Improvements in Siphonal Oisterns for Waterclosets and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Siphonal Oisterns for Waterclosets and the like.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows, that is to say:-
My said Invention has for its object to improve and simplify the siphonal
apparatus of cisterns for waterclosets and the like so as to cheapen their construc-
tion and to render them more accurate, reliable and durable when in use.
In carrying out my Invention according to one modification the downlet pipe
leading to the closet and fixed in the bottom of the cistern has attached to it the
end of one leg of what may be termed a three-legged siphon placed within the
cisteru, the third or open leg of which siphon is turned upwards and the second
and third degs of which form a trap bend for retaining a quantity of water when
the cistern is not being used. A bell or hood, capable of being moved vertically by
a lever moved by means of the closet handle, covers the three-legged siphon. The
water in the cistern has free access to the interior of the bell and when filled up the
bell being in its lowest position confines air under pressure in the upper part of the
bell and in the open leg of the siphon owing to the water in the trap bend not
allowing it to pass. This confined air prevents the water from rising sufficiently
high to enter the open leg of the siphon. When however the bell is lifted a partial
vacuum is produced the water then rising freely within the bell and descending
the open leg of the siphon starts the siphonal action and empties the cistern
leaving only the water in the trap bend to confine the air, as hereinbofore de-
scribed when the cistern fills again.
According to a second modification the cistern is emptied by a two-legged
siphon the open end of which projects nearly to the bottom of the cistern, the
other end being formed so as to act as a cylindrical valve in a valve seat
projecting a short distance upwards from the bottom of the cistern and fixed to
the upper end of the downlet pipe. The two-legged is suspended from the lover
actuated by the closet handle and on pulling the handle the siphon is raised as
a whole, this raises the valve from its seat and water enters through ports in the
valve into the downlet pipe and drawing air from the siphon starts the siphonal
action.
In a third modification the siphon fixed to the downlet pipe has working in
combination with it a second or auxiliary siphon connected to the first siphon,
by preference. near its connection with the downlet pipe. Both the siphons may
be of any known design and into the open end of the auxiliary siphon there pro-
jects a nozzle on the end of a pipe leading from a small chamber in the cistern
below the water level. In the chamber there fits a weighted piston or plunger
connected to the lever worked by the closet handle. On pulling the handle the
piston is raised and water rises in the small chamber through the nozzle. On
letting go the ha
iston descends and forces the water in the small
chamber through the nozzle in the form of a jet which passing through the
A

page_text: auxiliary siphon starts the main siphon. The lever which moves the weighted
piston may be counterweighted so as to hold the piston in its highest position
and on pulling the closet handle the piston will at once descend and start
the siphonage or the piston may be held in its highest position by a spring which
acts on an upward extension of the piston this extension being attached to the
closet handle and in pulling the handle to cause the piston to descend the spring
will be compressed sufficiently to again raise the piston on the handle being let
go. By using the auxiliary siphon as described the necessary leverage is lessened
and the chamber with its weighted piston can be made smaller than in some
existing cisterns.
The auxiliary siphon may be placed inside the main siphon and instead of the
weighted piston and small chamber a small pipe may project into the open end
of the second siphon. This pipe extends down through the bottom of the cistern
to any desired extent and has its lower end closed by a rubber ball or bag. Water
fills this pipe and the ball and on compressing the ball by hand or through a disc
or button or other mechanism bearing on the ball a jet of water is projected from
the upper end of the small pipe into the auxiliary siphon and starts the siphonage.
The internal or auxiliary siphon may be omitted the small pipe being extended
suitable distance up the main siphon.
Dated this twenty ninth day of August 1896.
EDMUND HUNT.
Applicant's Agent
Improvements in Siphonal Cisterns for Waterclosets and the like.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary 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 that is to say:
My said Invention has for its object to improve and simplify the siphonal
apparatus of cisterns for waterclosets and the like so as to cheapen their construe-
tion and to render them more accurate, reliable, and durable when in use.
Several modifications of apparatus as made according to my Invention are
shown on an accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, Figures 1, and 2,
thereof being vertical sections respectively of a first and a second modification,
and Figures, 3, and 4, respectively a plan and a vertical section of a third modifi-
cation. Figure, 5, is a vertical section of a fourth modification. Figure, 6, is
a vertical section of a fifth modification, and figure, 7, is a vertical section of part
of a sixth modification. In these drawings the same reference letters and
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out my Invention according to the modification shown in figure, 1,
the downlet pipe, A, leading to the closet basin and fixed in the bottom of the
cistern. C, has attached to it the end of one leg, D, of what may be termed a
three-legged siphon placed within the cistern, the third or open leg, E.of which
siphon is turned upwards and the second leg, G, and third leg of which form a
trap bend for retaining a quantity of water when the cistern is not being used.
A bell or hood, H, capable of being moved vertically by a lever, J. moved by
means of the closet handle, covers the three-legged siphon. The water in the
cistern, C, has free access to the interior of the bell, H, and when the cistern is
filled up the hell being in its lowest position the water confines air under pressure
in the upper part of the bell and in the open leg, E, of the siphon owing to the

page_text: water in the trap bend not allowing it to pass. This confined air prevents the
water from rising sufficiently high to enter the open leg, E, of the siphon, not-
withstanding that the level of the water in the cistern is higher. When however
the bell, H, is lifted a partial vacuum is produced, and the water then rises freely
5 within the bell, and descending the open leg, E, of the siphon starts the siphonal
uction and empties the cistern, C, leaving only the water in the trap bend to
confine the air as hereinbefore described, when the cistern fills again.
According to the modification shown in figure, 2, the cistern, C, is emptied by
a two-legged siphon, F, the oj en end of which projects nearly to the bottom of
the cistern, the other end being formed with ports or openings, K, and a bearing
flange, L, so as to act as a cylindrical valve in a valve seat, M, projecting a short
distance upwards from the bottom of the cistern and communicating with the
downlet pipe, A. The valve seat, M, has a bearing ring, M, of rubber or other
suitable material let into its flange on which the siphon rests. The two-legged
siphon, F, is suspended from the lever, J, actuated by the closet handle, and on
pulling the handle, the siphon is raised as a whole, lifting its valve part from its
seat, M, water then entering through the ports, K, into the downlet pipe, A, and
drawing air from the siphon starts the siphonal action.
In the modification shown in figures, 3, and 4, the siphon, F, fixed to the down-
let pipe, A, has working in combination with it a second or auxiliary siphon, N,
connected to the first siphon, by preference, near its connection with the downlet
pipe. The siphons, and N, may be of any known design; and into the open
end of the auxiliary siphon there projects a nozzle on the end of a pipe, P, leading
from a small chamber, Q, in the cistern, C, below the water level. In the
chamber, Q, there fits a weighted piston or plunger, R, connected to the lever, J.
worked by the closet handle. On pulling the handle the piston, R, is raised and
water rises in the small chamber, Q, through the nozzle. On letting go the
handle the piston, R, descends and forces the water in the small chamber, Q,
through the nozzle pipe, P, in the form of a jet which passing through the
auxiliary siphon, N, starts the main siphon, F. The lever, J, which moves the
weighted piston, R, may be counterweighted and arranged so as to hold the piston
in its highest position, and so as on pulling the closet handle to depress the piston
and start the siphonage.
In the modification shown in figure, 5, the piston, R, is held in its highest
position by a spring, S, which acts on an upward extension, T, of the piston this
extension being attached to a rod, T, (of which the closet handle is a piece)
within it and a central tubular part, T2, on which the piston slides and which is
fixed to the cistern bottom. On pulling the handle the piston, R, is made to
descend, the spring, S, (which is held between the upper part of the tubular
part, T, and a nut, V, screwed on the rod, T", against the top of the upward
extension) raising the piston again on the handle being let go.
By using the auxiliary siphou, N, as described with reference to the modifica-
tion shown in figures, 3, and 4, the necessary leverage is lessened, and the
chamber, Q, with its weighted piston, R, can be made smaller than in some
existing arrangements.
The auxiliary siphon, N, may according to the modification shown in figure, 6,
he placed inside the main siphon, F, and instead of the weighted piston (R) and
small chamber (Q) a small pipe, P, projecting into the open end of the small!
siphon, may extend down through the bottom of the cistern, C, to any desired
extent its lower end terminating in a ball or bag, W. Water fills this pipe, P,
and the ball, W, and on compressing the ball by hand or through a disk or
button X, as shown in figure, 7, or other mechanism bearing on the ball, a jet
of water is projected from the the upper end of the small pipe into the
auxiliary siphon, N, and starts the siphonage. The auxiliary siphon, N, may be
arranged externally to the main siphon, F, (as in the modifications shown in
figures, 3, and 4) and with the small pipe, P, having its end closed by the ball or
bag, W, projecting into its open end. The interual or auxiliary siphon, N, may

page_text: be omitted the small pipe, P', being extended a suitable distance up the main
siphon, F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An improved siphonal cistern for waterclosets and the like, comprising a
bell or hood capable of being lifted by a lever to which the closet handle is con-
nected, the said bell or hood covering a siphon made with three legs one of which
is connected to the dowulet pipe, while a second forms a trap bend with a third
having a free or open end substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described with reference to figure, 1, of the accompanying drawings.
2. An improved siphonal cistern for waterclosets and the like, comprising a
two-legged siphon one end of which is free or open while the other is made with
lateral ports and fits and works as a valve in a valve seat forming the upper part
of the downlet pipe, the siphon being further capable of being moved. as a whole,
vertically by a lever to which the closet handle is attached substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described with reference to figure, 2, of the accom-
panying drawings.
3. An improved siphonal cistern for waterclosets and the like, comprising a
siphon of ordinary construction which has connected to it an auxiliary siphon into
the free or open end of, which a small pipe projects this pipe being connected to a
chamber in which fits aud works a weighted piston or plunger capable of being
moved vertically by a lever to which the closet handle is attached, substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to figures, 3, and 4,
of the accompanying drawings.
4. An improved siphonal ristern for waterclosets and the like, comprising a
siphon of ordinary construction which has connected to it an auxiliary siphon
into the free or open end of which a small pipe projects, this pipe being connected
to a chamber in which fits and works a piston capable of being moved towards
the small pipe, against the action of a spring, by a rod which has the closet handle
formed or fixed on it substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
with reference to figure, 5, of the accompanying drawings.
5. An improved siphonal cistern for waterclosets and the like, comprising a
siphon into the outer end of which projects a small pipe extending down and
having at its lower end a rubber or other bag or ball compressible by hand
directly or by means of a button or disk substantially as and for the purposes here-
inbefore described.
fut day of May 1807