Improvements in or relating to Earth Closets.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1898 -Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Earth Closets.
I, FLORIMOND DUMAY, of Chatelet, Charleroi, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:---
My invention relates to an improved construction of earth-closets especially
applicable for use in public places such as public conveniences or at railway
stations, barracks and the like.
It is characterised by the construction of rollers applied to the front part of the
seat, capable of revolving so as to prevent any person from standing on the seat,
and by the special construction of the seat itself, which turns freely on a horizontal
pivot, and actuates two slides by means of a lever mechanism, which slides normally
close the turf-powder box, and form a pocket when the seat is depressed to receive
a tixed quantity of powder and discharge the same over the excreta when the seat
rises; together with an outer casing arranged to draw off the urine.
In another modification the seat is laterally pivotted on a shaft in a sleeve pro-
vided with two transverse pivots working in fixed bearings and connected by suit-
able intermediate gearing to the sliding pieces aforesaid.
By means of this invention persons are entirely prevented from making use of
the closet by standing on the seat, which leads to the soiling of the same, and the
excreta are regularly covered up and disinfected by peat dust or the like, the
apparatus being actuated by the weight of the person using the same.
The earth-box is preferably provided with an indicator shewing when the supply
is exhausted; this may consist of a dial and index, actuated by a chain and weight
passing over a pulley on the index shaft and arranged to move a given space
on each action of the discharging mechanism.
I, FLORIMOND DUMAY, of Chatelet, Charleroi, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Manufacturer, 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 relates to an improved construction of earth closets especially

page_text: applicable for use in public places such as public conveniences or at railway stations
barracks and the like.
It is characterised by the application of rollers to the front part of the seat, which
are capable of revolving so that persons are prevented from standing on the seat,
and by the special construction of the seat itself, which swings freely on a hori
zontal pivot, and actuates two slides by aid of a lever mechanism, which slides
normally close the turf-powder box and form a pocket when the seat is depressed
to receive a fixed quantity of powder and discharge the same over the excreta when
the seat rises; together with an outer casing arranged to draw off the urine. The
apparatus effects the total removal of smell from the excreta, which are converted
into an excellent manure.
Referring to the accompanying drawings;
Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section.
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the closet when not in use.
Fig. 3 a longitudinal section in the position for use.
Fig. 4 a plan view.
Fig. 5 a plan view of a modification.
Fig. 6 a perspective view of the apparatus.
Upon the side bars of the frame S curved in front to form the seat, are placed
the rollers Reach revolving on its axis, so as to render impossible any placing of
the feet upon the seat. These rollers may be of any suitable material, such as
wood, hard rubber, enamelled metal porcelain and so forth and are placed so that
anyone using the closet cannot place himself thereon otherwise than by seating
himself on the rollers.
The frame S which supports the rollers R is itself provided laterally at the
hinder part thereof with two pivots tt by means of which it is supported at the
ends of two bars C so as to swing (Fig. 3) under the weight of the person sitting
thereon, and this movement of the frame is used for the automatic discharge of a
certain quantity of peat dust contained in a receptacle E placed behind the seat,
upon the excreta falling into the receptacle T.
For this purpose two pieces of sheet iron F curved in the manner shewn, are
hinged below the dust reservoir, upon a double set of levers L L connected to the
hinder end of S so that they operate the pieces F and keep the receptacle closed
by means of the wings a a and a¹ a' whilst the closet is unoccupied, and on the
other hand, on moving the said wings, these latter agitate the dust, and assist its
descent into a pocket formed by the wings a² a² of the pieces F as soon as the
closet is occupied (see Fig. 3). When the seat again rises, the action of the
levers L L restores these parts to their original position and again closes the aper-
ture of E and opens the pocket a² a² the contents whereof pass down the inclined
plane II which directs the dust upon the excreta. The plane I is provided with a
gate which rises with the seat $ by means of the links (Fig. 3) preventing any
falling of the dust into the receptacle before the excreta.
The whole apparatus is preferably enclosed in an iron cover, O..having a pro-
jection o in front forming a gutter for the purpose of receiving the urine, and dis-
charging it into a receptacle so that any wetting of the seat is rendered impossible.
An alternative construction of the closet is represented in Fig. 5.
In this construction the seat consists of an oval frame having on the line of its
axis a shaft A in a socket D with which are connected two transverse pivots d d
resting in two fixed bearings ee; the said pivots d d have two arms b b connected to
the levers L L which operate the pieces F of the dust container.
On an attempt being made to place a foot on the seat, it swings aside, and con-
sequently the user is obliged to sit upon it, which causes the seat to swing on the
pivots and actuate the peat-dust holder as already described.
The reservoir E is provided with an indicator shewing at the outside when the
peat-dust or the like has to be renewed. This indicator consists of the hinged
Hap Q fixed to the side-wall of the receptacle and connected by a chain passing
over the grooved pulley q to a counter weight P, the said pulley being fixed

page_text: upon a shaft q' passing through the vertical wall of the receptacle E and having at
its outer end a pointer V.
This mechanism is so arranged that as long as the receptacle contains peat dust,
this will keep the flap Q pressed against the side wall, and support the counter
weight Praised and the pointer V in the vertical position, whereas the counter-
weight raises the flap when the receptacle is emptied, and the pointer indicates
accordingly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The improved hygienic latrine, having on the accessible part of the seat the
rollers R capable of rotating on their axes so as to prevent any person from stand-
ing thereon, and having the seat S constructed to swing and actuate automatically
by means of the levers L L the two pieces F F which normally close the turf-dust
receptacle E, and form a pocket when the seat is depressed to contain a certain
quantity of dust and discharge the same upon the excreta when the seat rises; the
cover of said latrine having a gutter o for the urine, substantially as described.
2. A modification of the above set forth latrine, in which the seat is pivotied
laterally upon the shaft A in a socket D provided with two transverse pivots
supported in fixed bearings ee and having the arms bb controlling the pieces FF
by means of the levers L L.
Dated the 11th day of Amnisti 1898