IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS, AND IN PREVENTING CISTERNS AND SUPPLY-VALVES FOR DISCHARGING MEASURED QUANTITIES OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Willoughby John Bean and Alexander Thomas Bean, of
No. 5, Cannon Row, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineers,
WASTE-
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS, AND IN
PREVENTING CISTERNS AND SUPPLY-VALVES FOR DISCHARGING MEASURED
QUANTITIES OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Willoughby John Bean and
Alexander Thomas Bean at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th February 1880.
WILLOUGHBY JOHN BEAN and ALEXANDER THOMAS BEAN, of No. 5, Cannon Row,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineers.
WATERCLOSETS, AND IN WASTE-PREVENTING CISTERNS AND SUPPLY-VALVES FOR
DISCHARGING MEASURED QUANTITIES OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS."
The object of this Invention is to render the action and working of waterclosets
as far as possible self-regulating, and to provide improved forms of cisterns and
supply valves for delivering measured quantities of water into waterclosets or
other vessels so as to prevent waste of water. The action of trough or latrine
closets, the contents of which require to be discharged at stated intervals, forms
the first part, and that of domestic waterclosets, which are liable to be handled by
a variety of persons, forms the second part of this Invention.
In the first part of the Invention the self-acting or self-regulating arrangement
is made primarily to control the main discharge valve of the trough or latrine
closet, which may be of the usual construction, and to act secondarily upon the
supply valve. The self-acting arrangement is as follows:-A tilting vessel of
wedge-shaped form is supported on a suitable pivot at or near the heel in such a
way that when empty the equilibrium is easily maintained, but when full (or
nearly so) of water or other liquid it is over-balanced owing to the gravity of water
it contains (the force with which it heels over being a measure of such gravity).
This vessel is however closed at the top by a lid or cover which has an inlet hole
or orifice situated vertically above the pivot, so that a constant supply of water can
fall into the vessel from above. The result is that when the vessel heels over by
reason of the accumulated supply the cover prevents any water escaping, as the
hole through which the water bas entered is still above the waterline, while the

page_text: supply is simultaneously cut off, the hole being no longer vertically beneath
the source of supply. From the vessel the water is allowed to drain off by means
of an escape pipe or orifice inserted in or level with the cover and at the end
opposite to where the inlet hole is. This escape pipe is above the waterline till
the vessel heels over, when it becomes the lowest point of the same and allows the
waste fluid in the vessel to pass out for use as desired. The vessel is so counter-
balanced that when it has emptied itself it will return to its original position, and
the operation is repeated.
By this means an intermitting mechanical action is obtained, whereby the
discharge valves of trough closets, flushing tanks, and similar receptacles, now
controlled by an attendant, may be made self-acting. All that is required is to
connect such discharge valves with a crank or lever attached to the pivot of the
vessel in such a way that the motion of the vessel on heeling over being commu-
nicated to such valves they will be raised or opened, but when the vessel rights
itself they will be closed again. By regulating the rate at which the water or
fluid can enter or leave the tilting vessel, or, in other words, the intervals of time
when the vessel will be heeled over, and the time during which it will remain so,
the discharge valves can be controlled with precision so as to be opened and to
remain opened as desired without the services of an attendant.
The arrangement will be more complete if the same motion which opens the
main discharge valves also simultaneously opens the supply valves of the water-
closets for admitting water to cleanse them. These supply valves, being released
when the vessel rights itself, will gradually close of themselves and deliver an after-
flow. It is however simpler and therefore preferable to use a ball valve for refilling
the watercloset or tank, but in either case waste of water is prevented, as the supply
valves are not worked by hand and therefore not liable to be left running.
In the second part of the Invention certain improvements are claimed in domestic
waterclosets, and also in the waste-preventing cisterns and supply valves required
for flushing the same.
The main discharge valve of the watercloset, instead of being at or near the
outlet of the bowl, is by this Invention placed at or near the uppermost bend of
the syphon trap. The valve hangs like a flap in an upright position, and is worked
by a horizontal spindle passing through a stuffing box in the side of the trap. The
top portion of the trap, and that to which the spindle is attached, is cut away so
that the valves resembles the letter U in shape, and advantage is taken of the
segmental space thus afforded as an overflow for the surplus water from the bowl
or basin. This therefore is the highest level at which water can be held up in the
basin by the valve, while the bottom of the valve (which is the level of the still
water line in the trap) is the lowest point to which the water level can be drawn
down when the discharge valve is opened. The trap and bowl are cleaned by an
adequate delivery of water from a fan or flushing rim of the usual construction.
movable air tight lid of transparent material is fitted over the uppermost bend of
the trap to facilitate inspection of the valve and working parts.
