IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE APPARATUS FOR LAVATORY AND WATERCLOSET BASINS, BATHS, AND OTHER SIMILAR USES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VALVE APPARATUS FOR LAVATORY AND WATERCLOSET BASINS, BATHS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR USES." A communication from abroad by Francis E. Kernochan,
of Pittsfield, in the County of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts, United States
of America.
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 29th May 1877. .
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE APPARATUS FOR LAVATORY AND
WATERCLOSET BASINS, BATHS, AND OTHER SIMILAR USES." A communication from
abroad by Francis E. Kernochan, of Pittsfield, in the County of Berkshire, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America.
-
The object of this Invention is to prevent sewer gas from escaping into the
house through the discharge pipes of wash basins, bath tubs, watercloset basins, and
the like.
The Invention consists in the combination of two or more valves provided with a
single valve stem, with the inlet and discharge pipes of wash basins, bath tubs,
watercloset basins, and the like; and in the combination of the crank, the connecting
rod, and the sliding rod with the single stem of the two or more valves as herein-
after fully described.
As applied to a wash basin the warm water and cold water inlet pipes, and the
discharge pipe, with the upper end of which is connected' the overflow pipe, are
each provided with a stop cock or valve; the three valves are arranged in line with
each other, and are all attached to the same stem so that they may all be opened
and closed at the same time and by the same operation. The three valves should
Price G21
.

page_text: all rest upon and be attached to a bar so that they cannot be moved out of the
line with each other by the bending of the pipes. The shells of the valves may be
made solid, with or without the bar, if desired. The valve stem may be operated
in various ways to open and close the valves. I. will describe a simple and con-
venient way of doing this, but do not wish to be limited to that arrangement.
To one end of the valve stem is attached a short crank, to which is pivoted the
lower end of a conecting rod. The upper end of the connecting rod is pivoted to a
rod, which slides up and down in bearings attached to some suitable support, and
may have a knob or other handle attached to its upper end for convenience in
operating it. The rod, when raised to open the valves, may be held in place by
friction, but for greater security a spring may be attached to it and to some suitable
support to increase the friction. When the valves are open, water may be admitted
to the basin by operating the faucets, and may be discharged the same as if no
valves were used. When the valves are closed, no water can be admitted into the
basin, and no sewer gas can escape from the discharge pipe into the room, so
that there can be no overflowing on account of the closing of the valve in drain
pipe.
In the case of bath tubs the same arrangement is used.
In the case of watercloset basins only two valves will be used,' as said basin
is never supplied with a warm water pipe.
In the case of watercloset basins the inlet pipe should be carried above the
basin and then brought down to it, so that the downwardly extending part of said
pipe may contain enough water to flow out after the valves have been closed for the
afterwash, and, to furnish the usual water seal.
t
"
Instead of a connecting rod as described, the sliding rod may have a stud which
slides in a slot of the crank arm; a weight or spring may be attached to the
sliding rod for closing the valves automatically when the said rod is released, and a
springing platform may be placed in front of the washstand and connected with the
said rod so that the weight of the person using the washstand will operate the
valves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th November 1877.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE APPARATUS FOR LAVATORY AND
WATERCLOSET BASINS, BATHS, AND OTHER SIMILAR USES." A communication from
abroad by Francis E. Kernochan, of Pittsfield, in the County of Berkshire, State of
Massachusetts; United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to prevent sewer gas from escaping into houses
through the discharge pipes of lavatory basins, baths, watercloset basins, and the like.
The Invention consists in the combination of two or more valves provided with
a single valve stem with the inlet and discharge pipes of lavatory basins, baths,
watercloset basins, &c., and in the combination of the crank, the connecting rod,
and the sliding rod with the single stem of the two or more valves as herein-after
fully described.
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4.
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4.
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DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of a lavatory basin with the improvements applied.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same taken through the line x, x, Figure 1,
and looking in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 3 is a modified form of the valve actuating device.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

page_text: A represents a lavatory basin; B and C are the warm water and cold water inlet
pipes; D is the discharge pipe; E is the overflow pipe which enters the upper end
of the discharge pipe D. In each of the pipes, B, D, C, is placed a stop-cock or
valve F. The three valves F are arranged in line with each other, and are all
attached to the same stem G so that they may all be opened and closed at the same
time and by the same operation. The three valves F should all rest on and be
attached to a bar H, so that they cannot be moved out of line with each other by
the bending of the pipes B, C, D; the shells of the valves F may be made solid,
with or without the bar H, if desired; the valve stem G may be operated in
various ways to open and close the valves F: I will describe a simple and con-
venient way of doing this, but do not wish to be limited to that arrangement.
To one end of the valve stem G is attached a short crank I, to which is pivoted
the lower end of a connecting rod J; the upper end of the connecting rod J is
pivoted to a rod K, which slides up and down in bearings attached to some suitable
support, and may have a knob or other handle attached to its upper end for con-
venience in operating it. The rod K, when raised to open the valves F, may
be held in place by friction, but for greater security a spring L may be attached to
it and to some suitable support to increase the friction.
In Figure 3 the rod K is provided with a stud a, and the valve stem G is attached
to a lever I', which is slotted to receive the stud a; by means of this arrangement
the valves may be operated and the connecting rod J dispensed with. A weight or
spring may be attached to the rod K for closing the valves automatically when the
said rod is released, and a swinging platform may be placed in front of the wash-
stand and connected with the bar H, so that the weight of the person using the
washstand will operate the valves. When the valves F are open, water may be
admitted to the basin by operating the faucets M, and may be discharged the same
as if no valves F were used. When the valves F are closed, no water can be
admitted into the basin, and no sewer gas can escape from the discharge pipe into
the room, so that there can be no overflowing on account of the closing of the valve
in drain pipe.
In the case of baths the same arrangement is used.
In the case of watercloset basins only two valves will be used, as said basin is
never supplied with a warm water pipe.
In the case of watercloset basins also the inlet pipe should be carried above tho
basin and then brought down to it so that the downwardly extending part of said
pipe may contain enough water to flow out after the valves have been closed for the
after flush, and to furnish the usual water seal.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The combination of two or more valves fastened side by side upon a common
support, and operated by a single shaft, stem, or lever, the latter being made to pass
through all the valves, and open or close all of them at once by a part or whole
revolution, and being actuated by attachments, substantially as herein shown and
described.
2nd. The combination of two or more valves arranged as berein described with
the supply and drain pipes of a lavatory basin, bath, and watercloset, to ensure the
simultaneous opening or closing of all of the pipes by one motion of a common
lever, substantially as herein shown and described.
3rd. The combination of the crank I, the connecting rod J, and the sliding rod K,
with the stem G of the valves F, substantially as herein shown and described.
4th. The combination of the valve operating lever with a swinging platform
placed in front of the washstand, so that the weight of the person using the wash-
stand will operate the valves, substantially as described.
5th. The combination of a spring or weight with the rod K for causing the same
to descend after being released by the hand, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 6th. The combination of the valve stem G, slotted arm I', and the rod K, having
the stud a, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)