Improvements in Gully-traps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1592
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gully-traps.
I, GEORGE COUZENS of 14 Tudor Street Cardiff, Builder, 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 the traps placed in the floors of kitchens, cellars, etc.,
and is designed to prevent any back flow of water or obnoxious gases, while at the
It is especially
same time allowing the easy passage of water to the drains.
applicable for seaside towns, where at high tide, the water sometimes rises above
the level of the cellar floors and floods them.
According to this invention I use an outer casing of earthenware in which au
iron frame supporting a moveable grating can be readily inserted, the iron frame
being circular and having at its base an indiarubber ring, against which a hollow
copper ball abuts when supported by the water below, the ball completely closing
the passage from the trap to the atmosphere, when the water is at its ordinary
height, forming the seal of the trap, excepting when water is poured through the
grating, when the weight of the water depresses the ball and the water flows
through the opening made.
In situations where the trap might get dry, I employ another ring of india-
rubber, placed at the bottom of the trap and against which the ball rests closing
the passage when the trap is dry. A suitable guiding piece on each side of the
casing directs the ball on to its seat. The weight of the ball thus prevents any
light back draught of foul air passing through the grating, and immediately sufficient
water enters the trap to form the water seal, the ball is floated back to its original
position.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the trap Fig. 2 a plan and Fig. 3 a detail view
showing the guides for directing the ball on to the lower ring in section.
A is the casing forming the water trap, to which the frame B supporting the
grating C is attached. A flange A' extends round the inside of the casing A,
mutilated in two places A2, opposite to each other. The upper part of B is
flanged at B and two projections B are formed on the frame, which when it is to
be inserted, are passed through the openings A2 and the frame turned in either
direction so that the flange A holds the iron frame and prevents it from falling
into the earthenware trap.
At the lower part of the frame is fixed the india-rubber ring D against which
the hollow ball E is held by the water in the trap, the ball being guided thereto
by the bell-mouth end B3 of the frame. When the water is at the height shown,
the ball is supported with sufficient force just to press against the ring D, so that a
slight weight on top of the ball will force it downwards and create a passage
through the frame. The ball and ring will, however, support a small quantity of
water, which will make an additional seal; and still further secure the trap from
any through draught of obnoxious air. Any rising in the water, through a back
flow or other cause will force the ball up, and close the passage tightly, effectually
preventing any water rising through the grating.
If the water evaporates, the ball will fall and rest upon the ring F, closing
the passage at that point. Two guides G are provided which direct the ball onto
the ring F.
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. An improved gully trap for the prevention of the back flow of water from

page_text: drains, constructed with a copper ball arranged to be floated up against a rubber
ring, for additionally closing the connection to the drain, such ball being capable of
supporting a quantity of liquid which makes an additional water seal substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a trap of the kind shown, the combination of an india-rubber ring D, fixed
in a frame B supporting the grating C, the frame being fastened by the flanges A¹
and B' and the projections B2, with a ball E, all substantially as described and
shown and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the arrangement mentioned in Claim 2, of a rubber
ring F fixed at the bottom of the trap, and means for guiding the ball E onto the
ring, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 19th day of December 1891.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.