Improvements in or relating to Automatic Flushing for Sanitary and other purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Flushing for Sanitary and
other purposes.
-
I, MAX GAUTIER, Engineer, of 35, Rue St. Lazare, Brussels, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a flushing system of simple and economical con-
struction and of perfect reliability of working, which can be operated either
automatically or by hand, as desired.
Moreover the system according to this invention effects a great saving in the
effected in a more rational manner than
consumption of water, as the flushing
in apparatus with floats, and all the force of the current of water is utilised
under the most favourable conditions.
The device which comprises a tilting vessel has the advantage of great
simplicity of construction, and the parts of which it consists are reduced to a
minimum, and can always be relied upon to act in an efficient manner, thus
radically obviating all the numerous disadvantages of apparatus with floats. For
instance in the apparatus according to this invention there is absolutely no loss
of water through the inlet valve when the apparatus is at rest, moreover the
reservoir is always empty under normal conditions and is filled only when
operated for flushing.
In one form of apparatus according to this invention the closet seat is mounted
on a pivotted bracket. A rod hinged to the frame of the seat and suitably
guided controls the distribution from the flushing reservoir placed overhead and
connected with the basin by means of a pipe. This flushing reservoir is divided
into two compartments by a horizontal partition, the upper compartment form-
ing the reservoir proper and the lower compartment containing a tilting vessel
oscillating on a pin. Two conical valves mounted on a common spindle control
respectively the admission of water into the reservoir, and its discharge from
said reservoir being so arranged that when one valve is open the other is closed,
and vice versa, said valves being operated by the oscillating seat, by means of the
vertical rod which is bent at the upper end so as to come beneath the common
valve spindle.
When a person sits down the seat which is perfectly balanced is lowered
The vertical rod rises and closes one valve and opens
pivotting about its pin.
the other so that water from the supply pipe falls into the reservoir.
When the person occupying the closet gets up, the seat resumes its normal
position and the valve on the supply pipe is closed in an air-tight manner by
the pressure of water in the pipe, whilst the other valve opens, and the contents

page_text: of the reservoir are discharged into the oscillating vessel the capacity of which
is equal to that of the reservoir. This vessel is provided with a balance weight
arranged so that the vessel tilts over only when quite full that is to say when
the reservoir is quite empty, so that at least 30 seconds pass between the time
when the occupant rises, from the seat and that at which the vessel is tilted.
A valve is arranged at the top of the reservoir to enable air to escape and to enter
according as the reservoir is being filled or discharged.
It is obvious that instead of being automatic this apparatus may be operated
by hand by means of any suitable device.
Another form of flushing reservoir according to this invention is made of
sheet metal cast-iron wood etc. having at the lower end a discharge orifice into
the flushing column. Within the reservoir is a tilting vessel of special shape
pivotted on pins suitably arranged. A valve with reversed conical seat is
provided for opening or closing the inlet of the water supply pipe.
articulated levers is connected to the spindle of this valve so as to open and close
it in consequence of the movement of the oscillating vessel which it retains in
position after it has been tilted.
A set of
A transverse lever forming a bent stay is pivotted on trunnions passing
through the upper part of the lateral walls of the reservoir, one arm of this lever
being connected to a cord, chain or the like which depends towards the seat,
where it is disposed in a suitable manner so as to enable the tilting vessel to be
disengaged by a simple pull on said cord.
The working which is very simple and very reliable takes place as follows,
and can be effected either by hand by means of the chain, rod etc. or automati-
cally by connecting to an oscillating seat.
The tilting vessel when in the position of rest is held by the bent end of the
lever which controls the water supply valve, the valve being closed and the
reservoir empty. The transverse lever being raised by a pull on the chain
raises the valve lever so as to enable the balanced tilting vessel to be disengaged,
which then comes into a horizontal position. When the pull on the chain
ceases, the arm of the valve lever engaging the tilting vessel descends, the valve
being thus caused to open and the vessel filled. Said vessel when containing a
certain amount of water tilts and again comes into engagement with the valve
lever and raising it closes the water supply valve.
