Improvements in or in connection with Drain Tests.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
Improvements in or in connection with Drain Tests.
JAMES WILLIAM COWLING Sanitary Inspector, 2 Fortnam Road Holloway N.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A tube or hottled shaped vessel open at each end made of metal glass or other
suitable material closed at ends by means of two metal discs and a ball of india
rubber or other shaped material drawn together by string or other material fitted
with an external spring of india rubber or other material the fastenings held in
position by a piece of tin or wire and hermetically sealed in tinfoil or other material
to prevent the india rubber from decaying. This invention is used as follows-
unwind string as far as the piece of tin and lay the vessel in trap-lay back the tin
or wire-holding the string whilst pouring down a pail of water into trap when the
vessel by this means is passed into drain when the seal is broken and contents
discharged into drain.
Dated this 4th day of April 1896.
JAMES WILLIAM COWLING.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Drain Tests.
JAMES WILLIAM COWLING of 2 Fortnam Road, Holloway, N. Sanitary
Inspector 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 :-
My invention consists of improvements in or in connection with drain tests or
testers, and its object is to provide an inexpensive and efficient apparatus capable
of being successfully operated by skilled or unskilled persons alike.
In carrying out my invention, I take a vessel or case, having one end closed, and
fill it with any strong smelling chemical compound. On the top or open end of the
vessel I fix a covering of auy suitable material, & secure it thereto by means of a
metal fastening, or of some other non-inflammable material, which is attached to
the vessel and covering, for the purpose of rendering the vessel or case, when
charged, perfectly air tight.
In order that my invention may be the more readily understood I will describe
the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which corre-
sponding letters indicate corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the vessel or case hermetically sealed, fitted with the
covering secured by a modified metal fastening.
Fig. 2 shews the vessel or case with a further modification of my metallic
fastening which releasably holds the covering in position.
Fig. 3 shews the vessel or case after its contents have been discharged, and the
separate parts:-
(a) is a metal pin passing through the vessel or case for the purpose of breaking
up the chemical therein contained;

page_text: (b) is the covering fixed on the top or open end of the vessel or case;
(c) is the metal fastening attached to the vessel or case in order to secure the
covering b and to render the same perfectly air tight;
(d) is the chemical or material with which the vessel or case is charged;
(e) is the vessel or case which contains the material d;
() is the hook formed at the lower or closed end of the vessel or case;
(g) is a chain attached to the hook f;
(h) is a suspender of no particular shape or design and of any suitable material,
fastened to the hook for chain g, as may be found most practicable to afford the
necessary length of travel of the vessel or case into any drain or place, the free end
of which suspender being secured or retained during an operation of testing or
disinfecting drains or rooms. () is a band or pin securing c.
The method of operating my said invention is as follows:-When proceeding to
test or disinfect I place the chemical or material à into the vessel or case e having
at its closed end the fixed hook f, to which is attached the chain g or the
suspender h, or both. Having secured or retained the free end of the suspender h
in some convenient manner, the tester is then thrown in the place to be tested.
After the vessel or case has run the length of the suspender h, I give a slight jerk
thereto which releases the fastenings, separates the parts, and forces the contents
of the vessel or case to escape.
In testing a drain, the charged vessel e is passed down a ventilating pipe or
other opening into the drain, and should it be necessary to pass the vessel over a
trap, this can readily be accomplished by the pressure of a flush of water. Hot
water thrown into the drain, after the vessel has been discharged will materially
facilitate the efficient action of my invention in discovering existing defects in
the drain.
It is obvious that my apparatus is also applicable for disinfecting purposes.
The vessel e being properly charged and fastened should be conveniently placed
in the room; the room must be, as far as possible, hermetically sealed, and the
free end of the suspender passed through the keyhole of the room door, or
through any other suitable aperture whereto it may be secured or retained; and
afterwards proceed in the manner herein before described for testing a drain.
To prevent my invention from prematurely discharging itself I place across or
over the fastenings a piece of metal which may or may not be removed before
throwing the charged vessel into the drain.
It will be understood that by means of the suspender h I am enabled to bring
back the whole or part of the vessel after the contents have been liberated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A vessel or case with one end closed, filled with a chemical compound and
rendered air tight by a covering of suitable material secured by a pin releasably
connected to a metallic fastening, such vessel or case not being wholly dependent
upon the action of water for its efficient operation, substantially as described and
shewn in the drawings.
2. A drain tester as claimed in the preceding claim having a chain fastened to a
hook and a suspender attached to such chain or hook substantially as described and
shewn in the drawings.
T
100
JAMES WM. COWLING,
2 Fortnam Road, Holloway, N.