IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEWERS AND DRAINS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Edes, of Dover, in the County of Kent, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SEWERS AND DRAINS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Edes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1880.
WALTER EDES, of Dover, in the County of Kent.
CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEWERS AND DRAINS."
"
'IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
The object of this Invention is to prevent the accumulation of foul and poisonous
gases within sewers and drains, by constructing sewers and drains in such a manner
that the gases and injurious vapors, as soon as evolved from any decomposing organic
and vegetable matters therein, will be allowed to escape through the tops of drainpipes
or the tops of sewers, and become deodorized by absorption in the earth or ground
above.
The present system of constructing brick sewers in cement above the full water
level line, as well as beneath it, and constructing pipe drainage with entire pipes of
impervious material, such as glazed stoneware pipes, syphon traps, and the like, laid
with joints cemented is considered to be objectionable and productive of considerable
inischief, and tending to impede the natural flow of the sewage, to accelerate
decomposition, and thereby increase the formation of the injurious sewer-gas.
The gases thus formed within such sewers and drains, being as it were, so
hermetically bottled or sealed up become surcharged, and while in this state they
can only escape through the channels formed by ventilation pipes and the rain
water pipes from roofs or other pipes that may be connected with the drains and
sewers, and in this manner foul and poisonous gases, which probably have been
generated in a filthy sewer or drain some distance away from these channels, are
emitted in volumes in an unfiltered state, producing the many evils complained of
by medical men, whilst it is considered that if these gases had been allowed to escape
as soon as developed they would have been innoxious.
This Invention therefore is intended to remedy this evil by constructing sewers
and drains with the upper parts of the sewer or drain pipes perforated with a
...

page_text: series of apertures or holes. The perforations should be made twice as wide in the
inside of the sewer or drain as on the outside, and they may be of any size, shape, or
form, always providing that they must be smaller than the particles of the material
to be used immediately over (as hereinafter described), but in no case, however
small the pipes, should the perforations be less than half an inch wide on the
outside.
The drainpipes may be made of ordinary stone ware of the usual or any suitable
length, and they may be made with movable covers. The ends of the covers are to
have butt joints and to be laid about inch apart, or they may be constructed
entire with the perforations formed in the pipes during their manufacture.
The perforated covers for brick sewers may be constructed of any material
whatever, stoneware, however, being preferred, and of any convenient size and
form, with perforations as described for the covers and the top portions of the
drains.
Over any of these perforated covers, when fixed in position, there is to be laid a
layer of charcoal or other deodorizing material or antiseptic substance, to be not
less than 6 inches thick on the top of the drain or sewer. In dry situations a layer
of cinders or gravel may be used instead. The material used for this layer is to be
screened to a size large than the narrowest part of any of the perforations, and to
extend to about 6 inches beyond the sides of the sewer or drain.
This Invention more especially refers to the construction of the upper parts of
sewers and drains in such a manner, as to allow the sewer gases to pass as engendered
into the ground above, but it will be found equally applicable to many of the existing
makes of drains or sewers, which can be altered to receive these perforated and
ventilating covers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Edes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th June
1881.
WALTER EDES, of Dover, in the County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEWERS AND DRAINS."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to improvements in and connected
with the construction of sewers and drains, are to construct sewers and drains, or
sewer and drain pipes or built up channels, in such a manner as that the foul,
poisonous, and injurious gases or vapors which are evolved or engendered therein
from the decomposition of any organic, vegetable, or other matters which may be
therein, or passing therethrough, will be enabled to escape as soon as they are
evolved or engendered from the said sewers, or drains, or pipes, or channels, and
become deodorized and disinfected of all their deleterious properties by absorption
into the superposed "filling in" of soil, or it may be also into an intermediate
layer of any suitable antiseptic compound, and by this means to avoid the accumu-
lation of such gases and vapors, which occurs within sewers and drains constructed
according to the systems in present use; and according to which brick sewers are
constructed or made in cement, both above and below the full water level line
(which is about 3/4 of the height of the sewer), and large and small pipe-drainage
is effected with entire pipes, syphons, traps, and other accessories made of imper-
vious material, such as glazed or unglazed stoneware, and laid with cemented joints,
and in which therefore there is no means of escape provided for the said gases and
vapors as they are evolved or engendered otherwise than by the usual street
gratings, and the rain water, ventilation, or other pipes leading from the roofs of
houses, or the sinks within houses, and which may be connected with the sewer or
drain; and, inasmuch, as that in such means of escape there is no means of deodo-
rizing or disinfecting the gases and vapors, they thus escape (as they of necessity
accumulate within the sewer or drain) surcharged with germs of disease and
poisonous matter, polluting the atmosphere to the general harın of the community.
And, moreover, the accumulation of the gases and vapors within the sewer or drain
is otherwise objectionable and productive of considerable mischief, as tending to
impede the natural or proper flow of the sewage, thus accelerating the decompo-
sition thereof and increasing the formation of the sewer-gas.
The principle of the present Invention consists in attaining the above mentioned
objects and avoiding the evils hereinbefore referred to as attendant upon the use of
sewers and drains constructed according to the said systems in present use by
constructing the upper part of the said sewers, or drains, or pipes, or channels in such
a manner as that throughout the whole length thereof the said gases or vapors as
they are generated within the same shall have an immediate facility of escape
from the sewer or drain, and of access in a purified condition to the atmospheric
air through the superposed earth or soil, which is a most efficient deodorizer and
disinfector; and also it may be through an intermediate layer of any suitable
antiseptic material placed immediately over and about the upper part of the sewer
or drain, and by which means the disadvantageous accumulation of the sewer gas
is prevented, and the poisonous influences thereof are neutralized, the gas reaching
the atmospheric air in a perfectly innocuous condition.
Such being the nature and objects of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect, and in order that the principle of my Invention, and
the means I employ of carrying the same into practical effect, may be completely
understood, I have annexed hereunto one Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof,

