Improvements in or relating to Flushing Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Flushing Apparatus.
We, WILLIAM DUNDAS SCOTT-MONCRIEFF of 14 Victoria Street Westminster,
Engineer and HENRY FARMER of 178 Wardour Street, London W. Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has relation to certain improvements in or relating to flushing
apparatus for sanitary or other purposes and has for its special object the regulation
of the periods or intervals of flushing so as to avoid the waste of a constant flow for
example when the drains closets or other appliances are not in use. In ordinary
automatic flushing appliances there is a constant flow of water and a continual
intermittent use of the flushing apparatus during the whole day and night unless
the supply is cut off by an attendant. According to our invention we employ a
regulating mechanism consisting preferably of a suitable clock or timepiece and an
electro-magnet near or forming part of the flushing apparatus.
By means of notches or other suitable mechanism titted preferably on one of the
wheels or on a special wheel or on special wheels moved by the timekeeping
mechanism, contact is made in such a manner that an electrical current, obtained
from any convenient source is passed through a suitable electro-magnet so that by
the attraction of an armature and the release of a float lever or other suitable
means, a single flushing apparatus or several flushing appliances are put into action
at any required periods of time.
In this way we obtain a great economy of water without the loss of sanitary
efficiency and at the same time we provide controlled automatic flushing for any
required purposes.
By another arrangement possessing several advantages we make use of the
foregoing apparatus including the electro-magnet and armature and electrical
connection so as to make contact by hand instead of by means of a timepiece with
a push button or other suitable mechanism so as to avoid the necessity for using a
pull thus providing a more simple and elegant method of actuating flushing tanks
for closets urinals or other purposes.
One method of carrying our invention into effect is to construct a tank with a
syphon pipe in the ordinary manner, the long leg of the syphon being provided
near the bottom of the tank with a valve which is connected to a float lever. This
lever should be so constructed that one end projects beyond the tank. This lever
is retained in its normal position by a catch or trigger connected with or forming
part of the armature of the electro-magnet which is fixed in suitable supports
outside the tank and the float connected with the lever is normally immersed in the
water and thereby tends to raise the lever. The action of the apparatus is as
follows:-When the electrical current is not switched on, the lever is in its normal
position and the valve in the branch of the long leg of the syphon is closed.
When the water in the tank rises to the usual extent, this float lever tends
to rise but cannot do so by reason of the lever being held down by the catch.
On a current being passed through the electro-magnet the catch is released, the
lever flies up, the valve is opened and the water rushes down the long leg of the
syphon and starts the action.

page_text: As the tank empties the lever descends and is again caught by the catch and
retained in this position until the armature is again attracted as before.
Dated this 28th day of March 1895.
We, WILLIAM DUNDAS SCOTT-MONCRIEFF of 14 Victoria Street, Westminster,
Engineer and HENRY FARMER of 178 Wardour Street, London, W. Electrical
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 :-
This invention has reference to flushing apparatus for sanitary or other purposes
and has for its special object the regulation of the periods or intervals of flushing,
so as to avoid the waste of a constant flow, for example when the drains, closets or
other appliances are not in use.
In ordinary automatic flushing appliances there is a constant flow of water and
an intermittent use of the flushing apparatus continued during the whole day and
night unless the supply is cut off by an attendant.
According to our invention we employ a regulating mechanism consisting of an
electro magnet near or forming part of the flushing apparatus, and preferably a
suitable clock or timepiece for completing the electro magnet circuit at regular
intervals. By means of notches or other suitable mechanism fitted preferably on
one of the wheels of the timepiece or on one or more special wheels moved by the
timekeeping mechanism, contact is made in such a manner that an electrical
current obtained from any convenient source, is passed through the electro magnet
so that by the attraction of an armature and the release of a float lever, or other
suitable means, a single flushing apparatus, or several flushing appliances, are put
into action at any required periods of time. In this way we obtain great economy
of water without the loss of sanitary efficiency, and at the same time we provide
controlled automatic flushing for any required purposes.
When it is required to actuate several or a number of flushing apparatus
periodically, this can be conveniently accomplished by having a separate electro
magnet and electric circuit for every cistern, and bringing all the circuits to one
central or common point where there is a switch for making contact, and completing
the circuits one by one.
By another arrangement possessing several advantages for a single flushing
apparatus, we make use of an electro magnet aud armature and electrical con-
nections as above described so as to make contact by hand with a push button or
other suitable mechanism instead of by means of a timepiece; the necessity for
using a pull is thus avoided, and a more simple and convenient method of actuating
flushing tanks for closets, urinals or other purposes is provided.
Or instead of or in addition to a push button or the like as just described, we
may cause the electric contact for completing the electro magnet circuit to be made
by the opening of the door of the closet or lavatory as will be well understood.
This push button or door operating arrangement may be combined with the
arrangement previously described in which the circuits of several flushing apparatus
are brought to one common centre, as will be well understood.
One method of carrying our invention into effect is to construct a tank with a
syphon pipe in the ordinary manner, the long leg of the syphon being provided
near the bottom of the tank with a valve which is connected to a float lever. This

