Improvements in Water Closets.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 9th May, 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
Improvements in Water Closets.
I, OSCAR ELPHICK, of Lambeth Sanitary Engineering Works, Albert
Embankment, in the County of Surrey, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In water closets in which the pan is emptied by syphoning it is important that
the syphonic action should not be set up by emptying slops as otherwise the pan
might be left empty.
I prevent this in the following manner:-The top of the syphon has connected
to it a pipe which dips down into a chamber in communication with the outer air.
A branch from the pipe supplying water to the basin also dips down into this
chamber, whilst a third pipe leading to the side of the trap stands up from the
bottom of the chamber to a height greater than that of the lower end of the branch
froin the water pipe but less than that of the lower end of the pipe from the
syphon. The size also of the third pipe is less than that of the branch pipe.
When slops are poured into the pan they cannot set up syphonic action because
the top of the syphon is in free communication through the chamber with the outer
air thus forming a perfect ventilation of the closet trap at the highest or any other
necessary point but when water is admitted to the pan by the water pipe part of
the water flows by the branch pipe into the chamber and since the size of the pipe
leading from the chamber to the drain is less than that of the branch from the
water pipe the level of the water in the chamber rises and the bottom of the
pipe from the syphon is sealed whereupon syphonic action can be set up. In order
to prevent any danger of the chamber being emptied by the syphon a floating ball
valve may be provided in it at the lower end of the pipe from the syphon.
I construct a pedestal valve closet in the following manner :-The basin is made
with a flange and spigot, this spigot forms a seat for the valve which is attached to
the flange by a hinge, this hinge is fixed at a right angle to the outlet of the trap.
The trap is made with a recess at the side to allow the discharge valve to
fall back when open. The upper end of trap is made with a flange of the same
diameter as the one on the basin. The trap is so formed that when the trap and
pan are bolted together the discharge valve is below the water line of trap.
Through the side of the trap in which the above mentioned recess is made a
vertical slot is cut and on the same and outside the trap an oblong box is fixed.
Inside of the box and parallel with the outlet of the trap are two bushes in
which a spindle works freely. One end of the spindle projects through the side
of the box at the outlet end of trap and is made watertight by a packing gland.
An arm is fixed to the spindle inside the box and passes through the slot, the
other end of arm being connected to the valve plate by a loop. The valve is then
opened or closed by the partial rotation of spindle which motion is obtained by an
arm fixed on outer end of spindle and worked by a rod from the closet seat, or
other means may be employed. The valve may be kept closed by either a weight
fixed on the last mentioned arm or by a spring.
The closet may also be arranged for outlet of trap to discharge at either side
nstead of at back.
Dated this 8th day of A noust 1894

page_text: Improvements in Water Closets.
I, OSCAR ELPHICK, of Lambeth Sanitary Engineering Works, Albert
Embankment, in the County of Surrey, Sanitary 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 :-
In water closets in which the pan is emptied by syphoning it is important that
the syphonic action should not be set up by emptying slops as otherwise the pan
might be left empty.
prevent this in the following manner :-The top of the syphon has connected
to it a pipe which dips down into a chamber in communication with the outer air.
A branch from the pipe supplying water to the basin also dips down into this
chamber, whilst a third pipe leading to the side of the trap stands up from the
bottom of the chamber to a height greater than that of the lower end of the
branch from the water pipe but less than that of the lower end of the pipe
from the syphon. The size also of the third pipe is less than that of the branch
pipe. Or the supply pipe may be carried through the chamber and the third pipe
be replaced by a hole in it of corresponding size and height. When slops are
poured into the pan they cannot set up syphonic action because the top of the
syphon is in free communication through the chamber with the outer air thus
forming a perfect ventilation of the closet trap at the highest or any other necessary
point but when water is admitted to the pan by the water pipe part of the water
flows by the branch pipe into the chamber and since the size of the pipe leading
from the chamber to the drain is less than that of the branch from the water pipe
the level of the water in the chamber rises and the bottom of the pipe from the
syphon is sealed whereupon syphonic action can be set up. In order to prevent
any danger of the chamber being emptied by the syphon a floating ball valve may
be provided in it at the lower end of the pipe from the syphon.
Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a closet pan fitted in this
way and Figure 2 Sheet 1 is a vertical transverse section of the chamber to a
larger scale.
A is a pipe leading from the top of the syphon K and whose upper end is turned
downwards and dips into the chamber B. Cis the pipe supplying water from the
flushing cistern to the pan. D is a branch from the pipe C terminating near the
bottom of the chamber B. E is a hole in the pipe C at a level intermediate to
those of the bottoms of the pipes A. and D. F is a pipe leading to the open air
and G is a hole into it from the top of the chamber B. H is a pipe connecting the
pipe A with the top of the flushing tank so that the flow of water from the latter
exhausts the air from the pipe A and syphon K and so starts the syphonic action
from the pan I.
I construct a pedestal valve closet in the following manner :-The basin is
made with a flange and spigot, this spigot forms a seat for the valve which is
attached to the flange by a hinge, this hinge is fixed at a right angle to the outlet
of the trap. The trap is made with a recess at the side to allow the discharge
valve to fall back when open. The upper end of the trap is made with a flange of
the same diameter as the one on the basin. The trap is so formed that when the
trap and pan are bolted together the discharge valve is below the water line of the
trap.
Through the side of the trap in which the above mentioned recess is made a
vertical slot is cut and on the same and outside the trap an oblong box is fixed.
Inside the box and parallel with the outlet of the trap are two bushes in

page_text: which a spindle works freely. One end of the spindle projects through the side
of the box at the outlet end of the trap and is made watertight by a packing
gland.
An arm is fixed to the spindle inside the box and passes through the slot, the
other end of the arm bears against the valve plate and may be connected to it by
a loop. The valve is then opened or closed by the partial rotation of the spindle
which motion is obtained by an arm fixed on the outer end of the spindle and
worked by a rod from the closet seat or other means may be employed. The valve
may be kept closed by either a weight fixed on the last mentioned arm or by
spring.
a
The closet may also be arranged for the outlet of the trap to discharge at either
side instead of at the back.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a vertical transverse section, Figure 2, Sheet 2, a side
elevation, and Figure 3, Sheet 2, a vertical longitudinal section of a closet
constructed in this manner.
A is a cord which is pulled upwards by the act of discharging the flushing tank.
The cord A is connected to a lever B on which a weight C is fixed. The lever B
rotates on the axle D and is fixed to the toothed bevel wheel E which is in gear
with a corresponding bevel wheel F. The wheel F is fixed on the spindle K which
enters the box L through a stuffing box. Inside the box L a lever M is connected
to the spindle K, which pressing against a raised part of the valve plate N, keeps
it tight against the seat O, thus holding in the pan the water deposited there by
means of the after charge from the cistern. When the lever B is raised by the
cord or rod A, the wheel E. rotates, transferring a similar motion to the spindle K,
which depresses the lever M, thus allowing the valve N to drop into the recess P
by means of its own weight, or if necessary by a loop passing round lever N. Thus
the valve opens at the moment the flushing water enters the pan and allows the
contents to pass through the trap at full bore. Directly the syphonage ceases in
the tank the cord is released, which allows the lever B to drop and close the valve.
On the side of the basin or front, an overflow R is placed, which is flushed by a
channel S connected to the flushing rim. The main inlet to the overflow is placed
immediately underneath the flushing rim and there is a small hole T lower down
which keeps the water in the pan at a suitable level.
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. A passage connecting the top of the syphon from the pan with the open
air, which is normally open but is closed by a water seal when the flush is
started.
2. Apparatus for preventing the setting up of syphonic action by emptying
liquid into the pan substantially as described.
3. A closet having a valve below the water line of the trap.
4. Water closets substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 9th dow of M.- 1905
OSCAR ELPHICK.