IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSET APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR PREVENTING THE IMPROPER OR INJURIOUS ESCAPE OF NOXIOUS GASES OR EFFLUVIA, AND WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LAVATORIES, BATHS, URINALS, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSET APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR
PREVENTING THE IMPROPER OR INJURIOUS ESCAPE OF NOXIOUS GASES OR
EFFLUVIA, AND WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LAVATORIES,
BATHS, URINALS, AND THE LIKE," A communication from abroad by Abraham
Edwards, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSET APPARATUS,
CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR PREVENTING THE IMPROPER OR INJURIOUS ESCAPE OF
NOXIOUS GASES OR EFFLUVIA, AND WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO LAVATORIES, BATHS, URINALS, AND THE LIKE." [A communication from abroad
by Abraham Edwards, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Gentleman.]
This Invention has for its main object to provide means whereby sewer and
other noisome or offensive gases or effluvia may be prevented from entering dwelling
houses, stores, and apartments generally through the waste or outlet pipes of water-
closets, wash-stands, or basins, bath and wash-tubs, urinals, or other fixtures through
which water or other fluid is permitted to flow, or wherein water is used for
flooding or cleaning purposes.
The said Invention comprises the provision of a seal joint composed of a cap, lid,
or diaphragm, and a trough designed and adapted to contain mercury, into which
the flange of said' cap, lid, or diaphragm dips, and in combination with such seal-
joint of a sliding or telescopic pipe, which when said cap is raised forms a close
conduit between the pipe whereon said cap seats and the outlet of the fixture
connected therewith, and which when said cap is lowered rests in said last mentioned
pipe below said cap. The principal object of this sliding pipe is to prevent the
lodgement of fecal, excrementitious, or other matter in or about the mercury
trough or inside of the seal cap when the latter is raised, this device being mainly
designed for water closets, and not absolutely necessary for other fixtures to which
my Invention may be applied.
The said Invention further comprises the combinations of certain parts, whereby

page_text: when the seal cap is being raised the sliding pipe will be drawn up and brought
into position to form the connection between the outlet of the fixture, and when
said cap is being lowered said sliding pipe will be moved down before and beneath it
into the pipe on which said cap rests.
The said Invention also comprises certain details of construction and combination
hereinafter set forth.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a box or case, which is
designed to be connected in any suitable and appropriate manner with the outlet
of a wash-stand, or basin, bath, or wash-tub, urinal, or water closet, and to rest
upon and be secured in any suitable manner to a waste pipe, which conveys the
discharge from such stand, basin, tub, urinal, or closet to a sewer, well, or other
receptacle. The case may be formed with a flange, whereby it is bolted to a flange
of a water closet basin, and with another flange whereby it is bolted to the waste
pipe, said basin projecting downwardly into the case, and resting within a frame
work provided with a seat and hinged cover, and said pipe being flange-bolted or
otherwise secured to a trap of the usual or any suitable construction. I provide a
metallic cap, lid, or diaphragm having a depending flange or lip extending all the
way around said lid to form an annulus or cordon, and adapted to enter a trough
or channel formed on the upper end of the waste pipe, and designed to contain
mercury. Said cap is also formed with arms hinged or fulcrumed on pintles,
which have bearings on the flange of the waste pipe, and has depending cogged
segments. A sliding pipe rests normally in the waste pipe dipping into the trap,
and when raised forms a close conduit between said waste pipe and the outlet of
the basin or other fixture. The said sliding pipe is formed with ribs having openings
or teeth, with which the cogs of the segments mesh. There is a rod connecting
with a hinged cover and with a winch on one of the aforesaid pintles, to which the
said cap is made fast, whereby when the cover is raised to permit access to the seat
the cap will be raised and the sliding pipe through the medium of the cogged
segments be drawn up and caused to form connection with the neck of the basin or
with the equivalent outlet of any other fixture to which the improvements herein
described may be applied, and when said lid is turned down the cap will be lowered
and the sliding pipe passed down into the waste pipe. To ensure accuracy and
directness of movement the ribs on the sliding pipe travel in grooves or guides
formed on the inside of the waste pipe, and to prevent contact of the cap and end
of the sliding pipe said cap is made dome-shaped or concave. I provide an arm
loosely swivelled on one of the pintles, and formed with a cam head, whereby a
stem of a valve in a water pipe may be actuated to open said valve and flush the
basin. A rod is connected to the outer end of the arm, and extending upwardly
through the seat, having a knob which normally rests in a recess or cup in said
seat. When the lid or cover is raised, and the seal cap and sliding piece elevated,
leaving the way to the waste pipe clear, the rod may be drawn up opening the
valve and flushing the basin with water, but when said cover is down it prevents
the rod from being lifted, thereby preventing unnecessary waste of water. Pipes
are provided designed to carry off gases and smells from the trap, or which may
arise through the waste pipe below said trap.
