Improvements in Water Supply and Discharge Apparatus and other Parts of Lavatories, Sinks, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Water Supply and Discharge Apparatus and other
Parts of Lavatories, Sinks, and the like.
I, JOIEN SILANKS, 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 comprises various improvements in water supply and dis-
charge apparatus and other parts of lavatories, sinks, and the like. Lavatories
or washing apparatus made with my present improvements or some of them, are
well adapted for use in hospitals or otherwise when it may be desirable to avoid
touching any of the valve mechanism with the hands; my improved apparatus is,
however, not restricted to such applications.
In lavatory apparatus made with one modification of my improvements, the
basin, preferably of earthenware, is supported against a wall by a horizontal iron
frame embracing the sides and front, and secured by bolts to batts fixed in the
wall, the frame being strengthened by inclined struts or brackets extending from
forward parts of the sides down to a wall plate fixed to the wall by bolts and batts.
On the inner side of the basin frame small rubber studs fitted into sockets hold
the basin piece firmly without its rigidly fitting the frame. The hollow of the
basin is made of a shallow or deeper form according to requirements; and at
the back of the hollow a gutter is formed into which the water overflows the inlet
or main inlet being at the front of the basin. For completely emptying the hollow
of the basin a small drainage passage may be provided in the case of the shallower
form, the deeper form being provided with a bottom outlet of sufficient size, and
having a plug or valve which may be moved by means of a lever or treadle or by
an automatic connection with the supply apparatus.
The supply valve apparatus is under the basin near the wall, a fixed part of it
being bolted to a shelf-like flange on what is herein before referred to as the wall
plate, and consisting of a box to which hot and cold supply pipes are connected.
The supply pipes communicate with separate spaces having in their bottoms inlet
ports communicating with a middle space in which hot and cold water can mix,
and which is connected by a pipe with a passage formed in the basin piece and
leading to the aperture or apertures through which the water enters the basin.
The valves are on the under sides of the inlet ports and close upwards. They are
on spindles extending downwards through stuffing boxes, which are preferably
each in a piece screwed into the bottom of the valve box. The valves are closed
by helical springs acting up against the valve heads or against collars formed or
fixed on the spindles; and the springs are enclosed in boxes their lower ends
bearing on annular plugs screwed into the boxes, the spring boxes being partly
filled with grease or oleaginous matter. The valve spindles are acted on by foot
levers or treadles, preferably through intermediate short levers which allow of the
axles of the treadles being mounted in projecting lugs on the wall plate whilst the

page_text: valve box is placed as far back as conveniently possible, the arrangement also
allowing of the easy disconnection of the parts.
The discharge or waste pipe from the basin is connected to an outlet nozzle
formed beneath the gutter at the back of the basin, the connection being by a
bayonet joint allowing of the easy detaching of the pipe for examination or
cleaning. An S-like trap bend is, by preference, formed at the top of the
discharge pipe.
Instead of, or in addition to the water inlet passage formed in the basin piece.
as hereinbefore mentioned, there may be a pipe, or separate pipes for hot and
cold water, arranged with one or more delivery nozzles above the basin, or with a
perforated rose, for delivering the water in a shower.
The hereinbefore described supply and discharge apparatus may be combined
with lavatory basins, either single or in sets of various known forms or arrange-
ments and also with sinks or other like vessels used for washing purposes.
The basin piece instead of being held as hereinbefore described may be made
with one or more flanges or lugs which may be cemented or built into the wall.
The basin may also be made without the gutter at the back for a continuous over-
flow of water, and in that case the discharge outlet may be at the back in a
recessed or enclosed space; and the discharge valve may be in the form of a plug
which may be hollow or have a number of passages through it for overflow water.
Such a discharge plug may be comparatively short its upper part working water-
tight or nearly so in the passage up into which it is raised on being opened.
Dated this Second day of October 1897.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Water Supply and Discharge Apparatus and other
Parts of Lavatories, Sinks, 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 comprises various improvements in water supply and dis-
charge apparatus, and other parts of lavatories, sinks, and the like. Lavatories
or washing apparatus made with my present improvements or some of them, are
well adapted for use in hospitals or otherwise, when it may be desirable to avoid
touching any of the valve mechanism with the hands; my improved apparatus is,
however, not restricted to such applications.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory draw-
ings to be hereinafter referred to in describing my improvements.
In the accompanying drawings Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, is a plan of framing
for supporting the water supply and discharge apparatus, Figures, 2, and 3, being
respectively, a side, and a front elevation of the apparatus, with parts shown in
section. Figures, 4, and 5, on Sheet, 2, are respectively a perspective view and
a vertical section showing some of my improvements, Figure, 6, being a sectional
view of a detail. In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are
used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In lavatory apparatus made with one modification of my improvements as shown
on Sheet, 1, of the drawings, the basin, A, preferably of earthenware, is supported

page_text: against a wall by a norizontal iron frame, B, embracing the sides and front, and
secured by bolts, B 1, to batts, B2, fixed in the wall, the frame being strengthened
by inclined struts or brackets, B 3, extending from forward parts of the sides down
to a wall plate, B4, fixed to the wall by bolts, B5, and batts, B 6. On the inner
side of the basin frame, B, small rubber studs B 7, fitted into sockets, B 8, formed
on projecting parts, B9, of the frame hold the basin piece, A, firmly without its
rigidly fitting the frame. The hollow of the basin is in the present modification
made of a shallow form but a deeper form may be adopted according to require-
ments and at the back of the hollow a gutter, A 1, is formed into which the water
overflows, the inlet or main inlet, A2, being at the front of the basin, A. For
completely emptying the hollow of the basin, A, a small drainage passage, A 3,
is provided, but when the hollow is of a deeper form a bottom outlet of sufficient
size is provided having a plug or valve. which may be moved by means of a lever
or treadle or by an automatic connection with the supply apparatus.
.11
The supply valve apparatus is placed under the basin, A, near the wall a fixed
part of it being bolted to a shelf-like flange, 9 B, on the wall plate, B4, and
consisting of a box, C, to which hot and cold supply pipes, D, and E, are connected.
The supply pipes, D), and E, communicate with separate spaces, C1, C2 having
in their bottoms inlet ports, C3, C4, communicating with a middle space, C5,
in which hot and cold water can mix, and which is connected by a pipe, F, with
a passage, F1, formed in the basin piece, A, and leading to the apertures, A2,
through which the water enters the basin. The valves, G, and, H, are on the
undersides of the inlet ports, C1, C2, and close upwards. They are on
spindles, G1, fixed to lower spindles, H 1, extending downwards through stuffing
boxes G2, H2, which are preferably each in a piece screwed into the bottom of
the valve box, C. The valves, G, H, are closed by helical springs, G3, H 3,
acting up against collars, G4, H4, formed or fixed on the spindles, H 1, or if
desired the springs may be arranged to act directly up against the valve heads,
which would be deepened to suit, the stuffing boxes being also increased in size
to fit the larger diameter of the valve heads. The springs, G3, H 3, are enclosed
in boxes, G5, H 5, their lower ends bearing on annular plugs, G6, H 6, screwed
into the boxes. The spring boxes are partly filled with grease, or oleaginous
matter, for preserving and lubricating purposes. The valve spindles, G1, H1,
are acted on by foot levers or treadles, J, K through rods, J1, K1, and inter-
mediate short levers, J2, K2, which allow of the axle, J 3, of the treadles being
mounted in projecting lugs, J4, on the wall plate, B4, whilst the valve box, C,
is placed as far back as conveniently possible, the arrangement also allowing of
the easy disconnection of the parts. The treadles, J, K, are placed comparatively
close to each other so that if desired they can be pressed down simultaneously,
and thereby cause a combined hot and cold supply to enter the basin, A.
The discharge or waste pipe, L, from the basin, A, is connected to an outlet
nozzle, L1, formed beneath the gutter at the back of the basin, the connection
being by a flanged joint, L2, or by a bayonet joint. An S-like trap bend, L3,
is by preference formed at the top of the discharge, pipe, L.
According to another modification of my improvements shown in Figure, 4,
on Sheet, 2, instead of or in addition to the water inlet passage, F 1, formed in
the basin picce, A, as hereinbefore described there may be a pipe, M, or separate
pipes, for hot and cold water, fitted with delivery nozzles, M1, M2, above the
basin, the nozzle, M 2, being formed with a perforated rose, M 3, for delivering
the water in a shower. When the rose, M3, is turned over the basin the water
flows from it and not from the nozzle, M 1, but when the rose arm is turned aside
as shown in dotted lines it shuts off the water from the rose and directs it through
the nozzle, M1. A single forked treadle, N, is employed for operating both
valves in the valve box, C, but separate treadles for working each valve may be
employed if desired. The discharge valve in this arrangement may be con-
veniently actuated by a knee lever, N 1.
The herein before described supply and discharge apparatus may be combined

page_text: with lavatory basins either single or in sets as shown in Figure, 4, and of various
known forms or arrangements, and also with sinks or other like vessels used
for washing purposes.
In a further variation of my improvements, shown in Figure, 5, a basin piece, A,
instead of being held in a frame, B, as in the first modification, is made with
flanges or lugs, P, which are cemented or built into the wall. The hollow of the
basin is of a comparatively deep form, and is made without the gutter at the back
for a continuous overflow of water, the discharge outlet, Q, being in a recessed or
enclosed space, Q 1. The discharge valve, R, is in the form of a hollow plug,
to allow the escape of overflow water, or the plug may be made simply with a
number of passages, R 1, through it as shown in Figure, 6. The discharge plug
or valve, R, may be conveniently worked by a treadle attached to the rod, R2,
and may be made comparatively short its upper part working water-tight or nearly
80 in the passage, Q1, up into which it is raised on being opened.
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. In lavatory and like apparatus, providing a horizontal rectangular frame
fixed to a wall or permanent structure and having inclined struts, and fitted with
rubber studs on its inner sides for supporting the basin, the basin being formed
with an overflow gutter and a drainage passage, or with an outlet, having a valve
moved by a lever or treadle, or by an automatic connection with the supply
apparatus; substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the accompanying drawings.
2. In lavatory and like apparatus attaching the supply valve apparatus to a
wall plate under the basin, the hot and cold supply pipes fitted to the valve box,
communicating through separate spaces and inlet ports with a middle space con-
nected to an inlet in the basin piece the supply valves closing upwards by
springs, and opening downwards by the action of foot levers or treadles substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein before described with reference to Figures, 1,
2, and 3, of the accompanying drawings.
3. In lavatory and like apparatus providing instead of or in addition to a water
inlet passage formed in the basin piece, a pipe, or separate pipes, arranged with
one or more delivery nozzles above the basin substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described with reference to Figure, 4, of the accompanying drawings.
4. In lavatory and like apparatus making the discharge outlet at the back part
of the basin in a recessed or enclosed space, the discharge valve being in the form
of a hollow plug, or formed with passages through it, and working, by treadle or
other action, comparatively tightly in the passage up into which it is raised on
being opened substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures, 5, and 6, of the accompanying drawings.
5. Fixing a lavatory basin to a wall by means of lugs or flanges formed on the
basin and built or cemented into the wall substantially as herein before described
with reference to Figure, 5, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this First day of July 1898.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.