IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSET APPARATUS, AS APPLIED TO SCREENING THE OUTLET AND THE FLUSHING AND VENTILATION OF BASIN.
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Gill, of the Town of Weston-Super-Mare, in the
County of Somerset, Plumber, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER-CLOSET APPARATUS, AS APPLIED TO SCREENING THE OUTLET AND
THE FLUSHING AND VENTILATION OF BASIN.".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Gill at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December 1881.
DAVID GILL, of Weston Super Mare, Somerset. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER
CLOSET APPARATUS, AS APPLIED TO SCREENING THE OUTLET AND THE FLUSHING
AND VENTILATION OF BASIN."
First-The screening of the outlet from the basin to the trap. This is done by
hinging a swing-valve to the upper part of the outlet, and operating this valve by
means of a float attached to the spindle of the valve. This float is enclosed in a
small chamber at the side and towards the rear of the closet, and is acted upon by
allowing the water to rush into this chamber from the flushing rim through an
aperture when flushing the closet. This at once raises the float and lifts the swing
valve, and by so doing the contents of the basin are allowed to pass through the
outlet into the trap. When the basin is flushed and the handle released, a small
hole in the float chamber empties it of the water, the float then sinks and by that
means the valve falls down into its place and screens the outlet from view as
before. This valve and float may be made of any suitable metal or other
material.
Second-The usual method in the manufacture of water closet basins having
flushing rims is to make the basin and flushing rim as one piece, but by my
method I make the flushing rim as a separate part with provision to the basin and
to the rim for properly fixing them together. For this purpose the basin has a
flange formed round the upper edge with holes in it by which the flushing rim is
fixed by means of screws and nuts. The rim is made in shape to form the usual
waterway when fixed to the basin, with flange and holes to properly fix it to the

page_text: basin. The arm forms part of the rim piece, and to make the connection water
tight, india rubber, leather, or other suitable material is interposed between the
surfaces of the flushing rim and the flange of the basin. The advantages gained by
making the basin and flushing rim in two separate parts are to be able to remove
the rim to clear the water way, and for other purposes if required, and also for the
purpose of making the rim in metal or other suitable material. The basin may be
made of the usual glazed stone ware, or the basin and flushing rim may both be
made of enamelled iron or other material.
Third As an improvement upon previous methods of closet ventilation I make
use of a junction pipe with a self adjusting valve fixed therein in connection with
the flushing pipe, and an upshaft air pipe, the latter of which is carried to the outer
air for ventilation. The valve of this junction is pivotted in position and closes
the flushing way leading to the cistern by the action of its own gravity except at
the time of flushing and thus ventilation towards the cistern is prevented, at the
same time the passage from the basin up through the air pipe is open. The junction
pipe is fixed in the flushing pipe about midway between the closet basin and the
flushing cistern, and the air pipe is continued to a proper height in the open air with
a hood or cowl upon the top of it. At each flushing this self adjusting valve is forced
down by the weight of water and closes the mouth of the ventilating pipe, and thus
a continuous water way to the basin is effected, and the full pressure of the water
from the cistern to the basin is the result. As soon as the flushing is completed,
the valve resumes its former position, and thus the flushing pipe is again closed, and
the mouth of the air pipe opened, so that ventilation is renewed until the next
flushing takes place. By this improvement the flushing rim becomes the means of
closet ventilation,

