Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Dec., 1888
My Invention relates to that class of water closet wherein a movement of the seat
operates the flushing valve.
Hitherto so far as I am at present aware the flushing valve has been actuated from
the moving seat by a mechanical connection such as cranks wires, rods or levers liable
to get out of order.
Instead of using a mechanical connection between the seat and the flushing valve, I
employ fluid pressure to operate the latter as the seat is depressed so as to discharge
the contents of the cistern, and to shut the valves as the scat rises.
I can effect this as follows;-I arrange a cylinder under the seat in which works a
cup-leather piston carrying a piston rod projecting upwards and against which the
hinged seat of the closet bears so as to be capable of depressing the piston on a person
sitting on it.
A pipe proceeds from the bottom of this cylinder to the bottom of a similar cylinder
projecting through the flushing cistern. I connect the piston rod of the cylinder in
the flushing cistern to a pivotted, weighted or spring impelled lever, one end of which
is pivotted or connected to a rod stem or wire, or other connection carrying the
flushing valve.
The said pivotted, weighted or spring impelled lever is connected to the ball cock
lever by a link or equivalent so as to open the ball cock and allow the same to close,
also as the ball rises and the cistern fills.
The pipe connecting the two cylinders is filled with oil, water, glycerine mercury
or other suitable fluid and the weight of the liquid column in the pipe just keeps the
closet seat raised, or the seat may be counterweighted for the purpose or kept up by a

page_text: When the seat is raised the piston of the seat cylinder is raised and the piston of
the cistern cylinder down.
By depressing the seat the seat piston is forced down driving the liquid column up
in the pipe and raising the cistern piston so lifting the flushing valve and discharging
the contents of the cistern.
The ball cock is also opened to admit more water. As the ball works independently
of the pivotted, weighted or spring impelled lever connected to the cistern piston, it
shuts its cock directly the cistern is full even though the seat is still depressed.
When pressure is taken off the seat the pistons assume their normal positions.
My Invention could also be applied to urinals in which case a moveable tread would
take the place of the water closet seat.
The pistons must be well packed to prevent the escape of fluid.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Flushing Water Closets
and Urinals,
I WILLIAM BAIRD of 27 Lower Abbey Street Dublin in the county of Dublin
Hydraulic 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:-
My invention relates to that class of water closet wherein a movement of the seat
operates the flushing valve. Hitherto, so far as I am at present aware the flushing
valve has been actuated from the moving seat by a mechanical connection such as by
cranks, wires, rods or levers more or less liable to get out of order.
Instead of using a mechanical connection between the seat and the flushing valve
I employ fluid pressure to operate the latter as the seat is depressed whereby the
flushing valve is shut and the inlet valve is opened to fill the cistern.
On the depressed seat rising, the contents of the, cistern are discharged the flushing
valve being opened.
As the ball rises the valves are closed.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the figures and letters of
reference marked thereon I shew a vertical, sectional drawing of a closet constructed
according to my invention.
I arrange a cylinder A under a hinged seat B in which cylinder works a cup leather
or other properly packed piston D carrying a piston rod E projecting upwards and
bearing against the hinged seat of the closet so that the piston can be depressed when
a person sits on the seat.
A pipe F proceeds from the bottom of the cylinder A to the bottom of another or
similar cylinder G projecting through the flushing cistern. The pipe runs through
the frame of the closet to the cylinder G.
I connect the piston rod I of the piston J in this cylinder to a pivoted-weighted or
spring-impelled lever K one end L of which is pivoted or connected to a rod stem,
wire, chain or other connection as at M carrying the flushing valve N.
The said pivoted weighted or spring-impelled lever is connected to the ball cock
lever O by a link P or equivalent so as to open the ball cock and also to allow the
same to close as the ball rises and the cistern fills.
The pipe connecting the two cylinders A. G. is filled with oil, water, glycerine,
mercury or other suitable fluid and the weight of the liquid column in the pipe F just
keeps the closet seat raised slightly when not in use, or, the seat may be counter-
weighted for the purpose or kept up by a spring.
When the seat is not in use and therefore slightly raised by the piston D of the seat
cylinder A pressing against it, the piston of the cistern cylinder G is at the lower end
of its stroke. By depressing the seat, the seat piston D is forced down, driving the
liquid column up in the pipe F and raising the cistern piston thus closing the flushing
valve. The ball cock is at the same time opened so as to admit water to the
cistern.

page_text: As the ball lever O works independently of the pivoted weighted or spring-
impelled lever K connected to the piston rod I of the piston J in the cylinder G
it closes the ball-cock directly the cistern is full even though the seat is still de-
pressed. When pressure is taken off the seat, the flushing valve is opened, the
cistern discharged and the pistons assume their normal positions.
My invention could be also applied to urinals, in which case a moveable tread or
platform would take the place of the water closet seat.
The pistons must be well and carefully packed to prevent escape of fluid.
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 I
claim is
1. Actuating the inlet and flushing valves of water closets and urinals by fluid
pressure directly from a moving seat or tread substantially as described.
2. The combination of a moving seat capable of depressing a piston in a cylinder,
a pipe containing fluid forming a pressure column operated by said piston, a cylinder
in or near the cistern containing a piston operated in turn by such fluid pressure
column and a lever or device operated by such secondary piston and also connected
to a ball cock and flushing valve substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of October 1888.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings,
Agents for the Applicant.