Improvements in water supply Apparatus 1or wasn Hand Basins, for Water Closets, and for other Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in water supply Apparatus 1or wasn Hand
Basins, for Water Closets, and for other Purposes.
I, DAVID SMITH KEITH, of 1 Hermitage Terrace, Leith, in the County of
Midlothian, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR WASH HAND BASINS FOR WATER
CLOSETS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of an improved arrangement or combination of parts
of water supply apparatus for_wash hand basins, baths, closets, and the like,
and it also comprises improvements in the construction of the water supply
valve and other details of the combination, which are separately applicable in
connection with domestic water supply.
The improved water supply valve which forms an essential element of the
combinations hereinafter described, and which is adapted for low pressures or for
use in connection with service cisterns, consists of a covered valve casing in which
are two dished diaphragms of rubber or similar flexible material which face each
other and form a partially compressed ball, the edges of the diaphragms being
secured together by flanges forming the joint between the lower part and the cover
of the valve casing. Into the lower part of the valve casing the water inlet pipe
enters and projects inwards to form the valve seat upon which the lower diaphragm
rests. The lower diaphragm forms both the inlet and discharge valve, and is kept
normally closed by the pressure of the water which is admitted from the inlet
pipe between the diaphragms and acts on the full area of the lower diaphragm to
keep it down on its seat, while the water in the inlet pipe only presses on a part of
the diaphragm equal to the area of the pipe. Within the inlet pipe is fitted-a
wing valve which is secured to the diaphragm valve by a flange piece fitted above
that diaphragm and screwed to the stein of the wing valve which projects through
the diaphragm. The stem of the wing valve is hollow and is fitted with a smaller
valve which opens against the pressure of the inlet water, and is kept normally
closed by a spring, a small orifice or a notch being formed in the valve or its seat
for the passage slowly through it of the inlet water which enters the space or
chamber between the diaphragms and serves to equalise the pressure of water on
both sides of the diaphragm valve. The valve is operated by depressing the upper
diaphragm to expel the water from the chamber between the diaphragms, the water
escaping through the spring valve and partly between the diaphragm and the

page_text: flange of the wing valve to the inlet pipe. For the purpose of expelling the water
a stem or rod is fitted through the cover of the valve casing, and is provided with
a curved disc which bears on the upper diaphragm. Around the stem rod is fitted
a helical spring, or to it is attached a weight so that after effecting the expulsion
of the water from the diaphragm chamber, the stem rises to its normal position.
The lower diaphragm is thereupon raised by the pressure of the water in the inlet
pipe, the water rushes in between the diaphragm and its seat and flows through
the lower valve casing and through a discharge pipe. While the water continues
to flow through the valve casing, the diaphragm chamber slowly fills through the
notch or orifice in the spring valve, and as it becomes filled it closes the diaphragm
valve on its seat and cuts off the water supply. The size of the notch or orifice
in the spring valve thus serves to determine the time during which the diaphragm
valve remains open and therefore controls the supply. This feature is however
common to a number of self closing valves.
1
In order to prevent leakage of water in the event of the upper diaphragm
bursting, a small flexible washer is fitted between the disc on the stem rod and the
upper cover of the valve casing, so that in the event of water passing the diaphragm
it will close the disc tightly against the washer round the stem rod orifice.
In the arrangement of apparatus for supplying water to wash hand basins, and
the like, this improved self-closing valve is employed to control the supply of
water to the basin, the discharge pipe of the valve being fitted to the basin in
any convenient way, but being by preference connected to the discharge pipe
under the basin so that the water flows upwards through the outlet in filling the
basin. The supply valve is operated either by a hand push or lifting rod in the
usual way, or as is preferred by a lever operated by a footboard or platform upon
which the user of the basin standa A weight on the back end of this lever acts
on the stem of the valve to keep the upper diaphragm normally down, and to this
lever a wire or chain passes up to the end of a second weighted lever which is
fitted by a joint pin to the lower side of the basin or discharge pipe. On this
second lever is hung a cup piece carrying a flexible ball which forms the stop valve
closing against the discharge pipe to retain the water in the basin. The connection
between the levers is however so made that the ball is lowered from the discharge
pipe or horn and leaves the discharge orifice open.
