Improvements in Flushing Apparatus for Water-closets or the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1890-Accepted 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flushing Apparatus for Water-closets or the like.
I, JOHN MIDDLEHURST, of 9ª Douro Place, Edge Lane, West Derby, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to flushing apparatus for water closets and the like, and has
for object to improve and simplify the construction of such apparatus. For this end
I dispense with the ordinary syphon or valve and ball tap, and use a movable flushing
tank or cistern (hereinafter called the flushing tank) that is so constructed and arranged
as to first give a full flush of water and afterwards a lesser flush for sealing the basin
or pan of, say, an ordinary water closet. Such a flushing tank may be of rectangular
form in plan its lower side or bottom being curved or extended upwards and forming
with a portion of the top a contracted part or passage rising a short distance above
the level of the main portion of the top. The contracted part is so constructed as to
form an outlet for the flushing water. There is also a small flushing tank (herein-
after called the after flush tank) which serves not only to contain the water intended
for the after flush but likewise as a balance weight as hereinafter explained. The
combined flushing and after flush tanks are mounted on pivots supported in suitable
brackets carried by a base plate or support that is formed or provided with a funnel
shaped pan into which the flushing water is discharged and through which the water
passes into a downtake pipe and thence to the closet pan or other place to be flushed.
The pivots may be constructed to serve respectively as a water inlet pipe and as an
overflow pipe the inlet and outlet openings being controlled by a valve or valves that
is or are automatically opened and closed by a weighted lever or similar mechanism
actuated by the movement of the flushing tank. The flushing tank is so constructed
and arranged that when it becomes sufficiently charged with flushing water, the centre
of gravity of the charged tank will be shifted sufficiently to cause the tank to partly
turn on its pivots and close the water inlets. A catch detent or other suitable means
is or are provided for retaining the charged flushing tank in the normal position until
released which it can be when required, by pulling a chain cord or the like attached
to a weighted lever that may be pivotted to the base plate and arranged to partly
The balance
overturn the flushing tank so as to discharge the water therefrom.
weight of this lever may be so shaped that so long as the chain or cord is held fast
the empty partly overturned tank cannot return be refilled and again discharged.
Waste of water is thus prevented.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Assuming the flushing tank to have tilted its contents discharged and the tank
released, it will assume a position in which the water inlet passage will be opened.
The water will then enter through one of the pivots into the tank the centre of gravity
thereof will as it becomes filled be shifted thus causing the tank to turn on its pivots
so as to close the supply valve when the flushing tank is full. By pulling the chain
or cord the lever attached thereto will be caused to come into contact with and lift
one end of the tank thereby causing the water therein to rush through the smaller
end or outlet into the funnel shaped pan simultaneously charging the after flush tank
sufficiently to enable it to balance and bold the flushing tank down till its contents
shall bave been discharged. Whilst this is taking place the after flush tank will also
be slowly discharging its contents through a small hole in its lower side thus reducing
its balancing power sufficiently to allow of the return of the flushing tank by gravity
to its normal attitude. Whilst the flushing tank is moving in this direction, the stop
valve will be closed by the said tank coming into contact with the weighted lever,

page_text: may, without departure from the essential features of my invention, vary the
position of the supports or pivots with relation to the tank, so that the flushing may
be automatic and be effected at given times, regulated by the supply pipe. Also I
may employ more than one flushing apparatus working in conjunction with each other
when applied to urinals: fixing them at different levels the arrangement being such
that the lower one may take its supply from a basin or pan and that when a given
quantity of liquid has passed into it, it will automatically release the upper flushing
tank.
Dated this 25th day of Anril 1889
JOHN MIDDLEHURST,
Per L. W.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flushing Apparatus for Water-closets or the like.
I, JOHN MIDDLEHURST, of 9° Douro Place, Edge Lane, West Derby, Liverpool, in
the county of Lancaster, Plumber, do bereby 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:—
This invention relates to flushing apparatus for water closets and the like, and has
for object to improve and simplify the construction of such apparatus. To this end I
dispense with the ordinary syphon or valve and ball tap and use a movable flushing
tank or cistern (hereinafter called the flushing tank) that is so constructed and
arranged as to first give a full flush of water and afterwards a lesser flush for sealing
the basin or pan of, say, an ordinary water closet.
The accompanying drawings illustrate flushing apparatus according to my invention.
for use in connection with a water closet.
Fig. 1. is a sectional side elevation on the line 8. 9. of Fig. 4; it shews the tank in
its normal or filled position. Fig. 2. is a side elevation partly in section shewing the
flushing tank overturned and retained in that position by the weight of the water used
for the after flush. Fig. 3, is a side elevation shewing the tank in the position it
assumes when the water for producing the afterflush has been discharged, the flushing
tank having moved by gravity sufficiently to raise the lever and open the supply
valve. Fig. 4. is a plan or top view of the apparatus. Figs. 5. and 6, are sectional
elevations at right angles to each other and to a larger scale showing the arrangement
of supply valve. Fig. 7. is a sectional plan taken on line 10. 11. of Fig. 6.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
In the arrangement shewn the flushing tank and trough are of earthenware but I
do not confine myself to that material as other suitable material, for example cast iron
may be used.
