Improvements in Waste Preventing and Flushing Cisterns for Water Closets and other purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SEEVITICATION.
Improvements in Waste Preventing and Flushing Cisterns for Water
Closets and other purposes.
1, HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB, of 16, South Street, Greenwich, in the County
of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference more particularly to the class of cistern in which
the flushing is effected through the medium of an open top float having a hole in
the bottom communicating with a hollow arm which is connected to the outlet
nipple in the bottom of the cistern by means of an india rubber tube or other
flexible connection, and is designed to effect improvements in the inlet valve and
the manner of controlling it by the pull lever, also in so constructing the float that
the cistern may be rendered automatic in its flushing action.
The improvement in the inlet valve may be combined with almost any kind of
ball valve used in cisterns, and is designed to prevent waste of water by con-
structing the valve and the pull lever in such a manner that the flow of water into
the cistern is checked whilst the pull lever retains the flushing exit open, at the
same time the ball or float lever, together with the valve which it controls, is left
free and independent of the pull lever.
In combining the improvement with an ordinary valve of the "Croydon " pattern
the main body or barrel of the valve is prolonged beyond the port-way leading to
the seating of the valve controlled by the ball or float lever, so that the general
shape of the valve approaches that of a tee. The bore of the barrel is of an
even diameter from the inlet end until a short distance past the port-way where
it is reduced so as to form an internal shoulder, the smaller bore being continued
right through to the back end. In the larger bore a channel way running right
round the bore is formed, being of equal width to and communicating with the port.
From the outer end of the bore is inserted a well fitting plunger, also of two
diameters to correspond with the bore, the smaller end being sufficiently long to
project through the barrel, at the inside end, rather more than its travel.
The larger end of the plunger is fluted along its length as far as reaches to the
channel way in the bore when the plunger is at the end of its inward travel. Or
instead of the plunger being fluted it may be made hollow for a like distance of its
length and its walls perforated so as to give communication with the channel way.
On the small end of the plunger, before being inserted in the bore, a washer of
leather, india rubber, or other soft material, is threaded and secured so as to fit up
against the shoulder, and serves to make a tight joint when the plunger is at its
inward stroke; the pressure of the water on the large end of the plunger keeping
it up to its seating. Or a cup leather may be substituted so as to assist the plunger
to make a more perfect fit in the bore, when so desired. Through the small end of
the plunger, which projects through the inward end of the barrel, a hole is drilled
to receive a wire ring, or dee shaped shackle secured by a split pin, or other
convenient means; or a ring formed with a boss to screw on to the end of the
plunger may be substituted. This ring, or shackle, is made sufficiently large to
admit of a small lever, formed on and depending from the shaft of the pull lever,
to work loosely between it and the end of the plunger. This depending lever is
the means by which the plunger is actuated by the pull lever, and is so arranged

page_text: with regard to the position of the lever which actuates the flushing contrivance
(which is also on the shaft of the pull lever) that it traverses a sufficient distance
of its path to cause the plain or unfluted part of the plunger to travel past the port
leading to the Croydon valve, and so shuts off the ingress of the supply water
before the flush is started, and retains the plunger in a position closing the inlet as
long as the pull lever is depressed and the flushing exit thereby retained open.
On releasing the pull lever a counter-weight at its other end together with the
pressure exerted on the depending lever by the plunger (from the pressure of the
water) causes it to return to its normal position, leaving the plunger at its farthest
inward travel, in which position the water has free access along the flutings of the
plunger and the channel way in the barrel to the Croydon valve.
With this design of valve a silent inlet of the water is procured by constructing
a suitable shaped scoop, which may be either fixed at the bottom of the stem of the
Croydon valve, or on the float lever, or on the ends or sides of the cistern itself, in
such a manner that it receives the incoming water and delivers it against the end
of the cistern, down which it noiselessly runs.
