IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING AND AFTER-FLUSHING WATERCLOSETS, AND TO PREVENT WASTE OF WATER
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Charles Bean, of 41, Melbourn Street, Southsea,
Engineer, and Benjamin Harries, of 18, Commercial Road, Landport, Mason
and Contractor, both in the County of Southampton, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING AND
AFTER-FLUSHING WATERCLOSETS, AND TO PREVENT WASTE OF WATER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Charles Bean and
Benjamin Harries at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd
January 1878.
EDWARD CHARLES BEAN, of 41, Melbourn Street, Southsea, Engineer, and
BENJAMIN HARRIES, of 18, Commercial Road, Landport, Mason and Contractor,
both in the County of Southampton. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND IN
APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING AND AFTER-FLUSHING WATERCLOSETS, AND TO PREVENT
WASTE OF WATER."
This Invention consists of improvements in the means of and in apparatus for
flushing and after-flushing waterclosets, and to prevent waste of water.
The means we adopt for effecting the above purposes consists of an arrangement
of apparatus hereafter described, whereby a certain quantity of water is drawn
or discharged at one time, sufficient for cleaning the pan, and also a second discharge
is made immediately following the former for after-flushing, and there a perfect
and definite charge of water is used, preventing any waste of the same.
The apparatus consists of a weighted lever actuated by means of a pull, and fixed
to a cistern, and provided with the necessary valves and connections. This cistern
consists of three chambers; into the first chamber the water is allowed to flow direct
from the supply in the usual way, and regulated by means of the ordinary ball-cock,
or other similar arrangements.
Between the first and second chamber there is a valve, which is open when the
actuating lever is at rest, or in its normal position. Also between the second and

page_text: third chamber there is a similar valve, which is always closed when the actuating
lever is at rest; and in the bottom of the third chamber there is a third valve, which
is always open at the same time as the valve in the first chamber; and, further, in the
third chamber there is a division which rises about midway between the bottom and
the top of the same, the object of which is to retain such portion of the contents of
the chamber for the after-flush.
The mode of operation is as follows:-As before stated, when the actuating handle
is at rest in its normal position, the valve between the first and second chambers is
open, and also the valve in the bottom of the third chamber between the same and
the discharge pipe, the valve between the second and third chambers being closed.
That being so, there is a free communication between the first and second chambers,
keeping the latter fully supplied from the former, the third chamber being empty by
reason of the valve in the bottom of the same being open, its contents having been
discharged into the pan for after-flush.
Now, on the user actuating the lever, he, by one operation, does as follows:-
First. He closes the communication between the first and second chambers, and
prevents further ingress or egress of water, from the first chamber thus preventing
waste of water during the discharge of the contents of the second and third chambers
(the compartment for flushing and after-flush).
Secondly. A communication between the second and third chambers is opened,
permitting the contents of the second chamber (or such position of the same as may
be deemed desirable, and also the contents of the upper portion of the third chamber
above the partition in the same, before spoken of, to be delivered into the discharge
pipe in connection with the pan, and thus flushes or cleanses the same. On the
user releasing the handle the further contents of the third chamber is delivered
into the discharge pipe for the after-flush; thus by one action the closet is cleansed,
and by means of the after-flush all offensive odours are prevented, and the supply of
water regulated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Charles Bean and Benjamin Harries in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th June 1878.
EDWARD CHARLES BEAN, of 41, Melbourn Street, Southsea, Engineer, and
BENJAMIN HARRIES, of 18, Commercial Road, Landport, Mason and Contractor,
both in the County of Southampton. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND IN
APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING AND AFTER-FLUSHING WATERCLOSETS, AND TO PREVENT
WASTE OF WATER."
This Invention consists of improvements in the means of and in apparatus for
flushing and after-flushing waterclosets, and to prevent waste of water."
The means we adopt for effecting the above purposes consists of an arrangement
of apparatus hereafter described, whereby a certain quantity of water is drawn or
discharged at one time, sufficient for cleaning the pan, and also a second discharge is
made immediately following the former for after-flushing, and thus a perfect and
definite charge of water is used, preventing any waste of the same.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood, we will proceed
to describe the same, reference being had to the annexed Drawings, wherein the
same letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the Figures..

page_text: The mode of operation is as follows:-As before stated when the actuating handle
is at rest in its normal position the valve F between the first and second chambers is
open, and also the valve H in the bottom of the third chamber D between the same
and the discharge pipe J, the valve G between the second and third chambers C and D
being closed. That being so there is a free communication between the first and
second chambers B and C, keeping the latter fully supplied from the former, the third
chamber D being empty by reason of the valve H in the bottom of the same being
open, its contents having been discharged into the pan for after-flush.
Now, on the user actuating the lever, he, by one operation does as follows:-
First. He closes the communication between the first and second chambers B and C,
and prevents further ingress or egress of water from the first chamber, thus preventing
waste of water during the discharge of the contents of the second and third
chambers C and D (the compartments for flushing and after-flushing).
Secondly. A communication between the second and third chambers C and D is
opened, permitting the contents of second chamber C (or such portion of the same as
may be deemed desirable), and also the contents of the upper portion of the third
chamber D above the partition I in the same, before spoken of, to be delivered into
the discharge pipe J in connection with the pan, and thus flushes or cleanses the
same. On the user releasing the handle the further contents of the third chamber D
is delivered into the discharge pipe for the after-flush; thus by one action the closet
is cleansed, and by means of the after-flush all offensive odours are prevented, and the
supply of water regulated.
Having thus described the nature and object of our said Invention, we would
observe that we do not claim any of the parts separately and apart, save and except
the arrangement of 2nd and 3rd chambers particularly shewn on Fig. 5, and we
declare that what we claim and desire to be secured to us by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general arrangement and combination of parts, together forming an
improved mode and apparatus for flushing and after-flushing waterclosets, as and for
the purposes herein-before set forth, and as shewn on the Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
Second. The novel arrangement of the 2nd and 3rd chamber, and the apparatus
in connection therewith, as more particularly shewn on Fig. 5, letters D, H, I, J.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Harries, on behalf of myself and
the said Edward Charles Bean, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
BENJAMIN HARRIES. (L.S.)