Im- PROVEMENTS IN ‘DRY' CLOSETS, COMMODES, URINALS, and other RecePTACLES FOR PUTRESCIBLE MATTER
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Ward Girdlestone, of No. 37, Norfolk Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN ‘DRY' CLOSETS, COMMODES, URINALS, and other RecePTACLES
FOR PUTRESCIBLE MATTER."
Sealed the 20th December 1870, and dated the 2nd September 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ward Girdlestone
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 2nd September 1870.
I, JOHN WARD GIRDLESTONE, of No. 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN 'DRY' CLOSETS, COMMODES, URINALS, AND
OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR PUTRESCIBLE MATTER," to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus employed
for discharging, casting, or distributing a regulated supply either of dry
earth, or of any other disinfecting, deodorizing, or absorbent substances

page_text: دو
of a powdery nature, all hereafter referred to as
"carth over excremental
or other putrescible matter, all hereafter referred to as "excrement" in
"dry" closets, commodes, urinals, and other receptacles for putrescible
matter.
One form of apparatus which has hitherto been sometimes employed
consists in part of a bottomless oscillating or swinging reservoir.
Beneath the reservoir is an oscillating hopper having front, back, and
sides, but having neither top nor bottom. The upper portion of this
hopper wholly encircles the lower portion of the reservoir. A short
distance beneath the hopper and independent thereof is a plain hori-
zontal and stationary tray. On charging the reservoir-with-"-carth"
some earth falls through the reservoir into the hopper and on to the
tray. The tray together with the hopper front, back, and sides,
preventing when the hopper is in its normal position all accidental
escape of "earth" from the reservoir. On the employment of the
apparatus a regulated charge of "earth" is cast by means of the hopper
over the "excrement" and the upper portion of the front of the hopper
is at the same time brought into contact with the lower portion of the
front of the reservoir, the oscillation of the reservoir being thus effected.
دو
፡፡
Another form of apparatus which has hitherto been sometimes
employed consists in part of a bottomless oscillating reservoir, the back
of which is carried lower down than the front thereof, a short distance
beneath the reservoir is a stationary tray of convenient form and of
adequate length. On charging the reservoir with “ earth some carth"
falls through the reservoir and on to the tray. The tray together with the
"earth" standing thereon preventing under all circumstances all
accidental escape of "carth" from the reservoir. On the employment
of the apparatus-a regulated charge of "earth" is cast by means of the
reservoir over the "excrement," in this case either the trunnions on
which the reservoir oscillates, or their corresponding bearings, are usually
situated above the middle and towards the back of the sides of the
reservoir.
According to the first part of my Invention, which part has reference
to the construction of such only of the oscillating reservoirs last above
referred to as are self-acting of those for instance whose oscillation is a
effected by the movement of the seat. I usually place either the
trunnions on which the reservoir oscillates or their corresponding

page_text: bearings either at or towards the front of the sides of the reservoir, and
in no case do I place them at a greater distance from the front thereof,
than one-third of the entire distance between the front and the back of
the reservoir, I thus utilize for the purpose of promoting the effective
discharge of a regulated amount of "carth" ” both the weight of the
reservoir and the weight of the "carth" within the reservoir.
According to the second part of my Invention I employ an oscillating
reservoir somewhat similar to that first above referred to (to which
reservoir as forming a separate part of my Invention I make no claim);
I likewise employ an oscillating hopper, the upper portion of which
encircles either in part or in whole the lower portion of the reservoir. I
so construct this hopper as to be somewhat similar to the one above
referred to, except that I form it either without any front at all or with so
much only of the upper part of the front as may be convenient either with
a view to imparting adequate strength to the hopper, or for the purpose
of causing the reservoir to oscillate. I place a short distance beneath the
hopper and independent thercof a stationary tray. On charging the
reservoir with "earth"
some "carth" falls through the reservoir into
the hopper and on to the tray. I so construct this tray as regards both its.
length and its form as to enable it, together with the "earth" standing
thereon and with the hopper, to prevent under all circumstances all
accidental escape of "earth " from the reservoir. The tray that by
preference I construct is one whose upper surface is on all points
equidistant from the axis of oscillation of the hopper. On the employment
of the apparatus a regulated charge of "earth" is cast by means of the
hopper off the tray and over the excrement.
According to the third part of my Invention I employ an oscillating
reservoir somewhat similar to that first referred to. I likewise employ
an oscillating hopper the upper portion of which encircles either in part
or in whole the lower portion of the reservoir. I so construct this hopper
as to be somewhat similar to that described under the second part of my
Invention, except that I provide it with a bottom extending forward from
the lower edge of the back of the hopper, so far as may be found
necessary to enable the hopper together with the "earth" standing
thereon, to prevent under all circumstances all accidental escape of
"earth" from the reservoir. The bottom with which by preference I
provide the hopper is one whose upper surface is on all points equidistant

page_text: with the axis of oscillation of the hopper. On charging the reservoir
with "earth" some "earth" falls through the reservoir into the hopper.
On the employment of the apparatus a regulated amount of "earth" is
discharged by the hopper over the excrement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Ward Girdlestone in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd March 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE-PRESENTS-SHALL-COME, I,_JOHN_
WARD GIRDLESTONE, Civil Engineer, of No. 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, in
the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Ward Girdlestone, Her special licence,
that I, the said John Ward Girdlestone, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Ward Girdlestone, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN 'DRY' CLOSETS, COMMODES, URINALS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES
FOR PUTRESCIBLE MATTER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Ward Girdlestone, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 John Ward Girdlestone, do hereby

