Improvements in Waste Preventing and Flushing Cisterns for Water Closets and other purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Waste Preventing and Flushing Cisterns for Water
Closets and other purposes.
I, HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB of 16 South Street Greenwich in the County of
Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a cistern which, from its construction,
shall be absolutely certain in its flushing action, and shall be automatic in the
shut off, or stoppage of flow, of the flushing water.
The apparatus, as I prefer to construct it, consists of a cistern, preferably of
cast iron, of slightly greater depth than length & tapering towards the bottom,
though not necessarily so, which is provided with the ordinary inlet supply valve,
the opening & closing of which is actuated by a lever & float; and with an outlet
hole on one side near the bottom, or in the bottom itself. The outlet is fitted with
a nipple and union the outer end of which connects to the pipe leading to the pan,
or other receptacle, requiring to be flushed, whilst the inner end projects sufficiently
through and into the cistern to allow of the end of a short length of india rubber,
or other flexible pipe being secured to it.
The float of the inlet lever valve is of the open top type, preferably hemispherical
in shape. At the bottom of the float is an outlet hole terminating in a straight
spout of sufficient length to allow of the other end of the india rubber pipe, already
referred to, being fastened to it. For making this connection a collapsible oval
bag, open and shaped at each end to fit the nipple and spout may be substituted for
the rubber pipe.
The lever of the inlet valve terminates in a fork which is of sufficient width to
allow of the float fitting loosely between it. Through the end of each prong of the
fork is drilled a horizontal hole: at each side of the float, as near the top as is
possible, are two corresponding holes through these four holes is passed a light
rod, thereby attaching the float to the lever, whilst allowing it to swing freely
between the fork.
the water.
Over the top of the cistern is fixed another lever, which works in the same
vertical plane as the float lever, having attached at one end the usual pull chain or
wile. At a point in its length, directly over the rod on which the float swings, this
lever is bent to the shape of an U, so that when it is pulled down the U comes in
contact with the swivel rod of the float and depresses the float below the surface of
The float immediately fills and sinks to the bottom, or rather to low
water mark. Directly the float is immersed, water begins to flow from the outlet
spout at its bottom through the india rubber pipe to the pan or other receptacle, &
continues to flow until the level of the water is reduced to the top edge of the float,
when what water is then in the float, quickly runs out and the float begins to rise
with the incoming water, (the inlet valve having been opened by the falling of the
float) & continues to do so until it reaches the level at which the inlet valve closes.
The tank is now ready for another flush.
The pull lever is so balanced, that when the pull is released it returns to a
horizontal position, the U shaped part of the lever rising to such a point that it
leaves the float free to rise to its full height.
The outlet through the float may also be made to serve as an overflow pipe, if it
is desired.
DAL:
ليمن
2

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Waste Preventing and Flushing Cisterns for Water
Closets and other purposes.
I, HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB, of 16, South Street, Greenwich, in the County of
Kent, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a cistern, which from its construction
shall be absolutely certain in its flushing action and shall be automatic in the
shut off or stoppage of flow of the flushing water.
The
The apparatus, as I prefer to construct it, consists of a cistern, preferably of cast
iron, but may be of any other metal or suitable material such as slate, stoneware or
earthenware, which, in certain designs of the apparatus, is of slightly greater depth
than length and tapering towards the bottom, though not necessarily so.
cistern is provided with the ordinary inlet supply valve, the opening and closing of
which is actuated by a lever and a float, (of which more particular mention is
made later), and with an outlet hole in the bottom, or in either side near the
bottom.
The outlet is fitted with a nipple and union. The nipple has a flange or collar
formed on it and is secured to the cistern either by bolts or a backnut; its outer
end projects through and outside the cistern and serves to connect to the pipe
leading to the pan, or other receptacle, requiring to be flushed.
The inner end of the nipple within the cistern is of a bent or elbow pattern
when fitted to an outlet in the bottom or sides of a cistern, or straight when fittedl
to an outlet in the end of a cistern, and terminates in an enlarged collar, shaped to
receive a short length of india rubber or other flexible pipe, the same being secured
around the collar by wire or other suitable means.
