IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER CLOSETS AND THE REGULATION THEREOF; AS WELL AS THE EFFICIENT FLUSHING OF THE PANS, BASINS OR TROUGHS THEREOF AUTOMATICALLY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Carefield Summers, a Retired Engineer Royal
Navy, of No 6 Claremont Terrace Queen's Road, in the Parish of Portsea,
County of Southampton, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SUPPLY
OF WATER TO WATER CLOSETS AND THE REGULATION THEREOF; AS WELL AS
THE EFFICIENT FLUSHING OF THE PANS, BASINS OR TROUGHS THEREOF
AUTOMATICALLY,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Carefield Summers
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1882.
THOMAS CAREFIELD SUMMERS, a Retired Engineer in the Royal Navy,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER CLOSETS AND THE REGU-
LATION THEREOF; AS WELL AS, THE EFFICIENT FLUSHING OF THE PANS BASINS
OR TROUGHS THEREOF AUTOMATICALLY.
My invention relates, in the first place to an improved double acting valve or
valvular piston actuated by an ordinary Ball float in a small cistern.
Which
cistern can be connected either directly with the Main; where a constant supply
is afforded or provided or otherwise with a storage tank it may be made in cast or
galvanized iron or any of the various materials employed for such purpose, and of
any form that may be found convenient; provided it allows the fixing upon and
in it of the metal or other fittings required.
The before mentioned valve or valvular piston to be made of Brass or Gun or
Bell Metals; provided with facings of Vulcanized India Rubber, Leather or such
other elastic substance as may be applicable thereto; and metal seatings either flat
or conical; male or female, and having a Spindle or Rod on one side; the whole,
except the aforesaid spindle to be enclosed in a valve box or casing of metal. This
Valve or Valvular Piston and its seatings are so arranged, that; the flotation of
the Ball shall produce; through a lever or series of levers forcing the valve against
the seating round the inlet from the Main or the Storage Tank, such a pressure as
to stop any further entry of water to the cistern; and upon the emptying of the
cistern, by the use of the contained water for the purpose of flushing; as hereafter

page_text: to be explained, and the consequent fall of the float; the valve or valvular piston
shall be drawn from the front seating and be brought into position on the opposite
side of the valve box, so as to stop any leakage round the spindle that passes out
through this side and at the same time admit a free flow of water to the Hydraulic
Regulator, to be herein after described.
In the second place my invention relates to the form and use of a Hydraulic
Regulator-Piston or Plunger, actuated from an improved oscillating or rocking seat
by means of Rods, Levers, and Links, as to be herein described. The aforesaid
seat is formed in its upper part like the ordinary seat used in Closets, but is
portable and unconnected with the framing that supports it, and can be used with
any of the Pans, Basins or Troughs commonly in use. On its underside it is
provided with two grooved metal plates; one on either side, which rest upon two
knife-edged supports firmly attached to the lower framing, but, standing above the
level thereof; these supports may be made either in metal or hardwood. The
beforementioned grooved plates are secured to the seat by being let in flush with
the undersurface and being held there by a sufficient number of Wood Screws and
are placed at a distance from the centre line between the front and back edges of
the seat as to allow such a preponderance of weight in and towards the back edge
as shall cause that part to rest upon the supporting framing, when the Closet is
not occupied, but will still allow the front edge to be depressed through a small
angle, by the addition to the front edge of the said seat, of the weight of any
person using the closet. As the seat moves freely upon the supporting knife-edges
this will cause an elevation in the back edge of the seat sufficient to give motion
to the Rods and Lever or Levers connected with the Hydraulic Regulator and the
Flushing Valve, with the minimum of friction and possibility of disarrangement.
This arrangement being free from all hinges springs or balance-weights renders
my improvement perfectly automatic; dependant only upon the fact of, the seat
being sat upon to cause the apparatus to act.
The Hydraulic Regulator before mentioned consists of a solid parallel Piston or
Plunger, having a Cross-Head at one end to admit of its being connected with a
Working Lever, to be herein described, by two side links or rods and having the
other end turned down or reduced into a conically formed neck, surmounted by a
button shaped head for the reception and retention of a leather washer or valve.
