Improvements in Syphoning or Flushing Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1898-Accepted; 16th July, 1
,-1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Syphoning or Flushing Apparatus.
We, PETER LEONARD, of 75, Victoria Road, Great Crosby, in the County of
Lancaster, Master Plumber, and WATKIN HALL, of Croft Cottage, College Road,
Great Crosby aforesaid, Civil 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:-
This invention has for its object a syphoning or flushing apparatus for water
closets; drains or the like which can be worked, if desired, by simply depressing
a button by the hand or finger or otherwise.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus;
Figure 2 a plan thereof,
Figure 3 a front view of the push button;
Figure 4 a cross section;.
Figure 5 a detail view of the locking apparatus';
Figure 6 a part plan view thereof;
Figure 7 a front elevation of the cistern.
Referring to these figures, we provide a cistern or tank which is divided by a
partition into two parts, namely, a smaller and a larger chamber A and B, the
partition C between the two being so arranged that water flowing into the.larger
chamber B first will completely fill it and then overflow the partition into the
smaller chamber A which it fills to the height shown. This larger chamber B
is filled by a faucet or cock 1) which is opened and closed by means of a ball E.
The cock D has this peculiarity that, while it supplies water direct to the larger
chamber B, its ball E floats on and is controlled by the water in the smaller
chamber A. This arrangement allows the cock to remain fully open until it
has quite filled the larger chamber B with water and it only begins to close as
the water overflows the partition C and fills the smaller chamber A, thus con-
stituting an automatic arrangement for filling the cistern exceptionally quickly,
by reason of the cock or faucet I) remaining fully open until the larger
chamber B is quite full, the water in the smaller chamber A only, governing the
floating ball E..
In the larger chamber B of the tank is mounted an inverted cup shaped
chamber or bucket F preferably tapering inside somewhat towards the bottom,
where it is open to the ingress of water from the cistern. It is supported up-
right by the guide F¹ sliding on the pipe H and by the vertical spindle G to
which it is attached, which spindle passes through the guide G¹ above by which
means the bucket F is capable of a vertical movement within given limits. At
bottom the bucket is, provided with the arms. F³ which prevent it going to. the
bottom of the tank, thus ensuring that the water, always has free access into
the bucket F. Concentrically inside, in this inverted bucket. F is located an
upright pipe H, which extends to near the top, thereof and slightly above the
D
077
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page_text: normal level of the water therein, the bucket and pipe H constituting a syphon
which can be put into action in the manner hereafter described. At the other
end it communicates with the flush pipe I through the trap J. The bucket F
is provided with means such as closed air chambers F2, the tendency of which
are to cause said bucket to rise towards the surface of the water in the tank. It
is however kept submerged in the water so long as its spindle G abuts against
the stop K, but immediately this stop is removed the bucket F rises by reason
of its air chambers F. There are many ways in which the stop K can be
operated, either mechanically by means of a hand pull or push or electrically
by means of a push or button adapted when depressed to close the circuit of an
electric battery and so operate the stop by the utilization of, for example, an
electro-magnet. In the drawings, however, we illustrate a mechanical arrange-
ment consisting of a push button L adapted when depressed to exert a pull on
the wire M and chain M¹ (or bell crank) through the crank L'. The action of
thus depressing the push L is to draw away the stop K from engaging the
shaft G, thus allowing the bucket to rise for the purpose hereafter described.
Immediately however the push L is released, the stop moves back again by the
action of the spring K¹ ready to engage the end of the shaft again when it has
descended.
N is another ball floating on the surface of the water in the tank B having a
rod connection N¹ secured to the sleeve N³ which works loosely on the cross
shaft O. Secured to the shaft O is another arm 0, at the end of which is a
fork 0 P is a locking tooth hinged at P1. The shaft O is provided with
a disc o in which there is a segmental circular slot and on the rod N₁ there is a
stud n working in this slot. In the position shown with the tank full of water,
the stud nabuts against the end of the slot in the disc o and depresses the
fork 02 thus allowing the locking tooth P to drop, and enables the stop K to be
pulled back, when the push L is operated. When however the tank is empty-
ing in the process of flushing, the ball N descends with the water in the tank
liberating the shaft 0 which then turns by the action of the weight Q, raising
the fork (2 and putting the stop into operation, thereby entirely preventing
the stop K being operated should a person try to depress the push L until the
ball N again rises by the cistern being re-filled.
