IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER-CLOSETS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE AN OCCASIONAL OR INTERMITTENT SUPPLY IS REQUIRED
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Eskholme, of Rotherham, in the County of
York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER-CLOSETS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHERE AN OCCASIONAL OR INTERMITTENT SUPPLY IS REQUIRED."
Sealed the 9th August 1861, and dated the 6th March 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Eskholme at 'the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th March 1861.
I, GEORGE ESKHOLME, of Rotherham, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER-CLOSETS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES WHERE AN OCCASIONAL OR INTERMITTENT SUPPLY IS REQUIRED,". to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction. and arrangement of
apparatus for regulating the supply of water to water-closets, wash-hand
basins, and for other purposes when an occasional or intermittent supply is
required, whereby a certain regulated required supply of water is always
obtained without unnecessary waste or loss.
According to this Invention it is proposed to employ rotatory vanes, which
are kept in motion by the descent of a weighted. lever in connection with the
plug of the cock or the water supply valve, thereby retarding its descent, and
consequently regulating the quantity of what is allowed to flow. This period
may be varied, so as to allow more or less water to flow, either by increasing

page_text: or diminishing the size of the vanes, or varying their position as regards the
centre, or by causing them to feather. These vanes may be combined with
a rack and suitable gearing for operating upon the same, so that the descent
of the lever will rotate the vanes. If desired, a pendulum and escapement
movement may be substituted for the revolving vanes for the same purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Eskholme, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th September 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ESKHOLME, of Rotherham, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Eskholme, Her special license that I, the said George Eskholme,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Eskholme, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER-CLOSETS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHERE AN OCCASIONAL OR INTERMITTENT SUPPLY IS REQUIRED," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Eskholme, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing, under my hand and seal, or under
the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Eskholme, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of

page_text: apparatus for regulating the supply of water to water-closets, wash-hand
basins, and for other purposes when an occasional or intermittent supply is
required, whereby a certain regulated required supply of water is always
obtained without unnecessary waste or loss.
According to this Invention it is proposed to employ rotatory vanes, which
are kept in motion by the descent of a weighted lever in connection with the
plug of the cock, or the water-supply valve, thereby retarding its descent, and
consequently regulating the quantity of water that is allowed to flow. This
period may be varied, so as to allow more or less water to flow, either by
increasing or diminishing the size of the vanes, or varying their position as
regards the centre, or by causing them to feather. These vanes may be
combined with a rack, and suitable gearing for operating upon the same, so
that the descent of the weighted lever will rotate the vanes. If desired, a
pendulum and escapement movement may be substituted for the revolving
vanes for the same purpose.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both Figures.
Figure 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents a complete side
elevation of my improved apparatus, and Figure 2 is a corresponding plan
of the same.
A, A, are rotatory vanes fast on the end of the spindle B, which revolves
freely in the bracket supports C, C, and is provided with a pinion D, gearing
into the spur wheel E. This wheel is fitted loosely upon the revolving
spindle F, and carries a spring detent G, which takes into the ratchet teeth
of the wheel H, fast upon the spindle F. The spindle F carries also a spur
pinion I, which is actuated by the rack K, suspended at L from the valve
lever M. N is a guide rod or frame, which is secured to the rack, and
passes down the opposite side of the spindle, so as to keep the rack teeth in
gear with the pinion I. In place of the rack K and guide N a toothed
quadrant connected to the lever M in a similar way as to the rack K at L,
and gearing into the same pinion I, may be used. The lever M works on a
fulcrum at O, and is connected at P to the valve spindle Q of the water-
supply valve R, of which S is the inlet pipe, and T the outlet pipe leading to
the basin of the closet, or to any other locality where the regulated supply is
required. U is a weight, suspended at any suitable point on the lever M.
When the lever M is elevated by raising the pull or handle of the closet, for
example, the valve is opened, and a free supply of water is directed through

page_text: the basin, &c. The raising of the lever elevates.at the same time the rack K,
and, of course, rotates the spindle F, but without rotating the vanes, as the
wheel E, which gives motion to them, is loose upon its spindle, the ratchet
wheel alone rotating, whilst the detent slips over the teeth. thereof. On the
release of the lever the weight causes. it to descend, and this descent is con-
trolled by the retarding action of the rotating vanes, which are now set in
motion through the engagement of the ratchet wheel. with the detent on. the
spur wheel, the motion of the ratchet wheel being, of course, in the reverse
direction. By this retarding action of the vanes. the lever is allowed. to
descend very slowly only, and consequently the valve is gradually shut, in lieu
of being closed at the instant the pull or handle is released, thus ensuring the
supply of a proper quantity of water to the closet, &c.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the..same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that 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 and arrangement of apparatus for regu-
lating the supply of water to water-closets, and for other purposes where an
occasional or intermittent supply is required, as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of revolving vanes, or.of. a pendulum.and
escapement movement, for retarding the closing of a water supply valve, in
the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Eskholme, have. hereunto.set
my hand and seal, this 31st. day: of." August, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
GEORGE ESKHOLME. (L.S.)