A
The above form of watercloset may of course be worked by the operator opening
or closing the valve by the ordinary mechanism, but it is preferable to utilise the
force exerted by the flow of water used for flushing the closet as a means of
opening and closing the closet valve, so that the watercloset itself is placed beyond
control, and does not require to be handled at all. The operator has then only to
cause the first admission of water to the closet, but after that all further action of the
apparatus is placed beyond his control.
In order to effect this the watercloset must be supplied from one or other of the
flushing cisterns or valves hereinafter described, and which are designed to deliver
a measured or predetermined quantity of water only at each flush.
The water so supplied is conducted to a small box or chamber at the side of the
closet trap, and escapes thence into the bowl of the closet. The watercloset valve- 5
spindle is made to pass through a proper gland or stuffing-box into this chamber,
and is there secured to one end of a tube (to be called the reaction tube) by which

page_text: its movements are governed. This reaction tube forms a kind of crank or lever,
and sufficient space is allowed in the chamber to allow it to move through the arc
required for opening the closet valve; being also weighted at the extremity it
serves as a weighted lever for keeping the closet valve closed. The bore of this
tube is large enough to prevent obstruction of the free flow of water through it.
Its heavier extremity consists of a bent nozzle deflecting at right angles to the
body or barrel of the tube, and also capable of turning round it in any desired
direction like a cowl.
From the cistern the water is first admitted to the reaction tube through a
trunnion inlet concentric with the closet valve spindle. Having passed through the
tube it escapes through the nozzle at the other extremity into the basin. By its
issue however it causes a reactive force (proportional to the pressure of its delivery)
to be felt by the nozzle, which accordingly recedes at once carrying with it the
tube itself, and thus opening the closet valve against the weight. If the direction
in which the nozzle is now pointing be reversed the tube will at once be forced
back to its original position, and the closet valve closed. The remainder of the
water which passes through to the bowl of the closet subsequent to this action
constitutes the afterflow for filling the bowl. To effect this the nozzle is made
capable of sliding on the reaction tube to or from the common or working centre
by its own weight, so that when the tube is at rest and lying inclined below the
horizontal, the nozzle has travelled from this centre as far as it can go; but when
the closet valve is open and the tube inclined above the horizontal, the nozzle tends
to glide towards this centre. The direction in which the nozzle is to point is con-
trolled by a stud or slotted guide so adjusted that the nozzle is always made to
point in a direction opposite to that in which the closet valve opens, excepting
when it has travelled a certain distance towards the centre, when it becomes free
to rotate (like a cowl) and point at right angles to the plane of motion. If, by
curved vanes or a slight lateral flexure in the nozzle itself, it has a sufficient
tendency to rotate while water is passing through it, it follows that the nozzle
can be made to turn round of itself and to point at right angles to the plane of
motion so soon as it is near enough to the common centre to be released, as above
described. The rapidity with which the nozzle slides to and fro is retarded or
regulated by a small plunger piston attached to it working in recess at the opposite
or central end of the reaction tube, and the speed with which it travels is therefore
always uniform. For this reason it is only necessary to lengthen or shorten its
stroke in order to increase or to lessen the time during which it will be held up by
the reactive force of the issuing water before it becomes free to rotate and reverse.
The stroke can be readily adjusted by a screwed regulating buffer passing through
the box or chamber, the nozzle impinging against it, when by its own weight it
slides back again to the position of rest.
The improved flushing cisterns and supply valves which deliver the measured
quantity of water essential to the proper working of the above apparatus, are also
applicable for general flushing purposes, and as water-waste preventers.
The first part of these improvements (in the case of flushing cisterns) consists in
placing vertically in a cistern of suitable material and shape (holding approximately
the desired quantity of water to be discharged) a syphon formed by a conical metal
outlet pipe passing through and secured to a depression or well in the bottom of
the cistern, which pipe is surrounded by a pipe of larger size enclosed at the top
like a dome, forming respectively the longer and shorter limb of the syphon. The
lip of the inner pipe or limb stands a short distance above the waterline, the
maximum height of which is regulated by a cup-lipped overflow outlet through
the side of the cistern.
