Improvements in and connected with Water Closets.
Year: 1897

page_text: TRUVIDIONAL
DI BUITIVATION.
Improvements in and connected with Water Closets.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of water-
closets and parts connected therewith, and comprises various arrangements and devices
to suit different situations and requirements.
Waterclosets made with my present improvements may be of the pedestal type
with the basin of earthenware in one piece with a supporting pedestal casing or sole
and with the discharge siphon or trap bend in the same piece or in a separate piece
of earthenware or of metal; or the basin and adjacent parts may be encased with wood
or otherwise.
One improvement has for its object to give a comparatively large water surface in
the basin; and for this purpose the front side or that opposite to the discharge outlet
is inade with a concave enlargement at and near the water level, without extending
below that level more than sufficient to have a downward inclination from it. The
back of the basin is made of a straight form slightly inclined from the vertical.
When the discharge trap bend is made separate from the basin it is formed as part
of a sole plate which for ship's use may be arranged to be bolted to a deck. In this
case the basin outlet is made with a bead and is entered into a faucet or socket at the
entrance to the trap bend, the sides of the socket being slightly inclined inwards so
as to form a dovetail joint when filled with cement. A sole plate may also be used
when the trap bend is formed on the basin or is a piece separate froin both basin and
sole plate, the joint with the sole plate being like that hereinbefore described or the
trap bend may be made to project through the sole plate. In some cases for forming
a communication for the discharge passage through a floor or deck there may be a
short castiron pipe piece made with a joint socket like that herein before described for
the trap bend or closet outlet, also with a flange to bear on and if desired be bolted to
the floor or deck and with an extension projecting down through the floor or deck.
For ships a storm check valve may be fitted at the top of the discharge trap bend;
and in some cases a similar check valve may also be fitted lower down in the
descending leg. Either or both of such valves may be on a spindle passing through
a properly packed aperture in the side of the trap bend, so as to be capable of being
closed or otherwise moved from outside.
In most cases the trap bend is by preference made with a bulb-like enlargement in
the descending leg to increase the efficiency of the discharge action.
In cases in which a pump discharge is required as with ships' closets placed below
or near the water level, the sole plate is made with a dovetail socket to receive the
outlet of the basin which may be of the hopper or other form also with an opening
and joint face or flange for the pump cylinder to be bolted to, and also with an
opening and joint face or flange for the discharge pipe. The pump piston rod is
connected to one arm of a lever centered on a bracket formed or fixed on the pump

page_text: cylinder, the other arm of the lever which is provided with a handle and which,
preferably, assumes a vertical position at the back of the closet when the pump
piston is in its raised position, but which may be arranged otherwise when more
convenient. The upper end of the cylinder communicates by a pipe with the water
supply pipe. The discharge check valve of the pump is fitted to a flange fixed to the
discharge pipe so as to remain therewith when the sole plate is disconnected
therefrom.
The seats and basin rims of closets are by this invention made so as to avoid the
wetting of the front part of the seat when used by females. For this purpose the
seat is made with an indentation or narrow enlargement of the opening at the front.
The wood of the seat may be cut partly or wholly through at the front, and in the
latter case the sides may be connected with a metal bar serving also as a shield and
enamelled or covered with rubber or other suitable material. The basin rim may be
made with an indentation at the front, and if desired with a shield projection fitting
the indentation in the wood seat.
Dated this Third day of Anril 1807
Improvements in and connected with Water Closets.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
waterclosets and parts connected therewith, and comprises various arrangements and
devices to suit different situations and requirements. Waterclosets made with my
present improvements may be of the pedestal type with the basin of earthenware in
one piece with a supporting pedestal casing or sole and with the discharge siphon or
trap bend in the same piece or in a separate piece of earthenware or of metal; or the
basin and adjacent parts may be encased with wood or otherwise.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to in describing my improvements.
Figure 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a plan, Figure 2, a longitudinal
vertical section and Figure 3, a transverse vertical section as at the line a a-bb in
Figure 2, showing a watercloset as made with some of my present improvements.
Figures 4, and 5, are vertical sections showing other improvements. Figures 6, and 7,
are vertical sections of improved waterclosets applicable for use on board ship.
Figures 8, 9, and 10, are plans and Figure 11, is a partial vertical section, showing
improvements in the seats and basin rims of closets. In these drawings the same
reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they
are repeated.
A watercloset made as shown in Figures 1, to 3, is of the pedestal type with the
basin, A, in one piece with a supporting pedestal casing, B, and with the discharge
siphon or trap bend, C. The improved form of closet basin, A, shown has for its
object to give a comparatively large water surface in the basin; and for this
purpose, the front opposite to the discharge outlet, D, of the basin, A, is made with
a concave enlargement, E, which extends partly round the sides at and near the water
level, without extending below that level more than sufficient to have downward

