IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND RELATING TO WATER CLOSETS, AND CHIEFLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE PROPER VENTILATION OF THE SAME
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alpheus Baylies Wood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April 1879. A communication
from abroad by George Rodney Moore, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
"
ALPHEUS BAYLIES WOOD, of Keswick, in the County of Cumberland. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO WATER CLOSETS, AND CHIEFLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE
THE PROPER VENTILATION OF THE SAME." [A communication from abroad by
George Rodney Moore, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
The object of my Invention is to provide a closet for excreta so well adapted to
its real purpose, and so well ventilated, that the atmosphere of any room where
it may be used need not be contaminated by any of its legitimate manipulations,
and the health of the occupants of such room will not be endangered. In carrying
the said Invention into practice I provide an oval shaped porcelain bowl with sides
nearly vertical, and having two flanges around it, one at the top, and the other
about two inches below. Between these flanges is the usual hollow arm and fan
for the introduction of water under pressure for washing when desired. The
bottom of this bowl begins in front at the lower flange, and sloping towards the
back ends sufficiently forward to leave an abundant opening at the rear for its
peculiar use, as an open way for excreta to the receptacle below, or to a soil-pipe
whenever it is preferred to connect the closet with one, which may be done by
omitting all the parts not then necessary, and connecting the soil-pipe at the proper
point.
I provide a flap-valve for closing the open space through the bowl, or as much of
it as may be desired.
It is operated by a spiral spring within a socket, and
enclosed by another socket which has a hanger connecting it with a lever and link
to the said flap-valve; all this mechanism being under the control of a hinged seat,
so that when the seat is pressed down the valve is thrown open.
None of the operating devices are attached to the bowl itself, but all of them to
an iron trunk of the closet to which this porcelain bowl is connected by a cement
joint. The said iron trunk is made large enough to allow an air-space around the
bowl. It is provided with a pipe flange upon which a ventilating pipe is placed.
The direction of the air current is down the seat of the closet, and out by way of
the said ventilating pipe.

page_text: A thin
I also provide a removable pail furnished with a front handle and a bail. It is
inclosed at the rear in a sheet metal case forming a lower chamber of the aforesaid
iron trunk, and the front is open. It stands upon au iron plate provided with
inclined pieces placed in circular form on its underside. This plate rests with its
inclined pieces upon a ring with counter inclined pieces, and having a manual
handle, thus completing a true elevator, so that when the said pail is placed in the
lower chamber of the iron trunk, a slight turn of the ring with its inclines raises it
and clamps the pail to the trunk, and the closet is then ready for use.
cover is provided for the pail to fit its rim closely by a clamp joint. Whenever the
pail is to be emptied by use of the elevator, it is lowered sufficiently to receive the
cover before removal from the case which is provided with a door. I also provide
a gas-jet ventilator, which consists of an inside chamber with a glass door, and a
gas-jet, a conical chimney above it, and an outside chamber and flue through which
the air current is made to pass by the heat of the burning gas; or a lamp may be
used if preferred. There is a cap at the top of the ventilating pipe which I furnish
with a band which gives good results; a better outflow of the air of ventilation is
secured if aided by side winds. It is never liable to any back current.