A. is the flushing tank the lower side of which is curved or extended upwards so
as to form with a portion of the top of the tank a contracted outlet passage A*, that
normally extends a short distance above the level of the main portion of the tank as
shewn in Figs. 1. and 2. B. is a small flushing tank (hereinafter called the after flush
tank) which serves not only to contain the water intended for the afterflush but like-
wise as a balance weight as hereinafter explained; it is in the example shown made
in one piece with the main tank A. and communicates with the outlet passage A*.
C. is the water inlet opening having raised sides. (₁ is an overflow pipe ;
B. is a
branch or nozzle through which the flushing water discharges itself into a trough E.
from whence it passes through a hole K. to a downtake pipe not shewn. J. is a hole
in the trough whereby water that may leak past the valve H. can after overflowing
through the pipe C be discharged into a waste pipe, this water being prevented from
passing to the hole K. by the partition G. B' is a projecting rib in the after flush
tank through it is a small hole B to allow the after flush water confined by the rib
to slowly run away as indicated in Fig. 2.

page_text: The after flush water remaining in the after flush tank B. when the main flush tank
has been discharged is of sufficient weight to over balance and hold the tank in
the position shewn in Fig. 2. until the greater portion of the water has escaped
through the small hole B2 when the tank will by gravity swing back into the position
shewn in Fig. 3, when its projecting end will raise the weighted lever L. sufficiently
to open the piston valve H. and admit a fresh supply of water to the tank A. As the
level in the tank A. rises the centre of gravity of the charged tank will change
sufficiently to admit of the weight of water acting to again overturn and empty the
charged flushing tank and the tank will be moved into the position shewn in Fig. 1.
in which position it is normally held by a stop piece M. (formed on either or both
sides of the tank A.) coming in contact with the weighted end of a curved operating
lever N. as shewn in dotted lines. The distance between the stop piece M. and the
end of the lever N. is sufficient to allow the tank to move into the position shewn
in Fig. 1. and the weighted lever L. to fall and close the valve H. The lever N. is
formed with a slot N', of the form shewn into which takes a stud P. that projects from
the side of the tank A, the size of the slot being such as to allow of the end of the
lever adjacent to the stop M. being raised clear of such stop before pressing against
the pin P. The lever N. is pivotted to a vertical support Q, secured to the trough E,
which is also provided with supports E' E', for the pivots A2, A2. Suitable inetal
bearings may be inserted in the supports E¹ when these are of earthenware, to reduce
friction.
The trough E. is also provided with a hole through which the bent supply water
pipe R, passes.
The pivots A2 A2 may be securely cemented when the tank is made of earthenware
in pockets or recesses formed in the sides of the tank. The tank is so balanced and
adjusted that when full, as shewn in Fig. 1. the stop M. will rest against the lever N.
after which by pulling the cord the lever N. will be disconnected from the stop M.
and the tank will turn over into the position shewn in Fig. 2, in which position it will
remain until the afterflush water has run away when the centre of gravity being
changed the tank will again move into the position shown in Fig. 3, raising the lever
and opening the supply valve H. as before. When the tank A. is charged it will
again move until the stop M. abuts against the lever N. It will be understood that
by making the flushing tank and trough of earthenware there will be no corrosion
and the apparatus will be always clean."
By mounting the tank in the manner previously described the apparatus cannot be
tampered with and water wasted by weighting the lever.
When an after flush is not required the perforated rib B₁ is dispensed with.
When my improved flushing tank is applied to flushing urinals with which no after
flush is required I arrange it to work automatically.
This is effected by employing two flushing tanks of the kind above described (but
with no projecting rib B¹) one at a convenient height above the urinal, the other,
which may be smaller, being at a lower level for instance below the floor. The
arrangement is such that liquid discharged into the urinal basins by persons using the
same will run into the smaller or auxiliary flushing tank, and when a certain quantity
has collected the auxiliary tank will automatically overturn and being connected with
the lever N. will release the main flushing tank and allow it to automatically
overturn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is.
1. In flushing apparatus for water closets and the like, a flushing tank A. made
substantially of the form described and illustrated, (whether with or without the after
Aush tank) and mounted in such a manner that after its liquid contents have been
discharged, it will move upward and automatically open the water supply valve, and
when charged will partly overturn and permit said valve to close substantially as
bereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. In flushing apparatus for urinals, the combination of two flushing tanks of the
kind herein described, namely a main flushing tank and a smaller or auxiliary flushing
tank arranged below and connected to the releasing device of the main tank sub-
stantially as herein described for the purpose specified.
3. The improved flushing apparatus for water closets and the like, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described whether with or without
an after flush tank.
Dated this zord day of January losU.
Witness,
F. M. C. SCOTT,
89, Victoria Street, Liverpool.
JOHN MIDDLEHURST.