AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING CESSPOOLS AND CONVEYING AWAY THE CONTENTS THEREOF
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicolas Talard, of Boulevard Magenta, 47, at Paris, in
the Republic of France, Mechanician, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING CESSPOOLS AND CONVEYING AWAY
THE CONTENTS THEREOF."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicolas Talard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1880.
NICOLAS TALARD, of Boulevard Magenta, 47, at Paris, in the Republic of France,
Mechanician. "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING CESS-
POOLS AND CONVEYING AWAY THE CONTENTS THEREOF.”
This Invention relates to a method of and apparatus for emptying and conveying
away the contents of cess-pools, wherein such contents are first drawn from the
cess-pools into recipients by suction, and are then discharged from these into a
floating vessel of special construction on a river or other water way, by which the
sewage is conveyed to wherever required, the apparatus being so arranged that no
escape of either the foul gases or of the sewage matter into the atmosphere can
take place.
For these purposes a portable engine has a double acting pump, the suction pipe
of which is connected by flexible or jointed pipes to the top of a closed recipient,
by preference on a separate carriage. The pump is, by preference, constructed of
a cylinder having at each end a disc having suction and discharge valves; over
such discs are fitted covers or caps, in which are formed two separate passages, one
communicating with the suction valve and through a passage formed in the side of
the cylinder with the suction pipe situated at the middle of the latter, while the
other passage communicates in a similar manner with the discharge valve and
discharge pipe, the latter being also situated at the middle of the cylinder opposite
the suction pipe. The covers and valve plates are all secured to the cylinder by
one and the same set of screw bolts passing through holes in the sides of the
cylinder. The valves are, by preference, metal flap valves faced with caoutchouc
or leather, and kept closed by springs acting on their hinge joints. The suction

page_text: pipe has provided in its length a joint, in which is inserted a perforated diaphragm,
whereby any passage of sewage matter into the pump from the recipient is
prevented. The discharge pipe has its delivery end situated underneath the
furnace grate of the portable engine, so that the foul gases drawn off by the pump
are discharged into the fire and burnt. The recipient has at its bottom a branch
pipe provided with a valve, which is connected to a flexible hose reaching down
into the cess-pool, so that as the air is withdrawn from the top of the recipient by
the pump the sewage is forced by the atmospheric pressure up the hose and into
the recipient. In order to prevent the over filling of the latter it is provided at
the upper part of its side with a small gauge cylinder partly made of glass, and
communicating at its upper and lower ends by pipes respectively with the top and
bottom of the recipient, so that when the recipient is nearly full the level of the
sewage therein will be indicated by the cylinder gauge.
In order to prevent any leakage of sewage through the end of the branch suction
pipe at the bottom of the recipient when the hose has been disconnected, the
branch is closed with a cap provided with caoutchouc packing and having claws
that take behind inclined lugs on the brauch, so that by turning the cap partly
round the lugs draw the claws so as to press the cap tightly against the branch.
In order to ascertain whether the sewage is being properly drawn into the
recipient by the action of the pump (which might be prevented by a leakage in
the recipient or the suction pipes) a portion of the suction hose near the branch of
the recipient is made of a glass cylinder secured by bolts between metal flanges on
the adjoining ends of the hose so that it can be observed whether the sewage is
passing in properly.
The filled recipients are discharged into a boat or vessel of the following
construction-The interior of the boat is divided by partitions into a number of
separate compartments enclosed hermetically at top by a deck. The partitions
stop short somewhat below the deck, so that beneath the latter is an air space
common to all compartments. Valves or sluices are provided in the partitions
opened by spindles passing up through stuffing boxes in the deck, so that all the
compartments may be made to communicate with each other, and the one end
compartment has a branch pipe situated in a recess in the side of the ship and a
second branch in the deck, both of which are provided with valves or cocks. On
commencing to fill the boat the discharge hose from the before described
recipient is connected to the branch in the side of the boat, so that the sewage will
flow by gravity from the former into the latter, and when, owing to its becoming
gradually filled, the boat sinks to a lower level, the discharge pipe is disconnected
and is connected to the branch in the deck. From the said compartment the
sewage is allowed to flow into the other compartments through the communicating
valves; any solid matter, such as broken glass, stones, and the like, being retained
in the first compartment by a grating. Over each compartment a manhole is
formed in the deck, closed hermetically by a cover having a rim dipping into a
trough on the deck containing water.
