An Improved System of Rain Water Service and Apparatus to be Used in Connection therewith, also Partly Applicable for other Water Services.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1886.
Complete.Left, 19th Jan, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1887.
An Improved System of Rain Water Service and Apparatus to be
Used in Connection therewith, also Partly Applicable for other
Water Services.
I HENRY CURZON of 61 Lincoln's Inn. Fields in the County of Middlesex, Architect,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The system of rain water service which forms the subject of this invention is
intended more particularly to apply to small country houses, in which the household
is mainly dependent on the rainfall for the supply of the house, and for the water
closets, and in which it has hitherto been practically impossible to have water closets,
lavatory and other arrangements on the upper floors, but the invention is equally
applicable to other country houses, as well as town houses, and partly in connection
with other water services.
In carrying out my invention, the rain water collected from the roof by the gutters
is conveyed by a suitable pipe to a vessel which I term a junction box. This box,
which is placed in any convenient spot inside or outside the house, and a little below
the level of the gutter, may be provided with an overflow pipe, and near the top,
inside, with a sheet of wire netting, or a perforated plate, which serves to catch the
larger solid bodies brought in by the water.
In connection with this box, and by means of a short horizontal pipe near the
bottom of the box, is a cistern, which is intended to supply the water closets, as will
be hereafter more particularly explained.
Above the level of the short horizontal pipe, there is a stand pipe in the box, down
which the water flows when the cistern is full, and from this extends a length of rain
water or stack pipe, to the bottom of which is connected a suitable filtering apparatus,
preferably of the kind described in the specification of my patent No. 14521,
dated 3rd November 1884.
From this apparatus, the filtered rain water runs into a second cistern suitably
placed for the purpose, and provided with an overflow, and a convenient tap to supply
the household utensils. The drippings from this tap are received in a slightly sunk
dish of glazed terra cotta having a waste pipe through the external wall.
The cisterns I prefer to place inside the house in an upper room, such, for instance,
as a housemaid's closet, and the W.C. cistern will be placed near the ceiling so as to
get a sufficient bead of water to serve a W.C. on the same floor, while the pure water
cistern will be situate near the floor, or in such other position as will permit of a
head of water (say six feet) being obtained, to ensure the proper working of the
filtering apparatus. The overflow pipes will deliver into the ordinary stack pipes.
By thus dividing the W.C. supply and the house supply, the contamination of the
latter is obviated.

page_text: In houses of the class first mentioned, it is not often that a W.C. is placed upstairs,.
for the reason that it is generally impossible to so place the cistern as to get a full
supply of water from the roof, and at the same time obtain such a head of water as to
properly flush out the basin.
•
As it is obviously impossible in most houses where the supply of water is dependent
on the rainfall, to place the W.C. cistern in the roof, I have devised an apparatus
which will enable me to place the cistern on a lower level than the gutters, and at
the same time have a water closet on the same floor, and whereby I can obtain a proper
volume and head of water to completely wash out the basin.
To this end I substitute for the ordinary service pipe a hollow pillar or column of
such length and diameter as to contain the desired quantity of water to produce the
flush. The lower end of this column is close to the basin, and is connected thereto
by a short length of pipe 1 or 2 inches in diameter.
The lower end of the hollow column, where connection is made to the basin, is
closed by a valve, preferably a flap valve, opening inwards, the pivot of which is placed
outside the hollow column, and to the back of this valve is secured a forked piece,
which extends into the hollow column. The lower end of the column is formed with
a recess into which the valve will recede when opened, and thus allow a clear way.
for the flow of water, the forked piece only projecting into the column.
In the column is placed a weighted float, which, as the water runs out, descends,
and comes into contact with the forked piece, and closes the valve.
The upper end of the column may be closed by a cover, a small air pipe being
provided to prevent the formation of a vacuum as the water runs out. This pipe must
be carried above the level of the water in the cistern.--The water enters the column
from the cistern by a pipe, on the end of which is a regulator which serves also as a
rose.
