IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Kent, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, in
Ireland, Builder and Contractor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STENCH TRAPS."
Sealed the 27th October 1877, and dated the 22nd June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Kent at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1877.
JAMES KENT, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, in Ireland, Builder and
Contractor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS."
My Invention is intended to be applied to boxes or chambers sunk below road-
ways, yards, and the like, and used to receive surface and other waters on their,
passage to the sewers, and to prevent stenches and other offensive and deleterious,
vapours and effluvia rising through the gratings from such sewers.
The object of the Invention is to provide a self-acting valve, by which not only
the stenches, vapours, and effluvia above mentioned will be prevented rising, but,
tidal or flood waters will be kept from overflowing at the gratings.
For this pur-
pose I employ a funnel, such as is commonly used, and having a valve resembling
an inverted cup or bowl, and filling or fitting into the end of the funnel, attached
to a pivot on the lip thereof, and balanced by an arm or arm and weight so as to
fall with any superincumbent water, and to rise with any tidal or other food or any
current of foul air from below.
I also employ a straight outlet tube or pipe proceeding at an acute angle from
the side or end of the box or chamber, and having at the other extremity a metal.
bend or twist, with collar or socket to connect it either directly or intermediately
with the sewer, and to act as an overflow.
The box or chamber is so constructed as to constitute a reservoir, and retain so
considerable a. volume of water as to reduce evaporation to a minimum, and the
position, angle, and length of the outlet tube or pipe are so arranged that the.
lower orifice thereof will be closed by the water in the box or chamber.
I may also apply a valve and a bend or twist such as I have mentioned, or either.
of them, to other boxes or chambers than the one above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Kent in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd December
1877.
JAMES KENT, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, in Ireland, Builder and
Contractor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS."
My Invention is intended to be applied to boxes or chambers sunk below road-
ways, yards, and the like places, and used to receive surface and other waters on
their passage to the sewers, and to prevent stenches and other offensive and
deleterious vapour and effluvia rising through the gratings and apertures from such
sewers.
The object of my Invention is to provide a self-acting valve, by which not only the
stenches, vapours, and effluvia above mentioned will be prevented rising, but tidal or
flood waters will be kept from overflowing at the gratings.
For this purpose I
employ a funnel, such as is commonly used, but to which I attach by means of a
pivot at the lower lip or rim thereof a valve resembling a cone or inverted cup, and
filling or fitting into the lower or discharging end or mouth of the funnel, and I
furnish the valve with an arm or arm and weight by way of counterpoise, so that it
will fall from the end or mouth of the funnel with any superincumbent water, and
return to position when such water has passed through towards the sewer, and will
be pressed or wedged into the end or mouth of the funnel, or if temporarily over-
balanced, be restored to position by any tidal or other flood or any current of foul
air rising from below.
And for the purpose of further providing against the escape of stenches, vapours,;
and effluvia from the sewers, I also employ a straight outlet tube or pipe proceeding
upwards at an acute angle from the side or end of the box or chamber, and having
at the other or upper extremity a metal reverse bend or twist furnished at the end,
to be attached to the outlet tube or pipe with a socket, and at the other end with
a collar or flange to connect it either directly or intermediately with the sewer pipe
and to act as an overflow.
The bend or twist attached to the outlet tube or pipe is formed and arranged with
a view to its accommodation to the direction of the sewer pipe, and so as to meet and
enter it at whatever angle it approaches the stench trap.
The box or chamber is so constructed as to constitute a reservoir and retain so
considerable a volume of water as substantially to reduce the loss by evaporation to
a ininimum; and the position, angle, and length of the outlet tube or pipe are so
arranged and disposed that the lower orifice thereof will be closed by the water.
retained in the box or chamber, and so as to form with the side or end of the box or
chamber a substitute for the diaphragm or partition commonly used in stench traps.
I may also apply a valve and bend or twist such as I have mentioned, or either
of them, to other boxes or chambers than the one above described.
.
And in order that the said Invention may be more particularly described I shall
refer to the Drawings on the Sheet hereunto annexed, the same letters of reference
indicating the same or corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.
Fig. I is a longitudinal section of the box or chamber, and having the funnel
provided with a valve and counterpoise, and the outlet pipe provided with a metal
bend or twist.
Fig. II. is a plan of the grating.
Fig. III. shows the application of the valve and counterpoise, and the bend.or
twist to another and ordinary stench trap.
a is the box or chamber, b.is the grating, c is the funnel, d is the valve with its
arm and weight balanced and hung by a pin or pivot upon the lower lip or rim of
the funnel; e is the outlet pipe, and fis the bend or twist attached to the outlet
pipe by means of a socket and bolt.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I do not claim the box or chamber,,

page_text: funnel, and valve, nor the outlet pipe and bend or twist, nor the arm and weight,
except when the same are constructed specially and employed as herein described,
nor any of the separate mechanical parts of the stench traps used by me, but I
claim,―
1st. The use in stench traps of a valve constructed and employed substantially as
described and shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
2ndly. The use in stench traps of a bend or twist constructed and employed, sub-
stantially as described, and shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
3rdly. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the automatic
apparatus constructed and applied, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described, and illustrated in the several Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Kent, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twentieth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
Signed and sealed
in the presence of
HUGH HYNDMAN,
Belfast,
Solicitor.
JAMES KENT. (L.S.)