In order to allow of the escape of the air and gases from the compartments as
they become filled with sewage, a pipe in the centre of the deck leads to beneath a
lamp, so that the escaping air and gases are burnt by the flame thereof. The lamp
has a hollow stand, the lower edge of which fits into a water trough on the deck so
as to form a hydraulic joint, and the escaping gases pass into the interior of the
stand, whence they pass up to the flame.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nicolas Talard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June
1881.
NICOLAS TALARD, of Boulevard Magenta, 47, at Paris, in the Republic of France,
Mechanician. "AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING CESS-
POOLS AND CONVEYING AWAY THE CONTENTS THEREOF."
This Invention relates to a method of and apparatus for emptying and conveying
away the contents of cess-pools, wherein such contents are first drawn from the
cess-pools into recipients by suction, and are then discharged from these into a
floating vessel of special construction on a river or other water way by which the
sewage is conveyed to wherever required, the apparatus being so arranged that no
escape of either the foul gases or of the sewage matter into the atmosphere can
take place.
For these purposes a portable engine has a double acting air pump, the suction
pipe of which is connected by flexible or jointed pipes to the top of a closed
recipient, by preference on a separate carriage. The pump is, by preference,
constructed of a cylinder having at each end a disc having suction and discharge
valves; over such discs are fitted covers or caps in which are formed two separate
passages, one communicating with the suction valve and through a passage formed
in the side of the cylinder with the suction pipe situated at the middle of the
latter, while the other passage communicates in a similar manner with the discharge
valve and discharge pipe, the latter being also situated at the middle of the cylinder
opposite the suction pipe. The covers and valve plates are all secured to the
cylinder by one and the same set of screw bolts passing through holes in the sides
of the cylinder; the valves are, by preference, metal flap-valves faced with
caoutchouc or leather, and kept closed by springs acting on their hinge joints.
The suction pipe has provided in its length a joint in which is inserted a perforated
diaphragm, whereby any passage of sewage matter into the pump from the
recipient is prevented. The discharge pipe has its delivery end situated underneath
the furnace grate of the portable engine, so that the foul gases drawn off by the pump
are discharged into the fire and burnt. The recipient has at its bottom a branch
pipe provided with a valve which is connected to a flexible hose reaching down
into the cesspool, so that as the air is withdrawn from the top of the recipient by
the pump the sewage is forced by the atmospheric pressure up the hose and into
the recipient. In order to prevent the overfilling of the latter it is provided at the
upper part of its side with a small gauge cylinder partly made of glass, and
communicating at its upper and lower ends by pipes respectively with the top and
bottom of the recipient, so that when the recipient is nearly full the level of the
sewage therein will be indicated by the cylinder gauge.
In order to prevent any leakage of sewage through the end of the branch suction
pipe at the bottom of the recipient when the hose has been disconnected, the
branch is closed with a cap provided with caoutchouc packing and having claws
that take behind inclined lugs on the branch, so that by turning the cap partly
round the lugs draw the claws so as to press the cap tightly against the branch.
In order to ascertain whether the sewage is being properly drawn into the
recipient by the action of the pump (which might be prevented by a leakage in
the recipient or the suction pipes) a portion of the suction hose near the branch of
the recipient is made of a glass cylinder secured by bolts between metal flanges
on the adjoining ends of the hose, so that it can be observed whether the sewage
passing in properly.
is
The filled recipients are discharged into a boat or vessel of a construction

page_text: hereinafter described, by which the sewage is conveyed by water to wherever
desired.