To render the cistern capable of working. automatically as well as being actuated
by hand, a seating is formed in the outlet at the bottom of the float, to which is
fitted an inverted mushroom valve with a stem hollow throughout and about equal
in length to the depth of the float; this valve is suspended from an eye bolt
projecting from the end of the cistern, or secured in the cistern cover, by a chain,
or other means, so that it only rests on its seating when the float is floating at or
above low water mark, but leaves free egress for the water when the float lies sunk
at the bottom of the tank. The valve is guided on to its seating by making its
under side the shape of an inverted cone, or by the stem working over a light
rod fixed in the elbow of the hollow arm attached to the outlet of the float, central
with the seating, or the valve may he of the flap pattern with its hinge secured to
the bottom of the float. The seating may be constructed in the metal itself, or may
be formed by a ring or washer of india rubber, leather, or other soft material, fixed
in a recess, either in the bottom of the float or on the valve. The automatic action
is effected by providing on the outside of the cistern, or on the wall against which
the cistern is fixed, an eye, or staple, to which the pull chain may be locked, or
otherwise secured, in such a position that the float is prevented from rising to the
height which it would do if left free to close the inlet valve, so that there is a
continuous inflow of water. When the water has risen to the level of the top of
the float it overflows into the float which on becoming full sinks to the bottom of
the cistern, the valve at the bottom of the float opening in its descent. On the
opening of the valve the flushing water begins to flow, as when the float is actuated
by hand, and continues to run until the cistern is emptied down to the low water
line, which line corresponds with the top edge of the float when lying at the
bottom of the cistern, the float, after having last of all emptied itself, again floats
on the top of the water and rises with the incoming water until the cistern is again
full, when the flushing action is again repeated.
The plunger of the inlet valve, when fixed to a cistern to be used for automatic
flushing, is made of such a fit in the bore as to allow sufficient water to pass for the
requirements of this class of cistern.
When it is desired to use the cistern merely in its automatic capacity then the
pull lever, and the improved inlet valve, may be dispensed with; the inlet water
being supplied through any ordinary cock and the eye bolt, or the cover as the
case may be, from which the valve chain is suspended, will serve as the stop to
regulate the height of the rise of the float.
The improved valve and pull lever admit of being used in a single valve cistern,
and in certain designs of the syphon type.

page_text: Improvements in Waste Preventing and Flushing Cisterns for water
Closets and other purposes.
I, HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB of 16 South Street, Greenwich, in the County
of Kent, 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:―
This invention has reference more particularly to the class of cistern in which
the flushing is effected through the medium of an open top float having a hole
in the bottom communicating with a hollow arm which is connected to the outlet
nipple in the bottom of the cistern by means of an india rubber tube or other
flexible connection, such as shown and described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me No. 12494 of 1893, and is designed to effect improvements
in the inlet valve and the manner of controlling it by the pull lever, also in so
constructing the float that the cistern may be rendered automatic in its flushing
action.
The improvement in the inlet valve may be combined with almost any kind of
ball valve used in cisterns, and is designed to prevent waste of water by constructing
the valve and the pull lever in such a manner that the flow of water into the cistern
is checked whilst the pull lever is depressed and retains the flushing exit open, at'
the same time the ball or float lever together with the valve which it controls is
left free and independent of the pull lever.
