Improvements in Apparatus from which the Contents is Discharged at Stated Periods for Rinsing or Flushing Purposes, partly applicable to other Flushing Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus from which the Contents is Discharged
at Stated Periods for Rinsing or Flushing Purposes, partly
applicable to other Flushing Apparatus.
I, JAMES ARCHER, of Fennel Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates chiefly to that class of cistern or tank apparatus which
discharges its contents automatically at stated intervals of time, and is applied to
the rinsing of materials such as photographic prints and the like and to the flushing
of water-closet basins, urinals, drains, and the like. It may also be arranged to
work with ordinary flushing cisterns or tanks, to give a complete discharge of the
contents when set in motion.
Hitherto such automatic apparatus have been mainly constructed with a syphon
which is set in action, when the water rises to a certain level, and displaces the
air therein, or, with a tumbling chamber which overbalances and discharges its
contents when full.
It consists essentially of a double chambered tank or cistern, one chamber placed
at a higher level than the other, and communicating therewith through a valve
controlled by a float in the lower one, the upper chamber having an overflow which
leads into the lower one to fill it, and raise the float and valve, and the lower one
having a discharge pipe and small auxiliary syphon through which the contents of
cistern are discharged.
In carrying out the invention the apparatus is constructed with a chamber of any
This chamber connects
required size or to contain any required quantity of water.
with a smaller chamber placed at a lower level, the opening between the two being
controlled by a valve which is fitted with a float. An overflow pipe or pipes set at
such a height in the large or upper chamber that the water will flow into it when it
is full, also connects with the small or lower chamber, and when the upper chamber
The discharge
is full the water flows through this pipe and fills the lower one.
pipe from the lower chamber is placed at or near the top so that the chamber must
be full or nearly so before any discharge takes place. A small auxiliary syphon
is placed in the discharge pipe to completely empty the small chamber.
For washing photographic prints, and the like, the overflow pipe and the valve
connecting the two, are preferably fitted outside the main chamber, and the bottom
of the chamber is inclined or slanting, but for flushing purposes these may be placed
inside the main chamber.
When applied to an ordinary flushing cistern which operates on the opening of
a valve, the float is attached to the valve which is raised or opened by the pull,
and is held up by the float until the required quantity of water is discharged. In
this, one or two additional auxiliary chambers may be added with a very small
opening into the main chamber, so as to prevent such a flow as would be caused by
a ball valve opening fully, retaining the float and valve in a raised position.
The action is as follows:
The water is caused to flow either very slowly or quickly or at intervals as may
be required into the large chamber, and upon reaching the level of the top of
When this is done the
overflow pipe flows into and fills the lower chamber.
float rises and opens the valve, through which the whole of the water contained
in the large chamber flows into the lower chamber and discharges itself there-
from with great flushing force until nearly empty. When emptied below the
discharge pipe the lower chamber (which has been kept full by the discharging
water), is drained by the small auxiliary syphon and the float allowed to fall,

page_text: hich brings the valve onto its seat and seals the outlet until the lower tank
once more filled through the overflow pipe. When the discharge commences
he auxiliary syphon (which is laid on the neck of the flushing outlet pipe), is
orced into action by sheer weight of water and continues in action both while
he main chamber is discharging and afterwards alone, to empty the float
hamber.
I consider that the apparatus has the following advantages either as a washing
ank or as a flushing cistern.
1. As an automatic flushing cistern :—
(a). It cannot fail in action.
(b). An automatic discharge every time the tank is filled.
(c). The flushing force is maintained to the end.
(d). After the great flush from main tank there is a gentle flow from syphon
tank to assure the proper sealing of stench traps.
(e). However small the supply is, it is absolutely certain to discharge when a
given quantity of water has been supplied, even by drops.
2. As a washing tank:-
(f). An absolutely reliable level is assured by that of the top of the over-
How pipe.
(9). The tank is entirely emptied at each discharge leaving no contaminated
water (containing hyposulphate of soda) to mix up again with the inflowing
water.
