Improvements in Water-supply and Discharge Valves for Cisterns, Baths. Basins, Sinks, Waterclosets, Urinals, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-supply and Discharge Valves for Cisterns,
Baths. Basins, Sinks, Waterclosets, Urinals, and the like.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Foundry, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object by improved and simple devices to render
water-supply and discharge valve apparatus more satisfactory in action and freer from
objectionable features than existing apparatus for the same purposes.
In water-supply apparatus for a cistern and advantageously applicable to a
measuring and waste-saving cistern in immediate connection with a water-closet
which may be supplied by a service pipe directly from the main with the water under
considerable pressure, I arrange a float lever to act on an equilibrium valve or pair
of valves which counterbalance each other wholly or partially, in order that the valves
may be moved easily notwithstanding the great pressure of the water; and I con-
struct the outlet or outlets from the valve box so as to be effectively larger than the
inlet into the box whereby the objectionable noise common to ball-float cocks is done
away with or considerably diminished. In one modification the valve box is made
with equal openings at top and bottom and with a comparatively small inlet from the
supply pipe into the side at the middle. The valve stem or spindle extends through
the box and through the top and bottom openings and the lever is connected
to one end of it. A valve disk is fixed on the spindle for closing one opening when
the valve is shut and all the water issues past this valve when it is open. Near the
other end the spindle bas fixed on it a collar or flat ring of rubber or other suitable
material and when the disk valve is closed this collar bears on an annular scat which
is outside of it and formed in a cap screwed to the valve box. When the valve is
closed the pressure tending to open it is balanced by the pressure tending to force the
spindle through the opposite opening which is made watertight by the rubber collar.
In another modification a disk valve opening inwards is connected to the float lever
on one side of its fulcrum and a valve opening outward is connected to the lever on
the other side of the fulcrum so that the two valves more or less counterbalance each
other. The valve outlet which is closed against the pressure is by preference made
the smaller and the connections with the lever are arranged so that it is opened a
little in advance of the other. This relieves the internal pressure and facilitates the
opening of the larger valve.
The discharge outlets and valves of waterclosets and other apparatus in which water
is used and in which a rapid and complete discharge is wanted are by this Invention
made square or preferably elongated instead of the usual round form.
A square
outlet may have the corners a little filleted or rounded, and an elongated ontlet may
be either rectangular, or rectangular with the corners filleted or rounded, or oval. In
a round basin the improved forin of outlet prevents the whirling or vortex action
which not only delays the discharge but also facilitates the adherence of greasy
matters to the sides of the basin. In the case of a watercloset basin the improved
form of outlet causes the basin to be cleared rapidly and completely with a com
paratively small quantity of water. And the elongated form of outlet is of especial
advantage in the case of a watercloset basin having a hinged discharge valve
closing up against the outlet, as such valve can be hinged at a long side and will
occupy much smaller depth when turned down full open. In the case in which a
watercloset and a trap under the basin are fitted entirely above a floor the
improved form of outlet and valve will allow of a good sized basin and all parts

page_text: being arranged within a moderate height. And in the case of a two-valved closet
for a ship the saving of depth will be available with each valve, and will be of con-
siderable importance.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of December 1888.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-supply and Discharge Valves for Cisterns,
Baths, Basins, Sinks, Waterclosets, Urinals, and the like.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Foundry, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object by improved and simple devices to render
water-supply and discharge valve apparatus more satisfactory in action, and freer,
from objectionable features than existing apparatus for the same purposes.
I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred
to in describing my improvements; and in these drawings the same reference
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In water-supply apparatus for a cistern and advantageously applicable to a
measuring and waste-saving cistern in immediate connection with a watercloset,
which may be supplied by a service pipe directly from the main with the water under
considerable pressure, I arrange a float lever to act on an equilibrium valve or
pair of valves, which counterbalance each other wholly or partially, in order that the
valves may be moved easily notwithstanding the great pressure of the water; and
I construct the outlet or outlets from the valve box so as to be effectively larger than
the inlet into the box, whereby the objectionable noise common to ball-float cocks is
done away with or considerably diminished.
