IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSETS AND COMMODES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James White, of No. 45, High East Street,
Dorchester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSETS AND
COMMODES."
Sealed the 9th June 1865, and dated the 16th December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James White at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
December 1864.
. I, JAMES WHITE, of No. 45, High East Street, Dorchester, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSETS AND
COMMODES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in closets and commodes,
and consists in certain. improvements and additions to the arrangements of
apparatus described in the. Specification of a Patent granted to Messrs. Moule
and Bannehr, dated 28th May 1860 (No. 1316).
In constructing a closet or commode a suitable case of wood or iron is
provided (as described in the before-mentioned Specification), which consists
of a seat of the usual height,.as in a water-closet, with the ordinary elliptical
or circular opening through which the excrementitious matter is allowed to pass,
the fœces fall through the seat, passing if required through an earthenware
pan of the form of the section of a cylinder into a receptacle below, consisting

page_text: of a trough of cast iron or stoneware, or of any other suitable material. This
trough may be of a cylindrical or oval form, but partly or wholly open at the
top and closed at one or both ends. An outlet being provided either through
one of the ends or at the bottom near one of them. In this trough are made
to rotate one, or two, or more spindles or axles on which projecting blades or
similar contrivances are so fixed as to form a screw or screws, and at the same
time act when rotating as stirrers or mixers. To the inner surface of the
trough or cylinder are attached blades of a similar character to those fixed to
the spindles, and placed alternately with them. At the back of and above the
seat is provided a receptacle or reservoir containing a quantity of dry earth, at
the lower part of which is placed a roller or spindle provided with two or
more longitudinal ribs or plates, and made to rotate horizontally in a chamber
or cylinder open top and bottom, the upper part of which is in direct com-
munication with the reservoir of dry earth. By causing this roller to revolve
one or more quarter circles, a quantity of earth contained between two or
more of the said ribs is discharged through the lower opening, and into the
trough below on to the excrementitious matter. Suitable gear work is provided
which, on the turning of a winch handle, causes the screw or mixer to revolve,
and also the measured quantity of earth to be discharged. By this means the
earth is thoroughly incorporated with the excrement, and the mixture is
discharged through the outlet, as described. A valve is if required arranged
at the mouth of the outlet that may be closed or opened by motion of the
seat or of the cover or lid to the seat, or by other suitable means or
contrivance.
The apparatus thus described may be made self-acting by attaching to the
entrance door of the closet in which. it is placed suitable gear work, which
may be so arranged that on opening or closing such door the apparatus shall
be brought into action, and the mixture of earth and excrement and discharge
of such mixture effected. This self-action may be produced by motion of the
floor, and by various other contrivances.
Another improvement on the apparatus described in the Specification of the
before-mentioned Patent consists in allowing the excrement to fall into a pail
or suitable receptacle with or without the intervention of a bottom or valve
between the earthenware pan and such pail or receptacle. As in the
preceding case the back is provided with an earth reservoir, at the lower part
of which is placed the measuring apparatus previously described. By means
of a lever set in motion by raising a handle, as in an ordinary watercloset,
this is made to rotate and to discharge a measured quantity of earth, as in the
previous case. This result may also be produced by the action of the seat,

page_text: which may be so contrived as to act on the lever when sat upon, or on the
rising of the sitter, or the result may be produced by raising or lowering the
cover or lid, or by the opening and shutting of the door of the closet.
The mixing apparatus herein-before described may also be employed apart
from the closet for the incorporation of the unmixed earth and excrement
as deposited in closets not having the mixing apparatus attached. This mixer
may be set in motion by hand, horse, steam, or other motive power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James White in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WHITE, of No. 45, High East Street, Dorchester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James White, Her special licence that I, the said James
White, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James White, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CLOSETS AND COMMODES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James White, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James White, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in closets and commodes,
and consists in certain improvements and additions to the arrangements of

