IMPROVEMENTS IN SEAL TRAPS FOR WASH-BASINS, WATER-CLOSETS, AND LIKE PURPOSES a
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson of the Liverpool and London
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEAL
TRAPS FOR WASH-BASINS, WATER-CLOSETS, AND LIKE PURPOSES a communi-
cation from Abraham Edwards a person: resident at Asbury Park, in the
County of Monmouth, and State of New Jersey one of the United States of
3
3
"
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1883.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Liverpool and London Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN SEAL TRAPS FOR WASH BASINS, WATER CLOSETS,
AND LIKE PURPOSES."-A communication from Abraham Edwards, a person
resident at Asbury Park, in the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey,
one of the United States of America.
3,
This invention relates to improvements in that class of traps, which are adapted
for wash-basins, water closets, baths, urinals and like purposes, and where a
mercury seal is used to prevent the passage of sewer and other noxious gases, or
odours through said traps by back pressure, and where such mercury seal is
displaced to allow the necessary eduction by bydrostatic pressure.
•
The invention consists in certain novel features and arrangements whereby
simplicity of construction is combined with economy, and efficiency in operation..
Its object, firstly, is to prevent the escape of gases and obnoxious odours, and
secondly, to destroy all vegetable organism finding its way into, or originating in
the trap.
That there is, in all soil pipes a growth of low vegetable organism is a well
known fact. It is apt to creep along the inner walls of the trap, until it penetrates
within the seal and pipes, and then passes off and floats in the air of the apartment
in which the sink or other fixture is located, thus becoming germs: from which
various diseases, such as Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever, etcetera, emanate,

page_text: It is necessary therefore, to construct the seals for wash stands, and other
fixtures, in such a manner as to prevent the movement of such growth, and also
effectually destroy the fungi, before they pass through the traps.
Recent investigations show that compounds, similar to oxide or bi-chloride of
mercury, are the most powerful agents at our command, for preventing or
destroying the growth described of the class of vegetable organism to which the
disease germs belong.
It having been discovered that mercury placed in an iron trap, has a tendency
to oxidize or be changed to Oxide of Mercury, this chemical is used and located in
or automatically supplied to the trap in such manner that in a short space of time
it accumulates on the walls both above and below the seal, forming a coating or
film which is poisonous to vegetable life. The larger the area of the inner surfaces
of the trap, the greater will be the amount of poisonous matter which will accumu-
late thereon, and the better the protection against disease germs. The gradual
absorption of the mercury to form the oxide, necessitates its replenishment possibly
every five years, or perhaps oftener when the traps are used in a hot climate. It
is essential therefore that the traps be constructed in such a manner, that the
mercury chamber may be easily and at the same time quickly removed or reached
without uncoupling the trap from its connections.
The invention also provides for the coating of the interior of the induction and
seal pipes or either of them with porcelain or other non-amalgamable substance, or
otherwise smoothly finish the same, so that particles descending with the water,
will not adhere thereto, so as to clog the pipes, or remain above the seal, to
decompose. In all cases the trap is constructed so as to afford a ready access to
the interior for cleaning and replenishing the mercury seal.
The traps are provided with a movable bottom which forms a cup or chamber
for the mercury seal. This mercury chamber is of less area than the trap body
and has by preference a nut cast thereon, or provided with other suitable means
whereby the cup or chamber may be readily screwed on and unscrewed from the
main body.
This cup or mercury chamber may be screwed either outside or inside the trap,
or it may be attached in any other suitable manner, or it may be cast or formed in
one piece with the walls of the trap but it is preferable to have it removable.
When found desirable an opening may be formed in the side of the trap, just
above the mercury seal or in the mercury chamber, or this opening may be
arranged at a point near the upper side of the trap, in the former cases a common
screwed plug being used to close the aperture, and in the latter a special closing
device consisting of a lid or cover fitting inside a lip or flange formed on the trap
body, said cover having a screwed stud passing through its centre, and a nut
being arranged to screw on the said stud, and bear upon the exterior of the trap
body.