This Piston or Plunger works in a metal cylinder, which can be, either cast in
one piece with the Valve-Box mentioned in the foregoing part of my specification;
or, made separately and attached thereto by suitable male and female screws or
unions. The said cylinder, in either case, is provided with an inlet from the
aforesaid Valve Box, less in diameter than the Plunger; so as to form a seating for
the afore-mentioned leather valve or washer and with two outlets placed. one on
either side, opening into suitable pipes; which pipes are lead nearly to the bottom
of the cistern and are there made bell-mouthed or are turned at an angle or curved
so as to deliver the water passing through them with the least amount of noise
possible The inlet to the Cylinder can be closed by the above named leather
washer or valve on the end of the Plunger; this washer is made of the same
diameter, on its exterior edge as that of the plunger and to fit the aforenamed
conical neck on its interior edge; it is cut through at one side from the interior to
exterior edges in a direction diagonal to its faces, which will thus admit of a free
action in its movements; in the line of motion of the Plunger; when not subjected
to the Water-pressure from the Main or the Storage tank, but will make a water
tight joint upon pressure being brought upon it, either from the pressure of the
Water or the action of the Plunger against the washer, owing to the faces of the
diagonally cut parts being able to slide upon each other for a slight distance.
The whole of the passages are closed or opened by the Plunger being moved into
or out of the Cylinder, by means of the working lever and side links. In closing,
the body of the Plunger, with the leather washer on its end is pushed into the
Cylinder past the openings or outlets in the sides thereof until stopped by the
seating provided for that purpose.

page_text: In opening, the Plunger with the washer is drawn out until the upper face of
the leather washer passes the orifaces in the sides of the Cylinder; thus allowing a
free passage for the Water from the Main or the Tank, until the rise of the float
and consequent closing of the before described double-acting valve closes the
supply.
The flushing or discharge Valve I propose to use in my improvement consists of
a hollow Cylinder, made of a metallic alloy, closed at its upper end, except for a
central hole large enough to admit of the passage of the shaft or body of the here-
after described lifting bolt; and of a sufficiently large exterior diameter to provide
for an efficient closing; of a pipe of at least an Inch and one quarter in diameter,
internally, leading throngh, and from the underside of the cistern to the Pan Basin
or Trough of the Closet; by a leather or vulcanized india rubber valve fitted to the
lower face of the said cylinder, and secured thereto by means of a suitably formed
bolt screwed into a recess cut in the Cylinder and having a thin metal plate acting
as a washer between the head of the bolt and the valve. Upon the outer or lower
side of the head of this bolt, three tapered vanes or feathers shall be formed to
secure the exact return, to the oriface of the pipe of the flushing valve, after it has
been lifted. Through the central hole in the upper end of the above cylinder a
bolt, having a Cylindrical or button-shaped head, made to fit easily in the cylinder;
or a couple of nuts in lieu thereof; shall pass freely to form a connection with the
beforementioned working lever, and to serve to lift the flushing valve from off its
seat; this bolt shall be provided with adjusting and locking nuts on its upper end
where connected with the working lever, to allow of its adjustment in such a
manner that it shall not lift the flushing valve, until the Hydraulic Regulator has
passed in its ascent the orifaces in its cylinder, and has therefore closed any further
entrance of water to the cistern; thus, providing that the inlets to and the outlet
from the cistern shall not be open at the same time. As no water can pass into
the cistern until the seat is again depressed at its front edge there cannot be any
waste from my improved apparatus.
Having thus described the valves and the means of admitting, and regulating
the flow of, water as also the source of motion in the oscillating or rocking seat
there remains the Working Lever and its connections. The lever is made of
wrought Iron having two equal or unequal arms, which may be either straight or
bent; as circumstances may require; this lever works in a Bracket, Stay or
Support; cast on or fitted to the upper edge of the cistern, having an ordinary
knuckle joint at its upper end, fitted with a pin through it and the lever and upon
which the lever is free to oscillate, this pin is secured in the ordinary manner by a
head on one end and a washer and cross pin at the other.
At a certain distance from this centre towards one end of the lever, a pin
standing out on each side of the lever is tightly fitted and secured into the lever
From each end of this pin a link or rod of sufficient length to reach the arms of
the cross-head of the Hydraulic Regulator or Plunger, beforementioned, is fitted, in
such a manner that one of these links may pass, one on each side of the Cylinder
of the Regulator and Upper Valve Box. These links are retained in their places
by the ordinary washer, and pin generally used for this purpose. Further out
from the centre on the same arin of the lever an attachment for taking the Bolt for
lifting the Flusbing Valve is formed in such a manner as may be found most con-
venient, but, which may vary in each case according to the relative positions of
the Hydraulic Cylinder and Flushing Valve to each other. From the opposite arm
at any convenient distance from the bracket is suspended an iron rod, having a
knuckle joint connection with the lever at its upper end and being of sufficient
length to reach down to the seat of the closet, when the closet is out of use and the
Plunger of the Hydraulic Regulator is home to its seating in the upper part of the
containing chamber of the Cylinder.-This Rod is to be made heavy enough to,
not only, counterbalance the weight of the other moving parts and the pressure
arising from the main, when there is a constant supply, but to ensure its descent
upon the fall of the seat.

