Improvements in. Apparatus for Starting the Syphons of Flushing Tanks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in. Apparatus for Starting the Syphons of Flushing
Tanks.
I, JOHN JOBBINS, of 44, Copse Road, Clevedon, Somerset, Plumber, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in improvements in apparatus for starting the syphons of
flushing tanks.
This invention relates mainly to flushing the basins or pans of water closets, but is
applicable also to flushing urinals, drains and other places.
It will be convenient to describe the invention as adapted to flushing water closet
basins or pans, as the apparatus is substantially the same in arrangement and con-
struction when applied to other places and the action is also the same.
According to this invention as applied to a water closet, the syphon in the flushing
tank is put into action through the medium of a piston which fits a cylindrical
chamber provided in the flushing pipe and conveniently situated in the wall of the
closet. From the piston a piston-rod, carried through a suitable stuffing-box, is
extended through the wall into the closet.
According to one arrangement of the apparatus, the pipe from the syphon to the
cylindrical chamber aforesaid communicates therewith at the rear thereof, and the
pipe to the basin or pan communicates with the cylindrical chamber towards the front
thereof.
The cylindrical chamber extends at front beyond the outlet by which it communi-
cates with the pan or Lasin. The extension constitutes a chamber for supply of water
to the sewer gas trap after flushing has taken place.
Flushing is effected by drawing the piston from the rear of the cylindrical chamber
and so bringing it outwards until it clears the outlet. The water from the syphon
follows up the vacuum created behind the piston which is prevented by stops from
being drawn into the extension aforesaid of the chamber. Part of the water thus
drawn from the syphon passes into the extension by a pipe of small diameter com-
municating with the extension and with that part of the chamber which is behind the
outlet to the pipe which communicates with the pan or basin. The extension com-
municates with the latter pipe by a branch pipe of small diameter. The water
received in the extension or after-flash chamber flows to the trap and serves to
seal it.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1896.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Starting the Syphons of Flushing
Tanks.
I, JOHN JOBBINS, of 44, Copse Road, Clevedon, Somerset, 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 consists in improvements in apparatus for starting the syphons of
flushing tanks.

page_text: This invention, relates mainly to flushing the basins or pans of water closets, but is
applicable also to flushing urinals, drains, and other like places.
It will be convenient to describe the invention as adapted to flushing water closet
basins or pans, as the apparatus is substantially the same in arrangement and con-
struction when applied to other places, and the action is also the same.
According to this invention as applied to a water closet, the syphon in the flushing
tank is put into action through the medium of a piston which fits a cylindrical
chamber interposed in the flushing pipe and conveniently situated in the wall of the
closet. From the piston a piston-rod, carried through a suitable stuffing box, is
extended through the wall into the closet.
According to one arrangement of the apparatus, the pipe from the syphon to the
cylindrical chamber aforesaid communicates therewith at the rear thereof, and the
pipe to the basin or pan communicates with the cylindrical chamber more towards
the front thereof.
The cylindrical chamber extends at front beyond the outlet by which it communicates
with the pan or basin. The extension constitutes a chamber for supply of water to
the sewer gas trap after flushing has taken place.
Flushing is effected by drawing the piston from the rear of the cylindrical chamber
and so bringing it outwards until it clears the outlet. The water from the syphon
follows up the vacuum created behind the piston which is prevented by a stop
arrangement from being drawn into the extension aforesaid of the chamber. Part of
the water thus drawn from the syphon passes into the extension by a pipe of smaller
diameter communicating with the extension and with that part of the chamber which
is behind or over the outlet to the pipe which communicates with the pan or basin.
The extension communicates with the outlet pipe by a branch pipe of smaller
diameter. The water received in the extension or after-flush chamber flows to the
trap and serves to seal it.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 thereon represents, in section, one
arrangement of my improved apparatus for starting flushing syphons.
It will be convenient to describe the invention as adapted to flushing water closet
basins or pans, as the apparatus is substantially the same in arrangement and
construction when applied to other places, and the action is also the same.
