Valves for Water Closets and other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application; 23rd July, 1887
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1888
upՄԵԱՆ ԱԱ ՆՄԱՂԵՆՆԵս WALI ԵՂ ՆԵՍՏՆԵ
Valves for Water Closets and other Purposes.
I, ANDREW GUTHRIE SUTHERLAND, of 42, Hanover Street, in the City and County
of Edinburgh, Wholesale Ironmonger and Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention to be as follows:
This Invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in connection
with the ball-float levers of the supply valves, and improved fittings of or connected
with the discharge valves of service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes; and
which will make such cisterns and fittings prevent much waste of water, and give a
better and freer noiseless, and regular or measured discharge of water at each action,
than has heretofore been the case with ordinary supply and discharge valves and
service cisterns.
The improvements of my Invention consist all as follows:-As applied to a simple
ordinary construction of service cistern for water-closets, the valve seat consists of an
ordinary edge-ring without a rim flange, for jointing to the bottom of the cistern
inside with hollow screw stem passing through the cistern, and large screw-nut
outside for making a liquid-tight joint on the outside of the cistern, and securing the
rim-seat inside projecting upwards, the screw-stem outside being soldered in a usual
manner to the upper end of the discharge-pipe leading to the water closet. The
movable valve or lid is fitted with a brass or hard metal disc or ring below, and a ring
of india-rubber or other equivalent secured in a groove on the underside, so as to rest
on the seat rim water-tight when closed down on it, with a lead or other weight cast or
otherwise secured on the disc-lid, the weight of which ensures the shutting and tightness
of the valve. A long small round or parallel-rod, preferably a tubular rod, is secured to
the top of this valve for lifting and guiding it through a two armed guide bracket some
distance above the weighted valve; this guide bracket being secured below by a stem

page_text: at one, or it might be both sides of the valve seat, and projecting up vertically
therefrom, so as also to form a guide to the upper part of the lifting valve or its
weight, by two short lateral grooved arms embracing the parallel stem, and sliding on
it, as the valve is lifted or lowered by its central rod which is linked at top to the
inner arm of the ordinary beam lever, actuated by a wire or cord attached to the other
or long arm of this lever carried down at one end of the cistern to the pull handle of
the water-closet, and mounted over the cistern.
An important improvement of this Invention consists in an automatic arrangement
for retaining the valve in its lifted position (when raised by the said lever) until the
measured quantity of water contained in the cistern is all discharged down to the level
of the valve seat, or some point near this, and then letting the valve fall and close
automatically to fill the cistern again ready for the next action and letting in of the
water at the supply valve without waste or loss while giving the discharge flushing
supply to the closet all as will hereinafter be explained. For so automatically
retaining the valve open when lifted, and letting it close again by its own weight after
discharging the desired regulated quantity of water as stated, a light double arm-
catch or cani lever is fulcrummed by a joint pin to the stem of the guide bracket of
the valve a short distance up from the valve seat, or it might be a short special joint
bracket projecting up therefrom. The short front arm of this lever would be so set at
an angle downwards and rounded camwise on its upper end, as to pass under the
guide projections of the valve or a special projection on it when the valve was raised
to hold it up and yet let it fall over the cam end when the lever was raised to its
normal angled position, which allows the valve to be lifted past and over it by the
acting lever over the cistern as before described. The outer longer arm of this catch
lever would bave a hollow ball or other float attached to it, or it might be a semi-
spherical float either close or open below to contain air within it, and which would
thus work close down to the bottom of the cistern, and rise when the water rose in
the cistern above it, placing the front end of the lever at such an angle as to allow the
valve to be lifted by its rod and beam lever over the cistern, and yet fall in under the
lateral projection to hold up the valve until the water emptied out of the cistern down
below the level of the float arm of the catch lever, and drew the float down so as to
free the valve and allow it to fall and close on its seat when the measured quantity of
water had been delivered through the discharge pipe.
Instead of this float on the outer end of the catch-lever, a hollow light cup or vessel
might be secured on the lever counterbalanced by a light lead weight on the short
front arm of the lever, so as to allow it to assume the normal angled position before
referred to. But so that when the valve was raised the catch end would hold up the
valve until the water fell in the cistern below the cup vessel when the weight of water
left in the cup would immediately free the cam or catch and allow the valve to fall
and close. Although a light beam catch lever has been described, a bell-crank lever
might be used, having the short arm nearly vertical, with the catch on it, taking on to
the lateral projection on the valve, and having the longer float arm horizontal acting
in the reverse direction to the before mentioned lever that is as the float arm fell at
the full discharge of the cistern it freed the catch on the short vertical arm from the
lateral projection on the valve, and as the water rose in the cistern again, it brought
the short catch arm back into position, so that when the valve was raised by the lever
on the top of the cistern it brought the lateral projection on the valve over the catch
arm, which held it up until the float acted in the downward direction, the lower end
of the catch-arm being so angled that the lateral projection on the valve pressed it back
and passed it into the catch, the ball float arm acting as a reacting elastic lever for
that purpose.
