Improvements in Bath Fittings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES POWELL, of corner of Rockdale and
Washington Avenues, Avondale, Hamilton County, State of Ohio, United
States of America, Brass Founder.]
Improvements in Bath Fittings.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to bath-tub fittings which include pair of pipes for
supplying either hot or cold water a common mixing-pipe that discharges into the
tub, a waste pipe for emptying the vessel, and a secret or invisible overflow pipe that
prevents the water rising above a certain fixed level.
The first part of my improvements comprises a novel arrangement of these
parts, whereby a symmetrical and very compact construction of such fittings is
effected. The leading feature of this construction consists in locating the hot and
cold water pipes, the mixing-pipe, the waste-pipe, and the secret overflow-pipe
within the main barrel of the fitting, the only portions of said devices visible being
the pull or handle of the waste-pipe, the valves or cocks for hot and cold water, and
the necessary couplings wherewith the fitting is attached to the tub and to the
conuections, as hereinafter fully described.
The second part of my improvements includes a novel construction of "water
trap" directly under the inlet end of the waste-pipe, which trap prevents sewer
gas circulating between said inlet and the upper end of the overflow-pipe, and then
escaping into the bath room, as hereinafter more fully described.
The third part of my improvements consists in so constructing the pull or handle
of the drain valve and overflow pipe, as to serve as a soap-dish or bowl, the
drippings from which bowl run directly down through said pipe, as hereinafter
more fully described.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure-1 is a front elevation of my improved bath-tub fitting.
Figure 2 is a side elevation-of-the-same, one of the valve chambers being in
section to show the valve in its closed position.
Figure 3 is a central section of the device taken in the plane of the hot and cold
water-pipes, the valves of the same being open, and the connections being attached
to the "solder tails" of the fitting.
Figure 4 is a similar section, but taken in the plane of the common mixing-pipe,
the fitting being seen coupled to a bath tub.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the fitting taken on the line Z-Z, of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is an enlarged central section of the "water trap
"of the waste-
pipe and
Figure 7 is a horizontal section of a portion of said trap.
A is the body or barrel of my fitting, which is preferably cylindrical, although
not confined to this exact shape, and has coupled to its upper end a detachable
cap a, having a neck a', which latter has a smooth bore a", and a longitudinal
groove all, for a purpose which will presently appear. The lower end of this barrel
L D
L

page_text: water at the junction of these two members A, B, as more clearly seen in Figure 4.
Furthermore, this base B, has a horizontal branch b', a discharge tube", and a
outlet 61, said tube ", being adjustable within a "solder-tail" C, to which latter a
leaden waste-pipe c is soldered in the usual manner. c¹ is a stuffing box screwed to
the upper end of said "solder-tail" to prevent water escaping between it and the
inclosed tube 61. The branch 61, opens into a chamber D, as seen in Figure 6,
which chamber has a circular opening d at top and a screw threaded boss d', at
bottom, said boss being traversed by a short screw-threaded stem e, projecting
downwardly from a cross-bar e¹, of a socket E. This socket fits snugly within the
opening d, of chamber D, and is provided with a perforated strainer E', at its top,
it is entirely open at the bottom, except where the cross bar e' is arranged, and is
somewhat less in diameter than the said chamber. The lower end of this socket
projects a sufficient distance below the branch b', to afford a water-trap," as
indicated by the dotted line, and is locked in place by the jam nut d¹¹, screwed to
the stem e, but said stem must not pass completely through said nut.
The upper
ends of chamber D and socket E terminate with annular flanges that fit snugly
against the bottom of the bath tub Y, as represented in Figure 4.
The outlet opening 61, of base B is closed by a drain-valve f applied to the
lower end of a pipe F, that occupies an axial position within the barrel A, the upper
portion of said pipe being passed through the smooth bore a", of the cap a, and
secured to a soap dish or bowl G. This soap receptacle has a central passage g
that allows all drainings to run directly down the pipe F. fare ports made in
this pipe to cause a secret overflow whenever the water in the bath tub reaches a
certain level. fl is a short rest-pin projecting outwardly from pipe F, and adapted
to bear upon the neck a', so as to retain the drain valve f in its open position, as
seen in Figure 4, but when said valve is closed this pin occupies the groove a¹¹¹, of
said neck, as shown in Figure 3.
The front upper portion of barrel A is provided with a practically semi-annular
channel H having lateral branches I, J, as seen in Figures 3 & 5, which branches
communicate by ports i, j, with lower branches 1', J', represented in Figure 3.
