Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Flushing Waterclosets, Drain Pipes, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Flushing Waterclosets,
Drain Pipes, and the like.
I, ANTOINE VICTOR DE MURAT, of 10, Impasse de Guelma, Place Pigalle, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, and accompanying
drawing, that is to say: -
My invention has for its object an improved apparatus by which water is
automatically supplied at intervals to water-closets, drain-pipes, and the like,
for the purpose of flushing and keeping them clean, and carrying off soil or
other accumulated substances.
The apparatus consists substantially of a certain number of similar recesses,
or chambers, fixed round a common axis. If one of these chambers is filled
with any liquid, after a certain time the equilibrium becomes altered so that
the apparatus turns round upon its axis and discharges suddenly the liquid in
the chamber. Upon the two sides of the apparatus are arranged counter-
balances, stops, excentrics, or equivalent devices, by which the movement of
rotation is limited, and the apparatus is brought to a stand in such a position
that the liquid supplied to it falls into the centre of one of the chambers.
The apparatus may be applied to the upper or lower parts of the pipes sup-
plying water closets, kitchens, and dressing rooms, to clean siphons, pipes,
urinals, drains, water channels, watercloset pans, and the like; to empty water,
stagnant water, or other matters, to clean gutters, culverts, and the like, and
for other purposes of a similar kind.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention,
Figure 1 shows, by way of example, the application of the apparatus to the
lower end of the discharge or soil pipe of water closets.
Figure 2 shows it arranged in the top of a house in order to effect the supply
of water to the pans of water closets.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus itself, one of the sides being
removed to show it more clearly.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the apparatus complete.
Figure 5 shows part of the apparatus in detail.
The apparatus itself (Figures 3 and 4) may be made of any suitable materials,
and consists of two parallel square vertical sides a connected together by diagonal
plates or partitions b recessed at their ends as shown at c, d, and forming cavities
triangular or of other shape. It will be seen that the equilibrium of the appa-
ratus is in no way affected so long as the level of the liquid does not rise above
the edge c of the cavity: but when, on the other hand, it rises above this level,
the volume of liquid will be greater on one side of the axis than on the other
and the equilibrium will be destroyed, the apparatus then turning round upon
its axis and discharging the liquid which it contains. The regulation of the
fixed positions of the apparatus may be effected in the following manner.
Upon one of the sides a is arranged a hollow tube or chamber
e, closed at

page_text: both ends and containing a moveable weight, such as sand, lead or other heavy
material. This tube is fixed against the side of the apparatus in a direction
parallel with one of the diagonal partitions, and upon the other side a similar
tube containing a similar weight is fixed, but at right angles to the one first
described.
With this arrangement, the apparatus will always adjust itself in equilibrium
in the position indicated in Figure 3. To further ensure the retention of the
revolving chambers in their proper position when at rest, four suitably shaped
projections (see Figure 5) may, if desired, also be provided upon each of the
sides a, enclosing a plate g having a central opening of the shape shown at h.
The spaces left between the adjoining projections in this case present them-
selves in succession opposite a pin i, capable of moving radially for a sufficient
distance, as for instance by fixing it at the end of a lever pivotted to the side
of the outer fixed case of the apparatus (t, Figure 2) so that it forms a pall which
falls into the space between the projections f exactly at the time when the
chambers are in their stopping position (as shown in Figure 5). When the
chambers revolve, the pin rises until the chambers have reached their next
stopping position, when it again falls into the corresponding space between the
projections and the revolving chamber is then held sufficiently steadily, so
that after each partial revolution of the apparatus the chambers are stopped
exactly in the required position. Two pins j fixed to the sides or partitions of
the case in which the apparatus revolves project into the openings in the plate g,
and serve as pivots for the apparatus, keeping it by its own weight in the position
shown in Figures 1 and 5.
When the apparatus is to be used in contact with corrosive liquids, I prefer
that it should be enamelled, and in this case the projections f, the pins i, and
the pins are coated with copper or other inoxydizable metal, as indicated at y,
and the plate g is also made of inoxydizable material.
It should be understood that the two arrangements described and shown for
adjusting and regulating the position of the moving parts of the apparatus, are
only used as examples, as equivalent devices may be used, as also in the case of
the further applications which I will now describe.
In Figure 1, k is the collecting pipe for rain water or water collected from
other sources;
7 is the discharge pipe for soil and liquids from waterclosets;
and m is a discharge pipe for other available water, the lower part of these pipes
only being taken into consideration.
The end of the pipe k dips into a basin m forming a trap which discharges
the water into one of the chambers of the novel apparatus, which is arranged
below it, and when this chamber is. full it discharges its contents forcibly into
the pipe o, which receives the matters discharged by the pipe 7, and carries them
away. A sufficient number of notches or grooves 2, permit heavy rains to wash
the insides of the chambers of the apparatus, whilst if any excess rises, it passes
through these notches and falls in a sheet down the inclined plate q for the full
width of the apparatus both outside and inside, keeping the revolving chambers
in continual movement, and thoroughly cleansing the apparatus; at the same
time causing an active ventilation by drawing air from the descending pipe
and forcing it up through the ventilating pipe r.
The cleaning of the apparatus may also be effected, in the absence of heavy
rain, by a water supply properly arranged on the ground floor.
In Figure 2, the novel apparatus, arranged in the upper floor of a house is
supplied through a regulating cock or tap s, so that it discharges, regularly and
at determined intervals, the contents of each of its chambers into a receiver t at
the upper end of the descending pipe u, from which pass branch pipes of small
diameter, fitted to the basin or pan of the waterclosets, and flattened at their
ends so as to deliver a sheet of water directed tangentially against the side of
the basin.
Instead of a single pipe u with branches v, as many descending pipes as there

page_text: are basins may obviously be used, each receiving its share of the water delivered
by the apparatus into the receiver t.
This arrangement being independent of the apparatus ordinarily in use,
causes the discharge of intermittent bodies of water, even during the absence
of the persons living in the rooms, and provides in the basins a small quantity
of water which is always being renewed, and constitutes a complete trap.
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:
An automatic, intermittently revolving, apparatus for removing and dis-
charging from the interior of dwellings, into a drain or to a distance, all objec-
tionable solid or liquid substances, and consisting of a certain number of
similar chambers arranged round a central axis, and supplied with rain or
other water, and forcibly discharging their contents in succession through pipes,
siphons or traps, drains, or channels, the apparatus after each such discharge
taking automatically a fresh position, so as to receive the supply of water
directly into the opening of one of the revolving chambers, substantially as
described and illustrated.
רד
001
.
1000
CHIS
EDWARDS AND Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.