IMPROVEMENTS IN LAVATORY APPARATUS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Baird, of Lower Abbey Street, Dublin, in
the County Dublin, Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAVATORY APPARATUS."
Scaled the 4th June 1880, and dated the 11th Docomber 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Baird at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1879.
WILLIAM BAIRD, of Lower Abbey Street, Dublin, in the County Dublin,
Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAVATORY APPARATUS.”
»
My Invention relates to improved apparatus for opening and closing valves for
supplying hot and cold water and drawing off the waste in connection with wash-
hand basins, baths, etcetera.
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For this purpose I arrange a lever or crank in a vertical slot, hinged on its lower
end, and to the upper or free end I attach two wires, one of which is rigid and is secured
to the ordinary knob or handle which projects and appears on the face of the slab or
plate in which the lever or crank plays; the other wire is secured to the valve to
be acted on in such a manner that it will have a vertical downward direction.
When the apparatus is at rest the upper end of the lever or crank hangs over the
last described wire at an angle of about 45°, so that when it is desired to open the
valve and allow the supply to flow the knob or handio is pulled forward until the
upper end of the lever or crank passes the vertical plane of its hingo, in which
position it will remain, no matter how great the downward pull may be, until the
knob or handle is pushed home to its berth.
SPECIFICATION n pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Baird in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th June
1880.
WILLIAM BAIRD, of Lower Abbey Street, Dublin, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAVATORY APPARATUS.”
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for opening and closing valves for
supplying hot and cold water and drawing off the waste in connection with wash-
hand basins, baths, etcetera.

page_text: For this purpose I arrange a slotted triangular crank working in a vertical slot
in a supporting appliance rigidly attached to the back of the front plate or slab of
the basin or bath, etc. This crank is pivotted by its two sides inside the vertical
slot, and to the sides of same at its lower angle, and acts as a pivot or hinge for the
other two angles to play backward and forward. The one angle is loosely pivotted
to a togle joint, this togle joint is pivotted to a horizontal piston; the other end of
this piston passes through the front plate of basin or bath, etc., and carries the knob
or handle which projects and appears on the front face of the apparatus in which
the horizontal piston plays when acted on by pushing it in or pulling it out, which
it will do freely. The other angle of the triangular crank is secured the valve wire
to be acted on in such a manner that it will have a downward direction by the
weight of the valve when the apparatus is at rest. The upper end of the lever or
crank attached to the togle joint hangs over the last described wire at an angle of
about 45°, so that when it is desired to open the valve and allow the supply to flow
the knob or handle is pulled forward until the upper end of the lever or crank passes
the vertical plane of its hinge, in which position it will remain, no matter how
great the downward pull may be, until the knob or handle is pushed home to its
berth.
To more fully illustrate and explain my Invention reference is made to the
accompanying Drawings and letters marked thereon, which denote in each case the
same parts by similar letters. Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved
apparatus; Figures 2 and 3 are side sections.
A, external handle or knob; B, piston attached to handle, having a threaded
screw at the other end thereof; C, a circular flange through the middle of which
the piston freely works. This flange has a square projection at its back to fit into
the front slab or plate of the apparatus. D, a threaded washer to screw home the
flange C to the front slab or plate of the apparatus; E, fixed or supporting appliance
attached by female screw to screw to the front flange C, and is attached to it by a
pinching screw E to keep the appliance in position to the piston. The end of this
piston is of smaller diameter than the screw; a wire pin passes through it to catch
the togle joint which is attached to one angle of the triangular crank. F and F,
togle joint pivotted in the other angle of the triangular crank or valve-lifter;
G, triangular valve lifter or crank recessed as shown at G²; axes for pivotting,
shown at G, to work inside the recess in the rigid appliance E, E, E. Fig. 1
and 2 show the valve wire, and consequently the valve up by pulling the handle
and piston forward, and Fig. 3 shows the valve wire down, and consequently the
valve closed.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention the novel and peculiar
improvements in the simple contrivance for the opening and closing of valves for
lavatory and bath apparatus, as described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Baird, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 9 day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundead and nighin