IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS AND THEIR APPUR- TENANCES OR ACCESSORIES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS, MORE ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATING TO THE SUPPLY AND STOP COCKS AND THE SUPPLY TANK APPARATUS, ARE APPLICABLE FOR SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR OTHER PURPOSES THAN WATERCLOSETS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of the Firm of W. P. Thomp-
son and Co., of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and 323,
High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS AND THEIR APPUR-
TENANCES OR ACCESSORIES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS, MORE ESPECIALLY
THOSE RELATING TO THE SUPPLY AND STOP COCKS AND THE SUPPLY TANK
APPARATUS, ARE APPLICABLE FOR SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR OTHER PURPOSES
THAN WATERCLOSETS." A communication from abroad by William S. Cooper,
of Philadelphia, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 5th March 1880, and dated the 25th September 1879
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th September 1879.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and Co., of
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATERCLOSETS AND THEIR APPURTENANCES OR ACCESSORIES, PARTS OF WHICH IM-
PROVEMENTS, MORE ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATING TO THE SUPPLY AND STOP COCKS
AND THE SUPPLY TANK APPARATUS, ARE APPLICABLE FOR SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR
OTHER PURPOSES THAN WATERCLOSETS." A communication from abroad from
William S. Cooper, Philadelphia, in the United States of America.
The water closet proper consists chiefly of the following principal parts:-An
earthenware or other bowl; an overflow chamber containing a float ball connected
by levers to and operating a valve; an overflow conduit with aforesaid valve at bottom;
a cast iron trunk below both overflow conduit and bowl; another float ball
operating the flow of water to the vacuum chamber of the supply cock; a small
passage between the overflow chamber and overflow conduit; indiarubber seating;.
against which overflow valve presses upwards main valve to close the opening at
the bottom of the earthenware basin'; a peculiarly formed rubber gasket to make a
tight joint round the main valve; a weighted lever to operate and counterbalance
valve by means of segmental gearing; a supply cock; a bent pipe (with a collar).
leading from supply cock to an arm of the basin; a rubber, ring and lock nut on
4.

page_text: joint of said bent pipe, the supply pipe is joined to the arm of the basin by the
lock nut compressing the indiarubber ring. The advantages of the segmental
gearing are, that by lifting the handle the segment shall turn a pinion and draw
the valve back quite out of reach of any falling material; it is therefore much less
likely to be fouled than is ordinarily the case, the valve can also be forced to its
seat with greater pressure, and can follow it up through a greater variation of wear,
and if much wear takes place it is only necessary to change the relation of the
gears one tooth, and bring the valve forward enough to be sure to find a firm
seating. The indiarubber gasket has its upper edge so thin that the pressure of
the water in the basin will force it to its seat, the same piece of rubber forming
both joint of the basin and seat of the valve. When the water rises in the over-
flow chamber and raises its float the overflow valve is thereby depressed. So long as
the water is above the weirs of the overflow cistern it flows freely over and escapes
down the main conduit, but as soon as the water falls below that point the valve
closes, the water then remaining under the float in the chamber escapes down the
Sinall passage filling the main conduit, and serves the double purpose of always
leaving an amount of water on the overflow valve sufficient to keep it moist, and
prevent the slightest odour from escaping, and of leaving the float entirely un-
supported by water, so that its full weight is exerted through the peculiarly
formed levers to keep the overflow valve closely shut. The supply cock is of the
kind known as automatic or vacuum chamber cock. In supply cocks of this
character the principal feature is the means by which the vacuum chamber may be
filled, the vacuum destroyed, and the valve returned to its seat. The vacuum chamber
is seated above the spindle valve when the plunger is driven upward into the vacuum
chamber; all the water contained therein escapes between a rubber ring and the
underside of the upper loose flange of the plunger and through openings in the lower
flange of the same. The upper flange being solid, a tight joint is formed between
it and the rubber ring whenever they are in contact; it is also bevelled to allow
the rubber to slide over its surface, when the latter is expanded against the
sides of the valve body by the pressure of the water. The under or lower flange of
the plunger is sufficiently solid to support the rubber, but open at a few, say, four
points, to allow of the free escape of the water of the vacuum chamber when the
plunger is driven upward. The space between the two flanges of the plunger is
greater than the depth of the rubber. The latter is always in contact with the
sides of the vacuuin chamber. Hence when the plunger is driven upwards a space
is made between the upper flange and the rubber, through which the water escapes
from the vacuum chamber, the plunger starts to return to its seat by the force of a
spring, and the upper Bange comes in contact with the rubber, and is held in sus-
pension by the vacuum chamber. The valve is so arranged that water cannot flow
into this vacuum chamber except by a certain small passage. The end of regu-
lating screw is used to enlarge or decrease the opening into this passage, and
controls the time of filling the vacuum chamber. During the time of this filling
the water is flowing through the cock to the flushing basin of the closet. It not
unfrequently happens that at the time of using a water closet the supply of water
to flush with is exhausted or stopped, in this case the plunger would descend and
close the cock; and no flush would take place. To prevent this I use the extra float
before mentioned to operate through levers on a plunger, which presses a diaphragm
against the end of the opening of an arm of the small passage, and thereby closing
it, as no means exist to fill the vacuum chamber but the said small passages.