A small hole in the upper part of the lifting tube of the valve would
allow air to enter above the level of the water in the cistern, and this would allow of
the free discharge of the water in the discharge pipe, without the usual roaring noise
caused by the air rushing up into the upper part of the discharge pipe.
A further improvement consists in causing the raising of the spindle of the valve by
a projection or link on it to bring one arm of a bell-crank lever under the ball-float
lever of the cistern to bold it up while the water in the cistern was being discharged,

page_text: and free it again the moment the valve and its spindle was let down. Instead of the
bell-crank lever, a pendent link, catch, or toggle link attached to the ball-float lever
could be actuated in like manner to retain the float-lever up while the cistern was
emptying, and free it when emptied to re-fill the cistern again without waste or loss
of water during the action of the cistern and its discharge valve. The fixed fulcrum
or catch of either of these arrangements of the bell-crank lever or links for so
retaining and releasing the ball float of the supply valve, would be fixed to the side of
the cistern.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Service Cisterns and their
Valves for Water Closets and other Purposes.
I. ANDREW GUTHRIE SUTHERLAND, of 42 Hanover Street, in the City and County
of Edinburgh, Wholesale Ironmonger and Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference
being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures
Marked thereon, that is to say :—
My Invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in connection
with the ordinary ball-float levers L of the supply valves L, and improved fittings of
or connected with the discharge valves A a of service cisterns Z for water closets
and other purposes; and which will make such cisterns and fittings prevent much
waste of water, and give a better and freer noiseless, and regular or measured discharge
of water at each action, than has heretofore been the case with ordinary supply and
discharge valves and service cisterns.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figures 1 and 2 show
sectional elevations of a ballfloat and valve service cistern L, L1, Z, as fitted with one
arrangement of my new or improved service valve a, a¹ all and its actuating fittings,
showing the valve and its parts in their closed and open positions respectively, working
on a hinged joint a². And Figure 3 shows a plan of the valve a, a¹, a" as taken on
1 of Figure 1, and its inverted or air retaining float c¹ c². And
the line 1 -
116

page_text: Figure 1 A shows an arrangement of the valve a, a, a, and its fittings and
cistern Z Z for use when the valve is lifted and guided direct off its seat and not
on hinges. Figures 4 and 5 show sectional elevations of a ball float and valve service
cistern L, L, Z, as fitted with another slightly different modification of my improved
service valve a, a, a", and its actuating fittings from that shown in Figures 1 to 3,
the valves being mounted on hinges a and showing the parts in their closed and
open positions respectively. Figure 6 shows a side view of the retaining catch
lever ce, of the valve a, a, a, when used with an acting water weighted cup float e
as detached from the cistern Z instead of the ball float c². And Figures 7 and 8
show a side section and elevation respectively of an equivalent arrangement of my
improvements as applied to a double valve for giving an after flush when the person
lets go the pull wire or handle C³ of the actuating lever C, C¹, the valves being shown
in their closed and open positions respectively in these two Figures.
Referring to these Drawings:-the improvements of my invention consist all as
follows: As applied to simple ordinary service cisterns Z for water closets, the valve
seat A consists of an ordinary sharp edged ring with an outer rim flange for jointing
to the bottom Z of the cistern Z inside, with hollow screw stem A passing down
through the cistern, and large screw-nut A' outside for making a liquid-tight joint
with the bottom of the cistern; and securing the rim seat at A inside projecting
upwards, the screw stem A outside being jointed by a screw coupled joint, or it
might be soldered in a usual manner to the upper end of the discharge-pipe leading
to the water-closet, as shown at A². The movable valve or lid a is fitted with a brass
or hard metal disc or ring below, and a ring of india-rubber or other equivalent a¹
secured in a groove on the underside, so as to rest on the seat rim A water-tight when
closed down on it, with a lead or other weight a¹¹ cast or otherwise secured on the
disc lid a, the weight of which ensures the shutting and tightness of the valve. When
this weighted lid valve a, a, a¹¹, is lifted off its seat A to open it, either on a hinged
joint at a projecting up from the seat A, as seen in Figures 1 to 5; or direct as
shewn in Figure 1 A, on a long small parallel guide rod as B (preferably a tubular
rod) secured to its top end, for lifting and guiding it through a guide bracket B', or
other equivalent above. the valve and its seat A, and which may be formed or secured
by one or two stems to the valve seat A. below the two short lateral grooved arms B
of the bracket B¹ embracing the parallel stem B of the valve a, to guide both, as
the valve is lifted or lowered by an upper link rod B2 attached to the top of the
valve rod B, and to the inner arm C of the ordinary beam lever C, C³, fulcrumed
over the cistern at C and actuated by a wire or cord 02 attached to the other or
outer arm of this lever, carried down at one end of the cistern Z to the pull
handle C3 of the water-closet, all so far much as usual.
