Improvements in the Construction and Flushing of Water Closets.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1893-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Flushing of Water Closets.
We BERNARD JOHN DICKSEE Associate of the Royal Institute of British
Architects of 35 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London and 87 Canfield
Gardens West Hampstead, Architect and ARTHUR HENRY DICKSEE of 7 Ryder
Street St. James's and Stanwell House Lyford Road, Wandsworth Common,
Fine Art Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of w.c. & flushing
apparatus without mechanical valves of any description, with a large body of water
in the basin so that all parts of the basin & trap shall be fully flushed at eacli
operation without the danger of unsealing the trap & so that the act of pouring.
water into the closet shall automatically discharge the flushing apparatus & so leave
clean water in the basin & trap.
The form of closet I select is conical in section & egg shaped on plan, wherein
the back portion descends in an inverted straight sided cone from the rim to the
trap, & the front portion is an inverted cone of easy cove to the intake of the trap
or siphon; in all respects the walls from the rim to the trap should be direct &
without any protuberance or bulge. The trap, which is of small diameter, prefer-
ably not exceeding 3 inches, is carried up to an unusual height, the weir standing
preferably about 7 inches above the bottom of the intake; this gives a large area
of water surface in the basin, preferably about 7 inches by 10 inches. A small
opening, hole, row of holes or slot is made opening into the basin on one side &
ascending towards & opening into the trap on the other side, both ends being below
the nominal water level on each side. The closet should be provided with an
afterflush chamber with weeping hole, & also a flushing rim with a wider water way
on the side opposite to the trap & also an extra hole or opening directly opposite
the trap to form a cascade onto the middle of the water surface. Into the walls
of the trap a horn is inserted for the connection of a suction pipe preferably inclined
in the direction of the flow of water.
The flushing apparatus consists of a cistern, preferably of not less than 3 gals.
capacity, in which are two siphons; from one of these siphons a discharge pipe is
connected to the flushing horn of the w.c.; from the second of these siphons a
discharge pipe is connected into the side of the first discharge pipe below but near
the bottom of the cistern, this second or branch discharge pipe being trapped in its
length so that water may remain in the same, thus cutting off air connection between
the two siphons. A. suction pipe is connected from the suction horn of the w.c. &
carried into the second or branch discharge pipe between the second siphon & the
water seal in the trap, preferably in a slightly downward direction. The short or
feeding arm of the second siphon should preferably approach rather nearer to the
bottom of the cistern than the first siphon. The cistern is filled by a ball cock in
the usual way & the level of the water maintained about on a level with the
weirs of the siphons. The flush is preferably set in motion by the raising of
the water level in the cistern either by depressing the ball or a float provided for
the purpose.
The action of the closet is as follows,-
First when the closet is used as a w.c., & the flushing cistern is discharged as
above, the water rushes down the discharge pipe & through the flushing rim to the
basin in the usual way, a portion of the discharge being held in the afterflush
chamber; the additional water in the basins & the force of the discharge drive a
portion of the water in the trap over the weir, this sets up siphonic action

page_text: which empties the closet until the water in the basin descends below the opening
from the basin to the trap, when the air passes through this opening into the trap,
thus checking the siphonic action; when the flushing cistern is emptied to the level
of the intake of the flushing siphons, air passes in the wake of the descending water
& immediately passes down the suction pipe to the closet trap completely stopping
the siphonic action; the water now in the discharge pipe falls into the basin where
it remains & the water in the afterflush chamber trickles into the basin through the
weep hole, bringing the water in the basin to its proper level.
Second when the closet is used as a slop sink the water poured into the basin at
once sets up siphonic action which empties the basin as before; the water passing
down the trap past the mouth of the suction pipe sets up a partial vacuum in the
suction pipe suction is thus applied to the second siphon, &, this being trapped
below, the force is almost wholly applied to the siphon itself & water is drawn over
the weir; thus starting this siphon; the water then passes through the trap below
into the long arm of the first siphon which is then also set in motion & the water in
the cistern is drawn off directly down the discharge pipe flushing the closet. The
fact that the second siphon descends rather lower into the cistern than the other
ensures that the second siphon shall continue to act after the other has ceased, thus
filling the trap in the branch discharge pipe after fresh air has been admitted
through the first siphon on the outgo side of the trap.
If the discharge pipe be trapped at its connection with the basin then one of the
siphons & the trap under may be omitted & the suction pipe be connected with the
one discharge pipe as before."
Dated this 6th day of April 1893.
BERNARD JOHN DICKSEE.
