Improvements in or relating to Dry Closets.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Dry Closets.
A communication from abroad by ISAAC D. SMEAD, of Toledo, in the County of Lucas,
and State of Ohio, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
The present invention consists in certain improvements in dry closets, as hereinafter
more fully set forth.
The drawing is a longitudinal vertical section of the Smead dry closet, showing the
application of the present improvements thereto.
In this, D indicates the vault of the dry closet, with seats over it in the usual
manuer. A indicates the foul-air room, and I the vent-flue, the air being drawn
through the vault and out through the vent-flue, as indicated by the arrows, there
being nothing new in these parts, all of which are fully shown and described in the
former patents to which reference may be made if a more detailed description be
desired.
As these closets were heretofore constructed and used, the fecal matter was
deposited in the vault D, where it was desiccated by the air drawn through the vault,
the dried residue of such matter being burned in the vault or removed and carried
away, as might be preferred, the usual practice at the present day being to burn it in
the vault.
The present invention consists in combining, with a dry closet of the kind above
mentioned, means for either washing away the deposits at frequent intervals or for
washing it out at the end of the season, or from time to time, as may be preferred.
To enable this to be done, the dry closet is constructed in the usual way, except
that, instead of an absorbent transverse partition or floor for the reception of the
deposits in the vault, a tight partition or floor R is now provided which is set
inclined, as shown, and has its lower end connected with a pipe S leading to a
sewer, and which pipe is provided with a suitable running trap T, as shown.
This partition or floor R is represented in the drawing as being made of metal ;
but it is obvious that it may be made of stone, brick, cement or any other
suitable material, and be covered with asphalt or similar material to render it
water-proof and smooth. In case it be made of stone, brick, or cement it will of
course be built solid upon the bottom of the vault, it only being necessary to give
it the necessary inclination and connect its lower end with the sewer, essentially
as shown. It is also obvious that it may be inclined in either direction as one or the
other end can be most conveniently connected with the sewer; but it is preferable
to have it inclined toward that end of the vault at which the air enters, for the reason
that the air is brought more directly in contact with its inclined surface and the
deposits thereon, and which is the more desirable in those cases where it is proposed
to let the deposits remain for a considerable period of time before removal and in
which case they will be wholly or partially desiccated by the passing current of air.
In the upper part of the vault D, at a point just over the upper end of the inclined
partition or floor R, is located a tilting pan or receptacle P, as shown in the drawing,
this pan or receptacle being of such a form and so pivoted or weighted that when
empty it will remain in the horizontal position, but when filled or nearly filled with
water it will automatically tilt or tip on its pivot, and thus empty its contents on to
the upper end of the inclined floor or partition R, as indicated by the dotted lines, such

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self-operating water pans being a well known device; or, in place of the tilting
receptacle P, the well known flushing tank, of which there are many forms, may
be used, the only requisite, so far as this part of the device is concerned, being that
it shall be such as will, at certain intervals, automatically empty its contents upon the
inclined floor R, and, thereby, wash the deposits into the sewer pipe S. A water
pipe C is so located as to deliver water into the flushing pan or tank P, as shown
in the drawing, said pipe being provided with a valve v, by which the flow of the
water can be regulated or shut off at will. It will readily be seen that, by these
means, the contents or deposits in the inclined floor or partition R can be removed
and carried into the sewer at intervals of a few minutes, or at longer intervals, as
may be desired, the intervals of time being shortened by increasing the flow of
water, and thereby causing the pan P to tip and empty itself more frequently, or
by decreasing the flow, the intervals may be lengthened, this being a matter to
be determined by the janitor or person in charge, and, of course, varying more
or less with the number of persons using the closets; or, if preferred, the deposits
may be allowed to remain in position and may be desiccated by the passing current
of air, as heretofore, and the water attachment be used only at the end of the week or
at longer periods of time simply as a means of removing the accumulated deposits,
and thoroughly washing out the vault.
It will, of course, be understood that the main feature of this style of dry
closet, which is the large and continuous current of air through the vault, is not
to be dispensed with, but will be used as heretofore, the flushing arrangements being
intended to be used in connection therewith.
The present invention is more especially adapted to public buildings, school-houses,
hotels, and the like, located in cities or villages, which are provided with sewers and
a water supply.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
:
1. In combination with the vault D, having an air inlet at one end and an opening
at the opposite end connecting it with a vent flue, the inclined floor or transverse
partition R, with a sewer connection at its lower end, substantially as shown and
described.
2. In combination with the vault D, provided with an air inlet and outlet at its
opposite ends, the inclined floor or partition R, provided with a sewer connection
at its lower end, and an automatic flushing device P provided with a water
supply, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of December 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.