, and are valves that control these ports, said valves being housed within
chambers K, L, and operated by hand-wheels or other convenient turning-devices k, l.
These wheels may be marked "hot" and "cold," but for the purpose of illustration
it will be assumed that the valve, controls the supply of hot water, while the
other valve j¹, regulates the flow of cold water. The lower branch channel I', has
the upper end of a pipe M screwed into it, which pipe is fitted as closely within
barrel A, as circumstances will permit, and has an elbow-coupling m, screwed to
its lower end. Connected to this coupling m, is an external pipe M', bent as
shown, and having its lower end adjustably fitted within a solder tail N, to which a
leaden pipe n is soldered in the usual manner. n is a stuffing box screwed upon
this solder tail.
The other lower branch-channel J1, has the upper end of a pipe O screwed into it,
which pipe is also fitted snugly within the barrel A, and has an elbow-coupling o,
screwed to its lower end, an external pipe O', being connected to said coupling.
This pipe O, is also bent and has its lower end adjustably fitted within a solder
tail P, to which a leaden pipe p is soldered. pl is a stuffing box screwed upon this
solder-tail. R is a common water-mixing pipe, having its upper end screwed into
the semi-annular channel H, at its centre, and having its lower end engaged with
an elbow coupling, to which a short horizontal discharge pipe S is attached.
Pipe S passes through the end of the bath tub Y, and is secured in place by a
nuts, that usually takes the shape of a down turned nozzle. Projecting from the
barrel A, and near its upper end, is another short horizontal pipe T, that also
passes through the end of the bath tub and is provided with a cross bar t,
wherewith is engaged a bolt U, that clamps a stopper V, firmly against the end of
said pipe. W is a base-plate adapted to rest upon the floor X, and having three
circular openings w, w, w, to admit the solder tails of the fitting. This plate
covers the customary hole a, left in the floor, or made therein, to admit the leaden

page_text: squares
pipes usually attached to bath tubs. Y is a portion of a tub. In securing the
various parts of this fitting together, the pipes M, O, and R are first screwed into
their respective elbow couplings m, o, r, and then said pipes are inserted within the
barrel A, and their upper ends screwed into the channels I, J, H, the small
projecting from said couplings affording a convenient means for obtaining the
necessary purchase with a socket wrench. The pipes M, O, S, are then connected
to said couplings, and the fitting is at once ready for attachment to any ordinary
bath tub, which attachment is effected in the following manner. The plumber first
cuts off the leaden pipes c, n, p, so as to cause their upper ends to be flush with the
surface of the floor X, and then solders the tails C, N, P, into these pipes, after
which act, the base plate W, is passed down over said tails. The stuffing boxes'c', n', p',
are now screwed to these tails, and the pipes 61, M', O¹, are inserted within said
boxes and shifted either up or down to adjust the fitting to the tub, which
vertical adjustment brings the pipes S, T, in line with the proper holes in the end of
said vessel. The nuts, and stopper V, being finally screwed to said pipes, as seen
in Figure 4, the attachment to the tub Y is complete, and the device is ready for
use. In the normal condition of the device, the rest-pin f", of pipe F occupies the
groove all, as seen in Figure 3, and as said pipe is released, or free to move, its
valve fcloses the outlet 6111, as seen in Figure 3, thereby preventing any escape
of water at said outlet. If now, it should be desired to supply the tub Y with
cold water, the valve or cock j' is opened, the result being to permit a flow of cold
water from the lower channel J to pass through the port j into the upper
channel J, and thence along the latter into the semi-annular channel H. The cold
water then runs down the pipe R and escapes through its branch S into the tub,
which flow will continue as long as the valve is left open.
j¹
But if it is desired to
supply the tub with hot water, the other cock i¹ is opened, and then the hot water
flows through port i channels I, H, and pipes R, S, while said cock is thus raised.
