IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING DRAINS AND LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Maguire, of 10, Dawson Street, in the
City of Dublin, Ireland, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC
FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING DRAINS AND LIKE PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Maguire at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT MAGUIRE, of 10, Dawson Street, in the City of Dublin,
Iroland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING
DRAINS AND LIKE PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus known as flushing
tanks, videlicet, cisterns or vessels which will fill and discharge a quantity of water
to cleanse out drains by rushing through the same.
My improved automatic flushing tank or apparatus may be made of iron,
earthenware, alate, brick, wood, or other suitable material capable of being rendered
water-tight.
The improved tank is provided with an opening and closing valve placed in
the bottom or sides, which when the cistern is empty and at rest remains closed,
but which when the cistern fills and overflows will open as hereinafter described.
This valve is connected by rods or chains, or by any other suitable arrangement
working by a lever or over a pulley, with a hollow vessel suspended outside the
cistern, or in a compartment of the cistern divided or set apart for the purpose.
An overflow pipe or spout from the large tank is so arranged as to discharge the
overflow into the suspended hollow vessel, so that the additional weight of water
shall cause the vessel to drop and, by means of the herein before described lever, or
pulley and chain, draw open the valve, and hold it open until the water is
discharged in a large body from the tank into the drain. A small pipe or hole,
allowing a driblet of water to escape from the hollow suspended vessel, is arranged
so as to empty it again and allow it to rise and permit the valve to drop into its
seating in the flush tank.
By this construction it will be understood that the hereinbefore described action
will go on automatically repeating itself at intervals, so long as water is supplied
in sufficient quantity, whether rain water, or waste from baths, or otherwise.
These flushing tanks may be constructed cheaply of earthenware [pipes, set
vertically over the drain to be flushed, the bottom being formed of cement or
earthenware, the valve being placed in the bottom or side as may be found most
suitable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Maguire in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th January 1881.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT MAGUIRE, of 10, Dawson Street, in the City of Dublin,
Ireland. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING
DRAINS AND LIKE PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus known as flushing-
tanks, videlicet, cisterns or vessels which will collect and discharge a quantity of
water to cleanse out drains by rushing through the same.
My improved automatic flushing tank or apparatus may be made of iron,
earthenware, slate, brick, wood, or other suitable material capable of being rendered
water tight.
The improved tank is provided with an opening and closing valve placed in the
bottom or sides, which when the cistern is empty and at rest remains closed, but
which when the cistern fills and overflows will open as hereinafter described.
This valve is connected by rods or chains, or by any other suitable arrangement,
working by a lever or over a pulley, with a hollow vessel suspended outside the
- cistern,-or-in-n-compartment of the cistern divided or set apart for the purpose.
An overflow pipe or spout from the large tank is so arranged as to discharge the
overflow into the suspended hollow vessel, so that the additional weight of wator
shall cause the vessel to drop, and, by means of the hereinbefore described lever, or
pulley and chain, draw open the valve, and hold it open until the water is
discharged in a large body from the tank into the drain. A small pipe or holo,
allowing a driblet of water to escape from the hollow suspended vessel, is arranged
so as to empty it again, and allow it to rise and permit the valve to drop into its
seating in the flush tank.
But to make my Invention better understood I will now proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figures 1 and 2 are
sectional elevations of my improved flushing tank or apparatus; Figure 3 is an
elevation of the apparatus, shewing the tank constructed of earthenware; Figure 4
is a sectional elevation of a modified construction of the apparatus. Similar letters
in all the Figures represent similar parts.
I will first describe my Invention by reference to Figure 1; a is the flushing
cistern or tank of suitable material as hereinbefore described; b is the valve placed
in the bottom of the cistern or tank (or it may be placed in the side thereof if
necessary) immediately over the opening to the drain pipe A, which valve when
the cistern is empty and at rest remains closed as shown; c is the rod or chain
connecting the said valve b with one end of the lever or arm d, pivotted nt e to the
top of ono of the sides of the cistern a; f is the small hollow vessel or tank
suspended to the other end g of the herein before described lever outside the cistern
by the rod or chain h; i is the overflow pipe or spout from the large tank a, for
filling the small vessel or tank f; j is the small pipe or driblet hole in the small
vessel or tank f.
By this construction of flushing tank or cistern, it will be seen that upon the
largo tank becoming full from any source, such as a rain pipe or bath pipe o, the
overflow therefrom will be discharged through the pipe or spout i, into the small
suspended vessel or tank f, and the additional weight of the water therein will
cause the vesself to descend, and by means of the lever d, g, and rod or chain c,
will draw open the valve b, and hold it open until the water is discharged in a
body from the tank a into the drain A. The small pipe or holo ; in the hollow
suspended vessel or tank ƒ allows a driblet of water to escapo therefrom, so as to
empty it again, whereupon it will be raised back to its normal position by the

page_text: weight of the longer arm d of the lever, and the valve b will fall onto its seating in
the flush tank.
From this description it will be understood that the heroinbefore described action
will go on automatically repeating itself at intervals so long as water is supplied in
sufficient quantity, whether rain water, or waste from baths, or otherwise.
The arrangement shewn in Figure 2 is substantially the same as that shewn in
Figure 1, except that the vessel or tank f is suspended within the compartment or
chamber k in the cistern a, instead of being suspended outside the same; l is a pipe
for discharging the water which runs from the vessel or tank f.
Figure 3 shows the tank a constructed of earthenware and the chain a passing
over a pulley m. Similar letters indicate similar or corresponding parts to those
herein before described, and the action is similar and needs no further description.
In the modified construction of apparatus shewn in Figure 4, a is the tank or
cistern; A is the drain pipe closed by the valve b; f is a hollow cylinder or vessel
open at the top and corresponding with the vesself hereinbefore described, except
that it is provided with a syphon n, instead of the driblet pipe or hole j; d, g, is
the lever pivotting at e, carrying the vessel fat one end g, and a similar cylinder f'
at the other end d, but inverted, that is to say, closed at the top and open at the
bottom; c is the rod connecting the valve b with the lever d, g; o is a rain water,
or other waste pipe. From this arrangement it will be understood that as water
rises in the tank or cistern a, it will press equally on the two cylinders f and f',
but when the water overflows and fills the cylinder ƒ the balance is destroyed, and
the valve b will be opened and will discharge the contents of the tank a; the
cylinder will be emptied by the syphon π (or by means of a suitablo tilting
arrangement) and the valve will close."
Any suitable form of valve may be employed with my improved flushing tanks.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and
shewn in the Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the
peculiar character of my Invention, but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The construction and employment of automatic flushing apparatus for
cleansing drains and like purposes, arranged and operating substantially in the
manner hereinbefore described and represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The modified construction of apparatus hereinbefore described and
shewn in Figure 4 of the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. In an automatic flushing apparatus I claim the use of a small cistern or
vessel having a driblet hole or pipe, or a syphon, as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Maguire, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand night hundand and night. Ana