IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATERCLOSETS AND OTHER TUEPLSES
Year: 1863

page_text: of Lancaster, Architect, and Joshua Hewitt, of Stanley, near Liverpool,
aforesaid, Plumber, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS
FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATERCLOSETS
AND OTHER TUEPLSES."
Sealed the 6th May 1864, and dated the 11th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Mellard Reade
and Joshua Hewitt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 11th November 1863.
We. THOMAS MELLARD READE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Architect, and JOSHUA HEWITT, of Stanley, near Liverpool, aforesaid, Plumber,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER-
CLOSETS AND OTHER PURPOSES." to be as follows (that is to say) :-
This Invention has for its objects certain improved arrangements of and
mode of constructing apparatus to be used for regulating and controlling the
supply of water to waterclosets, wash-basins, urinals, and other purposes,
where a definite quantity of water or other liquid is required to be liberated at
each action, and consists mainly in the use of a measuring supply service box
or chamber. provided with an improved self-acting floating ball valve (or valves),
and in the application of a vertical syphon pipe connected with the bottom of
[Price 8d.]

page_text: the measuring box in the case of pan or valve waterclosets, which require an
"after supply" for the purpose of trapping or preventing the effluvia escaping
from the soil pipe, and so arranging the apparatus when applied to hopper
waterclosets as to make available the elasticity of a given quantity of air
confined within the service box, or in a chamber placed above it for securing
the more effectual flushing of the pan; and, lastly, in an improved supply
valve for the service box and its gear, which are equally applicable to a high
or low pressure service or supply.
This Invention may be applied to a pan or valve closet as follows:-
Attached to a vertical board, which may be placed in the angle of the wall or
in a recess specially made for it immediately above the seat of the water
closet, is a cyndrical or other suitable shaped metallic vessel or chamber
having an internal capacity sufficient to contain the amount of water required
for the after supply for trapping the closet; the top of this service box or
chamber is fitted with an open air pipe which extends a convenient distance
upwards, which pipe is closed at its lower end, when the service box is charged
by means of a hollow or other floating ball of india-rubber, gutta percha, or
other suitable material, and which ball has a diameter nearly equal to the
horizontal sectional area of the service chamber in which it is enclosed. A
syphon pipe branches from near the bottom of the service vessel, and springs
upwards to a point a little above the top of the service box, and is then bent
downwards in a curved line so as to enter the basin of the closet and form the
service or flushing pipe thereof. The bottom of the service vessel is provided
with a supply valve with an oblique junction thereto, by which it is connected
to the main or supply pipe; the cover of this valve may consist of a horizontal
disc, with a packing of leather or other suitable material underneath it, or it
may be formed with a conical or truncated conical shank below the packing,
and the valve cover is worked by a vertical rod from below, which passes
through a stuffing box. On the lower outer side of the valve, below the
entrance of the supply branch, this valve rod extends sufficiently downwards
to work through a guide eye, and has jointed thereto a connecting rod between
the lower side of the valve and the guide eye, and the lower end of which
connecting rod is jointed to an horizontal lever jointed to the vertical board
and extending outwards to one side of the pan of the closet, and is fitted on
its outer end with a suitable handle for elevating the same. This horizontal
lever is perforated at its inner end by several lateral holes, so as to readily attach
the connecting rod that it may have a longer or shorter stroke for regulating
the extent of the valve opening as required, according to the pressure of the
water supply. By this arrangement, on elevating the outer end of the hori-

