IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET AND OTHER GULLIES, AND IN MEANS AND APPARATUS TO FREE THE SAME FROM SUBSTANCES WHICH TEND TO CHOKE THEM
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Lewis Dowling at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1877.
JAMES LEWIS DOWLING, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York,
Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STREET AND OTHER GULLIES, AND IN MEANS AND
APPARATUS TO FREE THE SAME FROM SUBSTANCES WHICH TEND TO CHOKE THEM."
These improvements in gullies relate more especially to those used for draining
streets, but are applicable to gullies for cesspools, sinks, and the like, and the
improved means and apparatus to free the same from substances which tend to
choke them especially relate to those gullies in which apparatus of such dimensions
and weight are required as to necessitate more than the power of one mau; directly
applied, conveniently to deal with.
The street gullies now in common use for conveying surface water, and substances
mixed therewith, into the drains or sewers, are in many instances constructed and
cleansed as follows, that is to say: A lined pit is constructed which forms a sump,
and at or about thirty inches from the bottom is the aperture (or apertures) for the
egress of the water or other liquid, and at or about the said aperture is constructed
a trap to effect an air-tight joint between the drain and the street, the solid matter
or other substance coming through the grate or grid falls to the bottom of this sump,
and when the said sump is full to the level of the said aperture, the said sump has
to be cleaned out by long scoops or other tools or implements; the said gulley is
covered by a grate or grid fitting into a frame.
My improvements in gullies consist in the employment of a perforated pan (or
pans) or receptacle (or receptacles) placed in the gulley under the grid or grate, or in
the employment of a pan combined with a grid or grate, or combined with the grid
and its frame, the said pan being formed either with or without a trap or apparatus
to effect an air-tight joint between the said gulley, or the drain in connection there-
with, and the street.
These improvements consist essentially in making the said pan to open and
close at or near the bottom by means of a door or valve, or in any other suitable
way, so as to be freed from substances which tend to choke it as herein-after
specified.
When my improvements are applied to gullies, the solid matter and other
substances coming through the grate will remain in the perforated pan, and the

page_text: water or other liquid will flow through the holes into the sump or through the trap,
or flow direct into the drain.
My improvements in means and apparatus to free the improved street or other
like gullies from substances which tend to choke them, consist in the employment
of a crane fixed on or carried by a cart, van, waggon, or other portable apparatus
drawn by a horse, or drawn or propelled in any other suitable way, the said crane
having suitable blocks, chains, or lifting tackle, by preference those known as or
like "Weston's," in using which the attendant can leave hold of the hoisting chain
without the weight, which is being lifted, falling to the ground, the said crane and
cart for lifting the pan and carrying away the solid matter or other substance will
be brought conveniently over the gulley, and the lifting tackle being attached to
the pan, the attendant will be able by these means and apparatus to raise the pan,
swing it over the cart, and on opening it at or near the bottom discharge the contents
into the cart, and replace it in position.
In carrying my improvements into effect, I make my perforated pan of galvanised
wrought iron or other suitable material, and can so construct it as to make an air-
tight joint between the gulley and the street, or can make it to be open to the
gulley, and I drop the said pan into the frame of the ordinary street grate, and
place the ordinary street grate on the top of it, or I can make the frame and pan
in one, or the pan, frame, and grate, in one, or I support my improved pan in any
suitable manner in the gulley, but so make it and place it that it can be removed by
the means and apparatus specified, and in carrying into effect my improvements for
freeing the said street gullies from substances which tend to choke them, I fix or
adapt a swivelling crane and lifting tackle to an ordinary or any suitable cart, the
said crane being of ordinary construction, but the lifting tackle being by preference
of that improved design known as "Weston's," or the like, so that the weight being
difted will be always under the control of the attendant.
"
My improvements as above specified are applicable to all gullies, cesspools, or
sinks, requiring large and heavy grids, grates, or pans, but my improved gulley
pan without the lifting apparatus above specified is applicable to all sinks, cesspools,
or gullies, of small size, and the same can be made so as to be lifted out and discharged
with very little effort.
The improved gulley pan of small dimensions may be made in brass, zinc, iron, or
any suitable material.