AN IMPROVED DESCRIPTION OF WATERCLOSET
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Ellis, of No. 9, Orange Court, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Architect, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
DESCRIPTION OF WATERCLOSET."
Sealed the 1st May 1866, and dated the 13th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Ellis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
November 1865.
I, PETER ELLIS, of No. 9, Orange Court, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED DESCRIPTION OF WATER CLOSET," to be as follows:--
That my said improved watercloset consists of an enamelled cast or
wrought iron pan. That part of the bottom of the pan is in an inclined
elevation, so that water in good quantity is retained therein. This pan is
moveable on axles, and sustained in position by a counterpoise; that
connected with the said pan is a capacious nozzle descending to a near
contact with an equally poised or balanced pan closing the mouth of the
customary trap conuected with the soil pipe. Within the said first-described
pan, but supported independent of it, is an enamelled oval or circular rim,
also of cast or wrought iron. Attached to the first pan is the handle of
[Price 8d.1

page_text: movement, to which is also attached a water valve. The whole is so arranged
that when the handle is moved the pan is so raised that the nozzle descends
upon the under pan or opening to the trap, and opens a communication
through the trap into the soil pipe to the sewer, and at the same time the
valve for cleansing the pan and flushing the pipe is also opened.
The advantages of this my Invention are, first, that the cylindrical form of
the pan of use secures it against all possibility of becoming foul; that sufficient
water is retained in the pan to flush out the soil; that this water neither by
defect, nor abuse, nor accident can at any time escape from the pan; that
the trapping is effectual and permanent; and that the simplicity of the parts
and construction, and the enduring character of the material, effectually
secures it against disarrangement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Ellis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
ELLIS, of No. 9, Orange Court, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Peter Ellis, Her special licence that 1, the said Peter Ellis, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Peter
Ellis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED DESCRIPTION OF
WATERCLOSET," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Peter Ellis, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Ellis, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and bythe following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My said Invention consists of au entirely novel arrangement and an
improved construction of watercloset susceptible of various forms of applica-
tion, in all forms having the advantage of cleanliness of appearance, efficiency
of action, security against offence, and from the simplicity of the parts and
combination and the enduring character of the material of construction
permanently secure against disarrangement.
My descriptive denomination is the cylindrical double-pan closet, and in
detail, description, and specification is as follows:-
Figure No. 1 is the vertical Drawing of the whole apparatus, shewing the
several parts; Figure No. 2 is the horizontal Drawing of the same.
First, as to the pan of use or the upper pan, Figures 1 and 2, a, a, a.
This is a vessel of the form and size as in the plan, made of cast iron or of
plate iron,enamelled or otherwise finished in paint or japan, with axles resting
on standards b, b, b, also of iron. The bottom of the pan is flat except
approaching the nozzle of emission or spout, where it rises in an inclined plane
at the nozzle c; the nozzle or spout c descends to a near contact with the
under pan d. The pan is held in position by a counterpoise; the form of
the
pan causes the retention of a good quantity of water for flushing purposes
and preventing adhesion of the soil.
This form of pan, modified by narrowing the water deposit, is also to be
used for waterclosets of the more ordinary description, as represented in the
Drawing, Figures 3, 4, and 5, and appropriate to schools, hospitals, prisons,
and second-class uses, in places of business and dwelling houses; it is also
applicable as a sink for housemaids' use.
When used for any of these
purposes it is not intended to be moveable, and where desired, as for schools,
the length may be increased so as to suit several compartments, and cleansed
byoneflushing arrangement, as shewn in the Drawing and hereafter described.
When not moveable the pans may be of earthenware.
Second, as to the inner pan e, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. This is a
cylindrical rim,also of cast iron or of plate iron, and finished in euamel, paint,
or japan, in the first-class closets suspended on the standards, or in the
second-class closets suspended on the edge of the pan. The object of this
pan is twofold, namely,, appearance and as a guard against improper matters
being put down the closet, particularly when used in schools, prisons, and

page_text: hospitals, for the second-class domestic use, and where used as sinks; this also
when used for second-class purposes may be of earthenware.
Third, as to the main trap f, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. This is also of cast
iron or of plate iron, so formed that the top may be readily removed for
cleansing, formed for special efficiency in the trapping, and adapted to the
peculiarities of the whole apparatus.
Fourth, the under pan, Figures 6 and 7. This consists of a brass curb,
within which is suspended a light shallow copper dish freely balanced
and adjusted by a counterpoise loaded with lead shots to facilitate exact
adjustment.
Fifth, the valve of water service, Figure 8. This is a brass piston valve
with leather or india-rubber seat. The valve when in use moves through a
tube or cylinder in length at least equal to the motion of the handle raising
the pan; the valve fills the tube or cylinder and is raised by the handle of the
closet, but descends to close the water passage by the pressure of a weight
attached to the valve spindle. The speed or slowness of the descent of the
valve is regulated by the weight (lead shots in a tin container) and by
the number and size of gaps or channels on the edge of the piston or valve
allowing the water as regulated to pass from the under side to the upper side
of the valve; thus the descent is so adjusted that after the pau is in
position of repose, the needful quantity of water for flushing is deposited
therein.
Sixth, as to the handle y, Figures 1 and 2. The handle is attached to the
pan only and travels freely in guides; a projecting spur lifts the spindle of
the water valve for flushing, but leaves the valve to close by the operation
of the attached weight.
Seventh, as to the water servicewhere occasional flushing will be appropriate,
as in schools, and where the operation is desired to be independant of the use
of the closet, Figures 9, 10, and 11. For this purpose is a service box con-
taining a good quantity of water sufficient to flush the closet; from this
service box a pipe extends to the soil pan to the end opposite to the emission,
the service opening to be closed by a simple valve i. Adjoining the service
box is a regulating container k, just large enough for the operation of two
floats. In the container is the large float and lever 1, intended to lift the
valve; connected with it is a second but smaller float and lever m, which
by a ratchet will restrain the motion of the valve float l. The water is allowed
to flow into the service box from the tank through a small tap n,the flow of
water being slow or rapid, as may be desired. Near the bottom of the
container is a puncture o communicating with the service box. These

page_text: arrangements will be understood by describing the operation. Before the
admission of water the valve is closed, the large float pressing it down as well
as the weight attached to the ratchet of the small float retains the large float
in this position. The water is slowly admitted into the service box, and from
the service box into the float container or regulator; thus the water gradually
rises in the service box, and in the rise enters the container by the puncture o,
and rising therein until the water lifts the ratchet float, releasing the valve
float, which will then rise and so lift the flushing valve; the water then passes
rapidly out of the service box, flushing the closet, and the valve is retained
open until by the escape of the water from the regulator the ball descends
and so closes the valve, to be again charged by the same process and again
flushing.
I have now described the nature and object of my Invention, with the
descriptive details of the several parts, and the manner which I propose to
use for the accomplishment of my object as set forth in my general description.
The details and forms of the several parts are new and of my own Invention,
but they may be varied and modified, and for economical purposes parts
omitted, namely, the inner pan and also the under pan, either or both, and
without deserting and almost without impairing the object of my Invention.
That which I desire to claim as the Invention secured to me under the herein-
before or part recited Letters Patent is, the peculiar forms of the several parts
and the grouping of the whole into one apparatus so as to accomplish the
result in the peculiar action and effects of my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Ellis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
JOHN E. BELCHER,
Clerk to Peter Ellis,
Seacombe Villa,
Cheshire.
(L.S.)
PETER ELLIS.
9, Orange Court, Liverpool.