Improvements in Flushing Mechanism for Water-closets and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flushing Mechanism for Water-closets and the like.
We, LOUIS BRESADY SMITH and EMERSON AUGUSTINE GILBERT, both of James-
town, Chautauqua County, in the State of New York, United States of America,
Gentlemen, 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 flushing mechanism for water-closets & the like, and
has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient construction and
arrangement of parts whereby a continuous flow of water from a supply-pipe
into the closet-bowl is maintained for a sufficient length of time to insure the
proper cleansing thereof, the only manipulation necessary to cause the operation
of the valve being the unseating of the graduating check-valve.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in
the appended claims.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side view of a valve constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the upper end of the conveyor to show
the regulator valve thereof.
Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of
the drawing.
The illustrated valve is provided with a tubular casing 1, provided at a point
near one end with an outlet 2 for communication with a closet-bowl, not shown,
and provided at an intermediate point with a lateral port 3 which is in communi-
cation with a supply-pipe 4 in which water is maintained under a constant
pressure by any suitable supply system. Also, this supply-pipe is provided with
a branch forming a feeder 5 which communicates with a feed-port 6 in the end
of the cylinder or casing opposite to the outlet 2. Said feeder is provided with
a controlling-valve or cock 7.
Arranged within the casing at an intermediate point is a transverse partition 8,
which may be peripherally secured in the joint between the adjacent extremities
of separable sections 1° and 1b of the casing, a coupling sleeve 9 serving to connect
said sections; and said partition constitutes a reducer, in that it is provided with
a port 10 of an area less than the cross-sectional area of the casing. Adjacent
to this reducing-port is a valve seat 11 for the reception of a cut-off valve 12
carried by a tubular conveyor 13, which forms a hollow stem for said cut-off
valve. This conveyor extends upward through the port 10, is fitted in an arched
guide 14, spanning said reducing-port, and terminates (when the parts are in
their normal position) at a point near the cap 15 which closes the upper end of
the cylinder. The conveyor 13, which also forms a stem for the cut-off valve 12,
is attached at its lower end to a piston 16, fitted snugly in the portion of the
cylinder between the lateral inlet-port 3 and the feed-port 6, said conveyor being
extended through the piston to communicate with the interior of the cylinder

page_text: below the plane of the piston, and being adapted to convey water from the lower
chamber A of the cylinder, to the chamber B which is located above the reducing-
port. The piston is limited in its upward movement by the contact of the cut-off
valve 12 with the seat 11, and hence the supply-port 3 is permanently in communi-
cation with the intermediate chamber C between the piston and the partition 8.
Arranged in a suitable guide or cage 17, and in operative relation with a seat 18
which is in communication with the lower end of the conveyor 13, is a graduating
or check valve 19, having a projecting tappet-stem 20, by contact with which
the valve may be seated to close the conveyor, and thus cut off communication
between the feed-chamber A and the exhaust-chamber B.
Mounted for limited vertical reciprocatory movement in a guide 21 in the
upper head or cap 15 of the casing is an operating-stem or pin 22, provided at its
upper end with a grip or pressure-knob 23, and yieldingly held in an elevated
position by means of a return-spring 24. Said stem preferably extends through
a stuffing-box 25, is provided with a stop 26 whereby its upward movement under
the tension of the spring 24 is checked, and extends downward into the conveyor 13
to a point adjacent to a trip-stem 27 of the graduating or check-valve.
The parts being in the normal positions indicated in Figure 2, it is necessary,
in order to flush a closet-bowl, to depress the grip or knob 23 sufficiently to
unseat the graduating or check-valve and thus relieve the pressure at the lower
side of the piston, by establishing communication between the feed-chamber A
and the exhaust chamber B. The relief of this pressure causes a preponderance
of pressure upon the upper side of the piston, and hence causes a downward
movement of the piston. During the descent of the piston, after its motion has
unseated the cut-off valve 12, water is flowing from the intermediate or supply-
chamber C through the reducing port into the exhaust chamber, and thence
through the exhaust-port, and at the same time water is flowing from the feed-
chamber A through the conveyor 13 and discharging through a series of radial
openings 13" (see Figure 3) formed in the upper end of the conveyor and into
the exhaust-chamber. This motion continues until the extremity of the tappet-
stem 20 comes in contact with a fixed object or stop which in the construction
illustrated, consists of the lower head 28 of the cylinder, whereupon a still further
movement of the piston causes the seating of the graduating-valve. The moment
this valve is seated, to cut off communication between the feed-chamber A and
the exhaust-chamber B, an excess of pressure is applied to the lower side of the
piston, owing to the greater area thereof, and hence an upward movement of the
piston is initiated. This upward movement continues until the cut-off valve 12
is seated, and, obviously, during the upward movement of the piston, and before
the valve 12 reaches its seat, there is a continuous flow of water from the supply-
port through the reducing-port to the exhaust-chamber B, and thence to the bowl
which is being flushed.
Hence, from the moment of unseating the graduating-valve by the depression
of the operating-stem or pin 22, until the piston, after descending to the lower end
of the cylinder, has returned to its normal position to seat the cut-off valve 12,
there is a continuous flow of water through the exhaust-port.
Furthermore, it will be seen that owing to the slight difference in pressures
applied to opposite sides of the piston, both being due to the pressure in the
supply-pipe 4, the movement of the piston is comparatively slow, but in order
that its rapidity of movement may be accurately controlled I provide the feed-
pipe 5 with the feed-valve 7 hereinbefore mentioned.
..
Furthermore, it will be seen that owing to the small area of the graduating-
valve it may be unseated with a comparatively slight effort upon the part of the
operator, and after the unseating of this graduating valve, the operation of
the device is automatic until the cut-off valve is returned to its seat to close the
reducing-port and thus cut-off communication between the supply-port and the
exhaust-chamber.
In connection with the conveyor 13 I preferably employ a regulating-valve or

