IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE CISTERNS AND VALVES FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER FOR WATER-CLOSETS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James King Blackie, of Glasgow, and John Robertson, of
Govan, both in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Plumbers, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE CISTERNS AND VALVES FOR REGULATING
THE SUPPLY OF WATER FOR WATER-CLOSETS AND OTHER PURPOSES.”
Sealed the 21st October 1876, and dated the 25th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James King Blackie and
John Robertson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th
April 1876.
JAMES KING BLACKIE, of Glasgow, and JOHN ROBERTSON, of Govan, both in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Plumbers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE CISTERNS
AND VALVES FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER FOR WATER-CLOSETS
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
I.
This Invention has reference to a more simple and cheap construction of service
valve and cistern than has heretofore been used for the flushing of water-closets,
urinals, or other vessels, or for other purposes where a uniform quantity of water
has to be served or discharged at each action.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consists in carrying the upper open
end of the discharge pipe up through the bottom of the service cistern nearly in a
plane with the top of the false bottom or horizontal pocket, and in the centre of the
round opening in it leading from the supply compartment of the cistern into the
discharge measuring.compartment into which the open mouth of the discharge pipe
in this case enters, fitted with an annular washer of vulcanized india-rubber and
hollow fixing bush, both liquid tight, round the upper end of the discharge pipe open
through them, but having the upper outer face of the india-rubber washer pressing
up as a valve on an inverted seat on the under surface of the pocket or plate and
hole round and above it leading into the measuring and discharge compartment
and pipe so as to either close the aperture or open it and discharge the whole
contents of the cistern down through the discharge pipe by the action of a weighted
lid or valve working through the said hole in the pocket, and resting on the top of
the said india-ruber washer or ring on the upper end of the discharge pipe.
[Price Gdl

page_text: This valve is actuated-by-n wire and ordinary lever above the cistern, and steadied
on to its india-rubber valve seating by a lower stem working through a guide-in-
the throat of the discharge pipe, all so that when it is lifted the india-rubber
instantly closes the communication between the supply or service division of the
cistern, and the measuring compartment, by its own elasticity pressing against the
under face of the hole into the measuring compartment, and by the pressure of
the water in the supply chamber, and allows the whole contents of the measuring
chamber to flow down past the lifted valve into and through the discharge pipe;
after which the valve is lowered on to the india-rubber ring to close the entrance to
the discharge pipe and open the india-rubber valve from its under face, so as to
allow the water to flow from the supply chamber into the measuring chamber up to
the same normal level in both, regulated by the ordinary float supply valve, all
ready for the next discharge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James King Blackie and John Robertson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th October 1876.
JAMES KING BLACKIE, of Glasgow, and JOHN ROBERTSON, of Govan,, both in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Plumbers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE CISTERNS
AND VALVES FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER FOR WATER-CLOSETS AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
Our said Invention has reference to a more simple and cheap construction of
service valve and cistern than has heretofore been used for the flushing of water-
closets, urinals, or other vessels, or for other purposes where a uniform quantity of
water has to be served or discharged at each action.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing our said Invention
may be properly uderstood, we shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on
the Sheet of Drawings which we have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing
the best modes and means we are at present aware of for putting the Invention
into effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating the same or like parts
in all the Figures where shown.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a longitudinal and a transverse section and
a plan of one modification or construction and arrangement of our said new or
improved service supply or discharge valve and seat A, B, A, A', a, a, as fitted to
a cast iron or service cistern Z, for delivering a regular or measured quantity of
water at each discharge for flushing water-closets and for other purposes where the
measuring and saving of water or other liquid is required.
