IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to D. A. Lamb, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 11th August 1857, and dated the 13th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said D. A. Lamb at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
February 1857.
I, D. A. LAMB, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS, AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in water-closets consists of an arrangement
by which any given quantity of water can be supplied to the basin, the flow
being regulated by pressure.
Beneath the seat is fitted a stud, which is
depressed by the sinking of the seat; the stud is connected with a lever, which
opens the inlet tap of the cistern or supply box and closes the emission valve
of the basin. When the pressure on the seat is removed, the supply tap is
closed by a metal float, and the emission valve in the bottom of the cistern
opens and discharges the water contained in the cistern into the basin. The
quantity of water discharged is regulated by the size of the cistern or supply
box. The foregoing arrangement is applicable to either high or low.pressure
service.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said D. A. Lamb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, D. A.
LAMB, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said D. A. Lamb, Her special licence that I, the said D. A. Lamb, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said D.
A. Lamb, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any timo
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might makė, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said D. A. Lamb, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under mine, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said D. A. Lamb, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement.
My Invention of improvements in waterclosets consists of an arrangement
by which any given quantity of water can be supplied to the basin, the flowing
being regulated by pressure. Beneath the seat is fitted a stud, which is
depressed by the sinking of the seat; this stud is connected with a lever which
opens the inlet tap of the cistern or supply box and closes the emission valve
of the basin. When the pressure on the seat is removed, the supply tap is
closed by a metal float, and the emission valve in the bottom of the cistern
opens and discharges the water contained in the cistern into the basin. The
quantity of water discharged is regulated by the size of the cistern or supply

page_text: .box. The foregoing arrangement is applicable to either high or low pressure
service.
Having thus briefly explained the nature of the said Invention, I will now
describe it in detail, from which it may readily be carried into effect, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a plan of the improved water-closet; Fig. 2 is a section
of the cistern and pipe showing the levers, seat, and connecting rods; Fig. 3
is an end view of the cistern with the rods and valves. The same letters refer
to corresponding parts in the Drawings..
The water cistern A is composed of cast iron or other suitable metal, and
is formed with a short pipe B at the bottom, as represented in the accompany-
ing Drawing. To this pipe is fixed by bolts, rivets, or other means the pipe C
for conducting the water from the cistern to the basin, placed underneath the
moveable seat D. The short pipe B contains a weighted valve E with its
seat F. This valve is connected to the lever G by a hook or link H, which
is kept in its proper position by two stud pins I, J, fixed to the lever G. This
lever works on a pivot fixed to the support K on the cross piece L; one end
of the lever G has a link M passing over it, which link is connected by a
pin O to the lever P, furnished with a copper float Q. This lever works on
a pivot or fulcrum R in the support S, cast with the tube of the conical valve T,
screwed on or otherwise fitted to the frame of the cistern A. The opposite
end of the lever G is fitted by a pin to the forked end of a long connecting
rod U, the length of which is varied according to circumstances. This rod is
attached at the lower end by a pin to another lever V placed at a convenient
distance from the basin. This lever carries a weight W for raising the
valve E, and works on a pivot or fulcrum X fastened to any suitable support Y.
Instead of the weight W, the connecting rod U may be made sufficiently
heavy to answer the same purpose. This lever V also carries a vertical forked
pressing rod or stud Z, which passes through a guide block a and the top 6 of
the closet to the moveable seat D, which may be furnished with hinges or
fittings of the ordinary description. Instead of the conical valve T an ordinary
stop-cock may be employed.
The action of the water-closet is as follows:-When the moveable seat D is
pressed down as represented in Fig. 2, the vertical rod or stud Z is depressed,
and by this means raises the long arm of the lever G and closes the valve E;
the conical valve E is at the same time raised by the weight of the float Q and
lever V so as to allow the water to run from the reservoir and through the service
pipe into the cistern. When the latter is sufficiently full the float rises so as to

page_text: close the valve. The pressure on the moveable seat being removed, the conical
valve or stop-cock instantly closes, and the valve E opens to allow the water
to enter rapidly from the cistern to the basin in order to flush it. The advan-
tages attending this improved arrangement of watercloset are, that it is simple
in construction, economises the water, and renders the flushing perfect.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and how the same is to
be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise details herein-before set forth, and that I do not claim the parts taken
separately; but what I claim is the arrangement herein-before described for
a self-supplying water-closet.
In witness whereof, I, the said D. A. Lamb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
D. A. LAMB. (L.S.)