In another construction the arrangement of the reservoir and tilting vessel
and valve is the same as above described, but the engaging and disengaging
device for the tilting vessel is different, comprising a curved rod the lower end
of which is thickened and has a special shape, rounded off at the bottom, and
which is conceted so as to be able to move treely, to the long arm of the valve
lever between the fulcrum of the latter and the point of engagement of the
transverse lever. A chain of suitable length is attached at one end on the
transveise lever and at the other end to the curved rod.
The tilting vessel being in the position of rest the curved rod is very nearly
vertical and rests against the bottom wall of the vessel, holding this latter in
position, the back portion of the vessel bearing against the valve lever and raising
it so that the valve is thoroughly closed.
When a pull is exercised on the chain the transverse lever is raised and raises
the curved rod which then presses no longer on the tilting vessel so that the
latter can resume its horizontal position, and as the curved rod sliding with its
rounded part along the wall of the vessel acts by its weight on the valve lever,
this latter is lowered and opens the valve while the free end of the lever presses
against the back end of the vessel and tends to bring it back into its normal
position for filling. The vessel is then filled up to the level at which it tilts
when it automatically turns and the curved rod sliding, owing to its weight,
with its rounded part along the bottom of the vessel returns into the vertical
position in which it maintains the vessel in its tilted position.
The action of the valve lever or the disengagement of the rod is rendered

page_text: possible in the two arrangements illustrated owing to the valve having an elastic
rubber packing which is slightly compressed when the chain is pulled and thus
enables a slight movement of the lever whilst said valve is still closed.
To make the arrangement described automatic, that is to say, to cause it to act
as soon as the person occupying the seat rises an oscillating spring or any
suitable device may be arranged so as to exercise a momentary pull on the chain
when the seat rises.
It will be easily understood that this last described arrangement is more
advantageous and more efficacious than the before-described device in which,
owing to the method of fixing of the tilting vessel, a very exact adjustment is
required of the notch of the valve lever, and which depends on the action of
the tilting of the vessel to overcome the resistance of the engagement, whereas
in the last arrangement the curved rod has a natural tendency to assume a vertical
position, owing to its weight, and consequently the maintenance of the vessel
in its tilted position is absolutely certain without necessitating an exact adjust-
ment of the curved rod.
The construction of the last described device may be modified leaving its method
of working identical. The only difference from the constructive point of view
consists in the mechanism used to secure the tilting vessel in position. The
curved rod is replaced by an arc, the end of which is raised and connected to
a rod or flat bar, the free end of which is provided with a slot through which
passes the transverse portion of the operating lever.
When the apparatus is at rest, that is to say, when the vessel is in its tilted
position it is secured by the arc which also operates the valve lever to produce
hermetic closing of the valve.
When the transverse lever is operated a sufficient extent by means of a chain
or the like so as to raise the velve lever and disengage the arc, by acting on the
slotted part, the tilting vessel will come into the horizontal position, as it is no
more held by the arc which slides with its round portion along the bottom of
the vessel, and the valve lever pressing on the back assists said movement.
The arc assumes an oblique position, the valve lever rests on the edge of the
reservoir and the valve being open, the vessel is filled and then tilts raising the
valve lever while the are returns into its original or vertical position in order
to fix the vessel and to cooperate in the closing of the valve. The length of the
are may be made adjustable by forming the are in two pieces, sliding one on
the other and capable of being secured together in any desired position.
flushing device just described can obviously be operated automatically by means
of suitable connections say with the seat, if it is for sanitary apparatus.
The
The advantages of the flushing device according to this invention is as
follows:-
Ist. The reservoir is always empty in the normal state, whereas in apparatus
with floats it is always full. Consequently waste of water owing to the leakage
of the discharge valve or insufficient tightness of the reservoir is avoided, which
is a very important point in flushing apparatus.
2nd. Perfect closing of the water inlet valve is always ensured, which is very
often not the case in reservoirs with floats.
Brd. A maximum effect is obtained with a minimum quantity of water.
