Improved Device for Supplying Disinfectants to Water Waste Preventers or Cisterns.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Device for Supplying Disinfectants to Water Waste
Preventers or Cisterns.
I, ALEXANDER WILLS, of 13 Huddleston Road, Tufnell Park, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
The object of the present invention is to provide a device which will automati-
cally supply a suitable quantity of disinfectant to water as it is admitted to a
water waste preventer or cistern which is practically entirely emptied each time
that it is actuated, so that the closet, drain, sewer or other part with which the
latter is connected will always be kept perfectly sweet and free from dangerous or
injurious gases and disagreeable smells, as the disinfectant contained in the water
which passes through such part each time the water waste preventer or cistern is
operated, will effectually destroy or neutralize such gases or smells.
The disinfectant I prefer to employ is permanganate of potash, and this I use in
the ordinary crystal form.
My improved device consists of a receptacle or vessel made of metal, earthenware
or other suitable non-porous material, and of any convenient form and dimensions.
The bottom of this receptacle or vessel is closed, while the top is open, and its
height is such that when the water waste preventer or cistern contains the full
quantity of water, the level thereof is above the open top of the receptacle or
vessel (preferably for a depth of about two inches or more), so that the receptacle
or vessel is then entirely submerged, while when the water runs out such receptacle
or vessel will be left full of water. The disinfectant is placed in the receptacle or
vessel (any suitable depth of material being employed), and a piece of perforated
material, such as perforated zinc, or wire or other gauze, is secured above it,
preferably at or near the top of such receptacle or vessel. This perforated cover
has the effect of keeping back or retaining the disinfectant in the receptacle or
vessel, and of retarding the exit therefrom of the portion taken up or dissolved by
the water contained therein, so that as the level of the water in the water waste
preventer or cistern rises above and covers the top of the receptacle or vessel, the
obstruction offered by such perforated cover prevents more than the requisite
quantity of disinfectant in solution from passing out of the receptacle or vessel
and mingling with the water in the water waste preventer or cistern.
The capacity and dimensions of the water waste preventer or cistern, the pressure
of the water entering same and the rate at which it enters, together with the depth
to which the receptacle or vessel becomes submerged when the water waste
preventer or cistern is full, will all affect the quantity of disinfectant in solution
which will be able to escape each time such receptacle or vessel becomes submerged,
and by properly determining the size of the perforations, openings or meshes of the
cover of the latter, such quantity can be regulated to suit the particular conditions.
In order to enable the quantity of disinfectant in solution thus allowed to escape to
be adjusted to suit varying conditions and requirements, I preferably employ a
double perforated cover, the top one being movable over the under one (or vice
versa), so as to permit of the perforations or openings in the latter being obstructed
or restricted to a smaller or greater extent if required. In the case of a circular
receptacle or vessel this can be effected by mounting the top perforated cover so
that it can be turned in relation to the under one, while in the case of a rectangular
receptacle or vessel the same effect can be produced by making the top perforated
cover so that it can slide to a limited extent in relation to the under one.
The receptacle or vessel charged with the disinfectant and fitted with the

page_text: perforated cover is simply placed so that it stands on the bottom of, or is supported
at a suitable height in, the water waste preventer or cistern, and in such a position
therein that it will be entirely submerged when the latter is full, the level of such
water being then preferably about two inches or more above the top of the
receptacle or vessel. The latter when first inserted is held until the rising water
passes over its top and fills same. The apparatus is then ready for use, and it will
require no further attention, as each time the water waste preventer or cistern
refills after being emptied, a quantity of disinfectant in solution will automatically
escape from the receptacle or vessel as soon as it becomes submerged, and will
mingle with the water. Should the water which leaves the water waste preventer
or cistern appear to be too highly or not sufficiently coloured, all that is requisite
is to shift the movable perforated cover until on again emptying the cistern it is
seen that the desired regulation of the quantity of disinfectant supplied has been
effected.
The apparatus will last for a long period, and when the disinfectant has become
exhausted (as will be at once apparent from the water issuing from the water waste
preventer or cistern ceasing to be coloured at all, or to the extent considered
requisite), the old receptacle or vessel can be removed and replaced by a new one.
If found advisable the interior of the receptacle or vessel may be divided by a
partition or partitions to form one or more cells of comparatively small width to
receive the disinfectant, so as to bring the upper surface thereof as near as possible
to the top of the receptacle or vessel, and to expose a comparatively high, narrow
layer of same to the action of the water above it.
Dated this 26th day of October 1891.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Device for Supplying Disinfectants to Water Waste
Preventers or Cisterns.