page_text: cap 29, for controlling the rapidity of outlet from the conveyor during the
discharge of the contents of the chamber A. In the construction illustrated, the
cap is threaded upon the upper end of the conveyor, and is provided with openings
or perforations adapted to register with the openings 13 in the wall of the
conveyor.
Various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction,
within the scope of the appended claims, may be resorted to without departing
from the principal or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
of
a
1. In a flushing mechanism, the combination, with two cylinders, one of
which is provided with an outlet and the other one is provided with
two inlets, a partition between said cylinders provided with
valve-seat, a piston between the inlets provided with a valve-seat, an open-
ended tubular stem communicating with said valve-seat on the piston and pro-
jecting through the partition a valve adjustably secured to the lower end of said
stem in position to close the partition when the piston is at the limit of its upward
movement, a gravity valve at the lower end of the stem provided with means
for engaging with the end of the cylinder, and a push-rod through the stem for
unseating said valve.
2. In a flushing device, the combination with two cylinders, one of which
is provided with an outlet and the other is provided with two inlets a partition
between said cylinders provided with a valve-seat and a guide, of a piston between
the inlets provided with a valve-seat, an open-ended tubular stem, the lower
end of which is screw-threaded, and extends through the guide and the piston
and communicates with the valve-seat of the piston, a valve adjustably secured
upon the screw-threaded portion of the stem in position to engage with the valve-
seat in the partition when the piston is at the limit of its upward movement, a
gravity valve at the lower end of the stem provided with means for engaging
with the end of the cylinder, and a push-rod through the stem for unseating the
valve.
3. In a flushing device, the combination, with two cylinders, one of which
is provided with an outlet and the other one is provided with two inlets, a
partition between said cylinders provided with a valve-seat, of a piston between
the inlets provided with a valve-seat and a bail upon its under side, an open-ended
tubular stem projecting through the partition and the piston and provided with
a valve-seat, a valve, each side of which is provided with a stem, one of which
extends into the tubular stem and the other one extends through the bail in
position to engage with the end of the cylinder, and a push-rod through the stem
for unseating said valve, substantially as specified.
4. In a flushing device, the combination with two cylinders, one of which
is provided with an outlet and the other one is provided with two inlets, of a
partition between said cylinders provided with a valve-seat and a guide, an open-
ended tubular stem through said guide, the upper end of which is provided with
a regulator and the lower end is provided with a valve and a piston, said piston
being located between said inlets, a graduating valve on the piston, and a push-
rod through the stem, the lower end of which is adapted to unseat said graduating
valve.
5. In a flushing device, the combination with two cylinders, one of which
is shorter than the other one and provided with an outlet and the longer cylinder
is provided with two inlets, one of the inlets being located substantially midway
of the length of said cylinders of a partition between the cylinders, a piston
between said inlets provided with a valve and a tubular stem, said stem projecting
through the partition and extending above the same substantially the same
distance that the piston is above the opposite end of the cylinder when at the

page_text: limit of its movement in an upward direction, the upper end of the stem being
provided with graduated openings, a graduating valve on the piston in position
to engage with the end of the cylinder, and a spring-actuated push-rod through
the end of the cylinder and projecting through the stem to a point below the
partition in position to engage with and unseat the graduating valve.
6. A flushing apparatus for water-closet bowls having cut-off valve provided
with a tubular stem in communication at one end with an exhaust a fluid-operated
valve-actuating piston attached to said stem and having a port in communication
with the interior thereof, a graduating valve for controlling said port, a piston-
cylinder having feed and supply chambers separated by the piston and exposed
to supply pressure, the supply-chamber being in communication with a port
controlled by said cut-off valve, and said graduating-valve of the piston being
in communication with, the feed-chamber, means for automatically seating the
graduating valve at the limit of, inward movement of the piston, and a spring-
returned operating-rod or pin extending through said tubular valve-stem, and
adapted for contact with the graduating-valve to unseat the same substantially
as specified.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1899.
For the Applicants,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.