The construction of the said apparatus will be understood on reference to the
accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 shews a front elevation and Fig. 2 a plan
of the combined pumping engine and recipient; Figs. 3 to 10 shew detached details
to an enlarged scale. On the portable engine A is fixed an air pump B, the piston
of which is worked either directly or by gearing as shewn from the engine
cylinder A'. The pump is double acting, and its suction pipe or hose B₁ commu-
nicates with the top of the recipient T, the bottom of which communicates by
means of the pipe or hose T¹ with the cesspool to be emptied, so that by exhausting
the air from the recipient T by means of the air pump the contents of the cess-pool
are forced by atmospheric pressure up through the pipe T¹ into the recipient.
The suction pipe B¹ being made to communicate with the top of the recipient this can
become entirely filled with the sewage matter without interfering with the action
of the pump, and in order to prevent the sewage matter from passing into the
pipe B' and thence into the pump when T is full, there is provided at the side of
the latter a gauge consisting of a glass cylinder D partly enclosed in a casing C,
the lower end of which communicates by a branch C¹ of large diameter with the
side of the recipient, so that the contents of the latter can freely enter D and stand
therein at the same level as in the recipient, for which purpose the top of the
recipient communicates with the top of the cylinder D by a smaller pipe C². Thus
by observing the level of the sewage matter in the gauge the action of the pump B
can be stopped before the liquid matter reaches the suction tube, whereupon the
valve R on the supply pipe T' is closed. For further security in preventing the
sewage matter from passing into the pump the suction pipe B¹ is divided at R¹,
and there is introduced at that point a perforated diaphragm R2 as shewn to an
enlarged longitudinal and cross section at Figs. 5 and 6, the holes in the diaphragm
being of such a size as, while allowing the free passage of air, to prevent the
sewage matter from passing through them. As the air pump B in exhausting the
recipient T will discharge not only atmospheric air but also more or less obnoxious
vapours emanating from the sewage matter its discharge pipe B2 is made to open
into the fire box of the portable engine, so that any such gases will be burnt and
rendered innoccuous in passing through the fire. It might occur that on account
of leakages in the recipient or in the supply or suction pipes B¹, T', or through
these pipes becoming clogged, the sewage matter is prevented from passing properly
into the recipient, so that the pump would work uselessly. To prevent this I
construct a portion of the supply tube T¹ of glass, as shown at Fig. 2, and to an
enlarged scale in longitudinal and cross section at Figs. 9 and 10. E is a glass
tube fitted at each end air tight into metal sockets E2, E3, which in their turn are
fitted air tight to the flanged ends of the pipe T', the whole being secured together
by means of the bolts e passing through the said flanges, as shewn at Fig. 2, which
bolts at the same time protect the tube E from injury. By the above means it can
always be observed whether the sewage matter is passing into the recipient
properly. The construction of the pump barrel will be understood on reference to
the enlarged longitudinal section thereof at Fig. 3 and the end view at Fig. 4, one
of the valve covers or caps being removed. B is a cylindrical barrel, in which
works a piston of ordinary construction whose rod passes through the stuffing box
in the one cover G¹. The ends of the cylinder have fitted to them plates K, K, in
which are openings having suction valves I, I, and discharge valves I', I'. These
valves are by preference metal flap valves faced with caoutchouc, leather, or the
like, and they are kept down on their seats by light springs p coiled round the
hinge pin of the valve and bearing with a loop 2 upon the valve while the ends p'
are against the plate K. Over the valve plates are fitted the hollow covers G, G,
having cross ribs G¹ fitting closely against the plates K so as to form two separate
chambers in each cover, the one communicating with the suction valves I and the
other with the delivery valves I'. These chambers also communicate respectively
with two longitudinal passages h, h, formed through the sides of the cylinder B,

page_text: which passages have at their middle branches H, H, that are connected by means
of sockets i, i, respectively with the suction and delivery pipes B¹, B². The covers
and valve plates are all secured air tight to the ends of the cylinder by means of
one set of screw bolts passing through holes in flanges F on the ends of the cylinder
and through corresponding holes in the covers and valve plates.