The outer surrounding pipe or dome has a flange near the bottom forming a
piston fitting loosely into the cylindrical shaped depression in the bottom of the
5 cistern. The dome and piston move downwards together in a vertical direction
when actuated by a lever or cord-pull, which has the effect of forcing the water
into the inner pipe of the syphon, causing it instantaneously to come into full

page_text: action until the measured quantity has been discharged. The syphon now sucks
air and ceases to act, and the dome and piston ascend to their original position by
virtue of a spring or counterweight by which they are suspended so as to bring the
piston near to the top of the depression in the cistern. It may also be arranged
that the piston slides up and down around the dome while the latter remains
fixed.
The cistern is refilled by a ball-valve of much smaller area than the discharging
pipe.
A modification of this arrangement consists in making the bottom of the inner
pipe of the syphon in the cistern into a cylindrical valve fitting into a seating in
the bottom of the cistern like the well-known "standing waste pipe." The outer
limb or dome of the syphon is at the same time fixed to the inner limb.
Surrounding the syphon dome and fitting it loosely is another dome or shell, and
when this is moved vertically by levers or cord-pull the vacuum between the shell
and syphon dome causes the syphon and valve to follow it; water then passes
into the outlet pipe and puts the syphon in action, which rapidly empties the
cistern.
Should the outer dome or shell be held up the syphon and valve will immediately
descend when the water has drawn down below the lower edge of the shell as the
vacuum will be destroyed.
The second of these improvements relates to valves which are of the kind known
as spindle valves lifted from the top. The socket through which the spindle moves
is prolonged downwards forming a tube of any length required by the lift, and
closed at the bottom. The spindle thus forms a plunger working nearly watertight
within this tube, and on lifting the valve a partial vacuum is caused in the tube.
Then by a simple subsidiary valve, clack, or other equivalent arrangement attached
to or working in either the spindle or tube, sufficient water is admitted from the
outlet pipe to fill the vacuum immediately. On releasing the supply valve this
small subsidiary valve closes and imprisons a little water in the tube below the
plunger spindle, retarding its descent. The converse of this arrangement in which
the spindle is fixed and the spindle barrel or tube is lifted will answer the same
purpose.
By governing or regulating the escape of the imprisoned water by a small groove,
hole, or other similar means, or by regulating the lift of the valve, the time during
which the supply valve remains open, and the quantity of water delivered is
determined.
In order to prevent the supply valve being held up too long, and to comply with
the requirements of the water companies insisting on water waste preventing
valves, certain contrivances are introduced into this part of the Invention in order
to enable the valve to extricate itself from the lifting chain or rod.
The first of these contrivances is purely a mechanical one, and is applicable also
to the mechanism of waterclosets, especially if it is required to detach the plug
handle from the apparatus after it is lifted. The lower portion of the rod by which
the valve is lifted consists of a short tube into which a rod or spindle attached to
the valve fits loosely (or the tube may be attached to the valve forming the converse
of this). This rod has a projecting stud or pin secured to it and moving in a spiral
slot or groove chased in the tube. If the rod which holds the valve be prevented
from rotating, the tube will when lifted be caused to revolve round the rod owing
to the stud following the course of the slot or groove, till the tube is detached from
the rod entirely (or the converse). By causing the revolution of the tube to be
retarded at first by fans, blades, friction, or the inertia of weights, one or all in
connection with the tube, the valve rod can be lifted with the tube (when the
lifting action is of short duration), but the tube will almost immediately commence
to revolve and release the valve.
In another contrivance a leather cap or piston is attached to the valve rod and
works in a cylinder closed at the top, so that on lifting the cylinder a partial
vacuum is formed above the piston, and the cupped leather expanding adheres

page_text: closely to the inside bore of the cylinder. In this case the valve is lifted partly by
the suction thus produced, and partly by the friction or adhesion of the cup-leather
to the cylinder, and is released when sufficient water has been admitted through a
groove or hole to neutralise the partial vacuum.
