AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF WATERCLOSETS
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ODY, of the Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Truss Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, humbly represent unto His present most
Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, that after considerable applica-
tion and expence I had invented "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF WATERCLOSETS,"
and His said Majesty being willing to give encouragement to all arts inven-.
tions which may be for the public good, was graciously pleased, by His Royal
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Thirteenth day of May
last (One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five), in the fifth year of His
reign, for Himself, His heirs and successors, to give and grant unto me,
the said John Ody, my exors, admors, and assigns, His especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I or they, by myself or themselves,
or by my or their deputies, servants, or agents, or such others as I or they
should agree with (and no others), during the term of fourteen years from
the date of the said Letters Patent, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend my said Invention within that part of His Majesty's
Dominions called England, His Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, in such manner as to me, my exors, admors, and assigns, shall
seem meet, and as that I or they shall enjoy the whole profit and advantago

page_text: arising by reason of the said Invention during the said term of fourteen years,
and for that end His Majesty, by the said Letters Patent, requires and strictly
commands all His subjects whatsoever that they shall not, neither directly or
indirectly, make, use, or put in practice my said Invention, or any part
thereof, nor in any wise counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the same, nor make
any addition thereto or substraction therefrom, whereby to pretend himself or
themselves to be the inventor or inventors thereof; and whereas the said
Letters Patent contain a proviso obliging me, the said John Ody, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within four calendar months next and immediately after tho date of
the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same (reference thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Ody, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described and ascer-
tained in manner following, and by aid of the Drawing hereunto annexed that
is to say:
My improved construction of waterclosets has an additional cistern or
reservoir for retaining a suitable quantity of water around the outside of that
vessel, which is called the basin of the closet, and which is constructed nearly as
usual in ordinary waterclosets, but with free communication for the said
water to pass from that additional retaining cistern into the interior of the
basin, through several small apertures formed around the lower part of tho
basin or neck thereof, which neck leads down to the discharging valve at the
bottom of the basin, and which discharging valve is nearly the same as usual
in what are called valve closets, but the basin standing as it were immersed in
the water contained in the retaining cistern, the surface of the water will
stand at the same level within the basin as it stands in the said retaining
cistern around the outside of the basin, and whenever the discharging valve is
opened in the usual manner of ordinary waterclosets, in order to let down and
empty the contents of the basin, the surrounding water which is contained as
aforesaid in the retaining cistern by rushing rapidly down through the afore-
said communicating apertures at the lower part of the basin, will run out from
that cistern into the neck of the basin so as to augment the rush or flow
downwards through the open valve by all the quantity of water contained in
the cistern, in addition to what is contained in the basin, and thereby a com-
plete discharge of the basin is ensured; and when the surface of the water in
the said retaining cistern is in the act of sinking in consequence of such

page_text: flowing out through the said apertures, it causes the descent of a floater, which
is suitably connected and applied for then opening a stopcock or valve in the
service pipe, which pipe descends from an elevated cistern or other supply as
usual for conveying a forcible influx stream of water into the basin at the
hinder and upper part thereof, with a plate called a fan fixed in the usual
manner within the basin, before the entrance of the influx, in order to disperse
the stream thereof around the internal surface of the basin, in a suitable
manner for washing the same effectually before it runs down through the
aperture of the open valve, as is usually done in ordinary waterclosets, and
after the said discharging valve at the lower part of the basin is closed in the
usual manner, so that the said influx of water from the service pipe into the
interior of the basin will no longer be allowed to run down through the
aperture of the discharging valve, nevertheless the said influx into the inte-
rior of the basin will be continued for a short time, in order that the water
may accumulate within the basin and also around the outside of the basin in
the aforesaid additional retaining cistern, in consequence of the communicating
apertures aforesaid in the neck of the lower part of the basin now allowing
the water to pass freely from the basin into the said cistern in the contrary
direction to that in which the water passed through the same apertures when
the basin way emptying itself; but as the surface of the water rises in the
basin and in the retaining cistern, the aforesaid floater will be raised at the
same time, and by its connection with the aforesaid stopcock or valve in the
service pipe will begin to close the same until by the time that so much water
has accumulated in the cistern (and consequently within the basin) as will
fill the same to the intended height, the floater will have quite closed the stop-
cock or valve in the service pipe, so as to cut off the further influx of water
into the basin, but retaining a proper depth of water within the basin as well as
around the outside thereof, until such time as that the discharging valve of
the closet shall be again opened; and a suitable overflow pipe is applied to the
aforesaid retaining cistern by way of security against the overflowing of water
from the basin or cistern, that overflow pipe being joined to the chamber
containing the discharging valve, but below that valve, in the usual, manner
of the overflow pipe in ordinary waterclosets, videlicit, with a double bend or
inverted syphon to retain water in the pipe and prevent the ascent of foul
air through the pipe at the same time that a free passage is allowed for the
overflow of surplus water downwards through the said pipe, the said
overflow pipe which is so applied to the additional retaining cistern in my
improved construction being a substitute for that which is commonly applied
And note, the said additional
to the basin of the ordinary valve waterclosets.