follows that the plunger must remain in suspension until the flow is restored,
which cannot take place until the basin is filled enough to raise the extra float, and
remove the pressure from the diaphragm, when the water again flows through the
small passage, and so to the vacuum chamber. The stop cock consists chiefly of
the following parts:-The body divided into two parts by the diaphragm seat and
valve, all the other parts are on the valve or exit side of the diaphragm; a spring
to keep the packing close round the spindle; a packing washer to keep the joint
tight between the top of the body of the cock and the cap; the valve with its
It

page_text: ment.
i
upper end expanded into a recess in a hollow in the bottom of the spindle; a
collar (in which the spindle screws to raise and lower the valve) held fast by the
friction of the conical sides fitting snugly in the body of the cock. This collar can
be otherwise kept 'from rotating by fitting. it with projections, which intrude
themselves into the rubber packing washer and force it up into corresponding
recesses in the cap above. The top, of the valve is made to fit the recess in the
hollow in the spindle by turning it with a rim at the top, and the recess with a
protruberance to force that rim outward. The spindle can be made to press on the
valve or not. as desired.. The method of fastening the collar, cap, and rubber I
believe to be original with Mr. Cooper. The most important improvement in the
stop cock consists in so fixing the valve in the hollow of the spindle that the valve
shall be withdrawn from its seat when the cock is opened. Many times in
ordinary cocks the pressure is not sufficient to lift the valve, and it becomes
necessary to take off the cap of the cock to unloose the valve, but by expanding
the upper portion of the valve into the enlarged recess at the top of the hollow of
the spindle the valve is carried with the spindle in its upward or downward move-
The valve is always fitted so as to revolve freely in the hollow of the
spindle. I sometimes fit the collar in the body of the cock by a conical or tapering
joint, but finding this mode too expensive, I devised the following method:-The
collar is fitted in a straight recess in the body of the cock, and the upper side is
provided with three small centre like projections. The inside of the
cap is provided
with six or more centre like recesses, into which the rubber: packing is forced by
projections on the collar. This makes a rigid body of the collar, cap, and rubber
packing, so that none of these can be uncovered or rotated by the rotation of the
spindle in opening or closing the cock. By ny improved water saving cistern or
tank only three gallous of water can be used at one Hushing of the closet. It,
consists chiefly of the following parts:-The body of the cistern, the float ball, the
shaft to operate the valves and float ball, a pawl used to liberate the float ball, the.
shaft through which the pawl acts, the ball valve or supply cock, the cranks and.
chains on the shaft to open the two valves, the main flushing chambers designed to
discharge two gallons of water; the first holds one gallon, and discharges into the
second, whence the water escapes through a passage to give what is technically,
called the after flow, and is designed to secure a water seal on the valve of a water
closet. The tank is operated in the usual way by means of a wire leading from:
the lever of the water closet to a crank on the last mentioned shaft outside the.
body. When the pull of water closet is raised to discharge the contents to the sewer,
the two valves are opened by the cam, and the two gallons of water are discharged.
quickly to the flushing basin, while the first flushing chamber discharges through
its valve into the second chamber, whence it can only escape by the inain passage,
to the water closet. The shaft being turned to open the valves tips a cam, but in
returning, and after the valves are closed, it acts on the pawl to operate a second.
shaft: and support which cause the ball to drop. This opens the supply cock or
valve of the water closet, and the tank is again filled; this cock is so arranged that
it can be set to fill the tank in five minutes or to require fifteen. When the cover:
of the tank is sealed on the port cannot be got at and the water wasted. The tank
apparatus can be used for flushing urinals, and for other like purposes where.
flushing apparatus bas to be used. The arrangement of stop. cock will also be
found useful in stop cocks unconnected. with water closets, and the same with the
vacuum supply cock.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th March 1880.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and Co., of
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATERCLOSETS AND THEIR APPURTENANCES OR ACCESSORIES, PARTS OF WHICH Iм-
PROVEMENTS, MORE ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATING TO THE SUPPLY AND STOP Cocks
AND THE SUPPLY TANK APPARATUS,. ARE APPLICABLE FOR SIMILAR ARTICLES FOR
OTHER PURPOSES THAN WATERCLOSETS." A communication from abroad by
William S. Cooper, of Philadelphia, in the United States of America.
