CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN WASH-STANDS AND BATHS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO TABLE FOUNTAINS
Year: 1853

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Dinning at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th April 1853.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within the
time prescribed by the Act.)
I, JAMES DINNING, of the Town and County of Southampton, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WASH-STANDS AND BATHS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO TABLE FOUNTAINS." to be as follows, (that is to
say):
My improvements having reference, firstly, to wash-stands and baths,
have for their object to preserve and purify the water therein em-
ployed, and to return it to the bath or basin in a fit condition for sub-
sequent use, so as to obviate the necessity of laying in a fresh stock of
water on board ship, or in other places where it may be inconvenient
And the manner in which I propose to carry into effect these
objects is as follows:-I construct the bath or wash-stand basin with a
tap at the bottom, which may be opened by a cam and handle placed in
a convenient position at the side, and under the said basin or bath I
place a cylindrical reservoir, into which the water may be received when

page_text: it escapes through the said tap. In the upper part of this cylindrical
reservoir, I place one or more partitions, having perforations filled with
spunge or other convenient substance, or fine open perforations, through
which the water in its passage may be thoroughly filtered and purified.
And through these partitions passes a hollow cylindrical spring case,
closed at the top, and fitted to the partitions, so that no water may escape
between them; and at the top of this spring case is secured a spring.
which acts upon a piston stem, moving within and outside of the spring
case so as to push it downwards when the spring is uncoiling. And at
the bottom of this piston stem is a piston fitting closely to the sides of
the cylinder, and moving up and down between the bottom thereof, and
the lowest filtering partition; this piston is connected by chains, with a
shaft passing horizontally through the entire cylinder, so that the said
shaft being made to revolve by a handle placed outside the cylinder
through the medium of a pinion wheel or other suitable contrivances,
may serve to raise the piston and piston stem, and wind up the spring
within its smallest compass. Along the reservoir runs vertically a
supply pipe which communicates therewith, through an orifice at the
bottom, and also with the part immediately beneath the lowest partition;
the latter communication being governed by an escape valve, which is
closed when the spring is working. This pipe passes above the basin
or bath, and is bent at the top so that it may readily discharge water
thereinto, on opening a supply valve or cock there placed for the pur-
pose. The action of the bath or wash-stand is as follows:-That por-
tion of the cylinder which is below the piston, being full of water, and
the spring wound up, the pressure of the piston, acted on by the spring,
will continually force the said water through the communication up the
supply pipe, till it is arrested by the supply valve; and when this valve is
open, the water will flow into the basin as long as required, the piston
being continually lowered by the action of the spring as long as the water
flows out. When the water has been employed, it is released through the
tap into the cylinder, and makes its way through the filtering partition,
till it falls upon the piston, which its weight assists in keeping down;
and this process is repeated till the piston reaches the bottom of the
cylinder, when the escape valve is opened and the piston drawn up, at

page_text: which time the purified water above the piston passes through the escape
valve to the bottom of the cylinder, and forms a fresh supply. To
the handle of shaft, a dial and other apparatus is annexed, which serves
to indicate the quantity of spring that is at any moment wound up.
The above apparatus can also be adapted to shower baths in such
manner that the piston may be actuated by the weight of the person
standing in the shower bath; and similarly, if the filtering apparatus be
removed, can be adapted to table fountains.
Having thus briefly described the nature of my improvements, I would
have it understood, that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein mentioned, but that which I claim as new and of my said
Invention is, firstly, the construction of baths and wash-stands, with an
apparatus by which the water employed in them may be purified and
rendered fit for subsequent use; and secondly, the construction of the
said baths, and wash-stand fountains, and other articles, in such
manner that the water once employed in them may be carried back
into a commodious position to be supplied a second time.