Year: 1888

page_text: 1, HARRY CHRISTOPHER MONTGOMERY, of the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio,
United States of America, manufacturer, 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:—
The invention herein is an improvement in Sewer Gas Traps; and it consists in a
trap having a gravity ball-valve and certain features of construction associated there-
with, substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved trap
as organized for operation, and Figs. 2 and 3 are details of parts.
A represents the case or body of the trap, which is a plain tubular piece of
uniform cross-section throughout its length and provided with induction and eduction
openings a, b, at opposite sides and near the respective ends of the body adapted
to make the usual pipe connections. At the centre of the case I provide a
diaphragm c, which has a central opening, with valve seats on both sides. This
diaphragm divides the case or body of the trap into two corresponding chambers, 1, 2,
of identical construction throughout, so that the case may be reversed and yet
operate exactly the same as in the position in which it is shown in the drawings.
This makes the trap much more available than it would be otherwise and prevents
possible mistake by unskilled cr careless workmen in coupling up the parts, as
would be liable to occur if the trap were not thus reversible. As it is, no such
mistake can happen, and the trap may be inverted at pleasure. In furtherance of
this idea the screw caps de which close the ends of the case, are made interchange-
able, so that it is immaterial on which end they are placed. The convenience and
usefulness of the trap are greatly enhanced by this construction.
B represents a gravity ball-valve, made, preferably, of rubber, but any other
suitable material, may be substituted for the rubber, the only points to be kept in
view being durability and the proper size and weight to get the desired action.
This ball, if of rubber, will be somewhat hollow and so graded with respect to
weight that it will seat itself by its own gravity when the water in the trap falls
to the level of the bottom of the outlet b, (see dotted line 22,) which, of course,

page_text: is the level of the, water seal in the trap. A further essential in the character or
composition of the valve is that, while it will seat itself and perfect the seal
mechanically when immersed about or nearly half its depth in water, it will
respond to any appreciable flow of water into the trap and readily rise from its
seat to permit the necessary overflow and relief. A full head of water will carry
the valve to the position seen in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and when in this position
the fluid passage through the trap about the valve is so widely opened and clear
of obstruction that the trash and refuse which commonly enter a sink trap and by
reason of the faulty construction lodge in most of them will pass as readily through
my trap as if no valve-seal were provided. This is accounted for by the large
rounded openings provided at all points and the elevation of the valve to such a
level that it offers no practical resistance to the flow of fluid or the passage of
foreign matter with the current beneath it about the ball through the outlet b.
In fact, while this construction combines all the advantages of a heavy water seal
and a perfect mechanical or valve seal in addition, the water passage still is so
free and open when in actual service that it amounts practically to a mere elbow
in what is otherwise an unobstructed fluid pipe or conduit-that is to say, the way
through the trap is so open and clear and the ball gets so completely out of the
way when water is passing through that the seal mechanism cannot be considered
an obstruction to the passage. This I do not understand to be the result or advantage
in any other trap of the same general character known to me or in common use.
C represents a bell-shaped stop and guide having a threaded stem c¹, screwing
into the interior of the upper cap e, which has a central extension for this purpose.
The said stop and guide is made with an interior diameter sufficiently large to prevent
the ball from locking therein when it occupies the bell, and a slight head or
flange c³, is formed on the interior about the neck of the bell, which serves as a
stop for the ball, and against which the ball may float and be out of contact with
the bell at other points. This effectually prevents lodgment of the ball when the
water recedes. It will be observed that the bell flares in every direction sufficiently
to intercept the ball when it rises any material distance from its seat, so that when
a full head of water is on the ball will rest directly over its seat, from which as
before described, it gradually descends by gravity when the flow ceases and the water
subsides to its normal quantity and level in the trap. This also prevents the ball
from lodging at any point but on its seat, and the bell is so arranged that, while it
offers no obstruction to the water-passage, it reaches out sufficiently to prevent the
ball from closing or obstructing the discharge-opening b.
It will be seen in Fig. 1 that by this construction of trap a sediment chamber is
formed in the bottom of the trap-say on the line 33-which will catch such heavy
articles as gravel, nails, and the like, which are too heavy to be carried through the
trap by the current, and must have a lodgment somewhere from which they can be
easily removed. This chamber is accessible for the purpose by means of screw caps d,
or the cap e, if the trap be reversed.
An important and valuable feature in my trap is its accessibility and convenience
for general cleaning, when such cleaning for any reason becomes necessary.
It has been observed that the caps at both ends are removable, and when removed
throw both chambers above and below the diaphragm wide open. Then by removing
the ball-valve a wide-open passage through the trap is obtained, which brings any
portion of the interior plainly into view and within easy reach by hand or instruments.
A heavy wiping-cloth can be introduced to clean the parts, and may be drawn
through the trap for this purpose, or any other means of cleansing may be adopted.
Any one who has a wrench to remove the caps can perform this service.
In the construction of this trap I do not, of course limit myself to the precise
form of the several parts here shown and described, and of course have the right
of such modifications or equivalents as clearly fall within the scope of my invention.
The ball always being partly exposed when seated, any back-pressure of gas thereon
from the main sewer would only tend to make. the seal more perfect, if possible, and
effectually prevent the passage of gas through the trap.

page_text: 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 1
claim is:
1. In a sewer-trap, a body part having the form of a section of cylindrical tubing
and caps closing the ends of said body, a diaphragm extending across the interior of
the said body at or near its centre and having a valve-seat, a ball-valve above the
diaphragm seating itself by gravity, an inlet at the side of the body below the
diaphragm, and an outlet above the diaphragm having its lower edge raised about
one-third of the diameter of the valve above the valve seat, whereby a water-seal is
formed above said valve-seat, substantially as set forth.
2. In a sewer-trap, a substantially-cylindrical body having its ends open the full
width of the body and directly opposite each other, and screw-caps for closing the
ends, a central diaphragm dividing the body into two separate chambers, an inlet-port
below the diaphragm, and an outlet-port above the diaphragm at the sides of the body,
a gravity valve, and a guide and stop therefor, substantially as set forth.
3. A reversible sewer-trap consisting, essentially of a body part having a diaphragmn
at its centre provided with opposite valve seats, openings for the induction and
eduction of water at equal distances from said diaphragm near the respective ends
of the body part, and the ends of the body part closed by removable caps with a
ball-valve, substantially as set forth.
4. In sewer-traps, a reversible trap having substantially the following distinguishing
features ; a body part with a diaphragm at its centre having valve seats on each side,
fluid inlet and outlet ports on either side of the diaphragm at equal distances there-
from and about midway between the said diaphragm and the ends of the body part,
whereby a water scal is maintained about the valve and a sediment-chamber is formed
in the bottom of the trap, a ball-valve above the diaphragm, and a guide therefor,
substantially as set forth.
This 7th Ja
100