In a third contrivance the valve rod is made to pass through a socket or gland in
the centre of the valve, and is there secured to a cupped or semi-spherical
diaphragm lying beneath it, and composed of an elastic material so as to be
reversible. The flatter part or flanged rim of this diaphragm is closely attached
to the valve. The arrangement is such that when the valve is closed the centre of
the diaphragm is held down (by weight or water pressure) a short distance below
the valve. On lifting the diaphragm the valve is forced up with it by reason of
the water imprisoned between them, but by the gradual release of this water the
valve is free to return to its seat till it touches the diaphragm.
Where the supply valve is situated at or near the closet basin instead of in the
cistern a further modification is required, and the valve is then lifted from below
by means of a piston or plunger moved by the operator. This forces water against
the bottom of the plunger-spindle, thus raising the valve. The return of the valve
and piston to their original positions is checked by a small spherical valve or clack
situated between the two, and the time occupied in their return depends entirely
on the size of the small water passages through which the water has to flow to
equalize the pressures.
If the actuating spindle or plunger be attached to the spindle, crank, or other
mechanism by which the water closet valve is controlled, the reaction pipe (or
tube), nozzle, and chamber may be dispensed with entirely.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Willoughby John Bean and Alexander Thomas Bean in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 4th August 1880.
WILLOUGHBY JOHN BEAN and ALEXANDER THOMAS BEAN, all of No. 5, Cannon
Row, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineers. “IMPROVEMENTS
IN WATER CLOSETS, AND IN WASTE PREVENTING CISTERNS AND SUPPLY-VALVES
FOR DISCHARGING MEASURED QUANTITIES OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS."
Fig. 1 is a section in elevation of the apparatus shewn in connection with a
latrine trough or basin closet. The trough or basin 1 of the closet is shewn full of
water having a side chamber 2, a main discharge valve and standing overflow 3,
and a trap 4, all of the usual construction, the arrangement being such that on
raising the valve 3 the water and contents of the basin or trough 1, or any number
of similar basins are discharged through the trap 4 into the drain.
To the valve 3 a lifting rod or link 5 is attached, and a crank 6 secured to the
tilting vessel 7 is connected to it. The tilting vessel 7 is watertight and of wedge
shaped form closed at the top by a lid, and in the Drawing is shewn at rest. It is
fixed above the basin 1 and supported at the "heel" on rocking pivots or a
spindle 8, a constant stream of water being admitted to it by an inlet hole or
orifice 9 in the cover situated vertically above the point of support at 8. There is
an escape pipe 10 level with tho cover and regulated by a cock 11 which forms the
only outlet from the vessel.
The water from the escape pipe 10 passes into a receiver or tray 12, whence its
escape back into the chamber 2 is controlled by the relief valve 13 (so that it can
escape only at the proper time when it will be useful for refilling the basin 1 and
chamber 2.
When the vessel 7 is empty the weight of the link 5 and discharge valve 3 is so
adjusted as to bear upon the crank 6 and easily maintain the equilibrium, but as
the supply accumulates in the vessel 7 the "toe" (or portion of the vessel nearest
to the escape pipe 10) becomes heavier till the vessel is caused to heel over, as
shewn by the dotted lines upon the Drawing, and so raises the crank 6 which
opens the discharge valve 3, and also at the same time closes the relief valve 13.
The water in the vessel 7 being prevented from escaping by the cover now finds a
gradual exit through the escape pipe 10 (which is below the water line) and fills
the receiver 12 at the rate permitted by the cock 11. As no fresh supply is
introduced into the vessel 7 owing to the orifice 9 being no longer vertically
beneath the source of supply, and as the water continues to escape the vessel 7
gradually empties itself so as to return to its original position (at the same time
letting off the waste water from the chamber 12 by opening the valve 13), and the
operation is repeated. The basin and chamber 2 are refilled either by a ball cock
in the usual way, or, what is a more complete arrangement, by connecting the supply
valves used for admitting water for cleansing and refilling the basin or trough
with any reciprocating part of the above mechanism, as shewn at 14. The supply
valves being released when the tilting vessel 7 rights itself will gradually close of
themselves and deliver an afterflow.
It will be seen that the intervals of the above motions are governed simply by
controlling the rate at which water is admitted to and discharged from the vessel 7.
