Self-acting Valves for Regulating the Discharge of Sewage into Tidal Waters.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 28th June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Self-acting Valves for Regulating the Discharge of Sewage into Tidal
Waters.
We,
DONALD CAMERON, of Sylvan Road, Pennsylvania, Exeter, Civil Engineer,
FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, of 7, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Fellow of the Institute
of Surveyors, and ARTHUR JOHN MARTIN, of Bradninch House, Exeter, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the discharge of sewage or sewage effluent into tidal
waters:-
Where sewage is discharged into tidal waters it is generally desired to restrict
such discharge to certain states of the tide, the sewage which comes down at
other states of the tide being stored in a tank or sewer. The discharge is
generally regulated by valves; and such valves have hitherto as a rule been
opened and closed by hand.
The object of our invention is to provide means for opening and closing such
valves automatically. For this purpose we in all cases govern the opening and
closing of the valves by means of the fall and rise of the tide, but the manner
in which our invention is carried into effect will vary according to the size of
the valves and the state of the tide at which it is desired that the discharge shall
take place.
In the simplest form of our invention the valve controlling the discharge is
suspended from one end of a lever from the other end of which is hung a bucket
or cylinder, closed at the bottom, and so placed that the tide can rise and fall
around it. Such bucket is preferably placed in a well or chamber, communicat-
ing with the tidal water through a pipe. In the side or bottom of such bucket
is an orifice through which water can flow in or out, such orifice being so small
that the rise and fall of the water in the bucket will lag behind the rise and fall
of the tide.
The lever, bucket and valve are so balanced, either by their own weight or by
the help of a counterweight, that the valve will tend to fall to its seat. When
the tide begins to fall the level of the water surrounding the bucket will sink
below that of the water therein, and the water so retained in the bucket above
the level of the water outside will cause it to descend, opening the valve whereby
the stored sewage will be released. The moving parts may be so balanced that the
tide shall fall through a certain height before the valve is opened. When
the fall of the tide slackens or ceases, the level of the water in the bucket will
fall so near to that of the water outside that the excess of water in the bucket
will not suffice to hold it down, and it will rise, closing the valve. As an alterna-
tive the valve may he held open by a catch, which will be released when the
tide has fallen to the extent desired. If it be desired to close the valve before
the tide has fallen to or near its lowest level, the bucket may be provided with
a valve, which will be opened as soon as the tide falls to a given level, thus
releasing the surplus contents of the bucket and causing the valve to close. The

page_text: ingress of water to the bucket may also take place through a valve placed some
distance above low water level and opening inwards. Where the discharge valve
is too large to be conveniently opened and closed in this way, it may be worked
by a water wheel or turbine, driven by the tide water, either as it flows in the
tide-way, or as it passes into or out of a tank or receptacle provided for the
purpose. If such a tank or receptacle is used the tide water may be allowed to
How into or out of it as soon as the tide has turned, or the flow of tide water
may be regulated by a valve in the manner already proposed for the regulation
of the discharge of sewage. The flow of sewage may also be made to open and
close the discharge valve, the rise and fall of the tide being made to close and
open a smaller valve controlling the flow of sewage to the turbine or water wheel
aforesaid.
In those cases in which it is desired that the discharge shall take place during
a certain specified period of time, this may be effected by making the closing of
the discharge valve dependent on the filling of a vessel, which shall begin to
fill as soon as the discharge valve is opened, and regulating the rate of filling by
means of a valve or orifice or otherwise so that the vessel may fill in the desired
time. Such vessel may be suspended and connected with a catch, which holds
the discharge valve oven, in such a way that when full the vessel shall descend,
thereby withdrawing such catch. Or the aforesaid vessel may be fixed and
have an overflow into a second vessel, which may be smaller, and which shall
when full release the catch.
If this arrangement is adopted, the actuating bucket should be emptied as soon
as possible after the discharge valve has been opened, in order that it may be
free to rise when the catch is withdrawn. This may be conveniently effected by
means of a valve which is caused to open when the bucket falls. The measured
flow to the vessel aforesaid should begin at the same time; for which purpose a
valve on the supply pipe to same may be caused to open by the descent of the
actuating bucket.