1, ALEXANDER WILLS, of 13 Huddleston Road, Tufnell Park, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Agent, 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 object of the present invention is to provide a device which will automati-
cally supply a suitable quantity of disinfectant to water as it is admitted to a water
waste preventer or cistern which is practically entirely emptied each time that it
is actuated, so that the closet, drain, sewer or other part with which the latter is
connected will always be kept perfectly sweet and free from dangerous or injurious
gases and disagreeable smells, as the disinfectant contained in the water which
passes through such part each time the water waste preventer or cistern is operated,
will effectually destroy or neutralize such gases or smells.
The disinfectant I prefer to employ is permanganate of potash, and this I use in
the ordinary crystal or other suitable form.
My improved device consists of a receptacle or vessel made of metal, earthenware
or other suitable non-porous material, and of any convenient form and dimensions.
The bottom of this receptacle or vessel is closed, while the top is open, and its
height is such that when the water waste preventer or cistern contains the full
quantity of water, the level thereof is above the open top of the receptacle or vessel
(preferably for a depth of about two inches or more), so that the main body of the
receptacle or vessel is then entirely submerged, while when the water runs out
such main body will be left full of water. The disinfectant is placed in the
receptacle or vessel (any suitable depth of material being employed), and a piece of
perforated material, such as perforated zinc, or wire or other gauze, is secured
above it, preferably at or near the top of the main body of such receptacle or

page_text: vessel. This perforated cover has the effect of keeping back or retaining the
disinfectant in the receptacle or vessel, and of retarding the exit therefrom of the
portion taken up or dissolved by the water contained therein, so that as the level of
the water in the water waste preventer or cistern rises above and covers the top of
the body of the receptacle or vessel, the obstruction offered by such perforated
cover prevents more than the requisite quantity of disinfectant in solution from
passing out of the receptacle or vessel and mingling with the water in the water
waste preventer or cistern.
The capacity and dimensions of the water waste preventer or cistern, the pressure
of the water entering same and the rate at which it enters, together with the depth
to which the main body of the receptacle or vessel becomes submerged when the
water waste preventer or cistern is full, will all affect the quantity of disinfectant.
in solution which will be able to escape each time such body becomes submerged,
and by properly determining the size of the perforations, openings or meshes of the
cover of the latter, such quantity can be regulated to suit the particular conditions.
In order to enable the quantity of disinfectant in solution thus allowed to escape to
be adjusted to suit varying conditions and requirements, I preferably employ a
double perforated cover, the top one being movable over the under one (or vice
versa), so as to permit of the perforations or openings in the latter being obstructed
or restricted to a smaller or greater extent if required. In the case of a circular
receptacle or vessel this can be effected by mounting the top perforated cover so
that it can be turned in relation to the under one, while in the case of a rectangular
receptacle or vessel the same effect can be produced by making the top perforated
cover so that it can slide to a limited extent in relation to the under one.
The receptacle or vessel charged with the disinfectant and fitted with the
perforated cover is simply placed so that it stands on the bottom of, or is supported
at a suitable height in, the water waste preventer or cistern, and in such a position
therein that the main body of same will be entirely submerged when the latter
full, the level of such water being then preferably about two inches or more above
the top of such main body. The receptacle or vessel when first inserted is held
until the rising water passes over the perforated top and fills same.
The apparatus
is then ready for use, and it will require no further attention, as each time the
water waste preventer or cistern refills after being emptied, a quantity of disinfectant
in solution will automatically escape from the receptacle or vessel as soon as the
Should the
body thereof becomes submerged, and will mingle with the water.
water which leaves the water waste preventer or cistern appear to be too highly or not
Bufficiently coloured, all that is requisite is to shift the movable perforated cover
until on again emptying the cistern it is seen that the desired regulation of the
quantity of disinfectant supplied has been effected.
The apparatus will last for a long period, and when the disinfectant has become
exhausted (as will be at once apparent from the water issuing from the water waste
preventer or cistern ceasing to be coloured at all; or to the extent considered
requisite), the old receptacle or vessel can be removed and replaced by a new one.
If found advisable the interior of the receptacle or vessel may be divided by a
partition or partitions to form one or more cells of comparatively small width to
receive the disinfectant, so as to bring the upper surface thereof as near as possible
to the top of the main body of the receptacle or vessel, and to expose a compara-
tively high, narrow layer of same to the action of the water above it.
