Improvements in Apparatus for use in Testing the Joints and other Parts of Drainage Pipes and like Conducting Means.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Testing the Joints and other
Parts of Drainage Pipes and like Conducting Means.
We WILLIAM POOLE of 113 Church Road Upper, Norwood, in the County of
Surrey, Art Decorator and Sanitary Engineer, and ADAM LUKE MCDONALD of
37 George Street Gipsy Hill in the same County, Plumber, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is the provision of apparatus adapted to be safely
transported from place to place by sanitary inspectors, surveyors, builders or others
for use in testing house and other drain pipe joints and parts in order to detect by
appeal to the sense of smell whether or not there exist defects in the drainage system
at any point within or communicating with the interior of a house, such as would be
especially liable to arise by bad joints allowing sewage gas or contaminated or drain
air to escape or to be drawn thereinto.
Commonly such a means is found by pouring in at one or more points of the
supposed defective drain, at the closet pan or at a sink or other place some substance
of powerful odour easily diffusable, the leaky points being detected by the strong
smell of the odoriferous matter selected escaping such as sulphurous ether, oil of mint,
or oil of peppermint or other suitable pungent smelling matter.
Sulphurous ether however is dangerous as its vapour is highly inflammable whilst
oil of mint from its cheapness in the commoner qualities and its effectiveness even in
small bulk possesses great convenience for use.
But in order to obtain the oil of mint on the spot where it is required in the
ordinary way considerable danger of leakage is run in transport and any leakage
onto the clothes of the carrier is attended with great discomfort and inconvenience
and if carelessly used much of the odour escapes at the place of pouring in, nullifying
the chances of detection of the escape elsewhere.
By the peppermint oil getting on the clothes or hands of the person conducting the
examination the smell will accompany him wherever he goes: it would then be
impossible to tell accurately whether the odour escapes from defects in the pipes
or not.
Properly applied an ounce of the oil of peppermint turned into a watercloset on an
upper floor followed by two or three pailfuls of hot water will evolve odour that by
its escape will indicate any openings in the pipes below.
The improved apparatus consists of means of enclosing the pungent fluid, applying
it at the desired opening in the drain or pipe and of preventing the escape, except in
the direction desired, of the fumes evolved besides providing means for releasing the
pungent matter at the desired moment..
The apparatus for use in a water closet pan having a circular opening downward or
in like situation may conveniently be as follows-a barrel of suitable length having at
bottom a coned end and stop rim adapted to be luted into the pan opening at the
other end-this barrel is slightly contracted a short distance from its end forming a
shoulder and support for a basin to surround its opening and the upper rim of the
basin rises above the top of the barrel. In the barrel is a perforated diaphragm
plate to catch and detain any solid matters falling down it. Onto the mouth of the
barrel is dropped a cap or plate having a central opening and lugs to fit into corre-
sponding holes on the lip of the barrel and so serve to prevent the cap rotating and
from the interior of the cap is dependent an annular curtain pierced with holes and
across this annular curtain is a perforated diaphragm plate having a central boss in
which is formed a thread to receive and engage with a correspondingly threaded stem
projecting from and secured fixed to a plate having a curtain projecting down from

page_text: and around its edge an upward opening in the plate communicating with a small
cock. Across the interior of the perforated internal curtain are two bars or supports
with convenient notches in which are rested a small vial of suitable size to contain
the desired quantity of odorant and about midway of the supports, and upon the
middle of the vial, in the course of screwing it down presses the pointed end of the
central screwed stem and eventually the screwing being continued breaks it and releases
its previously sealed contents into the soil pipe and sufficient quantities of hot water
being poured into the basin of the apparatus and escaping therefrom over the lip of
the barrel which being higher than the lower edge of the upper curtain forms a water
seal the fumes are generated without any leakage at this point.
The vial of odorant can be carried safely to the place of use inside the apparatus
safe from accidental breakage.
The mode of applying the power to fracture the vessel of odorant may be that of a
screw, a wedge, frictional sliding or otherwise.
