AN IMPROVED TRAP FOR GULLIES, SINKS, AND DRAINS GENERALLY
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Fox Sharp, of the Town or Borough of
Kingston-upon-Hull, in the County of the same Town or Borough, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED TRAP FOR GULLIES, SINKS,
AND DRAINS GENERALLY."
Sealed the 16th September 1864, and dated the 7th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Fox Sharp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
April 1864.
I, JOSEPH FOX SHARP, of the Town or Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull, in
the County of the same Town or Borough, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED TRAP FOR GULLIES, SINKS,
AND DRAINS GENERALLY," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object improvements in traps for gullies, sinks,
and drains generally, which improvements, among other advantages, facilitate
the removal of solid matter which is prevented from passing into the drains,
whilst the retention of the water or liquid sewage secures the non-exhalation
of gas or vapour from such drains into the atmosphere.
In carrying out my Invention, by preference, I employ glazed stoneware or
earthenware (other impermeable materials may be used) for the manufacture
of the trap itself. The body of the trap consists of a chamber or reservoir, by
preference square or oblong, although circumstances may render cylindrical or
other configurations desirable, having an orifice or outlet at the side, at or

page_text: near the top, communicating with the drain or sewer by means of an external
discharge pipe extending downwards, the position of which determines the
water level in the trap. The upper part of the aforesaid chamber or reservoir
is divided by a diaphragm, on one side of which the chamber is covered or
enclosed on the top, and on the other is left open. The diaphragm is carried
a sufficient depth below the water level or lower edge of the outlet before
described to prevent the passage of gas or vapour, such outlet or discharge
pipe being on the enclosed side of the diaphragm or partition, whilst the top
of the chamber (on the other side of the diaphragm) is open to the entrance
of the drainage water or sewage. The chamber or reservoir of the trap inter-
cepts the solid and prevents its passing by means of the outlet or discharge
pipe into the drain or sewer, and when filled with water or sewage the par-
tition or diaphragm before mentioned prevents the escape of gas or vapour
through the said outlet or discharge pipe from the drain or sewer into the
atmosphere. The trap above described I make of different sizes, according to
the circumstances under which, or the nature of the locality where, it is to be
employed. The larger size I use in streets and courts, and the smaller for
yards and similar places. Traps of the larger size for streets and courts I
place upon a foundation of concrete or of brickwork, and upon the top flange
of the larger trap I build one, two, or more courses of brickwork, upon which
I fix an ordinary iron hinged grating, attached in some cases to the curbstone
of the footway. In the case of the smaller size of trap, for yards and similar
places, I employ the ordinary iron or earthenware perforated grating.
What I claim is the application of glazed stoneware, earthenware, or other
impermeable material for the arrangement of traps for gullies, sinks, and
drains generally, herein described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Fox Sharp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH 3
Fox SHARP, of the Town or Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull, in the County of
the same Town or Borough, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her 3
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the

page_text: said Joseph Fox Sharp, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Fox Sharp,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Fox Sharp, 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 TRAP FOR GULLIES,
SINKS, AND DRAINS GENERALLY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Joseph Fox Sharp, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Fox Sharp, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
My Invention has for its object improvements in traps for gullies, sinks,
and drains generally, which improvements, among other advantages, facilitate
the removal of solid matter which is prevented from passing into the drains,
whilst the retention of the water or liquid sewage secures the non-exhalation
of gas or vapour from such drains into the atmosphere.
In carrying out my Invention, by preference, I employ glazed stoneware or
earthenware (other impermeable materials may be used) for the manufacture
of the trap itself. The body of the trap consists of a chamber or reservoir Z
(in the accompanying Drawings), by preference square or oblong, although
circumstances may render cylindrical or other configurations desirable, having
an orifice or outlet Y at the side, at or near the top, communicating with the
drain or sewer by means of an external discharge pipe X extending down-
wards, the position of which determines the water level in the trap. A portion
of the upper side of such pipe may be made removable, as at W, for the
purpose of facilitating the removal of any obstruction to the flow of water from
the trap. The upper part of the aforesaid chamber or reservoir is divided by
a diaphragm V, on one side of which the chamber is covered or enclosed on
the top, and on the other it is left open. The diaphragm is carried a sufficient
depth below the water level, or lower edge of the outlet before described, to
prevent the passage of gas or vapour, such outlet or discharge pipe being on
the enclosed side of the diaphragm or partition, whilst the top of the chamber

page_text: (on the other side of the diaphragm) is open to the entrance of the drainage
water or sewage. The chamber or reservoir of the trap intercepts the solid
matter and prevents its passing through the outlet or discharge pipe into the
drain or sewer, and when filled with water or sewage the partition or dia-
phragm before mentioned prevents the escape of gas or vapour through the
said outlet or discharge pipe from the drain or sewer into the atmosphere.
The trap above described may be made of different sizes, according to the
circumstances under which or the nature of the locality where it is to be
employed. The larger sizes, Nos. 1 and 2, are especially suitable for use in
streets and courts, and the smaller, Nos. 3 and 4, for yards and similar places.
Traps of the larger sizes for streets and courts should be placed upon a
foundation of concrete or of brickwork, and upon the top flange of the larger
trap may be built one, two, or more courses of brickwork, upon which I fix
an ordinary iron hinged grating, attached also, in some cases, to the curbstone
of the footway. In the case of the smaller sizes of traps, for yards and
similar places, I employ the ordinary iron or earthenware perforate: grating.
The configuration, proportions, and dimensions of the traps herein-before
described may be so modified as to suit any special circumstances under which
they may be required.
What I claim is, the application of glazed stoneware, earthenware, or other
impermeable. material, to the arrangement of trap for gullies, sinks, and
drains generally, herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Fox Sharp have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOSEPH FOX SHARP. (LS)