page_text: retaining cistern in my improved construction will serve as a substitute for
that box or small cistern which for ordinary waterclosets is commonly applied
at the bottom of the elevated reservoir which supplies the watercloset with
water, and which box is therefore situated at the upper end of the pipe
which is to convey water from that cistern down into the basin, and the said
box is filled with water by opening a valve at the bottom of the reservoir at
the same moment when the discharging valve of the closet is opened, the
simultaneous opening of the upper valvo and the discharging valve being
performed by a connecting wire with suitable bell cranks; but in my improved
construction no such box or small cistern is required, for the said conveyance
or service pipe may be joined to the bottom of the elevated reservoir, or to any
kind of service pipe which will at all times afford a supply of water under
sufficient pressure; and respecting the stopcock or valve before mentioned in
the service pipe which is to be opened and shut by the fall and rise of the
floater on the surface of the water in the additional retaining cistern as afore-
said, the said cock or valve may be placed in any convenient part of that
service pipe, and if it is a stopcock, and is placed quite at the lower end of
the pipe, so as to form the junction thereof with the basin, then the proximity
of the floater in the additional cistern to the said stopcock will permit of
applying the said floater at the extremity of a lever arm which is fixed on
the end of the turning plug of the cock in the manner of what is commonly
called a ball cock for regulating the filling of water cisterns, and in case of
that mode of application no connecting wire or bell cranks will be required,
and the action will be very simple, all the moving parts of the apparatus
belonging to a watercloset on my improved construction being included in the
space beneath the seat thereof, and all the said moving parts being sustained
by their connection with the metal apparatus without any dependance upon,
or fixing to, the woodwork of the apartment in which such apparatus is fixed.
But if judged more convenient a stopcock may be applied in any other part
of the service pipe, with a suitable connection from the said floater to that
stopcock; or, if preferred, a valve may be applied at the upper end of the
said pipe at the bottom of the elevated reservoir in the usual manner, the
floater being connected with that valve by a wire or rod and levers in a
suitable manner for opening the valve when the water sinks in the addi-
tional retaining cistern, or for closing the valve when the water rises in that
cistern.
And for the more complete explanation of my said improved construction of
waterclosets, I have hereunto annexed a Drawing wherein the metal apparatus
is represented in different directions, the Figures being drawn half the real

page_text: size. Figure 1 is a horizontal plan, looking down on the apparatus; Figure 2
a front elevation, Figure 3 an end elevation, and Figure 4 a vertical longi-
tudinal section. The same letters of reference are used to denote the same
parts in all the Figures. A, A, B, B, is the basin of my improved construction
of watercloset; it is made of earthenware as usual, but may be made of metal;
it is very similar in form to the basin of any ordinary watercloset, excepting
that the neck B, B, at the bottom is made longer than usual, and the lower
end of that neck does not reach quite down to the border of the aperture,
which is closed or opened by the discharging valve D, but instead of so
reaching down, the lower end of the neck B, B, leaves an annular opening 1, 1,
all around for the passage of water into or out of the additional retaining
cistern 2, 2, 3, 3, which includes the lower part of the basin within it, so that
the water contained in the cistern 2, 2, 3, 3, will surround: the outside of the
basin A, B, and that water will communicate with the inside of the basin
through a series of apertures, which are upwright slits formed in the sides of a
cylindrical socket 4, 4, to which the basin is firmly affixed by means of a
flange b, b, projecting around the outside of its neck B, B, and applying upon
a corresponding flange at the upper end of the socket 4, 4, those flanges being
fastened together by small nuts and screws. The lower part of the outside of
the socket 4, 4, fits into the inside. of a corresponding socket 5, 5, which is
part of the bottom 3,.3, of the retaining cistern, or is firmly soldered, thereto
like one piece. By means of the socket 4, 4, the basin is held and supported
in its intended place within the retaining cistern 2, 3, but free passage is left
for the water contained in the retaining cistern 2, 3, beneath the lower orifice
of the neck B, B, of the basin at 1, 1. The outside of the socket 5, 5, at the
bottom of the retaining cistern 2, 3, is made to fit into a socket within a circular
rim 6, 6, which forms a prominent border surrounding the aperture for the
discharge valve D; a ring of leather is placed in the bottom of the said socket
6, 6, for the lower end of the socket 5, 5, to fit down upon and make a water-
tight joint, the cistern 2, 2, 3, 8, being held down by, screws 7; 7; passing
down through the bottom of it; 3, 3, and entering into the cover plate F. to fasten
the cistern in place. E, E, is the metal chamber containing the discharging
valve D, and usually called the container; its cover F, F, which is fastened on
by screws, is formed with the aperture for the discharging valve,, and, with the
rim 6, 6, around the aperture, all which is much the same as, in ordinary
valve waterclosets, and therefore does not require any minute description....Tho
container E, E, F, F, serves as a base for sustaining all the upper parts of the
apparatus, and it terminates below with a circular neck G, surrounded by a
flange, which is fitted and screwed down to the wood floor of the apartment