4th. The number of parts is reduced to a strict minimum and all causes for
getting out of order are got rid of owing to the extreme simplicity of the parts;
the flushing takes place either automatically or by hand as desired.
Dated this 19th day of September 1898.
BOULT & WADE.
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Flushing for Sanitary and
other purposes.
I, MAX GAUTIER, Engineer, of 35, Rue St. Lazare, Brussels, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, 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 a flushing system of simple and economical con-
struction and of perfect reliability of working, which can be operated either
automatically or by hand, as desired.
Moreover the system according to this invention effects a great saving in the
consumption of water, as the flushing is effected in a more rational manner than
in apparatus with floats, and all the force of the current of water is utilized
under the most favourable conditions.
The apparatus which comprises an overturning vessel has the advantage of
great simplicity of construction, and the parts of which it consists, are reduced to
a minimum and can always be relied upon to act in an efficient manner, thus
obviating all the numerous disadvantages of apparatus with floats. For instance,
in the apparatus according to this invention there is absolutely no loss of water
through the inlet valve when the apparatus is at rest, moreover the reservoir is
always empty under normal conditions and is filled only when operated for
flushing.
The accompanying drawing represents by way of example several constructions
of apparatus according to this invention,
Figure 1 shows in section an arrangement of the reservoir with tilting vessel
and the device for the distribution of the water,
Figure 2 shows a section of another arrangement of flushing reservoir with
tilting vessel: the full lines indicating the position during filling, the dotted
lines the position occupied by the reservoir after the vessel has been tilted, in
which position it engages with the lever controlling the water inlet valve which
is thus closed.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same reservoir,
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of another arrangement, the full and dotted
lines indicating respectively the positions of the tilting vessel during the filling
and after the tilting, and
Figure 5 is a plan of this arrangement.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a longitudinal section, and a plan of a
modified form of the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5.
In Figure 1, B is the hygienic seat with rollers, mounted on a bracket El
pivoted about a pin K². A rod Thinged at J³ to the frame of the seat and
guided at G¹, controls the distribution of water from the flushing reservoir W
placed overhead and connected with the basin A. by means of a conduit C¹.
This flushing reservoir is divided into compartments by a horizontal partition O,
the upper compartment M forming the reservoir proper and the lower compart-
ment containing the tilting vessel R oscillating on a pin I. Two conical
valves S and S mounted on a common spindle II control respectively the
admission of water from the supply pipe C into the reservoir M and its discharge
from said reservoir, so that if the valve S is open the valve S' will be closed and
vice versa, said valves being operated by the pivoted seat, by means of the operat-
ing rod T which is bent at its upper end t so as to come beneath the common
spindle H.
When a weight is placed on the seat which is perfectly balanced it is lowered,

page_text: pivoting about the pin K².
The rod T rises and closes the valve S¹, and opens
the valve S so that water from the pipe C fills the upper compartment M of
the reservoir. When the weight is removed the seat resumes its normal
position, and the valve S is closed in an air-tight manner by the pressure of
water in the pipe C, whilst the valve S¹ opens, and the contents of the reservoir
are discharged into the balanced vessel R, the capacity of which is equal to
that of the reservoir M. This vessel is provided with a balance weight P
arranged so that the vessel tilts over only when quite full, that is to say, when
the reservoir M is quite emptied, so that at least 30 seconds pass between the
time when the weight is removed from the seat and that at which the vessel R
is tilted. A valve V arranged at the top of the reservoir enables air to escape
and to enter according as the reservoir is being filled or discharged.
It is obvious that instead of being automatic, the apparatus may be operated
by hand by means of any suitable device.
In Figures 2 and 3, A is a flushing reservoir made say of sheet metal, cast
iron, wood etc., and having at the lower end a discharge orifice into the flushing
column. B is a tilting vessel of special shape pivotted about suitably arranged
pins or trunnions G. 'S is a valve, with a reversed conical seat, for opening or
closing the water inlet of the supply pipe F. A set of articulated levers DC
is connected to the spindle of the valve S, so as to open and close it in accordance
with the movement of the oscillating vessel which vessel it retains in position
after it has been tilted.
