Improved Flushing Apparatus for Water Closets.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Flushing Apparatus for Water Closets.
I, PETER LIEBIG, of 11, Senkenbergstrasse, Francfort-on-Main, Germany, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is a flushing apparatus for water closets
with which I, first of all, succeed in quietly introducing the water into a recipient
ad hoc. and make it flow rapidly and forcibly out of the latter besides, special
arrangements allow a sure working of the apparatus.
This arrangement is composed of a water recipient of a spherical form, joined
in its upper part to a water pipe of any kind, by means of a metallic part cast in
such a way as to form a winding passage, owing to which the force of the water
coming from the pipe is broken and consequently, enters the reservoir without
noise. The water introduced into the spherical recipient runs through a tube
which follows the interior sides of the receiver and terminates at the lower zone of
the latter, causing a rotatory movement of the water which, consequently, enters
without noise.
The interior orifice of the winding tube may be shut by means of a small valve
whose tail is screwed to a spherical float which plunges into the water of the
receiver; when the quantity of water admitted is sufficient, its level has lifted the
float and, consequently the valve; and the admission is interrupted. To avoid
the stagnation of the water in the pipe and its congelation in winter a little and
constant flowing of the water is allowed by means of a nut screwed to the tail
of the valve which comes in contact with a small stem which is worked from the
outside, and prevents, ad libitum, the admission valve from shutting the orifice
of the pipe.
Two over flow pipes are symmetrically placed on each side of the vertical axle
of the spherical receiver which terminates at a receiver appendage fixed to the
lower part of the sphere and to which is fixed the forcing pipe.
Between these two vertical pipes is placed a conduct pipe serving as a seat to
the stopping valve, or forcing valve; this latter is made up of a small sphere
fastened to a vertical stem placed according to the axle of the spherical receiver;
this valve has a specific weight smaller than that of the water and may be made
of cork covered with rubber to render it water-tight. To lift the valve and con-
sequently, to admit the water into the forcing pipe, a lever penetrating into the
spherical appendix and worked by a chain, pushes upwards a small stem which
lifts the valve, this stem is surrounded by a spiral spring which brings it to its
proper position when the action of the opening chain ceases.
When the spherical receiver is completely emptied the float is at the bottom of
its course and the spherical valve is on its seat; fresh water is admitted into the
receiver, this water presses the ball of the valve upon its seat, and when it has
reached a certain height closes the small admission valve by means of the float.
If now, the chain lever is drawn downwards, the valve is lifted; water penetrates
underneath and it is immediately forced upwards; then the water, animated by

page_text: a strong rotatory movement, spouts out of the spherical receiver so as to obtain a
through cleaning of the W.C.
The float descends and opens the admission valve which admits, quietly and
slowly, a new charge of water, while the spherical valve has again taken its place
upon the seat.
Another phase of the invention consists in substituting the winding admission
passage by a stuffing-box into which passes a stem terminated by a conical part
regulating the passage of the water admitted independent of the pression in the
pipe; the spherical valve may also be substituted by a hollow cylindrical body in
rubber into which, when it is lifted by the chain-lever, penetrates the air which
makes it act as a diving bell which rises immediately to allow the forced water
to pass, which is lead in its vertical movement by two guiding necks, and kept at
the top of its course until the emptying of the water in the spherical reservoir.
Dated this 8th day of June 1897.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.
I, PETER LIEBIG, of 11, Senkenbergstrasse, Francfort-on-Main, Germany, Manu-
facturer, 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:―
The present invention relates to a flushing apparatus for water closets with
which the water is introduced silently into the recipient, ad hoc, and made to
flow rapidly and with force from the said recipient, moreover, special contrivances
allow of an absolutely sure functioning of the apparatus.
In the annexed drawing:
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modified apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a section on line xy of Fig. 2.
The
The contrivance represented in Fig. 1 is as follows. The upper part a is con-
nected with any water-pipe and led in a winding course towards an opening b
which may be closed by a valve c. In the said winding tube the force of the
water, in case of a high pressure pipe, is already annihilated. The valve e is
provided with a float d which induces it to stop the opening b automatically,
when the water is sufficiently high in the recipient to raise the float.
characteristic feature of the new flushing apparatus is that the recipient is com-
posed of a hollow ball-shaped vessel. From the opening 6 the water comes through
a pipe which empties at the bottom part, into the recipient e, where it adopts
a rotary movement. With this mode of admission as experience has proved, all
noise of the water is avoided at the re-filling of the recipient.
In winter in order to avoid the freezing of the flushing apparatus, it is necessary
that the cone of the valve should remain open more or less. For this purpose,
a nut h is fitted on the rod g of the valve, upon which a shoulder i is placed when
this latter is turned in a suitable way, by means of the lever k. According as the
nut is screwed higher or lower the Hoat d can rise more or less.
In the middle of the recipient e overflow pipes are placed, diametrically opposite
one another, which are held by a collar m, their lower end leading through a
tubing n fixed to the recipient e. In the tubulure n the stop-valve is arranged
3
3
4

