IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER OR STENCH TRAP CONNECTIONS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Philip Middleton Justice at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1882. Communicated
to him from abroad by Colin Lightbody of the City of Brooklyn, County of
Kings, State of New York, United States of America.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Patent Agent IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER OR STENCH TRAP
CONNECTIONS A communication to me from abroad by Colin Lightbody of
the City of Brooklyn County of Kings State of New York United States of
America
This Invention relates to that class of sewer traps which are provided with a
water tank connecting with the sealing bend of the trap the tank being supplied
with a water supply pipe discharging therein, under the control of a float valve
enclosed by the tank so that the water will always stand at the same level in tank
and trap, and the water seal in the trap will be constantly renewed or maintained
from the tank by the action of the float valve, thus obviating the exhaustion of
the seal by effects of evaporation or syphoning and thereby effectually preventing
the inflow of sewer gas The tank may form a permanent part of the trap
itself and be attached directly to the side thereof, but I prefer to make it a
detached tank enclosing a float valve and provided with water trap and vent
connection, whereby the device forms a new article of plumbers ware which is
complete in itself apart from the trap, and adapted for direct sale and ready
attachment to any of the existing traps, as hereinafter fully set forth The tank
which may be simply described as a box or chamber of any suitable shape
I prefer however a recumbent | shape and I also prefer to construct the box of
cast iron, open on one side, with a plate or cover screwed over the open side after
the contents are put in place; from the bottom or water chamber of the tank a
pipe or nipple projects and from the top or air chamber of the tank projects a
similar or smaller pipe or nipple The tank is air and water tight at all points
except at the two before mentioned apertures or connecting nipples and at a third
point hereafter described, and in this condition it is complete and ready for sale to,
and use by the plumber and may be readily connected with the plumbing of any
house thus forming a new article of plumbers ware The manner of convecting
the tank with the traps or plumbing of a house is as follows. The tank is first
fastened to the walls, floor beams or other supports at any convenient place near
the trap which it is desired to protect The ears projecting from the tank enables
this to be readily done The tank should be placed on a level with the trap or
rather the intended water line of the tank should be on a level with the water line

page_text: of the trap The pipe or nipple at the bottom of the tank is to be connected by a
small lead tube with the lower bend of the trap, while the upper pipe or nipple is
connected by a similar or smaller tubing with the house end of the trap above the
water line thereof while the third projecting pipe or nipple of the float valve is
connected by a small tube with the water service pipe When the connections are
made as described the lower pipe and nipple form a free connection between the
tank and the bottom of the trap and hence the water will normally stand at an
uniform level in both If this level should fall below the sealing level of the trap
the descent of the float contained in the tank will open a float valve in the third
referred to pipe or nipple and admit water from the supply pipe until the normal
or sealing level is restored in both tank and trap, on reaching which level the water
will cease to enter owing to the use of the float and consequent closing of the valve
thus maintaining a constant seal If at any time the level falls in the trap by
evaporation or other cause or if the water in the trap becomes suddenly and
completely removed by syphonage it will be immediately restored from the tank
by the action of the float and supply valve as will be readily understood, thereby
forming a valuable correcting or safety device which constantly guards the trap
and maintains a full seal therein thus keeping it in a good sanitary condition and
constantly proventing the inflow of sewer gas under all conditions whetlier the trap
is in constant or occasional use or even though the traps be out of use as in the
case of unoccupied houses 1 prefer to cement a glass pane in one side of the tank
preferably in the removable side so that the working of the tank inny be readily
observed and a greater assurance of safety thus given to the householder The
tank need not be large, as its capacity need not be much greater than the capacity
of the scaling bend of the trap hence the tank will be light and comparatively
inexpensive and will have the advantage of neatness and compactness whereby it
can be readily affixed almost anywhere near the trap, without objection, for instance
under Basins, Wash trays, sinks, and in other suitable places, in the case of small
traps as well as in the cellar in the case of the main trap The pipe or nipples
from the top of the tank form an air vent between the tank and trap whereby the
rise and full of water in the tank is freely allowed without resistance which would
not be the case with an enclosed tank unless some such vent device was provided
Instead however of carrying this vent pipe to the house end of the trap it might
be carried to the ventilating pipe which commonly, extends from the trap or outer
bend of the trap to the roof of the house, or the vent pipe might be dispensed with,
and the nipple connected with an airtight collapsible rubber bag of about the same
capacity as the tank, which when the lank was empty of water would be collapsed
and into which the air would be transfered from the tank when the water rose
therein and vice versa Or again instead of either of the former the float when
raised to its normal level might be arranged to close the air vent. opening and
again open the same as soon as it descends The two latter devices I do not at all
reccommend although they are practicable but I simply mention them to show that
the precise vent connection as described while entirely preferable is not essential
It may be further noted that as the tank is formed and connected, its interior is
completely isolated from the interior of the house and communicates only with the
interior of the waste pipe or trap Hence should the waste pipes or traps become
at any time flooded by a stoppage at some point the tank may also become
simultaneously filled or flooded therefrom but the water cannot escape from the
tank into the apartments to cause any flood or damage therein owing to thic
watertight and enclosed construction of the tank and its connections as will be
readily understood