(). It will discharge itself automatically with a small (drop by drop) or a large
supply.
Dated this 8th day of March 1800
h 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus from which the Contents is Discharged
at Stated Periods for Rinsing or Flushing Purposes, partly
applicable to other Flushing Apparatus.
I, JAMES ARCHER, of Fennel Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Agent, 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 :-
This invention relates chiefly to that class of cistern or tank apparatus which
discharges its contents automatically at stated intervals of time, and is applied to
the rinsing of materials such as photographic prints or other articles and to the
flushing of water closets, basins, urinals, drains and the like. It
be arranged to work with ordinary flushing cisterns or tanks, to give a complete
however also
discharge of the contents when set in motion.
may
Hitherto such automatic apparatus have been mainly constructed with a syphon
which is set in action when the water rises to a certain level, and displaces the air
therein, or, with a tumbling chamber which overbalances and discharges its
contents when full.
My invention consists essentially of a double chambered tank or cistern, a
supply chamber placed at a higher level and a small subsidiary or discharging
chamber placed at a lower level than the other, and communicating therewith
through a valve controlled by a float in the lower one, the upper chamber having
an overflow which leads into the lower one to fill it, and raise the float and valve,
and the lower one having a discharge pipe placed at or near the top through
which the discharging water flows almost direct from the supply chamber and
small auxiliary syphon through which the residual contents of the small lower
chamber are emptied when the flow from the supply chamber has ceased.

page_text: ՊԵՆ ԵՂԵ LU the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. sectional elevation showing the invention as applied to an automatic
apparatus for rinsing photographic prints.
Fig. 2. transverse sectional elevation through the valve chamber on line x-x.
Fig. 3. plan of same.
Fig. 4. sectional elevation showing the invention as applied to an automatic
flushing cistern.
Fig. 5. plan of same.
Fig. 6. sectional elevation showing the invention as applied to a flushing cistern
operated by pulling a handle.
Fig. 7. plan of same.
The apparatus is constructed with a chamber A of any required size or to
contain any required quantity of water. The chamber A connects with a small
subsidiary discharge chamber B placed at a lower level the opening C between the
two being controlled by a valve D which is fitted with a float E. An outlet
pipe is set at such a height in the large or upper chamber A that the water will
How into it when the chamber A is full. The pipe F connects with the small or
lower chamber B and when the upper chamber A is full the water flows through
the pipe F and fills the lower one. The discharge pipe G from the lower
chamber B is placed at or near the top so that the chamber B must be full or
nearly so before any discharge takes place. A small auxiliary syphon H is placed
in the discharge pipe G to completely empty the small chamber.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3. in which the invention is shown
applied to the washing of photographic prints the discharge valve D and the
overflow pipe F are preferably fitted in a small chamber or compartment I outside
the washing chamber or tank A. so that neither of them can interfere with the
prints which are being washed. The chamber A. is connected by means of a
small opening at the bottom of the chamber I. This opening between the two is
preferably covered with a grating or perforated cover a to still further prevent the
prints being damaged and as it fills with water the water rises in the chamber I
until it reaches the top of the outlet pipe F through which it flows into the
chamber B. The bottom of the chamber A may if desired be slightly inclined
and it is fitted with a water inlet pipe J and supports or legs K. It is obvious
that a similar apparatus may be applied to the rinsing of clothes or textile
materials after washing, dyeing or like operations or to any other materials which
require to be rinsed or steeped in water and the water periodically changed.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5 in which the invention is shown applied to
an automatic flushing cistern the operation of the flushing cistern is precisely
similar to that already described and the construction differs only in that
the chamber I is dispensed with and the outlet pipe F is placed in the chamber or
tank A.
