Improvements in Apparatus for Drawing off Fixed Quantities of Liquids.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Drawing off Fixed Quantities of
Liquids.
I, WILLIAM TURNBULL, of 54, Lambton Quay, Wellington, in the Colony of New
Zealand, Architect, do hereby 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 apparatus used for drawing off liquids in fixed quantities
and is more especially applicable for use in water closets, for flushing drains,
drawing beer, and like purposes.
The object of the invention is to provide apparatus whereby a fixed maximum
of water to be drawn for such purposes as flushing a water closet cannot be exceeded
each time the apparatus is operated.
With the apparatus at present in use it is possible to leave the water running,
out such waste is prevented when my apparatus is used, because the water will
be shut off after the determined quantity has passed independently of holding
or releasing the handle which sets the apparatus in operation.
With my invention the noise occasioned in water closets by the syphon is entirely
avoided, two or more water closets may be served from one cistern and a saving
of cost thus effected in a building provided with a number of closets, entrance of
foul air into the water service cannot take place as occurs with the present ball
cock when the water is shut off at the main, and since the cistern may be large
and is not emptied each time my apparatus is used the closets may be Hushed for
some time after water has been cut off at the main.
With my apparatus the removal of the direct pressure of the water from the
handle, a steady and gradual closing of the valves, a simplification of parts and a
reduction in the number of joints, and facility for regulating the volume of water
allowed to pass are effected, and thus difficulties and objections inherent in prior
forms of similar inventions are overcome.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will now give a detailed
description of the apparatus as applied to flushing a water closet, from which
description a skilled person will be able readily to adapt the apparatus to other
purposes. A drawing is appended and forms part of this specification.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation shewing the apparatus closed.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same open.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same partly in section.
Figure 4 is a cross section on line A-A, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a cross section on line B--B, Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a view of a regulating screw.
Figure 7 is a plan of the same.
Similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Dascribing the invention by aid of the drawings. the dome or bell (1) has a

page_text: and piston (2), and secured to the weight (6). The lower end of the piston rod
is connected by the link (9) to the lever (8) which fits upon a square portion of
the spindle (11) and is operated by the handle (12). This said spindle (11) is
carried on a bracket (13) formed upon the base (14), the pivot (15) fitting into
the end (16) of the said bracket, which at its outer end has a stuffing box (17) to
receive the collar (18) of the spindle. By means of the gland (19) and packing (19")
the spindle is held in position and leakage of water prevented.
The outer casing (20) screws upon the base (14) and has an inlet nozzle (21)
which is connected to the water service or to the down pipe of a water cistern, and
the bottom (32) of the base is connected to the pan of the closet. The dome (1) is
suspended within the said outer casing by means of its screw stem (21"). By
removing the cap (28) a screwdriver may be applied to the groove (27) to raise or
lower the dome in the guides (26) as required to regulate the height of the annular
aperture (25), and thus with different heads of water govern the volume of water
allowed to pass, and the pressure within the apparatus.
The bell (1) has a vent screw (24) split as shewn, so that by turning the screw
the size of the passage through the vent may be increased or decreased as desired.
A vent hole (30) is made in the dome (1) at such a height that it lies evenly
between the piston (2) and the valve (3) when the apparatus is fully open. Com-
munication is thus made between the exterior of the dome and the space between
the said piston and valve. The speed at which the piston and valve descend is
governed by the amount of water allowed to enter through the screw (24) and
hole (30) which may be done by turning the screw (24) or altering the size of the
hole (30) or both. A regulating screw (40) may be fitted to hole (30), and I
prefer to do this by making a boss (41) upon the bell (1) with a screw (40) as
shewn, the hole for which screw in the boss (41) connects with the hole (30). In
this case a gap (42) must be made in the rim at the bottom of the outer casing (20)
to allow the boss (40) to pass when putting the parts together. The valve (3)
is free to move upon the tube (5) and has a face (23) of leather or the like, which
when the apparatus is closed rests upon the seating (22) formed upon the base (14).
The body of the valve (3) is hollowed out as shewn for lightness and an inverted
conical cup (29) secured to the valve keeps the leather face (23) in position.
The bottom of the tube (5) is scalloped at (7) for the passage of water, and rests
upon a collar (31) of the piston rod (4). The bar or bridge (35) is provided to
guide the tube (5) in its vertical movements.
To set the apparatus in operation the handle (12) is moved from the position
shewn on Figure 1 to the position shewn on Figure 2. The effect of this action
is to raise the piston rod (4) and lift the weight (6) and its leather face (33) clear
of the seat (34) formed on the piston (2), as shewn on Figure 2. A passage for
water is thus made from the upper part of the dome (1) through the annular
space between the weight (6) and the interior of the piston (2) down the interior
of the tube (5), and through the scallops (7) to the base (14).
During its ascent the collar (31) lifts the tube (5) and its piston (2) until the
weight (6) is arrested by coming into contact with the top of the casing (20). A
partial vacuum will be created between the piston and the valve (3) which will
thus be raised from its seat (22), permitting water from the nozzle (21) to pass
through the annular space (25) into the base (14) and to the pan of the closet.
As soon as the handle is released the weight (6) falls on its seat (34) to prevent
air or water entering tube (5) from below, and the weight (6), piston (2), valve (3),
and their appurtenances will descend since water may enter through the screw (24)
and later through the hole (30) also; and the conical cup entering the top of the
base (14) will gradually shut off the water without shock.
If, however, the movement of the handle (12) is arrested in the open position,
the valve (3) will descend alone, since water may enter through the hole (30), and
the water will thus be gradually shut off without shock.
The piston and valve descend by gravity assisted by the suction of the falling
column of water.

page_text: 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:
1. In apparatus such as described herein, in combination, an outer casing, a
dome suspended in the casing, a piston having a valve seat, a weight having a valve
face, a piston rod secured to the said weight means for connecting the piston rod
to an operating handle, a tube secured to the piston and surrounding the piston
rod, scallops upon the bottom of this said tube, a collar upon the piston rod
to support the tube, a valve and an inverted conical cup loose upon the tube, a
valve seat upon the top of the base, and a vent screw and vent hole in the dome,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
2. In apparatus such as described herein, in combination, an outer casing, a
dome suspended in the casing by a stem screwed into the top of the casing, a cap
on the casing, a groove in the top of the stem, a piston having a valve seat, a
weight having a valve face, a piston rod secured to the said weight, means for
connecting the piston rod to an operating handle, a tube secured to the piston and
surrounding the piston rod, scallops upon the bottom of this said tube, a collar
upon the piston rod to support the tube, a valve and an inverted conical cup loose
upon the tube, a valve seat upon the top of the base, and a vent screw and vent
hole in the dome, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
Dated this 20th day of April 1899.