Year: 1888

page_text: We, ALBERT ELMENDORF, STEPHEN AYRAULT GARDNER, and CHARLES PRENTIS,
gentlemen, all of the City and County of New London in the State of Connecticut,
one of the United States of America, 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 :—
The object of our invention is to ventilate the air space in the bowl through a pipe
connecting at one end with the bowl and at the other with a stand pipe, to be filled
with water for flushing said bowl. This stand pipe is to take the place of the tank or
reservoir usually located several feet above the closet seat.
The invention consists in the combination, to be hereinafter described and claimed,
of a three-way cock and certain valves in such relation to each other, the stand pipe
and the ventilating pipe, that the falling of the column of water in flushing the bowl
will draw after it the foul air or gas, and the refilling of the stand pipe with water
will force the same out through a pipe connection to the soil pipe, roof or chimney.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, is an elevation of the devices for flushing the bowl, the latter being partly
broken away to show where the water enters;
Figure 2, is a vertical section of the bowl and seat and lower part of the stand
pipe;
Figure 3, is a cross-section of the three-way cock;
Figure 4, a detailed view of the weighted lever for operating the cock ;
Figure 5, a vertical section of the stand pipe through the lines, 2, 2, of figure 1 ;
Figure 6, is a perspective view of the bowl, the lower part of the stand pipe and
the operating lever, the end of the case inclosing the bowl being removed;
Figure 7, section of three-way cock and drip pipe.
In the drawings, A, denotes the bowl or basin of the closet. B, is the stand pipe
which fills with water to a certain height and is then emptied to flush the bowl. (, is
the ventilating pipe. c, is the open end communicating with the air space above the

page_text: water in the bowl. d, the end which enters the stand pipe, (. D, is a ball valve
between stand pipe and ventilating pipe. E, is a float valve at the top of the stand
pipe. B. F, is a portion of the stand pipe forming a ventilating extension thereof,
which enters a soil pipa, (, or passes into a chimney flue or out upon the roof. II, is
a pull rod, connected with a bell crank, K, at a point above the top of the stand pipe.
La chain furnished with a handle for operating the pull rod. 4, the end of the
pull rod connected with the short end of a weighted lever for operating a three-way
cock. M, is the long arm of the lever to operate the three-way cock. N, is n weighted
valve above the float valve in the stand pipe. O, is a slip joint of any well known
form preferred to enable the workman to open the stand pipe and get at the valves.
This slip joint may be located directly at the float valve, E. P, is a three-way cock
which opens into the stand pipe, into the service pipe, Q, and into a short pipe for
flushing the bowl. W, is the weight for operating the three-way rock through the
tooth, A', and tooth wheel, B., is a screw cap for permitting necess to the
ball valve, D, in the ventilating pipe. is the wire enge to contain the float valve, F.
D, is the cover of the closet sent which holds down the arm, M. when closed.
k, and m, are the three openings in the three-way cock, P. R. is the short pipe
through which the column of water in the stand pipe flows in flushing the bowl. In
figure 7, p, p, is a drip pipe to keep the bowl moistened and, t, is the set serow for
regulating its flowing capacity. In figure 3, 8, is a set screw holding the three-way
cock in position. 1, is tho packing around the three-way cock. In figure 1, will be
seen the ventilating pipe, C, with one end entering the upper part of the bowl, and
the other the stand pipe.
In the upper part of this pipe, C, is a ball valve, D, which, when the column of
water is falling in flushing the bowl, is drawn inwards from its seat allowing the air
to be carried from the pipe, C, into the stand pipe.
Now it naturally follows that the water heing admitted again to the stand pipe, B,
drives before it the foul air or gas, which cannot escape again into the ventilating
pipe, C, as the pressure of the column of air closes at once the ball valve, D), which
cannot open again until the falling of the water draws it so to speak, or allows it to
come in towards the interior of the stand pipe. As the foul air or gas must be driven
before the rising column of water and cannot pass back into the pipe, C, it is driven
forward into the upper part of the pipe, F, which may either connect with the soil
pipe, a flue of the chimney, or the open air through the roof of the building.
In figure 5, sheet 2, is shown a float valve, E, dropped to its lowest position
immediately following the escape of the column of water into the bowl in flushing.
As the column of water again rises upon the proper manipulation of the three-way
cock as hereinaftor described, it carries up the valve, E, until it reaches the position
shown in dotted lines, thus closing the end of the stund pipe and preventing the
entering of any more water.
In figure 4, sheet 2, is seen the weighted lever for operating the three-way cock, to
allow water to enter the pipo, or to leave the same, or to enter into and flush the
bowl.
In figure 7, is shown the three-way cock, so turned as to provent any more water
from entering from the service pipe, Q, and to allow the escape of what is in the
stand pipe, through the short pipe, R, which enters the bowl. The position shown in
figure 7, is the one the three-way cock assumes whon, after use of the closet the
heavy lid is turned down upon the lover, M, seen in figure 6, of sheet, 3, or when the
chain, L, of figure 1, sheet 1, is pulled down and the rod, I, moved (through
the bell crank, K,) so as to lift the weight, W, attached to the short end of the
lover.
The three-way cock is shown in figure 2, of sheet 3, as turned back by the weighted
arm of the lever, so that the wator enters tho stand pipe, B, through the survico
pipe, Q, and will continue to do so until the float valve E, reaches its seat in the uppor
end of the stand pipe. The pipo is thus always filled normally and only emptied
when the lid of the seat is forced down, or the pull rod, H, manipulated.
In figure 7, will be soon a small drip pipe or opening in the side of the case of

