IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRY CLOSETS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Mackie, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Joiner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF DRY CLOSETS."
Sealed the 3rd October 1879, and dated the 5th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Mackie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1879.
JOHN MACKIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Joiner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRY CLOSETS."
This Invention relates to new or improved special constructions of the working
parts of dry closets for use in houses, public works, or other places (instead of water
closets), which, besides being perfectly noiseless in their action, will be more simple,
efficient, and durable in construction than such closets have been as heretofore used.
And the nature of the Invention as applied to one of the most simple modifications
or constructions of the closet consists in forming the lower closed in box part with
the moveable hinged top or seat with the usual round hole in near the front, all
much as usual, with a covering in hinged lid, and with a door in the front, back, or
it might be in one of the sides, for the insertion and removal of the portable
soil pan or can in the under the hole of the seat, and with the hopper for con-
taining the earth, sand, sawdust, ashes, or other absorbent material to be scattered
over the soil or excrement (at each use of the closet), ranged and fitted over the
back part of the close box, right across behind the hinges of the lid, and contracted
below to a narrow orifice in the back and front direction, and to the width of the
delivery or distributing spout across the box, opening below, and with a closing-in
lid on top, all so far substantially the same as in many other dry closets. The
special features of novelty consisting in forming the lower open end of the hopper
of a hollow segmental form, and fitting over it an opening and closing segmental
oscillating slide, preferably of strong thin metal, sharp on the front edge, mounted
on the top of a transverse rib oscillating on journal or other fulcra at its ends in
bearings fixed to the sides of the box, or its frame, some inches below the back open

page_text: edge of the hopper, so that this segmental closing and opening slide would freely
recede back from the front open edge and open bottom of the hopper, and deliver a
measured or regulated quantity of the earth or other absorbent material used,
which falls on to the downwardly inclined shoot or spout, and spread it over the
soil in the pan below at each backward oscillation of the said segmental slide, and
forward action of the two pendulous levers, one at each side, with slip weights on
their lower ends, the automatic backward oscillation of which lowers the shoot or
spout so as to deliver and spread the discharged quantity of absorbent material
over the soil in the pan. This raising of the automatic acting levers is effected by
the weight of the person sitting down on the front of the hinged seat through an
oscillating bar or other equivalent acting by guide rests on the under side of the
seat, this frame being carried in bearings or recesses in the back short arms of two
beam levers fulcrummed on suitable pivots in bearing blocks secured to the inner side
cheeks of the box, having their longer arms carried backwards under two actuating
arms on the oscillating frame of the shoot, and segmental closing valves, and
pendulous levers, all so that as the short arms of the two side levers are pressed
down by the weight of the person on the seat the long arms are raised, and through
proper metallic bearings at their upper surface acting on the rounded bearing ends
of the short actuating levers of the shoot frame, opens the segmental slide and
raises the weighted pendulous levers and shoot so as to deliver the absorbent
material on to the shoot, the removing of the weight of the person from the seat
allowing the pendulous arms to automatically lower the shoot and distribute the
material from it over the soil in the pan, all as already described; at the same
this backward action of the pendulous levers and frame causes the segmental slide
on its upper end to close the open lower mouth of the hopper at each action.
Although in the foregoing modification or improved arrangement of the mechanism
the automatic or reacting pendulous levers have been described as formed on or
directly fixed to the oscillating frame or bar of the oscillating slide at the lower
open end of the hopper (which they close by their backward oscillation), it is to
be understood that these levers might be hung on fulcra of their own at their upper.