The water closet proper is represented on Sheet 1, the automatic vacuum supply
cock and the stop cock on Sheet 2, and the water saving cistern or tank on
Sheet 3.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent the improvement in water-closets proper.
Fig. 1 is a full view with all the parts in position when the closet is at rest.
B is the earthen bowl; B¹ is the overflow chamber for containing the float ball
which operates the overflow valve; B2 is the overflow conduit, at bottom of which
is the overflow valve P; A is the cast-iron trunk of the closet; S is the outlet; Fis
the float ball to operate the flow of water to the vacuum chamber of the supply cock ;
H is the float ball to operate the overflow valve P; n is a small passage between
the overflow chamber B₁ and the overflow conduit B'%; P is the overflow valve
closing upward against the rubber seating; V is the valve to close the opening at
the bottom of the earthen basin B; G is a peculiarly formed rubber gasket to
make a tight joint at that place; V₁ shows the valve when opened; L is the lever,
and W the weight to operate and counterbalance the valve V; C is the supply
cock; e is a collar on bent pipe X leading from supply cock to arm of basin; R1 is
a rubber ring to be expanded by lock nut m in the socket so as to make the joint
water tight.
Fig. 2 shows plainly the float ball H in its chamber B' of the bowl B, showing
also the small passage way n, by which all the water left in the chamber B¹ escapes
into the conduit B².
Fig. 3 is a plan of the closet, showing the inlet D from the main bowl B into the
overflow chamber B'.
Fig. 4 is a section, showing the mode of attaching the supply pipe to the arm o
of the basin B.
The valuable portion of this water-closet consists in the formation and operation
of the valve V and of the overflow P; also the mode of making a tight joint
between the bent coupling of the supply cock C and the arm of the basin B; also
in the means employed by which a flow of water to the basin B is shown in cases
where the closet is used when the water is temporarily shut off or exhausted.
The valve is operated in the usual way by means of a pull and lever L and
_weight W. On the end of lever L there is a segmental gear which works in a
corresponding one on the valve shaft. The advantage of this is the valve can be
forced to its seat with greater pressure, and can follow it up through a greater
variation of wear, and if much wear takes place it is only necessary to change the
relation of the gears one tooth to bring the valve forward enough to be sure to
find a firm tight seating. The gasket G is formed with its upper edge very thin,
so that the pressure of the water in the basin will force it to its seat; the same
piece of rubber which forms the seat or joint of the basin B, forms also the seat of
the valve V or the gasket G. Another advantage of employing the gearing in con-
nection with the lever and valve shaft is that the valve can be thrown so far back
in the cast-iron body A as to be quite out of reach of any falling material and can-
not become fouled.

page_text: The overflow is worked by the float ball H, as shown in Fig. 2. When the
water rises in the overflow chamber B', and raises the float ball H, the valve P is
thereby depressed. As long as the water is above the weirs a and b it flows freely
over these and escapes down the conduit B2, but as soon as the water falls below
that point the valve P soon closes; the water then remaining under the float ball
H in the chamber B₁ escapes through the small passage n, filling up the conduit B*,
and serves the double purpose of always leaving an amount of water on the
valve P as will keep it moist and prevent the slightest odour from escaping, and of
leaving the float ball H entirely unsupported by water, so that its full weight is
exerted to keep the valve P closely stut. The joint between the supply of water
and the arm of the basin B is made by expanding the rubber ring R¹ between
the collar e and the jamb nut m, compressing it in every direction. When a supply
cock is used, such as is shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, then the float ball F is used to close
the passage from the pressure or supply side of the valve to the regulating screw of
the supply cock, and is operated through a series of levers c, d, i.
The supply cock is of the kind commonly known as automatic or vacuum
chamber cock, and is represented in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 2.
