Improvements in Flushing Apparatus for Water Closets and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec.. 1894
Complete Specificati n
Left, 3rd Sept., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flushing Apparatus for Water Closets and
the like.
I, JOHN THOMAS TENNANT, of 242 Whitefield Road, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in flushing apparatus for water closets,
urinals or the like. Usually in siphon flushing arrangements the siphon pipe
equires charging or priming this being effected by opening a valve below the
water level and admitting a portion of the water; such valves are however liable
to become deranged and leak. Now with apparatus according to my invention
there is no possible chance of leakage, the charging water being raised by a hood
so constructed that it will float, as hereinafter described.
A flushing cistern which is conveniently of the ordinary kind is provided with
the usual supply and overflow or waste water pipes but instead of the usual curved
siphon pipe, the flushing pipe is straight and projects vertically through the
bottom of the cistern, its upper end being open and situated at a somewhat higher
level than the overflow pipe. Within the cistern and surrounding this vertical
flushing pipe is arranged another pipe of larger diameter closed at its upper end
so as to form a hood; it is provided with an air chamber, preferably around its
exterior which forms a float. By the movement of this hood water therein is
caused to flow into the flushing pipe and to thereby start the flush.
In constructing apparatus according to this invention wherein the flush is
started by hand, the cistern, which has no partitions in it, is provided with an
ordinary ball cock to control the supply of water. The cap or hood which
surrounds the upper end of the flushing pipe is enlarged near its lower end and
encircles an annular plate or flange secured on the flushing pipe near the bottom
of the tank, space being left between the hood and said flange to allow of
the passage of water. A weighted starting lever provided with a chain and
adapted to bear upon the hood when turned about its fulcrum is pivoted to the
cistern. The arrangement is such that as the cistern is filled through the ordinary
ball cock or tap, the floating hood gradually rises and that by quickly depressing
such hood by means of the hand lever and chain the water contained within the
hood above the flange on the flushing pipe is forced up the annular space between
the flushing pipe and the smaller tube of the floating hood into the flushing pipe
which will thus become charged and start the flush; and as the water siphons
away the floating hood will be caused to descend to near the bottom of the tank
until the siphon action is stopped by the admission of air. Guide ribs are
provided around the flushing pipe and are formed at their lower ends with radial
extensions on which the hood rests.
As water is again admitted to the cistern the
float rises ready for the next discharge.
In constructing automatic flushing apparatus according to this invention so as to
flush the closet or the like at fixed periods, instead of securing an annular plate or
flange to the flushing pipe as herein before described, the opening of the hood is
formed with an internally projecting flange, sufficient space being left between the
ontside of the flushing pipe and the internal flange to allow of sufficient water
passing to the flushing pipe. The closed end of the hood has an upwardly

page_text: projecting central spindle which slides through a guide attached to the cistern.
The upper end of the spindle, when the cisteru is only partly filled, presses
against an abutment, which may conveniently be in the form of a circular shaft,
through which a hole of sufficient size to allow the spindle end to pass through is
formed. This shaft is free to partly rotate in bearings and is provided with a loug
arm carrying a float at or near its end that dips into the cistern and floats in the
flushing water; the arrangement is such that as the water rises, the float partly
rotates the shaft and, when the water has risen sufficiently to rotate the shaft to
such an extent that the hole therein comes opposite to the spindle end, the floating
hood immediately and quickly rises, the internal flange therein lifting the water
inside the hood and so charging the flushing pipe. A balance lever and weight
As the water is
may be secured to the shaft on the opposite side to the float.
discharged from the cistern the floating hood is caused by the suction of the
flushing pipe to descend quickly and the spindle end descends below the underside
of the hole in the releasing shaft thereby allowing the shaft to turn, so as to act
as an abutment for the spindle when the hood again rises; the hole is formed of
gradually increasing diameter upwardly so as to prevent the spindle jamming.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the releasing
arrangement above described as it is evident that it may be modified to suit
different requirements without departure from the essential features of my
invention.
Improvements in Flushing Apparatus for Water Closets and
the like.
1, JOHN THOMAS TENNANT, of 242 Whitefield Road, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Plumber, 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 improvements in flushing apparatus for water closets,
urinals, or the like. In syphon flushing arrangements, the syphon pipe requires
changing or priming and this is usually effected by opening a valve below the
water level and admitting a portion of the water; such valves are however liable
to become deranged and leak. Now with apparatus according to my invention
there is no possible chance of leakage, the charging water being raised by a hood
so constructed that it will flat, as hereinafter described.
The flushing cistern, which may be of the ordinary kind, is provided with the
usual supply and overflow or waste water pipes, but instead of the usual curved
syphon pipe, the flushing pipe is straight and projects vertically through the
bottom of the cistern, its upper end being open and situated at a somewhat higher
level than the over-flow pipe. Within the cistern and surrounding this vertical
flushing pipe, is arranged another pipe of larger diameter, that is closed at its
upper end so as to form a hood and is provided, preferably around its exterior,
with an air chamber, which forms a float. By the movement of this hood, water
therein is caused to flow into the flushing pipe and thereby start the flush.
Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, represent a hand operated
Hushing apparatus according to this invention, Fig. 1 being a sectional elevation on
the line a, a, of Fig. 3, the cistern being shown fully charged with water; Fig. 2 a

page_text: similar view representing the position of the parts immediately after a flush.
Fig. 3 a plan of the apparatus with the cover reinoved; Fig. 4 a cross section on
the line y y of Fig. 3 the cistern being shewn partly full and the float rising and
Fig. 5 a horizontal section on the line z z of Fig. 1 of the flushing pipe and hood.
In this arrangement 1 is a flushing cistern preferably made, as shewn, with a
well part in the middle to allow sufficient space for the float (hereinafter more
fully described) to work up and down; 2 is the ordinary ball cock or tap; and
3 the overflow pipe; 4 is a straight vertical flushing pipe secured to the bottom of
the cistern 1 as shewn, and formed or provided with a circular plate or flange 5 the
upper portion of which is faced to form a seat for a light loose flat ring or valve 6,
which may be of any suitable material, such as copper, and is slightly larger both
in external and in internal diameter than the flange 5. 7 are guide ribs which are
formed integrally with the pipe 4 and extend from the upper side of the flange 5
to and a little above the top end of the pipe. The said pipe 4 is surrounded
within the cistern 1 by another pipe 8 of larger diameter and the upper end of
which is closed to form a hood. The lower end of this pipe terminates in an
outwardly projecting flange 8ª carrying another short length of pipe 9 the internal
diameter of which is slightly larger than the external diameter of the ring or
valve 6. To and around the pipe 9 is secured an outer casing 10 having a conical
top 11 and which forms with the pipes 8, 9 and flange 82, an air chamber or float 9*
of such buoyancy that water rising in the cistern will cause the hood 8 to rise and
lift a starting quadrant 12 into the position shewn in Fig. 1. The quadrant is
prevented from rising further than shewn, by a detent 13 which then bears against
the quadrant bearing 14 which is carried on a cross bar 15 fixed in any suitable
manner to the cistern 1. On the opposite side of the pivot of the quadrant 12,
there is secured to the said quadrant another catch 133 which is so arranged that
the end of the quadrant that bears against the top end of the floating hood 8 cannot,
when drawn forward by the operating chain 16, force the said end down hard on
the projecting ends of the guide bars 7.
The arrangement is such that as water rises in the cistern from the position
shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1 the ring 6 allows water to flow into the
space situate above it and between the pipes 4 and 8, which space is gradually
increased by the rise of the floating hood until the top end of the latter is stopped
by the quadrant 12. The ball tap 2 closes when the level of the water is only a
short distance below the upper end of the flushing pipe 4.
When the chain 16 is
pulled rather quickly in the usual manner, the quadrant 12 will force the floating
hood 8 down and thereby force some of the water contained within the space in the
hood and which is prevented from returning into the cistern 1 by the flange 5 and
the valve 6, up the annular space between the flushing pipe 4 and the smaller
pipe 8 into the flushing pipe, thus charging the flushing pipe and starting the flush.
The siphon action of the flushing pipe and the hood will continue the flush and
discharge the water from the cistern 1, lowering the hood into the position shown
in Fig. 2, and continuing the flush until the same is stopped by the admission of
air. In order to render the syphon action core perfect, the cross sectional area of
the annular space between the flange 5 and the tube 9 is preferably made about
equal to that of the bore of the flushing pipe 4. As the water again rises in the
cistern, the floating hood also rises and moves the quadrant 12 back into its
starting position.
It will thus be seen that the float for charging the flushing pipe 4 is in no way
connected with the starting lever, and that the flush will be practically silent in
action.
Figs. 6 & 7 are vertical sections showing another arrangement of flushing
apparatus according to this invention for automatically flushing a water closet or
the like at fixed periods. Fig. 6 represents the cistern filling and the float held
down until the water rises still higher, and Fig. 7 shows the float released and the
syphon starting.
In this arrangement the quadrant 12 and pull down chain 16 (Figs. 1 to 5) are

page_text: dispensed with the time between successive flushings, depending on the rate at
which water is supplied to the tank. Also instead of securing an annular plate 5
to the flushing pipe 4 as herein before described, the opening of the hood is formed
with an internally projecting flange 17, sufficient space being left between the
outside of the flushing pipe 4 and the internal flange to allow of sufficient water
passing up to the flushing pipe. The closed end of the hood 8 has an upwardly
projecting spindle 18 which slides through a guide 19 attached to the cistern 1.
