IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WASH-HAND BASINS, BATHS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES, MORE ESPECIALLY TO THE APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING THEM AND PREVENTING THEIR OVERFLOW."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of the British and Inter-
national Patent Office, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO WASH-HAND BASINS, BATHS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES, MORE ESPECIALLY TO
THE APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING THEM AND PREVENTING THEIR OVERFLOW." A
communication from abroad by the New York Valve and Faucet Company, of
New York, United States.
ealed the 31st July 1877, and dated the 22nd May 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Phillips Thompson.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May, 1877.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the British and International Patent Office,"
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WASH-HAND BASINS, BATHS, AND
RECEPTACLES, MORE ESPECIALLY TO THE APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING THEM AND
PREVENTING THEIR OVERFLOW." A communication from abroad by the New York
Valve and Faucet Company, of New York, United States.
OTHER
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the wash basin and its attachments to the
waste pipe; Figure 2 is a vertical view of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the valve trap and the vent pipe passing through.
the end of the float, showing the opening thereto, covered by the elastic band, and
Figure 4 is a sectional longitudinal view of the stand pipe and valve that may be
used as an equivalent for the float and valve shown in Figure 3.
My Invention relates to an improvement in the form and construction of valve
wash basins, and their connections with the waste or soil pipe, wherein the overflow
of the basin is prevented by the automatic action of the valve, and also the perfect
trapping of the waste pipe.
To enable a person skilled in the art to make and use my Invention I will proceed
to describe it.
A is the bowl of the wash basin made of porcelain or other suitable material;
B is a chamber constructed of the same material as the bowl or basin, and made
with or forming part of the bowl or basin; D is the outlet of the waste pipe of the
wash basin; E is a float, made of any suitable material, with a cup-formed con-

page_text: tinuation of its sides or periphery extending around the outlet of the waste pipe D
and packed at its seat; F is a vent pipe extending through the float E; G is the
seat of the float E; f, f, in Figure 3, are openings to the vent pipe F; and H is a
rubber band around the end of the vent pipe opposite the opening f, f; E in Figure
This
4 is a stand pipe that may be used as an equivalent for the float E in 1.
float is provided with an eyelet in the end of the vent pipe F, to which will be
attached a chain connected with a knot or handle for lifting the float from the
valve seat.
C is the water way or passage leading from the outlet of the basin to the outlet
of the waste pipe D.
The operation of the basin and the waste is as follows:-It will be observed that
the waterway or passage c will at all times remain at a level with the top of the
outlet of the waste pipe D, and that the cup-formed extension of the float E,
extending below the level of the water in said waterway or passage c, forms a perfect
trap; the partial vacuum formed in the waste pipe by the descent or draft of the
descending water, will bring the float E to its seat with such force as to form a
perfect joint.
The operation of the vent pipe F, in the float E, is as follows:-The charging
of the pipe D with water creates a vacuum below the valve seat of the
float E, holding the float E firmly to its seat. The vacuum is broken in the pipe D
through openings f and f, of the vent pipe F allowing the float again to raise,. and
thus the overflow of the basin is prevented.
When the basin has been filled with water for washing, and the operator desires
to discharge the water from the basin, the float E is raised and held from its seat
a sufficient time for the purpose of the discharge; on being released the valve
is immediately closed by the gravity of the float...
The weight of the float E is so adjusted that it will remain firmly on its seat
until the water in the basin shall reach a point in the basin where the weight of
the water in the basin A will overcome the weight of the float and raise it from its
valve seat, thus opening the passage to the waste pipe automatically, and prevent
the overflow of the basin.
In lieu of the float E, as shown in Figure 1, a stand pipe E, as shown in Figure 4,
may be used. In said Figure 4 A represents the outer case of the stand pipe, and
E the inner stand pipe within the chamber B, having its valve at C, upon the top
or outlet of the waste pipe D; the casing A is extended below the level of the top
of the opening of the waste pipe D, and the valve seat C, so as to form a trap. As
the water fills the basin it also fills the space between the outer case, A. and the
stand pipe E, where it is discharged through the stand pipe E to the waste pipe D,
and thus prevents an overflow of the basin. A discharge of the water in the basin
may be effected by raising the stand pipe E from its valve seat C in the same
manner as described in reference to the float D in Figure 1.
It will be observed that the basin A, the chamber B, the passage or water way
C and the outlet D of the waste pipe are constructed or cast in one piece; in all the
other valve basins these are made in different parts, and the cost of construction is
considerable; the parts require much labor in putting together and adjusting, and
are liable to get out of order by loosening of the joints, while in my form of basin
and its appendages in one piece the whole is ready at once, without any cost of
labor, to be attached to the waste pipe, and there can be no liability of getting out
of order as exists in, other forms of valve wash basins, the first cost of the wash
basin and its appendages and also much less than any other form.
This Invention, though only described for basins, is applicable also to baths, vats,
and other like receptacles, and as the application in such cases is precisely similar in
principle it is needless to describe it further.
Having fully described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and
desire to secure by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is,―

page_text: 1st. The combination of the wash basin or other receptacles A, the chamber B, the
waterway C, from the outlet of the basin and the waste pipe D, with the float E,
substantially as described.
2nd. The float E, with its sides or periphery extended around the outlet of the
waste pipe D, and below the level of the water in the outlet so as to form a perfect
trap substantially as described.
3rd. A valve wash basin or other receptacle wherein the basin or other receptacle
A, the chamber B, the passage or waterway C, and the outlet D of the waste pipe
are constructed in one piece or together, substantially as described.
4th. The float E, in combination with the vent pipe F, vent holes f. f, and the
elastic band H, to break the vacuum in the waste pipe of wash basin or other
receptacles, and other purposes, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
JOHN H. SLOANE,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
W. P. THOMPSON. . (L.S.)