IMPROVE- MENTS IN STENCH AND OTHER TRAPS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank William Ann at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1879. A communication
from abroad by Thomas G. Knight, of New York, in the United States of
America.
FRANK WILLIAM ANN, of Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STENCH AND OTHER TRAPS." [A communication from abroad by Thomas
G. Knight, of New York, in the United States of America.]
This Invention relates to stench and other traps used to prevent the passage of
gases or vapours into dwellings and other places, and it has for its objects improved
methods of constructing such traps so that not only the back flow of gases or water
through the trap and the inlet to it is prevented, but also the withdrawal of the
water from the trap by syphoning through the outlet pipe, and the trap is thus
always in perfect condition to intercept the passage of gases and vapours from the
sewer or main into the dwelling or other place with which the trap is connected.
For the purpose of so preventing the passage of gases or vapours, or the back
flow of water through the inlet pipe, a valve has sometimes heretofore been used
floating on the surface of the water in the trap so as to be pressed against the lower
open end of a pipe dipping into the trap itself, but such a method of arrangement
does not prevent the withdrawal of the water in the trap by syphoning through
the discharge pipe, and the consequent distruction of the water seal, which gives
opportunity for gases to pass up through the inlet pipe.
In the present Invention a floating valve, spherical or of other convenient shape,
of india rubber or other suitable material is floated or pressed upward against the
lower end of an inlet pipe which does not open directly into the trap, but into a
separate air tight chamber or vessel contained within the trap, and screwed or
otherwise attached to the lower end of the inlet pipe. The lower end of the
chamber or vessel described is also provided with a pipe, the lower end of which
passes down nearly to the bottom of the trap, whilst its upper end serves as a seat
upon which the valve rests if the level of the water which supports it is sufficiently
lowered.
The outlet pipe from the trap leaves the latter near its upper part somewhat
above the level of the lower open end of the inlet pipe.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the trap is filled with water
to the level of the outlet pipe, the floating valve is pressed against the lower open
end of the inlet pipe, which it closes, but not with sufficient pressure to prevent the
passage of water admitted through the inlet pipe. If water be admitted so rapidly
that syphoning through the discharge pipe takes place, the valve falls with the level
of the water until it rests and is drawn against the upper end of the pipe at the lower

page_text: part of the chamber in the trap, and the further withdrawal of the water is at once
arrested, the trap remaining perfectly sealed, and the admission of gases and
vapours from the discharge pipe effectually prevented. The lower pipe from the
bottom of the chamber may be bent up to the level of the upper valve seat and
then curved down again so as to form a syphon trap, and in this case the outer
trap above described is not required.
The upper and lower seats upon which the floating valve rests alternately as
described, may consist of flanges or perforated diaphragms across a pipe dipping
nearly to the bottom of the trap, the part of the pipe between the flanges
constituting the chamber or vessel described, and the pipe being of larger diameter
than the floating valve.
An opening which can be closed air tight, when desired, is made at the bottom
of the trap, so that the chamber can be introduced through it and attached to the
inlet pipe, and so that solid deposits can be removed through it when necessary.