page_text: zontal lever, the connecting rod, valve spindle, and valve cover are raised
upwards a sufficient distance to give the required opening to allow the water
to pass into the service box, and as the water rises therein the floating ball
valve ascends until it arrives at the bottom of the air pipe, which it closes, and
prevents the water entering therein. The water is then forced through the
syphon-shaped flushing pipe into the basin of the closet, and continues to run
so long as the handle of the horizontal lever is held up, but upon being released
the supply valve closes, after which the water contained in the service chamber
is drawn off by the syphon, and is discharged into the pan to form the after
supply.
When waterclosets are supplied with water at a high pressure, it is proposed
to pass the supply through a close vessel fitted with an air pipe passing down
through the top thereof a given distance into the chamber, and the upper end
of which extends above the top of the vessel, and is enlarged within the vessel
at its lower end so as to receive a floating ball-valve like the one herein-before
described, which, when the water rises, causes the floating ball to close the air
pipe by pressing against the lower portion of the smaller part of the pipe,
cutting off the supply of air to the vessel, and preventing the water entering
the air pipe above the valve. By this arrangement a supply pipe of small
bore may be used, as the body of water collected will be acted upon by the
pressure of the air confined in the upper part of the enclosed vessel, so that
when liberated by a discharge pipe of the required size will be forced out with
considerable velocity until it falls sufficiently low to relieve the floating ball of
the air valve. If found more convenient the smaller part of the air pipe may
be carried down one side of the chamber, and arranged to enter at one side,
having its junction to the enlarged portion containing the floating ball with the
chamber: or the whole of the air pipe with its floating valve may be placed
on the outside of the chamber by having a communication between the interior
of the chamber and the interior of the enlarged lower end of the pipes. The
discharge pipe of this part of the apparatus forms the supply pipe to the
apparatus before described, as applied to a pan or valve waterclosets. This
pressure supply cistern may be used alone for hopper basin closets, wash-basins.
urinals, and for other like purposes, by applying an outlet valve to the discharge
pipe. which can be used as a supply or flushing pipe, and by applying a valve
on the small supply pipe the same can be arranged to be opened by receiving
an action through connecting rods and so forth by pressure applied to the
seat of the closet, or to a footboard on front of the wash-stand, urinal, or other
like receptacle. and by regulating the size of the service cistern and the
distance the hell valve has to rise before confining the air therein, the amount

page_text: of water to be discharged at each operation may be regulated, regard being
had to the amount of pressure in the main supply.
In the case of a hopper closet, in most cases a single valve on the discharge
or flushing pipe will be found sufficient for most ordinary purposes when to be
opened by hand, but when to be self-acting a valve will be necessary on the
supply pipe, which can be opened by means of rods and levers connected to
the closet seat, and in which case it will be requisite so to arrange the discharge
valve that it will remain closed during the time pressure is applied to the seat,
and will open upon being relieved therefrom at the same time that the supply
valve is closed. In the case of wash-basins, the discharge valve is arranged
so as to open and the supply valve to close upon pressure being applied to the
footboard. The footboard closet seat valves or the levers may be so counter-
weighted as to insure the perfect action of the valves.
In the case of hopper closets, wash-basins, and so forth, where a definite
supply of water or other liquid is to be delivered at each time of opening the
discharge valve by hand, the apparatus may be considerably simplified by
using a closed vessel of the required capacity to contain the amount of liquid
to be discharged at each operation, which close measuring vessel is fitted on
the top with an open air pipe similar to those herein-before described, and
having enclosed therein the hollow or other floating sphere for closing the air
pipe when the chamber is charged. In this case it is preferred to introduce
the supply pipe into the bottom of a small hopper or recess formed in the
bottom of the chamber, and immediately over which is placed a syphon dis-
charge pipe, a semi-floating ball being placed within a cage or its mechanical
equivalent, so that when the supply valve is opened the force of the water will
drive up the semi-floating ball and close the end of the discharge syphon so
long as the current of water is passing into the vessel, but which when the
supply is cut off will sink and allow the water to pass out through the discharge
syphon pipe. In the case of the supply being introduced into the measuring
box from an open topped cistern, and where an after-supply is required,
as in the case of pan closets, the air pipe is dispensed with, the supply pipe
occupying its position on the head of the enclosed vessel. And to obtain the
after-supply at a distance about two-thirds up the enclosed chamber there is a
supplemental pipe, the upper end of which extends into the vessel and has its
mouth turned downwards so as to allow one of the improved floating balls
described to close the same when in contact therewith; the lower end of
this pipe forms a junction with the flushing or discharge pipe, and the lower
end of this enclosed vessel is flanged outwards or otherwise enlarged, and is
fitted at the bottom with a discharge valve, which is actuated by hand through