page_text: apparatus described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Messrs. Moule
and Bannehir, dated 28th May 1860, No. 1316.
In constructing a closet or commode, a suitable case of wood or iron is
provided (as described in the before-mentioned Specification), which consists
of a seat of the usual height, as in a watercloset with the ordinary elliptical
or circular opening, through which the excrementitious matter is allowed to
pass, the fœces fall through the seat, passing, if required, through an earthen-
ware pan, of the form of the section of a cylinder, into a receptacle below,
consisting of a trough of cast iron, or stoneware, or of any other suitable
material. This trough may be of a cylindrical or oval form, but partly or
wholly open at the top, and closed at one or both ends, an outlet being pro-
In
vided either through one of the ends or at the bottom near one of them.
this trough are made to rotate one, or two, or more spindles or axles on which
projecting blades or similar contrivances are so fixed as to form a screw or
screws, and at the same time act when rotating as stirrers or mixers. To the
inner surface of the trough or cylinder are attached blades of a similar
At
character to those fixed to the spindles and placed alternately with them.
the back of and above the seat is provided a receptacle or reservoir containing
'a quantity of dry earth, at the lower part of which is placed a roller or spindle
provided with two or more longitudinal ribs or plates, and made to rotate
horizontally in a chamber or cylinder open top and bottom, the upper part of
which is in direct communication with the reservoir of dry earth. By causing
this roller to revolve one or more quarter circles, a quantity of earth contained
between two or more of the said ribs is discharged through the lower opening,
and into the trough below on to the excrementitious matter.
Suitable gear
work is provided, which on the turning of a winch bandle causes the screw or
mixer to revolve, and also the measured quantity of earth to be discharged.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and also the means of
carrying the same into practice, I will now proceed to describe the accom
panying Drawings, and refer to the figures and letters marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional plan, and Figure 2, an end elevation, partly in
section, of a closet arranged as above described; Figure 3 is a section of the
same, taken through the line 1, 1, in Figure 1.
a is the seat, in which is formed a hole or opening a¹ of the usual kind in
watercloset seats; 6 is an earthenware or other pan, through which the excre
mentitious matters pass into a suitably formed receptacle or trough c placed
ben. ath to receive them. This trough or receptacle c it is preferred should

page_text: be of cylindrical or oval form, and partly or wholly open at the top and closed
at the ends, or at one end only. d is an outlet at the bottom of the trough c,
but the outlet may be formed at one of its ends in lieu thereof, if preferred;
e and fare two spindles or axes, which are mounted in bearings e', f', carried
by the trough c, in which they are caused to revolve. Upon the axles or
spindles e, f, are affixed numerous arms or blades g, h; they are so arranged
as to form right and left-handed screws, and at the same time act while
rotating as stirrers or mixers; i, i, are numerous other blades; these remain
stationary, and are fixed to the bottom of the trough c, and are so arranged
in respect to the blades or stirrers g, h, as to come between them and act as
scrapers to cleanse them. At the back part above the seat is provided a
receptacle or reservoir k, containing a quantity of dry earth, and at the lower
part of this reservoir is placed a roller provided with longitudinal ribs ¹, l',
straight or twisted, according as it is desired that the outlet should be placed
at the bottom, or at one of the ends of the reservoir. These ribs 11, 1, with
their roller are made to rotate horizontally in a chamber or cylinder m open
at top and bottom. The top opening is in direct communication with the
reservoir of dry earth. By causing the roller / to revolve one or more quarter
circles, a quantity of earth contained between two or more of the ribs 1, 1, is
discharged through the lower opening of the cylinder m on to a spout or
incline, which conducts it into the trough or receptacle c below on to the
excrementitious matters.
The arrangement for giving motion to the stirrers or mixers, and for
discharging the measured quantity of earth by means of a winch handle and
gear work is shown in red lines in Figures 1 and 2. n is the winch handle
keyed on an axis n', upon which also is keyed a toothed wheel n³, taking into
and gearing with another toothed wheel n³ keyed upon one of the spindles or
axes of the stirrers or mixers, upon which axis is also keyed a pinion o which
gears with another pinion o' keyed on the other axis e of the stirrers, and o
is a toothed wheel working upon a stud carried by the woodwork or frame
which carries the seat; and o³ is another toothed wheel keyed on the axis of
the roller l, which gears with the stud wheel o², so that when the handle is
turned, the axes e and f of the stirrers or mixers will also be driven, and the
roller is also made to revolve by reason of the toothed gearing o, 01, 0%, 0³,
and thus causes a quantity of the dry earth to escape from the reservoir k
into the trough c. By this means the earth is thoroughly incorporated with
the excrement, and the mixture is discharged through the outlet as described.
A valve is, if required, arranged at the mouth of the outlet, that may be
closed or opened by motion of the seat, or of the cover or lid to the seat, or