E is a lever, forming a bent stay, pivoted on trunnions T passing through
the lateral walls of the reservoir A at the upper part, the outside arme of this
lever being connected to a cord, chain or the like P which hangs down towards
the seat, where it is disposed in a suitable manner so as to enable the tilting
vessel to be disengaged by a simple pull on said cord P.
The working, which is very simple and very reliable, takes place as follows and
can be effected either by hand by means of the chain, rod etc. F, or independently
by connecting the rod etc. P to a pivoted seat. The vessel B is supposed to be
in the position of rest and held by the bent end J of the lever D, the valve S
being closed and the reservoir A empty. The lever E being raised by a pull
exercised on the chain P, raises the lever D so as to enable the balanced tilting
vessel to be disengaged, which then comes into the position indicated in full
lines. When the pull on the chain ceases, the arm of the lever D engaging the
vessel, descends, the valve S being thus caused to open and the vessel is filled
with water. Said vessel when it has received a certain amount of water over-
turns, and again comes into engagement with the lever in the position indicated
in dotted lines, the end J of the lever D being raised, whereby the valve S is
closed.
In the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5 the arrangement of the reservoir A
vessel B and valve S is the same, but the engaging and disengaging device for
the pivoted vessel is different.
A curved rod K, the lower end of which is thickened and has a special shape,
rounded off at the bottom as shown, is connected, so as to be able to move freely,
to the long arm of the lever D between the fulcrum of the latter, and the point
A chain H of suitable length is
of engagement of the lever or cross piece E.
attached at one end h¹ to the lever E, and at the other end, at h² to the rod K.
The vessel being in the position of rest, the various parts are in the position
indicated by dotted lines and the rod K which is then very nearly vertical, rests
against the bottom of the vessel B and holds the latter in position, the rear end
of the vessel B bearing against the lever D and raising it so that the valve S is
thoroughly closed. When a pull is exercised on the chain P the lever E is raised
and raises the rod K which then ceases to press on the tilting vessel, so that the
latter can resume its horizontal position, and as the rod K sliding with its rounded
part along the bottom of the vessel acts by its weight on the lever D, the latter

page_text: is lowered and opens the valve S while the free end of the lever D presses against
the rear end of the vessel B and tends to bring it back into its normal position
for filling. The reservoir is then filled up to the level at which it tilts, when it
automatically turns over and the rod K sliding, owing to its weight, with its
rounded part along the bottom of the vessel returns into the vertical position in
which it maintains the vessel in its tilted position.
The action of the lever ] or the disengagement of the rod K is rendered
possible in the two arrangements illustrated owing to the valve S having an elastic
rubber packing which is slightly compressed when the chain P is pulled and thus
enables a slight movement of the lever D whilst said valve is still closed.
To make the arrangement described automatic, that is to say to cause it to act
as soon as the person occupying the seat rises an oscillating spring, rod or the
like, of any suitable construction may be arranged, which by means of any suit-
able device exercises a momentary pull on the chain F when the seat rises.
It will be easily understood that the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 is
more advantageous and more efficacious than that shown in Figures 2 and 3 owing
to the fixing of the vessel in the latter construction requiring a very exact adjust-
ment of the end J of the lever D, and depending on the action of the tilting of
the vessel which has to overcome the resistance of the engagement, whereas in
the arrangement in Figures 4 and 5 the curved rod K has a natural tendency to
assume a vertical position owing to its weight and consequently the maintenance
of the overturned vessel in its position is absolutely certain without necessitating
an exact adjustment of the curved rod.
The
The device shown in Figures 6 and 7 is a modified form of that just described
and its working is identical. The only difference from the constructive point
of view consists in the mechanism used to secure the vessel B in position.
curved rod K is here replaced by an arc K¹, the end J2 of which is raised and
connected to a rod or flat bar J', the free end of which is provided with a slot c¹
through which passes the transverse portion e of the operating lever E.