When the user of the basin stands on the platform or footboard, he tilts the
first lever to raise the diaphragm and flush the basin. The upper lever is at the
same time tilted to bring the ball into close contact with its seat on the discharge
orifice of the basin, and is there maintained by a weight on the end of the lever.
The valve remains open to supply only sufficient water to fill the basin to the
required extent, and then it closes as before described. When the user of the
basin steps off the footboard the levers tilt back to the original position and the
water is discharged from the basin.
In applying the improved water supply apparatus in connection with water
closets, I employ two valves of the construction described, and so connect them by
levers to the closet handle, that in raising the handle one valve is operated on to
supply water to flush the closet, and on lowering the handle the other valve is
operated on to supply water for the after flush.

page_text: Basins, for Water Closets, and for other Purposes.
I, DAVID SMITH KEITH of 1 Hermitage Terrace, Leith, in the County of
Midlothian Brassfounder, 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 consists of an improved arrangement or combination of parts of
water supply apparatus for wash-hand basins, baths, and the like, and it also
comprises improvements in the construction of the water supply valve and other
details of the combination which are separately applicable in connection with
domestic water supply.
In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate my invention figures 1
and 2 are vertical sections of modifications of my improved water supply valve;
figure 3 is a vertical section of a wash hand basin and improved water supply and
discharge apparatus adapted thereto; and figures 4 and 5 are respectively a vertical
section and plan of a water closet basin provided with my improved water supply
valve. The improved water supply valve shown in figures 1 and 2 which forms
an essential element of the combinations hereinafter described in reference to
figures 3, 4 and 5, is particularly adapted for low pressures or for use in connection
with service cisterns. It consists of a valve casing A, in which are two dished
diaphragms B, B, of rubber or similar flexible material which face each other and
form a partially compressed ball, the edges of the diaphragms being secured
together by the flanges a, forming the joint between the lower part A, and the
cover A¹, of the valve casing. In the lower part of the valve casing the water
inlet pipe C, enters and projects inwards to form the valve seat o, upon which the
lower diaphragm B resta.
The lower diaphragm forms both the inlet and discharge valve and is kept
normally closed by the pressure of the water which is admitted from the inlet pipe
to the space between the diaphragms B, B¹, and acts on the full area of the lower
diaphragm to keep it down on its seat c, while the water in the inlet pipe C, only
presses on a part of the diaphragm equal to the area of the pipe..
Within the inlet pipe is fitted a wing valve D, which is secured to the diaphragm
valve B, by a flange piece E, fitted above that diaphragm and screwed to the stem d,
of the wing valve which projects through the diaphragm. The stem of the wing
valve is tubular and may either be formed with a small opening f, as shown in
figure 2, or be fitted with a smaller valve F which opens against the pressure of
the inlet water and is kept normally closed by a spring F1, as shown in figure 1,
a small orifice or a notch f¹, corresponding to the opening f in figure 2, being
formed in the valve or its seat for the passage through it of the inlet water which
enters the space or chamber between the diaphragms B, B', and serves to equalize
the pressure of water on both sides of the diaphragm valve B.
The valve is operated by depressing the upper diaphragm B', to expel the water
from the chamber between the diaphragms the water escaping partly through the
spring valve F, in the example shown in figure 1, and in each case between the

page_text: diaphragm B, and the flange E of the wing valve to the inlet pipe the flange E
being formed with openings or perforations e, through which the water passes and
forces down the inner lip b, of the diaphragm B.
For the purpose of expelling the water from the space between the diaphragms
a stem or rod G, is fitted through the cover A', of the valve casing and is provided
with a curved disc G¹, which bears on the upper diaphragm B¹. Around the stem
rod is fitted a helical spring G, or to it is connected a weight arranged to act so
that after effecting the expulsion of the water from the diaphragm chamber the
stem G, rises to its normal position. The lower diaphragm B, is thereupon raised
by the pressure of the water in the inlet pipe C, the water rushes in between the
diaphragm B, and its seat c, and flows through the lower valve casing A, and
through a discharge pipe or orifice H. While the water continues to flow through
the valve casing the diaphragm chamber slowly fills through the opening f, or the
notch or orifice f¹, in the spring valve, and as it becomes filled the water pressure
within it closes the diaphragm valve on its seat c and cuts off the water supply.