page_text: by other suitable means or contrivance. The apparatus thus described may
be made self-acting by attaching to the entrance door of the closet in which
it is placed suitable gear work, which may be so arranged that on opening or
closing such door the apparatus shall be brought into action, and the mixture
of earth and excrement and discharge of such mixture effected. This self-
action may be produced by motion of the floor and by various other
contrivances.
An arrangement for transmitting the necessary motion for discharging the
measured quantity of earth, and for giving motion to the stirrers from the
entrance door of the closet, is also shewn in Figures 1 and 2. This arrange-
ment may be used in place of the winch handle and gear work shewn by red
lines in these Figures.
A is the entrance door of the closet, to the under side of which is attached
a toothed quadrant B, the teeth of which engage with the teeth of a wheel C
which works loosely upon the axis of the stirrers or mixers previously
described. Upon the same axis, and affixed to the toothed wheel C, is
another toothed wheel D, which is also loose in respect to its axis. Thus it
will be seen that each time the door A of the closet is opened a partial rota-
tion is given to the toothed wheels C and D. A toothed wheel E working
loosely upon an axis F gears with the toothed wheel D, the toothed wheels D
and E being of equal diameters and having the same number of teeth receive
a to-and-fro motion upon their respective axes to an equal extent. D¹, E¹, are
pawls or drivers mounted on the toothed wheels D and E, these engage with
and work the ratchet wheels G and H which are keyed upon their spindles
or axes F and f; I is a toothed pinion keyed upon the spindle or axis F
which gears with the toothed wheel o¹, already referred to, upon the axis e of
the mixers g, g; therefore upon each movement of the door, both opening and
closing, the axes e and f with their mixers 9 and h will be caused to revolve in
opposite directions to each other and also cause the contents of the trough c to
pass away to the outlet d. The mixing apparatus herein-before described
may in some cases be employed apart from the closet for the incorporation of
the unmixed earth and excrement as deposited in closets not having the
mixing apparatus attached. The mixer may then be set in motion by hand,
horse, steam, or other motive power.
Another improvement on the apparatus described in the Specification of the
before-mentioned Patent consists in allowing the excrement to fall into a pail
or suitable receptacle with or without the intervention of a bottom or valve
between the earthenware pan and such pail or receptacle. As in the pre-
ceding case, the back is provided with an earth reservoir at the lower part of

page_text: which is placed the measuring apparatus previously described. By means of
a lever set in motion by raising a handle, as in an ordinary watercloset, this
is made to rotate and to discharge a measured quantity of earth, as in the
previous case. Figures 4, 5, and 6 are sections of portable closets or com-
modes constructed in accordance with this part of my Invention. a is the
seat, having the usual opening at a', in which is fitted an earthenware or
other suitable pan b. A pail or other similar receptacle d is employed to
receive the excrementitious matters as well as a measured quantity of dry earth
each time that the closet or commode is used. The lifting of the handle e gives
motion to the roller 1, which is provided with blades or vanes , l, as in the
arrangement first described, and each of such movements causes a quantity of
earth to be discharged from the cylinder m down the shoot n into the vessel d.
This discharge of the earth is effected in the following manner :-The handle
is connected to a lever f by a link g, thereby causing the lever f to move on
its fixed centre at f¹, to the other end of the leverf is attached the lower end
of a rod or bar h, which at its upper end is connected to a disc or plate i at i¹;
upon the disc or plate i is also a pall or driver which engages with the
teeth of a ratchet wheel; which is fixed upon the axis of the roller 1; the disc
or plate which carries the pall or driver i works loosely upon that axis,
so as to allow of the driver or pall 2 moving back over the teeth of the
ratchet wheel j after each rising action of the handle e, this is caused by
the weight f attached to the front end of the lever f. Upon the upright
rod or bar h are two stops h¹, h³, to control the extent of the action of the
disc or plate i, and parts carried thereby. In the arrangement shown in the
Drawing the apparatus is constructed so as to drive the roller at each action
a quarter circle, but this may be varied according to circumstances; k is the
reservoir containing the dry mould; k¹ is a flap hinged at k², its lower end is
acted upon the vanes 1, 1, for the purpose of disturbing the mass of dry earth
slightly at each action of the apparatus, so as to render it less liable to clog or
stick. The requisite motion may also be given to the roller 1 from the seat,
which may be so contrived as to act on the lever when the seat is sat upon or
on the rising of the sitter therefrom; or the result may be produced by raising
or lowering the cover or lid, or when constructing fixed in place of portable
closets the result may be produced by the opening and shutting of the door of
the closet.
In Figure 7 is shewn a section of a closet or commode arranged so that by
the seat being sat upon the apparatus for discharging the earth from the
cylinder m is set in motion; the closet is in most other respects similar to the
closet shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6. a is the seat; a¹, the opening; b, the

page_text: pan. The leverf in this instance is at its front end connected by a link g to
another link h, connected at h¹ to the front of the seat which is hinged at a².
A weight attached to the hinder part of the lever f serves to retain the
front part of the seat in a position a slight distance above that which it occupies
when sat upon, as is clearly represented in the Drawing; another lever y
shewn by red lines is employed to support the seat at the opposite side to that
at which the lever f is placed, it serves by the weight y' to support the seat
on the side in which it is placed, so as to equalize the strain thereon. Upon
the seat being occupied the front ends of the levers f and y are depressed, and
a quarter turn is given to the roller 1, and causes a measured quantity of the
dry earth to leave the cylinder m which is received on to the incline n, but is
not allowed to escape away therefrom until the seat is vacated; to effect this
object the incline is hinged at n', and a bent lever x is employed, the lower
end at a being so formed as to pass below the shoot n, while its upper end is
caused to rest against the axis of the roller 1, and a cam or projection p is
formed on or affixed to one side of the disc or plate i, which when the seat a
is depressed causes the cam p to assume the position shown in red lines, and
so press the upper end of the lever x as to cause its lower part at ¹ so to act
upon the bottom of the shoot n as to press it up against a plate r, and so
retain it until the seat a being relieved from the weight of the person allows
the upper part of the lever x to assume its former position, by the retiring of
the cam into its former position, when the measured quantity of dry earth
liberated from the cylinder m by the seat being occupied, will be allowed to
leave the shoot n and pass into the vessel d. In place of the seat being
hinged at back it may be hinged at the front or otherwise arranged to rise
and fall, and to act on a modified arrangement of the mechanism shown and
described.
Figure 8 shows a section of similar apparatus employed in a closet or
commode to which a valve or cover is applied, so as to pass under the pan
when the closet or commode is not in use, and move out of the way when in
use. a is the cover or valve passing underneath the pan so as to close it; it
is mounted upon an arm 6 which moves about a centre c carried by the
framing or woodwork; the arm 6 has formed upon it a loop or opening d,
through which a pin e¹ of a sliding bar e passes. The bar e is capable of sliding
in bearings or guides f, f. is an arm or lever pin-jointed to the slide e, and
its other end is bent upwards and connected to the disc or plate i, already
explained in the reference to the foregoing Figures. The pulling up of the
handle causes the valve or cover to move and cover the under side of the pan
and close it; and in order that the valve or cover when the handle is raised

page_text: may move away and remain so, the weight employed at the fore part of the
lever is reversed by being placed at or near the back thereof, and instead of
being connected immediately to the lever as in the former case, it is mounted
upon another shorter lever s, which is curved and jointed at s¹ to the lower end
of the rod or bar h by a pin s³, which also connects them with the lever t; the
levers is at its other end connected to a rod u at u¹ which passes upwards,
and is jointed to the disc i at u, the weight is therefore allowed to slide
backwards and forwards upon the levers whenever that lever changes its
inclination sufficiently to cause such movement, by this means the weight
causes the valve or cover of the under side of the pan to remain in either an
open or closed position after it has been moved by the action of the lifting
handle.
In witness whereof, I, the said James White, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
JAMES WHITE. (L.S.)