Fig. 5 is a full view simply showing the direction of the water flow; Fig. 6 is a plan
showing in section the regulating screw for controlling the small water passage h,
through which the vacuum chamber is filled. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing
all the internal working parts.
In supply cocks of this character the principal feature is the means by which the
vacuum chamber may be filled, the vacuum destroyed, and the valve returned to
its seat.
In Fig. 7, A is the vacuum chamber, and is situated above the plunger S. When
the plunger is driven upward into the vacuum chamber all the water contained
therein escapes between the rubber ring R, R, and the under side of the flange O
and through the openings T, T, T, T, (Fig. 6) of the lower flange × of the plunger;
the upper flange being solid, a tight joint is formed between it and the rubber R, R,
whenever they are in contact; it is also bevelled to allow the rubber to slide over
its surface when the latter is expanded against the sides of the valve body by the
pressure of the water. The under or lower flange of the plunger is sufficiently solid
at. U, U, U, U, (Fig. 6) to support the rubber R, R, and open at T, T, T, T, to
allow of the free escape of the water of the vacuum chamber when the plunger is
driven upward. The space between the two flanges of the plunger S is greater
than the depth of the rubber R, R. The latter is always in contact with the sides of
the vacuum chamber, hence when the plunger is driven upwards a space is made
between the upper flange 0 and the rubber R, through which the water escapes
from the vacuum chamber. When the plunger starts to return to its seat by the
force of the spring F the upper flange comes in contact with the rubber, and is held
in suspension by the vacuum chamber. The valve is so arranged that water can-
not flow into this vacuum chamber except by the sinall passages f, g, and h. The
end of the regulating screw K is used to enlarge or decrease this opening, and
controls the time of filling the vacuum chamber; during the time of this filling the
water is flowing through the cock to the flushing basin B of the closet, shown on
Sheet 1. It not unfrequently happens that at the time of using a water-closet that
the supply of water to flush with is exhausted or stopped, in this case the plunger
would descend and close the cock and no flush would take place. To prevent this
I use the float ball F, shown in Fig. 1, to operate through levers c, d, i, on plunger
P of Fig. 7, which presses the diaphragm D against the end of opening f, thereby
closing it. As no means exist to fill the vacuum chamber A but through the
passages f, g, and h, it follows that the plunger must remain in suspension until
the flow is restored, which cannot take place until the basin B on Sheet, I. is filled
enough to raise the float ball F, and remove the pressure from the diaphragm D
when the water again flows through passages f, g, and h to the vacuum chamber;
B is the body of the valve, and C the cap; F is a spring to close the opening by
forcing the plunger S downward.

page_text: Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Sheet 2, represent the improved stop cock or tap,
Fig. 8 is a full view of the cock with all the parts in position when the cock is
closed. S is the spindle; e, the packing.; D, the spring to keep, 'the packing close
around the spindle-S; F is the packing washer to keep the joint.tight between the
top of the body of the cock; and the cap H; B is the valve with its upper end
.expanded into its recess in the hollow a of the spindle S; G is the collar in. which
the spindle. S screws to, raise and, lower the valve B to and froin its seat, and is
held fast by the friction of the conical sides fitting snugly in the body of the cock.
Fig. 9, shows the spindle S with its recess a, at the upper end ofi.which: is the
enlarged recess into which the upper part of the valve B is to be expanded; the
spindle is shown quite unscrewed out of the collar G: Fig. 10 shows the valve B
with its top part ready to be expanded into the recess of the hollow of the
spindle S. Fig. 11 shows the body of the cock only, P being the inlet, and Q the
outlet.. Fig. 12 shows a different way, of preventing the collar G from rotating, or
the cap H from becoming unscrewed, the projections 0, 0, 0, on the. collar G forcing
the rubber packing into recesses K, K, K, in the cap H. The top of the valve B is
also differently arranged to adinit the pressure of the spindle S to be exerted on
the valve; at the point marked'n, instead of at the top of the valve B, as shown in
Fig. 8.