page_text: in which the watercloset is fixed, with a putty joint upon the leadwork at
the top of the soil pipe, which pipe may have the usual trap in it; or any other
usual equivalent for that trap, to prevent the ascent of foul air, all which parts.
being made and fixed and operating in the usual manner, requires no further
description. The discharging valve D is mounted on a horizontal axis or
spindle d, which comes through a socket formed in the joint between the
cover F and the flange of the retainer E, E, so as to project out at the outside
thereof; and a short lever 'h, Figures 1 and 2, is fixed upon the extreme end
of the axes d, with a groove or slot in that lever to admit a pin c, which is
fixed into the loaded lever H, f, L, whereof the centre of motion is at f,
and the weight and loaded end at L. That lover H; f, L, is actuated by an
upright rod K, having a pull-up handle g at the upper end of it, and which
handle when pulled up causes the pine of the lever II, f, L, to act in the groove
of the short lever h in a suitable manner for turning down and opening the
internal discharging valve D, as is shewn in Figure 4; the motion and
action of the said levers, both for opening and for shutting that valve, being
very nearly the same as usual for moving the pan in what are called pan
closets, and therefore need not be further described. But note, the difference
between the action of the said levers h; H, e, f, L, and of those commonly used
for what are called valve closets, is not of any importance, for my improved
construction may, if preferred, have the said levers h, H, e, f, and rod K,
constructed as is usually done in ordinary valve closets, and may have a spring
applied to the centre of motion f, in order to keep the valve D shut close;
but, if constructed according to the Drawing, the weight L will tend to keep
the valve D shut close. And note, the discharging valve D may be fitted into
its aperture by grinding metal to metal with a conical or spherical fitting
thereof; 'or the valve' D may have leather fixed upon its surface to form the
fitting to a prominent rim around the under side of the aperture in the cover F
of the container E, F, as is represented in the Drawings. Either of those
kind of discharging valves being in common use, and well known, requires no
further explanation. 8, 8, k, k, is the overflow waste pipe, which stands up
within the additional retaining cistern 2, 3, the upper part 8, 8, being fastened
to the bottom thereof 3, 3, by a screw joint, whereby the part 8! 8; is
united to the lower part k, k, of the pipe which is beneath the bottom 3, 3,
of the cistern, and 'which part k, k has the usual bend or inverted
syphon in it near to where it joins to the container E for retaining as
much water in the overflow pipe 8, k, as will stop the ascent of foul air.
The upper orifice of the overflow pipe 8, 8, is at the exact level at which
the water is intended to stand within the retaining cistern 2, 3, and also