In order to prevent any leakage of the sewage matter past the valve R when the
recipient T is filled and is being conveyed to its destination, the pipe T¹ or mouth
of the valve (the pipe being removed) is closed by a cap shewn in front view and
section at Figs. 7 and 8. The mouth L' of the valve or pipe has a flange 1, the
rear face of which is formed with inclines, and the cap L has claws M that are first
passed down grooves in the said flange, and then, by turning the cap by means of
the claws M as handles, these are made to bear upon the inclines, a circular rib m¹
on the cover being thus made to bear upon a rubber washer on the flange so as to
effect a hermetic closure of the opening.
Fig. 11 of the Drawings shews a plan partly in section of the construction of
boat which I employ for conveying the sewage matter collected by means of the
before described apparatus to wherever required. The interior of the boat is
divided by partitions N into a number of separate compartments 1, 2, 3, 4, &c.,
euclosed hermetically at top by a deck N'. The partitions stop short somewhat
below the deck, so that beneath the latter is an air space common to all the
compartments. Valves or sluices are provided in the partitions at V, opened by
spindles passing up through stuffing boxes v in the deck, so that all the
compartments may be made to communicate with each other, and the end
compartment 1 has a branch pipe o situated in a recess in the side of the ship at N³,
and a second branch o¹ in the deck, both of which are provided with valves or
cocks. On commencing to fill the boat, the discharge hose from the before
described recipient is connected to the branch o in the side of the boat so that the
sewage will flow by gravity from the former into the latter, and when, owing to its
becoming gradually filled, the boat sinks to a lower level, the discharge pipe is
disconnected and is connected to the branch o' in the deck. From the compartment 1
the sewage is allowed to flow into the other compartments through the com-
municating valves V, any solid matter, such as broken glass, stones, and the like,
being retained in the first compartment by a grating. Over each compartment a
manhole T³ is formed in the deck, closed hermetically by a cover having a rim
dipping into a trough on the deck containing water.
In order to allow of the escape of the air and gases from the compartments as
they become filled with sewage, a pipe in the centre of the deck leads to beneath
a lamp at X, so that the escaping air and gases are burnt by the flame thereof.
The lamp has a hollow stand, the lower edge of which fits into a water trough on
the deck so as to form a hydraulic joint, and the escaping gases pass into the interior
of the stand whence they pass up to the flame.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,-
First. In apparatus for removing the contents of cess-pools and privies, the
combination of the portable engine A with air pump B, connected by suction
pipe B₁ to the top of recipient T, and whose delivery pipe B² is led to the fire-
box of the engine; the gauge C, C1, C2, D, and supply pipe T' with valve R, all
arranged and operating substantially as herein set forth.
Second. The combination of the cylinder B, having passages h and suction and
delivery branches H, with valve plates K, spring valves II', and covers G with
partitions G¹, constituting an air pump cylinder for exhausting air from a recipient
for sewage, substantially as-herein set forth.
Third. In combination with the suction tube B', the perforated diaphragm R³ for
preventing the passage of the sewage matter into the air pump.
Fourth. In combination with the supply tube T', the glass tube E for indicating
the proper action of the exhaust in the recipient.

page_text: Fifth. In combination with the supply pipe T', the cover L operating in
combination with claws M and flange for closing the end thereof to prevent
leakage.
Sixth. In combination with the recipient T, the glass cylinder D with casing C,
communicating by a large pipe C' with the side of the recipient and by a pipe C³
with the top thereof, constituting a gauge for ascertaining the level of the sewage
matter in the recipient.
Seventh. The construction of boat or floating receptacle for conveying the sewage
herein described with reference to Fig. 11 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicolas Talard, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
NICOLAS TALARD. (L.S.)