The pivot of the flap valve extends through a stuffing box, and is connected in any
convenient manner by levers to a pull up handle, or any other convenient means for
opening the valve. I prefer to employ a slotted connection of any well known con-
struction, so that the handle may be let go when the valve has been opened without
closing the valve, which therefore remains open until the water in the column has run
out, and the weighted float, descends, and strikes against the forked piece. By means
of this column, I can obtain a sufficient head and volume of water to produce a good
flush, as the water has no air to expel, and friction does not retard the flow.
When applying the hollow column to a urinal, I use an elongated float, which will
fill up the column to a greater or less extent, so as to restrict the supply of water
whilst preserving the head. This float may also be made to cut off the supply of
water to the column, and this I effect by employing a ball cock stem, with a forked
end, instead of a ball, against which the float strikes as it rises and closes the valve or
cock. In this case, the flap valve is rocked on its pivot by a handle, which is returned
to its normal position by a spring, the closing of the valve being effected by the float
descending as before.
The cutting off of the supply may also be effected by means of the ordinary ball
cock and a trigger. arrangement, consisting of a counterweighted cranked lever so
placed as to maintain the valve closed until the water has left the column. Pendent
from the trigger is a copper wire, on which the float slides, and at the bottom of the
wire is secured a nut. As the water runs out on the flap valve being opened, the float
descends, and when it rests on the nut, its weight will pull the trigger, and release the
ball cock. By this means I am enabled to measure the water used, as the trigger may
be made to actuate a suitable registering mechanism.
It will be evident that I may, if desired, use a spindle valve, the closing of which
will be caused by the float dropping onto the end of the spindle.
It will also be evident that the water column arrangement may be used equally well
with water services other than rain water.
NEWTON & SON.

page_text: An Improved System of Rain Water Service and Apparatus to be
Used in Connection therewith, also Partly Applicable for other
Water Services.
I HENRY CURZON of 61 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex Architect,
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 :-
The system of rain water service which forms the subject of this invention is
intended more particularly to apply to small country houses in which the household ig
mainly dependent on the rainfall for the supply of the house and the waterclosets, and
in which it has hitherto been a matter of difficulty to flush out waterclosets and to
supply amply lavatory and other arrangements on the level of the upper floors, but
the invention is equally applicable to other country houses as well as town houses and
partly in connection with other water services.
In carrying out my invention the rain water collected from the roof by the gutters
is conveyed by suitable pipes or troughs to a vessel which I term a junction box by
which the larger solid bodies brought in by the water are intercepted.
In connection with this box is a cistern which is intended to supply the waterclosets
and also a length of stack pipe to the bottom of which is connected a suitable
filtering apparatus preferably of the kind described in the specification of my patent
No. 14521 dated 3rd November 1884.
From this apparatus the filtered rain water runs into a second cistern (for household
use) suitably placed for the
purpose.
The cisterns I prefer to place inside the house in an upper room such for instance
as a housemaid's closet and the W.C. cistern will be placed near the ceiling, so as to
get a sufficient head of water to serve a W.C. on the same floor while the pure
water cistern will be situated near the floor or in such other position as will permit
of a head of water (say about six feet) being obtained to ensure the proper working
of the filtering apparatus.
In houses of the class first mentioned a W.C. placed on the topmost floor has an
inadequate and feeble supply of water for the reason that it is generally impossible to
so place the cistern as to get a full supply of water from the whole roof and at the
same time obtain such a head of water as to properly flush out the basin. As it is
obviously impossible in most houses where the cistern is. supplied by water from the
roof to place the W.C. cistern up in the roof I have devised an apparatus which will
enable me to place the cistern on a lower level than the roof and eaves gutters and at
the same time have a watercloset on the upper floor and whereby I can obtain a proper
volume and head of water to completely wash out the basin.