い
The most important; improvement consists in so fixing the valve B. in the
hollow of the spindle S that the valve B shall be withdrawn from its seat when
the cock is opened, and not left, as heretofore, for, the pressure of the water under
.the valve to lift it, which pressure is often not sufficient, and it becomes: necessary
to take the cap off the cock to unloose the valve, but by expanding the upper
portion of the valve B into the enlarged recess at the top of the hollow a of the
spindle S, the valve B is carried, with the spindle S in its upward or downward
movement; the valve B is always fitted so as to revolve freely in the hollow a of
;the spindle S. In Fig. 8 is shown the collar G fitted in the body of the cock by a
.conical or tapering joint, but finding this mode too expensive Mr. Cooper designed
the method shown in Fig. 12. The collar G is fitted in a straight recess in the
body of the cock; and the upper side is provided with three small centre like pro-
Ijections. The inside of the cap H is usually provided with six or more centre like
(recesses K, K, K, in which the rubber packing is forced by the projections 0, 0, 0,
on the collar G; this makes, a rigid body of the collar G, cap H, and rubber
packing F, so that none of these can be unscrewed or rotated by the rotations of
the spindle S in opening cr closing the;cock.
.
Figs. 14, 15, 16, Sheet 3, represent the improved. water. saving cistern or tank,
whereby any, regulated quantity, say three gallons of water, can be used at one
flushing of the closet.
1
In Fig. 15, B is the body of the cistern, and B¹ is the float ball; S is the shaft
to operate the valves and float ball B¹; D is the pawl used to liberate the float
ball B W is the shaft; through which it acts; C is the ball valve or supply cock;
O is the crank and chain to open the valve V₁ by, and O is for valve V2; R is the
main flushing chamber to discharge two gallons of water; R' holds one gallon, and
discharges into chamber :R', whence the water escapes through the passage P to
give what is technically called the after flow, and is to secure. a water seal on the
valve of a water closet...
"
The tank is operated in the usual, way; by means of a wire leading from the
lever of water closet to a crank on shaft S outside the body B. When the pull of
closet is, raised to discharge the contents to the sewer the valves V₁.and. V2 are
opened by the cam, and the two gallons of water are discharged quickly to the
flushing basin; while R discharges through; valve: Vinto the chamber R2, whence
it can only escape by the passage P; the shaft. S being turned to open the valves
tips the cam D; but in returning, and after the valves are closed, it acts on the
pawl to operate shaft, W. and support ✗, and to drop the ball which opens the
cock or valve, C, and the tank, is: again; filled. This cock is so arranged that it can

page_text: be set to fill the tank in five minutes or to require fifteen, and when the cover of
tank is sealed on the parts cannot be got at and the water wasted.
The tank apparatus can be used for flushing urinals, and for other like purposes
where flushing apparatus has to be used. The arrangement of stop cock will also.
be found useful in stop cocks unconnected with water-closets, and the same with
the vacuum supply cock.
Fig. 17 shows a modification of the stop cock as applied to steam pipes; like
letters refer to like parts described in Fig. 8. The collar G is prevented from
rotating with the spindle S by having lugs y formed on it (as seen in plan view,
Fig. 18), which fit into slots h in the cap H. To hold the valve B firm when being
ground a small screw b is inserted through the spindle. This screw can be placed
in a tapped hole b' in the top of the spindle or other convenient place when not in
use. Fig. 19 is an elevation of cap H showing the slot h.
Having now described the Invention as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, and the best modes known to me of carrying it into effect, I wish it
to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire to protect under the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. In the manufacture of water-closets, the following particulars: -(a) the
valve and seating, made for the most part or entirely of india-rubber or other like.
durable waterproof and elastic material; (b) the overflow valve and float ball;
(c) the devices employed to ensure a flow of water; (d) the passage between the
float ball chamber and the overflow conduit; (e) the special form or construction of
elastic joint joining the pipe with the earthenware basin; (f) the combination of
the overflow inlet below the water line and the weirs of the overflow chambers;
each separately or in combination with any or all of the others, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described.
Second. The water closet and appurtenances as a general arrangement and com-
bination, substantially as described and shown in Sheet 1.
Third. In the manufacture of cocks, stop valves, and other apparatus containing
a plug or valve on the end of a spindle fitted or ground to a seating, (a) the
attachment of said valve or plug to the spindle by expanding its shank end or rim
in the spindle; (b) the centre points or projections in the screw collar to prevent
the same from rotating; (c) the combination of the valve shank expanded in the
spindle, the collar with its projections, the cap with its sunk counter-mark, the
packing and the springs, each substantially as and for the purposes herein
described.
Fourth. The mode of, also the apparatus for, preventing the plunger descending
and closing the flushing cock when the water is off, substantially as described and,
exemplified in Figs. 1, 3, 6, and 7.
Fifth. The supply cistern and mechanism for flushing, constructed and arranged
substantially as herein described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. P. THOMPSON. (L.S.)