Improvements in Flushing and Discharge Appliances and other Parts of Wateroloset and like Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flushing and Discharge Appliances and other
Parts of Wateroloset and like Apparatus.
We, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Sanitary Engineer, and ANDREW BURNSIDE, of the same works,
Foreman Brass. Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say; :——
Our said invention comprises improvements whereby the flushing and discharge
appliances of watercloset and like apparatus are made to operate more satisfactorily
than heretofore.
In carrying out the presont invention according to one modification & single
closet basin is made with a trap-bend discharge outlet at the bottom of a vertical
or nearly vertical back, front, or side; the opposite side or part being inclined but
with the lowest part less steeply inclined than the rest. This conformation of the
basin is such that with a given depth of water seal the water left in the basin
presents a larger surface than in ordinary closet basins, without much increase in
the quantity of the sealing water. The top of the basin is formed with a hollow
rim through which the flushing water passes, a small part of the water issuing
through perforations in the rim, whilst a large part of the water passing in separate
streams round each side of the rim is directed down at the meeting point and is
guided towards the discharge outlet. When the closet basin is made of earthenware
and so as to be independent of an exterior casing a flange is formed at the back to
which to attach the seat board and cover.
The discharge outlet of the basin or the end of the part of the trap bend formed
in the same piece with the basin has the waste pipe connected to it by a spigot-
aud-faucet joint combined with a bayonet device and locked and made watertight
with cement.
The apparatus for the supply of flushing water is of the siphon kind and capable
of being started by hand, or of acting automatically and periodically. The
automatic arrangement may be used with a single closet or with a series supplied
from one cistern; and it may be used for periodically flushing any waste or drain
pipes. With the automatic arrangement the filling of the cistern is by a suitable
adjustment of the supply cock arranged to be slower or quicker accordingly as a
longer or shorter period is desired between each flushing action. The siphon
consists of a pipe made with a trap bend below the cistern, and with an extension
up within the cistern, this part being made with a flared open top and with a
globular enlargement lower down, and being covered by an inverted cup or cylinder
into which the water has access. at the bottom. At the top of the inverted cylinder
there is a small pipe or orifice which is closed by a valve except when a flushing
action is being started; and this valve is connected to a lever having a float at its
outer end which is bent down. When the cistern is filling, the water level.gets
above the top of the inverted cylinder before it lifts the float but owing to the air
imprisoned in the siphon and cylinder no water then passes into the siphon. On the
water level getting somewhat higher the float rises and opens the small air valve
quickly whereupon, the siphonal action is started and the flushing action takes
placo. The float lever has attached to or working in connection with it a tumbler
weight or equivalent device arranged so that the valve does not open until the
lever has moved the tumbler weight past its upper centre when it in falling over

page_text: opens the valve quickly and fully. To enable the siphonal action to be started by
hand when desired the lever for moving the air valve is connected by a cord, or
wire, to the usual closet handle.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
Improvements in Flushing and Discharge Appliances and other
Parts of Watercloset and like Apparatus.
We, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the 'County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Sanitary Engineer, aud ANDREW BURNSIDE, of the same works,
Foreman Brass Finisher,, 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, that is to say :-
'
Our said invention comprises improvements whereby the flushing and discharge
appliances of watercloset and like apparatus are-made to operate more satisfactorily
than heretofore.
Apparatus embodying, our improvements is shown on an accompanying sheet' of
explanatory drawings,
Figure, I, thereof being a part- plan, and Figure, 2, a vertical section of a
watercloset basin.
“Figure, 3, is a vertical section of our improved flushing apparatus, and Figure, 4,
is a similar but enlarged view of a part of the same.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
*water
In carrying out the present invention according to one modification a single-
closet basin, A, is made with a trap-bend discharge outlet, B, at the bottom of a
vertical or nearly-vertical back, C, (or it might be front or side) the opposite side
or part, D, being inclined but with the lowest part less steeply inclined than the
rest. This conformation of the basin, A, is such that with a given depth of v
seal the water left in the basin presents a larger surface than in ordinary closet
basins without much increase in the quantity of the sealing water. The dotted
line, D, indicates the ordinary form and makes plain the increase of water surface
due to the improved form. The top of the basin, 'A, is formed with a hollow
rim, E, through which the flushing water passes, a small part of the water issuing
through perforations or slits, at G, in the rim, the perforations or slits extending
only partly round each side. The larger part of the water passes in two streams
which meet at the middle where there is a partition, H, directing the combined
streams downwarde. When the closet basin, A, is made of earthenware and' so as
to be independent of an exterior casing, a flauge, J, is formed at the back to which
to attach the seat board and cover.
