IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING, CONTROLLING, OR MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS FOR WATERCLOSETS & FOR OTHER PURPOSES, & IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Davies, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING, CONTROLLING, OR
MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS FOR WATERCLOSETS & FOR OTHER
PURPOSES, & IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
La 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Davies at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1877.
WILLIAM DAVIES, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REGULATING, CONTROLLING, OR MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS FOR WATER-
CLOSETS & FOR OTHER PURPOSES, & IN APPARATUS THEREFOR"
In valves for waterclosets as usually mado, if imperfect through wear,
there is a
constant leakage often unobserved. It is to prevent this defect, and to cheapen
the apparatus that this my Invention is designed.
It consists, first, in a mode of regulating the discharge in which the movement of
a piston, sliding cup, plunger, or their mechanical equivalent, in a chamber, by
causing water to overflow into the stand pipe leading to the basin produces a partial
vacuum, and thus opens the valve and converts the stand pipe and chamber into a
syphon to empty the service tank.
My Invention consists, secondly, in the apparatus for carrying it into effect.
There are several forms of apparatus that have occured to me, all, however,
embracing the same principles. I will therefore only describe two forms, without
however restricting myself to these, as there are others mechanically equivalent to
these that I might adopt. Indeed, these once explained, anyone with a little
ingenuity could devise others as substitutes. I bring the pipe from the cistern up
through the bottom of the tank to above the normal water line, and leave it open
at the end; round this, according to oue plan, I construct a chamber open or per-
forated at the bottom. Between the walls of this chamber and the stand pipe,

page_text: sliding freely, is a perforated piston or valve, having a light subsidary cover or
valve covering its perforations. The main valve can be actuated up and down by
lever and suspension rods. By drawing up the lever and piston the water above it
is carried up and overflows into the stand pipe Its descent causes a partial
vacuum, and water flows up through the valve, thus converting the chamber and
stand pipe into a syphon and emptying the service tank. When the lever is let go
the piston descends on to its india-rubber or other seat below, without however
interrupting the passage of the water through it.
Another plan consists in making the upper portion of the small chamber, enclosing
the stand pipe leading to the basin, a kind of annular piston working in the
cylinder forming the lower part of the chamber. The perforations or opening into
the chamber aro provided with valves, opening inward. When the annular piston
is pressed down by the lever it compresses the water in the chamber, and forces it
to overflow into the stand pipe. This causes a partial vacuum, and, as before,
converts the chamber and stand pipe into a syphon. The water now enters at the
valves in the perforations till the service tank is emptied, when the air, entering,
also stops syphon action The water now rapidly fills the service tank and the
chamber through the usual ball-cock to the normal level, ready for a fresh
discharge.
As occasionally it is desirable to stop the flow of the water at any part of the
usual supply, I sometimes place a flange or its equivalent on the stand pipe and
moveable part of the chamber, in such a position that by drawing up or pressing
down the lever the two flanges will come in contact, and thus cut off the supply
instantaneously.
Though only described for waterclosets, this Invention is designed also to regulate
water for other uses, and on a large scale might become a water measurer, especially
in those cases where arrangements are made to cut off the supply to the service
tank while it is emptying, though this is hardly necessary as the period of discharge
is constant and the supply during that period easily calculated or found by experi-
ment once for all. The one mode in which I prevent the water from running into
the service tank when the contents are being withdrawn, is to support the ball on
cup on a piston or float supported in a cylinder having a very small outlet below.
When the water is drawn off the small escape from said small outlet will not allow
the ball to sink sufficiently to let on much water, till the entire contents of the
service tank not contained in the said cylinder are withdrawn.
In the case of waterclosets or urinals an ordinary plumber's or bell trap may be
formed in the flush pipe leading from the stand pipe referred to to the watercloset
basin, or may be cast on the bottom of the cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th June
1878.
WILLIAM DAVIES, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
REGULATING, CONTROLLING, OR MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS FOR WATER-
CLOSETS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.”
My said Invention has reference to the supply of measured or given quantities of
water or other liquid for the flushing and trapping of waterclosets and for other
purposes, and relates to apparatus employed for such purposes of that description in
which the supply is regulated or controlled upon the principal of the syphon, a
vessel forming the measure being filled with the water or other liquid, which is
discharged through the syphon, and then again filled when the syphon is out of
action.
In apparatus of this description, as heretofore constructed, the parts which con-
stitute the two legs of the syphon have usually been made stationary, and tho
syphon has been brought into action by the motion or aid of auxiliary parts or
means.
It is also been proposed to make a part of the apparatus, which is equivalent to
one of the legs of the syphon, itself moveable, and to actuato the syphon in order
for it to be charged and discharged by the motion of the said part or leg, but in
this case it has been necessary to employ a trap in the pipe leading to the pan of
the closet, and to rely simply upon the rarification of the air caused by moving the
leg of the syphon to produce a partial vacuum, and thus bring the syphon into
action.