In the accompanying drawing, which is a front elevation in section through the
centre of cistern and shows the cistern charged with water, the inlet valve closed
and the float at its top position:-a represents the cistern, the cover, c the open
top float having a hole in the bottom communicating with the hollow arm d which
is connected to the outlet nipple e in the bottom of the cistern by means of the
india rubber or other flexible connection f; the improvement in the inlet valve is
shown as applied to a valve of the ordinary "Croydon " pattern, in which the main
body or barrel g is prolonged beyond the port-way h leading to the seating of the
valve, which is controlled by the ball or float lever j, so that the general shape of
the valve approaches to that of a tee: the bore of the barrel is of an even
diameter from the inlet end until a short distance past the port-way h, where it is
reduced so as to form an internal shoulder k, the smaller bore being continued right
through to the back end. In the larger bore a channel way h', running right
round the bore, is formed being of equal width to and communicating with the
port-way h. From the outer end of the bore is inserted a well fitting plunger g',
also of two diameters to correspond with the bore, the smaller end g² being
sufficiently long to project through the barrel at the inside end rather more than
its travel. The larger end of the plunger is fluted along its length as far as
reaches to the channel way h¹ when the plunger is at the end of its inward
travel, 9 denoting the fluted part. Or, instead of the plunger being fluted, it
may be made hollow for a like distance of its length and its walls perforated
so as to give communication with the channel way. On the small end g² of the
plunger before being inserted in the bore a washer 9 of leather, india rubber,
or other suitable material, is threaded and secured so as to fit up against the
shoulder and serves to make a tight joint when the plunger is at its inward
stroke, the pressure of the water on the large end of the plunger keeping it up
to its seating; or a cup leather may be substituted so as to assist the plunger
to make a more perfect fit in the bore when so desired. Through the small end ²
of the plunger a hole is drilled to receive a wire ring, or dee shaped shackle,
secured by a
split pin or other convenient means, or, as shown in the drawing, a

page_text: ring formed with a boss to screw on to the end of the plunger may be substituted.
The ring 1, or shackle, is made sufficiently large to admit of a small lever m, formed
on and depending from the shaft m' of the pull lever m², to work loosely within it,
or between it and the end of the plunger when a wire ring is used. The little
depending lever m is the means by which the plunger is actuated by the pull
lever m², and its position on the shaft m¹ is so arranged with regard to the position
of the prong levers m³ and m³, (there being one on either side of the lever m,) which
actuate the flushing contrivance and are also on the shaft m', that on the pull lever
being depressed, in order to submerge the float and discharge the contents of the
cistern, it traverses a sufficient distance of its path to cause the plain or unfluted
part of the plunger to travel past the channel way and port-way h, leading to
the "Croydon" valve, and so shuts off the ingress of the supply water before the
flush is started and retains the plunger in a position closing the inlet as long as the
pull lever is depressed and flushing exit thereby retained open. On releasing
the pull lever m² a counter weight me at its other end together with the pressure
exerted on the depending lever by the plunger (from the pressure of the water in
the supply pipes) causes it to return to its normal position (as shown in drawing)
leaving the plunger at its farthest inward travel in which position the supply water
has free access along the flutings 93 of the plunger, the channel way h', and the
port h, to the "Croydon " valve i.
With this design of valve a silent inlet of the water is procured by constructing
a suitable shaped scoop n, which may be either fixed at the bottom of the stem of
the "Croydon" valve, as shown, or on the float lever, or on the ends or sides of
the cistern itself, in such a manner that it receives the incoming water and delivers
it against the end of the cistern down which it noiselessly runs.
To render the cistern capable of working automatically as well as being actuated
by hand a seating is formed in the outlet at the bottom of the float e to which is
fitted a valve o, the face or seating of which may be formed in the metal itself, or,
as shown, consist of a ring or washer o¹ of india rubber, leather, or other soft
material, fixed in position by being sprung into the recess formed in the valve.
