Improvements in Sewer Traps.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewer Traps.
I JAMES JOSEPH COSTELLO of 28 School Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United
United States of America, Broker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to sewer traps and consists in the combination substantially as,
and for the purpose, set forth with a receptacle for drainage of an inclined chamber
opening into the side of the receptacle near the top of the same and connecting the
receptacle with the sewer by means of a suitable pipe, a hinged check-valve, in the
chamber opening outwards, by the pressure of the water in the receptacle a hood
hinged to the side of the receptacle within the same above the entrance to the chamber
and extending below this entrance and triangular shaped plates attached on each side
of the entrance of the chamber and having their vertical edges against the inside of the
receptacle and their inclined edges supporting the hood.
The invention also consists in the combination substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth with the receptacle chamber, check-valve, and hinged hood, as above set
forth, of one or more pipes conveying the waste water from the sinks of the house to
the receptacle a soil pipe communicating with the chamber and a check-valve within
the chamber and closing the mouth of the soil pipe this arrangement enabling the
matter discharged from the soil pipe to be washed into the sewer by the flow of water
from the receptacle while the check valve prevents the escape of gas from the sewer
into the soil pipe.
In the accompanying drawing is shown a device which embodies the principle of my
invention and the combination of this device with a receptacle for receiving the waste
water of a house and also with a catch basin for street drainage.
Figure 1 is a view of the device in elevation.
Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing device connected with a receptacle receiving
the waste water of a house and
Figure 4 a sectional view showing the device connected with a catch basin.
In these several figures the same letters refer to similar parts.
Referring to the drawing A is the receptacle and B is the chamber communicating
with the sewer by a suitable pipe. This chamber is suitably made of cast-iron and of
cylindrical form and may have in it openings C and D for the attachment respectively
of a ventilating pipe E and the soil pipe F. This soil pipo is preferably attached so
that it forms an anglo with the chamber and extends from the joint backward thus
facilitating the removal by the flow of water in the chamber of the matter discharged
from the soil-pipe. On the front of the chamber is secured a ring G preferably of cast
iron and cast on this ring or otherwise secured thereto on each of the openings in this
ring and at right angles to the plane of the ring is a plate H. These plates are
narrower at the top than at the bottom and extend below the chamber and when the
chamber is connected with the drainage receptacle the inner edge of the plate is
vertical and the chamber is inclined thus facilitating the flow of water.
To the upper
part of the ring or to the upper part of the joint of the chamber B, is suitably hinged
a hood I, preferably of cast iron which hood covers the entrance into the chamber and
extends below this entrance so that the opening into the chamber is below the water in
the receptacle. This hood is seated on the edges of the plates H and is preferably
provided with a flange a, which overlaps those edges thus making a tight joint.
object of these plates is to afford a seat for the hood so that it will not be necessary for
it to swing into a vertical position in order to close the entrance of the chamber and
also to ensure the perfect closing of this entrance so that sticks or other material
The

page_text: floating on the surface of the water in the receptacle will be prevented from lolging
between the entrance of the chamber and the hood or under the check-valve. I regard
this arrangement of plates as of importance in the operation of my device but the
principle of its operation can be carried into effect without the use of these plates and
by any other suitable mechanical contrivance. Within this chamber and at the
entrance of the same is a hinged check-valve J which preferably bears against a
suitable seat b, so that the valve is in an inclined position when cleared. This valve
is opened by the pressure of the water in the receptacle when this water rises above
the entrance into the chamber and the object of the hood is to prevent substances
floating on the surface of the water from flowing into the chamber B, and also to
prevent the escape of gas from the sewer into the receptacle, the water in the
receptacle in connection with the hood having the opening into the same below the
level of the water affording a perfect seal. The hood is hinged in order to permit of
its being raised when it is desired to get at the valve in the chamber.
In Figure 4 the device is shown as applied to a catch basin for street drainage but it
may be conveniently applied to a receptacle for house drainage as shown in Figure 3.
This receptacle consists of a box of cast-iron or any other suitable material and may
be placed beneath the floor of the cellar of the building or in any other convenient
position and receives by means of a suitable pipe c or suitable pipes opening into the
receptacle the waste water from the sinks of the building and it may also receive
water from the roof of the building. The top of the box may be removable in order
to permit the removal of any solid matter accumulating in the receptacle. The soil
pipe F from the water-closets of the house opens into the chamber B and the entrance
of this pipe into the chamber is closed by a suitable hinged check-valve K within the
chamber. Matter discharged from the soil pipe into the chamber will be carried into
the sewer by the flow of water from the receptacle while the check-valve provents
the escape of gas into the soil pipe. A suitable ventilating pipe E is connected with
the chamber B.
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
First. The combination substantially as and for the purpose set forth of a receptacle
for drainage, an inclined chamber opening into the side of the receptacle near the top
of the same and connecting the receptacle with the sewer a hinged check valve in the
chamber and closing the entrance to the same and opening outwards by the pressure of
the water in the receptacle, a hinged hood within the receptacle above the entrance to
the chamber and extending below this entrance and a triangular shaped plate within
the receptacle on each side of the entrance to the chamber and extending below this
entrance the vertical edges of those plates being against the wall of the receptacle and
the inclined edges supporting the hood.
Second. The combination substantially as and for the purpose set forth of a
receptacle for receiving the waste water, from the sinks of a building, a chamber
opening into the side of the receptacle near the top of the same and connecting the
receptacle with the sewer, a hinged check valve in the chamber opening outwards by
the pressure of the water in the receptacle, a hinged hood within the receptacle above
the entrance to the chamber and extending below this entrance, a soil pipe communi-
cating with the chamber and a check-valve in the chamber for closing the mouth
of the soil pipe.
Third. The combination substantially as and for the purpose set forth of the drainage
receptacle A, the inclined chamber B opening into the side of the receptacle near the
top of the same, the hinged check-valve J bearing against a seat b the hood I hinged
above the entrance to the chamber and extending below the same, the flanges a on the
sides of the said hood and the triangular shaped plates H H on each side of the
entrance to the chamber.
Fourth. The combination substantially as and for the purpose set forth of a receptacle
for receiving the waste water from the sinks of a building, an inclined chamber opening

page_text: into the side of the receptacle near the top of the same and connecting the receptacle
with the sewer, a soil pipe opening into said chamber and a hinged check-valve within
the chamber and adapted to be opened by the water flowing from the receptaclo
whereby the material discharged from the soil pipe is carried into the sewer.
Dated this 15th day of August 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.