According to the arrangement shown at Fig. 1 of the drawings the syphon in the
flushing tank (neither of which are shown in the drawings) is put into action through
the medium of the cylindrical chamber a and piston b which chamber is interposed
in the path taken by the flushing water and is conveniently situated in the wall c
of the closet. The piston rod d is carried through a suitable stuffing box to the
interior of the apartment. The pipe e connected with the syphon communicates with
the chamber a at the rear end thereof. The outlet pipe is situated at a suitable
distance towards the front from the pipe e. The chamber a has, at front, an
extension a¹ extending beyond the outlet pipe f. A pipe g of smaller diameter than
the pipes e and fleads from the chamber a to the extension a¹.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-When it is desired to set the flushing
syphon in action, the piston ò is pulled from the rear end of the cylinder a forward
to the position shown at Fig. 1 of the drawings, that is to say, to clear the mouth of
the outlet pipe. The shoulder d2 formed on the piston rod d, and the buffer coilar
of india-rubber or other suitable material carried on the rod d, prevents the piston b
from being drawn forward further than shown at l'ig. 1. The syphon is thus put
into action by the vacuum created behind the piston and the water flows to the
cylinder o. The greater part of the water is discharged through the outlet pipe f
which discharges into the closet basin or pan. A part of the water passes through the
pipe g into the extension chamber a' and thence by the pipe i to the pipe whence it
flows to the pan or basin and seals the sewer gas trap after the flushing action has
taken lace. In the piston b is an air relief valve 2 to facilitate return of the piston
to the rear of the chamber a.
At Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated a modification according to
which the syphon is put into action by a push instead of a pull.

page_text: In this arrangement the pipe k which communicates with the syphon in the cistern
opens into the cylindrical chamber towards the front end thereof. The outlet
pipe m communicates with the chamber near the rear thereof which is closed
at back.
In this arrangement the operation is as follows:-When it is desired to set the
flushing syphon in action, the piston n, having been previously pulled forward by the
rod n' to the disc o, is by an inward push exerted at the knob n of the piston rod n²,
forced back to the position shown at Fig. 2 of the drawings, that is to say, to clear
the mouth of the outlet pipe m. The syphon is thus put into action by the vacuum
created, and the water flows to the cylinder 1. The greater part of the water is
discharged through the outlet pipe m which discharges into the closet basin or pan.
A part of the water passes through the annular space o around the disc o to the
extension chamber whence it subsequently returns and flows down the pipe m to
seal the sewer gas trap.
In applying this invention, as above described with reference to both arrangements,
in cases where the after-flush is otherwise provided for or not required, the after-flush
water extension of the cylindrical chamber is dispensed with and the chamber
shortened accordingly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) Apparatus for setting in action the syphons of flushing tanks; said apparatus.
consisting of a chamber such as a containing a piston such as band having an
inlet e and outlet f so arranged in relation to one another that when the piston is.
pulled sufficiently far forward from the rear of the chamber, the water for flushing
follows up the vacuum created in rear of the piston and is discharged through the
outlet, substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Fig. 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
(2.) In connection with apparatus for setting in action the syphon of flushing
tanks as set forth in the preceding claim, the provision of a chamber for the after-
flush water for sealing the sewer gas trap; being an extension such as a with inlet
pipe g and outlet pipe i of smaller diameter than the pipes e and fand so arranged that a
part of the water delivered to the chamber a enters the extension a¹ and subsequently
discharges into the outlet f after the main body of flushing water has been discharged,
substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
(3.) The modified apparatus hereinabove described with reference to Fig. 2 of the
accompanying drawings according to which the inlet for delivery of the flushing
water into the chamber is situated forward of the outlet m, and the flushing syphon
is set in action by pushing the piston n away from the disc o towards the rear end of
the chamber l.
(4.) In connection with apparatus for setting in action the syphons of flushing
tanks as set forth in Claim No. 3, the provision of a chamber for the after-flush water
for sealing the sewer gas trap; being an extension such as to which the after-flush
water is delivered through the annular space o between the disc o and the inner face
of the chamber and is thence discharged after the main body of flushing water has
been discharged, substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Fig. 2 of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this and day of December 1806
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.