As soon as the catch has been withdrawn the vessel receiving the measured
flow should be emptied, either by means of a siphon, or a valve caused to open
by its descent or by the rising of the actuating bucket. The discharge valve
may be closed by means of the measured flow already mentioned without the
intervention of the vessel above referred to. In this case the catch will also be
dispensed with, and the water in the actuating bucket will remain therein in
order to keep the bucket down. The water which causes this bucket to descend
will occupy but a small part of its capacity, and its flow will be cut off as soon
as the bucket falls; but the filling of the latter will be continued by the measured
flow. When the bucket is full it will be emptied either by a siphon; or a valve
opened by an overflow from the bucket, and on being freed of its contents will
rise, thus closing the discharge valve.
In some cases it will be desirable to place the storage tank at some distance
from tidal water, and to have the discharge valve in or near the tank. In such
cases the arrangement already described may be placed close to the tank, and
the chamber in which the actuating bucket is hung connected with tide water
by a pipe, if the levels permit.
Otherwise the following arrangement may be adopted:
A vessel, having an opening at or near the bottom may be fixed in some con-
venient place where the tide may have access to it, and from the top of this
vessel, above the level of the highest tide, a pine may be led to near the storage
tank, ending under a small inverted vessel or bell, which dins into water or other
liquid, and is suspended so that it may rise or fall. This bell may be suspended
from a lever at the other end of which the discharge valve may be hung or it
may be connected with a smaller valve admitting water to an actuating bucket.
In either case the valve connected with the bell will normally be closed. As
the tide rises in the vessel, the air therein will be expelled along the pipe into
the bell, and will escape underneath the edges of the latter. If the pipe is long

page_text: it may be desirable to lead it from the first vessel into the top of a second fixed
vessel containing liquid, and lead the further part of the pipe from under the
surface thereof, so that it may be filled with the liquid instead of with air. In
either case the action will be the same. During the rise of the tide there will
be a flow towards the bell; and when the tide falls this flow will be reversed.
The pressure of the air outside the bell will then force it down, opening the valve
connected therewith. If this be the discharge valve the contents of the storage
tank will be released. If it be a smaller valve liquid will be admitted to the
actuating bucket by means of which the discharge valve will be opened. The
latter may be closed by the means already described.
Dated this 28th day of April 1898.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Self-acting Valves for Regulating the Discharge of Sewage into Tidal
Waters.
We, DONALD CAMERON, of Sylvan Road, Pennsylvania, Exeter, Civil Engineer,
FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, of 7, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Fellow of the Institute
of Surveyors, and ARTHUR JOHN MARTIN, of Bradninch House, Exeter, 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 relates to the discharge of sewage or sewage effluent into tidal
waters.
Where sewage is discharged into tidal waters it is generally desired to restrict
such discharge to certain states of the tide, the sewage which comes down at
The discharge is
other states of the tide being stored in a tank or sewer.
generally regulated by valves; and such valves have hitherto as a rule been
opened and closed by hand.
The object of our invention is to provide means for opening and closing such
valves automatically. For this purpose we in all cases govern the opening and
closing of the valves by means of the fall and rise of the tide, but the manner
in which our invention is carried into effect will vary according to the size of
the valves and the state of the tide at which it is desired that the discharge shall
take place.
In order that our invention.may be fully understood we will proceed to describe
same by the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of an arrangement for carrying the invention into
effect in the simplest manner.
Fig. 2 is a plan view, Fig. 3 a vertical section and Fig. 4 a similar section with
the parts in another position, of an arrangement we employ when it is desired
that the discharge shall take place during a certain specified period of time.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of an arrangement we may employ when it is desir-
able to place the storage tank at some distance from tidal water, and
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a modified form of the arrangement shown in
Fig. 5, and which may be employed when the distance of the storage tank from
the tidal water is very great.