end, secured to the sides of the box close up to the movable seat, and be connected
by links or connecting rods to their oscillating slide so as to close it and the lower
. end of the hopper, and lower the shoot or spout, and scatter and deliver the charge
of earth or other absorbent used over the soil or excrement in the pan below the
seat, each time this was depressed and released by the person using the closet;
these weighted levers always falling to their lowest pendent position so as also to
retain the scat in its raised position always ready for the said automatic motion or
depression at each next action and use. A further improvement consists in making
the sides of the box, below the seat, enclosing, and on each side of the portable
removable discharge soil and earth pan, double or cased by an inner lining of boards,
secured to the corner posts or side frames when made in a framed form, in addition
to the usual outer case or boarding, all so as to enclose and protect the side beam
levers and their fulcra and working joints, and those of the pendulous levers and
their connecting rods, when these are used at the sides, as last described, which
double boarding of the sides besides preventing dust and damp from getting at
these enclosed working parts would also greatly strengthen the case or box of the
closet, and make the whole more substantial and portable. And although two
pendent weighted re-acting levers have been described, it will be evident that one
could be made to answer when made heavy and powerful enough, especially when
made detached, and acting on a fulcrum of its own across the box, either at the
back of the lower box, or above it, behind the hopper, connected by suitable seg-
mental bevel or skew toothed wheels, or bell cranks and connecting rods to the
oscillating frame of the slide or valve, so as to actuate it at right angles for closing
and opening the lower end of the hopper, and distributing the earth delivered at
each action, all otherwise as hereinbefore described.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the falling and acting

page_text: weighted levers in this improved mechanism are not made to strike against any-
thing to effect the scattering and distribution of the absorbent material, this being
efficiently and noiselessly effected by the simple lowering of the spout by the falling
of the weighted levers to their lowest free swinging position, and which they
assume noiselessly, without perceptible shock or vibration of the mechanism.
:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Mackie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd October
1879.
JOHN MACKIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Joiner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRY CLOSETS."
My said Invention relates to new or improved special construction of the
working parts of dry closets, for use in houses, public works, or other places
(instead of water closets), which besides being perfectly noiseless in their action,
will be more simple, efficient, and durable in construction than such closets as have
been heretofore used. And in order that the nature and novelty of my said
Invention, and mode and means of peforming and putting the same into effect or
practice may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several
Figures on the Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for that
purpose, the like reference letters indicate the same parts in the different Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 are similar longitudinal sections of a "dry closet," showing the
improved working parts in the normal and acting positions respectively, with the
seat B up and depressed, all constructed in accordance with and illustrative of one
modification or combination of the improvements of my Invention; and Figure 3
is a transverse vertical section through the supply hopper D, looking from the front
and corresponding to Figure 1. While Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a hori-
zontal section taken near the line 1 - - 1 in Figure 1, and a plan with the closing
in lids B, D, of the seat part, and the hopper D as removed, all of the same
arrangement or combination of dry closet shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Referring to these Figures 1 to 5 the general construction of the frame or case of
the closet consists of a lower closed in box or case A with strong framed sides A¹,
A, A, and bottom A³, and fitted in front over the close middle part of this box
with an automatically moving seat B hinged at its back edge to a cross bar B¹, and
formed with the seat hole and urinal conductor B over the portable soil pan or
vessel C, inserted and removed by doors hinged at A2 in the front or back
sides A, A, for the purpose. A closing in lid B is hinged over the seat B with
ornamental arms B³ on each side of the hinged seat and lid B, B2, for the better
class of closets. The hopper D for containing the earth, sand, saw dust, ashes, or
other absorbent material, to be used and scattered over the soil or excrement at
each use of the closet, is fitted vertically with sloping sides D¹, D", D¹, over the.