page_text: Upon depressing the front edge of the seat and consequently raising the back
one, this rod is forced up, depressing the arm of the lever connected with the
Valves in the cistern and thus closes the flushing valve or allows it to close by its
own weight; and then opens the Regulator and thus allows the Cistern to fill
ready to flush the Pan, Basin or Trough upon the weight being removed from the
seat.
To avoid any objectionable noise being made, or shock given by the movement
of the seat, either against the supporting frames or the lower end of the actuating
rods; pads or buffers of vulcanized india rubber can be used in the form of sheet
or tubing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Carefield Summers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th September 1882.
THOMAS CAREFIELD SUMMERS, a retired Engineer Royal Navy, of 6 Claremont
Terrace, Queens Road in the parish of Portsea, county of Southampton.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER-CLOSETS AND THE REGU-
LATION THEREOF, AS WELL AS THE EFFICIENT FLUSHING OF THE PANS, BASINS OR
TROUGHS THEREOF AUTOMATICALLY,
My said Invention relates in the first place to an improved double acting valve
which
or valvular piston, actuated by an ordinary ball-float in a small cistern;
cistern can be connected, either, directly with the main, where a constant supply
is afforded or provided or otherwise with a storage-tank; this cistern may be
made, in cast or galvanized iron, or any of the various materials employed or
generally used for such purpose, as well as, of any form that may be found con-
venient; provided, it allows the fixing upon and in it of the metal or other fittings
required.
The before mentioned valve or valvular piston Fig 5 in annexed Sheet of
Drawings; may be made of Brass or Gun or Bell Metal; provided, with facings of
vulcanized india-rubber, leather or such other elastic substance as may be applicable
thereto and with metal seatings either flat or conical, male or female also having
a metal spindle or rod on one side thereof, the whole with the exception of part of
the aforesaid spindle or rod to be enclosed in a valve-box or casing of metal.
This valve or valvular piston and its seatings are so arranged, as shewn in
Figures 1, 2 & 3 in the annexed Sheet of Drawings-that the flotation of a Ball-
float shall produce; through a lever, or series of levers forcing the valve against
the seating round the inlet from the main or storage tank such a pressure as to
stop any further entry of water to the cistern, and upon the emptying of the
cistern by the use of the contained water for the purpose of flushing, as hereafter
explained, and the consequent fall of the float; the valve or valvular piston shall
be drawn from the front seating and be brought into position on the opposite side
of the valve box, so as to stop any leakage round that part of the rod or spindle
that passes out through this side and at the same time admit of a free flow of the
In the second
water to the Hydraulic Regulator to be hereinafter described.
place, my invention relates to the form and use of a hydraulic Regulator, Piston
or Plunger; Figure 6 in annexed Sheet of Drawings, actuated from an improved
oscillating or rocking seat by means of rods, levers, and links; as to be herein
described. The aforesaid seat is formed in its upper part like the ordinary seats
used in closets, but is portable and unconnected with the framing that supports it,
and can be used with any of the pans, basins or troughs commonly in use; on its
underside it is provided with two grooved metal plates, one on either side, which
rest upon two knife-edged supports firmly attached to the lower framing but
standing above the level there of, these supports may be made, either in metal or
hardwood; the beforementioned grooved plates are secured to the seat by being
let in flush with the under-surface and being held there by a sufficienty number of
wood screws; they are placed at a distance from the centre line between the front
and back edges of the seat as to allow such a preponderance of weight in and
towards the back edge as shall cause that part to rest upon the supporting framing
when the closet, is not occupied, but will still allow the front-edge to be depressed
through a small angle by the addition, to the front edge of the said seat, of the
weight of any person using the closet-as the seat moves freely upon the supporting

page_text: knife-edges this will cause an elevation in the back edge of the seat sufficient to
give motion to the rods and lever or levers connected with the hydraulic regulator
and the flushing valve with the minimum of friction and posibility of disarrange-
ment as shewn in Figure 4 in annexed Sheet of Drawings.-This arrangement
being free from all hinges, springs or balance-weights renders my improvement
perfectly automatic, dependant only upon the fact of the seat being sat upon to
cause the apparatus to act. The hydraulic regulator before-mentioned (Figure 6
in annexed Sheet of Drawings) consists of a solid parallel piston or plunger,
having a cross head at one end to admit of its being connected with a working
lever (to be here in described) by two side links or rods and having the other end
turned down or reduced into a conically formed neck surmounted by a button
shaped head for the reception and retention of a leather washer or valve. This
piston or plunger works in a metal Cylinder, which can be either cast in one piece
with the valve box mentioned in the foregoing part of this specification or made
separately and attached thereto by suitable male and female screws and unions.
The said cylinder in either case is provided with an inlet from the aforesaid valve-
box less in diameter than the piston or plunger so as to form a seating for the
beforementioned leather washer or valve and with two outlets placed one on
either side opening into suitable pipes, which pipes are lead nearly to the bottom
of the cistern and are there made bellmouthed turned at an angle or curved so as
to deliver the water passing through them with the least amount of noise possible.
The inlet to the cylinder can be closed by the abovenained leather washer or valve
on the end of the piston or plunger; this washer is made of the same
diameter on its exterior edge as that of the piston or plunger and to fit the afore-
named conical neck on its interior edge; it is cut through at one side from the
interior to the exterior edges in a direction diagonal to its faces, which will thus
admit of a free action in its movements in the line of motion of the plunger; when
not subjected to the water pressure from the main or the storage tank, but will
make a water-tight joint or packing upon pressure being brought upon it, either
from the pressure of the water or the action of the piston or plunger against the
washer, owing to the faces of the diagonally cut parts being able to slide upon each
other for a slight distance. The whole of the passages, are closed or opened by the
piston or plunger being moved in to or out of the cylinder by means of the working
lever and side links; to be hereafter described. Thus, in closing, the body of the
piston or plunger with the leather washer on its end is pushed into the cylinder,
past the openings or outlets in the sides thereof until stopped by the seating
provided for that purpose, with which it forms a watertight joint: in opening, the
piston or plunger with the washer is drawn out until the upper face of the leather
passes the orifices in the sides of the cylinder, thus, allowing a free passage for the
water from the main or from the storage-tank until the rise of the ball-float and 4
the consequent closing of the before described doubleacting-valve closes the supply.
The flushing or discharge valve, I propose to use with my Improvements, consists
of a hollow cylinder, made of a metallic alloy, closed at its upper end, except for a
central hole large enough to admit of the passage of the shaft or body of the here-
after described lifting-bolt and of an exterior diameter sufficiently large to provide 4
for the efficient closing of a pipe of at least one and one quarter inches internal
diameter, leading through and from the under side of the cistern to the pan, basin
or trough of the closet; by a leather or vulcanized india-rubber washer or valve
fitted to the lower face of the said cylinder and secured thereto by means of a
suitably formed bolt, screwed into a recess cut in the bottom of the cylinder and 5
having a thin metal plate acting as a washer between the head of the bolt and the
valve. Upon the outer or lower side of the head of the bolt, three tapered vanes
or feathers shall be formed to secure the exact return, to the orifice of the pipe, of
the flushing-valve after it has been lifted. Through the central hole in the upper
end of the cylinder, a bolt having a cylindrical or button shaped head, made to fit 5
easily into the interior of the cylinder, or a couple of nuts in lieu thereof, shall pass
freely to form a connection with the before mentioned working lever and to serve

page_text: to lift the flushing-valve from its seat. This bolt shall be provided with adjusting
and locking nuts on its upper end where connected with the working lever to allow
of its adjustment in such a manner that it shall not lift the flushing valve until the
hydraulic regulator has passed in its ascent the outlet orifaces in the cylinder, and
has therefore closed any further entrance of water to the cistern; thus providing
that the inlets to and outlets from the cistern shall not be open at the same time,―
as no water can pass into the cistern until the seat is again depressed at its front
edge, there cannot be any waste from this apparatus.
Having thus particularly described the valves, the piston or plunger and the
means of admitting and regulating the flow of water, as also the source of
motion in the oscillating or rocking seat, there remains the working lever and its
connections. The lever is made of wrought iron, and has two equal or unequal
arms, which may be either straight or bent, as circumstances may require. This
lever works in a bracket, stay or support cast on or fitted to the upper edge of the
cistern having an ordinary knuckle joint at its upper end fitted with a pin through
it and the lever and upon which the lever is free to oscillate,-this pin is secured
in the ordinary manner by a head on one side and a washer and cross or split pin
on the other. At a certain distance from the centre towards one end of the lever a
pin standing out on each side of the lever is tightly fitted and secured into the
lever, from each end of this pin a link or rod of sufficient length to reach the arms
of the cross head of the hydraulic piston or plunger before mentioned is fitted in
such a manner that one of these links or roda may pass, one on each side of the
cylinder of the regulator and upper valve box as shewn in Figure 2 in the
annexed Sheet of Drawings these links or rods are retained in their place by the
ordinary washer and split or cross pin generally used for this purpose; further
out from the centre
on the same arm of the lever an attachment for
taking the bolt for lifting the flushing valve is formed in such a manner
as may be found convenient, but which may vary in each case according to
the relative position of the hydraulic regulator and flushing valve to each other
From the opposite arm at any convenient distance from the bracket is suspended
an iron rod, having a knuckle-joint connection with the lever at its upper end and
being of sufficient length to reach down to the seat of the closet, when the closet
is out of use and the hydraulic piston or plunger is home to or bearing upon its
seating in the upper part of the containing chamber of the cylinder; this rod is to
be made heavy enough to not only counterbalance the weight of the other working
parts and the pressure arising from the main when there is a constant supply but
to ensure its descent upon the fall of the seat.
Upon depressing the front edge of the seat and consequently raising the back
one, this rod is forced up depressing the arm of the lever connected with the
valves and piston or plunger in the cistern and thus closes the flushing-valve or
allows it to close by its own weight and then opens the hydraulic regulator and
thus allows the cistern to fill ready to flush the pan basin or trough upon the
removal of the weight from the front edge of the seat. To avoid any objectionable
noise being made or shock given by the movement of the seat striking against
either the supporting frame or the lower end of the actuating rod pads or buffers
of vulcanized india-rubber can be used as shewn in Figure 4 in the annexed
"Sheet of Drawings."
"
In order that my Improvements may be fully understood I shall now refer to
the beforementioned Sheet of Drawings," in which the same letter of reference
indicates the same part in the various figures. Figure 1. represents a side elevation,
with the lever (L) in its lowest position by which the bydraulic piston or plunger (R)
is drawn out to its utmost working extent; leaving the outlets (o and o¹) open.
The valvular piston (V) is shewn forced home to its seating on the end of the
inlet (i) by the bouyancy of the ball-float on the end of the lever (l) this ball is
not shewn in the filed Sheet of Drawings) thus preventing any further admission
of water to the cistern-the highest position of the lever, is shewn by the dotted
line (bc), the part of the rod A, shewn, is the upper end of that reaching from

page_text: the seat to the lever and the truncated screw (s) with the nuts (n) is that forming
the connection with the flushing-valve (F), shewn only in plan in Figure 3.
Figure 2, represents a front elevation with the lever (L) at its medial position.
Figure 3 represents Figure 1 in plan Figure 4, the rocking seat and the centre
lines of the actuating parts (on a reduced scale) a and a¹ being the position of
back edge of the seat; when in and out of use; (a-b) that of the connecting
rod A and (bc) that of the lever-Figure 5 represents a side view of the double
acting valvular piston (V) removed from the valve box (B), shewing two forms
( and 2) of fitting the india-rubber valve to the face of the inlet (); the india
rubber faces are distinguished by being deliniated with a series of wave lines
running around them. Figure 6. shews the hydraulic piston or plunger (R)
withdrawn from its cylinder (C) with its leather capping (e) which cap and the
manner of fitting the same is shewn by a series of short parallel lines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention
and the manner in which the same may be used or carried into effect I would
observe that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent, to be
1st. The use of the double action in the closing valvular piston.
2nd. The use of the hydraulic piston or plunger in combination with the rocking
or oscillating scat, which with the other parts makes this system of supply and
regulation perfectly automatic.
3rd. The prevention of waste in the water service, and consequent saving to the
public generally more especially to the Companies who supply the same.
4th. Increased cleanliness and healthiness from the absence of anything but the
pan, basin or trough from below the seat of the closet and the ease with which
this part is cleaned and kept so by the facility with which the seat is removed for
that purpose.
Finally, Its almost noiseless action and freedom from exertion in pulling handles
levers or such like, which must at all times recommed the use of my Improvement
to the delicate and nervous.
In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Carefield Summers have hereto
set my hand and seal, this eleventh day of September in the Year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two
CAREFIELD SUMMERS. (L.S.)