Improvements in and relating to Water Closets.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Water Closets.
I, EDWARD ALBERT GREEN, of 16, Rock Street, Sheffield, Building Surveyor
to City Urban Authority, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention applies and relates to that description of water closet, where a
vertical shaft formed of one or more parts, is fixed over a trapped pan holding
water into which dejecta and other matters fall, and from which such matters are
removed by a flush of water issuing from an opening in the vertical shaft into the
pan, and received from a tipper collecting water from a connected trap and
channel, or drain, and tilting automatically every time it becomes full of water,
which may be accumulated from any available source, such as water previously
used or which unavoidably escapes from a tap on a sink, or rain water from the
roofs of buildings, all of which would otherwise run to waste.
The object of my invention is to provide for certain positions especially, a water
closet free from some of the defects in the apparatus, and the disadvantages,
difficulties, and unnecessary initial and casual expense, incidental to the construc-
tion and use of such closets hitherto existing, such as the following:-
a. The great length of pipe shaft decending from the closet seat into the
ground, with its extensive area of internal surface, which is soiled by dejecta, and
urine, and gives off foul odour.
b. The unsuitable form and limited size of the horizontal section of the interior
of the pipe shaft of the closets, which offers undue facility for soiling by dejecta
the back of the shaft.
c. The inaccessibility for inspection, cleansing, removing obstructions, or repairs,
of the lower part of the pipe shaft, the trap, and the tipper box of the closets,
which are fixed at a considerable depth in the ground, thereby entailing much
expense to effect these purposes.
d. The great depth at which the lower parts of the closet apparatus, and the
outlet drain therefrom, has to be placed in the ground, with the consequent
reduction in the fall of the drains, the cost and difficulty of the heavy excavation
for the closet foundation walls, the outlet drain, and the foundation walls of any
building near which the outlet drain has to pass, and the cost of the extra deep
walls required.
In order to avoid the foregoing defects, and in carrying out my invention, I
place the buildings containing my improved water closet, so as to adjoin or be near
to the house or other building from which the water supply to the closet tipper is
to be derived, I also fix the whole of the improved closet apparatus with the
exception of the trap and channel or drain forming the means of communication
from the water supply to the tipper, & possibly the nose of the pan trap forming
the communication with the outlet drain; within and at the rear end of the closet
building, and above or at a very small depth below the closet floor.
In further carrying out my invention, I arrange, construct, provide, and use
integrally the following parts in my improved water closet.
First. A revolving trapped pan, forming the lowest part of the closet apparatus.
The top of the pan is circular in plan, and is socketted, and holds owing to the
formation of the trap issuing from its side, a quantity of water having a large
surface area, at the level of the socket, into which dejecta and other matters drop

page_text: when the closet is used. The greater part of the interior of the pan slopes down-
ward easily or abruptly towards and into the throat of the trap, giving an induced
action, and causing any solid matters to find their way into the well of the trap,
from which they are removed and carried into the outlet drain by a flush from the
tipper at intervals. The trap is formed of the usual S or P shape, and preferably
of the construction described and illustrated in my Patent Specification No. 21867,
of 1893, for S and P traps. The top of the outgo of the trap is formed with an
inspection eye, giving access to the well of the trap, and the outgoing drain.
The trapped pan is fixed in either rear angle of the closet building, at a minimum
depth below the closet floor, and the adjoining ground outside the closet, and only
just sufficiently deep to secure the necessary ground cover to protect the outgoing
drain. The trapped pan will turn in any desired direction, so that the nose of thre
trap may suit the direction of the outgoing drain.
Second. A reversible flushing collar, of somewhat triangular shape in plan, and
variably rounded off near the acute angles which would be formed by the inter-
section of the sides of the triangle. The flushing collar is made with a socket
round its top, and with a lower circular spigot end to connect into the socket.at the
top of the trapped pan. From the circular spigot end, the collar develops in
horizontal section, to the somewhat triangular shape as before mentioned at the
centre of its height, where on one of the rounded portions of the side of the collar,
a:socketted inlet is formed, through which the flush passes from the tipper to the
pan. This flushing inlet is made of an oval shape, the horizontal axis being made
about one and a half times the length of the vertical axis, for the purpose of
allowing the flush to leave the tipper, and pass through the inlet in the shortest
. possible space of time, and to precipitate itself in a broad stream into the pan, so
as to extend the surface with which the water comes in contact as much as possible.