page_text: back at D of the box part A; and enclosed between the strong sides A", A¹¹,
carried up to the top, and covered in by a lid D, and having the hopper right
across behind the hinged seat and lid B, B2, which open up against the front of the
hopper. The hopper D is left wide at the top, but is contracted on the two
sides D, D, towards the centre, and by the back D towards the front below, as
seen in Figures 3 and 2 respectively, so as to form a narrow discharge orifice or
spout at the lower end, which delivers the material from the hopper in small
regular quantity on to an automatic serving and distributing shoot or tray below
it, all as will herein after be described. These parts as so far described are arranged
substanaially in the same manner as in many other dry closets. My improved
combination of the working mechanism, and its action for automatically delivering
a portion of the soil from hopper D, and scattering it into the pan C each time
the closet is used, consists as follows:-In forming the lower open end of the
hopper D of a hollow segmental form, preferably, with an open metal mouth piece a
secured right across between the sides of the box A, and formed with end bearing
brackets a¹, a', carrying the end journals b¹ of an oscillating opening and closing
segmental slide or delivery valve like door 6 working close up to the hollow face
of the mouth piece a. The acting surface b of this delivery slide is preferably
formed of strong thin metal, sharp on the front edge, and mounted and secured to
the top of a transverse rib or frame b¹, 6", oscillating on its journals or fulcra b¹, b',
at its ends in the bearing a fixed on the insides A" of the box A or its frame work,
some inches below the back from the mouth a of the hopper D, and corresponding
to the radius of this segmental closing and opening slide b, so that it would freely
recede back from the front open edge a¹¹ of the lower open mouth a of the hopper D,
and receive therefrom at each backward oscillation of the said segmental slide ba
measured or regular quantity of the earth or other absorbent material to be used
down on to the shoot or spout c, c¹, which at this time is in the horizontal position,
all as shown in Figure 2. This service or delivery shoot c, c', which is flat with
shallow sides c¹, is secured to the oscillating slide frame 61, 61, in a downwardly
inclined manner, so as to spread the charge of earth down into the pan Chelow at
each forward action of the slide b, and the automatical back action of the two
pendulous levers d, d¹, secured or formed on the ends of the frame b¹, 61, of the
slide, and fitted with a slip weight d' on their lower ends working in closed in
spaces A at the sides of the box A. This sudden lowering action of the weighted
levers d, d, and shoot or spout c, c', effectually scatters and spreads the discharged
quantity of absorbent material over the soil in the pan at each action and use of
the closet, all as seen in Figure 1. The raising of the automatic acting levers d, d',
is effected by the weight of the person using the closet sitting down on the front of
the hinged seat B, through or by an oscillating bar e (or other equivalent) acting
by guide rests f, f, secured on the underside of the seat B, this frame e being carried
in bearings or recesses g in the back short arms g¹ of two beam levers g¹, g¹¹,
fulcrummed on suitable hollow bearings h in blocks h¹ or other equivalent pivots
secured to the inner side cheeks A", A, of the box A, having their longer arms gl
carried backwards under two actuating arms 62 on the opposite ends of the oscillating
frame b¹, 61, of the shoot c, and segmental closing valves b, and pendulous levers
d, d'; all so that the short arms g¹ of the two side levers g¹, g¹¹, are pressed down
by the weight of the person on the seat, the long arms g₁ are raised, and through
proper metallic bearings at their upper surface g acting on the under rounded
bearing ends of the short actuating levers 62, 62, of the frame b¹, 6", open the
segmental slide b, and raises the weighted pendulous levers d, d', and shoot c, c¹, so
as to deliver the absorbent material on to the shoot, all as before stated and shown
in this position of the parts in Figure 2. The removing of the weight of the person
from the seat B allows the pendulous weighted levers d, d', to automatically lower
the shoot and distribute the material from it over the soil in the pan, the same
backward action of the pendulous levers d, d', and frame b', 61, causes the segmental
slide b on its upper end to close the open lower mouth a of the hopper D at each
action, and leave the parts all in the normal stationary position shown in Figure 1.

