IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER CLOSETS, URINALS, LAVATORIES, AND IN OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE INTERMITTENT SUPPLIES OF WATER ARE REQUIRED, AND FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Johnson and William Hailstones, both of Wood
Green, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER CLOSETS, URINALS,
LAVATORIES, AND IN OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE INTERMITTENT SUPPLIES OF
WATER ARE REQUIRED, AND FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER IN
SIMILAR SITUATIONS.”
Sealed the 2nd September 1879, and dated the 3rd March 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Samuel Johnson and William
Hailstones at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd March
1879.
SAMUEL JOHNSON and WILLIAM HAILSTONES, both of Wood Green, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER
IN WATER CLOSETS, URINALS, LAVATORIES, AND IN OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE
INTERMITTENT SUPPLIES OF WATER ARE REQUIRED, AND FOR REGULATING THE
SUPPLY OF WATER IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS."
This Invention relates to apparatus used for preventing waste of water in situa-
tions where the water has to be supplied intermittently at intervals, a certain
quantity only being required at one time, such as waterclosets, urinals, or lavatories,
the object of such apparatus being to prevent the water from being wasted by
being supplied in larger quantities or for a longer time than necessary.
Our Invention is also applicable to supplying baths or other vessels with a certain
quantity of water, which quantity is capable of being varied as desired; and it has
for its objects improvements in such apparatus, by which improvements it is simpler,
cheaper, and more effective than is ordinarily the case.
We take a cistern or vessel of any suitable material, such as metal, slate, earthen-
ware, glass, or wood, and we fix it at a sufficient height above the water closet,
basin, or other place to which the water is to be supplied.
In this cistern we arrange a syphon, the shorter leg of which dips nearly to the
bottom of the cistern, whilst the longer leg passes down to the water closet, basin,'
or other place desired. We prefer to make this syphon pipe of considerable internal
diameter, and we arrange it in such a position that when the cistern is nearly filled
with water the latter fills the bend of the syphon, which latter then begins to act
and to discharge the water from the cistern into the water closet, basin, or other
place.
We arrange a supply pipe by which water can be supplied to the cistern from
a reservoir. a larger cistern, a main pipe, or other source, and we provide this supply

page_text: pipe with a ball cock of any of the kinds well known and used, or other automatic
valve so arranged that when the water in the cistern has risen sufficiently high to
shut the valve in the supply pipe, it does not quite flow through the bend of the
syphion.
We prefer to make this bend wide, but of little height in cross section, so that
a slight rise in the level of the water closes it.
We suspend a block, of cylindrical or other convenient form, and of considerable
size, of earthenware, metal, or any suitable material, above the surface of the water
in the cistern, and we balance its weight by means of a metal or india rubber
spring or balance weight, so that it remains suspended above the water until it is
forced down or depressed into the latter by means of a string or cord, or a lever and
rods, pulled or operated by the person using it.
The cistern and other parts of the apparatus being arranged as described, when
it is wished that the desired quantity of water shall be supplied to the water closet,
basin, or other place, the suspended block is depressed into the water and by dis-
placement raises the level of the latter until it fills the bend of the syphon, down
the longer leg of which it then rushes into the watercloset or basin, until the
cistern is sufficiently emptied to uncover the end of the shorter leg of the syphon.
Whilst the water is thus passing down the syphon, the ball cock or other automatic
valve opens (as the level of the water falls) and admits a fresh supply, which rises
until the cock or valve is closed, the level of the water being then just below the
bend in the syphon.
We make the water supply pipe smaller than the syphon pipe in order that the
cistern may be emptied sufficiently quickly, and in cases where it is required to
vary the quantity of water we arrange an adjustable cock or valve in the supply
pipe. By means of this adjustable cock we are able to regulate the supply of
water to the cistern so that it can either be nearly cut off, or so that the supply is
equal or nearly equal to the quantity discharged by the syphon. In the former
case the quantity so discharged at each operation of the apparatus is about equal to
that contained in the cistern, and in the latter case the discharge through the
syphon will continue as long as water is supplied through the supply pipe.