page_text: :
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Gill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th June
1882.
DAVID GILL, of the Town of Weston-Super-Mare, in the County of Somerset,
Plumber, "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER - CLOSET APPARATUS, AS APPLIED TO
SCREENING THE OUTLET, AND THE FLUSHING, AND VENTILATION OF BASIN."
First: The screening of the outlet from the basin to the trap. This is done by
binging a swing valve to the upper part of the outlet and operating this valve by
means of a float attached to the spindle (or pivot) of the valve. This float is
enclosed in a small chamber at the side and towards the rear of the closet, and is
acted upon by allowing the water to rush into this chamber from the flushing rim,
through an aperture, when flushing the closet. This at once raises the float and
lifts the swing-valve and by so doing the contents of the basin are allowed to pass
through the outlet into the trap.
When the basin is flushed and the handle released, a small hole in the float
chamber empties it of the water. The float then sinks and by that means - the valve
falls down into its place and screens the outlet from view as before. This valve and
float may be made of any suitable metal or other material,
Second: The usual method in the manufacture of water closet basins having
flushing rims is to make the basin and flushing rim as one piece,- but by my method
I make the flushing rim as a separate part with provision to the basin and to the
rim for properly fixing them together. For this purpose the basin has a flange
formed round the upper edge with holes in it by which the flushing rim is fixed
by means of screws and nuts.
The rim is made in shape to form the usual water-way when fixed to the basin,
with flange and holes to properly fix it to the basin. The arm forms part of the
rim piece, and to make the connection water-tight, india-rubber, leather, or other
suitable material is interposed between the surfaces of the flushing rim and the
flange of the basin.
The advantages gained by making the basin and flushing rim in two separate
parts are, to be able to remove the rim to clear the water way, and for other
purposes if required. And also for the purpose of making the rim in metal or other
suitable material.
The basin may be made of the usual glazed stone-ware, or the basin and flushing
rim may both be made of enamelled iron or other material.
Third-As an improvement upon previous methods of closet vontilation I make
use of a junction pipe with a self adjusting valve fixed therein in connection with
the flushing pipe and an upshaft air pipe, the latter of which is carried to the outer
air for ventilation. The valve of this junction is pivotted in position and closes
the flushing way leading to the cistern by the action of its own gravity except at
the time of flushing, and thus ventilation towards the cistern is prevented. At the
same time the passage from the basin up through the air pipe is open.
The junction pipe is fixed in the flushing pipe about midway between the closet
basin and the flushing cistern, and the air pipe is continued to a proper height in
the open air with a hood or cowl upon the top of it.
At each flushing this self adjusting valve is forced down by the weight of water
and closes the mouth of the ventilating pipe, and thus a continuous water way to
the basin is effected, and the full pressure of the water from the cistern to the basin
is the result. As soon as the flushing is completed, the valve resumes its former
position, and thus the flushing pipe is again closed and the mouth of the air pipe

page_text: opened. so that ventilation is renewed until the next flushing takes place. By this
improvement the flushing rim becomes the means of closet ventilation.
In the annexed Drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan looking down upon the closet-basin,
shewing the position of the float chamber for automatically working the screen
valve, A, is the basin: B, is the flushing rim: C, is the water inlet: D, is the float-
chamber: E, is the float: F, is the spindle (or pivot) to which the screen valve is
attached. Fig 2. is a section to a larger scalo of the float chamber, A, is part of
basin: B, is the flushing rim: C, is the water inlet: D, is the float chamber: E, is the
float: F, is the spindle or pivot; a³, is a water-channel to fill the float chamber from
the flushing rim, to work the valve; 6³ is a water outlet into the outlet pipe of
basin, to empty the float chamber when the flushing is completed, thus allowing the
screen valve to fall down into its place; c², is the water way in the rim.-Fig 3. is a
longitudinal section. A, is the basin: B, is the flushing rim: C, is the water inlet:
D, is the float-chamber (partly seen): F, is the spindle (or pivot,) connecting the
float and screen valve: G, is the screen valve: H, is a support for basin: I, is the
self acting valve in the flushing pipe: 62, is the water outlet from the float chamber;
c' is the water way in rim, d is the air pipe: e2 is the flushing pipe. Fig 4. is a
transverse section. A, the basin: B, flushing rim: G, screen valve: H, support of
basin water way in rim. Fig 5. shews the flushing rim, float, and valve dis-
connected from the basin: B, is the flushing rim: E, the float: F, the spindle or
pivot G, the screen valve: and c³ the water way:
The letters indicate the same parts in the several diagrams.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me, as aforesaid, are,-
First-the use and application of a swing valve acted upon automatically by means
of a float, to screen the outlet from the basin; second-the making of the flushing
rim as a separate part from the basin, for the purpose of removal when necessary.
third improved ventilation by means of the Hushing rim, air pipe, and self
adjusting valve; each and all, substantially as herein before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Gill, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
-
DAVID GILL. (L.S.)