This intermitting mechanical action is applicable also to the discharge of water
from flushing tanks, but inasmuch as the operation is entirely self-acting and
uniform no unnecessary waste of water can accrue from it, either with trough
or latrine closets, or with flushing tanks, as no part of the arrangement is worked
by hand.
Fig. 2 is a section, Fig. 4 an elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan of a domestic water
closet in which the basin or bowl 15 and trap 16 are of the usual "hopper'
"

page_text: 18
construction with a pan or flushing rim. It will therefore be seen that the water
ine in the trap can never fall below the lowest still water line a, b. A flap valve 17
shaped like the letter U retains the water when the closet is not in action at the
high level c, d. This valve is fixed vertically. At the outlet or uppermost bend
of the trap 16, instead of lying horizontally at the outlet of the basin, or over the
trap inlet as is usually the case, there is a segmental space or "overflow
between it and the trap cover 19. This prevents an overflow and avoids the
necessity of a separate overflow pipe. The cover 19 is preferably of glass to
facilitate inspection of the valve and is quite airtight but capable of being moved
for repairing the valve. There is a spindle 20 attached to the valve 17 passing
through a stuffing box in the side of the trap 16.
On turning the spindle 20 the valve can be opened, as shewn by dotted lines,
and the water in the closet escapes till it reaches the level a, b, a sufficient flush
being provided to clear out the trap 16 and refill the basin 15.
The above form of water closet may of course be worked by the operator opening
or closing the valve 17 by the ordinary mechanism, but we prefer to utilise the
force exerted by the flow of water used for flushing the closet as a means of opening
the closet valve, so that the water closet itself will not require to be handled by the
operator after it is once put into action. In order to effect this the water closet must
be supplied by one or other of the flushing cisterns or valves hereinafter described,
which are designed to deliver a predetermined quantity of water only at each
flush.
The spindle 20 is made to pass horizontally through a stuffing box in the side of
the water tight reaction chamber 21. This chamber (shewn in section on Fig. 4,
and on plan on Fig. 5, is attached to the water closet framework in such a position
that all water used for the bowl 15 must first pass through it. The water enters at
the union pipe or trunnion inlet 24 concentric with the spindle 20, and passes
direct through the reaction tube 22, so coupled as to form a kind of crank or
lever turning through a small rectangular arc (corresponding to that of the closet
valve 17) within the chamber 21.
The reaction tube 22 is shewn in full section on Fig. 4, and on plan in Fig. 5.
The heavier end or nozzle 23 turns round on the body of the tube 22 like a wind-
cowl. The water enters at the inlet 24 concentric with the spindle 20, and escapes
at the mouth of the nozzle 23. When at rest the weight of the nozzle 23 holds
the tube 22 in the position shewn e, f (that is, inclined below the horizontal), and
keeps the valve 17 closed. The reaction of the water when being admitted to the
basin 15 canses the tube to recede or rise to the position g, h (above the
horizontal).
In order to give an afterflow the tube 22 must return to the position e, f, and
close the closet valve 17 before all the water delivered by the flushing cisterns or
valves (Figures 7 to 15) has been expended. To effect this a slight lateral
curvature in the outlet of the nozzle 23 gives it a tendency to rotate or turn itself
at right angles to the plane of motion, in which position the reactive force will cease
to be of any service in holding up the tube in the position g, h, and the tube 22
will therefore return to the position e, f, and close the valve 17. It is arranged that
this action shall take place before all the measure flow of water is expended, an
afterflow for refilling the basin 15 will then be the result. The nozzle 23 is capable of
sliding up and down the tube 22 from (i to j), as well as turning round it, and by
means of the fixed stud 25 traversing the rectangular slot in the nozzle pipe it is
contrived that the nozzle while moving from j to i can point only downwards, but
when point is reached it can be turned round at right angles. The travel of the
nozzle from j to i is governed or timed in the following way:-A rod 26 is
attached to the piston 27, which is of equal area with the tube 22 and which works in
the cylinder or socket 28, thus keeping the longitudinal water pressure within the
tube 22 in equilibrium. The motion of the nozzle depends therefore only on
gravitation, so that when the tube 22 is inclined at e, f, its gravity causes it to
slide down the tube 22 till arrested by the screwed adjusting buffer 29; but when

page_text: the tube 22 is inclined at g, h, the nozzle 23 will slide away from i till when it
reaches it can revolve at right angles, as explained above, its rate of travel
towards j being controlled by the gradual escape of water from behind the piston
27, a rate which is uniform. The time occupied in this travel can therefore be
increased or lessened according as the distance i to j is made longer or shorter by
adjusting the buffer 29, which determines the starting point. The nozzle 23 con-
tinues to point at right angles to the plane of motion until all the measured
flow is expended, when the consecutive order of the motions above described is
reversed, & the nozzle slides back against the buffer 29 to the position of
rest.