Now according to my Invention I obviate the necessity for the use of a trap in
the pipe, and I combine with the moving leg a disc whereby the water or other
liquid is impelled or lifted over the stationary leg of the syphon, thus obtaining
greater certainty of action than can be attained when the mere rarification of the
air caused by the slight increased capacity produced by moving the leg is relied
upon for actuating the syphon.
In carrying out my said Invention I employ a stand pipe, which is arranged
within and attached to the service box or vessel constituting the measure for the
supply, the lower end of which pipe passes through the bottom or other convenient
part of the box or vessel, and forms the outlet leading to the pan of the watercloset,
5 for example, or other receptacle, whilst at its upper end the said pipe terminates
above the level of the liquid in the box or vessel. Around the stand pipe is arranged
a tube closed at its upper ond, and formed with a disc or expanded portion, which
tube is operated by the act of moving the handle of the watercloset (for example)
so as to receive a vertical motion.
The stand pipe herein-before referred to forms the long leg of the syphon, and
the surrounding tube, which acts as a piston or plunger, constitutes the short leg of
the syphon. During the normal condition of the apparatus the tube is filled to
about the level of the liquid in the box or vessel, the liquid having been admitted
thereunto through a suitable valve or valves opening inwards. When the said tube
5 is moved vertically a portion of the liquid which it contains is carried over the top
of the stand pipe, thus producing a partial vacuum in its interior, and liquid then
entering through the valve or valves to supply the vacuum the syphon is charged, and
the liquid-flows off by the stand pipe. On the tube being released the liquid
continues to be discharged through the syphon until the box or vessel is empty,
O when air entering the syphon the latter is thrown out of action, and the box or
vessel is again filled with another supply.
In some cases the two concentric tubes forming the two legs of the syphon may
both be made stationary, and the disc alone may be made moveablo, so as to impel
or carry the water over the inner tube or stand pipe.

page_text: Provision is made for instantaneously arresting the action of the syphon at any
point of the discharge when required.
Aud in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of iny Drawings represents a longitudinal section of a service box, having
applied thereto the improvements which form the subject of my said Invention
according to one mode of carrying out the same, and Figure 2 is a plan corresponding
to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, illustrating another modification, and Figuro 4
is a horizontal section of a portion of the apparatus
Figure 5 is a transverse section, and Figures 6 and 7 are longitudinal
sections of portions of the apparatus illustrating respectively three furthor modifi-
cations.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A. is the service box or vessel, forming the measure
for the water or other liquid which is introduced thereinto through a cock a, the
supply being controlled by a ball or float b Within the box A is arranged a stand
pipe B, which passes through, and is attached to the bottom of the box, its upper
end terminating above the level c, c, of the liquid in the box. The stand pipe B is
surrounded by a tube C, closed at its upper end, and open at its lower end, at which
latter part it is provided with a disc D, forming a piston or plunger, which is fitted
so as to be capable of moving vertically within a cylindrical chamber E, arranged
around and concentric with the stand pipe B. The tube C is connected to a lever d,
from which is suspended a chain or cord e, which is continued down, and at its
lower end provided with a handle within reach of the operator. The lever dis
secured on a shaft f, having its bearings in the sides of the box A, and provided
with an arm g, carrying a counterweight at its extremity
Assuming that the box A is filled to the level c, c, the tube C will also be filled
to about the same level, the liquid being admitted into the chamber E, and thence
into the tube C by a valve F, opening inwards. When then it is required to flush
the closet, the operator draws down the chain or cord e, which action has the effect
of depressing the tube C with its piston D into the position shewn by dotted lines
in Figure 1, whereby a portion of the liquid contained in the tube is carried over
the top of the stand pipe B (as indicated by the arrows), thus producing a partial
vacuum in its interior Liquid then enters through the valve F, and the syphon
is charged, the liquid commencing to flow off through the stand pipe B. On the
chain or cord e being released, the tube returns to its original position under the
action of the weight h, but the discharge through the syphon continues until the
box A is empty, when air entering the chamber E the syphon is thrown out of
action, and the box A is then again filled with a fresh supply.
In the modification, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the chamber E is formed in
one with the disc D and tube C, the disc D being provided with a series of perfo-
rations i, covered by a washer F, which is capable of rising, in order to admit of the
ingress of the liquid into the chamber E, but prevents its return to the box A.
The combined parts constituting the short leg of the syphon (and consisting of the
tube C, disc D, and chamber E, form a sliding cylinder which works along the
exterior of the stand pipe B.
The apparatus is so arranged that by the act of pulling the chain or cord the
cylinder C, D, E, is elevated into the position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 3,
whereby a portion of the liquid which it contains is carried up and caused to over-
flow into the stand pipe B, as indicated by the arrows, thus producing a vacuum in
the said pipe Fresh liquid then enters the chamber E through the valve F, and
rises in the tube C, and flows off through the stand pipe B, the discharge continuing
after the cylinder C, D, E, has descended on the release of the chain or cord e until
the box A is emptied. The action of the syphon is then stopped by the entrance of
air into the cylinder, and the box A is refilled as before.

