimney or ventilator V. By this means
the disagreeablo odor so incident to the use of the water closet is avoided.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I wish it distinctly understood that I claim,-
The chamber A, I, with a single inlet controlled by a valve a, and the outlets
N, N', with detached channels d, e, e', controlled by a plunger R in combination
with the air tight chamber J, having the outlet passage f, g, constructed to operato
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2d. In a water closet valve the three detached channels d, e, e¹, within the valve
chamber connecting with the outlets N, N¹, in combination with the plunger R,
having ports c, c, constructed and applied to operate substantially as described and
set forth.
3d. In a water closet valvo having the inlet b, outlets N, N¹, detached channels
d, e, e, and pressure chamber J, the valve a and plunger R rigidly connected
together and operated in one direction by pressure upon a stem or spindle K, and
in the opposite direction by the action of a spring and the pressure of the incoining
stream of water, constructed and applied to operato substantially as herein described
and set forth.
4th. A valve for controlling the supply of water to the basin and syphon or
ejector of water closets, having one inlet b controlled by a valve, and two outlets
N, N', communicating with the chamber of the valve through three detached
channels d, e, c¹, controlled by a plunger, substantially as hercin described, whereby
the water admitted to the valve is directed first to the basin, then to the syphon or
ejector pipe, and lastly to the basin again, for the purposes set forth.
5th. In combination with a water closet the tank flushing connection, consisting
of the compartments X, X, X3, valves y, y', and the pipe p, substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth and specified.
6th. In combination with a water closet reservoir or valve the pipe p and branch
pipe p', acting as an air and water pipe alternately, and water spreader m, arranged
and operating substantially as and for the purpose specified and shewn.

page_text: 7th. In combination with a water closet the receiver T provided with a perforated
diaphragm U, so that water can be received through a cock or valve into the body
of the receiver, and create a vacuum to draw the effluvia or foul air into and eject
or force it out of the receiver, substantially in the manner as herein set forth and
specified.
8th. The receiver T provided with a cock or valve U³, perforated diaphragm U,
inlet and outlet air and water pipes T, V, u, V¹, when constructed and operating
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty third day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM SMITH. (L.S.)