The size of the notch or orifice for f¹ thus serves to determine the length of time
during which the diaphragm valve may remain open and therefore controls, or
regulates the supply. This feature is however common to a number of self closing
valves. In order to prevent leakage in the event of the upper diaphragm bursting
a small flexible washer g is fitted between the disc G¹ of the stem rod and the
cover A¹, of the valve casing so that if water escapes through the diaphragm B¹ it
'will close the disc tightly against the washer round the stem rod orifice.
In the arrangement of apparatus for supplying water to wash hand basins shown
in fig. 3, this improved self-closing valve is employed to control the supply of water
to the basin, the discharge pipe H of the valve being fitted to the basin in any
convenient way but being by preference connected to the discharge pipe I¹, under
the basin I, so that the water for filling the basin flows upwards through the
outlet 1. The supply valve B is operated either by a hand push or lifting rod in
the usual way or as is preferred by a lever J operated by a wire or link j, connected
to a foot board or platform K upon which the user of the basin stands. A weight J
at the back end of the lever J serves to keep the lever normally in a position in
which it presses down the stem G, of the valve to keep the upper diaphragm B¹,
down; and to the lever J, a wire or chain l, passes up to the end of a weighted
lever L which is fitted by a joint pin to a bracket piece L' on the lower side of the
basin or on the discharge pipe I. On this lever L hung a cup piece m, carrying
a ball M which forms a stop valve closing against the lower end of the discharge
pipe I to retain the water in the basin. In the normal position of the lever J;
the weighted end of the upper lever L, is tilted up and the ball M is lowered from
the discharge pipe or horn I and leaves the discharge orifice open.
When the user of the basin stands on and depresses the platform or footboard K
he tilts the lever J thereby raising the diaphragm B¹, and allowing the valve B to
open and flush or fill the basin I. The upper lever L is at the same time tilted to
bring the ball M into close contact with its seat on the discharge orifice П of the
basin and it is there maintained by a weight L' on the end of the lever L
The valve B remains open only for such a length of time as will allow of the passage
of sufficient water to fill the basin to the required extent, and then it closes auto-
matically as before described. When the user of the basin steps off the foot board
the levers J, L. tilt back to their original positions the ball valve M is lowered and
the waste water is discharged from the basin. To give access to the ball M the
discharge pipe 12 is fitted with a telescoping piece I³, which may be lowered into
the main pipe I³.
This arrangement of water supply apparatus may be applied in connection with
baths, lavatories, water closets and the like.
In applying the improved water supply apparatus in connection with water
closets I prefer to employ two self closing valves (which may be of the construc-
tion hereinbefore described and shown in figure 2) in the manner represented in
figures 4 and 5.

page_text: I fit the valve casings in pockets N, formed in the crockery outside of the closet
basin O, as shown in figures 2 and 5, and I centre the levers P, P¹ on opposite sides
of the valves and connect them to the closet handle or pull Q so that in raising
the handle one valve is operated on to supply water to flush the closet and on-
lowering the handle the other valve is operated on to supply water for the after
flush. The valve casings are enclosed in the pockets or chambers N which are
formed with discharge branches N' leading to the "fan" of the closet basin,
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 combination of parts constituting the improved self-closing valve herein
described and illustrated.
(2) In a self-closing valve the combination with the diaphragm B of the wing
valve or guide D, and the perforated flange piece E as and for the purposes set
forth.
(3) In a self-closing valve the combination with the diaphragm B of the wing
valve or guide D provided with a spring actuated valve F as and for the purpose
set forth.
(4) The combination of parts constituting the improved water supply apparatus
for wash hand basins, lavatories and the like substantially as herein described with
reference to figure 3 of the drawings annexed.
(5) The improved arrangement of water supply apparatus for water closeta
described with reference to figures 2, 4 and 5. of the drawings annexed.