The action is as follows:-The water flows into the supply chamber or tank A
either slowly or quickly as may be required the quantity flowing in being regulated
so as not to exceed the capacity of either the outlet pipe F the opening C or the
discharge pipe G. When the water rises to the level of the top of the outlet pipe F
it flows down through it into the small lower chamber B and lifts the float E and
with it the valve D. The whole of the water in the chamber A then flows through
the opening C and is discharged direct through the pipe G. The flow of water
through the discharge pipe G sets in action the auxiliary syphon H which con-
tinues in action until the lower chamber is completely emptied. When emptied
below the discharge pipe the chamber B (which has been kept full by the dis-
charging water) is drained by the small auxiliary syphon H and the float E allowed
to fall, which brings the valve D onto its seat and closes the outlet C until the
chamber B is once more filled through the outlet pipe F.
As a washing apparatus for photographic prints during the discharge there is a
continuous flow of fresh water through the prints and the discharge being from the

page_text: þottom all the denser water charged with hyposulphate of soda is completely drawn
off at each discharge giving a very effectual washing.
As an automatic flushing apparatus the water is at intervals discharged from the
chamber A with great flushing force, the volume and force of the flush being
regulated by the size of the opening C and discharge pipe G..
Referring to Figs. 6 & 7 in which the invention is shown applied to an ordinary
Hushing cistern the outlet pipe F is dispensed with and the water is caused to flow
nto the chamber B by raising the valve D by means of the lever D₁ and pull
andle d affixed thereto by the chain . When the valve D is raised the chamber B
ills with water and the float E holds the valve open until the required amount of
Hush takes place from the chamber A, the action of the discharge pipe G and
yphon H being the same as before. In this case the cistern is made in the usual
orm with two chambers A and A' the discharge chamber A and the chamber A¹
nto which the water flows connected by the valve which closes upon its seat when
the valve D is raised by the lever D¹. At one end or side of the chamber A¹ I
place a small auxiliary chamber a into which the water passing through the valve e
Hows. The auxiliary chamber a is provided with a very small opening a¹ near the
bottom which will allow of a sufficient flow of water to fill the chamber B and start
the syphon H should this at any time be required. When the valve D is closed
the chamber A is filled by the water flowing over the top of the auxiliary
chamber a.
G
I consider that the apparatus has the following advantages either as a washing
ank or as a flushing cistern.
1. As an automatic flushing cistern :-
(a) It will not fail in action.
(An automatic discharge is assured every time-the chamber A is filled.
The flushing force is maintained to the end of the flow from the
chamber A.
(d) After the great flush from the chamber A there is a gentle flow from the
chamber B through the syphon which causes the proper sealing of stench
traps.
(e) However small the supply is, the discharge is certain when a given quantity
of water has been supplied to the chamber A.
2. As a washing tank :-
(f) An absolutely reliable level is assured up to the top of the outlet
pipe F.
(g) The chamber A is entirely emptied at each discharge leaving no con-
taminated water to mix up again with the inflowing water.
(4) The discharge is automatic with a small (drop by drop) or a large
supply.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
:-
1. In apparatus from which the water is automatically discharged for washing or
Hushing purposes the combination with a supply chamber (A) of a small discharge
or subsidiary chamber (B) at a lower level which communicates therewith by means
of a valve, a float (E) therein which raises and maintains the valve open so long
as the discharge chamber (B) is full, a discharge pipe (G) opening into the top of
he chamber B through which the discharging water flows almost direct from the
upply chamber A and an auxiliary syphon (H) which drains the discharge chamber
with either an outlet pipe (F) from the supply chamber or a lever (D') to raise the
valve substantially as described.
2. An automatic discharge apparatus for washing or rinsing photographic prints
or other articles having a chamber A to hold the articles with a subsidiary
chamber I connected to it in which the valve D and outlet pipe F are placed a
lischarge chamber B at a lower level a float controlled valve D, an outlet pipe F

page_text: discharge pipe G, and auxiliary discharge syphon H substantially as described and
shown.
3. An apparatus for washing or flushing purposes constructed substantially as
described and shown with reference either to Figs. 1-3. Figs. 4 & 5 or
Figs. 6 & 7.
Dated thia 13th dow of DL1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.