IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AND REGU- LATING THE SUPPLY OF THE DEODORIZING MATERIAL IN EARTH CLOSETS
Year: 1870

page_text: the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AND REGU-
LATING THE SUPPLY OF THE DEODORIZING MATERIAL IN EARTH CLOSETS."-
A communication from abroad by William R. C. Clark, of Chicago,
Illinois, and James E. Aiken, of New Orleans, Louisiana, both in
the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 9th November 1870, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Southampton
Buildings, London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
:
:.L
2324
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF THE DEODORIZING
MATERIAL IN EARTH CLOSETS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant

page_text: unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has
been communicated to me from abroad by William R. C. Clark, of
Chicago, Illinois, and James E. Aiken, of New Orleans, Louisiana, both
in the United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming a
part of this Specification.
The object of my Invention is to effect the precipitation of a deodo-
rizing substance at the proper times and in the proper quantity on the
fecal matter or excreta which is deposited in the closet from the hopper
or recipient that contains the said substance, in order to absorb and
destroy the offensive odor thereof, and to convert said excreta into a
fertilizer that may be immediately used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents one form of the said Invention. The hopper
employed in connection with this part of my improvements I call a
rocking hopper, in consequence of its being supported on an axis in
such manner as to be susceptible of vibration to a limited degree by a
depression of the seat, the arrangement being such that whenever the
seat is occupied it will be a little depressed by the weight of the
occupant, and tilt the hopper slightly towards the front of the closet, 1
and then when the occupant rises it will resume its normal position, and
thus cause the hopper to go back to its original position also, the effect
of such vibration or rocking motion of the hopper being to facilitate the
descent of the dry earth or its equivalent down the hopper to its point
of delivery, which is from a horizontal rectangular box or chute that
communicates with the hopper at the foot of the inclined back of the
same.
A reference to the Drawing will at once explain the precise nature of
this form of my Invention and show its mode of operation. A repre-
sents the rocking hopper to contain the deodorizing agent, the same
being so constructed as to have its rear inclined towards the front of
the closet, as shewn at B, and to terminate several inches below thie

page_text: seat, and just under its rear edge where it connects with a horizontal
rectangular box chute c. This chute is open at its front end, but closed
a little back from the same by a revolving valve consisting of volute or
scroll wings D, D', projecting from an axis E. The Drawing shows only
two such wings projecting in opposite directions from the axis E, but
obviously if it should ever be desirable three, four, or more of these
wings may be used, the only requisite condition being so to place them
that they will close the chute and prevent the escape of the deodorizing
substance therefrom whenever the closet is not in use. The axis E is
supported in proper journals in the side of the chute, and extends outside
the right hand side of the same sufficiently to allow a double crank
bar F to be securely fastened on that end of it. This crank bar has a
recess or groove in it, as shewn at Figure 3, which is a detached view
of the same. In this groove is fitted a pin a in such manner as to
be movable therein from one end to the other. The pin a passes
through a pitman G, to which it is immovably secured, and extends
beyond the same far enough to enter a guideway H (see Figure 2), which
is permanently fixed to the framework of the closet in a horizontal
position and at right angles to the axis E. The distance between the
crank F and the guideway H need not be greater than is necessary to
permit the free working of the intermediate parts. These parts consist
of the pitman G and I which are connected together by a pivot or
articulating joint as shewn at b. The pitman G from the point
of its connection with the crank F by means of the pin E is placed
on a line parallel with the guideway H, and is supported by an
arm J projecting from and firmly secured to the said guideway at a
point just far enough from the rear end of the said pitman to prevent
the latter from ever passing off it in the operation of the mechanism.
The under side of the pitman G is. so shaped that in the rearward
movement of the said pitman it will press on the arm J sufficiently
to slightly elevate the front end of the said pitman at.. the very
moment the pin a reaches the notch c, and thus cause. the said pin
to enter the said notch, as shewn at Figure 2.. This occurs when the
pitman G attains the limit of its backward stroke. Reciprocating-
motion is imparted to the pitman G. in this way:-A bar K, shewn by
dotted lines at Figure 1, is permanently secured to the cover L of the
seat M of the closet in the plane of its surfaces, so as to project a little
behind the rear edge of the said cover, where at its end it is connected
to the pitman I by an articulated joint. The pin 6. at this joint extends.

