Improvements in Water-closets.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec.. 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
Improvements in Water-closets.
"
I, WALTER WILLIAM ROFF of 22, Downshire Hill, Hampstead, in the County of
Middlesex, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an improved form of elastic valve closet made in one
piece of earthenware, also improved form of valve at bottom of basin, and improved
imethod of working both the inlet flushing valve" and valve at bottom of basin.
The basin and trap is in one piece of earthenware the discharge shaft from the
basin to the trap is oval or round in plan and is in the centre at lower termination of
basin and falls vertically into trap at the junction of basin with vertical shaft a
projecting rim or rebated shelf is formed there is also a slot in and at back of vertical
shaft and a ventilating pipe is formed and connected with vertical shaft at a point just
below slot this ventilating pipe passes upwards behind basin and is connected with a
hollow arm projecting out of back of basin which arm forms a trapped overflow from
basin from this point of connection the ventilating pipe is carried upwards to back of
closet from the centre of the two long sides of basin the glazed earthenware is carried
back its full width beyond back edge of basin and the two sides are joined by a back
at right angles with them thus forming a hollow enclosed space behind basin the whole
of the apparatus as far as it has been explained is made and contained in one piece of
glazed earthenware.
The next novel features of the invention are the construction of valve at bottom of
basin and the mechanism for opening and closing the valves No. 1" valve at bottom
of basin" and No. 2" the inlet flushing valve "the valve at bottom of basin consists
of an oval or round metal plate worked by a knuckle joint at back within a metal
ring or collar the knuckle has a short lever attached to same which works through a
slot in back of vertical shaft below basin the metal collar containing valve plate is
fitted on to rebated earthenware shelf and fixed by means of bolts passing through
shelf and screwed up with nuts beneath same water tight contact is obtained at
bottom of basin by laying an india-rubber ring on collar so made that it projects over
the inner edge of same and upon this is screwed down a second metal collar moulded
on its upper face to contour of basin the lever passing through slot is attached to an
oblique weighted rod and this rod at its upper end is again attached to a lever fixed
on an axle which crosses over the hollow space behind basin this axle works on pivot
ends fitted into metal bushes affixed to sides of enclosure behind basin an eccentric
crank is fixed in centre of axle and at right angles with it to open and close flushing
valve also at one end of the axle is fixed a cog wheel and at a point slightly removed
from it and fixed into side of enclosure is a larger cog wheel the two wheels being
connected by means of a chain the handle for opening and closing the valves is a
lever attached to axle of last mentioned wheel to the lever or handle is affixed an
attachment by means of which the lever is raised and so opens both valves each time
the seat of closet is thrown back for urinary or slop emptying purposes.
Dated this 24th day of January 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-closets.
I, WALTER WILLIAM ROFF, of 22, Downshire Hill, Hampstead, in the County of
Middlesex, Builder, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved mode of constructing an elastic valve closet,
the earthenware parts being formed in one piece and the flushing valve as also the
valve at the bottom of the basin being arranged and worked in an improved manner.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical section shewing the valve at the
bottom of the basin and the adjacent parts; Fig. 2 being a plan of the valve.
Reference will also be made to the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification.
The basin. the trap and other parts are made in one piece of earthenware. The
discharge shaft is vertical or nearly so and leads from the centre of the lower
termination of the basin to the trap: it is preferably oval or round in cross section.
Near the junction of the basin with the vertical shaft is formed an annular projecting
rim or rebated shelf. At the back of the vertical shaft there is a slot through which
the lever pertaining to the valve at the bottom of the basin projects. Just below this
slot, a ventilating pipe leads from the vertical shaft. This pipe passes upwards behind
the basin towards the back of the closet and is connected with a bollow arm projecting
from the rear side of the basin. The hollow arm serves as an overflow passage from
the basin, and is trapped at its junction with the ventilating pipe. From the centre
of the right-hand side of the basin, a wing extends towards the back of the closet; a
similar wing extending from the left-hand side the two wings are joined by a cross-
piece. A hollow enclosed space is thus formed behind the basin. All the parts above
described are made in one piece of earthenware.
:
The valve at the bottom of the hasin consists of a round or oval metal plate H
secured by a screw to the slotted arm B₁ of the lever B B', which turns on
trunnions supported in a metal ring or collar A. The block A* above the lever is
removable. The arm B of the lever B B' works through a slot in the back of the
vertical shaft. The ring or collar A is supported by an annular projecting rim or
rebated shelf A', to which it is fixed by bolts A. A water-tight seating is obtained
for the valve-plate H by the use of an india-rubber ring or washer As, which projects
over the upper inner edge of the ring A. This washer is held down by a second
metal ring or collar C, which is fastened to the first by screws (2. The heads of the
screws are covered by an annular plate C2, which is secured to the ring C by
screws C³. The plate (and ring C are so shaped as to conform to the contour of the
basin.
By this construction, the valve-seating or the valve can be easily renewed from
inside the basin without disturbing the closet.
The arm B of the lever B B is jointed to an oblique weighted connecting rod D.
This rod is jointed at its upper end to an arm on the axle E, which crosses the
enclosed space behind the basin. The ends of the axle E are conical and work in
corresponding bearings screwed into metal bushes in the earthenware wings. The
bearings can be screwed up when necessary to compensate for wear: when adjusted,
they are held in position by set-screws.
A cam-plate (or "eccentric crank ") F is fixed centrally on the axle and serves for
opening and closing the flushing valve. Near one end of the axle E, a chain-wheel G
is secured. The handle for turning the axle E is attached to a spindle mounted to
rotate in a bush carried by one of the earthenware wings. At the inner end of the
spindle and opposite the chain-wheel G, a second and larger chain-wheel G is secured.
The two chain-wheels are connected by a chain.
Instead of two chain-wheels and chain, spur gearing may be employed. Or, the
handle may be mounted directly on the axle E.
The wooden seat is hinged and is connected to the valve-operating lever or handle

page_text: by a chain or other attachment (see the side elevation on Sheet 2 of the drawings
filed with the Provisional Specification) so that the valves may be opened each
time the seat of the closet is thrown back for urinary or slop-emptying purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In a closet provided with a valve-controlled outlet at the bottom of the basin,
forming the basin, discharge shaft and trap in a single piece of earthenware
substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings accompanying my
Provisional Specification.
2. In a closet provided with a valve-controlled outlet at the bottom of the basin,
forming the basin and the discharge shaft in a single piece of earthenware,
substantially as herein described.
3. In a closet provided with a valve-controlled outlet at the bottom of the basin,
mounting the valve-seating on a ring capable of removal from the interior of the
basin and without disturbing the closet substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
4. In a closet provided with a valve-controlled outlet at the bottom of the basin,
connecting that valve as also the flushing valve with the hinged seat and in such a
manner that when the latter is thrown back both valves are simultaneously opene l.
Dated this 1st day of December 1890.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.