Improvements in Water Closets and Flushing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Closets and Flushing Apparatus.
I NIMROD SIMMONS of Victoria Street Clifton in the City and County of
Bristol B.Sc. F.R. Met. Soc., Mem. Soc. Arts Certified Inspector of the Sanitary
Institute Civil and Sanitary Engineer, 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 is a new and improved water closet and flushing apparatus which
embodies the principles of three distinct types of closet in combination, together
with minor details for operating and controlling the action of the apparatus. The
basin of the closet together with the trap forms an ordinary wash down closet..
The said basin and trap provided with a controlled valve at the outlet or mouth of
the said trap as hereinafter described, is in effect a valve closet. The said basin
and trap is fitted with a controlled valve to discharge the closet into an extension
of the said trap, as hereinafter described and shown, constitutes a siphon discharge
closet in virtue of the said extension forming the longer limb of a siphon.
The valve is set open when it is desired to use the closet as an ordinary wash
down closet, and if the valve is deranged in any way the same may be removed
temporarily without the closet being rendered useless, as the trap is properly
sealed and in the condition common to ordinary water closets.
The closet is designed to obviate the complication of pipes and jets and other
devices usually connected with siphon discharge closets while combining the
advantages of the valve closet and also the simplicity of the wash down if desired.
In this closet the valve retains when closed a suitable head of water in the basin,.
and this head of water is utilised to produce siphonic discharge of the closet by
the sudden transferrence of the said water into the tubular continuation from the
valve chamber by the opening of the valve as hereinafter described and shown..
The body of soiled water in the closet is thus used to effect the discharge of the
closet without the aid of auxilliary jets of water, or vacuum pipes, and by reason
of a special overflow accidental siphonage by the pouring of slops into the closet
is obviated. The said valve with its chamber may be disposed at either the top of
the bend, or at the mouth, or outgo of the trap, so that the valve may be opened
upwards and downwards in such a manner as to be quite clear of discharging
water.
An auxilliary trap is generally used in conjunction with my improved closet,.
and the said trap is connected to an extension from the valve chamber and forms a
part of the discharge connections. It is usual with a trap in this position to connect.
the inner limb of the trap with the open air by means of a pipe in order to restore
atmospheric equilibrium after siphonage, but I accomplish the same purpose by
introducing between the two limbs of the said trap, a bypass tube, and the said
bypass effects communication between that side of the trap which is connected to
the closet discharge, and that side of the trap which is open to the atmosphere
through the soil pipes commonly used. The said bypass is momentarily filled with
water when the closet is discharged, and cannot then affect siphonic action by the
admission of air, but when the closet water has been totally discharged, the water
in the trap comes to rest normally below the top of the bypass tube, and air is
again admitted to the valve chamber and discharge pipe.
My improved closet with the fitted valve is generally intended to be used in
conjunction with my flushing valve for which Letters Patent have been granted
(No. 7356 A.D. 1894) and hereby the soil pipe system to which the closet is

page_text: attached is periodically filled with water held by the said flushing valve at the
foot or on any part of the soil or drain pipe system. This filling of the soil pipes
for cleansing and flushing purposes cannot be accomplished with ordinary closets,
as the water would overflow at the basin. The automatically closed valve on my
closet prevents the said overflowing of water, and a small valve is provided in the
special overflow pipe hereinafter described for the same purpose, that is to prevent
overflow which would otherwise find a passage through the overflow pipe. The
overflow pipe is however not absolutely necessary, and can often be dispensed
with.
The valve on my improved closet is operated by a lever or levers suitably
connected to the pull of the flushing cistern and is regulated in closing by an air
cylinder; or the valve is specially operated by a combination of links and levers
hereinafter particularly described.
In some cases it is desirable to use the closet as a siphon closet only viz. :—when
the valve may be set open, or temporarily removed. I also provide a special
appliance on the flushing cistern to effect the said siphonage, and further when
necessary to suitably dispose of a quantity of water designed as an after flush to
the pan when the valve has closed. This said appliance, is, together with the
special valve, operating lever and links; clearly shown on Sheet 2 of the drawings,
and both are hereinafter more particularly described.