;
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 and 1 A; an important improvement of this Invention
consists in an automatic arrangement for retaining the valve a, a, all, in its lifted
position (when raised by the said lever C, (,) until the measured quantity of water
contained in the cistern Z is all discharged down to the level of the valve seat A, or
some point near this, and then letting the valve fall whether mounted on hinges a²
Figures 1 to 5, or lifted direct by the rod B as described in reference to Figure 1 A,
and close automatically to fill the cistern Z again by the ball-float lever and valve L, L',
ready for the next action and letting in of the water at the supply valve L' without
waste or loss while giving the discharge flushing supply to the closet all as will
hereinafter be explained, the cistern Z being fitted as usual with a safety overflow
pipe M. For so automatically retaining the valve a, a, a, open when lifted, and
letting it close again by its own weight after discharging the desired regulated
quantity of water as stated, a light double armed retaining catch lever c, c', is fulcrumed
by a joint pin at c¹¹ to the stem of the guide bracket B of the valve when that is
used, a short distance out from the valve seat A, as shown in Figure 1 A, or it may
be a short special joint bracket projecting up therefrom at e", as seen in Figures 1
to 3. The short front arm c of this lever c, e' is so set at an angle upwards and
inwards and rounded or bevelled on its upper end, as to pass under the guide retaining
projections of the valve a, a¹, al, or a special retaining projection on it, when the

page_text: vaive was raised to hold it up, and yet let it fall over the bevelled end c when the
lever cc was raised to its normal angled position as shown in Figure. 2, which
allows the valve and its retaining projection to be lifted past and over it by the
acting lever C. C, over the cistern Z as before described. The outer longer arm c¹
of this catch lever c, c', has attached to it a semispherical or inverted cup float c
either close or open below, preferably the latter, to contain air within it, or it might
be a bollow ball or other float, and which would thus work close down to the bottom Z'
of the cistern Z and rise when the level W of the water rose in the cistern above it,
placing the front end of the lever c at such an angle as to allow the valve to be
lifted by its rod B and beam lever C, C, over the cistern Z, and yet fall in under the
lateral projection to hold up the valve until the water emptied out of the cistern
down below the level of the float c² and its arm c¹ of the catch lever c, and drew the
float down so as to free the valve and allow it to fall and close on its seat A when the
measured quantity of water had been delivered through the discharge pipe A².
Instead of connecting the valve a, a², a", by a rigid guided rod B as described in
reference to Figure 1 A, 1 prefer to hinge it at a² as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and
connect it by a short jointed link rod d with a loose piston d' above, working in a
hollow tubular inverted cylinder d² with close end on top but with a small hole d¹¹ to
admit water or air all below the water level, and attached to a rod B² jointed direct
to the lever C. These rods d, B, and their piston and cylinder d² forin rods to raise
and guide them in the lifting of the valve a, a', a", all so that when this lever is
suddenly raised, it raises the valve a, a', a", and enables it to be caught and held
near the
up by its projection and catch float lever c until the water falls to
bottom of the cistern, and causes the float e² to release the catch all essentially
as described.
C₁
a,
to
Instead of the floats on the outer end of the catch-lever c, shown in Figures 1 to 3,
and 1 A, a hollow light cup or vessel c³, as shown detached in side elevation in Figure 1 B.
might be secured on the catch lever c, c¹, counter balanced by a light lead weight
or weights on the short front arm or arms c¹ of the lever, so as to allow it to assume
But so that when the valve was raised
the normal angled position before referred to.
the catch ende would hold up the valve until the level W of the water fell in the
cistern Z below the cup vessel c³, when the weight of water left in the cup would
immediately counterbalance the small lead weight levers and allow the valve
fall and close; the cup c³ being dotted in as for the open position of the valve.
Although a light catch lever c, c', has been described, a bell-crank pendent lever might
be used fulcrumed above at el Figures 4 and 5, instead of below, as in Figures 1 to 3
1A and 1 B, and having the short pendent arme nearly vertical, with the catch on it,
taking on to the lateral projection 'on the valve, and having the longer float or cup
arm c³, horizontal, acting in the reverse direction to the before-mentioned lever c, c';
that is, as the float arui e¹ fell at the full discharge of the cistern Z it freed the catch
on the short vertical arm c from the lateral projection & on the valve, and as the
level W of the water rose in the cistern again, it brought the short catch arm c back
into position, so that when the valve was raised by the lever C, C, on the top of
the cistern it brought the catch c under the lateral projection & on the valve to hold
it up until the float or cup ball ³ acts in the downward direction and frees the
catch-arm e from the lateral projection on the valve.