Figure 4 shows a sectional elevation of the valve A, B, and seat A, A¹, a, a¹, as
fitted to a lead and wood service cistern Z, and connected direct to the discharge
pipe Z.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3 the cistern is much of an ordinary construction
as made in cast iron, with a division 2¹ between the supply chamber 1 which may
be of any desired size, and the service or measuring chamber 2 made to contain the
quantity of water to be discharged or measured off at each action of the service
valve. The chamber 1 is fitted with the ordinary ball float supply valve 1¹, and
overflow pipe 11, and the only communication between the supply chamber 1, and
the measuring or service chamber 2, is through the shallow pocket or chamber 3,
and an opening at the bottom of the division 2¹, and one end of the chamber 2, as
seen particularly in Figure 2, and within which the new or improved service or
discharge valve and seat are fitted, in this case leading into an ordinary discharge
pocket or chamber 4 below, and through the bottom of which the upper end of the
discharge pipe is passed and jointed therein, being carried up through the pocket
to near the bottom Z of the large supply cistern, so as to discharge the contents of

page_text: the chamber 2 as usual quickly down through the open end of the discharge pipe,
and leave the contents of the chamber 4 to pass slowly down through the small
hole into the pipes, and seal the pan or closet after the handle is released, all so
far much in a usual manner.
Referring still to these Figures 1 to 3, the new or improved construction of the
service valve and mode of actuating and fitting the same, forming the substance
of this Invention, consist all as follows:-In carrying the upper open end of the
discharge pipe z, or the hollow seat A¹, A", of the valve up through the bottom Z
of the service cistern to which the seat of the valve is screwed or jointed fluid tight,
and nearly in a plane with the top of the false bottom 31, or top of the horizontal
pocket 3, and in the centre of the round opening or ring case (a), in it leading from
the supply compartment (1) of the cistern into the discharge measuring compart-
ment (2) into which the open mouth of the seat of the valve enters (or it might
be the mouth of the discharge pipes, as seen in Figure 4) fitted with an annular
washer A. of vulcanized india-rubber and hollow fixing bush A", both liquid tight,
round the upper circumferential end of the discharge pipe or seat open through
them, but having the upper outer face of the india-rubber washer pressing up as a
valve on the under surface a of the open ring or inverted seat a fitted in the top
31 of the pocket round and above it, leading into the measuring compartment (2),
and into the open mouth of the seat A, A1, and discharge pocket 4 and pipe 2, so
as either to close the aperture a or open it and discharge the whole contents of the
chamber 2 down through the seat A, A, and discharge pipe, by the action of a
weighted lid or valve B working through the said hole in the ring or bush a of the
pocket 3, and resting on the top of the india-rubber washer or ring A and seat A¹
on the upper end of the discharge pipe as seen in Figure 1. This valve B is
actuated by a wire 5 and ordinary lever 6, fulcrumed at 61 above one end of the
chamber 2 of the cistern, and steadied on its india-rubber valve seating A by a
lower stem B working through a guide in the bush throat A", leading to the
discharge pocket 4 and pipes, all so that when it is lifted, as shown in Figure 2,
the india-rubber ring A instantly closes the communication or aperture between
the supply or service division 1 and pocket 3 of the cistern, and the measuring com-
partment 2 by its own elasticity pressing against the under face of the bush or hollow
ring a or aperture leading into the measuring compartment 2, and by the pressure
of the water in the supply chamber 1, and allows the whole contents of the measur
ing chamber 2 to flow down past the lifted valve B into and through the seat A', A¹¹,
leading into the discharge pocket 4, and pipe 2, as seen in this position in Figure 2;
after which the valve is lowered on to the india-rubber ring A to close the entrance to
the valve seat and discharge pocket 4 and pipe z, and open the india-rubber valve
from the seat a, a, above it, so as to allow the water to flow from the supply
chamber into the measuring chamber 2 up to the same normal level Z', in both
regulated by the ordinary float supply valve 1' all ready for the next discharge, as
shown in this position in Figures 1 and 4. The seats A, A¹, a, a¹, (of the
india-rubber valve A) and acting parts B, B1, of the lifting cap or lid B are all
preferably made of brass, and the lower end of the valve seat A is jointed by a
coating of red lead (or other equivalent) on the inner side of the bottom of the
cistern or pocket 3, screwed up tight by a nut on the under side before the pocket
3 itself is jointed and secured thereto by flanges and screws 4. The upper edge or
end of the seat A is inade hollow or convex, and the under edge or rim of the
bush A is made to fit the same and screwed into it so as to gripe and compress