This opening is for the purpose of inspecting or cleaning out the interior of the
trap or its seal, but it will be chiefly used in the larger sized traps, where it is not
advisable to remove the mercury chamber, or where the removable chamber does
not exist.
The sealing or trap pipe is arranged centrally, and vertically in the interior of the
trap, and its lower end dips into the mercury seal a short distance, preferably about
one eighth of an inch, and so as to come within about one quarter inch from the
bottom of the mercury cup.
This sealing pipe is either cast in one with the trap or the trap may be provided
with a screwed cap having formed thereon a boss or upwardly turned flange into
which on the underside is screwed the sealing pipe and the induction pipe being
screwed to its upper side, in alignment with the sealing pipe, or any arrangement
which will effect the same result may be adopted.
The eduction pipe is preferably cast in one with the trap but of course it may
be tapped into, or otherwise attached to the body of the trap at any suitable
point

page_text: If desired a ventilating pipe may be connected with the eduction pipe at its
upper bend, in which case the ventilating pipe may be carried up through the roof
of the building. The end of that part of the induction pipe which is made in one
with the iron trap body and sealing pipe will be by preference turned, so as to
facilitate the joining by solder, by the lead water pipe, and if desired the end of
the educting pipe is treated in like manner, and similarly connected with a pipe
leading to a sewer or other outlet or receptacie, as will be readily understood by
plumbers.
The sealing tube and interior of the trap body or either of them, may be coated
with porcelain or other non-amalgamable substance, to prevent the adherence of
particles accompanying the waste water, for some purposes; but in the majority of
cases the interior of the trap and the sealing pipe, (which as before mentioned, are
of iron) will be left unglazed, so that the mercury gradually oxidizes or is changed
to Oxide of Mercury and coats the walls of the trap, or accumulates thereon, both..
above and below the seal, and in this manner forms a poisonous barrier to all forms
of the plant life, which are known to creep along such walls.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Phillips Thompson in the Patent Office on the 3rd June
1884.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Liverpool and London Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster Civil
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEAL TRAPS FOR WASH BASINS WATER CLOSETS
AND LIKE PURPOSES."-A communication from Abraham Edwards a person
resident at Asbury Park in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey
one of the United States of America
This invention relates to improvements in that class of traps which are adapted
for wash basins, water closets, baths, urinals and like purposes, and where a
Mercury Seal is used to prevent the passage of sewer and other noxious gases or
odours through said traps by back pressure, and where such mercury seal is
displaced to allow the necessary eduction by hydrostatic pressure.
The invention consists in certain novel features and arrangements whereby
simplicity of construction is combined with economy and efficiency in operation.
Its object firstly is to prevent the escape of gases and obnoxious odours and
secondly to destroy all vegetable organism finding its way into, or originating in
the trap.
That there is in all soil pipes a growth of low vegetable organism is a well
known fact. It is apt to creep along the inner walls of the trap until it penetrates
within the seal and pipes and then passes off and floats in the air of the apartment
in which the sink or other fixture is located thus becoming germs from which
various diseases such as Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever etcetera emanate.
It is necessary therefore to construct the seals for wash stands and other fixtures
in such a manner as to prevent the movement of such growth and also effectually
destroy the fungi hefore they pass through the traps.
Recent investigations show that compounds, similar to Oxide or bi-chloride of
Mercury are the most powerful agents at our command for preventing or destroying
the growth described of the class of vegetable organism to which the disease germs
belong.
It having been discovered that Mercury placed in an iron trap has a tendency
to oxidize or be changed to Oxide of Mercury this chemical is used and located in
or automatically supplied to the trap in such manner that in a short space of time
it accumulates on the walls both above and below the seal, forming a coating or
film which is poisonous to vegetable life. The larger the area of the inner surfaces
of the trap the greater will be the amount of poisonous matter which will
accumulate thereon and the better the protection against disease germs.
gradual absorption of the Mercury to form the oxide necessitates its replenishment
possibly every five years, or perhaps oftener when the traps are used in a hot
climate. It is essential therefore that the traps be constructed in such a manner,
that the Mercury chamber may be easily and at the same time quickly removed or
reached without uncoupling the trap from its connections.