The float which actuates the lever of the inlet valve is preferably hemispherical
in shape, though not necessarily so, and is open at the top. At the bottom of the float
is an outlet hole terminating in a spout, which may be any length according to the
design and size of the cistern, to which is attached the other end of the india rubber
tube or flexible connection. This flexible connection serves to make a water tight
joint between the fixed nipple and the spout of the float, whilst allowing the spout to
hinge freely either on a pin passed transversely through its end and the collar of
the nipple to which the rubber is attached or, as in another design, to swivel in
a union or gland nut, the end of the spout in this case terminating in a bend or
elbow with a union attachment. In this latter design the rubber connection, if
desired, may be dispensed with by making a joint between the nut, the spout and
the fixed nipple by a leather washer or any suitable packing.
The connection between the outlet nipple and the float may also be effected by
a collapsable oval bag open and shaped at each end to fit the nipple and spout. In
this case it is preferable that the outlet nipple should be straight and situated
vertically below the centre of the float, the outlet spout or pipe from which is also
straight and vertical and shorter than in the other designs. The collapsable bag
may be constructed after the manner of a smith's circular bellows, or, which is
more convenient, by having the enlarged and middle part of the bag made of a
cylinder of thin metal or other stiff material to which is secured two flexible ends
tapered to the size of the nipple and spout to which they are respectively fastened.
The lever of the inlet valve terminates in a fork which is of sufficient width to
allow of the float fitting loosely between it. The float is attached to the fork of
the lever by a light rod passing transversely through the float and projecting
sufficiently at each side to engage with the fork by means of holes or slots formed
in each of its prongs in such a manner that the float is at liberty to work freely

page_text: between it. In certain designs of the apparatus the inlet valve lever may be left
free to rest on the transverse rod of the float or on the top edge of the float itself.
Over the top of the cistern is fixed the pull lever by means of which the
apparatus is actuated; it works in the same vertical plane as the float lever, having
attached at one end the usual pull chain or wire. At a point in its length, directly
over the transverse rod in the float, the lever is bent to a shape somewhat
resembling an U.
By pulling this lever down its U shaped part comes in contact with the transvese
rod in the float and depresses the float below the surface of the water. The float
immediately fills and sinks to the bottom of the cistern, the lowest part of its edge
corresponding with and regulating the height of the water when at its lowest level.
Directly the float is immersed, water begins to flow from the outlet spout at its
bottom through the india rubber pipe or connection to the pan or other receptacle
to be flushed, and continues to flow until the level of the water in the cistern is
reduced to the lowest part of the edge of the float, when what water there is
remaining in the float also quickly runs out and the float as quickly rises and rides
on the water at its natural floating level by reason of its having again become
empty. The inlet valve having been opened by the falling of the float the cistern
begins to refill and the float rises with the incoming water until high water mark
is reached when it close the inlet valve. The cistern is now ready for another
flush.
The pull lever is so balanced, that when the pull is released, it returns to its top
or horizontal position so that the float is left free to rise to its full height.
The outlet through the float may, if desired, be made to serve as an overflow
pipe, so that the usual overflow fitting may be dispensed with.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1. represents a front elevation of a design where the outlet nipple is of an
elbow pattern, and is fixed in the bottom of the cistern, and where the spout of
Hoat hinges on a pin in the nipple; and shows the float and outlet nipple in section
through their centres.
Figure 2. 15 a plan of No. 1 with the cover of cistern removed.
Figure 3. is a front elevation, with the front side of cistern removed, of a design
showing the collapsable bag connection between the float and outlet nipple.
Figure 4. is a plan of No. 3 with the cover removed.