The means of connection of the barrel as well as the shape of the barrel and other
details may be varied to suit various known forms of exit openings from soil pans,
sinks or other places whereto the apparatus is to be applied and escape prevented by
suitable packing or luting-thus for a wash out closet a plate or bent metal tube may
be adjusted to the exit, the principle involved being that by this invention odoriferous
matter is introduced into drains, soil pipes and water closet apparatus under the pro-
tection of an efficient water seal which effectually prevents, during the operation of
testing, any escape of fumes, vapours or smell arising from the oderant other
than at defective joints or parts of the drains, soil pipe or water closet apparatus
under test.
Dated the 15th day of February 188O
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Testing the Joints and other
Parts of Drainage Pipes and like Conducting Means.
We WILLIAM POOLE, of 113 Church Road, Upper Norwood, in the County of
Surrey, Art Decorator and Sanitary Engineer, and ADAM LUKE MCDONALD, of
37 George Street, Gipsy Hill, in the same County, Plumber 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 :-
The object of the invention is the provision of apparatus adapted to be safely
transported from place to place by sanitary inspectors, surveyors, builders or others
for use in testing house and other drain pipe joints and parts, in order to detect by
appeal to the sense of smell whether or not there exist defects in the drainage system
at any point within, or communicating with, the interior of a house, such as would be
especially liable to arise by bad joints allowing sewage gas or contaminated or drain
air to escape or to be drawn thereinto.
Commonly such a means is found by pouring in at one or more points of the
supposed defective drain, at the closet pan or at a sink or other place, some substance
of powerful odour, easily diffusable, the leaky points detected by the strong smell of
the odoriferous matter selected escaping, such as sulphurous ether, oil of mint, or oil
of peppermint or other suitable pungent smelling matter.
Sulphurous ether however is dangerous, as its vapour is highly inflammable, whilst
oil of mint from its cheapness in the commoner qualities and its effectiveness even in
small bulk, possesses great convenience for use.
But in order to obtain the oil of mint on the spot where it is required in the
ordinary way, considerable danger of leakage is run in transport, and any leakage
onto the clothes of the carrier is attended with great discomfort and inconvenience,
and if carelessly used much of the odour escapes at the place of pouring in, nullifying
the chances of detection of the escape elsewhere.

page_text: By the peppermint oil getting on the clothes or hands of the person conducting the
examination the smell will accompany him wherever he goes: it would then be
impossible to tell accurately whether the odour escapes from defects in the pipes
or not.
Properly applied, an ounce of the oil of peppermint turned into a water-closet on
an upper floor, followed by two or three pailfuls of hot water, will evolve odour that
by its escape will indicate any openings in the pipes below.
The improved apparatus consists of means of enclosing the pungent fluid, applying
it at the desired opening in the drain or pipe and of preventing the escape, except in
the direction desired, of the fumes evolved besides providing means for releasing the
pungent matter at the desired moment.
;
The apparatus for use in a water closet pan having a circular opening downward,
or in like situation, may conveniently be as follows-a barrel of suitable length,
having at bottom a coned end and stop rim adapted to be luted into the pan
opening at the other end this barrel is slightly contracted a short distance from
its end forming a shoulder and support for a basin to surround its opening, and
the upper rim of the basin rises above the top of the barrel. In the barrel is a
perforated diaphragm plate to catch and detain any solid matters falling down it.
Onto the mouth of the barrel is dropped a cap or plate having a central opening,
and lugs to fit into corresponding holes on the lip of the barrel, and so serve to
prevent the cap rotating, and from the interior of the cap is lependent an annular
curtain pierced with holes, and across this annular curtain is a perforated diaphragm
plate, having a central boss, in which is formed a thread to receive and engage
with a correspondingly threaded stem projecting from and securely fixed to a
plate, having a curtain projecting down from and around its edge, an upward
opening in the plate communicating with a small cock. Across the interior of the
perforated internal curtain are two bars or supports with convenient notches, in
which is rested a small vial of suitable size to contain the desired quantity of
odorant, and about midway of the supports, and upon the middle of the vial, in
the course of screwing it down, presses the pointed end of the screwed stem, and
eventually the screwing being continued breaks it and releases its previously sealed
contents into the soil pipe, and sufficient quantities of hot water being poured into
the basin of the apparatus and escaping therefrom over the lip of the barrel, which
being higher than the lower edge of the upper curtain forms a water seal, the fumes.
are generated without any leakage at this point.