page_text: as before described, ready for the next action and use of the closet. Although the
foregoing modification or combination and arrangement of my improved acting
mechanism for dry closets described and shown, the automatic or reacting pendulous
levers g', g, have been described as formed on, or directly fixed to the oscillating
frame or bar b, b, of the oscillating slide b at the lower open end of the hopper D
(which they close by their backward oscillation). It is to be understood that these
levers d, d', might be hung on fulcra of their own at their upper end, secured to
the sides of the box A, close up to the movable seat B, and be connected by links or
connecting rods to their oscillating slide frame b, 61, 61, so as to close the lower
end a of the hopper D, and lower the shoot or spout c, c', and scatter and deliver the
charge of earth or other absorbent used over the soil or excrement in the pan
0
below the seat B, each time this was depressed and released by the person using
the closet. The weighted levers d, d', thus always falling to their lowest pendent
position after each action, so as to retain the seat in its raised position, always ready
for the said depression and automatic motion at each next action and use, as in the
first arrangement..
A further improvement consists in making the sides of the box A below the seat
B (which encloses the removable discharge soil and earth pan) double, or cased by
an inner lining of boards i on each side, secured to the corner posts or side frames
at the back and front, in addition to the usual outer case or boarding A", A", all so
as to enclose and protect within the narrow space or chambers A, A, the side beam
levers g¹, gl, and their fulcra h, h, and working joints and parts b², g, and those of
the pendulous levers d, d', and their connecting rods, when these are used at the
sides as last described, which double boarding i, i, at the sides, besides preventing
dust and damp from getting at these enclosed working parts, would also greatly
strengthen the case or box A of the closet, and make the whole more substantial
and portable. And although two pendent weighted reacting levers d, d', have been
described, it will be evident that one could be made to answer when made heavy
and powerful enough, especially when mounted detached, to act on a fulcrum of its
own transversely across wise, either at the back of the lower box A, or above it
behind the hopper D, connected by suitable segmental bevel or skew toothed wheels
or bell cranks, and connecting rods to the oscillating frame b¹, 6, of the slide or
valve b, so as to actuate it at right angles for closing and opening the lower end a¹
of the hopper D, and distributing the earth delivered on to the shoot c, c¹, at each
action, all otherwise as herein before described. From the foregoing description it
will be understood that the falling and acting weighted levers d, d', in this
improved mechanism, are not made to strike against anything to effect the
scattering and distribution of the absorbent material, this being efficiently and
noiselessly effected by the simple and sudden lowering of the spout c, c', by the
falling of the weighted levers to their lowest normal pendent position, and which
they assume noiselessly without perceptible shock or vibration of the mechanism.
Although I have herein shown and described the oscillating segmental delivery
slide or valve b, b¹, b", and "
" shoot c, cl, actuated in one direction by the seat, and
in the other direction by the reaction of the pendulous weighted lever d, d', through
a beam lever g¹, gl, other mechanical connections might be used for this purpose ;
the valve and pendulous lever being the important parts of my said combination of
new mechanism indicated by itallic letters.
"
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the
precise details herein described or delineated, but what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The general construction of "dry closets" (or earth closets), with arrange
ment or combination of actuating mechanism indicated by itallic letters, having an
oscillating segmental delivery slide or valve and shoot b, c, automatically actuated
by the seat and reactionary pendulous weighted lever d, d, all substantially an

page_text: herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
Second. The construction and application of an oscillating segmental delivery
slide or valve, and shoot b, c, automatically actuated by the seat and reactionary
pendulous weighted lever d, d³, in or to dry closets (or earth closets), all substantially
as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or
any mere modification thereof.
Third. The construction and application of an oscillating segmental mouthpiece
and valve a, b, for delivering the earth or other absorbent in dry closets (or earth
closets), substantially as herein described in reference to an shown in the accom-
panying Drawing.
Fourth. The construction and application of a noiseless free acting pendulous
lever for actuating the delivery valve of dry closets (or earth closets), substantially
as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The enclosing oscillating levers for actuating the delivery slide or valve
and "shoot" of dry closets (or earth closets) within closed in chambers A* petitioned
off at i, i, from the pan chamber A, substantially as herein described in reference to
and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Mackie, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN MACKIE. (L.S.)