Improvements in Disinfecting Apparatus for Water Closets and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Disinfecting Apparatus for Water Closets and
the like.
HARRIS PHILPOTS 56 Shrewsbury Road Birkenhead Physician & Surgeon, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An apparatus for disinfecting the water used in flushing water closets, by the
automatic distribution of a disinfectant, to wit, permanganate of potash.
This apparatus is a round covered vessel, with a flat base, & is made of earthen-
ware, glass, or metal, in different sizes: As an example: an apparatus 5 inches
high is 38 inches diameter.
It is formed with an inner cylindrical compartment B in which is stored the
disinfectant. This inner compartment B is also 5 inches high, & 2 inches in
diameter. Half an inch below the top are several perforations, a. a. a. a. which
allow the strong solution of the disinfectant to overflow into chamber A each time
the water passes through the tube C.
The top of the apparatus is perforated in three places b. c. & d.
The hole b. is in connection with the inner chamber B, & serves for the escape
of air.
In the central hole c is a cork or stopper, through which a tube C. passes into
the centre of the middle chamber B. & reaches to within half an inch of the base of
the vessel.
This tube C. is th of an inch diameter & 4 inches long, & is perforated in
several places in its circumference.
In hole d is also a cork or stopper, through which the longer half of a syphon
tube D passes, & reaches to within half an inch of the bottom of the outer
chamber A.
This syphon tube D. is 8 inches long; the outer arm bends so as to lie close to
the outside of the vessel, & terminates in a very constricted orifice, which allows
only a small quantity of the disinfectant to escape.
The apparatus is to be entirely immersed in the water contained in the cistern.
When it is completely filled, & the syphon tube D is freed from air spaces, the
apparatus is ready for use.
To understand its action readily, place the apparatus in a cistern full of water.
When a flush is required, the valves are lifted & the water runs through the
escape pipe, flushing all before it. As soon as the level of the water in the cistern
falls to the top of the apparatus, the syphon D begins to act, & pours out a
gentle stream of the strong permanganate solution, contained in chamber A ; this
action continues until the water rises again above the level of the top of the
apparatus, when it ceases.
A new supply of the disinfectant now prepares itself automatically, by the water
flowing down tube C, & forcing a quantity of the concentrated solution of the
disinfectant through the holes a. a. a. a. into the outer chamber A: thus it replaces
that which has escaped through the syphon during the previous flushing.
This action repeats itself every time the cistern is used.
Dated this Twenty-first day of October 1890.

page_text: 'COMPLETE. SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Disinfecting. Apparatus for Water Closets and
the like.
HARRIS PHILPOTS, Physician & Surgeon 56. Shrewsbury Road Oxton Cheshire
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 apparatus consists of an earthenware vessel, & is made in various sizes. As
an example: a vessel 5 inches high is 33 inches in diameter, with a circum-
ference 10 inches. It is formed with an inner cylindrical compartment or container,
made of the same material, or of porous clay, & is attached to the centre of the
floor of the vessel; this inner compartment contains the disinfectant; it
is five inches high, & two inches (more or less) in diameter. Or the inner com-
partment may be semi-cylindrical, having its edges attached to the floor & sides
of the vessel; this arrangement provides a larger area for storing the disinfectant.
Half an inch below the top of both cylindrical & semi-cylindrical compartments
are several perforations which allow the solution of the disinfectant to overflow into
the outer chamber.
The apparatus is covered at the top with a permanent lid in which are three
holes.
To prepare a charged vessel for use, immerse it in water, until it has filled itself,
& all air is expelled from the syphon tube.
To understand its action, place the apparatus in a cistern full of water.
As
soon as the water, which is being drawn off through the escape pipes into the
water closet pan, falls to the level of the top of the apparatus in the cistern, the
syphon begins to act, & pours out a gentle stream of permanganate solution until
the water now flowing into the cistern again reaches above the level of the top
of the apparatus, when the syphon action ceases. A new supply of the disinfecting
solution now prepares itself automatically thus: water flows down the tube in the
centre hole, & forces a quantity of the concentrated solution through the perfora-
tions or spaces into the syphon chamber, to replace that which has escaped
through the syphon during the previous flushing. This action repeats itself every
time the cistern is used.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
way in which I construct &
carry out my invention.
Fig. 1. shows the apparatus complete in all its parts.
Fig. II. shows the apparatus placed in position in a flush cistern connected with
a w.c. pan or urinal.
Fig. III. is a detailed view of the various parts in section.
Fig. IV. shows the syphon.
Fig. V. shows the stopper with tube passing through.
Fig. VI. shows transverse section of Fig. I.
Fig. VII. shows modification of Fig. I. with semi-cylindrical compartment:fixed
inside to the floor & sides of the vessel.
Fig. VIII. shows same in transverse section.
In carrying out my invention I provide an apparatus 'A as illustrated at Fig. I,
in the cover of which are three perforations b. c. d. The 'hole bis <small &
obliquely perforated & serves for the escape of air. Hole c is for the cork or
stopper, through which the tube C. passes into the centre of the container B.
Hole d serves for the passage of the syphon tube D. into chamber A.
The tube C is inch diameter, & 4 inches long. It is perforated in several
places in its circumference below the cork or stopper e.
The syphon D. may be made of metal or glass; it is 8 to 9 inches long; the
end. reaching to within one inch of the floor of the inner compartment A or A³²;

page_text: it bends over so as to lie close to the outside of the apparatus A-& terminates in
a very constricted orifice g. or it may be perforated with a small pinhole one inch
above where it turns under the base of the apparatus, & is flattened out, this serves
to hold the syphon D firmly to the side.
The modification as to the shape & position of the container B-is shown
in Figure 6 & Fig. 8 in sections.
In many cases I prefer to provide for a greater storage of the disinfectant than
can be stored in container B-if placed in the centre of the apparatus. I therefore
bisect the cylinder B & form two semi-cylinders, & attach the cut surfaces of one
semi-cylinder, to the inner side & floor of the vessel, thus forming two unequal
compartments, the larger B2 for the storage of the disinfectant, the smaller A² is
the reservoir for the disinfectant in solution which is obtained in the manner
before described by flowing from the container B2 into A2 through the
perforations a. a. a. a.
The apparatus A is placed in the flush cistern H. Water is drawn off to flush
the water closet pan. As soon as the water in the cistern H. falls to the level of
the top of the apparatus, A, the syphon D begins to act, & pours out from
chamber A or A² a stream of disinfectant solution, until the water now flowing
into the cistern again reaches above the level of the top of the apparatus A, when
the syphon D ceases to act.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
I. The combination as represented at Fig. I. for the purpose of disinfecting
water closets, urinals etc.
II. The method of arranging the internal containers A & A² by which the
crystal disinfectant & the solution are kept separate.
III. The application of the syphon D to the foregoing.
Dated this 29th day of June 1891.
HARRIS PHILPOTS.