The adjustable cock or valve may be adjusted so that any intermediate quantity
is supplied, and an index may be attached to the cock or valve, by which this
quantity can be determined.
The block or weight which is depressed into the water when desired, as above
described, may be made hollow. It may be suspended from a spring and pulled
down by a cord or wire passing through a vertical tube fixed in the bottom of the
cistern, or it may be operated by levers and rods or wires, worked when required
either by hand or automatically.
An overflow pipe may be provided on the cistern if required.
In the accompanying Drawings, Sheet 1 is in illustration of our Invention ;
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 a horizontal section of one form of
the apparatus described; a is the cistern supplied with water from a main pipe
b through the ball cock c (shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1) which allows the
cistern to fill to the level d, e.
- The syphon f, of larger diameter than the supply pipe b, is arranged so that its
shorter leg g dips nearly to the bottom of the cistern a, whilst its longer leg h
passes through the bottom of the cistern and is connected by the union joint k with
a pipe leading to the water closet, basin, or other place to be supplied with water.
The lower edge of the bend of the syphon is situated just above the water lovel
d, e. The block is suspended by the spring m from the cover n of the cistern, and
has attached to it at o a chain or cord p passing through the open pipe r fixed in
the bottom of the cistern.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the chain p is pulled, the
block is depressed and displaces the water sufficiently to raise the level of the
latter until it fills the bend of the syphon, which then commences to act, and
rapidly discharges the water from the cistern through k until the end of the short

page_text: leg g is uncovered, when the discharge ceases. At the same time the float of the
ball cock falls and the cistern is refilled up to the level d, e.
If the block is held down, no further discharge through k can take place until
it has been released, and the water has again risen to the level d, e, and waste is
thus absolutely prevented.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 4 a horizontal section of a some-
what different arrangement of a similar apparatus, in which the block is attached
to the levert turning upon a centre o, and provided with a balance weight m instead
of a spring. Where it is desired that a large and variable quantity of water should
be supplied at each operation, though the cistern a is only small, we make the
supply pipe b as large or nearly as large as the syphon f and discharge pipe, and wo
arrange upon it a regulating valve and index by which the quantity of water
passing through it can be determined and fixed, and in this way the quantity of
water delivered through the syphon may vary from a little more than that con-
tained in the cistern to a continuous supply. For instance, if the regulating valve
be very nearly closed, then, when the block is depressed, the water in the cistern
will be discharged through the syphon; but as the ball cock opens scarcely any
water will enter through the pipe b whilst the cistern is emptying, and the latter
will only slowly refill.
.
If on the contrary the regulating valve is opened so that it admits a supply
equal to the discharge through the syphon, the level of the water will never fall
below the shorter leg g of the syphon, and the supply will be continuous.
Any intermediate quantity of water can be supplied at one operation by
adjusting the position of the regulating cock, and this arrangement is especially
applicable to the supply of baths or for manufacturing purposes.
In Sheet 2, Figure 9 is in illustration of this arrangement, A being the regulating
cock upon the supply pipe b.
In water-closets in which a moveable pan or valvo is used it is necessary that
after the handle is released a certain additional quantity of water should be
admitted for the purpose of making a water joint or seal in the pan or valve
round the lower edge of the basin. In such circumstances we prefer to adopt the
arrangement shown in the accompanying Drawings in Sheet 2, in which Figure 5
is a longitudinal section; Figures 6 and 7 transverse sections; and Figure 8, a
horizontal section of the apparatus.
a is the cistern, which is shewn cylindrical in transverse section; b is an axis or
spindle passing through its centre, and turning in bearings c', d, in the ends
e and f, one end of the spindle passing through the end e, and being provided with
a lever g and balance weight h, by which the spindle 6 can be turned partly round
when required.