page_text: which is also of a spherical form. As a seat of the valve a conical box p is fixed
here, whilst the cone of the valve is represented by a ball g the specific weight of
which is less than that of water. This ball is preferably made of cork or other
similar matter covered with rubber.
To open the valve, a lever r is employed which, with the object of obtaining.
a silent working, is supported in a rubber pedestals and is continually pressed
downwards by a spring u. The extremity of the lever r receives a pressure bolt t,
by the aid of which the ball q can be pressed upwards. At the lowest point of the
valve chamber o the clearing tube r¹ is fixed, which is provided with a worm or
flanges to be able to connect a water-pipe.
The working of the new flushing apparatus is as follows:
When the recipient e is completely emptied the float d will have descended and
the ball will also have reached its lowest position. Fresh water now penetrates
into the recipient e and presses the ball 9 on its seat and when the said water has
reached a certain height, it lifts the float d and the valve c shuts the opening b.
If the lever r is now pulled downwards, the peg t will raise the ball g so that the
water can pass under the said ball, by which means the latter is immediately driven
upwards and thus occupies the position q¹.
Then the water, actuated by a strong rotary movement gushes on of the
recipient e, so that an efficacious cleaning is obtained. If the recipient is emptied
so that the float d can descend again, the level of the water in the recipient will
fall very quickly for the fresh water, owing to the sinuous course and to the
opening which is comparatively small, can only enter into the recipient much
more slowly than it leaves through r¹. When the recipient e is completely emptied,
the ball takes its place again on its seat and the water rises again in the
recipiente until this said recipient is filled and the opening b is closed.
Under the admission a a moderating screw t¹ may be fixed to allow of the
regulating of the apparatus for pipes of different pressures.
Fig. 2 represents a form of construction of this apparatus, modified and
completed as follows:-
The admission which in the first apparatus, consists in a winding course is
simplified in the present construction to which a stuffing box is added with a
screw al. This screw a¹ has a cone b¹ which serves to stop the escape. At the
same time, by means of this cone the force of the water which arrives is destroyed,
so that the admission continues slowly. The principal object of this contrivance
is to be able to regulate the quantity of water independently of the action of the
pipe. Thus, by regulating this screw, which is easily reached, we can obtain a
uniform refilling.
From the opening 6 the water passes through the pipe f which opens into the
lower zone of the water recipient. The fore part of the pipe is closed, neverthe-
less, there is a certain number of holes o¹ made in it so that the water comes
bubbling along silently into the recipient e. As a stop-valve, instead of the ball,
a hollow rubber body q2 is placed. This latter has at its lower part a conical
tubing n and receives two guide collars n² to reduce the friction, thus to a
minimum, without any influence on the guiding. This rubber body is made of
very fine rubber and consequently very light. By drawing the lever r upwards,
the rubber body q² rises immediately and is filled with air so that the water, as
with diving-bells, cannot enter. It is consequently held above the water until
the recipient is completely emptied.
The functioning is the same as that already described. On each side of the
ring m an eye is fixed so that by means of a pin the body is prevented from
getting out when it rises.
To prevent the admission of more water than is necessary by giving a stronger
pull than is necessary to the chain, the shape indicated by the dotted line di is
given to the float. When the lever is actuated, the bolt t, with the rubber body,

page_text: rises. The float will close the opening 6 by means of the cone c, so that, however
long the lever r is actuated, no more water will enter into the recipient.
With this form of construction the ring m and the pin can be suppressed, the
rubber body being held by the float itself. The rubber covering of the lever r
is also suppressed and the water-tightness is operated by the arrangement of an
intermediary closing bolt.
The apparatus is fixed very simply by arranging a double corner-iron on the
covering e, the said corner piece being fixed by means of threaded bolts to supports
in the wall.
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 flushing apparatus for water closets of a spherical form, the distinguishing
feature of which is that the clearing valve of the flushing recipient is formed with
a floating-ball q resting freely in a conical box 2, the said ball being raised by
means of a peg or spike t and then rises freely between a guide 7 so that with a
single pull of the lever, a complete emptying of the recipient is obtained.
2) A form of construction of the flushing apparatus (claimed in 1) distinguished
by the arrangement of a cone 61 (Fig. 2) which is regulated from the outside, and
regulating the section of the admission, with the object of constantly regulating
the quantity admitted and to allow of a silent introduction of the water.
3) A form of construction of the flushing apparatus (claimed in 1), distinguished
by the adoption of a hollow rubber body q2 (Fig. 2) sliding in a guide, instead of
a ball, with the object of keeping the valve open, by the air which is in the said
hollow body, until the water has completely flowed.
4) A form of construction of the flushing apparatus (claimed in 1), distinguished
by the arrangement of an admission pipe f closed at its fore-part and provided
with lateral escape openings o¹ so as to allow the possibility of a bubbling and
silent introduction of the water into the recipient.
5) An improved flushing apparatus for water closets substantially as described
and shown.
T: 0-1 1
Namah 1000
L. DUVINAGE,
Patent Agent, 8, Rue des Princes, Brussels, Belgium.