In practice it is found that the conditions under which water closets are fixed
are often very different, but in every case we consider it essential, as already
explained, that in order to render the above water closet self controlling the
measured quantity of water should be supplied to it from one or other of the
various flushing cisterns and valves, shewn in Figures 7 to 15. These appliances,
while ensuring the necessary measured supply being delivered to the water closet
at each action under most of the different conditions occurring in practice, have
also been designed by us for general use, and for meeting the requirements of those
water companies insisting on the use of waste preventing apparatus.
The first of these improvements (in the case of flushing cisterns) is shewn in
vertical section at Fig. 7, and on plan at Fig. 6, and consists in placing vertically
in a cistern of suitable material & shape (holding approximately the desired
quantity of water to be discharged) a syphon formed by a conical metal outlet
pipe 30 passing through and secured to a cylindrical depression or well 31 in the
cistern, which well is recessed to an enlarged diameter at the bottom, and
preferably so formed of accurate dimensions by means of the internal cylinder 32.
The pipe 30 is surrounded by a pipe 33 of larger size enclosed at the top like a
dome, forming respectively the longer and shorter limb of the syphon. The longer
limb 30 is continuous with the flushing pipe to the closet. The lip of the inner
pipe or limb 30 stands a short distance above the water lime, the maximum height
of which is regulated by a cup-lipped overflow outlet 34 through the side of of the
cistern. The outer surrounding pipe or dome 33 has a flange 35, at or near the
bottom, forming a piston, the edge of which is preferably turned down, and
the surface sloped towards the centre. The piston or flange 35 fits easily into the
cylinder 32. In using the apparatus the dome 33 and piston or flange 35 move
downwards together when actuated by the forked lever 36 and cord or other pull
arrangement 37 till it reaches the position shewn by the dotted lines Fig. 7), which
this action has the effect of forcing water into the inner pipe 30 of the syphon
sufficient to instantaneously bring the syphon into full action. During the discharge
the suction caused by the water passing through the syphon keeps the dome 33
down in the well 31 at the full depth of its stroke (whether the pull 37 be held
down or not), the flange or piston 35 resting in the enlarged part of the well 31 on
several projections. The water continues to pass round the edge of the piston 35
into the syphon until the regulated quantity has been discharged. As soon as the
syphon sucks air the discharge ceases, and the dome 33 and piston or flange 35
ascend to their original position by virtue of the counterweight 38 (or if preferred
a spring may be substituted), until the piston or flange reaches the top of
well 31, where it is detained ready for a fresh discharge by small stops 39, or by
the short arm 40 on lever 38 working in a V notch in the side of the cistern. It
may also be arranged that the piston or flange 35 be separate from the dome and s
connected to the lever 36, so as to slide up and down around the dome, which in
this case will remain fixed in the position it assumes during the discharge. A small
hole 41 may be inserted in the dome 33 to prevent the possibility of a continuous
syphoning action should the pull 37 be fastened down at the same time that the
flushing pipe of a closet by any chance is sealed by water at each end. The 5
cistern is refilled after the discharge by an ordinary ball valve 42 of much smaller
area than the discharging pipe.

page_text: The second of the before mentioned flushing apparatus is shewn in vertical
section at Fig. 9, and on plan at Fig. 8. It consists in making the inner syphon
pipe 30 in the cistern into a cylindrical and hollow valve 43 fitting into a
Beating 44 in the bottom of the cistern somewhat similar to the well-known
standing waste pipe. The dome 33 is at the same time fixed to the pipe 30, and
moves together with it. Surrounding the syphon dome 33 and fitting it loosely is
another dome or shell 45, and when this is lifted vertically by the lever 36, and
pull 37, the vacuum created between the shell 45 and the syphon dome 33 lifts the
latter, consequently carrying with it the pipe 30 and valve 43. Water then
rushes into the flushing pipe to the closet through the valve seating 44, and
starts the syphon in action, which rapidly empties the cistern should the outer
dome or shell 45 be continuously held up, the enclosed syphon and valve will
immediately drop and close the valve seating 44 when the water has drawn down
below the lower edge of the shell 45 as the vacuum between them will be destroyed,
the small hole 46 releases any air that may possibly be confined under the shell 45
on the refilling of the cistern by the ball valve 42. The stops 47 also prevent the
valve being lifted out of the seating 44.