To prevent the mercury from being spilled by the sudden descent of the cap the
walls of the trough should spread as they descend, or they may be formed with
lipped edges for the same purpose.
The seal cap may be connected to the seat cover, so as to be raised when the
latter is lifted, but the connection for actuating said seal cap may be made with a
hinged seat, and the joint or seal opened by one in sitting down on said seat; or a
handle may be used and the seal cap raised by a pull or push thereon; so, too, other
means of lifting the sliding pipe than the cogged segments may be employed, and
in some cases said sliding pipe may be dispensed with.
The details of construction may be varied without departing from the principle
of the said Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
April 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSET APPARATUS,
CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR PREVENTING THE IMPROPER OR INJURIOUS ESCAPE OF
NOXIOUS GASES OR EFFLUVIA, AND WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO LAVATORIES, BATHS, URINALS, AND THE LIKE." A communication from abroad
by Abraham Edwards, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Gentleman.
This Invention has for its main object to provide means whereby sewer and
other noisome or offensive gases or effluvia may be prevented from entering dwelling
houses, stores, and apartments generally through the waste or outlet pipes of water-
closets, wash-stands, or basins, baths, wash-tubs, urinals, or other fixtures through
which water or other fluid is permitted to flow, or wherein water is used for flooding
or cleaning purposes.
The said Invention comprises the provision of a seal-joint composed of a cap, lid,
or diaphragm, and a trough designed and adapted to contain mercury, into which
the flange of said cap, lid, or diaphragm dips, and the combination with such seal-
joint of a sliding or telescopic pipe, which when said cap is raised forms a close
conduit between the pipe whereon said cap has its seat and the outlet of the fixture
connected therewith, and which when said cap is lowered rests in the last mentioned
pipe below said cap. The principal object of this sliding pipe is to prevent the
lodgement of fecal, excrementitious, or other matter in or about the mercury trough,
or inside of the seal-cap when the latter is raised. This device is mainly designed
for water closets, and is not absolutely necessary for other fixtures to which my
Invention may be applied.
The said Invention further comprises the combination of certain parts, whereby
when the seal-cap is being raised the sliding pipe will be drawn up and brought
into position to form the connection between the outlet of the fixture, and when
said cap is being lowered said sliding pipe will be moved down before and beneath
it into the pipe on which said rests.
cap
The said Invention also comprises certain details of construction and combination
hereinafter set forth.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a water closet constructed according
to my Invention, and shewing the same sealed.
Figure 2 is a similar view, shewing the said water closet unsealed; and
Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the same.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the sliding tube; and
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section of the oscillating cap.
Figure 6 is a plan partly in section; and
Figure 7, a plan of portions of the said water closet.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A indicates a box or case, which is designed to be connected in any suitable and
appropriate manner with the outlet of the water-closet or of a wash-stand or basin,
bath or wash-tub, or urinal, and to rest upon and be secured in any suitable manner
to a waste pipe B, which conveys the discharge from such closet, stand, basin, tub,
or urinal to a sewer, well, or other receptacle. In the Drawing I have shewn the
case formed with a flange a, whereby it is bolted to the flange c of the water-closet
basin C, and with another flange a¹ whereby it is bolted to the pipe B. The said

page_text: basin projects downwardly into the case A within a framework D provided with a
seat d and hinged cover D', and said pipe B is bolted at 6 or otherwise secured to
a trap E of the usual or any suitable construction. F represents a metallic cap, lid,
or diaphragm having a depending flange or lip fextending all the way around said
lid to form an annulus or rim; it is adapted to enter a trough or channel B¹ formed
on the upper end of the pipe B, and designed to contain mercury, as indicated at G.
The cap F is formed with arms f', f', hinged or fulcrummed at f, f, on pintles
fs, fs, which have bearings on the flange b' of the pipe B, and is also provided with
depending cogged segments F', F. H represents the sliding pipe, which rests
normally in the pipe B, dipping into the trap E, and which when raised forms a
close conduit between said pipe B and the outlet of the basin C or other fixture.