page_text: lever is preferably so constructed that the end projects beyond the tank. The
lever is retained in its normal position by a catch or trigger connected with or
forming part of the armature of the electro magnet which is fixed in suitable
supports outside the tank; and the float connected with the lever is normally
immersed in the water, and thereby tends to raise the lever.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the current is not switched
on, the lever is in its normal position and the valve on the branch of the long
leg is closed. When the water admitted to the tank rises to the usual height
this float lever tends to rise but cannot do so by reason of the lever being held
down by the catch. On a current being passed through the electro magnet and
its armature being consequently attracted, the catch is released, the lever flies up,
the valve is opened, the water rushes through the long leg of the syphon and starts
the action.
In order to ensure a proper quantity of water passing every time, and to prevent
the water being discharged except when the cistern is full we preferably arrange
that the electric circuit cannot be completed unless the cistern is full.
As the tank empties the lever descends and is again caught by the catch and
retained in this position until the circuit is again completed and the armature
again attracted.
The accompanying drawings will enable our invention to be fully understood.
Figure 1 is a vertical section and Figure 2 a plan of a flushing cistern with our
invention applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a diagram to illustrate the means whereby a number of flushing
cisterns can be operated electrically from one central or common point.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 a is the cistern or tank and be the syphon ;
the long leg c of the syphon has near the bottom of the cistern a short up-turned
branch d fitted with a valve e which is connected by a chain f to a lever g connected
to a float . This lever has its fulcrum at one end i and its other end j projects
beyond the end of the cistern. The lever is retained in its normal position (shown
in full lines in Figure 1) by a catch or trigger k which holds down the end j. The
catch is pivotted at to a lever m and can move slightly downwards but not
upwards on this pivot. The lever m is itself pivotted at n and its lower end
carries the armature p of an electro magnet q. is a counterweight which
normally keeps the armature p away from the electro magnet. s is the float of the
supply ball cock t. The lever of this float (or it might be a distinct lever and
float) has a pin u which works in a slot v of a bar wo suspended from one end of the
lever ; to the other end of this lever is connected a switch piece y which in the
normal position, namely when the cistern a is full, makes connection as seen in
the drawings, between two contact pieces which form part of the circuit of the
electro magnet 9.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The parts being in the respective
positions seen in Figures 1 and 2, namely the positions they occupy when the
cistern is full, as soon as the current is sent through the electro magnet owing to
the temporary completion of the current by the clock or otherwise, as may be
arranged, the armature p is attracted, the lever m therefore moves on its pivot n
and the catch k is withdrawn from the end j of the float lever g. This lever is
immediately forced up to the position indicated by dots in Figure 1 by the rising
of its floath, and in rising it opens the valve e by means of the chain f. Water
from the cistern rushes through the valve e and branch d into the long leg c and
starts the syphon action. As the cistern empties, the lever y descends, and becomes
again caught by the catch k which moves slightly downwards on its pivot / to
allow the end of the lever to pass it. The ball cock lever also descends as the
cistern empties and draws down the lever x or this lever may descend at its inner
end by virtue of the greater weight on this side of its fulcrum; the descent of the
inner end of the lever a lifts the switch piece y clear of the contact pieces z z so
that the electric circuit is broken between them. As the cistern fills and the ball

page_text: cock lever rises the pin u thereon rises in the slot of the bar w and eventually on
reaching the top of the slot pushes up the bar w together with this end of the
lever until the switch piece y at the other end again makes contact, when the
cistern is full, between the contact pieces 2 2. It will thus be seen that even when
the necessary contact is made by the clock or other alternative device the circuit
of the electro magnet 9 cannot be completed and therefore its armature cannot be
attracted until the cistern is full. No water therefore can be discharged unless
the cistern is full, and a proper quantity of water passes at every discharge. It
is however not essential to provide as above described for breaking the electric
circuit when the cistern empties, the break being only re-made when the cistern is
full, but it is a useful provision, especially where there is a local push button which
might be the cause of the apparatus being set into operation without sufficient
water being there to set the syphon going.
It is obvious that other mechanical arrangements for retaining a lever such as g
in its locked position, so that it is released by the movement of the armature as
above described can be adopted; it may in some cases be desirable for example to
have the retaining device and the float at opposite sides of the fulcrum instead
of at the same side of the fulcrum, thereby lessening the extent to which the lever
rises.
Figure 3 requires very little explanation. There are here supposed to be
9 flushing cisterns at various parts of a building or other place, two of them being
shown at a and a². The circuits of the electro magnets. fitted as hereinbefore
described to the flushing cisterns are all brought to a central or common point A
where there is a separate contact plate for each, these plates being arranged in a
circle as shown. In the centre of this circle is pivotted a contact bar or switch B;
by rotating this bar electrical contact is made one by one with the 9 contact plates
and the corresponding circuits are consequently completed. Every contact and
consequently every circuit may be connected with a drop indicator as will be well
understood, such for example as those usually fitted to electric bell circuits, so as
to indicate that an electric current has passed and the flushing apparatus has there-
fore acted; and in this case an additional contact piece should be fitted to the float
lever so that the circuit is broken as this lever rises and re-made as it descends, as
will be well understood.
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 combination with a flushing apparatus, of an electro magnet the armature
of which when attracted thereto on the passage of an electric current releases a
device which is then moved by the action of the water itself and puts the flushing
apparatus into action, the said device returning to its normal position as the cistern
or tank empties, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination with a flushing apparatus, of an electro magnet and other
parts as referred to in Claim 1, and of clockwork or other like means for auto-
matically and periodically completing the circuit of the electro magnet, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination with a flush apparatus and an electro magnet and other
parts as referred to in Claim 1, of means for breaking the circuit of the electro
magnet when the cistern is emptying and maintaining the break until the cistern is
again full, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
4. The combination with several or a number of flushing apparatus each fitted
with an electro magnet and other parts as referred to in Claim 1, of a switch and
contacts at one central or common point to which the circuits from all the electro
magnets are brought, so that by moving the switch the circuits are completed one
by one, substantially as herein before described.
5. The arrangement or combination of parts substantially as shown in Figures 1

page_text: and 2 and hereinbefore described, with or without means substantially as and for
the purposes set forth for breaking the circuit of the electro magnet when the
cistern is emptying and maintaining the break until the cistern is again full.
Dated this 30th day of December 1895.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.