page_text: and have marked the same with Figures of reference corresponding with those in
the following description or explanation thereof, that is to say:-
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the most advantageous means of which I
am aware of carrying the hereinbefore indicated principle of my Invention into
practical effect.
Figures 1 to 4 are illustrative of one modification; Figures 5 to 7 of a second,
and Figures 8 and 9 of a third; and Figure 10 is further illustrative of the principle
of my Invention; Figures 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10 represent transverse sections;
Figures 3, 6, and 9 side elevations, and Figures 4 and 7 plan views.
In each of these modifications there is a common feature characteristic of my
present improvements, and this consists in the provision of suitable apertures, holes,
openings, or perforations 1 which are made in the upper part, that is, above the
full water line or level of the sewer or drain, or of the sewer or drain pipe or other
channel, of whatever shape or of whatever materials the sewer or drain or its pipe
or channel is or may be constructed; and these apertures, holes, openings, or
perforations, or their equivalents, constitute the means I provide for the ready
escape of the gases and vapors which are evolved or engendered within the sewer
or drain into the superposed soil or antiseptic layer and soil.
The perforations or apertures I prefer to make at the least twice as wide on
the inside of the sewer or drain pipe as on the outside thereof, and at the least
half an inch wide on the outside; and I prefer to bevil both the sides and ends
thereof, so that they shall also be longer or of larger dimensions in all directions on
the inside than on the outside of the sewer or drain pipe. The openings or
apertures may be made of any number, the more numerous the more advantageous,
and of any size and shape.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 and 10, the outlet or escape
perforations or apertures 1 are represented as made through the substance of the
drain pipe 2, and they may be so made during the manufacture of the latter, the
perforations being made by any suitable means which the manufacturers might
adopt.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the perforations or apertures 1
are represented as made in removable covers 3, which are butt-jointed at the ends
and are laid dry with 1/4 inch openings between the ends.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, which represent a small brick-
built egg-shaped sewer, the perforations or apertures 1 are represented as made in
some of the bricks 4 of which the upper part of the sewer is constructed. These
perforated bricks may be made in halves or parts or pressed or moulded in one
piece as may be most convenient.
Sewer or drain pipes constructed according to my present improvements may
be made of the ordinary stoneware or of any other suitable material and of any
ordinary shape or form, and of the usual or any suitable length, and the perforated
covers, which may be used for drain pipes, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, or
for small brick sewers, as illustrated in Figure 1, may also be made of any
suitable material, stoneware being preferred, and of any suitable shape, form, or
length.
When building or fixing these improved sewers and drain pipes in position I lay
the joints thereof below the water line in Portland cement, and over the upper
part thereof or the perforated part above the water line I find it of advantage to
lay throughout the length of the sewer or drain a layer 5 of charcoal (preferably
not less than about 6 inches thick on the highest part of the top of the sewer or
drain pipe, and extending to about the same width beyond each side of the sewer
or drain pipe) or of any other suitable deodorizing or disinfecting compound or
antiseptic substance, as indicated in Figure 10; the substance composing this
layer being screened to a size larger than the smallest part of any of the per-
forations 1, so as to be prevented from passing through the same into the sewer or
drain.
I would remark however that in dry situations for ordinary branch drains and

page_text: for main sewers in general, in lieu of the above referred to layer, a layer of screened
ashes or of coarse gravel or shingle may be used.
In order to obtain the full advantages derivable from the adoption of the herein-
before described improvements, it is desirable that the "filling in" 6 of the
excavation made for the reception of the sewer or drain pipe should not be of the
nature of concrete, clay, or other impervious material, which would not readily
absorb or deodorize and disinfect the gases and vapors as they escape from the
sewer or drain, and it is therefore preferable to use ordinary soil therefor.
The above described improvements are also applicable to many existing makes
of drain-pipes and sewers, which can be altered in accordance with the improvements
constituting this Invention, that is, such drain pipes and sewers may be drilled,
punched, bored, or otherwise treated so as to be brought into such a condition as
that they will allow of a similar action to those herein before described as constructed
according to my present improvements.
Among the many advantages arising from the adoption of the hereinbefore
described improvements, and other than those hereinbefore enumerated, may be
mentioned, the ensuring of a cooler temperature in the sewers and drain pipes
by the infiltering of air and drippings from the superposed soil, and the consequent
lessening of the production of the foul gases or vapors within the sewers or drains,
and the neutralizing or lessening of the poisonous and baneful influences of the gases
or vapors produced by the diffusion therewith of the infiltered air, and great facility
(in the case of the removable covers) of examining the interiors of the sewers or
drains when necessary.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,-
Constructing the upper part or parts of sewers or drains, or of sewer or drain
pipes or channels (that is, the part above the full water level thereof), with apertures,
holes, or equivalent openings, so that the sewer-gas or vapors which are evolved
or engendered therein from the decomposition of any matters therein or passing
therethrough shall have an immediate facility of escape from the sewer or drain
into the superposed "filling in" of soil, or firstly into an interposed layer of any
suitable antiseptic compound or substance, so that the gases or vapors as they are
engendered shall be prevented from accumulating in the sewer or drain, and shall
be deodorized or disinfected of all their deleterious properties before reaching the
atmospheric air, substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Edes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WALTER EDES. (L.S.)