The
The invention also provides for the coating of the interior of the induction and
seal pipes or either of them with porcelain or other non-amalgamable substance or
otherwise smoothly finish the same so that particles descending with the water
will not adhere thereto so as to clog the pipes or remain above the seal to
decompose. In all cases the trap is constructed so as to afford a ready access to
the interior for cleaning and replenishing the Mercury Seal.
For more complete comprehension of the invention reference must be had to
the accompanying drawing, in which letters similar to those used in the following

page_text: Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved trap in its simplest form and specially
suitable for wash basins, sinks etcetera.
Fig. 2 a vertical section of same.
Fig. 3 Vertical section of modification suited for the same purpose.
Fig. 4 a similar view of the same but without cleaning out opening.
Fig. 5 a vertical section of a trap specially designed for Water Closets and
with cleaning out opening at upper end of trap.
Fig. 6 a vertical section showing a modified arrangement whereby the lower
chamber is attached to the trap..
Fig. 7 a similar view but showing lower chamber provided with a cleaning out
opening and screw plug for closing same.
4
Fig. 8 a cross section on line W, W, Fig: 2.
Fig. 9 a cross section on line X, X, Fig: 3.
Fig. 10 a plan view and
Fig. 11 a sectional elevation (both views enlarged) of device for closing cleaning
out opening, shown in Fig: 5.
In these several modifications of the same invention, A represents the body of
the trap; B the induction pipe; C the sealing pipe and D the eduction pipe.
Turning however first to Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7 it will be seen that the traps are
provided with a movable bottom E which forms a cup or chamber for the mercury
seal indicated by heavy dotted lines. This chamber E is of less area than the trap
body A and has by preference a nut e cast thereon or provided with other suitable
means whereby the cup or chamber may be readily screwed on and unscrewed from
the main body A.
In Figs. 1 and 2 this cup or chamber E is shewn screwed outside the trap A
and in Fig: 6 it is screwed inside the same, but it is not confined to this mode of
attachment by screw threads as any other that is suitable may be adopted.
In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 there is no removable chamber but the Mercury is located in
precisely the same position at the bottom of the trap body A and when found
desirable an opening a may be formed in the side of the trap just above the
mercury seal as shown in Figs 3 and 9, or in the removable chamber E as shown ia
Fig. 7, or this opening may be arranged at a point near the upper side of the trap
as seen in Fig 5, in the former cases a common screwed plug a' being used to close
the aperture and in the latter a special closing device (as shown enlarged in Figs 10
and 11) consisting of a lid or cover F fitting inside a lip or flange a² formed on the
trap body, said cover F having a screwed stud f passing through its centre and a
nut f being arranged to screw on the said stud and bear upon the exterior of the
trap body A.
This opening a is for the purpose of inspecting or cleaning out the interior of the
trap or its seal but it will be chiefly used in the larger sized traps where it is not
advisable to remove the mercury chamber or where the removable chamber does
not exist
As shown in all the figures the sealing pipe C is arranged centrally and vertically
in the interior of the trap and its lower end dips into the mercury seal a short
distance preferably about one eighth of an inch, and so as to come within about
one quarter inch from the bottom of the mercury cup.
This sealing pipe is either cast in one with the trap as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or
the trap may be provided with a screwed cap c having formed thereon a boss or
upward leg turned flange c' into which on the underside is screwed the sealing
pipe C and the induction pipe B being screwed to its upper side in alignment with C
as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or any arrangement which will effect the same result
may be adopted.