In one modification, which is shown in vertical section in figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of
the accompanying drawings, the valve box or chamber, 12, is made with about equal
openings at top and bottom, and with a comparatively small inlet, 13, from the supply
pipe into the side at the middle. The valve stem or spindle, 14, extends through the
box, 12, and through the top and bottom openings, and the float lever, 15, is arranged
to act on the upper end of it, being passed through a slot in a plunger, 16, fixed to it,
and being pivoted so as to move the spindle up or down as the float rises or falls. A
disk valve, 17, is fixed on the spindle, 14, for closing the lower opening when the
valve is shut, and all the water issues past this valve when it is open. At its upper
end the spindle, 14, has fixed on it a collar or flat ring, 18, of rubber or other suitable
material, and when the disk valve, 17, is closed this collar bears on an annular seat
which is outside of it being formed on the inside of the cover, 19, of the valve box.
When the valve, 17, is closed the pressure tending to open it is balanced by the
pressure tending to force the spindle, 14, in the opposite direction, the opening in the
cover, 19, being made watertight by the rubber collar, 18.
In another modification shown in vertical section in figure, 2, a disk valve, 20,
opening inwards is connected to the float lever, 15, on one side of its fulcrum, and a
disk valve, 17, opening outwards is connected to the lever, 15, on the other side of the
fulcrum so that the two valves. 20, 17, more or less counterbalance each other. The
outlet of the valve, 17, which is closed against the pressure is by preference made the
smaller, and the connections with the float lever, 15, are arranged so that it is opened
a little in advance of the other, 20. This relieves the internal pressure and facilitates
the opening of the larger valve, 20.
The discharge outlets and valves of waterclosets and other apparatus in which
water is used, and in which a rapid and complete discharge is wanted are by this

page_text: Invention made square or preferably elongated instead of the usual round form.
Figure, 3, on sheet, 2, of the accompanying drawings is a plan of a washland basin
showing the discharge outlet, 21, as of an elongated form; and figures, 4, 5, and 6,
show other analogous improved forms. A square outlet may have the corners a little
filleted or rounded as shown in figure, 6, and an elongated ontlet may be rectangular
as shown in figure, 3, or rectangular, with the corners fillited or rounded, as shown in
figure, 5, or oval as shown in figure, 4. In a round basin the improved form of
outlet prevents the whirling or vortex motion which not only delays the discharge, but
also facilitates the adherence of greasy matters to the sides of the basin. In the case
of a watercloset basin the improved form of outlet, 21, causes the basin to be cleared
rapidly and completely with a comparatively small quantity of water. And the
elongated form of outlet, 21, is of especial advantage in the case of a watercloset basin
having a hinged discharge valve, 22, closing up against the outlet, as shown in
vertical section in figure, 7, as such valve can be hinged at a long side, and will
occupy much less depth when turned down full open, as shown in the figure. In the
case in which a watercloset and a trap, 23, under the basin, 24, are fitted entirely
above a floor as shown in figure, 7, the improved form of outlet, 21, and valve, 22,
will allow of a good sized basin, 24, and of all parts being arranged within a moderate
height. To further show the advantage an ordinary circular discharge valve is shown
by a dotted circle, 25, and it will be seen that such a valve would dip down into the
water of the trap which would be extremely objectionable.
Figure, S, is a plan corresponding both to figure, 7, already referred to, and to
figure, 9, which is a vertical section, showing the saving of depth obtainable in the
case of a two-valved closet for a ship and which is available with each valve, 22, 26,
when made of my improved form, the advantage in this case being obviously of
considerable importance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved combination of parts constituting the ball-float water-supply valvo
substantially as shown in figure, 1, of the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore
described.
2. The improved combination of parts constituting the ball-float water-supply valve
substantially as shown in figure, 2, of the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore
described.
3. Making the discharge outlets and valves of cisterns, baths, basins, sinks, water-
closets, urinals, and the like, of a square, elongated, or other analogous form, .
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of September 1889.
EDMUND HUNI,
Applicant's Agent.