IM- PROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS AND IN TRAPS AND APPLIANCES FOR CON- TROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Jennings and George Jennings, junior, both of
Palace Wharf, Stangate, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS AND IN TRAPS AND APPLIANCES FOR CON-
TROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER."
Sealed the 17th December 1878, and dated the 16th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Jennings and George
Jennings at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October
1878.
GEORGE JENNINGS and GEORGE JENNINGS, junior, both of Palace Wharf, Stangate,
in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS AND IN TRAPS AND
APPLIANCES FOR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER."
This Invention has for its object improvements in waterclosets and in traps and
appliances for controlling the supply of water.
In order to prevent the waste of water which may occur whenever the handle of
a watercloset apparatus is retained either wilfully or by negligence in such a position
as to hold the closet valves open, we connect the handle with the pan valve of the
closet in such manner that by the movement of the handle the valve is opened
and retained for a time, and then if the handle be not released within the time for
which the apparatus is set the connection between the handle and the pan valve is
broken and the valve closes. At the same time that the pan valve closes the water
supply valve is set free, and it commences to close gradually under the control of a
regulator of well-known construction, which delays the closing of this valve until a
sufficient after-flush of water has been delivered into the pan. We obtain these
results by connecting the handle with the pan valve through the instrumentality
of a piston and cylinder containing liquid. When the handle is down the piston
which is connected with it passes freely into the cylinder, a small valve fitted in
connection with the piston allowing the liquid to pass the piston freely, but when
the handle is drawn up this valve prevents the return of the liquid and the piston

page_text: brings up with it the cylinder and parts which move with it, and so the pan valve is
opened. A minute passage of regulated size allows.the liquid gradually to pass the
piston, so that after a time, dependent on the size of this passage, the piston escapes
from the cylinder and the pan valve is set free, as already described. By the usual
connections the water supply valve is caused to open at the same time as the pan
valve of the closet.
Arrangements similar to those above described are applicable for the prevention of
waste wherever a handle or like instrument is employed to open a valve for the
purpose of drawing off water.
In Bramah valve closets, and closets of like construction, the body of the closet
(in which a U trap is ordinarily contained) has heretofore been made of metal; we
form the body of white glazed earthenware; it is provided with a strong bracket to
receive metal arns for carrying the fittings in connection with the water supply
apparatus and the handle. It is also furnished with lugs by which a metal socket
is bolted to it to receive the open foot of the pan; this socket also carries the axis
of the pan valve.
We place the overflow openings of the closet pan immediately beneath the fan or
spreader by which the water enters the pan, and we also, in connection with the fan
or spreader, provide openings which, when the supply valve is open, direct a flow of
water over the face of the fan or spreader.
By these arrangements we keep the face of the fan or spreader free from soil, and
ensure that the overflow openings do not get choked and the trap in connection
with these openings is supplied with water. The overflow passages of closet pans
are now always provided with water traps to intercept gases, but in consequence of
the power which water has of absorbing gas at one surface and disengaging it at
another, the gases are not perfectly arrested. To obviate this we apply a valve in
the passage connecting the overflow openings with the main trap of the closet, such
valve consisting of a light india-rubber ball having a seat also of india-rubber.
The ring forming the seat is cut to a knife edge where the ball rests upon it, so
that the slight pressure of the ball on the seat suffices to form a gas-tight joint.
The ball is contained in a chamber of such form that when undisturbed it neces-
sarily rolls into its seat.
Similar trap valves may be applied advantageously in connection with soil pipes
and in other places.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Jemnings and George Jennings in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th April 1879.
"
GEORGE JENNINGS and GEORGE JENNINGS, junior, both of Palace Wharf, Stangate,
in the County of Surrey. IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS AND IN TRAPS AND
APPLIANCES FOR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER."
This Invention has for its object improvements in waterclosets and in traps and
appliances for controlling the supply of water.
In order to prevent the waste of water which may occur whenever the handle of
a closet apparatus is retained, either wilfully or by negligence, in such a position as
to hold the closet valves open, we connect tho handle with the pan valve of the
closet in such a manner that by the movement of the handle the valve is opened
and retained for a time, and then if the handle be not released within the time
for which the apparatus is set the connection between the handle and the pan is
broken and the valvo closes. At the same time that the pan valve closes the water
supply valve is set free, and it cominences to close gradually under the control of a
regulator of well-known construction which delays the closing of this valve until a
sufficient after-flush of water has been delivered into the pan. We obtain these
results by connecting the handle with the pan valve through the instrumentality of
a piston and cylinder containing liquid. When the handle is down the piston which
is connected with it passes freely into the cylinder, a small valve fitted in con-
nection with the piston allowing the liquid to pass the piston freely; but when the
handle is drawn up the return of the liquid is prevented and the piston brings
up with it the cylinder and parts which move with it, and so the pan valve is
opened.
A minute passage of regulated size allows the liquid gradually to pass the piston,
so that after a time, dependent on the size of this passage, the piston escapes from
the cylinder into an enlarged chamber above it and the pan valve is set free, as
already described.