A tube or chamber may project up from the top of the main body of the
receptacle or vessel (preferably in the centre thereof) to any desired height, such
tabe or chamber being preferably closed at top, and preferably extending down to
or near the bottom of such main body, where it has an opening or openings which
place the interior thereof in open communication with the interior of the main body
of the receptacle or vessel, and allow the water in the latter to freely enter the
tube or chamber to about the same level as in the main body. This tube or chamber
is filled with the disinfectant to the top thereof, or to any suitable height, and forms
a reserve store which gradually descends into the body of the receptacle or vessel,

page_text: for inserting and withdrawing same from the water waste preventer or cistern, and
it is not essential that the top of such tube or chamber should be submerged when
the water waste preventer or cistern is full, although it may be submerged, and in
this case the top of such tube or chamber must be closed to prevent the entrance of
water at that point.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a simple form of apparatus embodying my invention,
and Fig. 2 is a plan view of same showing the perforated cover.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of another form of apparatus embodying the invention,
and in which a central tube or chamber for containing a reserve store of disinfectant
is employed.
Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of Fig. 3, and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of Fig. 3.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all figs. where they occur.
In all the figs. A is the receptacle or vessel containing the disinfectant a, and
B is the cover thereof, which is provided with perforations or openings b, of any
suitable shape, dimension and arrangement.
In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the receptacle or vessel A consists simply of a
shallow box of any suitable non-porous material, same being closed at the bottom,
while the perforated cover B extends right across the open top of the box A, and
is secured in position above the disinfectant contained therein. When the box A
is placed in a water waste preventer or cistern, water will enter through the
perforations in the cover B, and percolate through the mass of disinfectant a in
such box, dissolving a certain amount thereof, so that each time the water waste
preventer or cistern is refilled after having been emptied, as the water passes over
the cover B a certain portion of the disinfectant in solution will pass out of the
box A, through the holes 6 in cover B, and mingle with the water in the manner
hereinbefore described. The cover B may be a simple fixed perforated cover, but
I prefer to make same double as shown, and mount the upper plate 6' thereof so
that it can turn in relation to the under plate, which is secured over the
disinfectant. By these means the area of the openings 6 in such cover which is
left free or unobstructed may be adjusted to suit different conditions and require-
ments, by regulating the amount of disinfectant in solution which can pass through
such openings each time the box A becomes submerged.
Referring now to Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, in the form of apparatus
there shown a tube or chamber C projects upward from the cover B to any suitable
height, its upper end being preferably closed by a cap c, while its lower end is left
open, or is provided with slots or openings c¹, such lower end preferably extending
down into the main body or box A of the receptacle or vessel, to or near the
bottom thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. The cover B of box A in this case only
covers the part of the top of such box between the outer surface of the tube or
chamber C and the edge of the box, the central portion of the latter being closed
by the upwardly extending tube or chamber C. This cover B has perforations or
- openings b of any suitable form and dimensions, and such cover is preferably made
double, as in the arrangement previously described, so that by turning the top
plate b¹ thereof in relation to the under plate 63, the area of the openings 6 which is
left free or unobstructed may be regulated as required. The tube or chamber C
serves to contain a reserve store of disinfectant, which gradually descends from the
top part of such tube or chamber into the main body or box A. of the receptacle or
vessel, as that contained in the latter is dissolved and passes through the perforations
or openings in cover B, the water which the box A always contains having free
access to the interior of such tube or chamber C so as to effect this result.
The movement of the upper plate 6' of cover B is shown in Fig. 5 as being
limited by a pin and slot connection D.

page_text: Although I have shown the receptacle or vessel A. as being of circular form, this
being a convenient shape and easy to manufacture, it will be readily understood
that such receptacle or vessel may be of rectangular or other shape if desired, and
further that the dimensions of same may be varied to suit different conditions, and
the length of time it is required that the disinfectant contained in the apparatus
should last without renewal.
I do not confine myself to the particular construction of the forms of my
apparatus herein before described and shown in the drawings, which are only
given as examples of suitable methods of carrying my invention into effect, and
it will be readily understood that same may be varied largely without departing
from the nature of my said invention.
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. A receptacle or vessel for containing and automatically distributing
disinfectants to the water of water waste preventers or cisterns, consisting in a
box of non-porous material closed at bottom and provided with a perforated
cover at or near the top thereof, substantially as specified.
2. A receptacle or vessel for containing and automatically distributing
disinfectants to the water of water waste preventers or cisterns, consisting in a
box of non-porous material closed at bottom and provided with a double perforated
cover at or near the top thereof, one of the plates of such cover being movable in
relation to the other plate thereof, for the purpose of enabling the area of the
openings in such cover to be regulated at will, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3. A receptacle or vessel for containing and automatically distributing
disinfectants to the water of water waste preventers or cisterns, consisting in a
box of non-porous material closed at bottom and provided with a perforated
cover at or near the top thereof, in combination with a tube or chamber projecting
up above such perforated cover and being preferably closed at top, while its lower
end is in open communication with the space contained within the box, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 5th day of November 1891.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.