Improvements in or relating to Syphon Flushing Cisterns.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1391
Complete Specification Left, 28th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 2 th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Syphon Flushing Cisterns.
I, JOSEPH THOMAS HARRIS, of Tunbridge Villa, Merton, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
--
This invention relates to syphon flushing cisterns or water waste preventers and
consists in the improvements hereinafter described.
The syphon by which the cistern is emptied in the act of flushing is charged or
set in action by means of the displacement or thrust given to a movable part
within the cistern by which the level of water in the rising leg of the syphon is
raised sufficiently to throw water over the bend or summit of the syphon and thus
set the latter in action when the rod or other operating part is moved by hand or
otherwise with this intention.
This may be effected by enlarging the lower part of the rising leg of the syphon
so as to form a chamber with a cylindrical wall open below. In this chamber is
vertically movable a horizontal disc or bucket provided around its edge with a flange
or standing wall of indiarubber or equivalent material. This disc or bucket is of
less diameter than the interior diameter of the chamber, the space between the rim
of the bucket and the said wall being preferably equal in cross sectional area to the
area of the delivery of the syphon. The disc or bucket is connected to the operating
rod or the like by suitable gear so that it may be lifted in the chamber by a pull on
the rod, this action spreading the rubber wall and carrying up the body of water
in the chamber over the bucket into the bend of the syphon so that the latter is
charged and set in action. The water entering the chamber below underneath the
bucket follows the latter and when the syphon commences to draw passes around
the edge of the bucket which thus offers no impediment to the action of the syphon
in emptying the cistern. The bucket may be guided on a tube in the centre of the
chamber and may be suspended from above, or it may be provided with a central
tubular socket open below and closed above and sliding accurately upon a fixed tube
open at its upper end and also at its lower end the latter being open below or
outside of the cistern. The bucket may then be lifted by a pillar moving in the
said tube. This cistern requires a ball cock or the like for controlling the
filling.
The cistern and parts may be also so constructed with the further improvement
that the float which closes the inlet cock may be also utilized for the charging of
the syphon. A closed cistern is made with a cylindrical chamber projecting upward
from the roof thereof and a syphon inserted so that the summit is above the main
roof of the cistern.
The cylindrical chamber may be open or loosely covered with a removable
cover, in this chamber is the float which substantially occupies the whole of the
cross area of the chamber, and is also of cylindrical shape. The float is connected
to the lever of the inlet cock and also to the rod or the like by which it is intended
to operate the flushing, so that on the one hand the rising of the float in the chamber
closes the inlet cock when the level of water is such that at least the main closed
body of the cistern is filled, and on the other hand the drawing down of the float by
hand or otherwise causes the displacement of water in the tank so that having no
other exit, a body of water is thus thrust over the summit of the syphon and the
latter is thus set in action and empties the tank.
The overflow of excess of water entering the tank or cistern may be provided for
in a cistern of the above description by the following construction.

page_text: A tube is fixed vertically in the bottom of the cistern and extends upivard in the
centre of the chamber thereon and terminates above the water level therein.
This tube is closed above and below and at its lower end below the tank it is
attached laterally to a waste overflow pipe. On this tube slides an open tubular
socket, fixed centrally within the float so that the tube affords a guide for the float.
Within the aforesaid tube is fixed a smaller tube passing through the diaphragms
or closing stoppers at each end of the larger tube and open throughout for passage
of a rod connected at the upper end to the float and at the lower end to the rod or
the like by which the float is to be moved by hand or otherwise. In the tubular
socket are certain holes just above the floating level of the float when in its highest
position and in the tube on which the socket slides are corresponding holes just
above the highest intended water level. When the float is in its highest position
these two sets of holes coincide and any further rise of water is prevented by the
excess flowing down the annular space in the tube and thence away through the
overflow pipe. When the float is pulled down these holes are brought out of
coincidence so that the action of drawing down the float does not force any water
down the overflow pipe. Should the float for any reason stick at the bottom of its
travel and fail to rise with the incoming water the excess water is carried away
through other holes in the tubular socket above the float coming into coincidence
with holes in the upper end of the tube. Or the overflow may be provided for in
any other way, provided that the drawing down of the float by closing the mouth of
the overflow prevents water escaping at the time of flushing. The float may be
attached to the lever of the inlet cock by means of a rod hooked into a slot at the
end of the lever and passing upward through a tubular socket in the float and
secured above the latter by a nut or nuts.
Increased power may be given to the float for charging the syphon, by arranging
a packing ring around the float to close the space between the wall of the float
and that of the chamber when the said ring is spread by downward pull upon the
float.
