IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE RETURN OR BACK FLOW OF GAS, WATER, AND OTHER FLUIDS IN SEWERS, DRAINS, AND OTHER Similar SituatTIONS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Matthews, of Rowallan Villa, Cotham
Brow, Bristol, in the County of Glo'ster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE RETURN OR BACK
FLOW OF GAS, WATER, AND OTHER FLUIDS IN SEWERS, DRAINS, AND OTHER
Similar SituatTIONS.”
Sealed the 13th November 1874, and dated the 6th June 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Matthews at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the.
6th June 1874.
I, HENRY MATTHEWS, of Rowallan Villa, Cotham Brow, Bristol,
in the County of Glo'ster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE RETURN OR
BACK FLOW OF Gas, Water, and OTHER FLUIDS IN SEWERS, DRAINS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR SITUATIONS," to be as follows:---
This Invention is designed to afford a simple and efficient means of
preventing the return or back flow of gas, water, and other fluids, in
sewers, drains, and other similar situations. For this purpose I adapt
"

page_text: "
and apply to the outlet an inverted L shaped valve working at its angle
on pivots or upon a shaft or spindle carried by bearings or supports so
arranged as to allow the face of the valve to rest against a suitable scat
surrounding the outlet orifice of the sewer or drain, against which scat
the closing face of the valve will be retained by the weight of its
horizontal part which projects in an outward direction, so that no gas or
liquid can flow back through the outlet orifice, the tendency of any such
back pressure being to force the closing face of the valve tighter against
its seat, but the valve will readily open to permit of the egress of gas or
liquid, and the extent of its opening will depend upon the pressure of
such gas or liquid against the valve.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Matthews in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 1st December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
MATTHEWS, of Rowallan Villa, Cotham Brow, Bristol, in the County of
Glo'ster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Sixth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Matthews, Her special
license that I, the said Henry Matthews, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Matthews, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE RETURN OR BACK FLOW OF GAS, WATER, AND
OTHER FLUIDS IN SEWERS, DRAINS, AND OTHER SIMILAR SITUATIONS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Matthews, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and

page_text: |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 Henry Matthews, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, and the Drawings therein referred to (that
is to say) :-
This Invention is designed to afford a simple and efficient means of
preventing the return or back flow of gas, water, and other fluids, in
sewers, drains, and other similar situations. For this purpose I adapt
and apply to the outlet an inverted L shaped valve working at its angle
on pivots, or upon a shaft or spindle carried by bearings or supports so
arranged as to allow the face of the valve to rest against a suitable seat
surrounding the outlet orifice of the sewer or drain, against which seat
the closing face of the valve will be retained by the weight of its
horizontal part which projects in an outward direction, so that no gas
or liquid can flow back through the outlet orifice, the tendency of any
such back pressure being to force the closing face of the valve tighter
against its seat, but the valve will readily open to permit of the egress
of gas, fluid, or liquid, and the extent of its opening will depend upon
the pressure of such gas or liquid against the valve.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trap having my Invention applied
to it; Fig. 2 is a vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a detached perspective
view of the L shaped valve.
a is the outlet; b, the inverted L shaped valve; c, its axis; d, the scat
against or around which the valve closes. Figs. 1 and 2 shew the valve
open. That face of the valve which closes against the seat surrounding
the exit opening may be fitted with a wedge-shaped projection of elastic
or other material to more perfectly prevent the passage of gas. The
valve 6 (Fig. 2) may also by having an angle between c and d (Fig. 3),
be closed against a projecting scat surrounding the exit opening, as
shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and having
explained the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I
hereby declare that what I consider to be novel and original, and

page_text: therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the application and use of an inverted
L shaped valve in combination with a seat surrounding an outlet orifice,
as herein-before described and shewn in the Drawings, for preventing
the return or back flow of gas, water; and other fluids in sewers, drains,
and other similar situations
In witness whereof. I. the said Henry Matthews, have hereunto
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Matthews, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 30th day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.