Year: 1888

page_text: I, BENJAMIN SHILLITO, of Uppleby, Easingwold in the County of York, Watch-
maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in earth or dry closets, and its object is to
provide a simple arrangement adapted to measure or define the amount of earth,
disinfectant, or deodoriser used.
The said improvements consist in the arrangement hereinafter described in which
a pivoted scoop or measure is provided in combination with a hopper or hoppers
adapted to hold the earth, disinfectant or deodoriser and enable the said scoop or
measure to permit of the passage, or measure out, a definito quantity of earth,
disinfectant or deodoriser each time such measure is operated in any suitable manner.
To carry out my invention when we employ one hopper I use a measure or scoop
approximately the shape and fitting closely to the bottom opening in the hopper.
The said scoop is pivoted by one side to a horizontal slide and is supported on an
extension of the guides supporting the slide in such a manner that when the said
slide is reciprocated it pushes the said measure from beneath the mouth of the
hopper and passes into its place thus closing such mouth as well as pushing the
measure off the ends of its support and allowing it to swing down on its pivots shoot
its contents into the excreta pan. Reversing the motion of the said slide draws back
the empty measure to its original position beneath the hopper and it is again filled.
Or the said measure may be so operated that the slide normally closes the mouth of
the hopper and the measure swings by its pivots but it is drawn beneath the hopper
to be filled and then immediately emptied into said pan.
The said slide and measure may be reciprocated by a suitable arrangement of
mechanism adapted to be operated by hand, or they may be automatically operated
by a foot piece or by the application of pressure to the seat of the closet, or by the
action of opening or closing the closet door.

page_text: To allow the said slide and measure to work freely and prevent them becoming
clogged, the guides and the connections between them are cut away to prevent earth,
or dust lodging thereon, and angles are as far as possible avoided.
Two hoppers may be employed one of which is preferably adapted to contain earth,
cinders or other similar substances and the other to contain a suitable disinfectant or
deodoriser. In this case the mouth of such hoppers are arranged to open into the
same measure which may have a partition to divide it for the purpose of keeping the
contents of the said hopper apart.

page_text: I BENJAMIN SHILLITO of Uppleby, Easingwold, in the county of York, Watch-
maker, 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 has reference to certain improvements in dry earth closets, and the
object of such is to provide a simple arrangement adapted to measure or define the
amount of earth, disinfectant, or deodoriser used.
And the said improvements consist in the arrangements hereinafter set forth in
which a pivoted scoop or measure and slide are provided in combination with a
hopper or hoppers adapted to hold the disinfectant or deodoriser and enable the
said scoop or measure to permit of the passage, or measure out a certain or definite
quantity of earth, ashes, disinfectant or deodoriser each time such scoop or measure is
operated as hereinafter set forth.
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of my improved earth or dry closet.
Fig. 2. is a plan of my improved earth or dry closet with lid and seat removed.
Fig. 3. is a sectional view showing position of pivoted scoop or measure when
discharging the earth or deodoriser into the excreta pan.
Fig. 4. is a sectional view showing position of pivoted scoop or measure when
being recharged under the hopper.
Figs. 5. 6 and 7 are detail views.
Figs. 8 and 9 show arrangements of means for operating the closet by hand.
In carrying out my invention when I employ one hopper A I use a measure or
scoop B approximately the shape and fitting closely when being charged under the
bottom opening C of the hopper A. The said scoop or measure B is pivoted to a
horizontal slide D (by means of a spindle D¹) and is supported on an extension E
of the guides F supporting the slide D in such a manner that when the said slide D
is moved forwards it pushes the pivoted scoop or measure B from beneath the
mouth of the hopper A and passes into its place (see Fig. 3.) thus closing the
mouth C as well as pushing the scoop or measure B off the end E of its support and
allowing it to swing down on its pivot D¹ and shoot its contents into the excreta
pan G. Reversing the motion of the said slide D draws back the empty measure or
scoop B to its original position beneath the hopper A (see Fig. 4.) and it is again
filled. Or the said measure or scoop may be so operated that the slide normally-
closes the mouth of the hopper and the measure swings by its pivots, but it is drawn
beneath the hopper to be filled and then immediately emptied into the said pan.
The said slide and measure may be reciprocated by a suitable arrangement of
mechanism adapted to be operated by hand, or they may be automatically operated
by a foot piece or by the application of pressure to the seat of the closet, or by the
action of the opening or closing of the closet door.

page_text: For reciprocating the slide D and scoop or measure B as aforesaid automatically
the seat H of the closet (see Fig. 1.) rests upon the ends of the levers J which are
pivoted at each side of the frame K, connecting rods L are attached from the other
ends of the said levers J to arms M upon the cross-shaft N, the cross-shaft N having
a vertical arm O with forked end P embracing the rod R of the slide D.
The action is as follows:-
On depressing the seat H the levers J and rods L raise the arms M upon the
cross-shaft N, thereby causing the said cross-shaft to partly revolve, whereby the
scoop or measure B is brought into position under the mouth of the hopper A for
being filled (see Fig. 4.) by means of the vertical arm O drawing back the slide D
when the cross-shaft is revolved as aforesaid.
On the pressure being removed weights or springs S draw forwards the scoop or
measure B and slide D, thereby causing the said pivoted scoop or measure B to tilt
or turn or drop downwards thus precipitating the earth or deodorant into the
pan G, and distributing the earth or deodorant over the excreta contained therein.
When the closet is operated by hand, hand levers T may be employed with
connecting rods U to arms V upon the cross-shaft N. (see Fig. 8,). Or the hand
lever T may act directly upon the cross-shaft N (see Fig. 9).
To allow the said slide D and measure or scoop. B to work freely and prevent them
becoming clogged, the guides and connections between them are cut away to prevent
earth, or dust lodging thereon.
If required two hoppers may be employed one of which is preferably adapted to
hold earth, cinders or the like, and the other to contain a suitable disinfectant or
deodorant. In this case the mouths of such hoppers are arranged to open into the
same measure which may have a partition to divide it for the purpose of keeping the
contents of the said hopper apart.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact position shown for the
apparatus as it may placed at the side of the frame instead of the back, but I
declare that what I do claim is:-
1. The construction of earth or dry closets with pivoted scoop or measure B (in
conjunction with slide D) which by mechanism operated by pressure upon the seat
or by handles or levers delivers a supply of earth or ashes upon the excreta in the
pan or closet substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of the hopper, scoop or measure and slide operated by suitable
mechanism and returned by weights or springs substantially as herein before
described.
3. The general construction and arrangement of apparatus substantially as and for
the purposes shown and described.