By the usual connection the water supply is caused to open at the same time as
the pan valve of the closet.
Arrangements similar to those above described are applicable for the prevention
of waste wherever a handle or like instrument is employed to open a valve for the
purpose of drawing off water.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed shews a water waste preventor thus
applied in connection with the lever used for opening and closing the valve or pan
of the basin of an ordinary watercloset, and with the lever used for opening and
closing the valve employed for admitting water to the closet basin.
A is the axis of the valve or pan which closes the outlet from the closet basin.
On this axis is a slotted arm B; C is a lever turning on a pin at C¹ and carrying a
pin which passes into the slot in the arm B in the ordinary manner. When the
lever is raised it turns the axis A and opens the outlet from the closet basin ; but
when the lever is allowed to descend its own weight is sufficient to turn back. the
axis A and again close the outlet from the basin. The end of the lever C is forked;
the two limbs of the fork pass on the two opposite sides of a cylinder D which
ordinarily rests on the floor or on a support rising up from it. On the exterior of
the cylinder are two pins E, E, which come below the forked end of the lever C.
Within the cylinder which is filled with liquid is a piston F attached to a tubular
rod G which passes out through a stuffing box in the cylinder cover, and at its upper
end has attached to it the pull-up handle of the closet.
The lower portion of the interior of the cylinder is of less diameter than the
upper portion of the interior of the cylinder, as shewn, and the piston fits within
the lower portion of the cylinder. The cup leather packing of the piston is carried

page_text: by a ring J which is free to move up and down a short distance in a groove or
recess formed around the body of the piston.
When the cup leather and ring that carries it are forced downwards to the bottom
of the groove or recess by a pressure of liquid above them, the liquid can pass
slowly from the upper part of the cylinder between the back of the ring and body
of the piston and escape to the lower part of the cylinder through small passages K,
but when the piston is pressed downwards and there is consequently a pressure of
liquid below the cup leather packing the ring that carries the cup leather moves
towards the top of the groove or recess in the body of the piston, but is prevented
from fitting closely against it by reason of a few small studs L projecting up from
the top of the ring; consequently liquid can pass freely from the lower part of the
cylinder past the back of the ring and to the upper part of the cylinder, so that the
piston can descend freely to the bottom of the cylinder.
If the
When the piston and cylinder are in their lowest position, as shown in the
Drawing, the closet valve and water supply valve are both closed. If the handle of
the closet is then pulled up it lifts the piston, and as the cylinder is filled with
liquid and the liquid cannot quickly pass the piston it also lifts the cylinder. The
lifting of the cylinder raises the lever C and opens the valve at the outlet of the
closet basin, so allowing its contents to be discharged. At the same time the valve
which controls the admission of water to the closet basin is opened by reason of an
arm H on the exterior of the cylinder coming against the under side of the weighted
lever I and lifting it. This movement of the lever opens the water valve in the
ordinary manner and allows water to be discharged into the closet basin.
handle is held up for too long a time, or if it is propped up, liquid from the upper
part of the cylinder passes through the small passages K in the piston to the lower
part of the cylinder, as before explained, and the cylinder slowly descends. When
it has descended to such an extent that the piston enters the larger diameter of the
interior of the cylinder, the liquid in the cylinder can pass the piston freely and the
cylinder at once drops on to its support. The closet valve then at once closes and
the weighted lever I commences to close the water supply valve, the time it takes
to close this valve being regulated by a regulator in the ordinary manner. Whenever
the handle is lowered the piston passes freely to the bottom of the cylinder, as any
liquid in the lower part of the cylinder can freely pass the piston when the piston
is pressed downwards as before explained. M is a rod standing up from the
centre of the bottom of the cylinder; this rod serves as a guide for the tubular
rod G and piston F.
Apparatus of like construction to that above described can in the same way be
used for preventing the discharge of too large a quantity of water at any one time
into the basins of other constructions of closets, and in other cases wherever it is
desired to prevent too large a quantity of water being drawn off at any one time;
as also to prevent the escape of bad air from soil pipes through what are now known
as trapless closets, since the valve of the closet cannot by any possibility remain
open even though the handle be held or propped up.
In Bramah valve closets, and closets of like construction, the body of the closet
(in which a U trap is ordinarily contained) has heretofore been made of metal. We
form the body of white glazed earthenware; it is provided with a strong bracket to
receive metal arms for carrying the fittings in connection with the water supply
apparatus and the handle. It is also furnished with lugs by which a metal socket
is bolted to it to receive the open foot of the pan. This socket also carries the axes
of the pan valve.
Figure 2 shews an end view of a Bramah closet thus formed; Figure 3 is
a side view of a portion of the upper part of the body of the closet. The body of
the closet is formed with a small trap P to seal the overflow passage from the closet
basin;
from this trap also passes a short pipe T to which may be coupled any pipe
passing from a receptacle into which waste waters are discharged. Above the top
of the trap and pipe T is a strong bracket or table V to which is secured by bolts W
the metal support X which carries the water supply apparatus.
