Improvements in Flushing Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flushing Apparatus.
I, LEONARD EUGENE COWEY, of Roslyn, Millbrook, Jersey, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in syphonic flushing apparatus, whereby
sewers, drains, water closets and the like can be flushed with water or other liquid,
periodically and automatically, the duration of the flushing operation being also
capable of regulation.
According to my invention I provide a rectangular or other suitably shaped
tank or chamber which may be sunk into the ground or occupy any other position
that may be found advantageous. In connection with this tank or chamber
I employ a syphon, which may be of the ordinary inverted U form, one leg thereof
communicating with the drain water-closet or the like to be flushed and the other
extending to within a short distance of the bottom of the tank or chamber, so as to
permit of the water rising therein. Water is conducted to the said tank or
chamber from the water-main or other source of supply by means of a suitable
pipe. The inlet from this pipe to the aforesaid chamber is controlled by a ball-
valve which is so constructed that said inlet is never entirely closed. The ball-
valve is advantageously provided with adjustable means for regulating and limiting
the extent to which its valve can close when the ball or float descends to its
lowermost position. In addition to this ball-valve the above mentioned water
supply pipe is furnished with a sluice-valve.
After each flushing operation the water from the supply pipe trickles into the
aforesaid tank or chamber through the ball-valve until the level of the water
reaches the ball or float. The water level continuing to rise causes said valve to
open to its full extent and the tank or chamber becomes rapidly filled with the
incoming water and the syphonic action then takes place.
As already stated the supply of water to the ball-valve is controlled by the
aforesaid sluice-valve. Therefore according as this valve is set, the duration of
the flushing operation can be prolonged or diminished. Thus if the sluice-valve
be so set that the supply of water to the tank or chamber during the flushing
operation is only slightly less than the discharge of the water by the syphon, the
flushing operation will continue for some considerable time. But if the sluice-
valve be set so as to reduce the water supply it will be obvious that the duration
of the flushing operation will be proportionately shortened.
The interval of time ensuing between each flushing operation is regulated by
the amount of water allowed to trickle into the tank or chamber from the
ball-valve.
Dated 100-1 J
T
1002
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, LEONARD EUGENE COWEY, of Roslyn, Millbrook, Jersey, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in syphonic flushing apparatus, whereby
sewers, drains, water closets and the like can be periodically and automatically
flushed with water or other liquid, the duration of, and the periods between, the
flushing operations being capable of regulation.
According to my invention I provide a rectangular or other suitably shaped
tank or chamber which may be sunk into the ground or occupy any other position
that may be found advantageous. In connection with this tank or chamber
I employ a syphon, which may be of the ordinary inverted U form, the longer leg
thereof communicating with the sewer, drain, water-closet or the like to be flushed
and the other extending to within a short distance of the bottom of the tank or
chamber, so as to allow the water to rise therein. Water is conducted to the said
tank or chamber from the water-main or other source of supply by means of a
suitable pipe. The inlet from this pipe to the aforesaid chamber is controlled by
a ball valve which is so constructed that the inlet of liquid to the apparatus is
never entirely closed, and, in addition to this ball-valve, a sluice or other valve is
employed for controlling the amount of water supplied to the apparatus when the
ball-valve is open.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus adapted for use in flushing
sewers.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section thereof taken on the line 1. 1. of Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 shew on an enlarged scale a ball or float-valve of the
construction I prefer to employ ; Figure 3 being a central longitudinal section;
Figure 4 a central horizontal section; and Figure 5 a vertical section on the
line 2. 2 of Figure 3.
A is the tank or chamber which in the present case is situated below the level
of the roadway. B is the syphon which is supported within the chamber A. by
brackets B¹. The longer limb of the syphon dips into a well a located below the
bottom of the chamber A and this well contains water and communicates with the
drain pipe or sewer C. A water-seal is thus produced, which I find greatly assists
in rendering the syphonic action more reliable. A¹ is a man-hole for enabling the
interior of the chamber A to be reached when required.
D is the inlet pipe through which water enters the chamber A from the water-
main; this pipe is provided with a valve D' for regulating the supply of water
from the main to the chamber A. The said valve can be adjusted by a suitable
key inserted through the surface box D'. E is a vent pipe for the escape of air
from the chamber A.
F is the ball or float-valve and F¹ its float. This valve may be of any ordinary
construction so long as it is arranged in such a manner that the flow of water to
the chamber A is never entirely cut off; 1 prefer however to employ a float-valve
of the kind hereinafter described.
