IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Thompson, of Queen's Square, Leeds,
Plumber, and William Dawes, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, Engineer, both in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS."
Sealed the 13th February 1880, and dated the 14th August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Thompson
and William Dawes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
14th August 1879.
WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON, of Queen's Square, Leeds, Plumber, and WILLIAM
DAWES, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, Engineer, both in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS."
The first part of this Invention consists in a simplified and improved arrangement
of the "over-head" cisterns and service mechanism of water closets, wherein valves
and seats, and the mechanical parts or connections they require are dispensed with,
and in lieu thereof, we employ a bent tube or syphon placed by preference inside
the "boot" or service cistern so constructed and fixed as to constitute a continuation
upwards of the "flush" or service pipe, which leads to the pan and basin, and
of such a height that its crown or highest part shall be safely above the surface of
the water in the boot when that is at the height or level determined or regulated
by the "ball-valve" in the main cistern, and when, therefore, all possibility of flow
or leakage is prevented.
We next construct a simple "plunger" of wood, metal, glass, or other suitable or
convenient material, and of such a size or cubic capacity that its immersion into
the "boot" shall cause the water to rise above the crown of the before-described
syphon, and cause its well known action to commence, and the full flow of water
through it to continue until the level of the water inside the "boot" is lowered
to the bottom of the "bent over" or inside (short) end of the syphon pipe, when its
action and the supply will instantly cease, and thus a definite quantity of water
will at all times be supplied to the pan and basin.
It will be understood that the before-named "plunger" is out of the water in the
boot until the handle is pulled, and that its connection with the latter, by levers

page_text: or any ordinary or convenient means, effects its immersion, and through that the
complete action, as hereinbefore described.
To insure a prompt, certain, and otherwise perfect action, we prefer to construct
that portion of the syphon which is within the boot as a compound or multiple
syphon of several small pipes placed "side by side," all of equal size, and that such
that the sum of their areas is equal to the area of the other or lower portion of the
service pipe.
The communication between the cistern and the boot may be effected by a small
hole or passage, as heretofore.
The second part of this Invention consists in the use or employment of glass for
the construction of the cistern and boot, or one of them, and also the protecting
of these on the outside by a covering of felt or other similar suitable material,
attached by waterproof adhesive cement.
To simplify and facilitate the construction of these parts, namely, the cistern
and boot, especially when made of the material named herein, we prefer to
construct them as two separate and distinct vessels; and in this case we prefer to
make the communication between them by means of a small tube or tubes at their
end or ends outside, and which may also serve to clamp them together, and
thus the combined use of glass and these tubes prevents the enlarging of the hole or
communication between them, and an improper or fraudulent increase in the
quantity of water consumed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Thompson and William Dawes in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th February 1880.
WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON, of Queen's Square, Leeds, Plumber, and WILLIAM
DAWES, of Kingston' Grove, Leeds, Engineer, both in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS."
The first part of this Invention consists in a simplified and improved arrangement
and construction of the "over-head" cisterns and service mechanism of water closets
wherein all "valves and seats," and the mechanical parts or connections they
require are dispensed with, and in lieu thereof we employ a bent tube or syphon,
placed by preference inside the "boot" or service cisterns, so constructed and fixed
as to constitute a continuation upwards of the "flush" or service pipe which leads
downwards to the pan and basin, and of such a height, inside the boot, that its
"crown" or highest part (bend) shall be safely above the surface of the water in
the boot when that is at the height or level determined and regulated by the
ball valve in the main cistern, and when, therefore, all possibility of flow or
leakage is prevented.
We next construct a simple "plunger" or "displacer" of wood, metal, glass, or
other suitable or convenient material, and of such size or cubic capacity that its
immersion into the boot shall cause the water to rise above the crown of the before-
described syphon and cause its well known action to commence, and the full flow
of water through it to continue until the level of the water inside the boot is
lowered to the bottom of the "bent over or inside (short) end of the syphon pipe,
when its action and the supply from the boot will instantly cease, and thus a
definite quantity of water will at all times be supplied to the pan and basin. It
will be understood that the before-described plunger or displacer is out of the water
in the boot, or nearly so, until the handle is pulled, and that its connection with
the latter, by levers or any ordinary or convenient means, effects its immersion,
and through that the complete action, as hereinbefore described.
To insure a prompt, certain, and otherwise perfect action with a reduced or
moderate amount of displacement, we prefer to construct that portion of the syphon
which is within the boot as a "compound" or "multiple" syphon of several small
tubes placed "side by side" or otherwise, all of equal size, and that such that the
sum of their areas is equal to the area of the other or lower (single) portion of the
service pipe.
The communication between the cistern and the boot may be effected by a small
hole or passage for the gentle supply of water, as heretofore.
The second part of this Invention consists in the use or employment of glass
for the construction of the cistern and boot, or one of them, and also the protecting
of these on the outside by a covering of felt or other similar suitable fabric or
material, attached by water-proof adhesive cement.
To simplify and facilitate the construction of the cistern and boot, especially
when made of the material named herein, we prefer generally to construct them
as two separate and distinct vessels; and in this case we prefer to make the
communication between them by means of a small tube or tubes outside, and which
may also serve to clamp them together, and thus the combined use of glass and
these tubes prevents the enlarging of the hole or communication between them, and
an improper or fraudulent increase in the quantity of water consumed.
In the accompanying illustrations, Figure 1 is a plan showing the arrangement
with outside boot connected to the main cistern by the small metal tubes; Figure 2
is a plan showing the same with cylindrical boot; Figure 3 is a plan with the
cylindrical boot placed inside the main cistern, the compound syphon being in
every case placed inside the boot; Figures 4 and 5 are elevations of the compound

page_text: or multiple syphon; Figure 6 is a plan of a modified arrangement of the syphon;
Figure 7 is an elevation showing an arrangement of the levers for obtaining the
required downward movement or travel of the displacer, and a modified application
of the syphon, and Figure 8 a simplified construction of the same.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to
the precise details or arrangements which we have described or referred to, as many
modifications and variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of the said Invention; but what we consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent, is :-
First. The use and application to water closets and their connections of the
ordinary syphon, by preference made compound or multiple, the action of the
same for flushing the basin being produced by raising the entire surface of the
water in the boot by means of a simple plunger or displacer so arranged as to sink
or lower downwards into the boot and water, and thus by raising the surface above
the crown of the syphon cause it to empty the boot without valves, pistons, or
other mechanical means. Second. The use and application of glass covered with a
suitable soft protecting fabric or surface for the cisterns or boots of water closets.
And, Third. The metal connecting tubes between the cistern and the boot, for
preventing an increased or fraudulent quantity of water being obtained, virtually
as, or after the manner of the foregoing description.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Henry Thompson, and William
Dawes, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
ROBERT THOMPSON,
1 Grosvenor Crescent,
Leeds.
WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON. (L.S.)
WILLIAM DAWES.
(L.S.)