With reference to the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a
longitudinal section on the centre line of the said closet and shows the flushing
pipe A leading from the flushing cistern placed at any convenient height above the
closet; the closet basin A' with trap B attached to or integral with the said basin.
C is a chamber fitted upon the outlet of the closet trap at B₁ the said chamber is
fitted with a hinged valve D closing upon a seating Di in the valve chamber, and
thus closing the outlet of the trap. The valve chamber is continued as a pipe B²
forming the longer limb of a siphon in conjunction with the trap B. The said
longer limb may be jointed on to the valve chamber, or may be integral with the
said chamber. The valve is rigidly fitted upon a spindle D2 moveable in the sides
of the chamber, and a lever E is rigidly attached to the projecting end of the
spindle. The flushing cistern is operated by the pull F and cord or chain G and
the closet valve is simultaneously opened by a cord G₁ from the lever on the
flushing cistern, directly, or guided by leaders as at H. The lever and valve
when operated assume the higher position indicated at E' D³ dotted. When the
valve is closed the water stands in the basin at any desired height above the outlet
of the trap as at X. When the valve is open the water assumes the natural seal
level as at Y. An air cylinder or dashpot I for regulating the closing of the
valve is attached at J to the lever E. Connections A. on the pan and A' on the
discharge are arranged to suit an overflow hereinafter described.
Figure 2, Sheet 1 is a back elevation of the said closet, and shows the valve
chamber C with cover removed, the valve D spindle D2 moveable in the sides of
the chamber at D³, D. The lever E and lugs C1, C2 for bolting the chamber to
the flange of the closet trap. A special overflow arrangement is attached to the
closet at A, A', to allow the pouring of slops into the closet without discharging
the closet, and a back pressure valve A2 is provided in the overflow trap so that
back water cannot overflow at the closet when the soil pipes are filled with water
for testing and flushing the said pipes. The valve A2 may be a floating ball of
india rubber as shown or a metallic valve of common form. The said valve gives
passage to overflow water from the pan A', but closes against a pressure of water
in the pipe or limb B*. Similar leiters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 3, Sheet 1 is a part section on the centre line of the closet and shows the
valve and valve chamber in a modified form. The chamber C is made separate
and bolted ou at the top of the trap B, or may be made integral with the trap.
The valve D drops directly on its seating and is operated from the cord through
the spindle E. When operated the valve lifts into the position at D³ E'.

page_text: Figure 4 Sheet 1 is an elevation of the valve to a longer scale showing the
spindle D, valve with rubber or other face D, lever E, weight L, secured on the
lever by a set pin L'.
Figure 5 Sheet 1 is an elevation similar to Figure 4 and shows the valve closed
by a spring L' in place of a weight. The valve is here shown operated by a
direct lift at the side of the closet by means of a handle F and link or links F.
The operating of my improved closet is as follows:-The pull F is connected
by a cord or chain G to the lever of the flushing cistern, and a second cord or
chain G¹ is carried over leaders from the cistern lever and down to the valve lever
on the closet. The pull is operated in the ordinary way to start the flushing
cistern, and simultaneously (or with any desired interval, as adjusted) the closet
valve is opened and the closet discharged. The weight or spring as shown closes
the valve after discharge. The period between opening and closing being
regulated by the air cylinder before described and shown.
On Sheet 2, the before mentioned, alternative apparatus for starting siphonage,
and the special arrangement of operating lever and links also mentioned; is clearly
shown.
In Figure Sheet 2, the closet basin A¹ with other parts lettered as in Sheet 1,
is common to the foregoing descriptions. The valve chamber C continued at B² is
jointed to a trap B³ by my special joint B for which Letters Patent have been
granted (No. 7355, 1894).
The trap B³ is fitted with a bypass tube b to connect the falling and rising limbs
of the said trap, and the said bypass restores the balance of atmospheric pressure
after the discharge of the closet. The said bypass is therefore in effect an air
pipe, but when the closet is discharged the said bypass is for a short time filled,
with discharged water, and cannot affect siphonic action.
The lever E jointed to the valve spindle as before described and shown, is
connected also to a pair of links M movably, the said links jointed movably to a
lever N, the said lever jointed movably to a fulcrum at O and weighted at P.
The cord G as before described is jointed to the lever at q. and operates the
combination of lever and links to open the valve.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1, similarly lettered, and the bypass.
tube B is seen through the mouth of the trap B³.