The upper end of the spindle 18 when the cistern is only partly filled (see Fig. 6)
presses against an abutment which may be in the form of a circular shaft 20 through
which a tapered hole 21 is formed of sufficient size to allow the end of the
spindle 18 to pass through it as shown in Fig. 7. The abutment shaft 20 is mounted
in fixed bearings 22 and is provided with a long arm 23 carrying a float 24,
(Figs. 6 & 7) that dips into and rises or lowers with the level of the water in
the cistern 1. The arrangement is such that as the water rises, the float partly
rotates the shaft 20 and when the water has risen sufficiently to rotate the shaft 20
to such an extent that the hole 21 therein comes opposite to the end of the
spindle 18, the floating hood immediately and quickly rises, the internal flange 17
lifting the water inside the hood 9 and so charging the flushing pipe 4. A balance
lever and weight 26 is or may be secured to the shaft 20 and adjusted to suit the
weight of the float 24 and lever 23. As the water is discharging from the cistern 1,
the floating hood 9 is caused by the suction of the flushing pipe 4 to descend
quickly, and the end of the spindle 18 descends below the underside of the hole 21
in the shaft 20 thereby allowing the shaft to turn, so as to act as an abutment for
the spindle when the hood again rises. The hole 21 is made tapered as shown, so
as to prevent the spindle 18 jamming.
Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive represent another construction of automatic flushing
apparatus according to this invention, which in practice I have found to work more
satisfactorily than that shown in Figs. 6 & 7.
Figs. 8 & 9 are vertical sections representing such apparatus immediately after
and immediately before flushing respectively and Figs. 10 & 11 are respectively
a plan and a horizontal section on the line W. W of Fig. 9.
The water
In this arrangement the float chamber 9* is open at the top and is formed by
and between an upward extension 9" of the tube 9, the pipe 8, and the flange 8ª.
Projecting downward inside this open float chamber 9* are the shorter legs of two
siphon tubes 27 the bend being near the top of the chamber whilst the other and
outer legs extend downward below the flange 8ª. Preferably there are two siphon
tubes 27 placed opposite each other so as to balance each other's action on the
floating hood. In the example shown the flushing cistern is made of glass of
cylindrical form with a curved bottom. The flushing pipe 4 passes through the curved
bottom and is preferably made similar to the one shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and is
similarly provided with a ring valve 6. The arrangement is such that as water
enters the cistern by the supply pipe 28, and its level rises in the cistern 1, the
floating hood also rises until stopped by a projection 29 such as a small screw,
catching against the underside of the flange 5 on the flushing pipe 4.
still continues to run into the cistern (Fig. 9), and when it rises a little above the
level of the top of the bend in the siphon tubes 27, it commences to flow through
these tubes into the empty float 9°. When, by this means the buoyancy of the
floating hood is overcome, the said hood commences to sink until its upper edge 9
passes below the water level in the cistern, whereupon the sudden inrush of water
into the open top of the float chamber causes the hood to quickly descend and drive
the liquid contained between the flange 5 and the flange 8ª upward through the
pipe 8 and between the ribs 7, thereby charging the flushing pipe 4 as before, the
suction caused by the water descending the flushing pipe, tending to assist
the downward descent of the hood until the closed upper end of such hood rests on
the projecting upper ends of the ribs as shewn in Fig. 8. Whilst water is being
discharged from the cistern 1 as described, the water admitted into the open float
chamber will flow away therefrom by the syphou tubes 27 as shown in Fig. 8, su

page_text: that such chamber will be emptied or nearly so before the incoming water will have
risen sufficiently to float the hood.
The dead weight of the floating hood and attached parts should be such that
when the buoyancy due to the float chamber 9* is overcome, the hood will
quickly sink.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what [
claim is:-
1. Flushing apparatus for water closets and the like in which water to start the
flush is lifted and delivered to the flushing pipe by movement of a float device that
is separate from the starting lever or other means used for moving it, substantially
as herein described.
2. Flushing apparatus for water closets and the like, wherein there is provided
in conjunction with a flushing pipe or passage having its upper open end located withi
the flushing cistern at a suitable point above its bottom, a hood provided with a
float and so arranged in relation to the said flushing pipe or passage, that by move-
ment of the hood in one direction relatively to the flushing pipe or passage water
will be caused to rise and flow into the latter and thereby start the flush,
substantially as herein described.
3. Flushing apparatus for water closets and the like comprising a cistern
provided with a vertical flushing pipe open at the top, and provided with an
external flange, and a hood provided with a float and arranged to surround the
upper open end of the flushing pipe and to extend around and beyond the said
flange but so as to allow of the passage of water between the two, the arrangement
being such that upon the floating hood being caused to quickly move downward,
water within it and above the flange will be forced upward between the smaller
portion of the hood and the flushing pipe and thence into the latter so as to start
the flush, substantially as herein described.
4. Flushing apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 2 in which the hond with
float is automatically caused to move and force water into the flushing pipe and
so start the flush upon the water entering the flushing cistern, attaining or nearly
attaining, its normal level, substantially as described.
5. My inproved flushing apparatus for water closets and the like, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with reference
respectively to and shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive; in Figs. 6 and 7; and in
Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this ɔrd day of September 1093.
Dated LOIS 51Ɑ Qay 01
DeDLEHDET LOJO.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.