Improvements in and relating to Water Closets.
Year: 1889

page_text: The decision of the Comptroller-General, of the 24th day of October 1892, allowed,
under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883, an Amendment of this
Specification.
Date of Application, 31st July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Water Closets.
We, JAMES DUOKETT and ALFRED DUCKETT of Mitre Brick Works, Burnley, in
the County of Lancaster, Brick and Sanitary Pipe Manufacturers do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The first part of our invention consists of a circular or other suitable weir in
substitution of the ordinary water closet basins.
The outlet from the weir or basin is through its centre to a trap below. When
entering the inlet to the weir or basin the water is or may be deflected by a suitable
shield and caused to traverse the circular track of the weir in two currents, which
meet together at the back of the track, opposite the inlet with great force, carrying
from the basin or weir excreta and floating matters into the central outlet to the
trap below.
In constructing the aforesaid vessel or basin to contain the weir, we prefer to
form the exterior of such vessel or basin in a plaster mould. This mould is then
placed upon a potter's wheel on which is fixed a round plug to fit a central opening
in the mould, corresponding with the hole to be formed in the centre of the basin or
vessel when finished. A suitable scriber is fixed to a vertical spindle projecting
upwards from the plug of the potter's wheel which when turned by hand or otherwise
actuated quickly and accurately in conformity with the shape of the scriber forms
the interior of the vessel basin and weir. This arrangement of making the basin
and weir renders them more accurate and less costly.
To assist the flush entering the closet-basin, a tipper or siphon may be used.
The invention further consists in the combination of a tipper with a siphon to
assist in producing siphonic effect. This arrangement is particularly applicable for
Latrines," that is to say, several closets connected together and flushed from one
source and at the same time. For this purpose a large cistern is employed, in which
is fitted a tilting tank placed above the high water line in the cistern to receive from
the town's main or from any other source a constant dribble or small supply of
water. This tilting tank when nearly full of water discharges its contents into the
cistern repeatedly and automatically until the water reaches the high water line in
the cistern when the following or next discharge from the tilting tank starts the
siphon by agitating the water and causing a displacement of air in the siphon. Now
after the cistern has been emptied by the siphon, the succeeding discharges from the
tilting tank, falling heavily into the bottom of the tank again agitate the water and
air, and forcing a quantity of water from the trap under the cistern admit air
into the siphon, sufficient to destroy the partial vacuum which had been formed
therein.
To prevent water filtering or percolating through the pores of large earthenware
cisterns used for "Latrines" and to render them water tight we prefer during the
construction of such cisterns to scratch the whole of the inner surface with a fine
comb whilst the clay is sufficiently plastic and soft. After the cistern is burnt in

