Improvements in or connected with Water-waste Preventing Cisterns.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Water-waste Preventing
Cisterns.
I, JOHN HODGE of Liverpool Road, Formby in the County, of Lancaster,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to what are known as double-valve or
double-action water-waste preventing cisterns, for use generally for flushing out
closet pans and for other similar purposes.
The invention consists in the novel arrangement or combination of parts, having
for its object chiefly. to regulate automatically the quantity of flush-out water. to
pass each time through the discharge pipe or valve, in a simpler and more reliable
manner than has hitherto been done as for instance in the case of syphon cisterns.
In carrying out my invention, I construct a cistern having two compartments
and fitted with a ball-tap, and lift valves jointed to the lever, in any of the well
known ways. I attach an independent regulator to. the tank, and, I connect the
spindle or piston-rod thereof to the lever so that when the free end of the lever is
moved by the operator the regulator is charged by the movement of the same, and
when the lever is released that part of it connected to the regulator, and weighted,
in its return movement causes the regulator to discharge its contents through a
valve contained therein which is so regulated that a pre-determined time shall
elapse before the regulator is completely discharged. At this point the valve
governing the discharge pipe to the pan is closed.
I prefer to carry. the. regulator upon a bracket fixed to the end of the cistern
externally. I carry the lever over the end of the cistern and weight the same.
Near the weight I connect the regulator to the lever.
The regulator is preferably constructed on the lines of what is known as
Underhay's regulator, which consists of a cylindrical.chamber fitted with a cupped
piston and hollow piston-rod having a screw regulating valve, fitted, thereto.
During the first stroke, say, when the free end of the lever is pulled down by the
hand, the piston is drawn up, air passing thereby into the cylinder. Upon releasing
the lever the weighted. end thereof causes the piston to descend and force out the
air in the cylinder, which passes, up the hollow. piston rod. and out of the screw
regulating valve which may be, adjusted, to allow, the piston, to fall quickly or
slowly as desired, and so, regulate the time during, which the flush-out, water shall
pass out through the discharge valve.
I do not confine myself to this particular construction of regulator. In place of
a sliding piston and cylinder I may make use of a flexible chamber constructed, of
diaphragms.
In order to allow the air to escape from the discharge pipe I bore a hole in the
discharge valve and pass a tube therefrom upwards to above the water level of the
compartment or cistern.
Dated this 14th day of November 1894.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Water-waste Preventing
Cisterns.
I, JOHN HODGE of Liverpool Road, Formby in the County of Lancaster,.
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 relates more particularly to what are known as double valve or
double action water waste-preventing cisterns, for use generally for flushing out
closet pans and for other flushing out purposes.
The invention consists in the novel arrangement or combination of parts having
for its object chiefly the regulating of the charge of flush out water in a simple and
reliable manner, so that a predetermined quantity of water which quantity may be
simply and readily determined, shall without variation pass each time through the
discharge valve when opened by means of the lever, into the pipe leading to the
pan. By this improvement a simple and momentary movement of the lever is
sufficient to cause the discharge of the determined amount of flush out water as in
the case of "syphon" cisterns.
In the arrangement or combination the employment of a regulator in which a
fluid is drawn in upon opening the discharge valve, and ejected, by a counter
balance weight or its equivalent through a throttled orifice, which can be varied in
size, forms the principal part and new application.
The form of regulator preferably used consists of a cylinder and trunk piston
provided with a suitable valve or valves, one part being secured to the cistern and
the other part to the valve lever. Air, preferably, is drawn into the cylinder
through a valve having a large orifice and ejected through a small orifice or valve
upon the return stroke of the piston rod. In place of the tubular regulator and
piston 1 may employ a bellows or a flexible diaphragm regulator of any suitable
construction.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have attached
hereunto a sheet of drawings to which I will now refer.
In the said drawings
Figure 1 represents a plan of a double valve cistern of ordinary construction in
which a regulator is arranged according to my invention.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the cistern.
Figure 3 an enlarged sectional elevation of the regulator which I prefer to
employ.
Figure 4 an enlarged elevation of a bellows regulator of well known construction.
In the several views like parts are indicated by like letters of reference.
The cistern illustrated in the drawings is a lead lined wood trough divided into
two compartments by the partition a, and is of the double action or double
valve type. The cistern itself is of usual construction as are also the valves.
The lever B is however somewhat prolonged at the short end & from the fulcrum
and to this end is jointed the piston trunk c or its equivalent of a regulator d the
barrel or casing thereof being hinged to and carried by an arm e fixed to the end
wall of the cisteru. The kind of regulator preferably employed is of that form
illustrated in Figures 1 2 and 3, and constructed as shewn in Figure 3.
The lever is provided with counterbalancing means preferably a weight w
secured in the position shewn in Figures 1 and 2. To the lever also are connected
on each side of the fulcrum f the valves g and h, the valve g being closed and the
valve being open in the position of the lever indicated in the drawings. When
the lever is moved from its position of rest shewn in Figure 2 in the direction of
the arrow, the valve g opens, the valve closes and the piston trunk c is drawn out
C

page_text: of the regulator cylinder d, air passing thereby into the cylinder. Upon releasing
the lever it is caused to assume its normal position by means of the counterbalance
weight w and the time occupied in assuming this position is governed by the outlet.
valve k of the regulator d which consequently allows the valve g to remain open
long enough so that the desired quantity of water is discharged from the
compartment a. The valve spindles g' and 'have a certain amount of vertical
play allowed them before causing the valves to which they are attached to lift.
This is usual in cisterns having valves of this description for constructional
convenience. The valve g is provided preferably with an overflow and air vent
tube g².
Figures 3 and 4 represent views of the regulator in two forms, on a somewhat
enlarged scale. Both are of well known construction, Figure 3 representing a
sliding piston regulator and Figure 4 a bellows regulator enclosed in a metal case.
Figure 3 is shewn in section in order to illustrate the principle of action in both.
Air is readily drawn in through the cap d', round the piston trunk d and round
the cup packing c¹ of the piston which acts as an inlet valve, when the piston trunk
is drawn out. Upon the return stroke of the piston the cup packing expands and
prevents the escape of air at that part, the air being allowed to escape up the piston
trunk or hollow piston rod and through the adjustable valve k having an outlet
orifice k so adjusted in size by the screw 2 that by the time the air has been forced
out of the regulator cylinder the discharge from the compartment & has taken place,
the valve g has closed and the valve has opened, and thereby permits the refilling
of the compartment a.
I am aware that regulators constructed in a similar way to those described and
illustrated herein before, and by the annexed drawings, and known as Underhay's
regulators have been employed in connection with valve closets and my claims do
not relate to such arrangements, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
First. In a double valve or double action water waste-preventing cistern the
arrangement and use of a regulator in which air or a liquid is drawn in quickly at
one stroke and ejected slowly at the return stroke, substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated hereinbefore and in and by the accompanying
drawings.
Secondly. The combination with a double valve or double action water waste-
preventing cistern of a regulator constructed and arranged substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth hereinbefore and illustrated in the drawings
annexed.
1
10.1
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.