page_text: :
An
like the pin a next to the guideway H far enough from the same to enter
therein, as shewn at Figure 2, and hence by holding the end of the
pitman G, which is connected with the pitman I, in a given horizontal
line co-operates with the arm J in elevating the other end of said
pitman G sufficiently to throw up the pin a through the notch c.
inspection of Figure 1 will shew that when the cover L is down on the
seat of the closet the pin a is at one end of the double crank F. Figure 2
shews the said pin to have just entered the guide H through notch c
when the said pin occupies that position in the end of the crank. Now
when these parts are thus placed the pitman G has made its full back-
ward stroke through the action of pitman I, and any movement of
the parts therefore must of necessity be in the opposite direction. A
movement is effected by simply raising the cover L, for this carries down
the rear extremity of the arm K, and by doing so draws forward the
pitman I, and through it the pitman G, also the pin a, meanwhile gliding
along the groove in crank F without moving this crank until the said
pin reaches the opposite end of the groove. The parts are so adjusted
that when this takes place the pin a will have reached the notch c in
the guideway H, through which it will fall by its gravity and carry with
it the front end of the crank F; this occurs when the cover L has been
carried up to the limit of its elevation, and occupies a position at right
angles to that occupied by it when down on the seat M. It will be per-
ceived that up to this time no movement of the valve or its wings D, D',
has taken place, and that therefore the chute C remains closed, buț
when the cover L is down on the seat in consequence of the changed
relations of the parts, the pin a being now a little below the axis E,
instead of in the same horizontal plane, a semi-rotation of the crank F
is brought about by the impingement of the pin a against the under side
of the groove in the crank until it reaches the axis of the same, and
then against the upper side of the said groove until it reaches the end
of the latter, and the parts have resumed the position shown in Figures 1
and 2. The semi-rotation of the crank F and axis E causes the valve
to make half a revolution, thereby carrying the wing D to the place
occupied by the wing D', and in doing so throws out the prescribed
quantity of dry earth or other deodorizing substance as the case may be, a
the same being taken up by wing D as it makes its semi-revolution, in
consequence of its scoop or scroll form, with unfailing certainty.
operation is repeated whenever the closet is used with the same effect.
In order to pack the earth in loose form in the chute C so as always
This

page_text: to have a sufficient supply therein for the efficient action of the scroll
wing valve, or more accurately to cover the excreta at each operation, I
slant the rear B of the hopper, as I have before mentioned as shown on
the Drawing; I also give to the hopper itself a slight vibratory or
rocking motion whenever the closet is used by supporting it in part on
an axis O, and providing for a slight depression of the seat M by the
weight of the user of the closet, as before described. To cause the pin a
to drop through the opening or notch c with absolute certainty I may
apply positive force to that end through the agency of the pawl P, the
same being so adjusted as to exert a downward pressure on the said pin
at the very moment such pressure is needed, but in practice such a
provision will probably never be necessary.
Another form or modification of my Invention is illustrated at
Figures 4 and 5, Figure 4 being a side view of an earth closet in which
this latter arrangement is incorporated, and Figure 5 a front view of the
same closet. Portions of the exterior walls are broken away in both
views in order to expose the mechanism employed in this arrangement.
A is the hopper to contain the deodorizing substance or powder; the
said hopper is so constructed as to be sustained on an axis B', and the
rear portion of the compartment C¹ while extending below the upper
edges of the same in an oblique direction forward, as shewn by the
dotted line a¹, sufficiently to provide a short horizontal section, as shewn
at 6, 6, by dotted lines. In front of the hopper A the seat of the closet
is secured at right angles thereto, and in the same horizontal line with
the upper edges of the compartment C³, as clearly shewn in Figure 4.
The seat is marked D²; below the seat D' stoppers or cleats E¹ are fixed
on the side of the compartment C' at a sufficient distance apart, say, two
or three inches, to permit the seat to go down so far whenever it
is occupied under the weight of the person who sits upon it; this
depression of the seat, and its instant elevation to its original position
when an occupant leaves it, rocks the hopper A on its axis B', and hence
causes the deodorizing substance to flow into the horizontal and reduced
section, which is shown by the dotted lines 62, 63, in Figure 4, to which
it is directed by the inclined rear a¹ of the hopper by its own gravity,
and from which it is delivered in prescribed quantity upon each deposit
of fecal matter within the closet by the winged valve F¹. This valve.
consists of two wings G¹, which are just wide and long enough to fill up
the horizontal delivery section b', 6, when occupying the position shewn