Or the mode of construction may be reversed, the soft seating being fitted in the
orifice of the float. The lower part of the valve is shaped somewhat like an
inverted cone with the object of guiding the valve on to its seating. This valve
may assume other forms such as that of an inverted mushroom the stem of which
shall be hollow throughout and about equal in length to the depth of the float, the
valve being guided on to its seating by fixing in the centre of the outlet hole a
light rod over which the hollow stem works loosely; or the valve may be of the
flap pattern with its hinge secured to the bottom of the float. Whichever kind of
valve is used it is suspended from an eye bolt p, or other suitable device, projecting
from the end of the cistern a or secured in the cistern cover by a chain q, or other
means, the length of the chain being such that the valve rests on its seating only
when the float is floating at or above low water mark. s is a roller running loosely
on a spindle s¹ fixed in the bracket inside the float e, on which the lever ; works
and the prong levers m³, mt bear when the pull lever m² is depressed in order to
obtain a flush. The dotted liner represents low water mark, the depth of water at
this level corresponding with the lowest part of the top edge of the float when
lying at the bottom of the cistern; the outline of the float in this position is repre-
sented by the dotted lines c', the dotted lines e indicating its position when floating
at low water, and the dotted lines cits top position when set to work automatically;
this position is regulated by depressing the pull lever m² until the prong
levers m³, m³ come in contact with the roller so that they form a stop to the
upward movement of the float c, due to the incoming water; to secure a continuance
of the automatic action the pull lever is secured in this position by fastening the
pull handle t, or a special link inserted in the pull chain t¹ attached to the pull
lever m², by means of a padlock, or other suitable means, to an eye or staple
provided for the purpose in the wall against which the cistern is fixed, or on the
outside of the cistern itself, the float is thus prevented from rising to the height

page_text: which it would do if left free to close the "Croydon "valve i, so that there is a
continuous inflow of water; on the water reaching high water mark u, corresponding
with the lowest part of the top edge of the float when at its topmost travel, (when
working automatically) it overflows into the float which, on becoming full, sinks to
the bottom of the cistern, the valve o, at the bottom of the float, opening in its
descent; on the opening of the valve o the flushing water begins to flow as when
the float is actuated by hand and continues to run until the cistern is emptied down
to the low water liner and the float, after having last of all emptied itself again
floats on the top of the water and rises with the incoming water until the cistern is
again full, when the flushing action is again repeated.
The plunger g' of the inlet valve, when fitted to a cistern to be used for automatic
flushing as well as an ordinary water waste preventer actuated by hand, is made of
such a fit in the bore as to allow sufficient water to pass for the requirements of a
cistern of the first mentioned class.
When it is desired to use the cistern merely in its automatic capacity then the
pull lever m² and attached prong levers m³, m and m and the inlet valve g may be
dispensed with, the inlet water being supplied through any ordinary cock, and the
eye bolt p or the cover b, as the case may be, from which the valve chain g is
suspended, will serve as the stop to regulate the height of the rise of the float.
When the cistern is not required for automatic flushing purposes the valve o,.
chain 9: and bolt
eye p may be dispensed with.
The improved inlet valve and pull lever admit of being used in cisterns of the
single valve type and certain designs of syphon cisterns by having a lever cast on
the shaft m in a position suitable for lifting the single discharge valve, or
contrivance provided for starting the syphon as the case may be; an ordinary ball
float would then be attached to the lever j.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is :-
1. A water waste preventer cistern fitted with an improved inlet valve and pull
lever, constructed substantially as described, by means of which the inlet water is
checked whilst the latter is held down, but which leaves the lever j of the
"Croydon" or main valve free to be acted upon by the float and independent of
the pull lever.
2. A cistern fitted with an open top float having its hollow arm connected to the
outlet elbow by an india rubber or flexible connection in which the construction of
the said float and its valve o combined with the inlet valve and pull lever and the
means of securing it in a certain position renders it capable of being used either as
an automatic flushing cistern or as a water waste preventer flushing cistern actuated
by hand and at will.
3. In an automatic flushing cistern the combination of the suspended valve o and
the general arrangement of its attachment with an open top float having its hollow
arm connected to the outlet nipple by means of an india rubber or other flexible
connection.
4. In the construction of the inlet valve the arrangement of the fluted, or hollow
and perforated, plunger which, by being independent of the main valve i, renders
it applicable to any kind of ball or supply valve.
5. The combination of an inlet valve and pull lever, constructed substantially as
described, with any other kind of cistern to which it may be applicable, such as the
single valve and certain types of the syphon class.
Dated thin 4th do. of Kahn 1805