IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER SUPPLY TO CLOSETS, DRINKING FOUNTAINS, WASHI-HAND BASINS, AND OTHER WATER SUPPLY APPLIANCES."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eliot Howard, of Walthamstow, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER SUPPLY TO CLOSETS, DRINKING
FOUNTAINS, WASHI-HAND BASINS, AND OTHER WATER SUPPLY APPLIANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eliot Howard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd December 1876.
" IM-
ELIOT HOWARD, of Walthamstow, in the County of Essex, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER SUPPLY
TO CLOSETS, DRINKING FOUNTAINS, "WASH-HAND BASINS, AND OTHER WATER SUPPLY
APPLIANCES."
My Invention relates to apparatus for preventing waste of water in the water
supply to closets, drinking fountains, wash basins, and other water supply appliances
where a limited or definite amount of water is required to be drawn off at a time
from a cistern or reservoir. For this purpose I make use of apparatus having
sliding piston appliance and a valve for the outlet of the measured quantity of
water, the said sliding piston appliance being so connected to the outlet valve that
there is a lost motion between the two, all as herein-after described.
According to one arrangement where a measuring cistern or service box is fixed
either in or below the main or supply cistern I arrange in an upper cylindrical part
of or above the service box a piston valve sliding therein and formed as a hollow
cylinder closed at the upper end and open below; this hollow sliding piston is con-
nected to the pull of the closet or other apparatus to be supplied with water and is
by chain links, or lever, or other suitable appliances so connected to the outlet valve
arranged in the lower part of or below the service box that there is a lost motion,
that is the upper or sliding piston moves some distance before the lower valve is
lifted from its seat. The hollow sliding piston has one or more apertures in the side
which correspond with one or more apertures in the outer part or cylinder wherein
it works, and when down or in the position of rest the apertures are opposite each
other so that the water can pass from the cistern into the service box, but by a

page_text: small movement given to the sliding piston the apertures are mutually closed and
no water can pass into the service box.
The apertures may be arranged as a scries of holes or slots of any convenient
form, or they may be arranged as one or more oblique slots or obliquely arranged
holes, and the sliding piston be guided by a stud working in an oblique slot or
otherwise so that it, when lifted, moves in a twisting direction. The apertures may
be made so small that the service box will not fill under a given time, and thus an
additional security may be obtained against waste of water by frequent raising of
the pull. The connection between the sliding piston and the outlet valve is, as
aforesaid, of such a nature that when the pull is operated the outlet valve does not
begin to open till the inlet apertures are entirely closed; again, when the pull is let
go the outlet valve reaches its seat before the inlet apertures are opened. No waste
of water can therefore take place, and only a service box full is each time supplied
to the closet or apparatus to be supplied.
In cases where it is not convenient to place the outlet valve in the cistern it may
be arranged to work in the service pipe. Where there is a supply of water under
pressure the inlet valve and outlet valve may both be placed in the lower part of the
measuring cistern.
According to another arrangement I employ two cylinders also open at one end
as the outer cylinder just described, and in each cylinder I arrange a hollow or solid,
say, leather packed piston; in connection therewith 1 arrange valves either in the
piston or in the cylinders in such a manner that the water or other fiuid when
the closet or other pull is raised has free inlet, but can only escape at a regulated
pace when the pull is let go. The piston in the first or upper cylinder is con-
nected to the pull and has attached to it the lower or second cylinder, to the
piston of which (which piston also may be hollow or solid, say, leather packed) is
connected the outlet valve of the cistern. Both cylinders have one or more
small apertures for the aforesaid gradual escape of the water. The object of the
second cylinder and piston is this, that if the pull is kept up (or in whatever
position of the pull the water escapes from the cistern) the outlet valve falls
gradually back into its place in a certain or regulated time, allowing only a
certain or fixed quantity of water to run off. The object of the first cylinder
is this, that if the pull is let go the valve does not immediately fall back into its
place but descends also at a gradual or regulated speed so as to ensure a suflicient
quantity of water escaping.
The cylinders are by preference arranged above one another, but may also be
differently disposed, thus, for instance, side by side, and the cylinders or pistous con-
nected by a lever.
The arrangement of pistons and cylinders just described may be reversed; thus,
the pull may be connected with the piston of the second cylinder and the outlet
valve to the said second cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Eliot Howard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd June
1877.
ELIOT HOWARD, of Walthamstow, in the County of Essex, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER SUPPLY
TO CLOSETS, DRINKING FOUNTAINS, WASH-HAND BASINS, AND OTHER WATER SUPPLY
APPLIANCES."
My Invention relates to apparatus for preventing waste of water in the water
supply to closets, drinking fountains, wash basins, and other water supply appliances
where a limited or definite amount of water is required to be drawn off at a time
from a cistern or reservoir. For this purpose I make use of apparatus having sliding

page_text: piston appliance and a valve for the outlet of the measured quantity of water, the
said sliding piston appliance being so connected to the outlet valve that there is a
lost motion between the two, all as herein-after described.
According to one arrangement where a incasuring cistern or service box is fixed
either in or below the main or supply cistern I arrange in an upper cylindrical part
of or above the service box a piston valve sliding therein and formed as a hollow
cylinder, closed at the upper end and open below; this hollow sliding piston is con-
nected to the pull of the closet or other apparatus to be supplied with water, and is,
by chain links, or lever, or other suitable appliances, so connected to the outlet valve
arranged in the lower part of or below the service box that there is a lost motion,
that is, the upper or sliding piston moves some distanco before the lower valve is
lifted from its seat. The hollow sliding piston has one or more apertures in the side
which correspond with one or more apertures in the outer part or cylinder wherein
it works, and when down or in the position of rest the apertures are opposite each
other so that the water can pass from the cistern into the service box, but by a small
movement given to the sliding piston the apertures are mutually closed and no
water can pass into the service box.
The apertures may be arranged as a series of holes or slots of any convenient
form, or they may be arranged as one or more oblique slots or obliquely arranged
holes and the sliding piston be guided by a stud working in an oblique slot or other-
wise, so that it when lifted moves in a twisting direction. The apertures may be
made sɔ small that the service box will not fill under a given time, and thus an
additional security may be obtained against waste of water by frequent raising of
the pull. The connection between the sliding piston and the outlet valve is, as
aforesaid, of such a nature that when the pull is operated the outlet valve does not
begin to open till the inlet apertures are entirely closed again; when the pull is let
go the outlet valve reaches its seat before the inlet apertures are opened, no waste
of water can therefore take place, and only a service box full is each time supplied
to the closet or apparatus to be supplied.
In cases where it is not convenient to place the outlet valve in the cistern it may
be arranged to work in the service pipe. Where there is a supply of water under
pressure the inlet valve and outlet valve may both be placed in the lower part of
the measuring cistern.
According to another arrangement I employ two cylinders, also open at one end,
as the outer cylinder just described, and in each cylinder I arrange a hollow or.
solid, say, leather packed piston; in connection therewith I arrange valves cither in
the piston or in the cylinders in such a manner that the water or other fluid when
the closet or other pull is raised has free inlet but can only escape at a regulated
pace when the pull is let go. The piston in the first or upper cylinder is connected
to the pull and has attached to it the lower or second cylinder, to the piston of
which (which piston may also be hollow or solid, say, leather packed) is connected
the outlet valve of the cistern. Both cylinders have one or more small apertures
for the aforesaid gradual escape of the water. The object of the second cylinder and
piston is this, that if the pull is kept up (or in whatever position of the pull the
water escapes from the cistern) the outlet valve falls gradually back into its place
in a certain or regulated time, allowing only a certain or fixed quantity of water to
run off. The object of the first cylinder is this, that if the pull is let go the valve
does not immediately fall back into its place but descends also at a gradual or
regulated speed so as to ensure a sufficient quantity of water escaping.
The cylinders are by preference arranged above one another but may also be
differently disposed, thus, for instance, side by side, and the cylinders or pistons
connected by a lever.
The arrangement of pistons and cylinders just described may be reversed, thus,
the pull may be connected with the piston of the second cylinder and the outlet
valve to the said second cylinder.
In the annexed Drawings Figure 1 shews my Invention applied to a measuring
çistern or service box, to be fixed either in a main or supply cistern or below it

page_text: Figure 2 shows the manner of fixing the said service box in the cistern; Figure 3,
the manner of fixing it below the cistern; and Figure 4, the service box of similar
construction but of different shape, being simply an enlargement of the service pipe
fixed below the cistern, thus showing one way in which the luvention can be varied
to suit different circumstances.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, shew different variations of the hollow admission valve
as I prefer to use them for this arrangement.
