Improvements in and relating to Flushing Cisterns.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Flushing Cisterns.
I, WILLIAM WILLIS of 33 Botanic Terrace Dublin Road, Belfast, in the
County of Antrim, Ireland, Registored Plumber 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:-
My inventions relates to improvements in flushing cisterns, and the ball cook
service of same, as employed in w.c's, lavatories, and she like, and has for its
objects, First. To provide a ineans whereby the flush from the cistern may be
carried into the pan or the like, and from this into the drain with greater force,
and without the noise that usually accompanies the finish of the flush, in nearly
all cisterns of this type as hitherto made and used. Second. A method of
arranging the ball cock service by which the cistern may be recharged more
rapidly and with less noise than hitherto.
In order that my said invention, and the manner in which I prefer to carry the
same into effect may be fully and clearly understood, I have liereuuto appended
a sheet of drawings of which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, according to one method of construction, taken upon
the line A B of Fig. 2 which is a sectional view of Fig. 1 taken upon the
line CD.
Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a second or alternative
method of construction.
Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views of my improvements relating to the ball
cook service hereinafter referred to.
с
In carrying my invention into practice according to the method of construction
shewn by Fig. 1, I cast or otherwise produce from any suitable inetal, a preferably
rectangular cistern or container A, which may be fixed in the position desired, by
the use of suitable brackets such as a a', and or other convenient means. Within
the cistern AI provide a chamber B, cast or otherwise produced from any suitable
metal, and so constructed as to form, four distinct compartraents C, D, E and F,
each of which may be either circular, elliptical or rectangular in horizontal
cross section, the said compartments being formed by partitions or divisions e de,
and covered by a lid G, scrowed bolted or otherwise fixed in air tight connection
with the outer walls of B, and in contact with the central partition d. The
partitions or divisions ce converge at their lower ends and form the flush outlet H,
which passes through, and is bolted screwed, or otherwise rendered water and
air tight with, the bottom of the cistern A, whereat it is counected in the usual
way to the flush pipe J. The lower end of the partition d, termiantes at or
about the point of convergence of the partitions e, while the upper ends of c, e.
terminate a suitable distance below the line of junction of the cistern ▲ with its
cover A, and preferably, but not imperatively, slightly above the cistern over-
flow K. The lower end of e, extends downward beyond the said point of
convergence, to within a short distance of the bottom of A, and forms, in conjunction
with the wall of B, the lower mouth of the compartment F. The lower end of
the partition e diverges again at its lower end, and forms in conjunction with the
wall B a passage, leading into, and screwed or otherwise connected water tight
to, or cast or otherwise formed integrally with a circular, elliptical or rectangular
metallic or other cylinder or chamber L, the lower end of which is provided with
a suitablo inlet valve g, while its upper end is enclosed by a cover h, screwed,

page_text: •
bolted or otherwise connected thereto, and in the said cover is provided an air
hole, and a central aperture through which passes a rod k, carrying at its lowest
end a float M, and connected at its upper end to a rod passing downwards through
guides m, and between these carries a spiral spring n, the upper end of which
abuts against a pin or its equivalent o, in or on the rod 4, while its lower end
abuts upon the lower guide m. Or the upper ends of aud may be connected
to a lever " as suggested by dotted outline in Fig. 1.
An important feature of my invention is ny arrangement of the ball cook
service, which has for its purpose that the water or other fluid entering into the
cistern A may be deposited as near as possible to the bottom thereof, (whercat
a certain quantity of the said fluid always remains as hereinafter explained), in
order that the cistern may be charged as noiselessly as possible, and to effect
this and charge the cistern quickly, I construct the ball cock service as follows,
and as shewn more particularly by the enlarged views Figs. 4 and 5.
To an ordinary service cock N, 1 attach in the usual way a metallic ball
Honr O, the rod of which p. is preferably perfectly straight, and has a notch
such as r, and the inlet end N' of the cock 'N I extend downward to near the
bottom of A, (as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3). To the upper portion of N 1 screw,
braze, or otherwise nttach a lug P bifurcated at its free end, and between such
bifurcations pivotally mount a rod R, having a curved leg such as or a
straight leg (as suggested by dotted outline) provided with a sloping foot or
heel such as ', and to the free end of R is fixed a preferably, semi-spherical air
tight chamber S, preferably constructed of thin sheet metal similar to that of the
ball O, and half or thereabouts the size and weight of the latter. As in the
usual way, the ball O would be in its lowest position when the cistern was empty,
or substantially as at Fig. 4, and simultaneously with the lowering of O, S would
also be lowered by the action of gravity, and when O had reached its lowest
position, or nearly so, the heals' of s or would slip from the notch r of O, to
beneath the end of the cock N, as shewn in Fig. 4, and the cock N being now
fully open the water or the like would flow into and quickly charge the cistern A,
the ball being prevented from rising in the usual way by reason of the heel ¹
being wedged between N and the rod p but when the level of the water had
risen sufficiently to act upon the float S, the rising of this would withdraw the
heels from between N and p, when O would rapidly rise and close the cock N,
the heel by then engaging with the notch in p would cause S to be raised by
the buoyancy of O as shewn in Fig. 5. The action of the ball cock service being
now made clear, the action of the flushing cistern as described is as follows.
The water or other liquid entering the cistern ▲ through the pipe N', would
flow freely around the chamber B and enter the compartment F, and by raising
the valve g, enter the chamber L, and the compartment C, the float M boing now
in its highest position (shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 1) by the expansive tension
of the spring, and whatever may be the level of the fluid in A, the same would
he its level in L and C, such level of course being governed by the float O in the
usual way.
To discharge the cistern, a downward pull would be imparted to the rod 1,
compressing the spring us shewn in full lines in Fig. 1, such downward move-
ment of also forcing down the float M, and the pressure thus imparted to the
fluid in L, would cluse the valve and force the contents of L into the com-
partment C, and the contents of C over the partition c and down through D
and H, thus starting a syphonic action which would continue until L and C
were emptied. The rapid flow of fluid through D and H would create a vacuum
in the compartment E, and cause the water in F to overflow the partition & into E,
thus starting a second siphon, which would continue until the level of the fluid
in A was reduced to that of the lower end of the partition d, when the flow
would immediately coase, thus discharging the cistern in less time than such
cisterns generally, and materially adding to the force of the Hush, and by reason
of a portion of the fluid still remaining in A to the level of the lower end of d,