R is a syphon pipe, one arm of which dips into the auxiliary tank A and the
other into the flush pipe I. As the bend of this syphon rises above the water
level it can only be set into action to empty the cistern A when a current of
water flowing through the trap J and flush pipe I induces a current of water
to flow through the auxiliary syphon and sets the latter in action. S is the
overflow above which the water in the smaller compartment cannot rise. T is
a screwed plug in top of chamber F which can be unscrewed and removed so as
to give access to the pipe H for filling the trap J in starting the apparatus
when first it is fixed. When the trap is once filled however the plug T need
not again be removed, and the water therein forms a permanent water seal
between the flush pipe I and the syphon F H preventing the access of air from
below into the syphon.
The mode of action is as follows:-
Assuming that the tank be filled up to the level indicated, the depression of
the push button L by the user will operate the stop K releasing the spindle G
and enabling the bucket F to immediately rise. The sudden rising of the
bucket F causes a body of water to rise with it above the top of the tube H,
this being facilitated by the bottom of the cup being considerably contracted
in area, and the air that was contained in the top of bucket escaping through
air vent t, which latter is so small as not to interfere or injure the siphon action
of the apparatus: the hole being little more than a pin prick. This momentary
lifting of the water starts the syphon, and the flow being once established the
water flows continuously from the tank through the bucket F and pipe H to
the water closet or drain, until the tank B is empty. The chamber descends

page_text: with the water until the stop K re-engages the spindle G. Meanwhile the flow
of water through the trap induces a current of water to flow through the
syphon R thus starting that syphon also and emptying the tank A. As the
tank A empties the ball E descends opening the cock D and refilling the cistern
automatically up to the respective. levels indicated in the drawings. Should
however a user again press the button L before the cistern is filled again, he
will be unable to depress it because the ball 'N will not have risen to a height
sufficient to unlock the locking tooth P from the stop K. Once the bucket
spindle G therefore is engaged by the stop K it cannot be liberated again until
the cistern is completely refilled up to the normal level. It will be seen further-
more that the height of the water in the tank B when full, is absolutely uniform
and should more water than is required flow into the cistern, it will pass away
to waste through the overflow S. Should however the overflow S get stopped
by any chance, and for the purpose of satisfying the regulations of waterworks
companies, we form a channel Ti or hole in the side of the tank, the bottom of
which is above the top of the partition C but slightly below the top of the flush
pipe H. Should therefore the overflow get blocked and the water rise in the
tank it cannot rise above the top of the flush pipe H to put the syphon F H into
operation, but will flow out through the channel T and thus give notice to the
householder that there is something wrong.
The water supply pipe. U is carried down to near the bottom of the cistern so
that its orifice shall be submerged and deaden the noise of the inrushing water
when the ball cock is open. The supply pipe may also be provided with an air
vent V which stops any syphoning action should there be any tendency of the
water being syphoned out of the tank through this supply pipe.
Referring again to Figure 4, W is a stationary frame on which slides the
sleeve L to which is attached the button L. On the sleeve L2 there are pins
at the side which engage in the slots in the crank L' which is supplied with
a jaw at the end to receive the sleeve. The action of depressing the push L
therefore, is to exert a pull on the wire M.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
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1. A syphoning and flushing apparatus for water closets, drains or the like,.
consisting of an inverted vertically movable bucket immersed wholly or partly
in the water of the flushing cistern and open only at the bottom to the access
of the water, a stationary upright syphon pipe rising concentrically inside the
chamber to above the normal level of the water in the cistern, and means such
as the air chambers F2 for automatically raising the bucket and causing it to
ascend a given distance when the pressure which held same down is removed,
such action having the effect of raising a body of water at the top of the flushing
pipe and setting the syphoning action into effect.
2. The combination with the matter set forth in Claim 1 of a stop device
adapted to keep the inverted bucket wholly or partially submerged in the water
in the tank, and a push button or equivalent device adapted when depressed to
so operate the stop device as to liberate the bucket and allow it to ascend to start
the syphon, while when the push is released the stop device will spring back
ready to re-engage the bucket when the syphoning and flushing action is com-
pleted, substantially as described.
3. The appliance for preventing the push button or equivalent device being
actuated to release the syphoning bucket, and set the syphon into action until
the cistern is filled to the desired level substantially as described.
4. The mechanism substantially as described in reference to Figure 4, whereby
the action of depressing the push L will exert a pull on the wire M, in com-
bination with a spring whereby the release of the button will at once enable
the wire M to move back to its original position.

page_text: 5. The arrangement for preventing the water in the cistern when full rising
above a given level, whereby the syphon cannot be put into operation acciden-
tally or allow the water to run to waste through such syphon substantially as
described.
6. The arrangement of a trap or permanent water seal between the syphon
and the flush pipe, whereby the access of air into the syphon from the flush pipe
is prevented substantially as described.
7. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming our
improved syphoning or flushing apparatus substantially as set forth.
Dated this 15th dow of March 1808
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.