The same letters refer to like or corresponding parts in all the Figures.
The construction of the service box is as follows:-The admission valve A is
fixed at the top of the box and is connected with the outlet valve C by a loose link
or chain or any convenient appliance by which a lost motion is secured, or in other
words, that the admission valve travels some distance before the lower valve begins
to move. This lost motion is so proportioned that the upper valve is entirely closed
before the lower valve begins to open. A small pipe is provided at E for the
admission of air to the interior of the box and the escape of air therefrom. The
upper or admission valve is constructed, as shewn, separately to a larger scale at
Figure 5. The outer cylinder A is open at both ends and is fixed to the service
box by a flange and screws, or it may be simply by a solder joint. The inner
cylinder or piston valve B, which fits accurately into A so as to slide therein, is
closed at the top by a partition b but open at the bottom. In the outer cylinder A
is a slot F in a sloping or spiral direction, and in the inner cylinder or piston
valve B is a stud F₁ fitting rather loosely in the slot F. Both cylinders are pierced
with one, two, or more corresponding slits G, G, arranged at an angle opposite to
that of the slot or slots in the outer cylinder A. When the cylinder is in its
position of rest, that is down, these slits G, G, are opposite or fair with each other
and allow the water to enter the service box D, but when the piston valve B begins
to rise, the action of the stud F1, in the slot F communicates to it a spiral motion
opposite to the angle of the slits G, G, and they are very rapidly closed; by this
means a very small upward movement of the inner cylinder or valve B suffices to
shut off all communication between the cistern and the service box.
In Figure I shew another arrangement in which instead of having an angular
slot I have a vertical slot If, in which works the stud II; also in place of the
angular slits G, G, (Figure 5) I have a number of small holes J, which are opposite
each other when the inner cylinder is in its position of rest but are rapidly closed
when the piston valve B moves upwards.
Figure 7 shows a plan for preventing leakage of the water through the valve
when there is a great pressure. For this purpose I turn a series of shallow or fine
grooves K on the surface of the inner cylinder, which prevent the free passage or
leakage of the water.
In Figure & I shew an arrangement similar to that shewn in Figure 6, only that
the inner cylinder A is fixed to the cistern, and the outer casing or valve B moves.
In Figure 91 shew another construction, in which the bottom of the inner
cylinder B is closed and a cup leather is fitted thereto to prevent leakage between
A and B. There are here two rows of holes, J and J, pierced through both
cylinders. When the moving cylinder or valve B is down or in its position of rest
these holes are open, when the cylinder B is drawn up they are closed.
It is obvious that the valve B, also in the previously described arrangement, may
be made to fit with cup leathers, as in the arrangement last described (Figure 9) or
with any other packing; but practically with ordinary pressures it is found suflicient
to make an accurate metallic fit. All these forms of admission valve can be arranged
to close with a downward motion of the inner piston or valve cylinder B instead of
an upward motion, as shown. It will be observed that in my arrangements the
admission valve is so constructed that after it is entirely closed the moving piston
can continue moving for a sufficient distance to allow the outlet valve to be com-
pletely opened.
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, shew my Invention adapted to water waste preventing
cisterns, in which the water is admitted at the bottom; Figure 10 is arranged as a

page_text: water waste preventer for courts, alleys, &c., or for a drinking fountain; Figure 11,
as a stand post; Figure 12, as a flushing cistern; and Figure 13, also as a flushing
cistern. In this arrangement the admission valve M and the outlet valve N are
connected by a lever O, and the lost motion is obtained by means of a loose link or
chain, or an elongated slot, or any other convenient appliance at either end of the
lever. By preference I use a link in connection with the outlet valve N. The
admission valve is closed when at its lowest position and opens upwards. The
lever O in Figures 10 and 11 is moved by a knob P, and is weighted so as to keep
the outlet valve N closed and the admission valve Al open when in a position of
rest. The pressure of the water on the admission valve M also tends to open it,
on account of which I make it of small area, otherwise it would be diflicult to close.
I occasionally use an admission valve M, as shewn at Figure 12, and with its outer
and inner parts separately to a larger scale in Figures 14, in which the inner part
or piston T is made solid and provided with a cup leather U at the bottom.
the piston T is at its highest position the cup leather is above the hole or holes V
and allows the water to enter the chamber, but as soon as U enters into the smaller
part of the cylinder all passage of water is stopped. The action would be the samo
if the cylinder and piston were made parallel throughout their length.