page_text: inclination from it.
This improved form of closet basin, A, has the additional
advantage that on the flushing water descending from the rim, A 1, and reaching the
part, A 2, immediately above the concave enlargement, E, it is projected in the form
of a cascade towards the middle of the basin, A, and thereby acts more effectually in
discharging the contents.
The back, A 3, of the basin, A, is made of a straight form either vertical or slightly
inclined from the vertical.
The siphon or trap bend outlet, C 1, is connected to the discharge pipe, F, by an
improved form of joint, the outlet, C1, being made with a bead, C2, and entered into
a faucet or socket, F 1, on the end of the discharge pipe, F. The sides of the
socket, F1, are slightly inclined inwards so as to form a dovetail joint when filled
with cement.
When the discharge trap bend, C, is made separate from the basin, A, as shown in
Figure 4, it is formed as part of a sole plate, G, which may be arranged to be bolted
to a floor, or to a ship's deck, H, the end of, the trap bend, C, projecting through the
sole plate, and in this case the basin outlet, D, is connected to the discharge trap
bend, C, by the improved form of joint socket, F 1, herein before described with
reference to Figure 2, as used to connect the trap bend outlet, C1, to the discharge
pipe, F. A sole plate, G, may also be used when the trap bend, C, is formed on the
basin, A, as shown in Figure 2, or is a piece separate from both basin and sole plate,
the joint with the sole plate being like that herein before described.
As shown in Figure 5, in the case of a "hopper" closet the basin outlet, D, being
directly through the floor or deck, H, there is a short castiron pipe piece made with
a joint socket, F 1, like that herein before described also with a flange, F 2, to bear on
and if desired be bolted to the floor or deck, H, and with an extension, F 3, projecting
down through the floor or deck.
For ships, as shown in Figure 6, a storm check valve, J, is fitted at the top of the
discharge trap bend, C, and in some cases, as shown, a similar check valve, K, may
also be fitted lower down in the descending leg. Either or both of such valves, J, K,
may be on a spindle (not shown) passing through a properly packed aperture in the
side of the trap bend, C, so as to be capable of being closed or otherwise moved from
outside.
In most cases the trap bend, C, is by preference made with a bulb-like
enlargement, C3, (shown only in Figure 4) in the descending leg to increase the
efficiency of the discharge action.
In cases in which a pump discharge is required as with ships' closets placed below
or near the water level, and which are of the kind shown in Figure 7, the sole
plate, G, is made with the improved form of dovetail socket, F1, herein before
described, to receive the outlet, D, of a basin, A, of the hopper (or other) form; also
with an opening and joint face or flange, L, for the pump cylinder, M, to be bolted to;
and also with an opening and joint face or flange, N, for the discharge pipe, P. The
pump piston rod, M 1, is connected to one arm, Q1, of a lever centered on a
bracket, M 2, formed (or fixed) on the pump cylinder, M. The other arm, Q2, of
the lever, which is provided with a handle, Q 3, preferably assumes a vertical position
at the back of the closet when the pump piston, M 3, is in its raised position but
which may be arranged otherwise when more convenient. The lever, R, for
actuating the water supply (shown by dotted lines) may also be arranged to occupy
any convenient position. The upper end of the pump cylinder, M, communicates
by a pipe, M 4, with the water supply pipe, R 1, or with the basin rim so that any
water leaking past the piston, M. 3, may pass off by the pipe, M 4, when the piston
rises. A discharge check valve, J, is fitted in the sole plate, G, for the outlet, D,
from the basin, A, and a similar valve, K, for the pump, M, is fitted to a flange, P 1,
fixed to the discharge pipe, P, so as to remain therewith when the sole plate, G, is
disconnected therefrom.
The seats and basin rims of closets are by this invention made so as to avoid the
wetting of the front part of the seat when used by females. For this purpose, as
shown in Figure 8, the seat, S, is made at the front, with an indentation or narrow

page_text: enlargement, S 1, of the opening, by partly cutting through the wood of the seat at
the front. Or, as shown in Figure 9, the enlargement, S 1, is formed by cutting the
wood of the seat, S, wholly through and connecting the sides with a metal bar, $ 2,
which serves also as a shield and may be enamelled or covered with rubber or other
suitable material. As shown in Figures 10, and 11, the basin rim, A 1, is made with
an indentation, T, at the front and (if desired) with a shield projection, T 1, fitting
the indentation in the wood seat.
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 waterclosets, forming a concave enlargement in the basin at and near the
water level substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as shown
in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the accompanying drawings.
2. In connection with waterclosets the improved joint in which the trap bend, or
basin outlet, or like part is made with a bead to be entered into a faucet or socket
at the entrance to the discharge pipe or trap bend the sides of the socket being
slightly inclined inwards substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and as shown in Figures 2, and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
3. For forming a communication for the discharge passage of a watercloset through
a floor or deck providing a short pipe piece made with the joint socket forming the
subject matter of Claim 2, hereof, also with a flange to bear on the floor and with an
extension projecting down through the floor substantially as herein before described
with reference to Figure 5, of the accompanying drawings
4. In a ship's closet fitting a storm check valve at the top of the discharge trap
bend or lower down in the descending leg or in both places substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved pump-
discharge watercloset substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in
Figure 7, of the accompanying drawings.
6. Making the seat of a watercloset with an indentation or narrow enlargement of
the opening at the front with or without a corresponding indentation in front of the
basin rim, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as shown
in Figures 8, to 11, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of December 1897
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.