As a syphon a bent pipe of the usual form may be employed or a series of
concentric pipes or rings, the spaces between the pipes or rings in the latter case
are however carefully calculated to prevent throttling or causing a vacuum in the
syphon. The entering end of the syphon dips into a well in the bottom of the tank,
the spacing around the end of the syphon pipe in the well and also the distance
from the bottom of the latter being preferably also calculated with the same
object.
To give after flush for valve closets and the like two of these syphons and
charging devices may be combined in one cistern divided by a partition into unequal
parts so that the one action will give for instance a two-gallon flush, the other
an after flush of for instance a quart. The two actions are connected to the same
rod or lever, plug handle or the like so that the larger flush is operated by the pull
of the handle, the smaller only by the return of the mechanism consequent on the
release of the said handle.
Dated this 29th day of July 1891
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Syphon Flushing Cisterns.
I, JOSEPH THOMAS HARRIS of Beaufort Works, Kingston Road, Merton, in the
County of Surrey, 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 syphon flushing cisterns or water waste preventers, and
consists in the improvements hereinafter described.

page_text: The syphon by which the cistern is emptied in the act of flushing is charged or
set in action by means of the displacement or thrust given to a movable part within
the cistern by which the level of water in the rising leg of the syphon is raised
sufficiently to throw water over the bend or summit of the syphon and thus set the
latter in action when the rod or other operating part is moved by hand or otherwise
with this intention.
The float which closes the water inlet cock is utilized for the charging of the
syplion.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various forms of syphon flushing cistern
Fig. 1 being a vertical section of one of comparatively large size.
Fig. 2 a smaller size with different shape of float and exterior syphon.
Fig. 3 a yet smaller circular cistern with central syphon,
Fig. 4 being a plan view thereof.
Fig. 5 is a double flushing cistern for giving a smaller after flush in addition to
the main flush.
Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view partly in section showing a cock for the water
supply for a purpose hereinafter described.
Fig. 8 illustrates the method of applying a syphon with charging apparatus to a
tank of large size, for instance of several thousand gallons capacity.
Where the cistern A is of comparatively large size it is made closed as in Fig. I'
with a cylindrical chamber B projecting upward from the roof thereof, and a
syphon Cinserted so that the summit is above the main roof of the cistern A. The
syphon may be inside the cistern as in Fig. 1 or outside as in Fig. 2. The cylindrical
chamber B may be open or loosely covered with a removable cover D. In this
chamber B is the float E which substantially occupies the whole of the cross
area of the chamber and is also either of cylindrical or other shape so as to
have a base or rim F of the same shape as the chamber B but of slightly less
diameter. The float E is connected to the lever G of the inlet cock H and
also to the rod I or the like by which it is intended to operate the flushing, so
that on the one hand the rising of the float E in the chamber B closes the
inlet cock H when the level of the water is such that at least the main closed
body of the cistern is filled and on the other hand the drawing down of the
float by hand or otherwise causes the displacement of water in the tank, so that
having no other exit a body of water is thrust over the summit of the syphon
and the latter is thus set in action and empties the tank.
Around the rim F of the float E is an elastic collar L usually termed a cup-
leather whatever the material may be of which it is made, this cup leather
expands while the float is being drawn down, and fills up the space between
the float and the wall of the chamber D. When the float ascends, the cup
leather gives so far as may be necessary to permit inlet of air.
The float may be solid or hollow and if hollow may be closed or open below.
A hollow float, open below is preferable as being cheaper to construct and
affording by its hollow interior an air-cushion, giving the downwardly pulled float
an elastic cushioning on the water.
The lever G is attached to the float E by a rod M having a hooked or looped
end M engaging in an eye in the end of the lever G. This rod M passes up
through a tube N and is secured by double nuts N¹ so as to be adjustable, a useful
feature for adjusting the float to properly close the water inlet cock.
This pipe N may be of a larger diameter than is absolutely necessary for passage
of rod M and at its upper end may have a lateral orifice N2 covered with a down-
wardly directed hood N³. When the float pulled down, a small quantity of water
will be forced up the tube N and out at orifice N2. This water will however.
assist the action of the cup leather L. After the downward pull on the float is
discontinued air passes in at this tube N to replace the water flowing out at the
syphon.

page_text: No back pressure can therefore occur, to prevent the syphon from emptying the
tank A.
The overflow of excess of water entering the tank or cistern may be provided for
in a cistern of the above description by the following construction.
A tube is fixed vertically in the bottom of the cistern A and extends
upward in the chamber thereon and terminates above the water level therein.
This tube is closed above and below and at its lower end below the tank it is
attached laterally to a waste overflow pipe O'. On this tube slides an open
tubular socket P fixed centrally within the float E so that the tube affords a
guide for the float. Within the aforesaid tube O is fixed a smaller tube R
passing through the diaphragms or closing stoppers at each end of the larger
tube and open throughout for passage of a rod S connected at the upper
end to the float E and at the lower end to the rod, handle or the like by which
the float is to be moved by hand or otherwise. In the tubular socket P are
certain holes just above the floating level of the float when in its highest position
and in the tube O on which the socket slides are corresponding holes O just above
the highest intended water level. When the float is in its highest position
these two sets of holes coincide and any further rise of water is prevented by
the excess flowing down the annular space in the tube and hence away
through the overflow pipe. When the float is pulled down these holes are
brought out of coincidence so that the action of drawing down the float, does
not force any water down the overflow pipe. Should the float for any reason
stick at the bottom of its travel, and fail to rise with the incoming water, the
excess water is carried away through other holes P in the tubular socket above
the float coming into coincidence with the holes 03 in the upper end of the
tube O. Or the overflow may be provided for in any other way such as by
an ordinary overflow pipe 04 Fig. 3, provided that the drawing down of the
float by closing the mouth of the overflow prevents water escaping at the time
of flushing.
As a syphon, a bent pipe of the usual form may be employed as in Fig. 2 or two
concentric pipes as in Fig. 1, or a series of concentric pipes or rings, the spaces
between the pipes or rings in the latter case, are however, carefully calculated to
prevent throttling or causing a vacuum in the syphon. The entering end of the
syphon may dip into a well in the bottom of the tank as in Fig. 1 the spacing
around the end of the syphon pipe in the well and also the distance from the bottom
of the latter being preferably also calculated with the same object or the foot
of the syphon may be spread out as in Fig. 3.
An exterior syphon may also be cast in one with the tank A.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the float is guided on the outer tube of the
syphon instead of upon a vertical waste pipe.
A small watertight tube R' is inserted in the syphon similar to the tube R in
Fig. 1 for passage of the rod S. Also in this figure and in Figs. 2 and 5 the float
occupies the whole cross area of the tank A. so that the whole tank forms in effect
the part. B referred to in reference to Fig. 1.
To give after flush for valve closets and the like two of these syphons and charging
devices may be combined in one cistern divided by a partition into unequal parts or
two of such apparatus may be combined as in Fig. 5, so that the one action will
give for instance a two gallon flush, the other an after flush of for instance
a quart.
The two actions are connected by the lever T so that the larger flush is operated
by the pull of the rod S, the smaller only by the return of the mechanism consequent
on the release of the said rod.
A device is shown in Fig. 3 the intention of which is to prevent the float from
being held down, which would keep the inlet valve H open after the tank was again
filled.
On a bracket U is a pivoted lever V and the hand pull is attached to this lever V

page_text: instead of to the rod S.
The rod S carries the projecting collar W. When the
lever V is pulled down, it presses down the collar until the latter is pressed out of
radius of the lever and is consequently released from further downward movement,
and is free to rise when the water again lifts the float.
When the hand pull is released the lever under action of the counterbalancing
arm Vrises and rides over the collar as in Fig. 3.
A further device for preventing waste of water is also shown applied in Fig. 5
and in an enlarged section in Fig. 7. The object of the water inlet valve here
shown is to cut off the inlet of water both when the float is in its highest and in its
lowest positions. For this purpose the valve lever G is provided with two fulcra a
one behind and one in front of the valve y Fig. 7. The lever rests upon the one or
other fulcrum as shown and therefore in either of its extreme positions raises the
valve y and so closes the inlet.
In applying this valve it is necessary to use means to automatically lift the float
from the lowest position when the hand pall is released so that the lever G may be
lifted sufficiently to allow the water to flow into the tank A. A spring Fig. 5
may be used for this purpose.
A
When the rod M is passed through the tube N and secured by a nut or nuts on
the top, it is free to lift in the tube; when the float is held down by hand, the
pressure of water at the inlet may at times be sufficient to open the inlet valve.
small weight G¹ is therefore arranged on the lever G and is sufficient to balance
the pressure of water at the inlet valve. In applying this syphon device, to the
emptying of a large tank X or reservoir, any of the forms here shown may be used
provided that the syphon pipes are sufficiently prolonged, and also the base of the
outer vessel prolonged to reach to the bottom of the large tank or reservoir where
it communicates through an anti return valve X¹.
When the float is pulled down, this valve is closed, and the water in the outer
vessel charges the syphon which thereupon enters into and continues in action until
the whole reservoir is emptied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A tank or container having an inlet valve and an outlet syphon and a float
guided upon the syphon or upon an overflow or other tube with direct operating
rod S adapted to charge the syphon and control the inlet valve substantially as set
forth.
2. The water overflow constructed as herein described.
3. The combination with the water inlet valve and lever of a float guided upon a
vertical tube and attached to the lever and rendered adjustable substantially as
described.
4. For the purpose of an after flush the combination of two syphon charging
devices to operate as described.
Dated this 28th day of April 1892.
Dated this 28th day of April 1892.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.