IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICIBLE TO CLOSETS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM LYNE, of Raymede Street, North Kensington, Plumber,
% Day, Davies & Hunt, Patent Agents, 321, High-Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR APPLICIBLE TO CLOSETS to be as follows:-
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in or applicable to closets,
involves a novel and improved system and method of operation in accordance with
which the basin is dry or not flushed with water or otherwise trapped, and is open
to free ventilation with the outside atmosphere, when not in use, and is auto-
matically closed or trapped by means of a valve or equivalent means and, flushed
with water in the act of raising the lid, when it is required to use the closet, and is
again emptied of its contents and opened to free communication with the outside
atmosphere, automatically, by the act of closing down the lid after use of the
closet.
"
The present improvements are applicable to portable closets and also to closets
fitted in a, usual manner, but it is necessary in carrying the system into operation
that the contents of the closet should discharge or be discharged into an open head
of a ventilated or other soil pipe, or into other equivalent means open to the
atmosphere, so that there may be free access of atmospheric air to within and
through the closet at the time its lid is closed down and it is not in use.
:
This Invention has more particular reference to the said novel and improved
system and method of operation than to any particular means to be used in
carrying its principle into effect; and various arrangements of which may be used
in different constructions of closets, and the means used would obviously be
dependent upon and adapted to suit the particular closet to which the improve-
ments might be desired to be applied. According to a very simple arrangement,
which I have found to be both effective and reliable, there is adapted and fixedly
secured to the underside of the lid adjacent to its hinged edge, a curved depending
piece, which at its free end is connected by an intermediary rod to one arm of a.
centred bar supported by a bracket or otherwise, and the other arm of which is
similarly connected to an arm extending from the axis of the valve closing the
outlet from the closet. The arrangement of these parts connecting the lid with
the said valve, or of such other intermediary and connecting parts as may be used,
is such that the opening of the lid causes the valve to be closed, and the shutting
down of the lid causes the valve to be opened.

page_text: The act of opening the lid, is, however, in accordance with the present improve-
ments, also caused to be effective in flushing the basin with water, irrespective of
what arrangement of water fittings or water supply apparatus there may be
adapted to the closet, and for this purpose (which is material to the said improved
principle of operation) some convenient part of the mechanism connecting the lid
and the valve as aforesaid is adapted to lift or otherwise set the water supply
apparatus in action in the act of opening the lid, and which apparatus in its action
is otherwise independent of such means connecting the lid and valve.
It is not material to the Invention that any particular water fittings should be
used in connection therewith, as the means connecting the lid and valve are
independent of the water fittings, and merely require to be adapted to automatically
set the latter in action as and at the times aforesaid, in lieu of requiring a separate
actuation by hand.
The Invention may be applied with equal advantage to all valved closets: and in
all modifications the outlets are caused to discharge into an open head of a
ventilated soil pipe, or into such other equivalent means as will close off the soil
and contents of the closet after they have passed from the closet, and will still
allow of access of the outside atmospheric air to within and through the basin.
In fitting closets in accordance with this Invention, it should be observed that
there is an effective air-tight closure between the top edge of the rim of the basin
and of the underside of the seat; and also between the upper side of the seat and
the underside of the lid, and this may be most advantageously effected by means of
an india rubber or other elastic ring adapted between the parts, and it is also
necessary or most advisable that facility shall be provided at the upper part of the
basin, or immediately under the lid when closed down, for communication of the
interior of the basin with the outside air, so that there may be a current of air
through the basin at the time the lid is closed down.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
3

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM LYNE, of Raymede Street, North Kensington, Plumber,
, Day, Davies & Hunt, Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR APPLICABLE TO CLOSETS," 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 certain improvements in or applicable to valved water
closets, and involves a novel and improved system and method of operation in
accordance with which the basin is dry or not charged with water or otherwise
trapped when the lid is closed down, (as when the closet is not in use,) and is closed
or trapped by means of a valve or equivalent means and flushed and charged with
water in and by the act of raising the lid, (as when the closet is required to be
used,) and is emptied of its contents and again flushed with water in and by the
act of closing down the lid, as after use of the closet.
The Invention has more particular reference to the said novel and improved
system and method of operation than to any particular means to be used in
carrying its principle into effect and various arrangements of which may be used in
different constructions of closets, and the means used would obviously be dependent
upon and adapted to suit the particular closet to which the improvements might be
desired to be applied.
The accompanying drawing illustrates a very simple and advantageous modifi-
cation of carrying the said Invention into practice, and which I have found to be
both effective and reliable.
According to such modification, there is adapted and fixedly secured to the
underside of the lid, 1, of the closet adjacent to its hinged edge, 2, a curved
depending piece, 3, which at its free end, 4, is connected by an intermediary rod, 5,
to one arm, 6, of a lever, 7, centred in or supported by a bracket, 8, and the other
arm, 9, of which lever is similarly connected by an arm, 10, to an arm, 11, extending
from the axis, 12, of the valve, 13, closing the outlet, 14, from the closet. The
arrangement of the parts, (3, to, 12,) connecting the lid, 1, with the valve, 13, or of
such other intermediary and connecting parts as may be used, is such, that the
opening of the lid causes the valve to be closed, and the shutting down of the lid
causes the valve to be opened.
The act of opening the lid, or the acts both of opening and of closing the lid, is,
or are, however, in accordance with the present improvements, also caused to be
effective in flushing the basin with water, irrespective of what arrangement of
water fittings or water supply apparatus there may be adapted to the closet, and
for this purpose which is material to the said improved principle of operation, some
convenient part of the mechanism connecting the lid and the valve, as aforesaid, is
adapted to lift or otherwise set the water supply apparatus in action either in the
act of opening the lid, or in the acts both of opening and of closing the lid, and