the inner edge of the india-rubber valve ring A, and cause its outer edge to cap or
turn upwards and so (when left free to do so as before stated) cover or close on the
under rim of the open or ring seat a, jointed and screwed concentrically over the
valve A and its sent A', A", (with arms and an eye to guide the spindle B' of the
valve B, with a nut B to prevent it from rising too high, and both made hollow
and open enough to let the water flow as freely out as it can, and down through
the discharge pipes, 21, to quickly discharge the contents of the chamber 2, down
into, the water-closet to flusli it, while the weighted end of the lever 6, and weighted

page_text: valve lid B are, held up by the hand of the operator pulling the wire or
might be into other vessels into which a measured supply of liquid is required to
be discharged, all as shown by the position of these parts, and indicated by the
arrows in Figure 2, where the continuation z¹ of the pipe leading to the closet is
indicated by dotted lines as broken away. A small air outlet or inlet vent pipe 4
is.fitted to the upper part of the pocket 4 to allow of its being freely filled or slowly
emptied through the small hole. to seal the closet after the valve lid B, B¹, had
fallen, and closed the discharge from the chamber 2 through the seat A, A1, by the
letting go of the handle of the water-closet,. which besides shutting its pan, or
discharge valve, lets go the wire 5, and allows the lever G and valve B, B¹, to 1
assume their normal position, as shown in Figure 1, with the lower rim of the
valve B resting on the india-rubber valve A, so as to close the outlet. passage
through it and the seat A, A", while at the same time pressing its outer capped
edge down off its upper seat uw, a', and thus admit the inlet water to the chamber 2
from the chamber 1, through the duct or chamber 3. and narrow annular inlet space
b, between the ring seat a, al, and the valves A, B, as indicated by the arrows in
Figure 1, so as to fill the chamber 2 slowly up to the normal float water level Z¹...Z',
indicated in Figures 1 and 2, so that to waste water or get a doubl discharge of
it a person would require to wait some considerable time until it flowed through
For the convenience of inserting
the narrow opening bin.sufficient quantity to act.
a new india-rubber valve A the weighted head B of. the lifting valve B, B', is made
to screw off and, on to the top of its spindle B31; and instead of the vulcanized
india-rubber valves A being formed by the flat ring turned up by the compression of
its, seat Aband griping collar A" they might be formed at first (in moulds as other
particular shaped vulcanized india-rubber articles are) of this turned-up or cap
shape.
Referring to Figure 4 this arrangement of the valve. is slightly modified. to suit a
lead or other service sistern Z, without a discharge pocket 4; for sealing the water-
closet after it is shut. In this case the coupling part of the discharge pipe is
tightly screwed or otherwise jointed directly to the hollow seat A¹, which is by
preference cast with a flange or circular bottom and outer vertical rim, large and
high enough (and in one piece with it) to form the chamber 3 for the admission
of the water round the valve A and the carrying of the ring seat a, a¹, screwed or
otherwise jointed tight above it, all as a portable valve and seating carrying its
valve lid B, B', (loaded with a lead or other heavy metal weight above, as in
Figures 1 to 3) all ready for being soldered or otherwise secured to the bottom of
the discharge chamber 2, close to the supply chamber 1, and division 2¹ between
openings 21 and 311 are
them, and through which and the inside of the chamber
formed connected by the branch duct 31 soldered or otherwise jointed to both as to
adinit the water to the chamber 2 through the narrow space b, as indicated by the
arrows in Figure 4, where only the lower part of the service cistern Z, is shown,
the other fittings and lever 6 for working the valve lid B, B', being all substantially
as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to
the precise details herein described or delineated, but what we consider novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before
in part recited Letters is-
First. The general construction of service valves A, A, A¹, a, a¹, B, B, and their
fittings and arrangement with their inlet and discharge service cisterns all sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The construction and use of service valves with, one vulcanised india-
rubber ring A, acting both as a seat and valve to open and close a two-way valve
scating A, A", a, a, by the action of one moving lid or valve B, B', for flushing
water-closets with a uniform quantity of water at each action, or delivering a
regulated supply of liquid into other vessels for other purposes, all substantially as

page_text: herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robertson, on behalf of the said James
King Blackie, and myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal,. this
Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
JOHN BROWN,
Patent Office,
96, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
JOHN ROBERTSON. (L.S.)