The discharge outlet, B, of the basin; A, or the end of the part of the trap bend
formed in the same piece with the basin may have the waste pipe connected to it
as shown by a joint of the kind described in my Patent Specification No. 13732
of 1894.
The apparatus for the supply of Hushing water, shown'in Figures, 3, and 4; is of
the siphon kind and capable of being started by haud or of acting automatically
and periodically. The automatic arrangement may be used with a single closet or
with a series supplied from one cistern; and it may be used for periodically
flushing any waste or drain pipes. With the automatic arrangement the filling of
thel cistern, L, is by a suitable adjustment of the supply cock, M, arranged to be
slower or quicker accordingly as a longer or shorter period is desired between each

page_text: flushing action. The siphon consists of a pipe, N, made with a trap bend, P, below
the cistern, L, and with an extension up within the cistern, this part being made
with a flared open top and with a globular enlargement lower down, and being
covered by an inverted cup or cylinder, Q, into which the water bas access by
openings, R, at the bottom. At the top of the inverted cylinder, Q, there is a
small pipe, S, with a contracted open upper end which is closed by a valve, T,
except when a flushing action is being started. The valve, T, consists of a
cylindrical piece encircling vertical guide ribs on the pipe, S, and having a rubber
or other washer to close against the orifice of the pipe, S. The valve, T, is jointed
to a lever, V, centered on a bracket, V1, and having its other end acted on by a
tumbler weight V 2, contained in a tube, V 3, with closed ends, this tube being also
centered on the bracket, V 1, and having a float V 4, fixed to it by a rod, V 5, bent
downwards. When the cistern is filling the water level gets above the top of the
inverted cylinder, Q, before it lifts the float, V 4, on account of the weight of the
parts and the position of the weight, V2, but owing to air being imprisoned. in
the siphon, N, and cylinder, Q, no water then passes into the siphon. On the water
level getting somewhat higher the float, V4, rises and the sinall air valve, T, is
opened fully and quickly by the weight, V2, rolling to the other end of the
tube, V 3, and acting on the lever, V, which then extends through a lateral
opening, V6, within the tube. On the valve, T, being opened the imprisoned air
escapes and the siphonal flushing action is started. With the float and tumbler
device which has been described the air valve, T; will only open on the water in
the cistern reaching such a height as to insure complete siphonal action.
To enable the siphonal action to be started by hand sooner after each action than
it would be automatically the tube lever, V3. containing the weight, V2, for
moving the air valve, T, may as indicated by dotted lines have a weight, W,
arranged to rest on it, this weight being on a lever, W 1, centered on a bracket, W 2,
and connected by a cord or wire, W 3, to a handle. When the weighted lever, W 1,
is applied, the parts of the apparatus are proportioned or adjusted so that the
automatic action takes place at the desired intervals, with the weight, W, bearing
on the tumbler piece, V 3, and it follows that on the weight, W, being raised by
hand the buoyant action on the float, V4, will at once raise the tumbler piece if
there is enough water in the cistern.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. Making a watercloset basin with a trap-bend outlet at the bottom of a
vertical or nearly vertical back, front, or side, the opposite side or part being
inclined but with its lowest part less steeply inclined, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described.
2. Making an earthenware closet basin with a Hange to which the seat board and
cover are to be attached substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting the
improved flushing appliances for wateruloset and like apparatus substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figures, 3, and 4, of the accompanying
drawings.
4. In intermittent automatic flushing apparatus, combining a delivery siphon with
a bottom trap-bend downlet pipe imprisoning air, and with an air escape valve
controlled by a float and tumbler device arranged to open the air valve only on the
water in the cistern becoming high enough to insure proper action of the siphon
substantially as hereinbefore described.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.