The eduction pipe D is preferably cast in one with the trap A as shown but of
course it may be tapped into or otherwise attached to the body A at any suitable
point

page_text: If desired a ventilating pipe (not shown) may be connected with the eduction
pipe D at its upper bend, in which case the cap d shown in Fig 5 is removed and
the ventilating pipe be carried up through the roof of the building. The end
of that part of the induction pipe B which is made in one with the iron trap body
and sealing pipe C as in Figs. 1 and 2 will be by preference turned so as to
facilitate the joining by solder by the lead water pipe and if desired the end of
the educting pipe is treated in like manner-and similarly connected with a pipe
leading to a sewer or other outlet or receptacle as will be readily understood by
plumbers.
As above described the sealing tube C and interior of the trap body A or either
of them may be coated with porcelain or other non-amalgamable substance to
prevent the adherence of particles accompanying the waste water for some purposes;
but in the majority of cases the interior of the trap and the sealing pipe (which as
before mentioned are of iron) will be left unglazed so that the mercury gradually
oxidizes or is changed to oxide of mercury and coats the walls of the trap, or
accumulates thereon, both above and below the seal and in this manner forms a
poisonous barrier to all forms of the plant life, which are known to creep along
such walls.
The operation of the improved trap will be readily understood and it is needless
to enlarge upon the same in this Specification further than to say that the waste
fluid or matter from the basin closet or other fixture passing down through the seal
pipe exerts a hydrostatic pressure which depresses and moves the mercury away
from the lower end of the pipe and in this manner allows the waste fluid or matter
to escape through the eduction pipe D-the mercury immediately falling again to
its own level sealing the pipe and excluding the entrance of sewer gas thereto or its
consequent dissemination throughout the building.
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent are as follows:-
1st. A trap composed of a main body, an induction pipe, a sealing pipe aligned
with said induction pipe, vertically within said body so as to close said sealing
tube at its lower end and an eduction pipe, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
•
2nd. A trap composed of an elongated main body, induction and eduction pipes,
a sealing tube and a removable cup or chamber, having a mercury chamber having
a mercury seal disposed therein so as to seal the lower end of said sealing tube,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. A trap composed of a body designed and adapted to contain a mercury seal
chamber and provided with inducting and eduction pipes, a cleaning out opening
provided with suitable stopper, and a sealing tube aligned with said induction pipe
and arranged so that its lower end shall dip into and be sealed by said mercury seal,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4th. A trap composed of a body designed and arranged to contain a mercury seal
and provided with an eduction pipe and a screwed cap or cover, an induction and
a sealing tube depending from said cap or cover centrally within said body and
arranged to dip into said mercury so as to be sealed thereby substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
5th. A mercury seal trap composed of a main body inducting, sealing and eduction
pipes, said parts being of cast iron, having unglazed inner surfaces and a mercury
seal, substantially as and for the purposes described.
6th. A mercury seal trap composed of an elongated body having an induction
outlet and an open bottom to which is screwed a removable chamber or cap, said
parts being made of cast iron having unglazed inner surfaces, substantially as shown
and for the purposes described.
7th. A mercury seal trap made of cast iron having unglazed inner surfaces and
a removable chamber in which is placed the mercury, substantially as shown and
described.
* 8th. A mercury seal trap composed of a body having open bottom, induction

page_text: sealing and eduction pipes, a removable mercury chamber having a lateral opening
with stopple therefor, substantially as shown and described.
9th. A mercury seal trap composed of a body having an open bottom, induction
sealing and eduction pipes, a removable mercury chambers having a nut or
projection e, substantially as shown and described.
10th. A mercury seal trap composed of a cast iron body, having unglazed inner
sides, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
11th. In seal traps for wash basins and other fixtures, the method of preventing
the growth or movement of vegetable organism within said traps, which consists
in providing unglazed cast iron surfaces within the trap, then inserting mercury
therein and permitting the same to oxidize, in such manner that the oxide of
mercury will be deposited on said surfaces in the form of a film or coating,
substantially as described.
12th. In a mercury seal trap, a sealing tube coated with porcelain or other
non-amalgamable substance, as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Phillips Thompson bave hereunto set
my hand and seal this 29th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.