The above appliances, Figs. 6 to 9, require specially made cisterns, and are
especially applicable where it is necessary to separate the water used for water-
closets from the drinking water services. Where the closets may be supplied from
larger storage cisterns already existing, or from service pipes under pressure, we
prefer fixing the following flushing valve and its modifications, as shewn in
Figs. 10 to 15.
Fig. 11 is section, Fig. 13 a plan, and Fig. 12 a plan (of seating only) of a
cistern flushing valve (shewn at rest), which is designed to replace the ordinary
spindle valve, and fixed in a similar way. The valve 48 consists of a spindle
valve working on to a seating 49. The spindle of the valve passes through a
concentric socket in the barrier (made triple for strength) beneath the valve in the
usual way; the socket is however prolonged downwards forming a tube 50 of any
length, and of rather larger calibre than the spindle. To the bottom of this spindle
a subsidiary check-valve or plunger 51 is fitted. This plunger fits closely to the
bore of the tube 50 but is not tightly screwed to the spindle and therefore forms
a loose piston having a slight play up and down the pin 52. On raising the
valve 48 by means of the methods described hereafter the plunger 51 will follow
the spindle till arrested by the guiding socket 53 and a partial vacuum will be
formed beneath it in the tube 50. The water discharged by the valve now passing
into the tube 50 through holes in the socket 53 will however fill the vacuum
immediately, and on the descent of the valve 48 the spindle guided by the pin 52
will itself become a valve and effectually close the central orifice (in which the pin
52 works loosely), imprisoning thereby a tube-full of water beneath the plunger 51.
The descent of the valve 48 is thus immediately retarded and the rate of its further
descent is controlled simply by regulating the escape of the imprisoned water by a
small orifice or a groove in the tube, or by allowing it to escape past the periphery
of the plunger itself. During the slow escape of the valve water will continue to
pass to the closet bowl 15. The converse of this arrangement in which the
spindle is fixed and the spindle barrel lifted will of course answer the same purpose.
In order to prevent the valve 48 being held up too long and to comply with the
requirements of the water companies insisting on waste preventing valves, we
introduce certain contrivances to enable the valve 48 to extricate itself from the
lifting lever or rod.
In Fig. 10 the first of these contrivances is shewn in connection with a closet lifting
handle, and in Figs. 11 and 13 in connection with the valve 48, the principle being
the same in both cases, but the arrangements modified in detail as required. A lifting
socket 54 is attached to the valve 48, and a spiral 55 forming either part of a screw
(as in Fig. 11), or a stud working in a spiral slot in the lifting socket (as in
Fig. 10), the spiral being prolonged downwards as required. A fly-weight 56 with
a swivel joint or a chain 57 is secured to the spiral 55, the whole being capable of

page_text: detaching itself from the valve 48. On quickly drawing up the chain or swivel
57 (carrying the fly weight and spiral) the valve 48 will be carried up with it, but
the inertia of the fly-weight 56 being soon overcome, it commences to revolve (owing
to the spiral 55 screwing itself out of the socket 54), and the valve is almost
immediately released and free to descend, as above described. The small check
rod 58 impinging on one of the three barriers across the seating 49 prevents the
valve itself from revolving as it otherwise would do, but the fly-weight 56 revolves
freely, as the swivel and chain 57 offers but slight frictional resistance. The
weighted lever (in Fig. 10) also effectually prevents the spindle revolving without
any check rod.