page_text: the unpleasant sound that usually accompanies the. emptying of such cisterns is
avoided, and the noise that generally follows during the recharging of the cistern
is obviated by reason of the fluid remaining in A, forming a cushion for that
entering at N¹.
Referring to the method of construction shown by Fig. 3, the chamber B has in
this case only three compartments, which are the equivalents of D, E, F, in the
previous arrangement, the cover G being preferably so constructed as to form a
continuation, of the compartment D, leading into the upper end or cover of the
chamber L, although such continuation may be separate from G, and be bolted or
otherwise connected thereto and the chamber L. In this arrangement the valve g,
is dispensed with, and in lieu of this, I provide an opening g', in the lower part of L,
in direct communication with the cistern A, and in lieu of the float M'I provide
in C a metallic or other weighted piston M', the diameter of which is less than that
of the chamber L, and to this is conuected a rod &, passing outwardly through the
crown of L and therent connected to a chain or cord which passes over a grooved
pulley t, mounted upon a bracket such as w, and passing therefrom downward
outside of A, through suitable guides (if necessary) such as m² m².
The ball cock arrangement as described in connection with the previous arrange-
ment being also employed in this, the water or other fluid woull be fed into A
through N in the same manner, and this entering F, and the chamber I, through
the aperture or opening g', would rise in L by flowing around the weighted
piston M, and when the contents of A is to be discharged, a sharp downward pull
would be imparted to the chain or cord thus suddenly raising the piston M', and
this, by forcing upward the fluid contents of L through the passage, in the
direction of the arrows into the compartment D, and through H, would siphon off
the contents of L, and this by creating a vacuum in E would siphon off the
contents of A. through F in the same mauner as in the previous arrangement, such
siphoning suddenly terminating by the same causes, and in the same noiseless
manner as in the case of Fig. 1.
by
Although I have heroin described and shown a rod and chain or cord
which the discharging of the cistern may be effected, it is obvious that by the
employment of suitable connections, well understood by porsons skilled in the fixing
of such cisterns, the operation of discharging the cistern may be effected by and
from the seat or other part of the w.c. or lavatory, without departing from the
principal of my invention.
Having now particularly described aud 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 :-
1st. In an improved flushing cistern for the use of w.c's, lavatories and the
like, the method of arranging the ball cock service, by which the ball or float
governing such cook is held full ou until the said cistern is fully charged or nearly
so, and the water or other fluid entering thereinto is conducted to the lowest part
of such cistern, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by
the drawings.
2nd. In an improved flushing cistern, the construction and use of, and application
thoreto of a double siphon, acting in combination with a fluid chamber or cylinder
baving an internal float or piston, arranged to rise or fall by the action of a cord,
chain, rod, spring or other convenient means for discharging the contents of said
cylinder, and starting the syphons, and noiselessly discharging the cistern,
substantially as herein described and shewn by the drawings.
3rd. In an improved flushing oistern, the combination of a container A with
cover A' and internal chamber B, the latter having a cover G, and being divided
by partitions such as c d e, into compartments C, D, E, F, the said partitions ce
converging at their lower ends to form a passage H connected to the discharge
pipe J. The chamber or cylinder L, connected by a passage f, with the
compartment C, and having at its lower end a suitable inlet valve such as g, and

page_text: "
.
provided internally with a float such as M connected to a rod passing upward
through the cover of L, and thereat connected to a rod / or to a lever such as kl
connected to a rod 1, depending outside A, provided with a spring such as n, or
an equivalent of and n, operated from the seat or other part of the w.o. or
lavatory. The inlet cock N with nozzle N', and float and rod O, p, and semi-
spherical chamber S upon a rod R, the latter pivotted upon the cock N, and
having a legs or " and foot s' capable of engaging with a notch rin the whole
connected, contbined and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. In an improved flushing cistern, the combination of a container A with
cover A', and internal chamber B with cover G, and divided by partitions
such as d nude into compartments D, E, F, the lower end of e and the outer
wall of B, converging to form a passage H connected to the discharge pipe J.
The chamber or cylinder L connected by a passage f, to the compartment D, and
having at its lower end an inlet such as g in direct communication with the
container or cistern A and provided internally with a weighted piston or plunger
such as M³ connected to a rod passing upward through the crown of L, and
thereat connected to a suitable lever arranged to be operated by a cord or chain
such as, or connected to a chain or cord passing over a grooved pulley or
wheel mounted upon a bracket w and from this downward outside A, with or
without guides m³ m² or arranged to be operated from the seat or other part
of the w.o. or lavatory. The inlet cock N with nozzle N¹ ball and rod Op, and
semispherical chamber and rod S and R, the latter pivotted upon N and having
a leg or with foot such as a' capable of engaging with a notch ☞ in p, the whole
connected, combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth and shewn by Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the appended drawings.
Deend this 216 dor of October 180
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicant.