IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING HUMAN EXCRETA AND FOR 19 PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION FOR DISTRIBUTING DEODORIZING OR DISINFECTING POWDER OVER THE SAME
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lewis Felix Target, of Portsdown Road, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING HUMAN EXCRETA AND FOR
19
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lewis Felix Target
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th December 1872.
I, JOHN LEWIS FELIX TARGET, of Portsdown Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING HUMAN EXCRETA
AND FOR DISTRIBUTING DEODORIZING OR DISINFECTING POWDER OVER THE SAME,"
to be as follows:
The object of the first part of this Invention is to collect in tubs or
moveable receptacles urine and foeces separately, by which means the
same are not only more easily deodorized, but are also in a more suitable

page_text: state for industrial and manure manufacturing purposes. This I attain
by using double containers or receivers, that is to say, two containers of
different dimensions, one placed within the other, but eccentric to each
other, the smaller one being hung on to the rim of the larger one by a
broad iron hoop or by hooks or other devices, which may also be used as
a handle.
In placing this double container, which I term the eccentric divisor
container, under an ordinary privy seat the point of contact of the two
containers must always be placed at the back of the latrine, so that the
vacant space left by the difference of diameter of the two containers will
be in front directly under the urine guard fixed on to the seat. Urine
and foeces being voided separately can by this very simple method be
collected apart.
The eccentric containers can be either of a circular, oval, or any other
shape, and of any suitable size and depth. Bothcontainers may be con-
structed of galvanized or enamelled iron or any other suitable metal or
substance, but I prefer having the larger one in wood and the smaller
one in iron. I use these containers with or without any kind of
absorbants or deodorizing matter, but when absorbants are used they are
thrown loosely into the bottom of each container, and the intervening
space between them is also filled up loosely with absorbant matter so as
to absorb the urine which falls from the urine guard. The absorbants
should not be rammed in, as this prevents their readily absorbing the
liquid. Disinfectants of any kind can be mixed with the absorbants,
and dry earth or disinfecting powder may be spread over the solid excre-
ment that falls, and is collected separately in the small container by
the means or apparatus herein-after described.
The advantages my system of collecting possesses over the common
tub, the Goux closet (patented by Pierre Nicolas Goux on the 20 February
1868, No. 566), and other containers are,—
1st. That the foeces are kept separate from the urine, by which means
the latter being collected pure is in a more fit state to be used for indus-
trial purposes or for extracting its ammonia.
2nd. That when absorbants are not to be readily procured this
eccentric divisor container is much more sanitary in its effect than the
open tub, where foeces and urine fall mixed together.
•

page_text: 3rd. That when absorbants can be used they need not be rammed in
as in the Goux system, so as to be able to stand up as absorbant walls
after the mould is withdrawn, but can be thrown in lightly, and very
dry and pulverulent absorbants can by my method be used without fear
of the absorbant walls falling in as with the Goux system.
4th. That by keeping the urine and foeces apart in two separate
containers (but which are introduced and removed as one) a very small
quantity of disinfecting powder is required for spreading over the solid
matters, the urine being absorbed in a separate vessel.
The second part of my Invention relates to the means or apparatus
for sprinkling or spreading deodorizing or other powders over the foeces
in the containers or receivers. For this purpose I use a loose privy seat
swung on centres at the sides, and so placed that the centre of gravity
of a person sitting down on the seat shall be between these bearing
points and the front part of the seat. A box or hopper containing
disinfecting powder occupies a position behind the seat, and is fitted
with several inclined panels inside to impede and regulate the fall of the
powder, and with a small square aperture at the bottom for the purpose
of allowing play to what I term a lifter, which is bolted on to the back
part of the seat. This lifter, which is curved or of hook form in section,
say 6 inches in breadth, and narrower than the said aperture at the
bottom of the hopper, which is about 7 inches, so as allow easy play.
Over the whole of the aperture I place a piece of sheet india-rubber or
other suitable material, which is fixed on three sides of the aperture, but
not on the fourth side or back. Below the hopper and at the back of
the seat is a powder box so hung on centres that when at rest the box
is overbalanced and falls back by itself resting on the framework of the
closet. There are two blocks screwed on to the back part and under
side of the seat so as to bear on to the edge and front of the powder box.
There are two supports fixed to the closet frame in order to receive the
centres on which the powder box turns.
is
The action is as follows:-On the seat being occupied the weight of
the person causes the front part to be depressed about an inch, and the
back part and lifter are thereby raised about 1½ inches, by which action
the liftor stretches the piece of sheet rubber, and thus opens the aperture
at the bottom of the hopper just sufficient to allow a certain quantity of
the powder (which has been displaced or dislodged by the upward

page_text: pressure and motion of the lifter) to fall through the space into the
powder box below, which has fallen back in order to remove the charge.
On the occupier rising from the seat the extra weight of the back part
of the seat causes this back part to fall, and the two blocks before named
to bear on the edge of the powder box, tilting the same forwards, the
charge of powder contained therein being thereby precipitated upon the
solid excrement in the small container. At the same time the lifter
falls, thereby partly closing the aperture leading to the powder box, and
freeing the sheet of rubber, which then completely closes the aperture..
I do not confine myself to the use of any particular disinfecting
powder, but I prefer a powder composed of one part of soot, combined
with two or three parts of either sawdust, dried fustic wood from the
dye works, dry powdered peat, or any other light, dry, pulverulent
absorbant thoroughly mixed and incorporated with the soot whose disin-
fecting power is very great.
The advantages of this automatic contrivance are-1st, its extreme
simplicity and direct action; and 2dly, the absence of cranks, levers,
and weights, and costly iron work.
Although I adopt the above described automatic seat for all people in
the habit of sitting on privies, I prefer making for those who are in the
habit of squatting as the natives in India a special form of apparatus.
This consists of a draw or box about 3 feet long, 2 feet 2 inches broad,
and 8 inches deep, having the inside lined with large inclines of slate or
analogous material, and provided with a grating or grid to which are
fixed two foot rests so placed that a person can only take up his position:
on these foot rests, the slate inclines preventing any possible loss of urine
wherever it be voided, and conducting the same through the aperture
at the middle into the container below. This drawer or box occupies by
preference the whole area of the latrine, which in this case is constructed
much smaller and to the size of the drawer. The drawer is on a level 3
with the ground, and can be drawn, out or otherwise removed by the
door at the front for the purpose of taking away the container which is
placed in a hole in the ground.
In order with this apparatus to sprinkle powder over the foeces in the
container I fill the spaces between the inclined slates and the bottom of
the drawer with powder, leaving narrow openings adjoining the bottom
edges of the slates. The drawer being swung on centres in a similar

page_text: manner to the privy seat herein-before described it moves down when
a person gets upon the foot rests and up again when he leaves, each
of these movements giving a sort of jerk to the drawer, and thereby
causing a sufficient quantity of the powder to pass through the narrow
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Lewis Felix Target in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LEWIS FELIX TARGET, of Portsdown Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Lewis Felix Target, Her special
licence that I, the said John Lewis Felix Target, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Lewis Felix Target,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS
OR APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING HUMAN EXCRETA AND FOR DISTRIBUTING DEODORIZING
OR DISINFECTING POWDER OVER THE SAME,' upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Lewis Felix Target, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one. of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Lewis Felix Target, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say:-
.The object of the first part of this Invention is to collect in tubs or
movable receptacles, urine and fœces separately, by which means the
same are not only more easily deodorized, but are also in a more suitable
state for industrial and manure manufacturing purposes. This I attain
by using double containers or receivers, that is to say, two containers of
different dimensions, one placed within the other, but excentric to each
other, the smaller one being hung on to the rim of the larger one by
a broad iron hoop, or by hooks or other devices, which may also serve 1
as a handle. In placing this double container, which I term the
excentric divisor container, under a privy seat, the point of contact
of the two containers must always be placed at the back of the latrine,
so that the vacant space left by the difference of diameter of the two
containers will be in front, directly under the urine guard fixed on to 1
the seat. Urine and fœces being voided separately can by this very
simple method be collected apart.
My eccentric divisor container is seen in vertical section in Figure 1
of the annexed Drawings, and in plan (in dotted lines) in Figure 2.
A is the larger, and B the smaller container hung on to the larger by ?
hooks C, O. The point of contact of the two containers is at the back
of the latrine, as shewn, so that the fœces drop into the smaller, while
the urine after coming against the guard D falls into the larger. The
eccentric containers can be either of a circular, oval, or any other shape,
and of any suitable size and depth. Both containers may be constructed 2
of galvanized or enamelled iron, or any other suitable metal or substance,
but I prefer having the larger one in wood and the smaller one in iron.
I use these containers with or without any kind of absorbents or
deodorizing matter, but when absorbents are used they are thrown
loosely into the bottom of each container, and the intervening space 3
between them is also filled up loosely with absorbent matter, so as to
absorb the urine which falls from the urine guard. The absorbents
should not be rammed in, as this prevents their readily absorbing the
liquid. Disinfectants of any description can be mixed with the
absorbents, and dry earth or disinfecting powder may be spread over the 8
solid excrement that falls separately in the small container by the means
or apparatus herein-after described, or otherwise.

page_text: tub, the Goux closet (patented by Pierre Nicolas Goux, on the 20
February 1868, No. 566) and other containers are,—
1st. That the fœces are kept entirely separate from the urine, by
which means the latter being collected pure is in a more fit state to be
used for industrial purposes or for extracting its ammonia.
2nd. That when absorbents are not to be readily procured, this
excentric divisor container is much more sanitary in its effect than the
open tub where fœces and urine fall mixed together.
3rd. That where absorbents can be used they need not be rammed
in as in the Goux system so as to be able to stand up as absorbent walls
after the mould is withdrawn, but can be thrown in lightly and very
dry, and pulverulent absorbents can by my method be used without fear
of the absorbent walls falling in as with the Goux system.
4th. That by keeping the urine and foeces apart in two separate
containers (but which are introduced and removed as one) a very small
quantity of disinfecting powder is required for spreading over the solid
matters, the urine being absorbed in a separate vessel.
The second part of my Invention relates to the means or apparatus for
sprinkling or spreading deodorizing or other powders over the fœces in
the containers or receivers. For this purpose, I use a loose privy seat
swung on centres at the sides, and so placed that the centre of gravity
of a person sitting down on the seat shall be between these bearing
points and the front part of the seat. A box or hopper containing
disinfecting powder occupies a position behind the seat, and is fitted
with several inclined panels inside to impede and regulate the fall of the
powder, and with a small square aperture at the bottom for the purpose
of allowing play to what I term a lifter, which is bolted on to the back
part of the seat. This lifter which is of curved or hooked form in
section is, say 6 inches in breadth, and narrower than the said aperture
at the bottom of the hopper, which is about 7 inches, so as to allow easy
play. Over the whole of the aperture I place a piece of sheet india-
rubber or other suitable material, which is fixed on three sides of the
aperture, but not on the fourth side or back. Below the hopper and
at the back of the seat is a powder box, so hung on centres that when
at rest the box is overbalanced, and falls back by itself, resting on the
framework of the closet. There are two blocks screwed on to the back
part and under side of the seat, so as to bear on to the edge and front of

page_text: the powder box. There are two supports fixed to the closet frame, in
order to receive the centres on which the powder box turns.
This part of my Invention will be understood on reference to Figures 1,
2, and 3, Figure 1 being a vertical section of a closet or privy; Figure 2,
a plan with the hopper removed; and Figure 3, a plan of the hopper.
E is the privy scat hung on centres F, F, at the sides so that the centre
of gravity of a person shall be between these points F' and the front part
of the scat; G is a box or hopper for containing disinfecting powder;
this box may be made removable. At the bottom of the hopper is a
lifter H bolted to the back part of the seat E, and smaller than the
opening I in the bottom of the hopper, so that it may play easily
therein; K is a piece of india-rubber closing the whole of the opening I,
the rubber being fixed at three sides of the opening, but not at the
fourth side or back; L is a powder box so hung on centres M. in
supports N that when.at rest it is overbalanced and falls back so as to 1
rest on the frame O, as shewn. This frame O may be about 6 inches in
depth, and can be adapted to any ordinary closet; P, P, are two blocks
screwed under the back part of the seat E, so as to bear upon the edge
and front of the box L.
Such being the construction of the parts the action is as follows :---
2
On the seat E being occupied the weight of the person causes the front
part to be depressed about an inch into the position shewn in full lines,
and the back part and lifter H are thereby raised about 1 inches, by
which action the lifter stretches the rubber K, and thus opens the
aperture I at the bottom of the hopper G just sufficient to allow a 2
certain quantity of the powder (which has been displaced or dislodged by
the upward pressure and motion of the lifter) to fall through into the
powder box L below, which has fallen back to the position shewn in full
lines in order to receive the charge.
On the occupier rising from the seat the extra weight of the back part 3
of the seat causes this back part to fall into the position shewn in dotted
lines, and the two blocks P to bear on the edge of the powder box L,
tilting the same forwards into the position shewn in dotted lines, the
charge of powder contained therein being thereby precipitated upon the
solid excrement in the small container B. At the same time the lifter H
falls, thereby partly closing the aperture I leading to the powder
box and freeing the sheet of rubber K, which then completely closes the
aperture.