ARTHUR HENRY DICKSEE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Flushing of Water Closets.
We BERNARD JOHN DICKSEE Associate of the Royal Institute of British
Architects of 35 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London and 87 Canfield
Gardens West Hampstead Architect and ARTHUR HENRY DICKSEE of 7 Ryder
Street St. James's and Stanwell House Lyford Road Wandsworth Common Fine
Art Agent 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 object of our invention is to provide an improved form of water closet and
flushing apparatus without mechanical valves of any description, with a large body
of water in the basin, so that all parts of the basin & trap shall be fully flushed at
each operation without the danger of unsealing the trap, & so that the act of
pouring water into the closet shall automatically discharge the flushing apparatus
& so leave clean water in the basin & trap.
The form of closet we preferably select is conical in section & egg shaped on
plan, wherein the back portion descends in an inverted straight sided (or nearly
straight-sided) cone from the rim to the trap, & the front portion in an easy curve
to the intake of the trap or siphon; in all respects the walls from the rim to the
trap should be direct & without any protuberance or bulge. The trap, which
should be of small diameter, preferably not exceeding 3 inches, is preferably
carried up to a greater height than usual, the weir standing preferably about
7 inches above the bottom of the intake; this gives a large area of water surface in
the basin preferably about 7 inches by 10 inches. A small opening hole row of
holes or slot is made opening into the basin on one side & ascending towards &
opening into the trap on the other side, both ends being below the normal water
level on each side. The closet should be provided with an afterflush chamber with
weeping hole, & also a flushing rim with a wider waterway on the side opposite to

page_text: the trap & there may also be an extra hole or opening directly opposite the trap to
form a cascade onto the middle of the water surface. Into the walls of the siphon
or trap a horn should be inserted for the connection of a suction pipe, this horn
should preferably be inclined in the direction of the flow of water, it may be
situated at any position in the walls of the siphon or trap, but should preferably
be placed at one side so that the end open to the siphon or trap shall be under
the water level, the horn being itself bent forming a trap at the lower end of
the suction pipe. We are aware that flushing rims & afterflush chambers as
described are in general use, & we do not claim them as part of the said
invention.
The flushing apparatus should consist of a cistern, preferably of not less than
3 gallons capacity, in which are two siphons; from one of these siphons a discharge
pipe is connected with the flushing horn of the w.c.; from the second of these
siphons a branch discharge pipe is connected into the side of the first discharge
pipe, below but preferably near the bottom of the cistern; this branch discharge
pipe being trapped in its length, so that water may remain in the same, thus cutting.
off air communication between the second siphon & the discharge pipe. A suction
pipe is connected from the suction born of the w.C., & carried into the branch
discharge pipe between the second siphon & the water seal in the trap, preferably in
a rather downward direction. The short or feeding arm of the second siphon
should preferably approach rather nearer to the bottom of the cistern than the
first or main siphon. The cistern may be filled by a ball cock in the usual way, &
the level of the water maintained about on a level with the weirs of the siphous.
The flush is preferably set in motion by the raising of the water level in the cistern
by the depression of the ball, or a float provided for the purpose; but the flush
may be actuated by any other method, preferably without valves. The siphons
may be of horseshoe, annular, or any other form, or of different forms, & the trap
or water seal may be a trap of any form with a good dip.
In the appended diagram
Fig. 1 represents the plan, Fig. 2 the longitudinal section, Fig. 3 the transverse
section of the w.c. showing the trap P in dotted lines, & Fig. 4 the flushing tank
in section.
A A² represents the normal water level in the closet sustained by the weir A².
The opening through the dip of the trap from the basin to the trap is represented
at B, both ends being below the water level A A
The afterflush chamber with weep hole is shown at C.
The flushing rim may be provided with an opening of semi-circular or other
form shown at D.
The suction horn is shown at E opening into the walls of the trap P P, preferably
below the surface of the water A A; this horn is shown more clearly in Fig. 5,
where F represents the trap at the lower extremity, thus preventing air from passing
up into the suction pipe G.
The flushing tank Fig. 4 contains 2 siphons H & K; from H a discharge pipe
(preferably 1 inches diam.) L is connected with the flushing horn of the w.c.;
from the second siphon K a branch discharge pipe M, trapped in its length at N, is
connected with the discharge pipe L.
The suction pipe G. is connected from the suction horn E to the side of the
branch discharge pipe M, between the trap N & the siphon K, preferably in a
rather downward direction.
The feeding arm of the siphon K should approach nearer to the bottom of the
cistern than the feeding arm of the siphon H.