page_text: suitable rods and levers. The action of this modification of the apparatus
will be that on opening the discharge valve the current of water as it descends
will carry down the ball, and when the discharge valve is closed the ball will
again ascend and close the orifice of the supplemental pipe, but during the
ascension of the ball a sufficient quantity of water will have been discharged
through the supplemental pipe into the flushing pipe and thence into the pan,
and so form the after-supply for trapping the soil pipe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Mellard Reade and Joshua Hewitt in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 11th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
MELLARD READE, of Liverpool. in the County of Lancaster, Architect,
and JOSHUA HEWITT, of Stanley, near Liverpool aforesaid, Plumber, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Thomas Mellard Reade and Joshua Hewitt, Her special licence
that we, the said Thomas Mellard Reade and Joshua Hewitt, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Mellard
Reade and Joshua Hewitt, our executors, administrators. and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others. from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed. should and lawfully might
make. use. exercise. and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man. an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE
SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATERCLOSETS AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Mellard Reade and Joshua
Hewitt, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Mellard Reade and Joshua
Hewitt, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
This our said Invention has for its objects certain improved arrangements
of and mode of constructing apparatus to be used for regulating and con-
trolling the supply of water to waterclosets, wash-basins, urinals, and other
purposes, where a definite quantity of water or other liquid is required to be
liberated at each action; and consists mainly in the use of a measuring supply
service box or chamber provided with an improved self-acting floating ball
valve (or valves), and in the application of a vertical syphon pipe connected
with the bottom of the measuring box in the case of pan or valve water-
closets, which require an "after supply" for the purpose of trapping or
preventing the effluvia escaping from the soil pipe, and so arranging the
apparatus when applied to hopper waterclosets as to make available the
elasticity of a given quantity of air confined within the service box, or in a
chamber placed above it, for securing the more effectual flushing of the pan;
and, lastly, in an improved supply valve for the service box and its gear,
which are equally applicable to a high or low water pressure service or
supply.
This our said Invention may be applied to a pan or valve closet as follows: -
Attached to a vertical board, which may be placed in the angle of the wall
or in a recess specially made for it immediately above the seat of the water-
closet, we fix a cylindrical or other suitable shaped metallic vessel or chamber
having an internal capacity sufficient to contain the amount of water required
for the after-supply for trapping the closet, and the top of the service box or
chamber we fit with an open air pipe, which extends a convenient distance
upwards, and which pipe is closed at its lower end, and when the service box
is charged by means of a hollow or other floating ball of india-rubber, gutta
percha, or other suitable material, and which ball has a diameter nearly equal
to the horizontal sectional area of the service chamber in which it is enclosed.
A syphon pipe branches from near the bottom of the service vessel, and
springs upwards to a point a little above the top of the service box, and is
then bent downwards in a curved line so as to enter the basin of the closet,
and from the service or flushing pipe thereof.
The bottom of the service
vessel is provided with a supply valve with an oblique junction thereto, by
which it is connected to the main or supply pipe; the cover of this valve may
consist of a horizontal disc, with a packing of leather or other suitable material
underneath it, or it may be formed with a conical or truncated conical shank

page_text: below the packing, and the valve cover is worked by a vertical rod from
below, which passes through a stuffing box on the lower outer side of the
valve below the entrance of the supply branch; this valve rod extends suffi-
ciently downwards to work through a guide eye, and has jointed thereto a
connecting rod between the lower side of the valve and the guide eye, and the
lower end of which connecting rod is jointed to an horizontal lever jointed to
the vertical board and extending outwards to one side of the pan of the closet,
and is fitted on its outer end with a suitable handle for elevating the same.
This horizontal lever is perforated at its inner end by several lateral holes, so
as to readily attach the connecting rod that it may have a larger or shorter
stroke for regulating the extent of the valve opening as required, according
to the pressure of the water supply. By this arrangement, on elevating the
outer end of the horizontal lever, the connecting rod, valve spindle, and valve
cover are raised upwards a sufficient distance to give the required opening to
allow the water to pass into the service box, and as the water rises therein
the floating hall valve ascends until it arrives at the bottom of the air pipe,
which it closes, and prevents the water entering therein; the water is then
forced through the syphon-shaped flushing pipe into the basin of the closet,
and continues to run so long as the handle of the horizontal lever is held up,
but upon being released the supply valve closes, after which the water con-
tained in the service chamber is drawn off by the syphon, and is discharged
into the pan to form the after-supply.
When waterclosets are supplied with water at a high pressure we propose
to pass the supply through a close vessel fitted with an air pipe passing down
through the top thereof a given distance into the chamber, and the upper end
of which extends above the top of the vessel, and is enlarged within the
vessel at its lower end, so as to receive a floating ball-valve like the one herein-
before described, which when the water rises causes the floating ball to close
the air pipe by pressing against the lower portion of the smaller part of the
pipe, cutting off the supply of air to the vessel, and preventing the water
entering the air pipe above the valve. By this arrangement a supply pipe of
small bore may be used, as the body of water collected will be acted upon by
the pressure of the air confined in the upper part of the enclosed vessel, so
that when liberated by a discharge pipe of the required size it will be forced
out with considerable velocity until it falls sufficiently low to relieve the
floating ball of the air valve. If found more convenient, the smaller part of
the air pipe may be carried down one side of the chamber and arranged to
enter at one side, having its junction to the enlarged portion containing the
floating ball with the chamber, or the whole of the air pipe with its floating