After each flushing operation the water from the supply pipe trickles through
the ball or float-valve into the tank or chamber A until the level of the water
therein reaches the float F; the water, then continuing to rise, gradually elevates
the said float and opens the float-valve to its full extent. The chamber A then

page_text: becomes rapidly filled with water and starts the syphonic action which continues
until the said chamber is empty. The duration of the flushing operation is
controlled by the position of the aforesaid valve D¹ which can be set to allow
water to pass into the chamber A with such rapidity that the supply is only slightly
less than the discharge by the syphon, and when the valve is so set the flushing
operation will be of long duration. By altering the position of the said valve so
that the water supply to the chamber A is reduced, it will be obvious that the
duration of the flushing operation can be proportionately shortened.
The interval of time between successive flushing operations is regulated by the
amount of water that can run into the chamber A through the float-valve after
the completion of each discharge.
In some cases there may be objections to the use of an ordinary float-valve with
my apparatus. For instance suppose the chamber A to be full of water and the
syphon just discharging. At this time it will be evident that the syphon is working
under a head of water equal to the distance between the level of the water in the
well a and that in the chamber A. The syphon therefore discharges more rapidly
than when the chamber A is say only half full, or nearly empty. If the inlet
valve D' has been so adjusted that the amount of water entering the chamber A
is almost equal to the amount which the syphon can discharge when working under
the greatest head of water; then as this head of water diminishes and the water
level in the chamber A. sinks, the discharge by the syphon becomes gradually less,
and the inlet from the pipe D becomes somewhat increased owing to the external
pressure at the outlet of the float-valve being less than when the chamber A is
full. Consequently it is possible for the apparatus to reach a condition in which a
balance will exist between the amount of incoming and outgoing water and for the
water level in the chamber A to remain constant during the flushing operation, so
that the apparatus would not cease working. In order to avoid this objection the
float-valve illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 is employed, and is so constructed that
the amount of water entering the chamber A is kept proportional to the varying
discharge of the syphon.
This float-valve comprises a casing having a tap f¹ at one side through which
water is allowed to constantly enter the chamber A. The amount of water flowing
through this tap can be regulated by turning its plug, and the level of the water
in the chamber A can thus be caused to rise with more or less speed so that the
interval of time between each syphonic discharge can be conveniently controlled.
The casing is provided with two valves faf3 which do not open and close
simultaneously although they are both connected to the same float-lever f. These
valves are provided with rods ff7 carrying pistons f³f that work in open
cylindrical extensions on the valve casing f. The aforesaid rods f* f' are connected
to the float lever f* by links f10 f1 which are pivoted to the upper ends of the
piston rods by bolts. The float-leverf is pivoted at f¹ to an arm 13 which is
carried by the casing fand the said float-lever is guided and limited in its movements
by an upright 14 also carried by the casing. The link 10 is formed with a slot ₤15
(Figure 5) at its upper end through which the float-lever passes, so that after the
valve is closed the float lever can still further descend to close the valve f³.
A spring 1 is inserted between the float lever and the bottom of the slot f¹³, this
spring acting to ensure that the valve f2 shall be firmly seated and not rise with
the float-lever until the latter reaches the top of the said slot.
When the float lever is in its lowermost position both of the valves f2f³ will be
closed. Then as the level of the water rises in the chamber A and the float
ascends the larger valve f³ gradually opens, the valve f remaining for the time
being unaffected owing to the aforesaid slot in the link 10. When however the
float lever rises sufficiently to come against the top of this slot the two valves
continue to move together the smaller valve f gradually opening more and more
until the float-lever has risen to its full extent. The amount of water entering the
chamber A past the valves when both are fully open is somewhat less than that
discharged by the syphon when the water is at its highest level. The chamber A

page_text: having been filled to its proper level the syphonic action commences, the water
sinks in chamber A, and gradually the valve closes so that the amount of water
entering the chamber A is decreased as the float continues to fall. The inlet of
the water is thus kept proportional to the diminishing syphonage due to the
decrease in the head of water in the chamber A.
The aforesaid pistons ff enable the internal pressures acting on the valves to
be equalized.
The hereinbefore mentioned well a may be formed on the end of the longer limb
of the syphon instead of being built in the brickwork of the chamber A. The
inlet valve may also in some cases be formed in one with the ball or float valve.
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 I
claim is :-
1. A syphonic flushing apparatus in which both the duration of, and the periods
between, the flushing operations can be regulated by the means substantially as
described.
2. The combination with the syphonic flushing apparatus of a float-valve
substantially as described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings and for the purpose specified.
3. In a flushing apparatus of the kind herein before described the combination
with the longer limb of the syphon of a well or cavity containing liquid into which
the said longer limb dips for the purpose specified.
4. The improved syphonic flushing apparatus in which the parts are constructed
and arranged to operate substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of March 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.