AN IMPROVED MEANS OF DISINFECTING CLOSET-PANS AND DRAIN-PIPES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREIN
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Seward, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of
London, Fellow of the Chemical Society, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MEANS OF DISINFECTING CLOSET-PANS AND DRAIN-PIPES, AND APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Seward at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1880.
HENRY SEWARD, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Fellow of
the Chemical Society. "AN IMPROVED MEANS OF DISINFECTING CLOSET PANS
AND DRAIN PIPES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREIN."
My Invention relates to the utilization of the properties of carbolic acid and
similar volatile disinfectants as a means of disinfection applied to closet pans or
otherwise to any portion of the drain or soil pipes by means of the apparatus, as
hereinafter described.
This apparatus, as applicable to the disinfection of closet pans, consists of a
chamber below the pan communicating with the soil pipe or place where the
disinfection is desired to be applied. The lower part of the chamber is
protected by an overhanging cover, so that no effluent water is likely to enter
the chamber, whilst free access is allowed for the vapor to reach the desired.
point.
The chamber is provided with a supply pipe passing through the seat, so that
the chamber may thereby be kept supplied with carbolic acid through a suitable
plug in the seat; or I may form the cover of the chamber to screw off or be
removable. This supply may or may not be regulated by a valve and float or ball
cock, so that the supply from above is checked when a certain level be obtained,.
or I may employ an overflow pipe leading from the chamber to carry off any
superfluous supply.
:
=
The apparatus may be applied to any drain pipe that may be desired, the supply:
pipe being bed to any convenient point.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Seward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th May
1881.
HENRY SEWARD, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Fellow of
the Chemical Society. "AN IMPROVED MEANS OF DISINFECTING CLOSET PANS
AND DRAIN PIPES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
My Invention relates to the utilization of the properties of carbolic acid and
other volatile disinfectants as a means of disinfection applied to closet pans or
otherwise to any portion of the drain or soil pipes by means of the apparatus, as
hereinafter described.
This apparatus consists of a chamber (below or near the closet pan when applied
to a water closet) communicating with the soil pipe or place where the disinfection
is desired to be applied. The lower part of the chamber containing the
disinfectant is protected by an overhanging cover, so that no effluent water is
likely to enter, whilst free access is allowed for the vapor to reach the desired
point.
The chamber is provided with a supply pipe passing upwards (preferably to the
seat in the case of a water closet) to any convenient point, whence the chamber
may be kept supplied with disinfectant through a suitable plug. In some cases I
may form the cover of the chamber to be removeable. This supply may or may
not be regulated by a valve and float or ball cock, so that it is checked when a
certain level is reached, or I may employ an overflow pipe leading from the chamber
to carry off any superfluous supply.
Where applied to drain pipes, or to the syphon of a water closet, the chamber
may be conveniently formed to encircle the pipe.
And in order that my Invention may be the better understood, I now proceed
to describe the Drawings annexed hereto, reference being had to the letters and
Figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to similar parts in each of the
Figures.
Figure I. represents a water closet; Figure II. represents a water closet syphon,
and Figure III. represents a drain pipe, each disinfected by means of my Invention.
A is the chamber, the lower part of which is filled through the supply pipe B with
carbolic acid or other volatile disinfectant to a convenient height, which may be
regulated by the use of an arrangement of valve and float, or by the use of an
overflow pipe. Preferably, however, the capacity of the chamber being approximately
known, I allow any surplus supply poured in to flow away through the orifice Č.
This orifice C allows the vapor of the disinfectant to pass from the chamber and to
mingle freely with any noxious or pernicious gases or vapors arising from below,
and to deprive them of their deleterious qualities. D is an overhanging cover or
lip which protects the lower part of the chamber A from the influx of any effluent
water. This overhanging cover is conveniently formed by extending the cover of
the chamber. The overhanging protecting lip may be dispensed with where there
is no risk of water or extraneous matter entering the chamber, but I usually prefer
to retain it.
In Figure I. the container of the water closet is shewn enlarged to admit of the
chamber being placed inside it, but it may be fixed on to the outside, a portion of
the container sufficient to allow of the free passage of the disinfectant vapor being
cut away in correspondence with the orifice of the chamber; or I may form the
chamber and overhanging cover in the substance itself of the container in the
manner similar to that shown in Figure II.
In Figure III. the chamber is shown completely encircling the drain pipe and
formed in its substance a little distance below a gully trap.

page_text: And having now fully described and ascertained the nature and object of my
Invention, and the manner in which it is performed, be it understood that I
do not broadly claim disinfection by means of volatile disinfectants, but what
I consider novel and useful, and desire to protect by my said Letters Patent
is, -
I. The means of disinfecting closet pans, drain pipes, and similar places, by the
continuous application of the vapor of carbolic acid and other volatile disinfectants,
without the direct application of the liquid itself, whereby the disinfection is
rendered continuous and automatic, substantially as herein before described. '
II. The apparatus for the practical application of the said volatile properties,
that is to say, a chamber with an orifice to allow of the passage of the vapor, and
fitted with an overhanging cover or lip formed separately from or of the same
substance with the pan or pipe to which it is applied, and with supply pipe or
movable cover and regulating valve or overflow pipe when requisite, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Seward, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
In the presence of
SAM. P. WILDING,
23, Rood Lane,
Fenchurch Street,
London, E.C.,
Patent Agent.
HENRY SEWARD. (L.S.)