Improvements in Baths.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
Improvements in Baths.
1 HENRY RILEY of No. 8 Buckingham Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Surveyor, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in baths, more especially designed for use
of hospitals, work-houses, casual-wards, public baths, and wash-houses, and other
places of a like public nature, and has for its object to render such baths, perfectly
self-rinsing, or flushing whereby they will be effectually cleansed every time water
is let into them, and the necessity for employing flannels, brushes, or other
extraneous cleaning means rendered superfluous, by which means the risk of
spreading infection, so liable hitherto, where flannels, brushes or similar cleansing
means were employed, will be entirely eliminated, such risks being further lessened
by so constructing the baths, that the use of plug-chains, and other contrivances
hitherto another source of spreading infection, is entirely dispensed with. Further
objects of the invention are, to render baths, constructed in accordance therewith,
quick of filling and emptying, thereby providing the drains with an excellent flush,
whilst also the use of a wooden rim or enclosure around the top of such baths, is
dispensed with.
And in order that the said invention may be the more readily understood, I have
shown same upon the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein :
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, and
Fig. 2 a transverse section, of one form of my invention
Fig. 3 being a longitudinal sectional elevation, and
Fig. 4 a transverse section of a modified form thereof, whilst
Fig. 5 is a plan of a bath constructed according to my invention.
Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts throughout the figures, a (Figs. 1 and 2) is a bath constructed of
iron or other suitable metal or porcelain, fashioned with a turned-over rim or
flange a running around the top of same, which rim or flange is turned-over
toward the inner side of the bath top, and in section is elliptical, and is nearly flat
on its upper surface, as shewn more particularly in Fig. 2.
The edge a² of the said turned-over rim or flange a¹ is brought within close
proximity to the sides of the bath a, so that only a very narrow space or opening
is left between such bath-sides and the edge a².
At two points in the said turned-over rim or flange al preferably one at each
end thereof, are provided inlets a³ into which are introduced the respective ends of
hot water and cold water supply pipes b, b1 of not less than one-and-a-half inches
diameter, which pipes are provided with collars 63, 63 and with suitable cocks, such
as quarter-turn valves, 64, 65 for regulating the supply of hot and cold water to the
bath.
By so arranging these supply pipes, the hot water and the cold water, when the
respective cocks are turned on are caused to enter the turned-over rim or flange a
at opposite ends of same, the peculiar tube-like construction of such rim or
flange a', enabling the two bodies of water to travel completely around the top of
the bath, and to meet and mingle together at or about the centre thereof, a constant
film-like stream of water being allowed to escape through the opening left for the
purpose between the edge a² of the turned-over rim or flange a' and the sides of
the bath, and to flow down the latter, effectually cleansing and washing away from

page_text: them any filth or other noxious matter, and so removing all infectious germs that
would otherwise adhere to the sides of the bath.
In the form shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, where my invention is intended to be
applied to baths more particularly made of porcelain or similar earthenware, I do
not turn down the edge a² of the turned-over rim or flange a¹ to such an extent as
in the form shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, owing to the liability of the earthenware, under
the present system of manufacture, to crack and break, and also the difficulty
attendant upon enamelling the interior of such turned-over rim or flange a. By
not bringing the edge a² as near the side of the bath, as in the former case a wider
mouth is left, into which a leaden pipe g, of suitable dimensions, is inserted and
dressed into the interior of the turned over rim or flange a', and is then perforated
on the lower edge nearest the side of the bath. The leaden pipe y aforesaid,
passes entirely around the upper part of the bath within the turned-over rim or
flange a, and the bath is supplied with hot and cold water in the manner herein-
before described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. In lieu of the plugs and chains
or other appliances hitherto used with baths for emptying and retaining the water
in same, I provide in the bottom of the bath an outlet orifice of considerably
larger dimensions than heretofore used, and cover same with a brass or other
grating e, preferably bolted through the bottom of the bath by means of nutted
bolts c², the lower ends of which, pass through a metal plate 3 having an aperture
corresponding to that in the bottom of the bath, and through flanges on the sides
of a suitable drain trap d, communicating with the drains. A hinged or pivoted
valve e (Fig. 1) is located beneath the outlet orifice c in the bottom of the bath,
for the purpose of retaining the water in such bath, or permitting same to escape.
The position the said valve e assumes when it is closed, is shown in solid lines,
whilst the dotted lines show the position it takes up when open.
Such a valve can be operated in any manner to suit the position in which the
bath is situated. As will be readily seen, the arrangement above described
enables an excellent and efficient flush to the drains to be obtained, by means of
which all filth and disease germs will be effectually carried away, whilst also the
emptying and filling of the bath can be accomplished in a considerably shorter
space of time than heretofore.
By the construction of the top-turned-over rim or flange a¹ of the bath, the use
of a wooden top or enclosure, hitherto employed, is rendered superfluous, as the
flattened and turned-over rim or flange enables a person to enter or leave the
bath, with as much convenience and safety as was given by the use of the said
wooden top or enclosure.
I am aware that baths having inwardly, as well as outwardly turned-over top
edges, have been anticipated but these turned-over edges are constructed merely
to dispense with the addition of wooden rims to such baths, and to prevent the
water splashing over the sides.
I am also aware that devices are known for causing a quantity of liquid
disinfectant to trickle down the sides of a bath, through the medium of a perforated
supply pipe located within the turned over rim or top edge, but with these devices
and their objects, my invention has no relation, my intention being, as before
stated, to obtain an efficient flushing or rinsing of the sides of the bath, by causing
two streams of water to be carried around the top of same and to mingle and flow
down the bath-sides, and also to dispense with all taps projecting over edge of bath,
and also to obtain an efficient flushing for the drains.
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 improvements in baths, comprising an inwardly turned-over, integrally
formed, rim or flange, at the top, having its edge in close proximity to the sides of
the bath, and provided with inlets, one at each end, designed to receive the ends
of a large hot and a cold water supply pipe, respectively, whereby a body of hot,

page_text: and a like body of cold water, are caused to circulate around the top of the bath
and to mingle at or near the centre thereof, and fall down and wash the sides,
substantially as described, and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
2. The improvements in baths, comprising an inwardly turned-over, integrally-
formed rim or flange at the top, to contain a leaden pipe passing entirely around
the circumference of same and perforated in its lower edge, communicating with
pipes, one at each end of the bath, for the supply of hot and cold water to the
latter, substantially as and for the purpose described, and illustrated with reference
to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improvements in baths, comprising a grating covering the outlet orifice
in the bottom of same, and a hinged or pivoted valve and trap, situated below
such outlet orifice, substantially as for the purpose described, and illustrated by
the drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1894.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.