To this end I substitute for the ordinary service pipe a hollow pillar or column the
lower end of which (where connection is made to the basin) is closed by a valve
preferably a flap valve opening inwards. To the back of this valve is secured a forked
extension against which a weighted float by gravity as the water runs, comes into
contact and closes the valve.

page_text: The pivot of the flap valve extends through a stuffing box and is connected in any
convenient manner by levers to a pull up handle or any other convenient means for
opening the valve. By means of this column I can obtain a sufficient head and
volume of water to produce a good flush as the water has no air to expel and friction
does not retard the flow.
A urinal may be supplied in a similar manner with water not only the closing of
the valve being effected by the falling of the weighted float but also the turning on of
the supply of water to the column while the rising of the float may shut off the
supply. In some cases a trigger arrangement may be provided to prevent the turning
on before the column is quite empty.
It will be evident that I may, if desired use a spindle valve the closing of which
will be caused by the weighted float dropping onto the end of the spindle.
It will also be evident that the water column arrangement may be used equally well
with water services other than rain water.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown in Fig. 1 Sheet 1. my improved system
of rain water service. Fig. 2 being a section of the junction box taken on the line s s
Fig. 1 Sheet II shows various modifications in the arrangement of the water
colum.
Referring now to Fig. 1 A represents the walls and partitions of a house, A¹ the
roof and ceiling and A top floor of the house. B represents the gutters and B' the
gutter pipes or troughs which convey the rainwater from the gutters to the junction
Box C. This box is shown as placed inside the house a little below the level of the
eaves gutter and it is provided with an overflow pipe C and a strainer C of any suitable
form or material. The box C is also provided with an inclined partition C³ and is
connected by a short horizontal pipe C with a cistern D intended to supply the water-
closets and by a second pipe C with a filtering apparatus E such as that described in
my patent No. 14521 of 1884 or to a second cistern D¹ for the household supply.
:
The rain water as it runs in from the gutter will fall into the junction box C and
the larger solid bodies brought in with it will be arrested by the strainer C². From
the box C the water will run into the cistern D by the pipe and when the cistern
is full will run over the partition C³, which will be of any desired height, down the
pipe C to the filtering apparatus E and thence to the cistern D¹ or to the cistern D
direct. When the filtering apparatus is used it must be placed at about six feet below
the box in order to obtain a proper head of water to produce the filtering operation
and the cistern D' will then be placed near the floor A. If the filter is not used the
cistern D may be placed by the side of or in close proximity to the cistern D which
will be raised a-sufficient height to allow a good fall to the W.C. on the same floor.
The cistern D will be provided with an overflow pipe D2 and also with a suitable draw
off pipe and tap to supply the household utensils. The drippings from this tap are
received in a slightly sunk dish F of glazed terra cotta having a waste pipe through
the external wall. The overflow pipes will deliver into the ordinary stack pipes.
By thus dividing the W.C. supply and the household supply the contamination of
the latter is avoided.
Instead of placing the junction box C inside the house it may be placed outside and
in place of the partition therein a short upwardly projecting pipe or other means may
be devised for ensuring a flow of water to the cistern D.
The arrangement of apparatus that I have devised for ensuring a proper flush to the
W.C. consists of a hollow pillar or column G of such length and diameter as to
contain the desired quantity of water to produce the flush and suitably placed in
the W.C. This column is supplied from the cistern by a pipe G¹ provided with a
regulator which serves also as a rose intended to supply the water noislessly. The
lower end of this column is placed close to the W.C. basin and is connected thereto
by a short length of suitable diameter say two inches. At the bottom of the column
is an opening which is closed by a valve G2 preferably a flap valve opening inwards.
The pivot of this valve is placed outside the column and the valve is carried by a
curved arm mounted on the pivot which projects through a stuffing and is connected
in any convenient manner by levers to a pull up handle or other convenient means

page_text: for opening the valve. I prefer to employ a slotted connection of any well known
construction which will allow of the handle being let go when the valve is opened
without closing the valve which therefore remains open until it is again closed as
hereafter explained.