:
Referring to Figures and 5; this shows an arrangement in which the valve seat A
is fitted with a low guard at E on to the one side, so that the water is only
discharged through by the other side E2 of the valve a, a, all; and this guard E,
';
is continued up in a bow shape at E to form the fulcrum c" of the bell-crank arrange-
A continuation of the catch
ment of pendent catch lever c, c, and cup float c³.
lever c is formed with a segmental open guard e at its lower end as seen detached
in Figure 6, to fit round the open part E2 of the guard E leading the water into the
discharge valve a, a, a. The open discharge port part e¹ of this lever guard e has
fitted over it a regulating screw shifting vane e², to make the port el larger or
smaller, all so that when the valve a, a, a, is opened, the force of the water rushing
to the discharge valve, closes this port lever e, e¹ and keeps its catch into action
C

page_text: to hold up the valve; but as soon as the rush of water ceases, the weight of the
lever and the water left in its cup float e raises the catch lever a, e, so as to
relieve the catch on the valve, and allow it to close, as seen in the close and open
positions respectively in Figures 4 and 5. The valve a, a, a, in these Figures 4
and 5, might be raised by the arrangement of piston rod d, d, and tube rod d², B2,
shown in Figures 1 and 2; or by a simple wire or rod d³, as in the arrangement
shown in these Figures 4 and 5, attached to the lever C, at the top of the cistern.
and to a lever d near where it is jointed to the top of the valve; the other long arm
of the lever having a large disc at d which holds the lever d' sufficiently against the
water in the cistern to allow the rod ³ and lever C to lift the valve, and yet allow
it to close when the lever C is let go, and the level W of the water falls in the
cistern, all as hereinbefore described.
Referring to Figures 7 and 8; this shows an arrangement of the valve a, a, a,
as fitted on the lower end of a short cylinder or tube fto slide and open for a short
distance on guide stop bolts A³ projecting up from the scat A, and with a valve
seat on its upper end fitted with a second weighted valve secured to the tubular
guide spindle B. Both of these valves a, a, a, and tube f, are raised by the sliding
guide tube B passing up through cross arms. B in the tube f, and this rod B carries
on its lower end a short tubular piece, so that the spindle B which is guided
in the bracket B³, B", first lifts the valve 2 off its seat and then lifts the
valve a, a a, and tube f by the tubular piece f", on its lower end, which
keeps the lower valve seat A closed, while the rod B is held up until the catch c
of the float lever c', c², comes under the projection b, on the valve a, a', a", so
as to hold this up, and the water is discharged from the cistern down to the level of
the valve seat as shown in the open position of the parts in Figure 8, when the
lever C, C and rod B and valve 2 are lowered, and open the valve seat A so that the
water left above this level escapes down the discharge pipe A as a second or after
flush. And as soon as the level W of the water falls to the bottom of the cistern, it
causes the float lever c¹, c, to release the catch c, b, and the valve a, a¹, a¹¹, and
cylinder f to fall and close on the valve seat A as seen in this closed position in
Figure 7 when the cistern Z will again refill by the falling of the float lever L open-
ing the inlet valve L', all ready for a new flushing of the closet, by raising the lever L
and rod or tube B of the valves a, a¹, a", and f. As shown in Figures 1 A and 7
a small hole is formed at B³ in the upper part of the lifting tube B of the valve to
allow air to enter above the level W of the water in the cistern, and this allows of
the free discharge of the water in the discharge pipe A without the usual roaring noise
cansed by the air having to rush up into the upper part of the discharge pipe to empty it.
A further improvement consists in causing the raising of the spindle B, or its
upper rod B2 of the valve a, a¹, all, by a projecting catch F on it, to directly
raise or hold up the ball-float lever I of the cistern Z, or this might be done by an
intermediate link and bell-crank lever instead of the catch F, to hold the ball float
lever L up and its valve L' close to prevent the inlet of water, while the water in the
cistern was being discharged, and free it again the moment the valve and its spindle
were let down to re-fill the cistern again without waste or loss of water during this
action of the levers in the cistern and the discharge valve. Instead of the catch F
or the bell-crank lever, referred to a pendent link, catch, or toggle link attached to the
ball-float lever, could be actuated in like manner to retain the float lever L up
while the cistern was emptying, and free it when emptied. When either of the
arrangements of lever catch or bell-crank for so retaining and releasing the ball float
of the supply valve were used, the fulcrum of these would be fixed to one side of the
cistern.
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 I am
aware of Holland's Specification No. 5796 of 1887 and do not claim anything therein
described and claimed, but what I claim is,-
The constmation
lination
f
istorns

page_text: and their valves and fittings, for water closets and other purposes, substantially as
berein described and distinguished in reference to and shown in Figures 1 to 3,
7, 8, and 4, 5, 6, & 1 B respectively of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes, the mounting of
a retaining catch lever c, with a lever e', and semi-spherical or equivalent float c² for
operating a single discharge valve a, a, a, and double discharge valve a, a', ƒ, and ƒ¹, ƒ,
substantially as and in the manner herein described and distinguished in reference to
Figures 1 to 3, and 7 and 8 respectively of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes, the mounting of
a retaining catch lever c, with a lever cl, and water weighted cup float c³, or c³, cl,
for operating the valve a, a, a, substantially as and in the manner herein described and
distinguished in reference to and shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 1 B, respectively of
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes, the forming of
the lifting stem B of their discharge valves, tubular, and with a small air hole B³
down through it, for ventilating or letting in air to the discharge pipe to give a
noiseless discharge of the water, all substantially as and in the manner herein described
in reference to Figures 7, 8, respectively, of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes, the raising or holding
up of the ball-float lever L of the inlet valve L' by a projecting catch F, or other
equivalent formed or secured on the lifting rods B or B2 of the outlet valve a, a, all
to close the inlet valve LA, while the water in the cistern is being discharged, and
release it, when emptied to re-fill the cistern, substantially as and for the advantages
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1887
Complete Left, 20th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
Improvements in and Connected with Service Cisterns and their
Valves for Water Closets and other Purposes.