page_text: valve may be placed on the outside of the chamber by having a communication
between the interior of the chamber and the interior of the enlarged lower
end of the pipe. The discharge pipe of this part of the apparatus forms the
supply pipe to the apparatus before described as applied to pan or valve water-
closets. This pressure supply cistern may be used alone for hopper-basin closets,
wash-basins, urinals, and for other like purposes, by applying an outlet valve to
the discharge pipe, which can be used as a supply or flushing pipe, and by
applying a valve on the small supplying pipe the same can be arranged to be
opened by receiving an action through connecting rods, and so forth, by pres-
sure applied to the seat of the closet, or to a footboard in front of the wash-
stand, urinal, or other like receptacle, and by regulating the size of the service
cistern, and the distance the bell valve has to rise before confining the air
therein, the amount of water to be discharged at each operation may be
regulated, regard being had to the amount of pressure in the main supply.
In the case of a hopper closet, and in most cases, a single valve on the
discharge or flushing pipe will be found sufficient for most ordinary purposes
when to be opened by hand, but when to be self-acting a valve will be neces-
sary on the supply pipe, which can be opened by means of rods and levers
connected to the closet seat, and in which case it will be requisite to so arrange
the discharge valve that it will remain closed during the time pressure is
applied to the seat, and will open upon being relieved therefrom, at the same
time that the supply valve is closed. In the case of wash-basins, the discharge
valve we arrange so as to open and the supply valve to close upon pressure
being applied to the footboard. The footboard, closet seat valves, or the levers
we so counterweight as to insure the perfect action of the valves.
In the case of hopper closets, wash-basins, and so forth, where a definite
supply of water or other liquid is to be delivered at each time of opening the
discharge valve by hand, the apparatus may be considerably simplified by
using a closed vessel of the required capacity to contain the amount of liquid
to be discharged at each operation, which close-measuring vessel we fit on
the top with an open air pipe similar to those herein-before described, and
having enclosed therein the hollow or other floating sphere for closing the air
pipe when the chamber is charged; in this case we prefer to introduce the
supply pipe into the bottom of a small hopper or recess formed in the bottom
of the chamber, and immediately over which we place a syphon discharge pipe.
We place a semi-floating ball within a cage, or its mechanical equivalent, so
that when the supply valve is opened the force of the water will drive up the
semi-floating ball and close the end of the discharge syphon so long as the
current of water is passing into the vessel, but which, when the supply is cut

page_text: off, will sink and allow the water to pass out through the discharge syphon
pipe. In the case of the supply being introduced into the measuring box
from an open-topped cistern, and where an after-supply is required, as in the
case of pan closets, we dispense with the air pipe, the-supply pipe occupying
its position on the head of the enclose vessel, and to obtain the after-supply, at
a distance about two-thirds up the enclosed chamber we place a supplemental
pipe, the upper end of which extends into the vessel and has its mouth turned
downwards so as to allow one of the improved floating balls described to close
the same when in contact therewith; the lower end of this pipe forms a
junction with the flushing or discharge pipe, and the lower end of this enclosed
vessel we flange outwards, or otherwise enlarge, and is fitted at the bottom
with a discharge valve, which is actuated by hand through suitable rods and
levers. The action of this modification of the apparatus will be, that on opening
the discharge valve the current of water as it descends will carry down the
ball, and when the discharge valve is closed the ball will again ascend and
close the orifice of the supplemental pipe, but during the ascension of the ball
a sufficient quantity of water will have been discharged through the supple-
mental pipe into the flushing pipe and thence into the pan to form the after-
supply for trapping the soil pipe.
That this our said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
we have hereunto annexed Drawings illustrating several modifications of our
Invention. The letters and figures marked thereon are used to denote
similar parts.
Figure 1 is a partial sectional side elevation of a pan closet, having one
modification of our improvements applied thereto; Figure 2 is a vertical
section of the same; and Figure 3 is a top view or plan, seen with a portion
of the seat removed to expose the internal arrangements below.
A, closet seat; B, the basin; C, the pan casing or chamber, which are of
the ordinary description; D, the water supply pipe, which is connected by E,
a union joint, with F, one of our improved valves fitted to the bottom of G,
one of our improved service boxes, which is attached to a vertical board or to
the wall of the closet, and is formed in two parts and attached together at the
centre by H, a screw collar, and is fitted at the top with I, an air pipe, which
is bent downwards and carried into the basin in rear of the spreader, so that
should there be any escape of water through the air valve it will fall into the
pan; K is a supplemental air pipe, which is used when it is required to keep
the service box full, when the supply from the measuring box has ceased, and
it is bent downwards and opens into the flushing pipe (U) below the line of
the supply valve; L, a floating ball of india-rubber, gutta percha, or other