page_text: If desired, the modification, shewn in Figure 5, may be adopted, in which the
tube C, with its extension E, is stationary as well as the stand pipe B, the perforated
disc D, with its valve F, being alone movable. In this case the disc D forms a
piston or plunger which works between the concentric walls B, E, and is con-
neeted with the lever g by means of rods g¹ and other connections. The action is
similar to that of the preceding modification, the disc D being raised to the position
shewn in dotted lines, in order to cause a portion of the liquid contained in the
tubo C to overflow into the stand pipe B, whereby a partial vacuum is produced
therein, and the syphon is actuated, the same continuing in action after the
descent of the disc piston or plunger D into the position shewn in full lines
until the supply in the box A is discharged as in the arrangements previously
described.
A similar arrangement may be adopted in the type of apparatus shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, the parts B, C, E, forming a series of stationary concentric tubes,
and the disc D made separate therefrom, being caused to work as a piston or
plunger between the tubes C and E.
When it is required to make provision for suspending the flow of water at any
point of the usual supply an arrangement is adopted, examples of which are shewn
in Figures 6 and 7 respectively, as applied to apparatus of the type illustrated by
Figures 1 and 2
Referring to Figure 6, the stand pipe B is provided with an external flange B',
and the disc D is formed with an internal flange D¹, the tube C being made of an
expanded shape at its lower end C' above the flange D¹. When the tube C is
depressed into the position, shewn in dotted lines, the two flanges are separated and
the passage for the water is free, but on the return of the tube C to its normal
position, indicated by the full lines, the two flanges are brought opposite to cach
other and the dischargo is arrested simultaneously
In the modification shewn in Figure 7 the flange B' is formed on the upper end of
the stand pipe B, and is fitted with a ring C2 of india-rubber or other suitable
material, the tube C being provided with a corresponding flange or shoulder D³,
which is formed by making the tube of an expanded shape at its upper end C³
above the flange or shoulder D'. When the tube is in its lower position, as
indicated by dotted lines, the passage for the water is free, but on the return
of the tube C to its normal position, as shown by the full lines, the discharge
is stopped by the flange D¹ being brought into contact with the ring C* of the
flange B¹.
In both the modifications (Figures 6 and 7), it is necessary for the operator
to hold the pull as long as the discharge is required, the supply ceasing as soon
as the pull is relaxed.
A small air hole situate near the top of the syphon may be advantageously
provided in some cases.
k
In the several modifications of apparatus, herein-before described, it may be
requisite that means should be provided to prevent the liquid from entering
the service box while its contents are being withdrawn. This object may bo
effected by separating the portion A' (Figures 1 and 2) of the box A, in which
the ball or float b works from the other portion A of the said box by means
of a vertical partition & extending up to nearly the water line c, c, and formod
at its lower end with a very small orifice / communicating with the main com-
partment A of the box A. When the liquid is entering the box A. through
the cock a, the compartment A³ is first filled up to the level of the top of the
partition, the liquid then overflows into the compartment A¹, gradually raising
the float b and closing the cock a In drawing off the liquid through the
syphon, the compartment A³ is emptied, but the small escape from the orifice
will not admit of the float sinking sufficiently to turn the admission cock a
to any considerable extent until the entire contents of the box (with the exception
of the liquid remaining in the compartment A') are withdrawn. The remaining
liquid in the compartiment A' then passes into the compartment A³, and the float b

page_text: gradually descends, turning on the cock a, but as air has already entered the syphon
the same is out of action, and the box is refilled and the liquid retained therein
until the apparatus is again operated.
If desired a small ball-cock may be employed in substitution for the arrangement
lastly herein-before described, whereby a similar result may be obtained.
The Invention is also applicable to other purposes for which a supply of water
or other liquid in regulated or measured quantities is required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination with a stand pipe of a tubular piston or plunger sur-
rounding the same, and closed at its upper end, and of a cylinder or chamber
adapted to the said piston or plunger, and fitted with a valvo or valves opening
inwards, the whole constructed and arranged so as to operate substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Second. The combination with a stand pipe of a sliding cylinder or tube sur-
rounding the same, closed at its upper end, and fitted at its lower part with a valve
or valves opening inwards, the wholo constructed and arranged so as to operate
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described
Third. The combination with a series of stationary concentric tubes of a disc,
piston, or plunger adapted to the said tubes in conjunction with a valve or valves
opening inwards, the whole being constructed and arranged so as to operate sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth. In apparatus for the supply of water or other liquid in regulated or
moasured quantities upon the principle of the syphon, the combination with a fixed
leg and a moving leg, of flanges, shoulders, or projections adapted to each other in
such a manner that tho action of the syphon may be suspended at any point of
the supply by the movement or release of the said moving leg, substantially as
heroin-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Davies, have to this my Specification
set my hand and scal, this First day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM DAVIES. (L.S.)
3