Or, hot and cold water can both be turned on at the same time, in which event, the two
streams will mingle together in the common water-mixing pipe R, and be discharged
through its external continuation S. As the strainer El, is always open, the water
naturally backs up within the barrel A, and stands therein on the same level as it
does in the tub, and if either or both of the cocks should be left open longer than
necessary, the tub could not run over, because the ports f¹, would at once serve as a
concealed waste to carry off the surplus water. To empty the tub, the soap
bowl G is grasped and the pipe F pulled up until its rest-pin f" escapes from the
groove a, which act lifts the valve f, from the outlet 6, and allows the water to
escape down the waste pipe 6". Instead of holding the pull G while the tub is
being emptied, the pipe F can be turned around and the pin f" caused to rest
upon the upper end of neck a', as seen in Figure 4, but said pipe must be again
turned around and allowed to descend before the tub can be re-filled. In case it
should be desired to dispense with the concealed waste, the pipe F is omitted,
and the bolt U unscrewed, so as to enable-the removal of stopper V, and allow
water to escape from the tub as soon as it reaches the level of overflow pipe T.
Furthermore, in this case the strainer E', would be omitted and an ordinary plug
would be inserted in the socket E, as indicated by the dotted lines e", in Figure 4,
which plug could be removed by a chain, in the usual manner. It is apparent that
whichever of these constructions may be adopted enables the three pipes M, O, R, to
be housed within the barrel or other inclosing shell A, and on this account, the
fitting has a very neat and symmetrical appearance, and said pipes are protected
from injury. Not only is this true, but the concealment of said pipes obviates
considerable expensive finishing, and effects a corresponding reduction in the cost of
manufacturing the fitting. Finally the great range of adjustment afforded by the
various stuffing boxes b, c, n', and p', and the slip joints adjacent thereto, enables my
fitting to be readily adapted to ordinary bath tubs without requiring any filing or
cutting off of the different pipes and other attachments, but in an inferior modifica-
tion of my invention the barrel A and its base B may be a single casting, thereby
dispensing with the stuffing box b.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination, in a bath-tub fitting, of a barrel having external hot and cold
water pipes connected to it, near its lower end, continuations of said pipes carried up
within said barrel, valve-guarded channels connecting said continuations with an
internal mixing-pipe, and an external branch leading from the latter and adapted to
discharge into the tub, substantially as herein described.
2. The combination, in a bath-tub fitting, of a barrel having external hot and cold
water pipes connected to it, near its lower end, continuations of said pipes carried
up within said barrel, valve-guarded channels connecting said continuations with an
internal mixing-pipe, an external branch leading from the latter and adapted to
discharge into the tub, an outlet at the base of said barrel, and a side pipe above
said outlet adapted to communicate with the bottom of said tub, substantially as
herein described.
3. The combination, in a bath-tub fitting, of a barrel having external hot and
cold water pipes connected to it, near its lower end, continuations of said pipes
carried up within said barrel, valve-guarded channels connecting said continuations
with an internal mixing-pipe, an external branch leading from the latter and
adapted to discharge into the tub, an outlet at the base, of said barrel, a side pipe
above said outlet adapted to communicate with the bottom of said tub, and a
vertically shiftable pipe having an overflow port and a valve that controls said
outlet, substantially as herein described.
4. The combination, in a bath-tub fitting, of a barrel A, having external
pipes M', O', coupled to it near its lower end, continuations M, O, of said pipes
carried up within said barrel, lower channels I, J, to which said continuations are
attached, ports i, j, connecting these channels with an upper channel H IJ, valves i,j,
for controlling said ports, an internal mixing-pipe R, depending from this upper
channel HIJ, and an external branch S, leading from said mixing-pipe, and adapted
to discharge into the tub, as herein described.
5. In a bath-tub fitting, of the class specified, the self-draining soap bowl G, applied
to the upper end of the vertically shiftable pipe F, that carries the discharge valve f,
for the purpose described.
6. The combination, in a bath-tub fitting, of the discharge branch b', connecting
the barrel A with a chamber D d, the socket E inserted within said chamber and
having its lower end below the level of said branch b', a Screw-threaded stem e,
extending from said socket, and passing through the bottom of said chamber, and a
nut d, engaged with said stem, for the purpose described.
7. The combination, in a bath-tub fitting, of the discharge branch b', connecting
the barrel A with a chamber D d, the socket E inserted within said chamber, and
having its lower end below the level of said branch b¹, a cross-bar el, applied to said
socket, a screw-threaded stem e, extending from said bar and passing through the
bottom of said chamber, and a nut d", engaged with said stem, for the purpose
stated.
8. The combination, in a bath-tub fitting, of a barrel having hot and cold-water
pipes applied to it, a mixing-pipe within said barrel, a lateral branch projecting
from the lower end of this pipe and having means for attachment to the tub, and
valve-guarded channels that connect the hot and cold-water pipes with the upper
end of said mixing-pipe, substantially as herein described and for the purpose
stated.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.