In the simplest form of our invention, illustrated in Fig. 1, the valve A con-
trolling the discharge from tank B is suspended from one end of a lever C, from
the other end of which is hung a bucket or cylinder D, closed at the bottom, and

page_text: so placed that the tide can rise and fall around it. Such bucket is preferably
placed in a well or chamber E communicating with the tidal water through
a pipe or opening G. In the side or bottom of such bucket is an orifice & through
which water can flow in or out, such orifice being so small that the rise and fall
of the water in the bucket D will lag behind the rise and fall of the tide.
The lever C, bucket D, and valve A are so balanced, either by their own weight
or by the help of a counterweight H, that the valve A will tend to fall to its
seat in the upper end of the discharge pipe I. When the tide begins to fall the
level of the water surrounding the bucket I will sink below that of the water
therein, and the water so retained in the bucket above the level of the water
outside will cause it to descend, opening the valve A, whereby the sewage stored
in tank B will be released. The moving parts may be so balanced that the tide
shall fall through a certain height before the valve is opened. When the fall
of the tide slackens or ceases, the level of the water in the bucket D will fall
so near to that of the water outside that the excess of water in the bucket will
not suffice to hold it down, and it will rise, closing the valve A. As an alterna-
tive, the valve A may be held open by a catch which will be released when the
tide has fallen to the extent desired. If it be desired to close the valve A before
the tide has fallen to or near its lowest level, the bucket D may be provided
with a valve, which will be opened as soon as the tide falls to a given level, thus
releasing the surplus contents of the bucket D and causing the valve A to close.
The ingress of water to the bucket may also take place through a valve placed
some distance above low water level and opening inwards. Where the discharge
valve A is too large to be conveniently opened and closed directly in the manner
described, it may be worked by a water wheel or turbine, driven by the tide
water, either as it flows in the tide-way, or as it passes into or out of a tank or
receptacle provided for the purpose. If such a tank or receptacle is used the
tide water may be allowed to flow into or out of it as soon as the tide has turned,
or the flow of tide water may be regulated by a valve in the manner already
proposed for the regulation of the discharge of the sewage. The flow of sewage
may also be made to open and close the discharge valve, the rise and fall of the
tide being made to close and open a smaller valve controlling the flow of sewage
to the turbine or water wheel aforesaid.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and which is designed so that
the discharge shall take place during a certain specified period of time, the
closing of the discharge valve A is made dependent on the filling of a vessel K,
which shall begin to fill as soon as the discharge valve is opened, the rate of filling
being regulated by means of a valve or by the size of the supply pipe or orifice
or otherwise so that the vessel K may fill in the desired time. Such vessel K is
connected with a catch L, which holds the discharge valve A open, passing over
the end of lever C when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, but when
full the vessel K will descend, thereby withdrawing such catch, and allowing
the discharge valve A to close, as shown in Fig. 3. Or the aforesaid vessel K
may be fixed and have an overflow into a second vessel, which may be smaller,
and which shall when full release the catch. If this arrangement is adopted, the
actuating bucket 1 should be emptied as soon as possible after the discharge
valve A has been opened, in order that it may be free to rise when the catch L
is withdrawn. This may be conveniently effected by means of a valve d' which
is caused to open when the bucket D falls. The measured flow to the vessel K
aforesaid should begin at the same time; for which purpose a valve m on the
supply pipe M to same may be caused to open when the actuating bucket D
descends and catch L passes over the end of lever C.
As soon as the catch L has been withdrawn the vessel K receiving the measured
flow should be emptied, either by means of a siphon, or by a valve caused to open
by its descent or by the rising of the actuating bucket.
Instead of the measured flow passing directly from supply M to vessel K it
is preferably delivered to the latter from a cistern N provided with a ball cock n

page_text: which cuts off the supply when such cistern is full, the measured flow passing by
pipe from cistern N to vessel K.