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :--
This Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus employed.
for discharging, casting, or distributing a regulated supply either of dry
earth or of any other disinfecting, deodorizing, or absorbent substance.
or substances of a powdery nature, each and all hereafter referred to as.
'carth over excremental or other putrescible matter, all hereafter.
referred to as "excrement" in "dry" closets, commodes, urinals, and
other receptacles for putrescible matter.
6f
"
One form of apparatus which has hitherto been sometimes employed
consists in part of a bottomless oscillating or swinging reservoir.
Beneath the reservoir is an oscillating hopper, which may be described
as having front, back, and sides, but as having neither top nor bottom.
The upper portion of this hopper wholly encircles the lower portion of
the reservoir. A short distance beneath the hopper and independent
thereof is a plain horizontal and stationary wooden tray. On charging
the reservoir with "earth" some "earth" falls through the reservoir
into the hopper and on to the tray. The tray together with the hopper
(front, back, and sides) preventing when the hopper is in its normal
position all accidental escape of "earth" from the reservoir.
employment of the apparatus a regulated charge of "earth" is cast by
means of the hopper over the "excrement." And the upper portion of
the front of the hopper is at the same time brought into contact with the
lower portion of the front of the reservoir the oscillation of the reservoir.
being thus effected.
"
On the
Another form of apparatus which has hitherto been sometinics
employed consists in part of a bottomless oscillating reservoir, the back
of which is carried lower down than the front thereof. A short distance
beneath the reservoir and independent thereof is a stationary tray of
convenient form and material and of adequate length. On charging the
reservoir with earth" some "earth" falls through the reservoir and on
to the tray. The tray together with the "earth standing thereon
preventing under all circumstances all accidental escape of earth"
from the reservoir. On the employment of the apparatus a regulated
charge of "earth" is cast by means of the reservoir from off the tray, and
over the "excrement." In this case either the trunnions on which the
"
"

page_text: above referred to, except that I form it either without any front at all
or with so much only of the upper part of the front as may be con-
venient, either with a view to imparting adequate strength to the
hopper or for the purpose of causing the reservoir to oscillate. I place a
short distance beneath the hopper, and independent thereof, a stationary
tray. On charging the reservoir with "earth" some "earth" falls through
the reservoir into the hopper and on to the tray. I so construct this tray
as regards both its length and its form as to enable it together with the
"earth" standing thereon, and with the hopper to prevent under all
circumstances all accidental escape of "earth "from the reservoir. The
tray that by preference I construct is one whose upper surface is on all
points equidistant from the axis of oscillation of the hopper. On the
employment of the apparatus a regulated charge of "earth" is cast by
means of the hopper from off the tray and over the excrement.
Of the Drawings hereunto annexed Figure 4 shows a front elevation,
and Figures 5 and 6, shew vertical sections of an apparatus constructed
in accordance with the second part of my Invention. In Figures 4 and 5
the hopper is shown in its normal position, while in Figure 6 the hopper
is shown in the position it assumes at the moment that the whole of the
regulated charge of earth has been cast over the excrement.
In these three Figures a is the oscillating reservoir freely suspended
on axes b, b, and supported as shewn by the framework of the apparatus ;
c is the oscillating hopper having securely attached to it the axis d, d,
and being suspended by brackets from the framework of the apparatus;
e is the stationary tray situated beneath the hopper, constructed by
preference of galvanized iron, and formed with side pieces by which it is
secured as shown to the bottom of the framework of the apparatus.
When the hopper is in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5 the foot of
the column of earth within the reservoir will be resting upon the tray
and will in part be within the hopper, and when the hopper is turned on
its axis into the position shewn in Figure 6 a regulated charge of earth
will be cast by the back of the hopper from off the tray and over the
excrement, and the reservoir will at the same time be struck by the front
of the hopper, and will thereupon oscillate, and in whatever position the
hopper may be held the flow of earth from the reservoir will be arrested
by the means that have been described.

page_text: The oscillation of the hopper may be effected by the pulling up of a
handle in the seat of the closet, or by the movement of the scat of the
closet, or by any other convenient means.
What I claim as regards the first part of my Invention for improve-
ments in << dry" closets, commodes, urinals, and other receptacles for
putrescible matter (which part has reference to such only as are self-
acting of those forms of apparatus by which the earth is delivered by
means of the reservoir) is the supporting the reservoir upon trunnions
situated at the front of the sides of the reservoir substantially as herein
described.
-What-I-claim-as-regards-the-second-part-of-my-Invention for improve-
ments in "dry" closets, commodes, urinals, and other receptacles for
putrescible matter is, the combination of the reservoir a with the tray e
and the hopper c, constructed substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ward Girdlestone, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of March in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.