When
In Figures 10, 11, and 12, the cisterns being closed at the tops I arrange an air
valve R working with a float S, which allows the air to enter when the water is
falling, but closes against a seat above when the cistern is nearly full, thus pre-
venting the escape of any water. This float may act either directly, as in Figures 10
and 11, or with a lever, as in Figure 12. By preference I place this air valve in a
small chamber projecting somewhat above the top of the cistern, so that the water
does not reach it, and so that it is out of the way of floating impurities which might
cause it to leak; Q is the outlet pipe by which the water is drawn off.
The arrangement shewn in Figure 12 acts precisely as Figures 10 and 11, except
that the lever is operated in a different way, namely, by an external lever O' con-
nected by a rod O working through a gland, as shewn. Other suitable automatic
air valves than those here shewn may be used in connection with the waste pre-
venting cisterns here described.
Figure 13 shews an arrangement of flushing cistern similar to Figure 12, but
without the air valve R. The fulcrum W of the lever O which works the outlet
valve N is connected with the admission valve M, so that in no case can the outlet
valve N be opened until the admission valve M is closed. The admission valve M
is closed when the cistern is filled by means of the floating bali X. The outlet valve
is so weighted that when the lever is depressed by pulling the handle Z it remains
at rest, until the piston of the admission valve is brought to its lowest position and
the valve closed.
The weight Y is for the purpose of opening the admission valve when the cistern
is empty. The openings above the ball, and shewn at R, are for air communication.
The top of the cistern may be left open altogether if preferred.
In Figures 15, 10, and 17, I shew an arrangement of the second part of my
Invention. The outlet valve a, Figure 15, is connected with a piston b working in
the cylinder c, which is shewn separately and drawn to a larger scale in Figure 17.
The cylinder c is connected by means of the lever d with the piston e, which works
in a second cylinder, which is shewn separately and drawn to a larger scale in
Figure 16. This cylinder may be left open at the bottom, or there have holes J', as
here shewn. In this arrangement the cylinder fis fixed; at the bottom or lower
part of the cylinder c is a valve or valves g, g, opening upwards; in the piston b is a
valve, also opening upwards, and attached to the piston rod ; the upper part of
the cylinder c may be left open, or it may be pierced with a row of holes j, j, as
may be most convenient. There is a small amount of play left between the piston
rod and the bottom of the cylinder c. The piston e is also made with a valve
attached to the piston rod m, and opening downwards, and in it a small hole is
pierced, or a channel or "nick" cut on its face so as to allow the valve to leak
slightly when closed.

page_text: The action of this arrangement is as follows:- When at rest the parts are as
shewn in the Drawing, Figure 15, and both cylinders fill with water, the cylinder c
by the valves g, g, and the cylinder by the holes, or by the open end, as the case
may be. When the weighted end of the lever d is raised by means of a chain or
wire from the pull of the closet, urinal, or other place, the cylinder e is raised,
and thereby the valves g, g, and close, and the valve 1 opens, thus allowing the
piston e to pass freely down the cylinder f, but keeping the piston b suspended in
the cylinder e resting on the water enclosed therein, and thus opening the outlet
If the lever is held in this position the play left round the piston rod
allows the water to escape slowly from the cylinder c below the piston b, and the
holes j, j, or the open tops admit it to the upper part of the cylinder. If on the
other hand the lever d be let go, the valve in the piston e closes, and will only
allow e to rise at a regulated pace, according to the size of the hole or channel ¹ cut
in the valve l. It will thus be seen that it is impossible either to hold the valve
open beyond a certain time or to close it until a certain quantity of water has
cscaped.
valve (.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details of structure shown in the above
Drawings, but I claim,-
Firstly. As applied to flushing cisterns or service boxes or equivalent apparatus,
inlet valves consisting of inner and outer parts, one sliding against the other, as
herein-before described, and as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 14, and operating
in conjunction with outlet valves of any suitable construction worked with a lost
motion, as and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of water waste preventing cisterns,
substantially as herein-before described, and as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11,
12, and 13.
Thirdly. As applied to supply cisterns, the two cylinders c and provided with
pistons, valves, and openings, and operating in conjunction with any suitable outlet
valve, as and for the purpose herein-before described, and as shewn in Figures 15,
16, and 17.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eliot Howard, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 1st (First) day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.