The said pipe H is formed with ribs h, k, having teeth or openings h¹, h¹, with which
the teeth of the segments F', F1, mesh. I represents a rod connected with the hinged
cover D¹ and with a winch or crank f' on one of the pintles f³, to which the cap F
is made fast. By this arrangement when the cover D' is raised to permit access to
the seat the cap F will be raised, and the pipe H through the medium of the toothed
segments F1, F, will be drawn up and caused to form connection with the neck c¹
of the basin C, or with the equivalent outlet of any other fixture to which these
improvements may be applied, and when said lid is turned down the cap will be
lowered and the sliding pipe passed down into the waste pipe. To ensure accuracy
and directness of movement of the said sliding pipe the ribs h, h, travel in grooves
or guides 6º, 62, formed on the inside of the pipe B, and to prevent contact of the
cap C and the end of the sliding pipe H the said cap is made dome-shaped or concave,
as shown. K is an arm loosely swivelled on one of the pintles f³, and formed with
a cam-head k, whereby the stem 7 of a valve L in a water-pipe L¹ may be actuated
to open said valve and flush the basin C; M is a rod connected to the outer end of
the arm K, and extending upwardly through the seat d; it has a knob m, which
normally rests in a recess or cup d² in said seat. When the lid or cover D' is raised,
and the seal-cap and sliding pipe are elevated, leaving the way to the waste pipe B
clear, the rod M may be drawn up, opening the valve Land flushing the basin with
water, but when said cover D' is down it keeps the rod M from being lifted, thereby
preventing unnecessary waste of water. N and N' represent pipes coupled at n,
and designed to carry off gases and smells from the trap E, or gases and sinells which
may arise through the waste pipe below said trap.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows:-When the cover D¹ is
down on the seat & the seal-joint is inade, and the flange of the cap F is submerged
in the mercury in the trough B³, the sliding pipe H being beneath said cap, resting
in the waste pipe B, and dipping into the water held in the trap E, and the water
valve L is closed. By turning up or back the seat cover D' the pintlesƒ³ are
turned by the connecting rod I and crank f, thereby throwing up the cap F; the
latter as it is raised elevates by means of the toothed segments F', F', the sliding
pipe H until the upper flaring end h² of this pipe encircles the neck c¹ of the basin C,
the lower end of said pipe being then below the top of the pipe B. The way to the
trap is now clear, and the closet open for use. After or during use, and while the
cover D¹ is yet raised, the basin may be flushed or flooded by drawing up the rod M.
After use the lid or cover D' is lowered, thereby turning down the seal-cap until its
flange becomes submerged in the mercury, the sliding pipe H at the same time
noving down below said cap. The gases generated or sinells proceeding from fecal
or other matter detained in the trap will with other gases and smells from the cellar-
trap pass off through the pipes N and N'.
To prevent the spilling of the mercury by the sudden descent of the cap F the
walls of the trough B' should spread as they descend, as shewn in the Drawing, or
they may be formed with lipped edges for the same purpose.
I have shewn the seal-cap so connected with the seat cover as to be raised when
the latter is lifted, but the connection for actuating said seal cap may be made with
a hinged seat, and the joint or seal opened by a person on sitting down on said seat,
or a bandle may be used and the scal cap raised by a pull or push thereon. Other

page_text: means than the toothed segments F, F, may also be employed for lifting the sliding
pipe, and in some cases the said sliding pipe may be dispensed with.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement as
above described, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of
my Invention, and that I claim,-
First. The combination with the waste or discharge pipe or outlet of a wash
stand or basin, water-closet, or urinal, wash or bath tub, or other like fixture of
means consisting of a flanged cap, lid, or diaphragın, and a trough containing or
adapted and designed to contain mercury, and form a seal, substantially as above
set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. In combination with the neck or outlet of a basin, bowl, tub, or other
fixture and a waste or discharge pipe, the sliding pipe adapted to be moved down
into said waste pipe and to form a close conduit between it and said neck or outlet
when raised, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of the waste-pipe having the mercury-trough, the
cap and the sliding pipe adapted to fit in the said waste-pipe when the cap is
lowered and sealed, and to be elevated when the said cap is raised or opened, sub-
stantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The combination with the neck or outlet c¹ the waste or discharge pipe,
the cap and the sliding pipe of intermediate mechanism for drawing up said pipe
when the said cap is lifted, substantially as above described.
Fifth. The combination with the cap of the pintles, the winch, and the rod I,
substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. In combination with the waste-pipe the mercury-trough having spreading
or lipped walls to prevent spilling of the mercury contained therein, substantially
as above described.
Seventh. The cap having the depending toothed segments in combination with
the sliding pipe having ribs with teeth or openings, substantially as above set forth
and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The combination with the case of the basin bolted thereto, the waste-
pipe and the sliding pipe arranged and operating to form when raised a connection
with said basin, and a direct closed conduit therefrom to the said waste-pipe,
substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The combination of the case, the waste-pipe having the mercury-trough,
the basin or receptacle having the outlet c', the hinged cap having the arms f, f, the
pintless, and the depending toothed segments, the sliding pipe having the ribs
with teeth or openings, and the rod I, substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Tenth. The combination with the cap and the pintle having the winch f' of the
seat-cover and the rod I, whereby the lifting of the said cover raises the said cap,
substantially as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand