Improvements in Syphon Flushing Tanks or Cisterns.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
Improvements in Syphon Flushing Tanks or Cisterns.
We GEORGE FREDERICK PARKINSON of 74 Westbourne Park Villas, Paddington, in
the County of Middlesex Gentleman and GEORGE CHARLES WICKHAM of Blackfriars
Street, Kings Lynn in the County of Norfolk, Plumber and Sanitary Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to that class of flushing tank in which the Tank and the
apparatus connected therewith, are so arranged and proportioned that a pre-
determined or not more than a predetermined-quantity of water is supplied to the
pan or basin each time the apparatus is operated.
We fit or attach to the base of a tank, or cistern, of the required capacity, a
cylindrical box or chamber. A syphon is fixed in the tank in such a manner that
one leg communicates with the vessel or place intended to be flushed. The other leg
has two orifices, one of which is in the interior of the tank, and is fitted with a valve,
and the other orifice is in the cylindrical chamber. A disc, or piston, having a hollow
stem, or piston rod. slides easily in the cylindrical chamber. The stem, or piston rod,
passes through the bottom of the tank and is connected by means of a rod, or a chain,
to one end of a lever. A cord, or a chain, is attached to the opposite end of the lever
for operating the apparatus in the usual manner.
Water may be supplied to the Tank by means of a ball, or other, valve.

page_text: We GEORGE FREDERICK PARKINSON of 74 Westbourne Park Villas, Paddington in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and GEORGE CHARLES WICKHAM of Blackfriars
Road, Kings Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, Plumber and Sanitary Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our Invention relates to that class of flushing tank in which the Tank and the
apparatus connected therewith, are so arranged and proportioned that a predetermined,
or not more than a predermined, quantity of water is supplied to the pan or basin each
time the apparatus is operated.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of a Tank or Cistern with our
invention adapted and fitted thereto. Fig. 2 is a section, on the line A. B. Fig. 1, of
the same, and Fig. 3 is, likewise, a section on the line C. D. Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view,
looking upwards, of the valve h. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve h and
Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan and elevation of the piston and hollow stein
hereinafter mentioned. The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the
figures.
We fit or attach by means of screws or bolts to the under side of the base of a tank
or cistern i of the required capacity a cylindrical box or chamber e. A discharge pipe
or syphon g g g is fixed in the tank in such a manner that one leg g, commonly
known as the long leg, passes through the bottom of the tank i, and communicates
with, and conducts water to, the vessel or place intended to be flushed. The other
legg commonly known as the short leg, also passes through the bottom of the tank
and communicates with the interior of the cylindrical box or chamber e.
This leg g
has a lateral enlargement & the bottom of which is open to the interior of the tank
but is fitted with a valve h which remains closed except when the apparatus is in
operation.
The capacity of the box or chamber should be about double that of the discharge
pipe.
Within the cylindrical box or chamber e which is fitted or attached to the base of
the tank i, a disc or piston d is made to slide easily not necessarily water tight. The
disc has a cylindrical stem or piston rod c which passes through a hole in the bottom
of the tank and the top of the stem lies flush with, or, preferably, from half an inch to
an inch above, the inside surface of the bottom of the tank. A cord or chain, represented
by the dotted line a, for actuating the apparatus, is attached to a bar across the
hollow stem or rod c. This cord or chain is attached to the upper end of a segmental
arm m on the end of a lever n and lies in a groove on such arm when the lever is

page_text: actuated as hereinafter described. The lever n is carried or fulcrummed on a pin o
cast upon the syphon g, a split pin passed through a hole in the pin o retains the
lever in its place. To the opposite end P of the lever n another cord or chain q having
a suitable ring or handle is attached. Instead of employing a lever, a cord or chain
may be led from the pin bover grooved pulleys directly to the ring or handle, as
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings attached to G. C. Wickham's Specification
No. 13468 of 1886.
When the tank is provided with a lid or cover the lever n will pass through a slot
in the lid.
Water may be supplied to the tank in any convenient manner as is well
understood.
⋅
g.
The tank or cistern having been filled with water to about the height shewn in
Figures 2 and 3, the apparatus is to be actuated by pulling the cord or chain
Motion is then communicated through the lever n to the cord or chain a, which,
being attached to the bar b across the tubular stem or piston rod c, causes the stem,
and also the disc d to be raised or pulled up. Thereupon the water which is in the
chamber above the disc d, with the exception of a small portion which will pass
between the periphery of the disc and the wall of the chamber, will be lifted or forced
up through the orifice of the short leg of the discharge pipe, or syphon g, pushing
before it the water already in the leg gl, and if the capacity of the cylindrical chamber
has been properly proportioned to the capacity of the discharge pipe, a syphonic action
will be set up, which, by means of the valve h, will continue so long as the level of
the water in the tank i will prevent air passing through the valve. So soon as the
water in the tank has, by reason of the syphonic action, been reduced to the level
of the valve -or, in other words, when the syphon has emptied the tank of
water-air will enter the valve h, the syphonic action will cease, and the tank may
again be filled with water.
When the cord or chain is no longer pulled the disc d with its stem c will sink
in the cylinder e. Water finds its way into the cylinder e through the stem c and
also between the stem and the bottom of the tank, the space or clearance left to
allow the stem to pass up and down easily, being sufficient for that purpose.
We have described and shewn our apparatus with the leg g of the discharge
pipe passing through the bottom of the tank but the apparatus may be arranged so
that the leg g may pass over the side or over the end of the tank. The shape of
the syphon would have to be modified, and the lever would have to be carried, or
fulcrummed, on one side or on one end of the tank. We do not recommend such an
arrangement and have not shewn it in the drawings.
k
The enlargement & may be arranged at a right angle, or at any other angle, with
the position shewn in the figures, if preferred: and the discharge pipe g may be built
up of two, three or more parts instead of being cast in one piece as shewn.
The valve is a thin plate of coppers working loosely on a hinget formed on a
metal plate or frame u and is fixed to a flange on the base of the enlargement k by
two screws v v.
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. The construction of Syphon Tanks or Cisterns substantially in the manner herein-
before described and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In a flushing tank or Cistern, the combination of the tank or cistern i, the
cylindrical chamber e, the disc d with hollow stem c, and the discharge pipe or
syphon having an enlargement and valve h, when combined and arranged
substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated.
3. In a flushing tank or cistern the combination of the discharge pipe or syphon g
having an enlargement & and valve h, the cylindrical chamber e, and the disc d having
a hollow stem c, when arranged substantially in the manner hereinbefore described
and illustrated.

page_text: 4. In a flushing tank or cistern the combination of the Cylindrical Chamber e, and
the disc d with hollow stem c when arranged substantially in the manner and for
the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated.
5. The discharge pipe or syphong having an enlargement and valve substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated when employed for discharging a flushing
tank or cistern.
Dated this 26th day of September 1888.
GEO. FRED. PARKINSON.
G. C. WICKHAM.
By Geo. Fred. Parkinson,
His Agent.