page_text: the kiln and whilst in a warm or hot condition it is coated over upon its roughened
surface with a coating of well boiled gas tar and sulphur, preferably three of the
former to one of the latter, which adhering to the said surface makes the cistern
perfectly watertight.
The next portion of our invention relates more particularly to the construction of
annular siphons for flushing water closets, and consists partly in forming at the top
ends of such siphons a conically shaped mouth-piece of peculiar construction with
its contracted opening projecting downwards and terminating in a toothed or serrated
edge. The object of this conically shaped mouthpiece is to conduct the water
entering the mouth piece towards the centre of the siphon without touching its side
walls and so cause it to drop perpendicularly upon the water seal in the trap below,
carrying with it a portion of the confined air within the siphon until a partial vacuum
is obtained, sufficient to set the siphon in action. The contracted and toothed or
serrated entrance to the siphon is of particular importance inasmuch as the water
is effectually prevented from running down the sides of the siphon, whilst additional
space is afforded through the triangular openings at the serrated or toothed end of
the mouthpiece for the passage of water to increase the power of the flush when the
siphon is in action. We would observe that the siphon is made to dip into the
water seal in the trap in the usual manner. Below the water line in the trap a small
hole is pierced or a small slit formed in the siphon, such hole slit or other small
opening or outlet being only just covered by water to exclude external air; but
forming an easy outlet for the confined air within, which is driven out of the siphon
through the small hole, slit or opening during the dropping of the water from the
points of the toothed or serrated mouth-piece until a partial vacuum is obtained to
completely and instantly set the siphon in full action.
We prefer to construct the siphon, flushing tank and trap in one piece of
earthenware or of other suitable material, whilst the cover of the siphon may be
cast or otherwise secured to the grate to keep the cover in proper relation to the
siphon, and remove the usual obstruction of the feet to support the cover, which
hinder the flow of water from the tank and also interfere with the clearing out of
the deposits from the tank.
The above named flushing siphon may be readily made to serve as an effectual
grease trap, and for this purpose a box or shell is made to fit the interior of the
tank, having preferably a series of shelves or ribs formed round the sides of the box,
upon which fatty substances may adhere; and having an opening to fit the siphon.
The flushing tank is provided with a grate having a lip or rib, so as to project over
and partially into the inner shell or box to prevent waste water from passing between
the sides of the flushing tank and the shell or inner box. This shell or box is fitted
with side handles so that it may readily be removed for cleaning purposes.
We prefer in some cases to dispense with the siphon or tipper and depend solely
upon the natural gravitation of the waste water from the sink trap as a medium for
flushing water closets. When such is the case we use a dish brick having a circular
rib which fits the socket or recess of the sink-trap to prevent waste water from
following the under surface of the dish-brick into the foundations of the walls or
buildings without entering the trap. A hinged grate is also provided fitting a
dove-tailed recess in the said dish-brick.
The extension pipes projecting above the basin of waste water closets, we form
into a sort of pedestal to carry the seat, and which may be either plain or ornamented
as may be desired, thereby dispensing with the usual wooden cross bearers and riser
to support the seat.
Dated this 30th day of July 1889.
THOS.
RICHMOND,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in and relating to Water Closets.
We, JAMES DUCKETT and ALFRED DUCKETT of Mitre Brick Works, Burnley,
in the County of Lancaster, Brick and Sanitary Pipe Manufacturers, 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 first part of our invention consists of a circular or other suitable weir in
substitution of the ordinary water-closet basin.
The outlet from the weir or basin is through its centre to a trap below. When
entering the inlet to the weir or basin, the water is or may be deflected by a suitable
shield, and caused, after traversing the circular tract of the weir, to fall direct into
the trap below, carrying from the annular basin excreta or floating matters direct into
the central outlet to the trap.
We prefer, in some cases to dispense with the usual siphon or tipping arrange-
ments, and depend solely upon the natural gravitation of the waste water from the
sink trap as a medium for flushing the closet basen. When such is the case, we use
a dish-brick having a circular rib which fits the socket or recess of the sink-trap, to
prevent waste water from following the under surface of the dish brick into the
foundations of the walls or buildings without entering the trap.
A hinged grate is also provided with lugs fitting a dovetailed recess in the said
dish-brick.
The extension pipes projecting above the basin of waste water-closets, we form
into a sort of pedestal to carry the seat, and which may be either plain or ornamented,
thereby dispensing with the usual wooden cross bearers and riser to support
the seat.
The invention further consists in the combination of a tipper with a siphon to
assist in producing siphonic effect. This arrangement is particularly applicable-for
"Lutrines," that is to say, several closets connected together and flushed from one
source, and at the same time. For this purpose, u large cistern is employed, in
which is fitted a tilting tank, placed above the high water line in the cistern-to
receive from the town's main or from any other source a constant dribble or small
supply of water. This tilting tank when nearly full of water discharges its-contents
into the cistern repeatedly and automatically until the water reaches the high-water
line in the cistern, when the following or next discharge-from the tilting tank
starts the siphon by agitating the water and causing a displacement of air in the
siphon.
To prevent water-filtering or percolating through the pores of large earthenware
eisterus used for "Latrines" and to render them watertight, we prefer, during the
construction of such cisterns, to scratch the whole of the inner surface with a fine
comb, whilst the clay is sufficiently plastic and soft. After the cistern is burnt in
the kiln, and while in a warm or hot condition, it is conted over upon its roughened
surface with a coating of well boiled gas tar and sulphur, preferably 3 parts of the
former to 1 of the latter, which adhering to the said surface makes the cistern
perfectly watertight.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a waste water closet constructed in
accordance with our invention;
Fig. 2 is an elevation in section of our improved dish brick and grate, shewing
their connection and position with the sink trap;
Fig. 3 is a plan of the dish-brick and grate.
In Fig. 1, A represents the annular weir basin having an outlet B through its
centre to the trap C below.

page_text: Above the weir or closet basin is an extension pipe D, on which is mounted
ornamented pedestal E, to carry the seat F which may be hinged or fixed as may
be desired. The base of the pedestal is made flush with the closet floor, and provided
with a rim, which may be let into a circular hole formed in the closet floor G, or in
the socket of the extension pipe D, so as to dispense with the usual wooden cross
bearers and riser to support the seat.
When waste water to flush the closet is received through sink trap I seen in
Fig. 2, we provide such trap with a dish brick J, having a circular rib K made to
fit a socket or recess in the said trap, to prevent waste water from following the
under-surface of the dish-brick into the foundation of the walls or building. The
dish brick J is also provided with grate L, hinged to bracket M, fitting a dovetailed
recess in the dish brick, to which it is secured by cement.
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
1. A water closet-basin having an annular weir, and a central opening through
the basin, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 1.
2. The arrangement and construction-of-dish brick J, grate L-and-sink-trap I,
substantially as described-and-illustrated.
3. The combination of a tipper and siphon substantially as described.
4. Making earthenware cistern for Latrines watertight substantially as described.
2. In a waste water closet the arrangement of the pedestal E, substantially as
described and illustrated.
Dated this 50th dor of Anril 1800
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.