The flushing collar is fixed on the top of the trapped pan, with its top about level
with the closet floor, and in either rear angle of the closet building, a long straight
side of the collar, which is opposite the flushing inlet, being placed against either
of the side walls of the building.
Third. A reversible shaft or pedestal, standing above the closet floor, and being
in horizontal section of a similar triangular shape as the flushing collar, into the
socket at the top of which the pedestal is fixed. The pedestal may like the
flushing collar be fixed in either rear angle of the closet building, with a long
straight side against either of the side walls of the building..
The top of the pedestal is covered with a seat, and the person using the closet
would sit diagonally within the closet, with the back to one of the rear angles of
the building, and also to one of the rounded corners joining two of the sides of the
.reversible closet shaft.
This arrangement and construction of the closet shaft, and the position of the
. user, prevents the back of the shaft from getting soiled by dejecta. A rain water
pipe from the roof of the adjoining buildings, may be taken through the closet
seat, within the rounded corner forming the rear of the closet shaft, to provide for
an additional occasional flush to the closet pan.
Fourth. An ordinary reversible tipper box containing a tipper, is fixed in the
opposite rear angle of the closet building to that occupied by the closet pan, collar,
and pedestal. The tipper box has an oval spigot, for connecting with the oval
socket formed on the flushing collar, and is fixed partly below and partly above the
level of the closet floor. The tipper is supplied with water through the wall of
the closet, by a P trap, and channel or drain, or otherwise, as for example by a
trapped lead waste pipe direct from a sink. Where the tipper is supplied through
a channel and P trap, these are somewhat elevated on a brickwork bench, formed
above the ground level adjoining the outside of the closet building, but sufficiently
low for the water to gravitate from the source of supply into the tipper.
These closets are made of earthenware, stoneware, iron, or any other suitable
material, and they may also be fixed at reasonable distances away from the
buildings from which they derive their water supply, by placing the closet

page_text: apparatus deeper in the ground, but at a less depth than the closets hitherto in use.
To enable this to be done it is only necessary to lengthen the pedestal shaft
forming the seat portion of the closet. The improved closet is also available for
use where the fall for the outlet drain is limited.
Dated this Thirty-first day of March 1896.
EDWD. A. GREEN.
Felating to water Closets.
I, EDWARD ALBERT GREEN, of 16, Rock Street, Sheffield, Building Surveyor to City
Urban Authority, 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 applies and relates to that description of water closet, where a
vertical shaft formed of one or more parts, is fixed over a trapped pan holding water
into which dejecta and other matters fall, and from which such matters are removed
by a flush of water issuing from an opening in the vertical shaft into the pan, and
received from a tipper collecting water from a connected trap and channel, or drain,
and tilting automatically every time it becomes full of water, which may be accumu-
lated from any available source, such as water previously used or which unavoidably
escapes from a tap on a sink, or rain water froin the roofs of buildings, all of which
would otherwise run to waste.
The object of my invention is to provide for certain positions especially-but not
exclusively, a water closet free from some of the defects in the apparatus, and the
disadvantages, difficulties, and unnecessary initial and casual expense, incidental to
the construction and use of such closets hitherto existing, such as the following:
a. The great length of pipe shaft decending from the closet seat into the ground,
with its extensive area of internal surface, which is soiled by dejecta, and urine, and
gives off foul odour.
b. The unsuitable form and limited size of the horizontal section of the interior of
the pipe shaft of the closets, which offer undue facility for soiling by dejecta the back
of the shaft.
c. The inaccessibility for inspection, cleansing, removing obstructions, or repairs,
of the lower part of the pipe shaft, the trap, and the tipper box of the closets, which
are fixed at a considerable depth in the ground, thereby entailing much expense to
effect these purposes.
d. The great depth at which the lower parts of the closet apparatus, and the outlet
drain therefrom, has to be placed in the ground with the consequent reduction in the
fall of the drains, the cost and difficulty of the heavy excavation for the closet
foundation walls, the outlet drain, and the foundation walls of any building near which
the outlet drain has to pass, and the cost of the extra deep walls required.