The part being in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, the apparatus
is at rest, that is to say, the vessel B is in its tilted position, secured by the are K¹
which operates the lever D to produce hermetic closing of the valve.
When the transverse lever E is operated to a sufficient extent by means of a
chain or the like P so as to raise the lever 1) and disengage the are K by acting
on the slotted part, the tilting vessel B will come into the position shown by full
lines, as it is no longer held by the are K', which slides with its rounded portion
along the bottom of the vessel B, and the lever 1 pressing on the back assists
said movement. The are K then assumes the position shown in full lines, the
lever rests on the edge of the reservoir and the valve S being open, the vessel
is filled, and then tilts raising the lever D while the are K' returns into its original
position in order to hold the vessel B, and to cooperate in the closing of the valve.
The length of the are is moreover adjustable by forming the are K' in two pieces
sliding one on the other, and capable of being secured together in any desired
position. The flushing device just described can obviously be operated automati-
cally by means of suitable connections say with the seat, if it is for sanitary
apparatus. The short arm of the lever E can be arranged as shown at e or as
at el, according to circumstances.
The advantages of the flushing device according to this invention are as
follows
1st. The reservoir is always empty in the normal state, whereas in apparatus
with floats it is always full." Consequently waste of water owing to leakage of
the discharge valve or insufficient tightness of the reservoir is avoided, which is a
very important point in flushing apparatus.
2nd. Perfet closing of the water inlet valve is always ensured, which is very
often not the case in reservoirs with floats.
Brd. A maximum effect is obtained with a minimum quantity of water.
4th. The number of parts is reduced to a minimum and all causes for getting

page_text: out of order are got rid of, owing to the extreme simplicity of the parts; and the
flushing takes place either automatically or by hand as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
-
1. The method of automatic flushing characterised by the flushing being effected
by the overturning of a tilting vessel, the filling of which takes place after the
operating mechanism has been put in action and just before the flushing, in such
manner that the admission of water is stopped by the automatic closure of the
inlet orifice as soon as the necessary quantity of water has been supplied, the
reservoir always remaining empty under normal conditions, and the flushing
device being operated automatically or by hand as desired substantially as
described.
2. A construction of apparatus for the automatic flushing of sanitary apparatus,
as set forth in Claim 1, characterised by a reservoir in two superposed compart-
ments, the upper compartment first receiving its supply of water in order to dis-
charge said water through an intermediate valve into a tilting vessel arranged in
the lower compartment, the supply of water to the upper reservoir and the dis-
charge into the tilting vessel being effected by two valves with a common spindle
one of which closes when the other opens, and vice versa, said valves being operated
by means of a rod or chain connected to the pivoted seat of the apparatus, or by
hand, or in any suitable manner, substantially as described.
3. Apparatus of the kind described in which the valve for directly supplying
water to the tilting vessel, is connected to a pivoted lever, the free end of which--
adapted to be raised by the tilting of said vessel-engages with the latter and
effects the cutting off of the water supply the water being again admitted as soon
as said lever is disengaged, the disengagement being effected by the lever being
raised by a cross lever such as Ee, operated by a rod, chain or the like, which is
operated automatically or by hand as desired, substantially as described.
4. Apparatus of the kind described characterised by the tilting vessel being
held, after tilting, by a curved rod with a thickened end, pivotally connected with
the valve operating lever, which is then raised so as to close the valve, the
releasing of the vessel, to cause said valve to open, being effected by raising the
lower end of the curved rod by means of a transveise lever such as Ee, to which
the curved rod is connected, substantially as described.
5. A modification of the apparatus described comprising a curved rod such
as K, of adjustable length connected, to the transverse lever by a slotted rod as
so as to enable said lever to raise the curved rod for the purpose of releasing the
tilting vessel and to raise at the same time the valve lever substantially as
described.
6. The complete flushing apparatus, substantially as described or illustrated in
Figure 1 or in Figures 2 and 3, or in Figures 4 and 5, or in Figures 6 and 7 of the
accompanying drawings.
Datad this 10th dor of Luna 1900