AN IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-CLOSING VALVES SUITABLE FOR CLOSETS & SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Andrew Sweet at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 6th May 1882.
ANDREW SWEET of 102 Hampstead Road, in the parish of St. Pancras & County
of Middlesex, Ironmonger "AN IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-CLOSING VALVES SUITABLE
FOR CLOSETS & SIMILAR PURPOSES
,,
The object of my invention is to construct self-closing valves, suitable for closets
and other analogous purposes, which are not readily affected by grit or other small
particles of matter.
The form of valve is that known as a diaphragm valve, and consists of an elastic
diaphragm, the outer circumference of which is fixed as usual. At the centre of
this diaphragm is fixed a coned plate above and another coned plate below, the
cones being in contact with and at the centre of the elastic diaphragm.
Attached to the lower cone plate is an elastic washer, which rests upon the
valve seat, when closed, and the rising of which opens the valve and allows water
to pass, which continues to flow until the elastic washer again rests upon the
valve seat.
The upper cone, diaphragm, lower cone, and washer, are all connected and firmly
held together by means of a central metallic tube, which passes vertically through
them. The tube answers the double purpose of holding the parts together and
allowing water to pass from the under side of the valve to its upper side: by which
it becomes an automatically self-closing and waste preventing valve.
There is also a minute metallic tube or orifice fitted through the diaphragm,
which allows water to drain away from above the valve, gradually, when the valve
is closed, to relieve the pressure.
Above the valve and concentrically therewith I fix a small cylinder with a
"double cupped" piston, and a piston rod projecting below the piston, and also
passing upwards through a stuffing box in the cover of the cylinder. The piston
rod having a weight or spring to depress it. The lower end of this piston rod is
fitted with a small elastic washer, which, when at rest, closes the upper end of the
tube in the valve beneath it. The upper end of the piston rod is fitted with a
handle, or otherwise, for actuating the same.
The mode of operating the valve is as follows:-
When the piston rod is raised, a partial vacuum is caused below the piston, the

page_text: pressure of the water then raises the valve, and the water is thereby allowed to
How. The piston rod being afterwards allowed to descend, the valve then closes,
and the piston descends until the washer at its lower end rests upon the central
tube of the valve. The surplus water above the valve, which would otherwise tend
to burst the diaphragm, can then gradually drain away through the small orifice in
the diaphragm, when the valve is at rest.
The water above the piston escapes through an orifice to which a tube is fitted
as a relief pipe at the top of the cylinder, when the piston is raised.
This valve is capable of being regulated so as to allow of a two gallon (more or
less) flow of water for the shortest period of the elevation of the pistou rod.
All that is necessary to create this minimum or after-flush is to fit a small valve
in connection with the relief pipe, 'which valve opens when the handle is raised,
and closes on the contrary motion taking place, leaving only a small hole which
determines the extent of the after-flush.
I prefer to construct closet pans, in connection with my said invention, having
the water-flush at the back, and the exit in front.