page_text: suitable material, and in this modification when not in contact with the water
rests in a cup on the end of a vertical spindle which is here shewn as
springing from M, the supply valve cover; N, the supply valve spindle,
working through a stuffing box, and O, a guide eye, which is connected by P, a
link rod, to Q, a horizontal lever, which is actuated by R, the horizontal lever
which actuates the pan of the closet; S, the rod and handle for actuating the
closet; T and T, counterweights; U, the syphon flushing pipe. The action
of this closet is as follows:--Upon (S), (the handle,) of the closet being
drawn up by hand, the pan of the closet is tilted, the disc of the supply
valve is raised; the water then runs into the supply vessel (G) and fills until
it floats the ball (L) against its seat and closes the air pipe (I). The water
is then forced over the upper bend of the syphon (U) and discharges itself
into the basin, and into which it continues to run as long as the supply valve
is open.
On the handle being depressed the supply valve closes and the pan
of the closet is again brought into position to receive the contents of the
service box (G) after the supply valve is closed.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of an open topped cistern fitted with our im-
proved measuring box to prevent waste of water, and into which opens the
supply pipe D. This improved measuring box consists of a close vessel placed
in the bottom of the cistern, and is fitted with Y, a vertical air pipe, which
extends above the surface of the water, and the measuring box is perforated
by X, a small opening through which the water in which it is immersed enters.
The object of this arrangement is that the contents of the measuring box may
be drawn off through a large pipe, thereby insuring more perfect flushing of
the closet or other apparatus to which it may be connected, and is par-
ticularly suitable for application to waterclosets in general, urinals, or wash-
houses.
Figure 5 shews another modification of our pneumatic measuring box for
high-pressure service, and for which a very small supply pipe is requisite, and
which, like the last described, consists of (G, G,) a close vessel formed of two
parts annd screwed together about the centre of its length. The supply pipe
(D) is fitted with a valve or tap, which may be actuated by hand or through
levers connected to the closet seat or footboards of urinals or wash-stands, and
is fitted on the top with an air pipe (I) which opens into a small valve
chamber, which is shewn in Figure 6 on a large scale, and contains, L, the
floating ball, and has opening through its bottom and extending down a con-
siderable distance into the measuring box; Z, a vertical open-ended pipe.
The syphon-shaped flushing pipe (U) extends nearly to the bottom of the
vessel, and is carried to the pan of the closet in rear of the spreader, as in the