Fans or water blades may of course be used instead of the fly
weight 56. Fig. 15 shews another contrivance in which a bell shaped socket is
used for sucking up an expanding piston 59 attached to the valve, such piston
being almost immediately released by the vacuum being neutralized above it, the
contrivance being a mere modification of the arrangement already described for
raising the syphon valve (see Fig. 9). Fig. 14 shews a third contrivance, in which
the valve 48 is not detached from the lifting spindle but works loosely round it
while the upward pressure of water imprisoned in the space between the valve
and the reversible semi-spherical diaphragm 60 (attached to the spindle in the
centre, and to the valve 48 at its periphery) causes the valve 48 to be lifted con-
currently with the spindle, but should the spindle be held up the weight of
the valve will be sufficient gradually to expel the imprisoned water through a
small orifice 61, and the valve will return independently to its seat till it touches
the diaphragm.
50.
A modified arrangement, shewn in Fig. 10, is necessary when the valve is applied
to service pipes under pressure, at or near the closet basin. The valve 48 is then
lifted from below by the operator drawing up the plunger or piston 62 and so
forcing some water through the subsidiary check valve 51 into the spindle barrel
The water thus forced acting on the bottom area of the solid spindle above
it, immediately raises the valve 48, as the relief passage 63 is insufficient to give
it vent. When however the plunger 62 has finished its stroke the check valve 51
instantly closes, and the escape of the water imprisoned between it and the valve-
spindle determines the rate of descent of the valve 48, and the quantity of water
discharged by it. By the same action also the return or lowering of the plunger 62
(and also the movement of the closet valve spindle 20 if attached) can be regulated
by the rate at which water flows back into the cylindrical space above the plunger
through the relief passage 63 as controlled by the regulator 64. When the closet
valve 17 is controlled in this way the reaction chamber 21, and the reaction
tube 22, and the appliances used in connection therewith inay be entirely dispensed
with.
Having thus particularly described the nature of our Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, we have to state that we do not confine ourselves to
the precise details herein described or delineated, but that what we believe to be
novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of a closed tilting vessel fed
by a constant stream of liquid, and capable of being filled or emptied at any desired
interval, and arranged substantially as for the purposes herein described in reference
to and shewn on Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification
thereof.
2. The construction or general arrangement of the parts of a domestic watercloset
and trap wherein an inspection lid of glass or other durable material is situated
directly over a vertical discharge valve so applied as to dispense with a separate
overflow outlet, such valve being also automatically worked, and the afterflow
delivered automatically by the admission of a regulated or uniform supply of water
at each action, all substantially and as for the purposes herein described in reference
to and shewn on Figs. 2 and 3 of accompanying Drawing."
3. The actuating of a watercloset valve-spindle by means of an automatic reaction

page_text: tube worked by the flow of water, and terminating in a reaction nozzle-head so
made as to act also as a weighted lever, and being capable of revolving in one
direction round and moving to and fro on such tube with a buffer guiding slot
and regulating piston, all substantially & as for the purposes herein described in
reference to & shewn on Figs. 4 and 5 of accompanying Drawing.
4. The construction and arrangement and action of the parts of a liquid supply
regulating service cistern with a concentric form of syphon and piston for starting,
such syphons working in a cylindrical and partially recessed well in the cistern, all
substantially and as for the purposes herein described in reference to and shewn on
Figs. 6 & 7 of accompanying Drawing.
5. The combination of a hollow and prolonged valve forming the discharging
limb of a concentric form of syphon and a lifting shell for raising such valve and
syphon combination, whereby the latter is brought into action, all substantially
and as for the purposes herein described in reference to and shewn on Figs. 8 and 9
of accompanying Drawing.
6. The construction and action of a slow-closing cistern valve having a central
spindle with a loose plunger or subsidiary valve working in a guiding tube closed
at the bottom, such valve being raised either by a lifting force above or water
pressed against the spindle from below by a regulated plunger, all substantially
and as for the purposes herein described in reference to and shewn on Figs. 10, 11,
& 12 of accompanying Drawing.
7. The construction and action and arrangement of the parts of a self-detaching
lifting spiral with feathers, blades, or retarding weights attached and working in a
suitable socket, either of which two parts can be made to revolve or unscrew itself
while the other is prevented from revolving, all substantially & as for the purposes
herein described in reference to & shewn on Figs. 10, 11, & 13 of the accom-
panying Drawing.
8. The combination of a lifting diaphragm with a concave spindle-valve, and
made capable of reversing so as to occupy the cavity under such valve, all sub-
stantially & as for the purposes herein described in reference to & shewn on
Fig. 14 of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Willoughby John Bean and Alexander
Thomas Bean, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth day
of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and