The cistern a is shewn divided into two unequal parts by the transverse
division i, which extends nearly up to the spindle b, and the larger part contains a
syphon farranged in a manner similar to those already described, its lower end
being connected with a discharge pipe by the union joint k.
A ball cock c (shewn in dotted lines in Figures 5, 6, and 7) connected with a
supply pipe b is also arranged in this part of the cistern a.
The block is made of sheet metal or other suitable material in the form of a
hollow segment of a cylinder, and is attached to the spindle b as shewn, but the
upper part of the circumference of this segment is left unclosed for a sufficient
distance, as shewn at m. The smaller division of the cistern a has an opening at
the bottom communicating by a small pipe n with the main discharge pipe r, and
a small pipe p is fixed in the hollow segment, so that when the latter is depressed,
as shewn in Figure 6, this pipe, the lower end of which is open, is nearly vertical.
The upper end of the pipe communicates by means of the axis b, which is made
hollow for the purpose, or by means of a separate pipe with a pipe 8, which is
attached to the axis, and works in the smaller division of the cistern a, being fixed
in such a position that when the segment is not depressed the pipe is vertical, its
lower open end being over the small discharge pipe n.

page_text: The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The larger division of the cistern a
being filled with water to the level d, e, and the hollow segment / being in the
position shewn in Figure 7, if the segment be depressed by pulling a chain or cord
attached to the lever git displaces the water, which accordingly fills the syphon f,
and discharges the contents of the cistern through the union joint k into the discharge
pipe r.
At the same time a certain quantity of water enters the hollow segment through
the opening m, and remains in it as shewn in Figure 6, the pipe & being then in
the position shewn in dotted lines; but when the lever g is released the hollow
segment returns to the position shewn in Figure 7, and the two small pipes p and s
form a syphon through which the water remaining in the hollow segment is
discharged through the small pipo n into the main discharge pipe r, whence it
escapes to form the water joint or seal to the pan of the water closet, as above
described; or the pipe p may be omitted, the water in flowing directly into the
hollow axis (or separate pipe), and thence down the pipe 8.
Where several waterclosets, basins, or other vessels or places are to be supplied
with water by means of our apparatus, as many separate cisterns (or one large one)
containing the apparatus last described may all be in communication with one
supply cistern fitted with a ball cock or float valve and water supply pipe, and
when the lever upon either of the hollow axes is pulled the hollow segment on it
dips into the water and becomes filled; and when the lever is released the hollow
segment rises, and the water is discharged down a pipe in the way described into
the watercloset, basin, or other vessel in connection with that particular lever. A
syphon and displacing block as described need not be used.
In the several arrangements of apparatus described an adjustable cock or valve
may be fitted to the discharge pipe, or to the syphon.
A counting apparatus actuated by a ratchet wheel set in motion by a pall
connected with the lever may be attached to the various forms of apparatus
described, and in this way the number of times the lever is worked, and consequently
the quantity of water used, may be counted and measured.
'
We do not confino ourselves to the precise form and arrangement of the several
parts of the apparatus, but having described our Invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed we claim, the combination of a syphon in a cistern with
a self regulating ball cock or valve, by which water is admitted up to the lower
edge of the bend of the syphon, and a displacing block, by forcing which into the
water the level of the latter is raised until it fills the syphon, substantially as and
for the purposes described and shown in the Drawings.
Also the combination of the syphon in a cistern, the self regulating ball cock or
valve, and the displacing block with an adjustable regulating cock or valve in the
water supply pipe, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
Also the hollow chamber turning upon a centre, and receiving water when
depressed, and the smaller pipe or pipes arranged so as to produce an after flush
of water, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in the
Drawing.
Also the general arrangement of apparatus, substantially as described and
shown.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Johnson and William Hailstones,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this 27th day of February, in the
C
A night hundred and seventy nine