The discharge valve A may be closed by means of the measured flow already
mentioned without the intervention of the vessel K above referred to. In this
case the catch L will also be dispensed with, and the water in the actuating
bucket D will remain therein in order to keep the bucket down. The water
which causes this bucket to descend will occupy but a small part of its capacity,
and its flow will be cut off as soon as the bucket D falls; but the filling of the
latter will be continued by the measured flow. When the bucket is full it will
be emptied either by a siphon, or a valve opened by an overflow from the bucket D,
and on being freed of its contents will rise, thus closing the discharge valve A.
In some cases it will be desirable to place the storage tank B at some distance
from tidal water, and to have the discharge valve A in or near the tank. In
such cases the arrangement already described may be placed close to the tank,
and the chamber in which the actuating bucket ) is hung connected with tide
water by a pipe, if the levels permit.
Otherwise the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 may be adopted: In this arrange-
ment a vessel O having an opening at or near the bottom is fixed in some con-
venient place where the tide may have access to it, and from the top of this vessel,
above the level of the highest tide, a pipe o is led to near the storage tank B,
ending under a small inverted vessel or bell P, which dips into water or other
liquid, and is suspended so that it may rise and fall. This bell P may be
suspended from a lever Q at the other end of which the discharge valve A may
be hung; or it may as shown be connected with a smaller valve admitting
water to the actuating bucket D. In either case the valve connected with the
bell P will normally be closed. As the tide rises in the vessel O, the air therein
will be expelled along the pipe o into the bell P, and will escape underneath the
edges of the latter.
As long as the tide rises the pressure of the air under bell P will keep valve
closed, but when it falls such pressure ceasing bell P will fall thus opening
valve q and filling bucket 1), and consequently opening discharge valve A. The
bucket I will slowly empty itself through an opening in the bottom thereof, thus
permitting valve A to close after the discharge, or it may be emptied by any
other suitable means. The water is supplied to the space in which valve is
arranged from any suitable source, and is automatically cut off by any suitable
means as soon as the necessary quantity has entered such space.
If the pipe
o is long the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 may be employed, in
which such pipe is led from the first vessel into the top of a second fixed
vessel R containing liquid, the further part of the pipe being led from under
the surface thereof, so that it may be filled with the liquid instead of with air,
such pipe o then continuing either directly under the bell P, or into a chamber.
containing a float suspended from a lever, or as shown being first connected to
the bottom of a third vessel R¹ also containing liquid, and from the upper part
of which latter vessel the pipe is continued under the bell P. In either case
the action will be substantially the same. During the rise of the tide there will
be a flow towards the bell P and when the tide falls this flow will be reversed.
The pressure of the air outside the bell P will then force it down, opening the
valve connected therewith. If this be the discharge valve A. the contents of the
storage tank B will be released. If it be the smaller valve liquid will be
admitted to the actuating bucket D, by means of which the discharge valve A
will be opened. The latter may be closed by the means already described.
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:
1. The improved self-acting valve consisting in a bucket with a small opening
in or near the bottom for the admission and escape of liquid, such bucket being

page_text: suspended from one end of a lever within a chamber in which such liquid rises
and falls around the bucket, while the discharge valve itself is suspended from
the opposite end of the lever, all substantially as specified.
2. A bucket or vessel suspended within a space within which liquid rises and
falls, and having a contracted orifice through which liquid may enter or leave
the bucket, for the purpose of causing the bucket to rise or fall after the rise or
fall of the liquid outside it.
3. The improved self-acting valve consisting in a bucket with a small opening
in or near the bottom for the admission and escape of liquid, such bucket being
suspended from one end of a lever within a chamber in which such liquid rises
and falls round the bucket, while the discharge valve itself is suspended from
the opposite end of the lever, in combination with a catch for holding the lever
in the position it occupies when the discharge valve is open, until such catch is
released by the descent of a vessel to which a measured flow of liquid is gradually
supplied as soon as such discharge valve opens, all substantially as specified.
4. The improved self-acting valve consisting in a bucket with a small opening
in or near the bottom for the admission of liquid, such bucket being suspended
from one end of a lever within a chamber in which such liquid rises and falls
round the bucket, while the discharge valve itself is suspended from the opposite
end of the lever, in combination with a catch for holding the lever in the position
it occupies when the discharge valve is open, until such catch is released by the
descent of a vessel to which a measured flow of liquid is gradually supplied as
soon as such discharge valve opens, the bucket having a valve which is opened
as soon as the catch moves to the position to hold the discharge valve open, and
the vessel having a valve which is opened as soon as the discharge valve closes,
all substantially as specified.