The bolts pass

page_text: through the bracket V and support X and have nuts screwed on to them as shewn.
The body has also strong lugs Y projecting from it by which a metal pocket Z
which receives the open foot of the pan is bolted to it. Bolts are passed through
lugs on the socket and through the lugs Y, and have nuts screwed on to them to
hold the two together. The socket Z carries the axis of the pan valve in the
manner shewn at Figure 4.
We place the overflow openings of the closet pan of waterclosets immediately
beneath the fan or spreader by which the water enters the pan; and we also, in
connection with the fan or spreader, provide openings which, when the supply valve
is open, directs the flow of water over the face of the fan or spreader.
By this arrangement we keep the face of the fan or spreader free from soil, and
ensure that the overflow openings do not get choked and the trap in connection
with these openings supplied with water.
Figure 4 shows a section, and Figure 5 a plan view, of a Bramah closet thus
formed with the overflow outlet in rear of the spreader and with openings at the
top of the spreader through which a portion of the water discharged into the closet
basin is directed over the surface of the spreader to keep it clean.
Figure 6 shows a face view of the spreader and the overflow outlet in rear
of it.
In these Figures A is the spreader at a short distance away from the interior of
the closet basin B; C is the overflow outlet from the closet basin; D is the inlet
for water; and E is a horizontal division between the spreader and basin just above
the top of the overflow outlet C; F.are outlets by which a portion of the water
discharged into the basin is caused to flow over the face of the spreader.
The overflow passages of closet pans are now always provided with water traps
to intercept gases, but in consequence of the power which water has of absorbing
gas at one surface and disengaging it at another the gases are not perfectly
arrested.
To obviate this we apply a valve in the passage connecting the overflow openings
with the main trap in the closet, such valve consisting of a light india-rubber ball
having a seat also of india-rubber. The ring forming the seat is cut to a knife edge
where the ball rests upon it, so that the slight pressure of the ball on the seat
suffices to form a gas-tight joint. The ball is contained in a chamber of such form
that when undisturbed it necessarily rolls into its seat.
Similar trap valves may be applied advantageously in connection with soil pipes
and in other places.
The Bramah closet shewn at Figure 4 is provided with a ball valve and seat thus
formed in the passage from the overflow outlet of the closet basin, and the entrance
to the drain. C is the overflow passage conducting to a small trap P. The outlet
from this trap is through a short vertical pipe Q; the upper part of this pipe is
embraced by a tube R of vulcanised india-rubber; the upper part of this vulcanized
india-rubber tube is formed to a narrow edge, as shewn. A hollow metallic ball S
coated with vulcanized india-rubber, or simply a hollow ball of india-rubber, rests
on the top of the tube and forms a perfectly gas-tight joint. Above the ball is a
cap, as shewn, which allows it to rise to allow liquid to pass from the trap to the
drain, but yet keeps the ball in place so that it should always fall back on to its
seat so soon as the flow of water ceases. T is a passage to which a pipe may be
connected to carry any waste waters into the trap, and so to the drain.
By constructing the valve and seat in the above manner a perfectly gas-tight
joint is obtained without there being any appreciable pressure of gas above the ball
to force it on to its seat.
Figure 7 shews a similar ball valve and seat applied in any pipe leading from a
sewer or drain. In this Figure A is the pipe leading to the sewer or drain; B, B, are
pipes led away to closets, sinks, or gratings, or openings of any kind at which it is
required to empty liquids into the drain. We would remark that as respects this
part of our Invention we do not claim generally placing a valve in pipes leading

page_text: to a drain or sewer, but the peculiar construction of this valve as herein-before
explained.
In the Bramah closet shewn at Figure 4 we have also applied, as shewn at O, a
similarly constructed ball trap in the water supply pipe by which water is supplied
to the closet basin to prevent the possibility of bad air entering the water supply
pipe, and so passing to the water company's supply main whenever the main is
emptied of water.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of carrying
out the same, we would have it understood that we claim,-
First. Connecting the pull-up handle of a watercloset with the apparatus which
controls the discharge of the contents of the closet basin, and with the apparatus
which controls the supply of water to the basin through the instrumentality of a
piston and cylinder acting substantially in the manner herein-before described.
Second. The employment of a piston and cylinder acting substantially in the
manner herein-before described to prevent taps or valves for drawing off water being
held open for too long a time.
Third. Constructing the body of a Bramah watercloset of earthenware, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and shewn at Figures 2 and 3.
Fourth. Forming the overflow outlet from the basin of a watercloset in rear of
the spreader.
Fifth. Conducting a portion of the water supplied to the basin of a watercloset
over the outer surface of the spreader to keep it clean.
Sixth. The construction and employment of traps having ball valves resting on
the top of short upright tubes of vulcanized india-rubber cut or shaped to a thin
edge to prevent the escape of gas from pipes leading to a sewer or drain.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Jennings, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
GEORGE JENNINGS.
(U.S.)