AN IMPROVED WATER WASTE PREVENTER
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Reuben Watkins at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd January 1880.
REUBEN WATKINS, of 46, Deacon Street, Walworth, in the County of Surrey.
"AN IMPROVED WATER WASTE PREVENTER."
My Invention relates to an improved water waste preventer to be applied to
cisterns for supplying closets, urinals, and lavatories, or for other similar purposes,
whereby the quantity of water used is automatically regulated.
It consists essentially of two castings in brass, bronze, gun metal, or any other
suitable metal, provided with flanges and two discs of leather, india-rubber, or
other suitable material, which are separated by a ring of lead or other metal so as
to form a cavity between them. The top casting is made in the shape of a dome
provided with holes through which the water can pass so as to rest upon the top
disc of leather or other material. Through the centre of this casting passes a rod
which works freely through a hole turned in the casting. To the top of this rod
is attached the wire pull in any suitable manner. The bottom end of this rod is
attached to the top disc of leather or other material, which butts tightly against
the under side of the flange of the casting by means of a metal plate bearing upon
the under side of the said disc. Inside the dome is a lead or other weight through
which the rod passes, and which weight rests upon the top surface of the said disc
of leather or other material. The bottom casting is provided with holes through
which the water can pass to the centre which is connected to the pipe for supplying
the water to the closet, urinal, or lavatory. Upon the top surface of the flange of
this bottom casting rests the bottom disc of leather or other material. Upon the
upper surface of the bottom disc of leather or other material is fixed a metallic
plate. The two castings are fitted together by bolts passing through their flanges
and the two discs of leather or other material and also the ring of lead or other
metal separating them. In the rim of the ring of lead or other metal a small hole
is pierced to admit water to the cavity between the two discs of leather or other
material. The supply of water to this cavity is regulated by a set screw passing
through the flange of the top or bottom casting, or by any other suitable means.
When the apparatus is in its normal position the metallic plate fixed to the
bottom disc of leather or other material completely closes the opening to the pipe
for supplying water to the closet, urinal, or lavatory, and at the same time prevents
the leather or other disc from being drawn into the opening to the pipe, but as

page_text: soon as the top disc of leather or other material and the lead or other weight is
raised by means of the wire pull, a certain quantity of water resting upon the top
disc of leather or other material will be forced through the openings in the dome,
and the bottom disc of leather or other material will be raised by suction and will
uncover the opening to the pipe for supplying water to the closet, urinal, or 5
lavatory. The water, which enters slowly through the small hole in the ring. of
lead or other metal, will gradually force down the bottom disc of leather or other
material, thus cutting off the supply of water to the closet, urinal, or lavatory.
When the wire pull is released the lead or other weight will force down the top
disc of leather or other material, and thereby expel the greater part of the water
contained in the cavity between the two leather or other discs.