IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH CLOSETS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Lascelles at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th February 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY LASCELLES of Bunhill Row in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH CLOSETS."
These improvements consist in adapting to the earth closet immediately below
the seat a rotary receptacle for the soil. This receptacle may be formed of two
discs mounted upon an axis and connected together by plates placed radially of the
axis so as to form three, four or more triangular compartments or troughs.
The receptacle is rotated by a pawl which takes into the teeth of a ratchet
wheel mounted on the axle, said paul being worked by means of a handle
conveniently placed for the purpose. A hopper for the earth is placed outside the
closet and in rear of the receptacle in such a position that the dry earth may fall
into the compartment which is next to come uppermost preparatory to the reception
of the soil.
After using the closet the receptacle is rotated a quarter of a revolution and the
soil with the earth is projected into a suitable pit the earth in falling covering the
soil.
By constructing earth closets in the manner above described many inconveniences
to which the ordinary form are subject, are avoided.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Lascelles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th August 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY LASCELLES of Bunhill Row in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EARTH CLOSETS."
In the simplest form of earth closets the earth is projected onto the faces from
a suitably placed hopper a regulated quantity being allowed to pass from the hopper
by a complicated arrangement of valve which is liable to get out of order. The
earth moreover often fails to cover the faces and properly deodorize them and
consequently a disagreeable smell arises from the closet.
In other cases rotating receptacles have been provided for the reception of the
focces into which receptacles earth or other deodorant is allowed to fall before the
use of the closet.
In this class of apparatus the receptacle has either to be arranged at some
distance below the seat to get a proper fall for the earth, or if placed close to the
seat the slope of the shoot has to be reduced to such an extent as to render means
for causing the flow of the earth necessary in addition to the regulating valve or
shutter.
Now the object of this Invention is so arrange an apparatus of this character
(which is the most desirable form of earth closet) that valves and means for
loosening the earth in the shoot may be dispensed with while the receptacle can be
placed close under the seat.
In the accompanying drawing Fig: 1 is a longitudinal section of an earth closet
constructed according to my Invention Fig: 2 is a plan view and Fig: 3 a side
elevation of the same. A is a rotating receptacle which is suitably mounted
immediately below the seat. This receptacle consists of two discs A A¹ mounted
upon an axle a and connected together by three or more plates bb placed radially
of the axle a. so as to form three, or more triangular compartments or troughs for
the reception of the soil.
Near the outer edge of one of the discs is secured a series of ratchet teethed c,
corresponding to the number of the compartments.-Into these teeth, c, works a
lever pawl & which is mounted on the axle a, and is connected with a handle c. by
a rod f-A spring or other means may be employed to keep the pawl in contact
with the ratchet teeth.
The depth of the plates b. b must be somewhat less than half the diameter of the
discs so as to allow of the shoot of the hopper or box containing the earth entering
between the discs.
B is the hopper or box to receive the earth the shoot 7 of which is placed at
such an inclination as to ensure the earth readily falling without the use of means
for loosening the earth to cause it to flow. This shoot g extends between the discs
as before remarked and the bottom is so arranged as to just clear the edges of the
plutes b, as seen at Fig: 1. The plates b thus become virtually the valve or shutter
for closing the hopper shoot. The top of the shoot is also arranged to nearly meet
the edges of the plates b, so that the whole of a compartment formed by two plates
is opened to the earth.
The action of the apparatus is as follows vis:-By raising the handle the lever
pawl is raised, which rotates the receptacle a quarter of a turn.
During the
rotation the plate which closes the shoot, is raised and cuts into the earth in the
shoot, taking up a sufficient quantity and bringing it into position to receive
the forces at the next use of the closet. At the same time the compartment

page_text: which has been used receives a quarter turn and its contents are tipped into a pit
or other suitable receptacle as seen at Fig: 1 while a fresh compartment is brought
opposite the shoot.
The movement of the rotating receptacle being comparatively quick, little or no
earth is wasted before another plate b closes the shoot.
By the use of the above described apparatus a complicated arrangement of valvo
or shutter for the shoot is dispensed with, the receptacle is brought close up to the
seat and the necessity for the use of means for loosening the earth in the shoot, is
obviated.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Earth Closets" and
explained the manuer of carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood
that I claim :-
Constructing earth closets substantially as herein shewn and described and for
the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Henry Lascelles have hereunto set
my hand and seal the twenty third day of August in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.