page_text: at Figure 5, the said wings projecting from an axis or shaft H', which is
provided with journals in the sides of the said horizontal section which
is rectangular in form, and it is made long enough to project through
the right hand side of the compartment C' sufficiently to receive a
crank I', as shown in both Figures 4 and 5. The crank I' is so placed
on the shaft H¹ as to hold the wings of the valve F¹ in a vertical position
and therefore close the delivery section 61, 62, at all times, except when
it is purposely turned out of that position.
The operation of this arrangement is as follows:-When the person
who is about to use the closet sits down on the seat D³ it is depressed by
his weight until it rests on the cleats E', and consequently throws the
hopper A forward by a rocking motion on the axis B¹; this causes the
dry earth to move forward if it has not already done so, and fill up the
delivery section 6', 62. As soon as the deposit has been made the
occupant of the closet scizes the crank I', and by turning it over in
either direction one revolution causes one of the wings G' to throw out
the prescribed quantity of the deodorizing agent, which falling on the
excreta accomplishes the desired object. When the occupant rises from
his seat the weight of the hopper carries it back to its normal position
with a sudden and quick motion, which being suddenly arrested causes a
downward flow of the dry earth, and a refilling of the horizontal
sections 61, 6³, and so on indefinitely.
The third modification of my Invention is shewn in the Drawing at
Figure 6, which presents a side view of the same in connection with an
earth closet, there being however no hopper shown thereon.
A¹ is à rectangular chute which may be united at its rear end with a
hopper of any proper form for securing the descent of the dry earth or
its equivalent into the said chute. On an axis B³ outside the chute A¹,
I secure a grooved crank arm C³, to which I connect by means of a pin
that enters into the groove in the said arm a pitman D³. The connection
is such that while the pin remains securely within the groove, it will
move easily from one end of it to the other. At the opposite end to
which it is connected to the crank arm C³, the pitman D³ connects by
means of a hinge or pivot joint with an arm E³, which projects from the
cover of the scat of the closet F" at the rear edge thereof, and in the
same line or plane with the said cover, and is securely fastened thereto
by any proper means. A little within the radius of the two opposing
sections of the-crank arm C³, by which I mean the two parts of it on

page_text: either side of its axis B², and a little behind a vertical line drawn
through the centre of the said axis I secure to the frame of the closet a
pendant pawl G. This pawl hangs between the crank arm C² and the
pitman D³, and subserves a very important function in the operation of
the device as follows:-When the cover F" of the seat is closed the
pitman D and the crank arm C² occupy the same or very nearly the
same line, the pin connecting the two being at the rear end of the slot
or groove in the said arm, and the pawl G hanging down loosely in
front of the pin. As the cover is raised the bar E² being behind the axis
of the vibration of the same is of course lowered. By this means the
pitman is pushed end wise toward the front end of the crank arm C² the
pin connecting the two gliding along the groove in the said arm without
turning the same on its axis B until the pin reaches the end of the
groove, meanwhile pushing the pawl forward at its lower end. The parts
are adjusted so that the moment the pin reaches the front end of the
groove in the crank arm the cover F attains its highest point of
elevation, and the pawl G³ drops its notched foot over the said pin.
When the cover is lowered the impingement of the pawl G² against the
pin keeps it at the front end of the groove, and hence compels the
crank arm to revolve. This rotates the axis B; inside the chute A' this
axis is provided with two or more wings, which whenever any two of them
are in line with each other occupy a transverse position in the chute,
completely closing the same and preventing the escape of the deodorizing
substance. These wings may be straight, as shown at H2 by dotted
lines, or they may be a scroll or of any other suitable form to fulfil
their allotted function, which is to throw out a given quantity of the
deodorizing agent, whenever the closet is used, by a partial revolution,
whenever the cover F is shut down on the seat. I give a rocking
motion to the closet by placing it on short legs 1, 2, and having a
projecting foot board R,.which whenever stepped upon causes the closet
to tilt forward, and to fall backward suddenly whenever the person
removes his weight therefrom.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. The combination of the cover L of the seat of an earth closet
with the pitman I and G, the groove crank F, the axis E, the scroll
winged valve D, D', and the guide H, as herein described for the purpose
set forth.

page_text: Second. The above parts in combination with a rocking hopper con-
structed substantially as herein described. for the purpose set forth.
Third. The winged valve F', in combination with a hand crank I', and
a hopper A, when the latter rests on an axis B'; as herein described for
the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The grooved crank arm C³, when secured on an axis B³,
provided with wings H³, and connected with a pitman D³, which is
pivotted to a bar E' attached to the cover F¹, in combination with a
pawl G and a delivery chute A', as described for the purpose set
forth.
Fifth. Giving the hoppers a vibratory or rocking motion by the means
and in the manner described for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)