The action of the closet is as follows:-
Firstly, when the closet is used as a w.c. & the flushing cistern is discharged in
the usual way, the water passes through the siphon H & rushes down the discharge
pipe L & through the flushing rim to the basin in the usual way, a portion of the
discharge being held in the afterflush chamber C. The additional water in the
basin & the force of the discharge drives a portion of the water in the trap P over

page_text: the weir A², this sets up siphonic action, which, together with the force of the
flush, empties the closet until the water on the basin side descends below the
opening B from the basin to the trap, when air passes through this opening into
the trap P checking the siphonic action. When the flushing cistern is emptied to
the level of the intake of the siphon K air passes in the wake of the descending
water & immediately passes down the suction pipe G & through the horn E to the
closet trap P, completely stopping the siphonic action; the water now remaining in
the discharge pipe L falls into the basin where it remains, & the water in the
afterflush chamber C trickles into the basin through the weep hole, bringing the
water in the basin to its proper level A A².
Secondly, when the closet is used as a slop sink, the water poured into the basin
at once sets up siphonic action in the trap P, which empties the basin as before;
the water, passing through the trap P past the mouth of the suction pipe E, sucks
the trapping water out of the trap F & sets up a partial vacuum in the suction
pipe G, suction is thus applied to the siphon K &, this being trapped below at N,
the force is almost wholly applied to the siphon K itself & water is drawn over
the weir, thus starting the siphon K; the water then passes through the branch
discharge pipe M & the trap N. below into the long arm of the siphon H, which is
then set in action, & the water in the cistern is drawn off directly down the
discharge pipe L, flushing the closet. The fact that the siphon K descends rather
lower into the cistern than the siphon H ensures that the siphon K shall continue
to act after the siphon H has ceased, thus filling the trap N after fresh air has been
admitted through H on the outgo side of the trap N, which is therefore left full of
water & sealed for the next operation.
If the discharge pipe L be trapped at or near its connection with the basin then
one of the siphons may be omitted & the suction pipe G connected with the one
discharge pipe as before; but this method is not recommended, firstly, because the
force of the flush is reduced by the trap &, secondly, because there is danger, unless
it be ventilated, of the trap siphoning when in action, which would prevent the
suction pipe G from working.
If desired the siphon H may be omitted &, in its place, the discharge pipe L
may be continued upwards above the level of the water in the tank to act as an
air pipe to prevent the trap N siphoning, but this also is not recommended as the
whole flush would then have to pass through the siphon K & the trap N, thus
reducing the force.
The suction horn E may be placed at any position in the walls of the trap P, as
for instance P, but the trap F would in that case have to be omitted & the horn
have preferably a downward direction; if this position be adopted it would be
desirable to close the flushing cistern with an air tight cover, & to carry therefrom
& through the external wall an air pipe, preferably not less than 14" diameter; for
should the water apparatus get out of order & the flushing cistern be left without
water, unless this be done, a direct communication between the outgo of the trap &
the air in the room would exist; but in the position shown on the diagram the
trap F will always be full of water being below the level A A. & the suction
pipe G is therefore securely sealed against sewer gas.
The invention has been described above as applied to water closets but may also
be applied to housemaids' & slop sinks & other similar appliances.
The automatic flushing apparatus & suction horn may be applied to any
other suitable w.c. apparatus or slop sink or for flushing any other sanitary
appliance.
The suction horn may be either in one piece with the trap, or in a separate piece
of earthenware or metal securely affixed.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim as our invention is :-
1. The application to water closets & slop sinks of a flushing apparatus so

page_text: arranged that the discharge of water through the outgo & trap shall automatically
& pneumatically discharge the flush, as & for the purpose set forth in the
accompanying Specification & drawings.
2. The application to water closets & slop sinks of a suction pipe in connection
with the siphon of a flushing cistern for the purpose of automatically starting the
flush by suction.
3. The application to the trap or outgo of a water closet or slop sink of a suction
horn trapped or otherwise in connection with the aforenamed suction pipe as & for
the purpose set forth in the accompanying Specification & drawings.
4. The application to the flushing apparatus of a trap or water seal between the
suction pipe & the main discharge pipe to direct the application of the suction to
the siphon, as & for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Specification &
drawings.
5. The application to a water closet or slop sink of siphon or wash down type of
a hole, holes, or slot through the dip of the trap opening at one end to the basin &
at the other to the trap, both ends being below the normal water level.
Dated this 17th day of Mo 1803
BERNARD JOHN DICKSEE.
ARTHUR HENRY DICKSEE.