page_text: within the basin A, B, as is shewn by the dotted lines, and all influx of water
after it has attained that level will overflow down the pipe 8, 8, which serves
as a substitute for the ordinary overflow pipe that is usually joined to the
basin A, A, in valve waterclosets, but in my improved construction no such
connection to the basin is required any more than is required in pan closets,
although the water may if desired be retained within the basin to as great.a
depth as is usual in valve closets. M is the fan fixed within side of the
basin A at the upper and hinder part thereof, to disperse the influx of water
around the interior of the basin, as is usual in: all waterclosets, but the pipe
N, which brings down that influx of water from the elevated reservoir, from
which the closet is supplied, is joined to the basin by the intervention of a
stopcock 9, whereof the turning plug. 10 has a lever arm 11 fixed on the end of
it, and to the extremity of the lever 11 a hollow float 12 is connected, and that
float being adapted to float on the surface of the water in the retaining cistern
2, 3, will act in the well-known manner of what is called a ballcock to open
the stopcock 9, and admit an influx of water into the basin A, A, whenever
the water subsides in the cistern 2, 3, and, vice versa, to shut the stopcock 9,
so as to cut off that influx whenever the water rises therein to its intended
level, as is regulated by the upper orifice 8 of the overflow pipe. And note,
if the cistern 2, 3, is made of no greater depth than is represented in the
Drawing, the utmost rise and fall of the water in the cistern 2, 8, would be
insufficient to fully open the passage of an ordinary ballcock, in which case the
turning plug 10 of the cock 9 may be made with two passages cut out in the
opposite sides of its circumference, in the manner shewn in Figure 5, instead
of one passage through the centre of the plug.10, as is usual in ordinary stop-
cocks; by this means a smaller extent of turning motion of the plug 10 may
be made to fully open and shut the water passage through the cock, but in
case of the cistern 2, 3, being deeper than is represented in the Drawing, the
ordinary structure of ballcocks may be adopted. The supply pipe N. may be
joined to the cock 9 by a screw of the kind which is termed an union joint,
and the cock may be joined to the basin by screwing into a socket P, which
is cemented to the outside of the basin A, A, and fastened thereto by the same
screws which fasten the pan M in its place within side the basin. And
further, by a slight alteration in the form and magnitude of the basin A, B,
and of the additional retaining cistern 2, 3, from what is represented in the
Drawing, my said improved construction of waterclosets may be modified
suitably for receiving urine, in order to form urinatory waterclosets, for
buildings where assemblies for public business are held; in such case the

page_text: upper border or open top of the basin A, A, should be higher tha
is represented in the Drawing by about fifteen inches or more at, th
hinder part, but it should be about nine inches lower in the front par
than at the hinder part, as is denoted by the red dotted lines 13, 13, i
Figure 4. The lower part A and neck B of the basin may be formed as i
the Drawing, the additional height of the said upper border of the basin, a
shewn by the red dotted lines 13, being suitably formed and situated at
suitable height above the flow for the convenience of making urine into the
same in a standing attidude; also the upper border of the additional retaining
cistern 2, 3, should be made higher than is respresented in the Drawing
together with the upper orifice of the overflow pipe 8, as is shown by the red
dotted lines 14, 14, Figure 4, in order to keep a greater depth of water
standing within the basin A, B, and within that cistern 2, 3, which cistern
and basin may also be made of greater capacity than is represented, if required,
for an urinatory watercloset, which is expected to be greatly used, because the
urine which is received in the basin will mix with the contained water, and the
surplus will overflow down the pipe 8, k; but if the basin and the cistern con-
tains a sufficient depth and quantity of water, it will not become sensibly
contaminated by the urine at first, and at any time by pulling up. the handle
g K the whole contents will be washed clean away and renewed with clean
water. And note, when my improved construction is to be used for such
urinatory waterclosets it will be more cleanly to construct the additional
retaining cistern 2, 3, of earthenware instead of metal, which can be readily
done, as represented by the red dotted lines 14, 14, Figure 4, by giving some
roundness of form to the angles.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I, the said John Ody, do hereby declare that tho
new Invention, whereof the exclusive use is granted to me by the said Letters
Patent, consists in the improved construction of waterclosets herein-before
described, and represented in the Drawing hereunto annexed; the essential
character of that improved construction being that an additional water cistern
is applied to retain water around the outside of the basin of the watercloset,
having a suitable aperture or apertures around the neck, at the lower part of
that basin, to form a free communication for the water to flow from the said
retaining cistern into the interior of the basin, or tho contrary way, in order
that the water contained in such retaining cistern may rush down through the
discharging valve whenever the same is opened; and also that the falling and
rising of the surface of the water in said cistern is caused by means of a

page_text: floater to open or shut the stopcock or valve in the water pipe which conveys
the usual influx of water into the basin, independantly of the opening or
shutting of the discharging valve at the bottom of the basin.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ody, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and thirty-five.