page_text: Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, but shewing this part of my
Invention applied to a divisor system suitable for cases where it is
deemed desirable to collect the urine of several adjoining houses in one
urine cistern. It will be seen that the urine passes down the pipe Q,
and enters a horizontal pipe R from several houses to one common
cistern.
I do not confine myself to the use in my closets of any particular
disinfecting powder, but I prefer a powder composed of one part of soot
combined with 2 or 3 parts of either sawdust, dried fustic wood from
the dye works, dry powdered peat, or any other light dry pulverulent
absorbent thoroughly mixed and incorporated with the soot whose
disinfecting power is very great.
As advantages of my automatic contrivance for distributing the
powder I may mention, 1st, its extreme simplicity and direct action;
and, 2dly, the absence of cranks, levers, and weights and costly iron-
work.
Although I adopt the above-described automatic seat for all people in
the habit of sitting on privies I prefer making for those who are in the
habit of squatting, as the natives in India, a special form of apparatus
represented in Figures 5, 6, and 7; Figure 5 being a plan; Figure 6, a
longitudinal section; and Figure 7, a transverse section. This apparatus
consists of a drawer or box A, about 3 feet long, 2 feet broad, and
9 inches deep, having the inside lined with large inclines B of slate or
analogous material, and provided with a grating or grid C, to which are
fixed two foot rests D, so placed that a person can only take
up his
position on these foot rests, the slate inclines preventing any possible
loss of urine wherever it be voided, and conducting the same through
the aperture E at the middle into the container below. This drawer or
box A occupies by preference the whole area of the latrine, which in
this case is constructed much smaller and to the size of the drawer;
the drawer is on a level with the ground, and can be drawn out or
otherwise removed by the door F at the front. The container, which is
placed below, can be removed by another door G.
In order with this apparatus to sprinkle powder over the fœces in the
container I fill the spaces H between the side and back inclined slates B
and flaps I at the bottom of the drawer with powder leaving narrow
openings at J adjoining the bottom edges of the slates. The drawer

page_text: being swung on centres at K, K, in a similar manner to the privy seat
herein-before described, it moves down at the front when a person gets
upon the foot rests D, and up again when he leaves, each of these move-
ments giving a sort of jerk to the drawer, and. thereby causing a suffi-
cient quantity of the powder to pass through the narrow openings J, and
to fall into the container. The spaces H can be refilled with powder by
withdrawing the drawer A, turning it over, and lifting the flaps I; the
flaps should be provided with suitable fastenings.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
1. The double container or excentric devisor container, herein-before
described and represented in Figures 1 and 2, for collecting urine and
fœces separately.
2. The arrangement or combination of parts, herein-before described
and represented in Figures 1 to 4, for spreading or distributing powder
over the fœces in closets and privies.
3. The tilting powder box so arranged with respect to a tilting closet
or privy seat that the powder in the box is automatically thrown out
into the container, substantially as herein-before described and repre-
sented in Figures 1 to 4.
4. The lifter H and sheet K, Figures 1 to 4, arranged and acting sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
5. Constructing apparatus, substantially as herein-before described
with reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lewis Felix Target, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of June One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
TT T TARGET (7.0)