IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH WATERCLOSETS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Gray, of Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian,
North Britain, Plumber, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED
WITH WATERCLOSETS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adam Gray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January 1880.
ADAM GRAY, of Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain,
Plumber. IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH WATER CLOSETS."
"
The said Invention relates to improvements in or connected with water closets,
and has for its objects to provide a closet gas tight and without lodgment for soil,
and also one in which thorough flushing at each use of the closet is ensured.
In a closet constructed according to the said Invention the trunk of the closet is
straight or inclined downwards and inwards, and descends without impediment
into a bend or trap. Between this trap and a clack valve, which closes gas tight,
the bottom of the pan or basin opens an overflow pipe from the said basin, the said
overflow pipe being also provided with a trap. Communicating with a valve
casing are pipes, one being a supply pipe from the cistern or other place of water
supply, and the other pipe leading into the pan or basin. This valve case is
provided with a valve, in general construction similar to that known as the
"Kirkwood valve," but which is operated upon by the pull handle through a
weighted lever, so as to open the valve after the clack valve at the bottom of the
pan has been opened, and allow water to flow to the pan and down the trunk to
the trap. When the handle is released it closes the clack valve at the bottom of
the pan, but the valve in the valve casing falls gradually thereafter, and does not
completely shut until a given quantity of water has flown into the pan, the rate
of fall being regulated by adjusting the weight on the valve lever. An overflow pipe
may be provided, communicating from the upper side of the valve to the overflow
pipe from the pan or basin. A tap is or may be provided upon a pipe, which being
opened admits water under the valve, so that the greater or less pressure of the
said water closes the valve more or less quickly.
In a closet constructed according to my Invention the thorough flushing of the
pan, trunk, trap, soil-pipe, and drain can be effected after each use of the closet by
reason of the considerable quantity of water contained in the pan falling at once
and direct down the trunk and into the trap. It does not require a great pressure
of water owing to the valve not closing until the pan fills to an extent to ensure a
proper flushing on the next use of the closet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Adam Gray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st July
1880.
ADAM GRAY, of Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain,
Plumber. IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH WATER CLOSETS."
"
My said Invention relates to improvements in or connected with water closets,
and has for its objects to provide a closet gas-tight and without lodgment for soil,
and also one in which a thorough flushing at each use of the closet is ensured.
In Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents in side elevation, and
Figure 2 in vertical section, apparatus constructed or arranged according to my
Invention for giving the above mentioned advantages.
The trunk a of the closet is straight or inclined downwards and inwards, as
shewn in the Drawings, or downwards and outwards, so that the top orifice of the
said trunk is larger than the outlet from the basin of the closet, so as to descend
without impediment or lodgment for soil into the bend or trap b. A clack valve c
closes gas and water tightly the bottom of the basin, the said valve turning upon a
centre at c³, and being opened by a pull handle d operating a lever d², which when
the handle d is raised acts upon the lever c³ and opens the said valve c. An
overflow pipe e opens from the basin ƒ at the level at which the water is to be
maintained in the said basin, the said overflow pipe opening at its other end into
the trunk a between the valve c and the trap b. The said overflow pipe e is
provided with a bend or trap, as shewn, and in order to prevent any gas which
may pass through the water in this trap from escaping into the basin fa ball valve
of india rubber or the like material may be used, as at e², or a disc or cap valve
of vulcanite, india rubber, or like material may be used, as at e³, the said valves
opening downwards so as not to impede the downward passage of the overflow
water, but so that they will prevent the escape of gas upwards.
Communicating with a valve casing g are two pipes, the one g² being a supply
pipe from the cistern or other place of water supply, and the other pipe g³ leading
into the upper part of the basin f. The casing g is provided with a valve some-
what similar in general construction to that known as the "Kirkwood valve," but
which is modified or arranged as hereinafter described. The said valve is operated
upon when the pull handle d is raised by a lever or projection from the lever d², as
at d³, coming into contact with the lever h centred at h², so as to depress the
spindle of the valve and open it (after the valve c has been opened) so as to allow
water to flow therethrough to the basin and down the trunk a and trap b to the
drains. When the handle dis released the clack valve c is closed by the descent of
the lever, but the valve of the valve casing g falls gradually thereafter, as herein-
after described, and does not shut until a given quantity of water has flown into the
basin.
Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawings represents in vertical section the said
valve of the casing g. The orifice of the inlet pipe g² and the orifice of the outlet
pipe to the basin fare both covered by a flexible diaphragm j, above which is a
chamber k, having above it another chamber 1, the communication between the
two chambers being closed by a valve i, on the end of the spindle i. There is a
passage m between the inlet pipe g2 and the chamber k, the degree of opening
through the said passage being regulated by a cock, as at m². There is also a
passage at n between the chamber and the outlet pipe g³. When the spindle i is
in its highest position, so that it closes the communication between the chambers k
and I, the water from the inlet pipe g2 passes by the passage m into the chamber k,
and as the area of the diaphragm j, upon which its pressure acts, is greater than
the area of the portion of the underside of the said diaphragm which covers the
orifice of the inlet pipe g², upon which the water in the said inlet pipe presses, the

page_text: pressure above the diaphragm ; overcomes the pressure beneath, and the diaphragm j
closes the communication between the inlet and outlet pipes g³, g³. When the
spindle i is depressed on operating the pull handle d, the valve is opens the com-
munication between the chambers k and l, and the pressure of the water in the
inlet pipe g will now raise the diaphragm j, the water in the chamber k passing
into the chamber l, and thence into the outlet pipe g³ by the pipe n. When the
pull handle is released and the spindle irises the communication between the
chambers k and is again closed, but water continues to pass into the basin of the
closet until sufficient inlet water has passed by the passage m to the chamber k to
cause by its pressure the depression of the diaphragm j, and the closing of the
communication between the inlet and outlet pipes 9 and g³. The length of
time which will elapse before the diaphragm jis so depressed, and consequently
the quantity of water supplied to the basin, will be regulated by the cock m³ being
moved so as to completely open or partially obstruct the passage m.
In Figure 4 I have represented in vertical section a valve of a modified form.
The spindle i, when in its raised position, closes the communication n between the
chamberk and the outlet pipe g³, and water passes from the inlet pipe g² through
the communication m to the chamber k, and presses upon the diaphragm j so as to
close it, as described with regard to Figure 3, the said communication being pro-
vided with a screw m³, by which the passage therethrough may be regulated.
When the spindle i is depressed; as the opening through the passage n is of larger
capacity than that through the passage m, the pressure of water in the inlet forces
up the diaphragm j, the water passing from the inlet pipe g² to the outlet pipe g³,
and thence to the basin of the closet. When the spindle i rises the water from the
inlet pipe passes by the communication m to above the diaphragm j, and eventually
closes it.
When
In Figure 5 I have shewn in vertical section another form of this valve, in which
the diaphragm is operated by the spindle i for opening the valve. When the
said spindle is in its raised position the water from the inlet pipe g* passes by the
passage m to beneath the said diaphragm, and presses it against the orifices of the
inlet pipe g and outlet pipe g³, as shewn. When the rod i is depressed the diaphragm j
is forced down, and to admit of the water passing from the chamber k the spindle i
passes through a collar or tube affixed to the diaphragm j, and between it and
the said collar a passage n is left. Upon the end of the spindle i is a valve i²,
which, when the said spindle is in its raised position, closes this passage n.
the said spindle is depressed it passes through this collar, its valve opening
the passage n, so that water from the chamber k passes therethrough. When
the shoulder of the spindle comes against the collar the diaphragm is depressed,
and communication between the inlet pipe 9 and outlet pipe 9 established,
and water flows therethrough to the basin of the closet. When the spindle i is
released the valve closes the passage n, and the water from the inlet pipe g²
passing through the passage m to the chamber & eventually causes such pressure
upon the underside of the diaphragm ; as to close the said diaphragm and stop the
supply of water to the closet.
In Figure 3 I have shewn a plate of metal ³, which may be fixed above the
diaphragm j, the said plate being of larger dimensions than the orifice of the pipe g³,
80 that when great pressure exists in the inlet the said plate 3 will support the
diaphragm and prevent it from being cut by being pressed against the edges of the
said orifice.