page_text: last-described modification.
At the bottom of the service chamber a small
air drop valve may be fitted, as shewn by two dotted lines, in lieu of the ball
valve. The action of this modification of the apparatus is as follows:-The
water upon entering the vessel and rising to the bottom of the pipe (Z)
confines the air, and as it rises compresses until it is forced up the vertical
pipe into the valve chamber, entering therein through a lateral opening at the
head of the pipe, as seen by the arrows in Figure 6, until the ball floats.
against its upper seat and closes the air pipe (1), by which arrangement
when the valve in the flushing pipe (U) is opened the water is forced out by
the pressure of the air with considerable velocity, thereby insuring a perfect
flushing action and a renewal of the air at each action.
Figure 7 is a partial vertical section of a self-acting hopper watercloset,
with another modification of our Invention applied thereto.
And Figure 8 is a top view or plan of the same, shewn with the seat removed
to expose the internal arrangements. a. the hopper pan, which in this modifi-
cation is fitted on the head of a soil pipe, which is of larger diameter than the
bottom of the hopper, and rises above the strap, so that the water after rinsing
the hopper will fall into the trap pipe, so as not to give a rotatory motion to
the soil, as is now commonly the case.
The service box (G) in the modification consists of an enclosed vessel
resembling the last-described modification, and has fitted on its head a valve
chamber and air pipe similar to that shewn by Figure 6, except the vertical
pipe (Z) is dispensed with, and the supply pipe (D), which is also of very
small diameter, opens direct with the valve box on the head of the chamber, and
the supply of water being so arranged as to be a little in excess of its capabilities
of escape through an opening or openings formed at the bottom of the valve
chambers into the supply vessel, by which arrangement the moment the supply
is turned on the floating ball rises and closes the air pipe (I). But to allow
the escape of the air in the vessel, so as to be replaced by water. the chamber
is fitted with the small supplemental air pipe (K), which communicates with
the interior of the vessel, near the top, and with the syphon flushing pipe a
little distance below. In this modification the supply pipe (D) is fitted with
a valve, actuated by b, a lever having its fulcrum at c, having one end turned
up, so as to cause it to rest against the under side of the closet seat, and by
d. weight on the reverse end of the lever; e, the valve spindle, jointed to the
lever (b).
The action of this modification of our apparatus is as follows: Upon
the seat being pressed down the short end of the lever is depressed, by which
the supply valve is opened, allowing the supply water to pass through the small

page_text: supply pipe through the valve chamber, closing the air valve, into the
pneumatic service vessel until it rises to the highest point of the syphon flushing
pipe, when it commences to run through the vessel at the same rate as the
supply enters. The moment the seat is relieved of pressure the supply valve
is closed by the action of the weighted lever, the air valve drops, and the
contents are rapidly discharged through the syphon.
Figure 9 is another modification of our Invention when applied to a hopper
closet supplied with a high-pressure service, and in which modification, having
a rising service pipe, we dispense with the air pipes, and consists of (1) a
perfectly air tight service vessel, and which in this modification is shewn with
the high-pressure service pipe opening into the vessel near the bottom, and is
fitted at the bottom with a discharge valve resembling the supply valve (shewn
in Figures 1 and 2).
The action of this modification is as follows:-When the closet is at rest
the valve of the supply pipe is open to allow the water to enter into the close
chamber (F), and which compresses the air on the surface thereof to the
extent of the power of the supply pressure, but upon the handle of the closet
being drawn up, the discharge valve on the head of the flushing pipe is opened,
and the supply valve closes the vessel discharging its contents and the air being
renewed.
Figure 10 is another modification of an improved measuring liquid box,
which consists of g, an enclosed chamber or vessel, which has fitted on the top
thereof a valve chamber or valve resembling those shewn in Figures 5, 6, and 7,
but in this modification the vertical pipe is dispensed with, and the supply pipe
is arranged to open into the service chamber, and the inverted syphon flushing
pipe is carried vertically upwards on the outside of the vessel instead of inside
as in the previously-described modifications. By this the vessel fills and
empties itself alternately, and is applicable to flushing sewers and ranges of
urinals, trough waterclosets, and other purposes.
Figure 11. This is partial sectional elevation of one of our improved left
valves, enclosed on the top with a screwed cap, and which valve may be used
with advantage in lieu of the lift valve shewn on Figure 7, and for many other
useful purposes. h, the supply pipe, which is connected to the valve by a
union joint; (M), the valve cover, connected by a button (N), the valve
spindle allowing it a little play, which is shewn broken off below the screwed
gland, by which it works; p, a screwed covering cap, by removing which the
valve can be readily got at.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, and the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the same

page_text: into practical effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details relative to proportions or dimensions, as it
will be readily seen that the same may be considerably varied without
departing from the Invention; but what we do claim as our Invention is, the
improvements in the apparatus for regulating and controlling the supply of
water to waterclosets and other purposes, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Mellard Reade and Joshua
Hewitt, have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals, this Tenth
day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-four.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
THOMAS MELLARD (L.S.) READE.
JOSHUA (L.S.) HEWITT.