In order to avoid the foregoing defects, and in carrying out my invention, I place,
he buildings containing my improved water closet, so as to adjoin or be near to the
house or other building from which the water supply to the closet tipper is to be
lerived. I also fix the whole of the improved closet apparatus with the exception of
he trap and channel or drain forming the means of communication from the water
upply to the tipper, and possibly the nose of the pan trap forming the communication
vith the outlet drain; within and at the rear end of the closet building, and above or
t a very small depth below the closet floor.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, it is illustrated on the accom
anying sheets of drawings, the same being marked with figures, and letters of
eference, corresponding with those in the following description, like reference letters
adicating like parts in all the figures.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan, shewing the position, arrangement, and construction, of the
buildings and apparatus, of two of the improved water closets and their adjuncts, in
relation to the houses from the sinks of which their principal water supply is
separately derived.
Figure 2, is a vertical section on the line A, B, in Fig. 1, shewing the position,
arrangement, and construction, of the improved water closet apparatus and its adjuncts,
in relation to the surface level of the closet floor and the adjoining ground outside the
closet, and also its sources of water supply from the house and elsewhere.
Figure 3, is a plan, shewing a subservient arrangement of the improved water closet
apparatus, with the tipper box fixed outside the closet building.
Figure 4, is a vertical sectional elevation, shewing the necessary apparatus for
flushing the improved water closets when they are fixed on elevated ground, or at a
distance from the buildings from which their principal water supply is derived.
In further carrying out my invention,
arrange, construct, provide, and use
integrally the following parts in my improved water closet.
First. A revolving trapped pan P, forming the lowest part of the closet apparatus as
shown in Fig. 2. The top of the trapped pan is circular as shown in plan by the
dotted lines d. in Fig. 1, and is socketted as shown in section at e, in Fig. 2, and holds
owing to the formation of the trap p, issuing from its side, a quantity of water having
a large surface area at the level of the socket, into which dejecta and other matters
drop when the closet is used. The greater part of the interior of the pan slopes down-
ward easily, as shown in section at f, in Fig. 2, or abruptly towards and into the throat
of the trap, giving an induced downward action, and causing any solid matters falling
into the pan to find their way into the well of the trap, from which they are removed
and carried into the outlet drain by a flush from the tipper at intervals. The trap is
formed of the usual S or P shape, and preferably of the construction described and
illustrated in my Patent Specification No. 21867, of 1893, for S & P traps. The
top of the outgo of the trap is formed with an inspection eye g, Figs. 1, and 2,
giving access to the well of the trap and the outgoing drain.
The trapped pan is made of a variably shallow depth, and of small capacity, being
off the least possible depth consistent with its purpose, and the size of the outlet drain
to which it is made to connect, and to hold when full such a small minimum quantity
of water, as is replaced twice by one flush of the contents from the three gallon
automatic tipper. It has also a large maximum area of water surface, at the trapped
water line at the top of the pan, extending over the entire interior of the pan, for
dejecta to drop into. The shallow construction of the trapped pan, contributes to the
reduction of depth and cost, attained in connection with my improved water closet.
The trapped pan is fixed in either rear angle of the closet buildings, as shown in Fig. 1,
and at a minimum depth below the closet floor F, and the adjoining ground H, H
outside the closet, and only just sufficiently deep to secure the necessary ground
cover to protect the outgoing drain, as shown at Fig. 2.
The trapped pan will turn in any desired direction, so that the nose of the trap
may suit the direction of the outgoing drain.
The improved trapped pan is adapted for use in combination with any form of
waste water closet having a circular form of connection at the lower end of the
closet shaft.
Second. A reversible flushing collar C, of somewhat triangular shape in plan, as
shown in Fig. 1, and variably rounded off near the acute angles which would be
formed by the intersection of the sides of the triangle.
The flushing collar is made with a socket round its top as shown in section at j
in Fig. 2, and with a lower circular spigot end to connect with the socket at the
top of the trapped pan, as shown in section at Fig. 2.
From the circular spigot end, the collar gradually develops in horizontal section,
to the somewhat triangular shape as before mentioned at the centre of the height,
where on one of the rounded corners of the side of the collar, a socketted inlet
-is-formed,-through-which-the-flush-passes-from the-tipper to the pan. This flushing
inlet which is shown in horizontal section at h, in Fig. 1, and in vertical section at h

page_text: in Fig. 2, is made of an oval shape in its bore, the horizontal axis being made
about one and a half times the length of the vertical axis, for the purpose of allowing
the flush to leave the tipper, and pass through the inlet in the shortest possible space
of time, and to precipitate itself in a broad stream into the pan, so as to extend
the surface with which the water comes in contact as much as possible. The flush
from the tipper, after splashing against and washing the sides of the collar,
decends with powerful force into the pan, cleaning it, and carrying away all filth
through the trap, into the outgoing drain. The flushing collar is fixed as shown
in Fig. 2, on the top of the trapped pan, with its top about level with the closet
floor, and in either rear angle of the closet building, a long straight side of the
collar which is opposite the flushing inlet being placed against the side wall of
the building, as shown in duplicate at Fig. 1.
Third. A reversible shaft or pedestal S, Fig. 2, standing above the closet floor, and
being in horizontal section of a similar triangular shape as the flushing collar C,
Fig. 1, into the socket at the top of which the pedestal is fixed. The pedestal
may like the flushing collar, be fixed in either rear angle of the closet building,
with a long straight side against either of the side walls of the building. The
usual extension pipe of varying length, decending into the ground, between the
bottom of the pedestal and the top of the flushing collar, is not required in my
improved form of closet.
The top of the pedestal is covered with a duplex, alternative, perforated, hinged
wood seat s', Fig. 2. half of which is shown in elevation to be raised, to admit of
slops being poured down the closet shaft, and the person using the closet, would sit
diagonally within the closet, with the back to one of the rear angles of the building,
and also to one of the rounded corners joining two of the sides of the reversible
closet shaft, the axis of the sitter being in the dotted line i, in Fig. 1.
This arrangement and construction of the closet shaft, in conjunction with the
perforated seat, and the position of the user, which is fixed thereby, prevents
the back of the shaft from getting soiled by dejecta. A rain water pipe from the
roof of the adjoining buildings may be taken through the closet seat, within
the rounded corner forming the rear of the closet shaft, to provide for an additional
occasional flush to the closet pan, and for ventilation therefrom.
Fourth. An ordinary reversible tipper box D, containing a tipper T, as shown
in plan in Fig. 1, and in vertical section in Fig. 2, is fixed in the opposite rear
angle of the closet building to that occupied by the closet pan, collar, and pedestal.
The tipper box has an oval spigot outlet, for connecting with the oval socketted
iulet formed on the side of the flushing collar, and is fixed partly below and
mainly above the surface level of the closet floor, and the adjoining ground outside
the closet building.
This elevation of the tipper box mainly above the closet floor and the adjoining
ground, is designed to regulate the position vertically and relatively of all the
other interdependent parts of the closet apparatus, and its adjuncts. It minimizes
the depth to which it is necessary to sink the flushing collar, trapped pan, outlet
drain, and the walls of the closet building into the ground, thereby greatly reducing
the cost of construction as compared with existing forms of closet. It reduces the
length and extent of the closet shaft exposed to soiling, in comparison with other
forms of closet, and also reduces the cost of occasional attention, as proximate and
perfect accessibility for every purpose is consequently obtained to every part of
the closet apparatus. The fixing of the lower part of the tipper box in the ground,
renders it stable, and prevents vibration, and possible damage to the tipper box
and the joint made between the tipper box and the flushing collar, which might
otherwise be caused by the constant action of the automatic tipper. The tipper
box is especially placed inside the closet building, in connection with the smallest
class of cottage houses, to keep the cost of construction as low as possible, and it
is preferably placed in the same position in all cases, in order to keep the tipper
operating within the tipper box, as near to its work for flushing efficiently as
possible, and also because this position secures protection-to-it-from-severe

page_text: weather, but I do not confine myself exclusively to this. lateral position. for the
tipper box, as, being detachable, and where the cost of construction is not limited,
I can fix it mainly above the ground in a covered brickwork. tank outside the
closet building, in the positions shown at Fig. 3, and in this case the extended
connection between the flushing collar and. the tipper box, is made by a suitable:
pipe as shown at 7, in Fig. 3.
The tipper is supplied with water through the wall of the closet by a P trap m,
and channel block n, as shown in plan at Fig. 1, and in vertical section. at Fig. 2,
or, when the tipper box is fixed on elevated ground, or at a distance away from
the buildings from which the water supply is derived. by a P trap m, and drain o,
as shown in vertical section at Fig. 4, or otherwise, as for example by a trapped
lead waste pipe r, direct from a sink as shown in Fig. 1.
When the tipper is supplied with water through a P trap, and chaunel block, as
shown in vertical section at Fig. 2, these are somewhat elevated and fixed on a
brickwork bench, formed above the level of the ground adjoining, the outside of the
closet building, but sufficiently low for the water to gravitate from the source of
supply to the tipper. When the tipper box is. fixed outside. the closet building, the
tipper is supplied with water by similar apparatus, fixed in a similar position, as
when the tipper box is fixed inside the closet building. Such arrangement is shown
in plan at Fig. 3.
The improved closets are made of earthenware, stoneware, iron, or any other
suitable material, and they may be fixed at reasonable distances away from the
buildings from which they derive their water supply, by placing the closet apparatus
deeper in the ground so as to give the required fall for the water supply drain
carried on a brickwork bench, or continued below the surface of the ground, but
at a less depth than the closets hitherto in use. To enable this to be done it is
only necessary to lengthen the pedestal shaft forming the seat portion of the closet.
The improved closet is also available for use where the fall for the outlet drain is
limited.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a water closet, a trapped pan, formed with the bottom of the pan sloping
downward from the top of the pan into the throat of the trap, and with the top of
the pan formed at the same level as the lowest part of the interior of the outgo of
the trap which fixes the trapped water line in the pan and trap, whereby the pan
is kept full of water with a large surface area for dejecta to drop into, and the
trapped pan is made of small depth and capacity, substantially as described
herein.
2. In a water closet a trapped pan constructed substantially as and for the
purposes described and illustrated herein.
3. In a water closet, a downshaft from the seat, formed of one or more pieces of
a triangularly horizontal section gradually modified at the bottom of the downsbaft
which is formed. to terminate with a spigot end of circular section, for insertion
into the socket at the top of a circular water closet pan, whereby dejects is,
prevented under usual conditions from reaching and soiling the sides of the down-
shaft, and the downshaft is made reversible for fixing in different positions,
substantially as described herein.
4. In a water closet, a downshaft, constructed substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated herein..
5. In a water closet, flushed by means of an automatic tipping vessel, pivoted in
position within a detachable tipper box, the arrangement of the tipper box fixed
mainly above the surface of the closet flour or the adjoining ground, in combination
with the flushing collar-forming the bottom part of the downshaft of the closet,-
fixed with the socket at its top at the same level as the surface of the closet floor,
and the trapped pan-forming the lowest-part-of-the-closet-apparatus, fixed at a

page_text: small depth below the surface of the closet floor or the adjoining ground, whereby
the downshaft from the closet seat is only required to be short in length, and a
loss of fall in the outlet drain from the closet pan is prevented, substantially as
and for the purposes described and illustrated herein.
6. The general combined arrangement and construction of the various parts,
provided, used, and constituting the improved automatic waste water closet and
adjuncts, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described, with
reference respectively to and shown in Figures 1, and 2, or any mere modification
thereof, such as is shown in Figures 3, and 4.
Dated this Fourteenth day of October 1896.
EDWD. A. GREEN.