page_text: which apparatus, in its usual action, is otherwise independent of such means of
actuation connecting the lid and valve.
It is not material to the Invention that any particular water fittings should be
used in connection therewith, as the means connecting the lid and valve are
independent of the water fittings, and merely require to be adapted to auto-
matically set the latter in action as and at the times aforesaid, in lieu of requiring
a separate actuation thereof by hand.
The meaus illustrated on the accompanying drawings for attaining this object
consist of a roller, 29, which, in both movements of the arm, 6, of the lever, 7,
from a, to, b, and from b, to, a, in the acts respectively of opening and closing the
lid, 1, raises a weighted lever, 15, and thus sets the water supply apparatus, 16, in
operation, causing the water to flush the basin simultaneously with the valve, 13,
being closed and with its being opened.
The outlet, 17, is adapted with a water tight cover, 18, and with an automatic
freely suspended valve, 19, the normal tendency of which is to close off the outlet,
and which is operative in closing off the soil and contents of the closet after they
have passed from the closet, and in preventing any return of foul air through the
closet.
A continuation, 20, from the outlet, 17, and which is connected therewith in the
improved manner illustrated, discharges directly into an open head receiver, 21,
which is ventilated or open to the atmosphere, and leads into a ventilated soi!
pipe, 22, but is in like manner disconnected therefrom so as to prevent any return
of foul air according to a system and by means forming the subject of protection by
other Letters Patent.
In fitting closets in accordance with this Invention, it should be observed that
there is an effective air-tight closure between the top edge of the rim, 23, of the
basin, 24, and of the underside of the seat, 25; and also between the upper side of
the seat and the underside of the lid, and this may be most advantageously effected
by means of india rubber or other elastic rings, 26, adapted between the parts; and
it is also necessary or most advisable that openings, 27, or other equivalent facility
shall be provided at the upper part of the basin, or immediately under the lid when
closed down, for communication of the interior of the basin with the outside air, by
means of a pipe, 28, so that the basin may be ventilated both when the lid is closed
down, and when the closet is in use.
The same closet can also be kept as a wet closet, by simply raising the lid after
use, when the said lever, 7, in passing from, a, to, b; causes the valve, 13, to be
closed, and the basin to be flushed and charged with water.
Closets constructed in the manner illustrated on the accompanying drawing
dispense entirely with any need of any underground traps or with any necessity of
cutting the floor; and in the event of repairs being necessary, they can be wholly
removed upon merely disconnecting the water fittings and drawing the closet
forward, and are perfectly accessible for inspection from the outside outlet.
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. The construction of valved water closets in such an improved manner as that
the basin is dry or not charged with water or otherwise trapped than as or in the
manner herein indicated when the lid is closed down, and is closed or trapped by
means of a valve or equivalent means and flushed and charged with water in and
by the act of raising the lid, and is emptied of its contents and either flushed or not
flushed with water in and by the act of closing down the lid, substantially as
herein before described.
2. The connection of the lids of such closets to the valves controlling the outlets
thereof in such an improved manner as that the opening of the lid shall cause the
valve to be closed, and the shutting down thereof shall cause the valve to be opened,
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.

page_text: 3. Causing the act of opening or raising the lid of the closet or the acts both of
opening and closing the lid when thus effective in controlling the movements of the
outlet valve, to be also effective in setting the water supply apparatus in action and
flushing the basin with water, irrespective of what arrangement of water supply
apparatus there may be adapted to the closet, and which apparatus after being thus
set in operation is in its usual action independent of such means of actuation
connecting the lid and valve.
4. The improved combination of parts hereinbefore described for effecting the
said novel system or method of operation, both as regards the means connecting the
lid and valve, and the means of actuating the water supply apparatus.
5. The further combination therewith of an automatically valved discharge,
beyond the valved outlet from the basin, discharging directly into a ventilated
receiver leading into but disconnected from a ventilated soil pipe, substantially as
herein before described.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.