IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING SMALL SEWERS AND DRAINS, AND FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTION TUTDEIN
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lovegrove, of Dalston Lane, Hackney, in
the County of Middlesex, Surveyor, A.I.C.E., for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING SMALL SEWERS AND DRAINS, AND
FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTION
TUTDEIN
ני
Sealed the 5th December 1862, and dated the 9th June 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lovegrove at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th June 1862.
I, JAMES LOVEGROVE, of Dalston Lane, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Surveyor, A.I.C.E., do hereby declare the nature of the In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING SMALL SEWERS AND
DRAINS, AND FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS THEREIN," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has fór its object improvements in apparatus for inspecting
small sewers and drains and for facilitating the removal of obstructions
therein. For these purposes there is applied to, and connected with, a drain
or sewer apparatus consisting of three tubular passages, the upper ends of
which rise to the surface, whether in a footway, a roadway, or elsewhere, and
over this is placed a close fitting cover. One of these tubes or passages

page_text: descends perpendicularly, or as nearly so as may be, down to the sewer
or drain, and its lower end is connected therewith; the other two tubes
or tubular passages descend from the upper surface, but towards their
lower ends they bend off in opposite directions, and their lower ends are
respectively fixed to or form part of the drain or sewer. These arrange-
ments admit of a flexible rod being passed down either of these two tubular
passages to stir or remove any obstruction which there may be in the drain
within some distance of the points where such bent passages are connected
with it. The first mentioned or upright tubular passage admits of a rod being
passed down to clear or remove any obstruction in the drain or sewer which
is below such tubular passage. When apparatus, such as is above described,
is used in conjunction with an inverted syphon or trap for a drain or sewer
then the ends of the two bent tubular passages are caused to communicate
with the upper parts of the two limbs of the syphon, whilst the other or
upright tubular passage is connected to the sewer or drain at the lower part
of the bend of the syphon. In this arrangement it is preferred to connect
the upper ends of the two bent tubular passages together, and to introduce a
valve between them to allow the free passage of gases in one direction in
place of connecting the upper parts of the limbs of a syphon by a horizontal
pipe having a valve therein, as has previously been done by me.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Lovegrove, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th December 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LOVEGROVE, of Pembury Lodge, Dalston Rise, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the 9th day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Lovegrove, Her special licence, that I, the said James
Lovegrove, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Lovegrove, 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 "Iм-

page_text: PROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR INSPECTING SMALL SEWERS, DRAINS, DRAIN TRAPS,
AND VALVES, AND FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS THEREIN,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Lovegrove, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and 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 James Lovegrove, 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, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus used for in-
specting small sewers and drains, drain traps and valves, and for facilitating
the removal of obstructions therein without disturbing the surface of the
ground. For these purposes in constructing ventilating, inspection, or
flushing shafts at intervals over small drains and sewers, they are constructed
from the top of the sewer to the surface of the ground, partly vertical and
partly curved, and also in two divisions (for a double shaft) so as to admit of
the passing of a bamboo cane (screwed together in short lengths) down one
division of the shaft turning into and along the sewer towards the outlet for
any distance, and thus to effect the removal of any obstruction that may have
formed between the shaft and the distance reached. Also down the second
division of the shaft, turning into and along the drain towards its terminal
end for any distance, and thus remove any obstruction that may have formed
in this portion of the sewer. The shaft is covered with a marked box adapted
either for carriage or foot roadways, that can easily be opened or lifted off
without breaking the ground.
In the construction of ventilating and inspection shafts over house drain
traps, they are constructed partly vertical and partly curved, and also in three
divisions, so as to admit of the passing of a bamboo cane down one division
of the shaft towards the outlet of the drain, or down the second division
towards the terminal end of the drain, and down the third division (forming a
triple shaft) into the syphon dip trap, and thus in each of the places reached
to remove any obstruction that may have formed. This shaft is covered with
one of two marked box covers, dependant on the mode adopted for the venti-
lation of the drain, i.e., if the drain is ventilated above the roof, or from its
terminal end, then the shaft is covered with a box cover containing an air

page_text: supply valve to admit air into the drain down one of the vertical shafts on the
inlet side of the drain trap to pass all through the drain to the exit at its
terminal end, and if the drain be ventilated into the sewer, then the shaft
will be covered with a marked box cover to contain an air exit valve to admit
from the shaft on the inlet side of the dip trap upwards to and through the
exit valve and down the shaft on the outlet side of the dip trap,. the foul air
contained or generated within the drain. The dip trap and box valve
together sealing the foul air from the sewer. The valve is opened by the
pressure of the contained air caused by a barometric difference of temperature
between the air contained in the two shafts, or by the sudden influx of water.
And in order that this same Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto

page_text: .
Figure 4 is a marked covering box (in stoneware for footways); Figure 5
the same in iron for carriage-ways to indicate the position of the shaft;
Figure 6 shews the top of the shaft with brickwork bed for carriage-ways
to receive iron box; Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of a junction block,
used in lieu of the junction pipe J and G in the case of brick sewers; Figure 8
is a cross section of the same.. A plain block is then inserted in the arch of
the sewer between the two junction blocks in lieu of the pipe H.
In searching for or removing obstructions the box is opened and the cane
passed down one side of the diaphragm of the perpendicular shaft, the
breeching piece gives direction to the cane which then passes the curve into
and along the sewer towards the outfall or the terminal end, as may be desired
for any length.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of a triple shaft for house drains constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 10 is a cross section through the line Q, R;
Figure 11 is a marked box cover containing an air supply valve fixed there for a
ready examination; Figure 12 is a marked covering box containing an air exit
valve, also placed here to admit of ready examination.
In the construction of the triple shaft over house drains a curved junction
pipė S is inserted into the drain pipe T, with its curved junction mouth U
curving upwards from the top of the pipe with a socket flange; then, next
adjoining to and in extension of this junction pipe is fixed a syphon dip trap V,
with a perpendicular junction mouth, with socket flange W brought, up from the
centre of the dip, and in further extension of this syphon dip a curved junction
pipe X curving from the top of the pipe upwards, but in the direction of the
outfall, and convergent to the before-described junction mouth U. A bend pipe
Y of a minimum curve is then fixed with its spigot end, one in each of the three
junction mouths converging so as to bring the three bends at their top or
socketted ends together, or contiguous to each other. Three vertical pipe
shafts Z, united so as to form a triple shaft with spigot and socketted ends,
are fitted into the sockets of the three bend pipes just before described (see
cross section, Figure 10, Q, R. These triple shafts are then continued in
short lengths to the surface, where it is covered with one or other of two box
'covers, Figures 11 and 12, dependant on the arrangement of the ventilation
of the drain, i.e., either a box cover, Figure 11, with an air supply valve to
supply air to the drain through and down one of the three shafts a, and
through the drain to its terminal end, and thence through a pipe continued
above the roof; or a box cover, Figure 12, to contain an air exit valve to admit
from the shaft a on one side of the valve upwards, and pass through the shaft b
on the other side of the valve downwards and thence into the sewer, the foul

page_text: air contained or generated into the drain. The dip trap V and box cover
together sealing the foul air from the sewer.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lovegrove, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 8th day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness
JOHN FORTUNE.
JAMES LOVEGROVE.. (L.S.)