The centre of the bypass tube coincides with the bridge of the trap, and is seen
to be for a half of its diameter, in free communication with the air through any
pipes attached to the trap B³. When the closet is discharged by operating the
valve, the discharged water fills the tube B2, and also the bypass, and the whole
body of water discharging through the trap B³ effects powerful siphonic action to.
completely discharge the closet.
The said bypass can be regulated as to its area or capacity for discharge by
means of a tap or valve.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the special operating lever and links to an enlarged
scale, and shows the lever N lifted with the links M, and other parts into its.
highest position as dotted. The said position corresponds with the valve fully
opened and the weight P is carried by the fulcrum O here shown in a standard Ŕ
on the floor alternatively.
The effect of this combination of levers and links is such that a small weight
at P is easily lifted by the operation of the cord G and the said small weight
produces a greater resultant force in the horizontal direction on the lever E to
close the valve D in its seating (see Sheet 1 Figure 1). The valve is thus easily
opened by a small force, and held closed by a greater force without extended
levers.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3 and shows corresponding parts similarly
lettered.
Figure 5 is a general elevation of my alternative arrangement for starting
siphonage in the closet when it may be necessary through the removal of the valve,
or when the same is checked open. A flushing cistern S is fitted with a cylinder T

page_text: a piston T¹, the piston connected to the cistern lever T2, the said lever operated by
a pull T³. A valve U is fitted on a passage u¹ the passage connecting the cylinder
at its lower end with the cistern. A jet pipe VI is carried from the bottom of the
said cylinder bent up as shown and connected to the valve chamber of the
closet V³.
The said pipe is branched in any part of its length as at V³, and is there
connected to an after flush box W, the said box is penetrated by the cistern flush
pipe W₁, and communication is effected between the said box and the flush pipe by
way of a small hole as shown, or by a regulated bypass exterior to the box through
which the contents of the box is slowly discharged into the closet basin after the
closet has been flushed.
Siphonage is started in the closet by the operation of the cistern lever T2 which
action depresses the piston T¹ and rapidly discharges the water from the cylinder T
through the jet pipe into the siphon limb at V³. A tap Y is inserted in the jet
pipe to divert the water into the after flush box alternatively, and a similar tap is
fitted between the flush box and the pipe V₁ when desired, so that communication
with the box can be cut off absolutely.
The action of the jet water described is to disturb or agitate the water in the
auxilliary trap B³ Figure 1 which is connected below the discharge pipe B², and to
fill the bypass B simultaneously the flushing cistern S is discharged through the
pipe W Figure 5, and thus the trap B3 and the closet trap are jointly discharged
by siphonic action. When the flushing cistern is discharged, the water contained
in the after flush box W slowly dribbles into the closet basin to reseal the trap at
the level Y Figure I Sheet 1.
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. In a water closet, the combination with the pan and trap of a chamber, and a
valve, fitted on the bend or outlet of the closet trap to hold a head of water in
the closet pan as shown in Figures 1 and 3 Sheet 1 alternatively.
2. In a water closet a valve ou the trap outlet as shown operated and regulated
by suitable mechanism to discharge a body of water into an extension of the valve
chamber. The said discharge of water to effect siphonage in the closet and
connected pipes or limbs.
3. In a water closet, the combination with a valve and a chamber, and with a
tubular extension of the said chamber; of an auxilliary trap. The said trap
having its two limbs connected with a bypass tube as shown, and described, and
for the purpose named.
4. In a water closet, the combination with the pan and discharge pipe, of an
overflow. The said overflow fitted with a back pressure valve substantially as
shown, and for the purpose named.
5. In a water closet, the special combination of levers, links, and weights as
shown in Figure 3 Sheet 2; for operating the closed valve with facility.
6. In a water closet, the alternative method of starting siphonage by means of a
cylinder, piston and jet pipe substantially as shown together with the after flush as
shown and described.
7. In a water closet, the combination with a pan and trap, of a chamber and a
valve as shown; to prevent back water overflowing the closet when soil pipes are
filled with water for cleansing, testing, and flushing.
Dated this Sixteenth day of January 1897.
NIMROD SIMMONS.