Secured to the back of the valve is a forked piece G³ which extends into the hollow
column some distance beyond the valve. The valve when opened fits under a shoulder
or in a recess formed in the column to cover or receive it so that a clear way for the
water will be provided the forked piece G³ only projecting into the colunin as shown in
dotted lines in the Figs. 1 and 4.
In the column is placed a weighted float G
by gravity, comes into contact with the forked
runs into the column from the cistern D the
the next flushing.
which as the water runs out descends
piece and closes the valve. As water
float rises and frees the valve ready for
The upper end of the column will be closed by a cover, a small air pipe, which is
carried up above the level of the water in the cistern D, being provided to prevent the
formation of a vacuum as the water runs out.
At Fig. 3 Sheet II. I have shown means for automatically turning on and shutting
off the water supply to the column, the form of the column being slightly altered to
permit of the adaptation of the same thereto. This arrangement can also be used as
a water waste preventer as only a fixed quantity can be used at one time and there
are no complicated parts to get out of order.
The means which I employ consist of a ball cock H the stem of which formed with
an elbow as shown and a trigger arrangement H' consisting of a counterweiglited
cranked lever so placed that the shorter arm will come under the stem and maintain it
in the raised position with the cock closed until the water has run out of the column.
Pendent from the trigger is a copper wire I on which the weight is strung and slides
and at the end of the wire is secured a button I¹.
As the water runs out of the column the float will descend and when it rests on the
bottom will by its weight release the trigger and the ball will drop and open the cock.
As the column fills again the float will rise and when it reaches the top will push up
the trigger and lock the ball cock thus shutting off the supply.
By this means I am enabled to limit the supply to the actual contents of the
column and I am also enabled if desired to measure the quantity of water used as the
trigger may be made to actuate a suitable registering mechanism placed on the axle
thereof and outside the column.
At Fig. 4 I have shown the hollow column arrangement adapted to supply a
urinal.
When applying the hollow column to a urinal I use an elongated float which will
fill up the column to greater or less extent so as to restrict the supply of water whilst
preserving the head. This float may also be made to cut off the supply of water to the
column and this I effect by employing a ball cock stem with a forked end instead of
a ball against which the float strikes as it rises and closes the valve or cock. In this
case the flap valve is rocked on its pivot by a handle having slotted connection which
is returned to its normal position by a spring the closing of the valve being effected
by the float descending as before.
Fig. 5 shows the adaption to the hollow column of a spindle valve in place of the
flap valve. J is the spindle valve which is shown closed in full lines and open in
dotted lines.
The remaining parts of this figure are similar to those already described with the
mode of opening the valve and will be readily understood from the drawing and
therefore will need no further description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved system of rain water service substantially as herein shown and
described.

page_text: 2nd. The combination with a junction box Cof the cisterns D and D₁ with or
without a filtering apparatus substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a rain water service the use of a junction box to separate the supplies of
water for sanitary and household purposes and to arrest the larger solid bodies brought
in by the water substantially as described:
4. The junction box constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and
described.
5. In a rain water system the combination with a junction box and cisterns D)
and D of apparatus substantially as herein shown and described for ensuring
proper flush to the pan of a W.C. situate on the same floor as the cisterns as set
forth.
6. The apparatus for obtaining a proper head with a limited supply of water
substantially as herein shown and described and consisting essentially of a hollow
column supplied with water from above and having a valve at its lower end and a
weighted float, said valve being arranged to be opened by any suitable mechanical means
and closed by the descent by gravitation of the float as set forth.
7. The combination with a hollow column supplied with water from above and
having a valve tap or cock at its lower end and a weighted float of the ball cock and
trigger arrangement substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 whereby water
may be automatically supplied in measured quantities as set forth.
8. The combination with a hollow column a ball cock arrangement to the supply
pipe and a discharge valve, of a weighted float operating to cut off the water supply
and to close the discharge valve substantially as shown and described.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.