The vial of odorant can be carried safely to the place of use inside the apparatus,
safe from accidental breakage.
The mode of applying the power to fracture the vessel of odorant may be that of a
screw, a wedge, frictional sliding or otherwise.
The means of connection of the barrel as well as the shape of the barrel and other
details may be varied to suit various known forms of exit openings from soil pans,
sinks or other places whereto the apparatus is to be applied, and escape prevented by
suitable packing or luting-thus for a wash-out closet a plate or bent metal tube may
be adjustable to the exit, the principle involved being that by this invention odoriferous
matter is introduced into drains, soil pipes and water-closet apparatus under the pro-
tection of an efficient liquid seal which effectually prevents, during the, operation of
testing, any escape of fumes, vapours or smell arising from the odorant other
than at defective joints or parts of the drains, soil-pipe or water-closet apparatus
under test.

page_text: a a is the barrel of the apparatus, the coned bottom end a¹ of which is adapted for
insertion in the opening of the closet pan or other place to be tested. a² is a stop
rim thereon. a³ represents a rubber ring to aid in making tight connection. The
part a' is luted to the opening to effect a gas-tight joint. The upper end a of the
barrel a is slightly contracted so as to form a shoulder at a. bis a basin which is
passed over the end a' of the barrel, and the bottom of this basin ¹, fits on to the
shoulder a of the barrel a, forming a tight joint. The rim 2 of the basin brises
above the top of the barrel. a is a perforated diaphragm plate across the throat
of the barrel a, to intercept and detain any solid matters falling down it. c is a short
cylinder or cap passed within the mouth of the barrel a; and having an open
mouth c, and lugs which rest in notches formed in the top edge or lip of the
barrel a, so as when in place to prevent the cap c rotating. From this cap depends
the curtain portion thereof c which is pierced with holes c³. c is a perforated
diaphragm plate across the interior of the curtain c. This plate e supports a central
boss et formed with a female screw thread, which thread is engaged by a corresponding
_male_thread formed on the stem projecting from the inner side of the plate d.
c, c are two cross bars in the part c formed with notches in which is laid à vessel
as e containing oil of mint or like odoriferous matter. From the circumference of
the plate d depends a curtain d², which passes into the sealing liquid contained in
the basin b. In the plate d is formed an opening d³ to which is applied a tap d for
controlling the exit of gas from within the enclosure formed by the parts d d and the
sealing liquid f. By tightly screwing down the screw d¹ in its screw socket c6, by
turning the part. d, force is brought to bear on the side of the vessel e, which is thus
fractured, and the fumes of the contained matter liberated to spread throughout the
barrel a and the drain to which it is connected, whilst they are prevented from escape
in an upward direction and outward through the apparatus by the cap d and the liquid
sealing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
--
1. In apparatus for use in testing the joints and other parts of drainage pipes and
like conducting means, a barrel a, sealing vessel b, cover d, and removable inner
containing chamber c, constructed and operating substantially as set forth.
2. In apparatus for use in testing the joints and other parts of drainage pipes and
like conducting means, the construction and use of apparatus whereby odoriferous
matter may be introduced into drains, soil pipes, and water closet apparatus, under
the protection of an efficient liquid seal, which effectually prevents escape of fumes,
vapor, or smell during the operation of testing, arising from the odorant, otherwise
than at the defective joints of the drains, soil pipes, or water-closet apparatus under
test, as set forth.
Dated the 12th day of November 1889.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.