5. The improved self-acting valve consisting in a stationary vessel having an
opening at or near the bottom and placed in a chamber in which a liquid rises
and falls, and in a tube leading from the top of the vessel and passing under a
bell the lower edge of which dips into a liquid, such bell being suspended from
a lever to the opposite end of which is suspended a valve, substantially as specified.
6. A regulator consisting in an inverted hell having its lower edge immersed
in liquid, and having a pipe terminating under it, substantially as specified.
7. The improved self-acting valve consisting in a bucket suspended from one
end of a lever to the other end of which a discharge valve is suspended, in com-
bination with a stationary vessel having an opening at or near the bottom and
placed in a chamber in which a liquid rises and falls, and with a tube leading
from the top of the vessel and passing under a bell the lower edge of which dips
into a liquid, such bell being suspended from a lever to the opposite end of which
is suspended a valve mounted in a chamber also containing liquid and from which
a pipe leads to the bucket controlling the discharge valve, substantially as
specified.
8. The combination with a stationary vessel having an opening at or near the
bottom and placed in a chamber within which liquid rises and falls of a pipe
leading from the top of the vessel to the top of a second vessel containing liquid
in its lower part, and a pipe leading from the lower part of such second vessel
to a chamber containing a float, substantially as specified.
9. The combination with a stationary vessel having an opening at or near the
bottom and placed in a chamber in which a liquid rises and falls, and a tube
leading from the top of the vessel and passing under a bell the lower edge of
which dips into a liquid, such bell being suspended from a lever to the opposite
end of which is suspended a discharge valve, of a vessel containing liquid, the
pipe from the stationary vessel mounted in the chamber being connected to the
top of such vessel containing liquid and proceeding from the bottom of same to
beneath the bell controlling the discharge valve, substantially as specified.
10. The combination with a stationary vessel having an opening at or near
the bottom and placed in a chamber in which a liquid rises and falls, and a tube

page_text: leading from the top of the vessel and passing under a bell the lower edge of
which dips into a liquid, such bell being suspended from a lever to the opposite
end of which is suspended a valve mounted in a chamber also containing liquid
and from which a pipe leads to the bucket controlling the discharge valve, of a
vessel containing liquid, the pipe from the stationary vessel mounted in the
chamber being connected to the top of such vessel containing water and proceed-
ing from the bottom of same to beneath the bell controlling the valve which
allows liquid to pass to the bucket controlling the discharge valve, substantially
as specified.
11. The combination with a stationary vessel having an opening at or near
the bottom and placed in a chamber in which a liquid rises and falls, and a tube
leading from the top of the vessel and passing under a bell the lower edge of
which dips into a liquid, such bell being suspended from a lever to the opposite
end of which is suspended a discharge valve, of two vessels containing liquid,
and which are connected together at or near the bottom, the pipe from the
stationary vessel mounted in the chamber being connected to the top of the first
vessel containing water and proceeding from the top of the second vessel beneath
the bell controlling the discharge valve, substantially as specified.
12. The combination with a stationary vessel having an opening at or near
the bottom and placed in a chamber in which a liquid rises and falls, and a tube
leading from the top of the vessel and passing under a bell the lower edge of
which dips into a liquid, such bell being suspended from a lever to the opposite
end of which is suspended a valve mounted in a chamber also containing liquid
and from which a pipe leads to the bucket controlling the discharge valve, of
two vessels containing liquid, and which are connected together at or near the
bottom, the pipe from the stationary vessel mounted in the chamber being con-
nected to the top of the first vessel containing water and proceeding from the top
of the second vessel beneath the bell controlling the valve which allows liquid
to pass to the bucket controlling the discharge valve, substantially as specified.
Dated this 19th day of January 1899.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.