Improvements in Automatic Flushing and other Syphons.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Flushing and other Syphons.
We ROBERT PACKENHAM WILLIAMS of 75 Endwell Road, Brockley, Gentleman
and EDWIN JAMES PRESTON of the firmn of J. Stone & Company of Deptford Engineers
both in the County of Kent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
$6
These improvements have for their object to render the action of annular syphons
certain and strong, and are applicable to those called automatic flushing syphons, to
syphons for discharging a given quantity of liquid, and to syphons used for water-
closets and the like, but more especially to the syphons known as Fields Patent
self-acting flushing syphon" described in the Specification of Rogers Field's patent
dated 25th October 1875 No. 3747. Some of the aforesaid syphons are objectionable
because they depend upon the action of an auxiliary starting syphon, or on pipes
which are liable to become choked or otherwise get out of order. This objection
does not however apply to "Fields" aforesaid patent syphon, but in that case, unless
the syphon be placed quite vertical its action becomes uncertain or defective while
the waterway is also restricted by the lip or adjutage which tends to stop up the
upper mouth of the discharge leg.
Now according to this invention we make the discharge leg of a taper form
increasing towards the bottom so that even if the syphon by accident or carelessness
should be fixed somewhat deviating from the vertical position the action will neverthe-
less not be interfered with on that account; the outer leg of the syphon we make with a
corresponding taper, or so as not to decrease the present annular area and flow. We also
make the lip or adjutage with a sharp or but very slightly rounded edge where it
joins the said leg at the top, thus increasing the area of this aperture. Or instead of
the taper form named we may form the discharge leg with an enlargement with
parallel sides starting at or somewhat below the bottom edge of the lip, the outer or
entering leg being enlarged in diameter to suit. The lip which by preference tapers
down in a straight direction from the aforesaid upper sharp edge may be made with
or without corrugations in a downward direction and with or without scolloped or
serrated bottom edge for the purpose of dividing the water up into streams especially
in the starting and thus the more readily create a vacuum in the discharge leg.
The top of the outer leg is by preference formed with a considerable central depression
or bulge inwards. The trapping box we sometimes make with a weir all round the
bottom of the discharge orifice.
The apparatus when not required to work automatically such as for flushing closets
may be started by raising the outer leg of the syphon thus creating a partial vacuum,
or an air pipe may be attached to the top of the syphon and a syringe or pump may
be placed under the closet seat so as to create a partial vacuum in the syphon and
thus start the action.
Dated this and dow of October 1888
ROBERT P. WILLIAMS.
EDWIN JAMES PRESTON.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Flushing and other Syphons.
We ROBERT PACKENHAM WILLIAMS of 75 Endwell Road Brockley Gentleman and
EDWIN JAMES PRESTON of the firm of J. Stone & Co. of Deptford Engineers both in
the County of Kent do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-―
These improvements have for their object to render the action of annular syphons
absolutely certain and full in view of certain probable contingencies and are applicable to
so-called automatic flushing syphons, to syphons for discharging a given quantity of the
liquid at recurrent intervals and to syphons used for water-closets and the like, but
more especially to the syphons known as "Field's Patent self-acting flushing syphons
described in the Specification of Rogers Field's Patent dated 25th October 1875
No. 3747. Some of the aforesaid syphons are objectionable because they depend upon
the action of an auxiliary starting syphon, or on pipes which are liable to become choked
or otherwise get out of order. This objection does not however apply to " Field's "
aforesaid Patent Syphon, but in that case unless the syphon be placed quite vertical
its action becomes uncertain or defective while the water-way is also much restricted
by the lip or adjutage which contracts the inlet of the discharge leg.
Now according to this invention and as shewn in the vertical section Fig. 1 we make
the discharge leg A of annular syphons of a taper form increasing towards the bottom
so that even if the syphon by accident or carelessness should be somewhat deviating
from the vertical position the action will nevertheless not be interfered with on that
account, because the water passing down the adjutage would fall clear of the sides
of the inner leg A owing to its tapered or enlarged form.
The downward taper of the leg A is in this case continued to or about the fixing
flange of the leg, the bottom part being in this example continued parallel.
The outer leg B of the syphon we make with a corresponding taper so as not to
decrease the present annular area and flow. Or instead of the taper form named we
may as shewn in Fig. 2 form the discharge leg B with an enlargement with parallel
sides starting at or near the bottom edge of the lip C, the outer or entering leg being
enlarged in diameter to suit.
The inner leg A has ribs D or equivalent known means for guiding or steadying
the outer leg B thereon. The lip or adjutage C which by preference tapers down in
or about a straight direction from the upper edge may be made with corrugations in a
downward direction as shewn in Fig. 1 or without corrugations as shewn in Fig. 2
and has the bottom edge scolloped or serrated as shewn in both figures for the purpose
of dividing the water up into separate streams and creating a strong rush especially
at the initial moment of discharge and thus the more readily creating a vacuum in
the discharge leg. The top of the outer leg B is sometimes formed with a consider-
able central depression or bulge inwards as shewn in Fig. 2 or a less bulge
as shewn in Fig. 1. so as to diminish the objectionable air space at this place at
starting.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view and Fig. 4 a plan of an adjutage or lip C with corrugations
and scolloped at top and bottom Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of an adjutage with
corrugations starting below the top edge and increasing in width towards the bottom,
the edge of which is scolloped. In each of the above cases the top or lip of the
adjutage is set in at C, and finished with a sharp edge thus allowing the water to rise
higher before starting than it otherwise would and causing the syphon to act
with a drop by drop supply without any waste and with an increasing flush at
starting.
The improved forms of adjutage hereinbefore described are also applicable to syphons
with parallel legs or of the ordinary form.
Figure 7 is a vertical section shewing the improved syphon applied to a cast
iron trapping box E having a weir E' round the bottom of the discharge orifice of

page_text: Figure 8 is a vertical section shewing the syphon applied to a cement trapping
box set in brickwork and with usual manhole and grid door or lid.
Figure 9 is a vertical section shewing an application of the syphon to closet flushing
or where it is not required to work automatically but where the syphon action is
started by raising the outer leg of syphon. Figure 10 is a plan section on line L L.
The outer leg B is in this case adapted to be raised for starting the action of syphon
by means of the lever F jointed to the top of B. The leg B is formed with two
water inlet openings at its lower end and is guided or steadied on the pins D.
By the herein before described improvements we ensure effective discharge of a
tank supplied with very slight or gradual inflow. Also in case of inaccurate
fixing of the syphon in the first instance or subsequent inaccurate position by
reason of subsidence of the ground or cracking of the brickwork or masonry the
action of the syphons is not impaired. The rapidity of starting and of discharge
is also increased, while the dip or seal of the discharge leg of the syphon way
vary considerably without injuriously affecting the action of the syphon. By
making the inner leg of the syphon of the forin described we are enabled to use
an adjutage which but slightly contracts the top of inner leg and can utilize the
full area of syphon for discharge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In annular syphons the application and use of a discharge leg tapering or
increasing in diameter downwards for the purpose of ensuring certainty of action
even when out of the true vertical position substantially as set forth.
Second. In annular syphons with inner discharge leg tapering or increasing in
diameter downwards the application and use of an outer inlet leg of corresponding
form substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. In annular syphons the application and use of adjutages C substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. In adjutages for annular syphons the application and use of the inwardly
directed top edge C substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The improved constructions of annular syphon shewn and described.
Dated this 51st day of July 1883.
Dated EIS DIST CRY OF JULY GOOD.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.