In order that the water may not continue to flow through the valve Figure 3,
so long as the full handle d is held in its fully raised position, a second valve,
shewn at i, Figure 3, may be fixed upon the spindle i in such position that it
closes the passage between the chambers k and when the spindle i is fully
depressed.
In Figure 6 I have represented in vertical section a valve which may be used in
the cistern from which the water supply is drawn in place of the valve casing g.
The outlet pipe g³ communicates at one end with the said valve in the cistern, and

page_text: at the other end with the upper part of the basin of the closet.
Upon the upper
part of the said pipe g³ is fixed a chamber having above it a second chamber 7.
The spindle has upon it a piston sliding water-tight in the said chamber Z.
The spindle i is connected to a lever so that through any suitable connection of
levers and wires or rods the said spindle i is raised when the pull handle d of the
closet is raised. A valve 2 when the parts are in their normal position closes
communication between the chambers k and l. The bottom of the chamber k is
formed of the diaphragm j. The water in the cistern presses against the annular
part of the diaphragm beyond the orifice of the pipe g³. There is an opening at
When the
n for the escape of water from the chamber as hereinafter described.
spindle i is in its normal position the water from the cistern enters by the orifice m
to the chamber k, and as the area of the upper part of the diaphragm j upon which
the said water in the said chamber k presses is greater than the area of the annular
part of the underside of the diaphragm ; upon which the water in the cistern
presses, the said diaphragm ; is pressed to its seat upon the orifice of the pipe g³
and no water passes to the closet. On raising the pull handle d of the closet the
spindle irises, and consequently its piston is drawn up in the chamber l.
The pressure of the water in the cistern upon the underside of the diaphragm ; at
the aforesaid annular part causes the said diaphragm to rise from its seat, and
water passes from the cistern to the pipe g³ and thence to the basin of the closet,
the valve rising (by the vacuum created above it as the piston rises), and the
water from the chamber k passes into the chamber and the valve will then fall.
Water will continue to flow to the basin of the closet until the water which passes
by the passage m to the chamber k exerts sufficient pressure to overcome that upon
the underside of the diaphragm j, when the said diaphragm will be forced down to
its seat and will close the orifice of the pipe g³, and the supply of water to the
basin of the closet will be discontinued. It will be seen that by regulating the
area of the passage m the water may be caused to pass for a longer or shorter time
to the basin of the closet. The descent of the spindle i when the pull handle d is
released is facilitated by the weight p, and the water passes from the chamber / by
the passage n.
25
A pipe q, Figure 1, may open at one end from the plate q³ (see also Figure 3)
and at the other into the overflow pipe e, so that any water which may escape from
the stuffing box of the valve casing g may flow thereby into the overflow pipe, the
said plate q2 being provided with a bead forming a cup around the opening of the
said pipe q and the stuffing box to conduct such water into the said pipe q.
In a closet constructed according to my Invention the thorough flushing of the
pan, trunk, trap, soil pipe, and drain can be effected after each use of the closet by
reason of the considerable quantity of water contained in the pan falling at once,
and direct down the trunk, and into and from the trap. Moreover a great pressure
of water is not required owing to the valve not closing until the pan fills to an
extent to ensure a proper flushing on the next use of the closet.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner, in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention, but 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 general arrangement and combination of parts of water closet
apparatus, essentially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The combination and use in water closets of the straight or inclined
trunk a with the gas tight overflow pipe e, essentially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The combination with, and use in, water closets of the straight or inclined

page_text: trunk a for preventing lodgment of soil and securing a thorough flushing on each
use of the closet, as herein before described.
Fourth. The combination with, and use in, water closets constructed or arranged
essentially as hereinbefore described of either of the regulating valves shewn in
Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The combination of parts constituting the valve for supplying water
to water closets shewn in and described with reference to Figure 3 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The combination of parts constituting the valve for supplying water to
water closets shewn in and described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventh. The combination of parts constituting the valve for supplying water to
water closets shewn in and described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Gray, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.