page_text: the three-way cock, to allow a small quantity of water to enter and moisten the bowl
while the closet is being used, and before the bowl is flushed. The capacity of this
drip pipe, p, p, is regulated by a set screw, t. The three-way cock in this figure
is turned for flushing, while in figure 2, of sheet 3, it is turned to allow the stand pipe
to fill.
The three openings of the three-way cock are seen in figure 3, sheet 2, and in
figure 2, sheet 3, and are lettered, k, l, m. In figure 5, sheet 2, will be seen the
valve, N, which is really not necessary. It opens to admit the foul air or sewer gas
driven before the rising column of water in the stand pipe.
A strong current of air blowing down the flue or pipe will close this valve and
thus prevent the air or gas from entering the room, but ordinarily the valve, D, will
be sufficient for this purpose.
C, same figure, is a screw cap to permit access to the valve seat of the valvo, D.
At or about this point any one of the well known forms of slip joint, (too well
known to need description,) is used, or may be, to permit ready access to the float
valve. This slip joint is seen in figure 5, sheet 2, at, O, and is there located directly
above the valve.
In figuro 3, of sheet 2, will be seen in cross-section, the three-way cock, so
turned that access is given to the water from the service pipe until it closes the
float valve.
The small drip pipe, p, in figure 7, may be located entirely within the three-way
cock case, and its capacity adjusted therein by a set screw, the same as is shown upon
the outside.
From what has already been said, the operation of the device will be readily
understood. When the closet is not in use the three-way cock is turned by the
weight, W, so that water stands in the pipe, B, up to the float valve, which would
then rest, as seen in dotted lines in figure 3, sheet 2.
Now as soon as the closet has been used, the pull rod, H, on the lever, arm, M, is
manipulated by the weighted lid of the seat, so as to turn the cock and open into the
bowl, as seen in figure 7.
As this column of water falls it draws the air past the valve, D, which it opens,
allowing the gas or foul air to come up through the pipe, C, from the air space of
the bowl. Immediately upon the weight turning the cock, the water passing in
forces this same foul air or gas along before it (closing the valve, D, of course,) and
out into the soil pipe, G, or other exit.
It has been ascertained by careful experiments in Germany, that with the best of
traps in use there is always a slow but constant passage of gas through the water of the
trap. Gas is found almost constantly to be present in small quantities in the bowl.
The present device at each and every use of the closet, draws away this foul air
and then forces it out at some elevated spot where it will not be prejudicial.
It can of course be readily arranged to operate the three-way cock in many
different ways. A small flock of cotton or wool, placed within the pipe, C, which
was made of glass, readily demonstrated that the moment the water commences to fall
in flushing, the said flock rises to near the ball valve, D.
The extreme simplicity of this device renders a more elaborate description
unnecessary. Actual experiments have demonstrated the action of the parts as
hereinbefore set forth. The ball valve may be held against displacement by a rod, d³,
or other suitable means at the mouth of pipe, (
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a water-closet, the combination of a flushing stand pipe connected to the
service pipe and a ventilating extension thereof with a ventilating pipe opening at
its upper end into the stand pipe, and at its lower end into the air space of the bowl,
and a valve at its upper end opening inwards towards said stand pipe, all as and for
the purpose described.

page_text: 2. In a water-closet, the combination of a flushing stand pipe connected to the
service pipe by a three-way cock, and a ventilating extension of said pipe, with a
ventilating pipe opening through a valve into its upper ond and at its lower end into
the air space of the bowl and with a float valvo at the upper end of the stand
pipo to cut off the flow of water when said pipe is full, all as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In a water-closet, the combination of a flushing stand pipe with a ventilating
pipo connecting the air space of the bowl with said stand pipe, and of the floating
valve at the upper end of the stand pipo to cut off the flow of water, a valvo in tho
stand pipe above its connection with the ventilating pipe opening upward and
adapted to be closed by a current flowing down the pipe from the flue or roof pipe,
and a valve in said ventilating pipe, all as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a water-closet, the combination of the following elements, viz.: a flushing
stand pipe, a three-way cock, connecting its lower end with the service pipe, a float
valve at its upper end to cut off the How of the water, a ventilating extension of
said pipe, a ventilating pipe entering the stand pipe above the float valve and
opening at its lower end into the bowl, and a valvo above the connection of the
stand pipe and its ventilating extension to prevent unduo air pressure from above,
all as and for the purpose set forth and described.
5. The combination of a flushing stand pipe, a ventilating extension thereof, a
ventilating pipe connecting the stand pipe with the bowl and the valves all as sot
forth, with the three-way cock at Inse of stand pipe with its openings arranged as
set forth, for filling the stand pipe while in one position and flushing the bowl when
turned to another, and with the small drip orifice or pipe in the three-way cock case
to permit a slight flow of water to moisten the bowl while it is in use, and beforo
the cock is opened for flushing, all as and for the purpose described.
6. The combination of the stand pipe with its valves the ventilating extension
thereof, the ventilating pipe connecting said stand pipe with the bowl and provided with
its openings and valves as set forth; the three-way cock located as described, with
the drip pipe in its case and a set screw for regulating the amount of flow of water
through the same for moistening the bowl, all as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a water-closet, the combination of the following elements, eis.: the stand
pipe, the three-way cock located at the lower end of the same, the ventilating pipo
and valves connected as described with the stand pipe and the bowl, a ventilating
extension of the stand pipo, and the valves and slip joint located at the junction of
the stand pipe, its ventilating extension and the bowl-ventilating pipo, all substantially
as described.
2 T
1830