I, ANDREW GUThrie Sutherland, of 42, Hanover Street, in the City and County
of Edinburgh, Wholesale Ironmonger and Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature
my Invention to be as follows:-
of
L
This Invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in connection
with the ball-float levers of the supply valves, and improved fittings of or connected
with the discharge valves of service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes; and.
which will make such cisterns and fittings prevent much waste of water, and give a
better and freer noiseless, and regular or measured discharge of water at each action,
than has heretofore been the case with ordinary supply and discharge valves and
service cisterns.
The improvements of my Invention consist all as follows:-As applied to a simple
ordinary construction of service cistern for water-closets, the valve seat consists of an
ordinary edge-ring. without a rim flange, for jointing to the bottom of the cistern.
inside with hollow screw stem passing through the cistern, and large screw-nut
outside for making a liquid-tight joint on the outside of the cistern, and securing the
rim-seat inside projecting upwards, the screw-stem outside being soldered in a usual
manner to the upper end of the discharge-pipe leading to the water closet. The
movable valve or lid is fitted with a brass or hard metal disc or ring below, and a ring
of india-rubber or other equivalent secured in a groove on the underside, so as to rest
on the seat rim water-tight when closed down on it, with a lead or other weight cast or
otherwise secured on the disc-lid, the weight of which ensures the shutting and tightness
of the valve. A long small round or parallel-rod, preferably a tubular rod, is secured to
the top of this valve for lifting and guiding it through a two armed guide bracket some
distance above the weighted valve; this guide bracket, being secured below by a stem.

page_text: at one, or it might be both sides of the valve seat, and projecting up vertically
therefrom, so as also to form a guide to the upper part of the lifting valve or its
weight, by two short lateral grooved arms embracing the parallel stem, and sliding on
it, as the valve is lifted or lowered by its central rod which is linked at top to the
inner arm of the ordinary beam lever, actuated by a wire or cord attached to the other
or long arm of this lever carried down at one end of the cistern to the pull handle of
the water-closet, and mounted over the cistern.
An important improvement of this Invention consists in an automatic arrangement
for retaining the valve in its lifted position (when raised by the said lever) until the
measured quantity of water contained in the cistern is all discharged down to the level
of the valve seat, or some point near this, and then letting the valve fall and close
automatically to fill the cistern again ready for the next action and letting in of the
water at the supply valve without waste or loss while giving the discharge flushing
supply to the closet all as will hereinafter be explained. For so automatically
retaining the valve open when lifted, and letting it close again by its own weight after
discharging the desired regulated quantity of water as stated, a light doublo arm-
catch or cam lever is fulcrummed by a joint pin to the stem of the guide bracket of
the valve a short distance up from the valve seat, or it might be a short special joint
bracket projecting up therefrom. The short front arm of this lever would be so set at
an angle downwards and rounded camwise on its upper end, as to pass under the
guide projections of the valve or a special projection on it when the valve was raised
to hold it up and yet let it fall over the cam end when the lever was raised to its
normal angled position, which allows the valve to be lifted past and over it by the
acting lever over the cistern as before described. The outer longer arm of this catch
lever would have a hollow ball or other float attached to it, or it might be a semi-
spherical float either close or open below to contain air within it, and which would
thus work close down to the bottom of the cistern, and rise when the water rose in
the cistern above it, placing the front end of the lever at such an angle as to allow the
valve to be lifted by its rod and beain lever over the cistern, and yet fall in under the
lateral projection to hold up the valve until the water emptied out of the cistern down
below the level of the float arm of the catch lever, and drew the float down so as to
free the valve and allow it to fall and close on its seat when the measured quantity of
water had been delivered through the discharge pipe.
Instead of this float on the outer end of the catch-lever, a hollow light cup or vessel
might be secured on the lever counterbalanced by a light lead weight on the short
front arm of the lever, so as to allow it to assume the normal angled position before
referred to. But so that when the valve was raised the catch end would hold up the
valve until the water fell in the cistern below the cup vessel when the weight of water
left in the cup would immediately free the cam or catch and allow the valve to fall
and close. Although a light beam catch lever has been described, a bell-crank lever
might be used, having the short arm nearly vertical, with the catch on it, taking on to
the lateral projection on the valve, and having the longer float arm horizontal acting
in the reverse direction to the before mentioned lever that is as the float arm fell at
the full discharge of the cistern it freed the catch on the short vertical arm from the
lateral projection on the valve, and as the water rose in the cistern again, it brought
the short catch arm back into position, so that when the valve was raised by the lever
on the top of the cistern it brought the lateral projection on the valve over the catch
arm, which held it up until the float acted in the downward direction, the lower end
of the catch-arm being so angled that the lateral projection on the valve pressed it back
and passed it into the catch, the ball float arm acting as a reacting elastic lever for
that purpose.