Figure. 5. is a front elevation, with the front side of cistern removed, of a
design where the spout or float terminates in an elbow and union attachment, and
swivels in a nut, or gland, fitted to the nipple; and where the inlet valve lever
merely rests on the top of the float, instead of being attached to it by a forked end
as in Figure 2 and Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan of No. 5 with the cover removed.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of Figure 5 in section on line 1. 1.
a is the cistern and bits cover, which may be either loose or bolted to the cistern,
c is the inlet valve and its lever, e is the outlet nipple, is a backnut securing
nipple to cistern, is the india rubber or flexible connection, is the hollow float,
i is the spout leading from the float, ; is the pin on which the spout hinges in the
enlarged end of the nipple, & is the union or gland nut (see Figure 7), is the union
attachment fitted at the bent end of the spout in Figure 7, m is the leather washer
or packing making the joint between the collar of the union and the recessed end of
nipple in Figure 7, n is the collapsable bag in Figure 3, of which n¹ is the stiff
cylindrical centre, and n², n², the flexible taper ends attached thereto, o is the
forked end of the inlet valve lever, p is the rod attaching the float to the fork,
is the pull lever, and r the handle fastened to the chain or wire attached to it,
s is the counterbalance weight on the spindle of the pull lever, t is the ordinary
overflow fitting, u are dotted lines indicating the shape the collapsable bag assumes
when it is in a state of collapse and the float at low water mark see Fig. 3.
dotted lines representing the high water, and w are similar lines showing the low
water mark.
vare

page_text: It is evident that this design of float may be used in a cistern or tank of any size
or depth by making the length of the spout or the collapsable bag in proportion.
Also, in the case of cisterns or tanks deep in comparison with their length, the
connection between the outlet nipple and the spout of float may be made by a
length of flexible pipe which may be coiled in a spiral coil, lying close together
when the float is in the bottom position, and extended when at the top.
The water or other liquid in a cistern or tank may be discharged to any required
level by regulating the depth to which the float shall sink. This may be con-
veniently done by a light chain, capable of being adjusted to any desired length,
one end of which is attached to the transverse bar of the float and the other to a
hook on the pull lever or cover of the cisteru, or may be fastened to an adjusting
screw in the cover, or to a small spindle around which it may be wound in the
manner of a windlass.
ין
Figures 1, 3, 5 & 7 show the cistern a charged with water ready for flushing and
the float floating on the water at high water mark c. The apparatus is worked
by pulling down the pull lever 7 by means of the handle which, coming in contact
with the top of the float h. presses it under water so that it fills and sinks to the
bottom of the cistern a. As soon as the float is below the surface, water begins to
flow through the hole in the float and on through the spout to the outlet e and
continues till the cistern is emptied down to the line w (which line corresponds with
the top of the float when lying at the bottoni of the cistern a) and the float itself
also is emptied, which causes it to rise quickly and again float, and thereby effect
the automatic cut off of the flow of the flushing water. There is always water to the
depth of the line we remaining in the cistern. The mlet valve is also opened by
the sinking of the float, this valve is much smaller than the outlet through the
float, otherwise the float would not be able to empty itself and rise from the bottom
of the cistern. The incoming water now causes the float to rise gradually until the
cistern is again full when it closes the inlet valve c by means of the lever d.
This completes the operation, the cistern being now ready for another flush.
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 cistern or tank constructed and fitted substantially as described with an
open top float which serves to close the inlet valve, and in which is combined a
means of outlet for the water at its bottom, which outlet is connected to the outlet
in the cistern in such a manner that the float is free to rise and fall as the level of
the water varies; and which float permits of a flush being obtained at whatever
level the water may be in the cistern; and which is capable of such adjustment
that the flush may be stayed at any desired level of the water; and which, when
the water has sunk to its lowest level, by means of its capacity for emptying itself
of the water remaining in the float, rises and automatically closes all egress of
water till it is again depressed below the surface of the water; also the combination,
with its other functions, of that of an overflow.
2. In a cistern or tank fitted with an open top float which is free to rise and fall
as the level of the water varies, a flexible connection for making the joint between
the moveable outlet spout of the float and the fixed outlet nipple in the cistern; or
the means by which the same end may be obtained by the end of the spout of the
float swivelling in a gland or nut as described and shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7.
3. A float the general construction of which permits of the lever of the inlet
valve being detached from, and independent of it.
4. The general arrangement and construction of the apparatus as described.
Doted this and do of In
HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB.