Improvements in or relating to Syphon Flushing-devices.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Syphon Flushing-devices.
I, WILLIAM ABRAHAM MCCORMICK, of Northampton Street, Essex Road, in the
County of London, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to flushing-devices its object being the construction of
improved apparatus of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent
No. 16153 of 1891, granted to me.
According to the present invention a tubular chamber is provided within the
flushing cistern and adapted to receive a plunger which can be reciprocated therein,
and which is preferably made in one piece with an arm or lever by which it is
operated. One end of this chamber is open to the interior of the flushing tank.
The syphon tube communicates with preferably the lowest portion of this chamber
(which should also be the lowest portion of the flushing cistern) adjacent to a
diaphragm by which one end of that chamber is closed. The opening leading to
the syphon is so disposed that when the plunger, which is employed to start the
flow of the contents of the chamber through the syphon tube, has reached the end
of the movement by which that operation is effected, it comes close to the diaphragm
and also passes clear of the said opening in order that the flow of the outgoing liquid
may not be impeded after it is once set up.
It is desirable that the chamber should be of considerable cross-sectional area
relatively to that of the syphon tube; this is found to improve the action of the
device and moreover it permits of the easy formation and subsequent inspection
of the chamber, and enables the plunger to operate satisfactorily with an amount of
clearance around its circumference which would not be practicable with a plunger
of smaller diameter, and which is advantageous for the reason that accuracy of
workmanship and fitting of the several parts is not essential.
Conveniently the plunger and its connections are so arranged that the action
of gravity will tend to retain it at that extreme of its travel at which it is clear of
the passage through which water flows from the chamber into the syphon; it may,
however, be additionally weighted or counter-balanced as may be desired. Further
it is desirable that the tubular chamber should be so situated within the flushing tank
as to present an open end towards the top of the tank, in order that there may be no
obstacle to its inspection whilst in actual service.
Tated this Oth dan af Anil 1007
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM ABRAHAM MCCORMICK, of Northampton Street, Essex Road, in the
County of London, Builder, 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 flushing-devices, its object being the construction of
improved apparatus of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent
No. 16153 of 1891, granted to me.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a syphon flushing cistern constructed
according to this invention,
Figure 1 being a vertical section through the centre of the cistern,
Figure 2 a transverse section of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 on the line 2-2
of Figure 1 and
Figure 3 a view similar to Fig. 1 of an alternative construction of the apparatus.
Throughout the drawings like letters refer to like parts, A being the flushing
cistern and B the syphon tube. The syphon tube communicates at C¹ with preferably
the lowest point of a tubular chamber C of considerable diameter in proportion to its
length, which forms the lowest portion of the cistern A. The end of the chamber C
nearest the syphon B is closed by a diaphragm D except for the opening C¹, the
other end of the chamber being open to the cistern. E is a plunger or piston free to
reciprocate within the chamber C; the plunger E is operated by the arm or arms E¹
with which it is preferably made in one piece.
The arins E¹ are secured to a spindle F journalled at F1 and to the same spindle
one or more counter-weights G are secured, which normally maintain the plunger
in the position indicated in full lines in Figure 1; or the plunger may itself have its
centre of gravity so disposed relatively to the spindle F¹ as to tend always to take up
that position.
The plunger E may be provided with a non-return valve E². H is a ball operating
a valve at H¹ in the supply pipe in the usual manner, and L is a lever outside the
cistern from which the usual pull down chain L¹ depends.
In Figure 3 is shown an alternative construction in which the top of the chamber C
is formed by an extension E3 of the plunger E, the portion E3 being preferably made
integral with the plunger E. Further the arm E' is replaced by one or more sector-
shaped webs E.
If desired any or all of the walls of the chamber C might be formed by an extension
upon the plunger; for instance, both the sides, or both sides and the top, in which
last case the plunger E with its extensions would have a hood shaped appearance,
and the diaphragm D and the bottom wall would be the only fixed portions of the
chamber.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
The cistern A being full to about the level shown in Figure 1 and the plunger E
in the position shown in full lines, the operator pulls down the chain L' thus giving
the spindle F a motion of rotation in the direction of the arrow 11. The effect of
this is to move the plunger E into the position indicated in dotted lines, the valve E
allowing the movement of the plunger in that direction without undue disturbance
of the water, or resistance to the motion of the plunger.
.The operator then releases the handle and a weight such as G causes the rapid
return of the plunger to the normal position, the valve E² closing and a large pro-
portion of the water in the chamber C being forced sharply up the syphon B thus
starting the discharge.

page_text: The plunger E being held clear of the opening C¹ by the weight G the discharge
continues uninterrupted until the water level falls to that of the bend B2 which is
purposely kept as low as conveniently possible so as to completely empty the
cistern.
It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the details of construction
described in connection with the device illustrated in the drawings which are given
by way of example, the principal feature of this invention being the arrangement of
parts whereby a complete emptying of the cistern is obtained at each discharge and
great facility for inspection of and access to the whole interior is afforded.
I may so attach the counter-weight that the action of gravity retains the plunger
at the open end of the chamber C, in which case the operator has to pull the
plunger towards the diaphragm D to start the discharge.
In the event of the apparatus being so constructed that the normal position of the
plunger E (that is to say the position to which it will automatically return when
released), is that in which it is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, it is not necessary
that it should be kept by hand in the position in which it is shown by full
lines in that Figure after the discharge through the syphon has commenced; for if
the flow of water out at the orifice C¹ is once established it will continue by reason of
the freedom afforded for the discharge of water through the diaphragm by way of the
automatic valve E².
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. In a flushing device of the kind described the combination of a chamber such
as C forming the lowest portion of a cistern A and a syphon B communicating with
that chainber and opening into the botton thereof for the purpose described.
2. In syphon flushing apparatus the combination with a chamber such as C of a
plunger E having an extension such as E3 forming one or more of the walls of the
chamber C substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The complete flushing device substantially as and for the purpose described
and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of November 1897.