A small hole in the upper part of the lifting tube of the valve would
allow air to enter above the level of the water in the cistern, and this would allow of
the free discharge of the water in the discharge pipe, without the usual roaring noise
caused by the air rushing up into the upper part of the discharge pipe.
A further improvement consists in causing the raising of the spindle of the valve by
a projection or link on it to bring one arm of a bell-crank lever under the ball-float
lever of the cistern to hold it up while the water in the cistern was being discharged,

page_text: and free it again the moment the valve and its spindle was let down. Instead of the
bell-crank lever, a pendent link, catch, or toggle link attached to the ball-float lever
could be actuated in like manner to retain the float-lever up while the cistern was
emptying, and free it when emptied to re-fill the cistern again without waste or loss
of water during the action of the cistern and its discharge valve. The fixed fulcrum
or catch of either of these arrangements of the bell-crank lever or links for so
retaining and releasing the ball float of the supply valve, would be fixed to the side of
the cistern.
Valves for Water Closets and other Purposes.
I, ANDREW GUTHRIE SUTHERLAND, of 42 Hanover Street, in the City and County
of Edinburgh, Wholesale Ironmonger and Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference
being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in connection
with the ordinary ball-float levers L of the supply valves L', and improved fittings of
or connected with the discharge valves A a of service cisterns Z for water closets
and other purposes; and which will make such cisterns and fittings prevent much
waste of water, and give a better and freer noiseless, and regular or measured discharge
of water at each action, than has heretofore been the case with ordinary supply and
discharge valves and service cisterns.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figures 1 and 2 show
sectional elevations of a ballfloat and valve service cistern L, L, Z, as fitted with one
arrangement of my new or improved service valve a, a¹ a¹¹ and its actuating fittings,
showing the valve and its parts in their closed and open positions respectively, working
on a hinged joint a². And Figure 3 shows a plan of the valve a, a, a" as taken on

page_text: -
the line 1 1 of Figure 1, and its inverted or air retaining float c¹². And
Figure 1 A shows an arrangement of the valve a, a, a, and its fittings and
cistern ZZ for use when the valve is lifted and guided direct off its seat and not
on hinges. Figures 4 and 5 show sectional elevations of a ball float and valve service
cistern L, L, Z, as fitted with another slightly different modification of my improved
service valve a, a¹, a¹¹, and its actuating fittings from that shown in Figures 1 to 3,
the valves being mounted on hinges a and showing the parts in their closed and
open positions respectively. Figure 6 shows a side view of the retaining catch
lever ce, of the valve a, a, a, when used with an acting water weighted cup float c³
as detached from the cistern Z instead of the ball float c². And Figures 7 and 8
show a side section and elevation respectively of an equivalent arrangement of my
mprovements as applied to a double valve for giving an after flush when the person
lets go the pull wire or handle C³ of the actuating lever C, C, the valves being shown
in their closed and open positions respectively in these two Figures.
Referring to these Drawings:-the improvements of my invention consist all as
follows: As applied to simple ordinary service cisterns Z for water closets, the valve
seat A consists of an ordinary sharp edged ring with an outer rim flange for jointing
to the bottom Z¹ of the cistern Z inside, with hollow screw stem A passing down
through the cistern, and large screw-nut A¹ outside for making a liquid-tight joint
with the bottom Z¹ of the cistern and securing the rim seat at A inside projecting
upwards, the screw stem A outside being jointed by a screw coupled joint, or it
might be soldered in a usual manner to the upper end of the discharge-pipe leading
to the water-closet, as shown at A2. The movable valve or lid a is fitted with a brass
or hard metal disc or ring below, and a ring of india-rubber or other equivalent a
secured in a groove on the underside, so as to rest on the seat rim A water-tight when
closed down on it, with a lead or other weight a" cast or otherwise secured on the
When
disc lid a, the weight of which ensures the shutting and tightness of the valve.
this weighted lid valve a, a, a, is lifted off its seat A to open it, either on a hinged
joint at a projecting up from the seat A, as seen in Figures 1 to 5; or direct as
shewn in Figure 1 A, on a long small parallel guide rod as B (preferably a tubular
rod) secured to its top end, for lifting and guiding it through a guide bracket B', or
other equivalent above the valve and its seat A, and which may be formed or secured
by one or two stems to the valve seat A below; the two short lateral grooved arms Bu
of the bracket B' embracing the parallel stem B of the valve a, to guide both, as
the valve is lifted or lowered by an upper link rod B2 attached to the top of the
valve rod B, and to the inner arm of the ordinary beam lever C, C, fulcrumed
over the cistern at C and actuated by a wire or cord C² attached to the other or
outer arm of this lever, carried down at one end of the cistern Z to the pull
handle of the water-closet, all so far much as usual..
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 and 1 A; an important improvement of this Invention
consists in an automatic arrangement for retaining the valve a, a¹, a", in its lifted
position (when raised by the said lever C, C1,) until the measured quantity of water
contained in the cistern Z is all discharged down to the level of the valve seat A, or
some point near this, and then letting the valve fall whether mounted on hinges a²
Figures 1 to 5, or lifted direct by the rod B as described in reference to Figure 1A,
and close automatically to fill the cistern Z again by the ball-float lever and valve L, L',
ready for the next action and letting in of the water at the supply valve L' without
waste or loss while giving the discharge flushing supply to the closet all as will
hereinafter be explained, the cistern Z being fitted as usual with a safety overflow
pipe M. For so automatically retaining the valve a, a, a, open when lifted, and
letting it close again by its own weight after discharging the desired regulated
quantity of water as stated, a light double armed retaining catch lever c, c', is fulcrumed
by a joint pin at el to the stem of the guide bracket B¹ of the valve when that is
used, a short distance out from the valve seat A, as shown in Figure 1 A, or it may
be a short special joint bracket projecting up therefrom at c¹, as seen in Figures 1
to 3. The short front arm of this lever c, c is so set at an angle upwards and
inwards and rounded or bevelled on its upper end, as to pass under the guide retaining

page_text: с
projections of the valve a, a', a", or a special retaining projection on it, when the
valve was raised to hold it up, and yet let it fall over the bevelled end e when the
lever c c was raised to its normal angled position as shown in Figure 2, which
allows the valve and its retaining projection to be lifted past and over it by the--
acting lever C, C, over the cistern Z as before described. The outer longer arm cl
of this catch lever c, c', has attached to it a semispherical or inverted cup float c²
either close or open below, preferably the latter, to contain air within it, or it might
be a hollow ball or other float, and which would thus work close down to the bottom Z
of the cistern Z and rise when the level W of the water rose in the cistern above it,
placing the front end of the lever c at such an angle as to allow the valve to be
lifted by its rod B and beam lever C, C', over the cistern Z, and yet fall in under the
lateral projection to hold up the valve until the water emptied out of the cistern
down below the level of the float c² and its arm c² of the catch lever and drew the
float down so as to free the valve and allow it to fall and close on its seat A when the
measured quantity of water had been delivered through the discharge pipe A².
Instead of connecting the valve a, a¹, a¹¹, by a rigid guided rod B as described in
reference to Figure 1A, I prefer to hinge it at a² as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and
connect it by a short jointed link rod d with a loose piston d' above, working in a
hollow tubular inverted cylinder with close end on top but with a small hole d" to
admit water or air all below the water level, and attached to a rod B2 jointed direct
to the lever C. These rods d, B2, and their piston d and cylinder d² form rods to raise
and guide them in the lifting of the valve a, a, a, all so that when this lever is
suddenly raised, it raises the valve a, a, a, and enables it to be caught and held
up by its projection b and catch float lever c until the water falls to near the
bottom of the cistern, and causes the float c² to release the catch all essentially
as described.
Instead of the floats on the outer end of the catch-lever c, shown in Figures 1 to 3,
and A, a hollow light cup or vessel e³, as shown detached in side elevation in Figure 1B,
might be secured on the catch lever c, c', counter balanced by a light lead weight
or weights on the short front arm or arms ell of the lever, so as to allow it to assume
the normal angled position before referred to. But so that when the valve was raised
the catch end c would hold up the valve until the level W of the water fell in the
cistern Z below the cup vessel 3, when the weight of water left in the cup would
immediately counterbalance the small lead weight levers c¹ and allow the valve a, to
fall and close; the cup c³ being dotted in as for the open position of the valve.
Although a light catel lever c, c', has been described, a bell-crank pendent lever might
be used fulcrumed above at c Figures 4 and 5, instead of below, as in Figures 1 to 3,
1A and 1 B, and having the short pendent arm c nearly vertical, with the catch on it,
taking on to the lateral projection & on the valve, and having the longer float or cup
arm e, e³, horizontal, acting in the reverse direction to the before-mentioned lever c,'c';
that is, as the float arm c¹ fell at the full discharge of the cistern Z it freed the catch
on the short vertical arm c from the lateral projection b¹ on the valve, and as the
level W of the water rose in the cistern again, it brought the short catch arm c back
into position, so that when the valve was raised by the lever C, C, on the top of
the cistern it brought the catch c under the lateral projection 61 on the valve to hold
it up until the float or cup ball 3 acts in the downward direction and frees the
catch-arm c from the lateral projection on the valve.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5; this shows an arrangement in which the valve seat A
is fitted with a low guard at E on to the one side, so that the water is only
discharged through by the other side E2 of the valve a, a', all; and this guard E,
is continued up in a bow shape at E' to form the fulcrum c" of the bell-crank arrange-
ment of pendent catch lever c, c, and cup float c³. A continuation of the catch
lever c is formed with a segmental open guard e at its lower end as seen detached
in Figure 6, to fit round the open part E2 of the guard E leading the water into the
discharge valve a, a, a". The open discharge port part e₁ of this lever guard e has
fitted over it a regulating screw shifting vane e, to make the port e larger or
smaller, all so that when the valve a, a¹, a", is opened, the force of the water rushing

page_text: t
to the discharge valve, closes this port lever e, e¹ and keeps its catch e into action
to hold up the valve; but as soon as the rush of water ceases, the weight of the
lever and the water left in its cup float e raises the catch lever c, e, so as to
relieve the catch b¹ on the valve, and allow it to close, as seen in the close and open
positions respectively in Figures 4 and 5. The valve a, a', a¹, in these Figures 4
and 5, might be raised by the arrangement of piston rod d, d', and tube rod d², B²,
shown in Figures 1 and 2; or by a simple wire or rod d³, as in the arrangement
shown in these Figures 4 and 5, attached to the lever C, at the top of the cistern,
and to a lever d near where it is jointed to the top of the valve; the other long arm
of the lever having a large dise at d which holds the lever d* sufficiently against the
water in the cistern to allow the rod d³ and lever C to lift the valve, and yet allow
it to close when the lever C is let go, and the level W of the water falls in the
cistern, all as herein before described.
Referring to Figures 7 and 8; this shows an arrangement of the valve α, a¹, a¹¹
as fitted on the lower end of a short cylinder or tube to slide and open for a short
distance on guide stop bolts A³ projecting up from the seat A, and with a valve
seat on its upper end fitted with a second weighted valve 2 secured to the tubular
guide spindle B. Both of these valves a, a¹, all, and tube f, are raised by the sliding
guide tube B passing up through cross arms B in the tube f, and this rod B carries
on its lower end a short tubular piece f", so that the spindle B which is guided
in the bracket B¹, B", first lifts the valve f off its seat and then lifts the
valve a, a a", and tube f by the tubular piece f", on its lower end, which
keeps the lower valve seat A closed, while the rod B is held up until the catch c
of the float lever c¹, c², comes under the projection b, on the valve a, a', all, so
as to hold this up, and the water is discharged from the cistern down to the level of
the valve seat as shown in the open position of the parts in Figure 8, when the
lever C, C and rod B and valve f2 are lowered, and open the valve seat A so that the
water left above this level escapes down the discharge pipe A2 as a second or after
flush. And as soon as the level W of the water falls to the bottom of the cistern, it
causes the float lever c¹, c², to release the catch c, b, and the valve a, a, a, and
cylinder to fall and close on the valve seat A as seen in this closed position in
Figure 7 when the cistern Z will again refill by the falling of the float lever L open-
ing the inlet valve L', all ready for a new flushing of the closet, by raising the lever L
and rod or tube B of the valves a, a¹, a¹¹, and f. As shown in Figures 1. A and 7
a small hole is formed at B3 in the upper part of the lifting tube B of the valve to
allow air to enter above the level W of the water in the cistern, and this allows of
the free discharge of the water in the discharge pipe A2 without the usual roaring noise
caused by the air having to rush up into the upper part of the discharge pipe to empty it.
A further improvement consists in causing the raising of the spindle B, or its
upper rod B2 of the valve a, a¹, a¹¹, by a projecting catch F on it, to directly
raise or hold up the ball-float lever L of the cistern Z, or this might be done by an
intermediate link and bell-crank lever instead of the catch F, to hold the ball float
lever L up and its valve L close to prevent the inlet of water, while the water in the
cistern was being discharged, and free it again the moment the valve and its spindle
were let down to re-fill the cistern again without waste or loss of water during this
action of the levers in the cistern and the discharge valve. Instead of the catch F
or the bell-crank lever, referred to a pendent link, catch, or toggle link attached to the
ball-float lever, could be actuated in like manner to retain the float lever L up
while the cistern was emptying, and free it when emptied. When either of the
arrangements of lever catch or bell-crank for so retaining and releasing the ball float
of the supply valve were used, the fulcrum of these would be fixed to one side of the
cistern.
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,

page_text: and their valves and fittings, for water closets and other purposes, substantially as
herein described and distinguished in reference to and shown in Figures 1 to 3,
1 A, 7, 8, and 4, 5, 6, & 1 B respectively of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes, the mounting of
a retaining catch lever c, with a lever c¹, and semi-spherical or equivalent float c² for
operating a single discharge valve a, a, a, and double discharge valve a, a', f, and,,
substantially as and in the manner herein described and distinguished in reference to
Figures 1 to 3, and 1 A and 7 and 8 respectively of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes, the mounting of
a retaining catch lever c, with a lever c', and water weighted cup float c³, or c³, cl,
for operatingthe valve a, a', a", substantially as and in the manner herein described and
distinguished in reference to and shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 1 B, respectively of
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes, the forming of
the lifting stem B of their discharge valves, tubular, and with a small air hole B³
down through it, for ventilating or letting in air to the discharge pipe to give a
noiseless discharge of the water, all substantially as and in the manner herein described
in reference to Figures 1 A and 7, 8, respectively, of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In service cisterns for water-closets and other purposes, the raising or holding
up of the ball-float lever L of the inlet valve L' by a projecting catch F, or other
equivalent formed or secured on the lifting rods B or B2 of the outlet valve
a, a¹, all
to close the inlet valve L', while the water in the cistern is being discharged, and
release it when emptied to re-fill the cistern, substantially as and for the advantages
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 20th day of April 1888.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents.