Improvements in Waste Preventing Flushing Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1996-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Waste Preventing Flushing Apparatus.
We, THOMAS HOLCROFT AND SONS, LIMITED, of Ettingshall Foundry, near
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Cast-iron Hollowware Manufacturers and
General Ironfounders, and ALFRED HILL MOULD, of the same address, Manager
to the said Company, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to waste preventing flushing apparatus in which a syphon
action is started by the descent of a piston within a well or chamber or other portion
of the flushing cistern. The piston is in some cases formed with or fixed to the
lower end of the shorter leg of the syphon which is formed as a close-topped pipe,
constituting it a hood, and which surrounds a portion of the longer leg, and in such
cases the piston and shorter leg of the syphon descend together, the water which is
forced out from the well or chamber or other portion of the cistern by the descent of
the piston flowing up between the outer and inner pipes of the syphon and thence
down through the flushing pipe; and in other cases both the legs of the syphon
are fixed, the piston only being movable. Whether the piston is arranged to be
moved together with a portion of the syphon, or for itself only to be moved, it is
desirable that it shall be as good a fit within the well or chamber or part within
which it moves as will permit of its easy action, and this involves special means
whereby when the piston reaches the bottom of its stroke the water which is behind
it may find a ready passage-way into the syphon.
Now, this invention has for its object means whereby a ready passage-way may be
provided for the water behind the piston into the syphon when the piston has reached
the bottom of its stroke.
The manner in which the above object is effected, according to this invention, in a
case such as above described in which the piston is formed with or fixed to the shorter
leg of the syphon consists, preferably, in forming a number of holes through the side of
the portion of the shorter leg or hood (technically known as the "dome") which is
immediately above the piston, and surrounding the same with a ring which acts as a
valve to keep such openings closed during the descent of the piston, and also as a weight
to assist the descent of the piston and steady the same in operation by keeping the
centre of gravity low down. This ring is smaller all round than the piston so as to
leave a space between itself and the wall of the well or chamber or other part within
which the piston moves. Pegs project from the lower face of the ring through the
piston and some distance below the face thereof, and such pegs come in contact with
the bottom of the part within which the piston works just before the piston reaches
the bottom of its stroke, and prevent the ring descending further while the piston
completes its downward stroke thus causing the holes which have been previously
closed by the ring to be opened so that water behind the piston may rush past the
outer edge of the ring and between the lower face of the ring and the upper face
of the piston, and thence through the holes into the syphon. The weight of the ring.
keeps it normally down upon the piston, in which position it surrounds and closes
the holes.
It is preferred to form the portion of the movable syphon pipe through which the

page_text: holes are formed enlarged in diameter compared with the portion above and tapering
somewhat smaller upwards, and to form the ring correspondingly tapered inside so
that the tapered portion through which the holes are formed may readily pass down
clear of the ring as the piston completes its downward stroke, and may readily
re-enter the ring and thus cause the closing of the openings as the piston is raised
again..
In lieu of forming the openings through the side of the movable portion of the
syphon, as above described, such openings may he formed through the piston itself
and be closed by the ring" when resting upon the piston. In this case, however,
provision must be made for a passage-way for the water from the underside of the
piston to the syphon, such as by forming lugs upon the underside of the piston, or
making other provision whereby the underface of the piston, or a portion or portions
thereof, may stand above the bottom of the part within which the piston operates,
when the piston is at the bottom of its stroke. The arrangement above described in
which the holes are: formed through the wall of the outer syphon pipe, is much
preferred to the modification in which the holes are formed through the piston itself,
as in the latter case the upward pressure of the water in the holes as the piston
descends tends to raise the ring.....
In cases in which the piston itself only is moved, and in which it surrounds the
syphon, holes are formed through it and are conveniently arranged in a circle; and
such holes are covered by a ring which is held up in the manner above described
while the piston completes its downward stroke. When the piston does not surround
the syphon, holes are formed through it in any convenient positions and are covered
by a weight which is suitably shaped therefor and is held up in the manner, above.
described while the piston completes its downward stroke. In each arrangement.
described in this paragraph, suitable provision, such as above described, must of
course be made for a passage-way for the water..from the underside, of the piston.to
the syphon:
Dated this 18th day of Februa1904
STEPHEN, WATKINS,.
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Waste Preventing Flushing: Apparatus..
We, THOMAS HOLCROFT AND SONS, LIMITED, of. Ettingshall. Foundry, near
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Cast-iron Hollow-ware, Manufacturers and
General Ironfounders, and ALFRED HILL. MOULD, of the same address, Manager to
and a Director of the said Company, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement ·
11.
الأن
This invention relates to waste preventing flushing apparatus in which a syphon
action is started' by the descent of a piston within a well or chamber or other portion
of the flushing cistern. The piston is in some cases formed with or fixed to the
lower end of the shorter leg of the syphon which is formed as a close-topped pipe,
constituting it a Food, and which surrounds a portion of the longer leg, and in such
cases the piston and shorter leg of the syphon descend" together, the water. which is
forced out from the well or chamber or other portion of the cistern by the descent
of the piston, flowing up between the outer and inner pipes of the syphon and, thence
down through the flushing pipe; and in other cases both the legs of the syphon.are
fixed; the piston only: being movable. Whether the piston is arranged to be moved
19

page_text: together with a portion of the syphon, or for itself only to be moved, it is desirable
that it shall be as good a fit within the well or chamber or part within which it
moves as will permit of its easy action, and this involves special means whereby
when the piston reaches the bottom of its stroke the water which is behind it may
find a ready passage-way into the syphon..
Now, this invention has for its object improved means whereby a ready passage-
way may be provided for the water behind the piston into the syphon when the
piston has reached the bottom of its stroke.
The manner in which the above object is effected, according to this invention, in a
case such as above described in which the piston is formed with or fixed to the
shorter leg of the syphon, consists, preferably, in forming a number of holes through
the side of the portion of the shorter leg or hood (technically known as the "dome"
which is immediately above the piston, and surrounding the same with a ring which
acts as a valve to keep such openings closed during the descent of the piston, and
also as a weight to assist the descent of the piston and steady the same in operation
by keeping the centre of gravity low down. This ring is smaller all round than the
piston so as to leave a space between itself and the wall of the well or chamber or
other part within which the piston moves. Pegs project from the lower face of the
ring through the piston and some distance below the face thereof, and such pegs
come in contact with the bottom of the part within which the piston works shortly
before the piston reaches the bottom of its stroke, and prevent the ring descending
further while the piston completes its downward stroke, thus causing the holes which
have been previously closed by the ring to be opened so that water behind the piston
may rush past the outer edge of the ring and between the lower face of the ring and
the upper face of the piston, and thence through the holes into the syphon. During
the operation of the piston (except as it is completing its downward stroke) the
weight of the ring keeps the ring down upon the piston, in which position it surrounds
and closes the holes.
A practical application of the invention, in the case of a piston which is formed
with the shorter leg of the syphon, is illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings
herewith, of which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the middle of a
flushing cistern, and Figure 2 a plan thereof.
A is the dome surrounding the down pipe B of the syphon. C is the piston,
which is formed with the dome A, and is an easy fit within the well D of the flush-
ing cistern E. The well D, and consequently the piston. C, is shaped oval as seen
on plan to enable the cistern to be made somewhat narrow, for convenience, but the
well may be circular, or of any other shape, if desired. The main portion of the
dome A is, preferably, formed circular in section. The lower or open end thereof is
of an oval shape corresponding to that of the piston, and is formed to taper smaller
in diameter for a short distance upwards as shewn at a. A part 6 of the dome is
formed to gradually join the tapered portion a with the cylindrical portion, changing
gradually in shape from that of the upper end of the tapered portion a to that of
the cylindrical portion of the dome. Holes c are formed through the portion a of
the dome as shewn. The ring F, which is made conveniently of a thickness to give
it considerable weight, is formed with its interior tapering to correspond with the
taper of the portion a of the dome, and when the ring is down upon the piston C
it fits around the tapered portion a of the dome and closes the holes c, so that as
the piston descends in the well D from its upward position the water below it cannot
escape through the holes c and is consequently forced through the syphon. Pegs d
project downwards from the ring F and pass through openings formed therefor
through the piston C, and as the piston is nearing the bottom of its downward stroke
the ends of these pegs come upon the bottom of the well D and prevent the further
descent of the ring while the piston completes its downward stroke. The holes c
are thus brought down clear of the ring, and the water behind the piston may then
rush outside and under the ring, and also through the ring, and through the holes
into the syphon through which it is discharged into the flushing pipe. It is preferred
to rivet washers (such as the washer e) on the ends. of the pins d, to prevent the

page_text: ring from, getting accidentally out of place in relation to the piston. In order to
ensure the, well becoming properly and rapidly filled with water from the cistern,
when the piston has been raised into its upward position indicated by broken lines
Figure 1, the diameter of the well is enlarged from the top thereof for a depth
which extends slightly below the underside of the piston when in its upward position;
but in order to prevent the piston catching on the shoulder formed by the increased
diameter of the well, guides a, which form upward continuations of the surface of
smaller diameter of the well, are carried up for the height of the portion of enlarged
diameter, and are preferably carried up thereabove also to prevent the piston becoming
lodged on the upper edge of the well. in case it should be accidentally drawn up too
high. The dome, piston and ring, are raised together through the medium of the
usual lever G, rocking bar H, and arms J J, or in any convenient manner, and
descend by their own weight. The ring F is made to fit (when closing the holes c)
around a tapered portion of the dome, as described, to facilitate the descent of the
dome therethrough. when the ring.has reached the bottom of its stroke and to provide
a passage-way for water through the ring when the holes c are uncovered.
f
According to a modification of the invention, in lieu of forming openings through
the side of the dome A of the syphon, openings may be formed through the piston
itself and be closed by the ring F when such ring rests upon the piston. In this case
the water which rushes through such openings when the ring is in position clear
above the piston rushes also underneath the. piston and thus into the open mouth, of
the dome. It is essential, of course, that in this modification the piston when at the
bottom of its stroke shall stand sufficiently above. the bottom of the well to give the
necessary passage-way for the water underneath the piston. This. may be ensured by
making the washers e of sufficient thickness for the purpose, or lugs or projections
from the underside of the piston or: from the bottom of the well. may be specially
provided for the purpose; or any suitable means may be adopted to give the necessary
passage-way across the underside of the piston. In this. modification there is no
purpose, of course, in forming the ring tapered inside, as it has not to fit around the
dome when closing the holes through the piston. This modification will be readily
understood without special illustration, more, especially after perusing the description
ference to the modification shewn by Figure 3 in which a corresponding
arrangement is shewn as applied to a piston which operates in a well arranged at one
side of the dome.
In a case, also, in, which the piston itself only is moved, and in which it
surrounds the syphon, holes are formed through it and are conveniently arranged in
a circle, and such holes are covered by a ring which is held up in the manner
above described while the piston completes its downward stroke, and suitable passage
way, is provided for the water which passes through the holes to pass under the,
piston into the syphon; or, in such a case, in lieu of forming holes through the piston
and, providing a ring for closing the same, holes may be formed through the side of
the dome, and extend to such a height from the bottom. thereof that as the piston is
nearing the bottom of its downward stroke it uncovers the holes, and allows the water
behind the piston, to rush through the holes into the syphon.
A modification of the invention, as applied to a case in which the piston does not
surround the, syphon, is illustrated by Figure 3, which is a longitudinal section
through the middle of a flushing cistern. The piston C' is shewn as arranged to
work within a well D' which is at one side of the syphon. A number of holes C³,
conveniently arranged in a circle, are formed through the piston, and these holes
are closed by a weight F1 except when a peg d', which projects from the, underside of
such weight and passes through the piston, rests upon the bottom of the well. The
holes are, however, uncovered as the, piston completes its downward stroke, owing to
the weight F being held up by the peg d, and the water then rushes through the
holes and underneath the piston, and thence into the shorter leg A of the syphon.
In the modifications in which holes are formed through the piston, the ring: or
weight should of course be made sufficiently heavy to ensure that it will not be raised
by the upward pressure of the water through the holes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. In waste preventing flushing apparatus in which the syphon action is started
by the descent of a piston within a well or chamber or other portion of the
flushing cistern, ineans by which while the free passage of water from one side of the
piston to the other is prevented during the main portion of the descending stroke of
the piston, the passage way into the lower portion of the shorter leg of the
syphon is opened to the free passage of water froin the upper side of the piston by,
or simultaneously with, the movement of the piston as it nears the end of its
descending stroke, substantially as described.
2. In waste preventing flushing apparatus in which the syphon action is started
by the descent of a piston within a well or chamber or other portion of the flushing
cistern, and in which the dome is formed with or fixed to the piston and moves
therewith, a passage way formed through the side of the lower portion of the dome,
in combination with a weight which maintains such passage way closed during the
main portion of the descent of the piston, with means by which such weight is held
up as the piston completes its downward stroke and thereby ensures the opening of
such passage way to the passage of water therethrough from the upper side of the
piston, substantially as described.
3. In waste preventing flushing apparatus in which the syphon action is started
by the descent of a piston within a well or chamber or other portion of the flushing
cistern, and in which the dome is formed with or fixed to the piston and moves there-
with, openings forming a passage-way through a tapered part of the lower portion of
the dome, in combination with a ring tapering in diameter inside to fit around the
tapered portion of the dome and close the openings therethrough during the main
portion of the descent of the piston, with means by which such ring is held up as the
piston completes its downward stroke and thereby ensures a free passage-way through
such openings for the water from the upper side of the piston, substantially as
described.
4. In waste preventing flushing apparatus in which the syphon action is started by
the descent of a piston within a well or chamber or other portion of the flushing cistern,
a passage-way formed through the piston and a weight which maintains such passage-
way closed during the main portion of the descent of the piston, with means by which
such weight is held up as the piston completes its downward stroke and thereby
ensures the opening of such passage-way to the passage of water therethrongh from
the upper side of the piston, substantially as described.
5. The improvements in waste preventing flushing apparatus substantially as
described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 16th day of November 1896.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.