Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Flushing Water Closets, Urinals, Wash Basins, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1804
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Flushing Water
Closets, Urinals, Wash Basins, and the like.
I HENRY WALLACE MCCLELLAN of A, 13, Lambeth Palace Road in the
County of Surrey, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention is designed to provide increased efficiency in the flushing of water
closets, urinals, wash basons and the like, with a given quantity of water, than is
obtained with flushing apparatus now in use. By my invention all the water
passing down the service pipe is used absolutely for flushing purposes.
I connect one end of a pipe, which I will call the air pipe, between the water
seals of a double trapped discharge pipe from the pan, bowl, or basin, or the like,
and the other end of the same pipe I connect to the water or "service" pipe. In
the water or "service" pipe near the point where the air pipe is connected to it, I
place a conical or other suitably shaped nozzle, the contracted orifice of the nozzle
The position of the nozzle is
pointing in the direction of the flow of the water.
important, but, within certain, limits, it may be varied as circumstances may
require. I find a good result when the base or larger end of the conical or other
shaped nozzle is in a line with the upper part of the orifice by which the air pipe
joins the "service" pipe. It is essential that the contracted or lower orifice of the
nozzle should be below the junction of the air pipe with the "service" pipe.
With this arrangement it will be understood that when the water is made to flow
through the nozzle on its way to the pan, bowl, or basin, a current of air will be
induced to follow up the air pipe thereby causing a vacuum or partial vacuum
between the seals of the double trapped discharge pipe from the pan, bowl or basin
and facilitate the removal of the contents of the latter.
Water discharged into pan, bowl or basin by outside influences will not unseal it
by syphonic action.
A cock or valve may be fixed in the air pipe by which the velocity of the
discharge from the pan, bowl, or basin may be regulated.
An annular or other description of water seal trap, to be kept charged by the
flush through the "service" pipe may be used in connection with the apparatus.
When used it must be fixed in such a manner as to prevent the free passage of air
between the seals of the double trapped discharge pipe and the "service" pipe
which supplies the flush to the pan, bowl, or basin.
A trap may be inserted in the "service" pipe at any point between the junction
of the air pipe with the "service" pipe and the outlet into the pan, bowl, or basin,
and also between the points mentioned a ventilation pipe may be branched off so
that the air which is drawn from between the seals of the double trap of the
discharge pipe may be driven out through the branch veutilation pipe and may be
conducted to any desired point.
If from the velocity of the flush of water or other causes, an insufficient quantity
of water remains in the pan bowl or basin, after flushing provision can be made to
recharge same. This may be done by means of a supplementary syphon in the
flushing cistern or a dribble box.
Dated this 4th day of March 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Flushing Water
Closets, Urinals, Wash Basins, and the like.
I, HENRY WALLACE MCCLELLAN, of A 13 Lambeth Palace Road, in the
County of Surrey, Plumber, 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:-
My invention is designed to provide a greater efficiency in the flushing of water
closets, urinals, wash basins and the like with a given quantity of water than is
obtained with flushing apparatus now in use. By my invention all the water
passing down the service pipe is used absolutely for flushing purposes.
In the accompanying drawings is illustrated some forms of water closets
embodying my invention from which the application of same to urinals, wash
basins and the like will be readily understood.
In these drawings
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of closet constructed according to
my invention.
Fig. 2 is an end view of same.
Fig. 3 is a plan.
:
Fig. 4 is a plan of the trap box hereinafter described on the line a Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a modified form of
Fig. 6 is a similar view of a further modification.
closet and
;
Referring to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 it will be seen that a
pipe which I term an air pipe is employed to connect the double trapped
discharge pipe 2 of the pan 3 with a continuation 4 of the water or service pipe 5.
This pipe 5 fits into a socket 6 provided with a reduced or contracted nozzle 7
(though a conical one may be employed if preferred) which passes into the pipe 4.
The position of the nozzle may be varied as circumstances may require but a good
result is obtained when the arrangement as shewn is employed, it being essential as
will be understood hereafter that the orifice of the nozzle should be below. the
junction of the air pipe with the pipe 4 or at least that the junction of the air pipe
should be above the point where the body of water from the nozzle strikes the
sides of the pipe 4.
The pipe 4 passes in turn through a casing 8 which communicates with a box 9,
the casing 8 being provided with an escape or ventilating pipe 10 as shewn and
the pipe 4 terminating short of the bottom of the box. In the box 9 is placed a
trap which may consist of a bent pipe 11 projecting into the box to the desired
height or it may be of any other convenient form. The other end of the pipe 11
communicates with the usual supply or flushing pipe 13 of the pan 3.
The air pipe 1 passes through the trap 11 for convenience in manufacture and
its end which is expanded passes over the open end of a short pipe 12 communi-
cating with the trapped discharge pipe 2.
With this arrangement it will be understood that when the water flows from the
service pipe 5 through the nozzle 7 into the pipe 4 on its way to the pan a current
of air will be induced to flow up the air pipe 1 thereby causing a vacuum or a
partial vacuum between the seals of the double trapped discharge pipe 2 so that
siphonage is started and the removal of the contents of the pan is facilitated, the
pan being in practice nearly cleared before the flushing water from the service
pipe reaches same. This water reaches the trap. pipe 11 in the box 9 and is
checked thereby so that it rises to a certain extent in the box 9 and casing and
is momentarily retained therein. to give the withdrawn air time to act as before
described. The water then pours into the pan through the trapped pipe it to the
extent in the case of the usual two gallou flush of say 5 quarts when the cistern
syphon breaking or the level of the water in the casing 8 sinking below the end, of
.5.1 A
4

page_text: the pipe 4, air will be admitted to the air pipe 1; and the syphonage of the pan
will be stopped, with the result that the remaining (say) 3 quarts of water in the
box flowing into the pan will remain therein and recharge it.
The air retained between the two traps of the discharge pipe 2 which is drawn
into the pipe 4 may be somewhat stale and objectionable but besides the other
obvious advantages of the opening of the pipe 10 in effecting the syphonage by
affording an exit for air in the pipe 4 it permits of the exit of this stale air
without sending it into the pan and hence into the place where the pan is
situated.
In a cheaper construction of closet such as shewn in Fig. 5 where the escape of
air into the room by way of the pan might not be from the situation of the room
objectionable, I dispense with the casing 8 and ventilating pipe 10, and as shewn in
this figure I may also dispense with the box but in this case it is probable that
from the velocity of the flash an insufficient quantity of water will remain in the
pan, and an after flush cistern of some well known type must be employed to
recharge the pan.
In the form shown in Fig. 6, the air will escape into the pan as in Fig. 5 but the
box 9 will retain sufficient water to recharge the pan after the syphonage of the
discharge pipe is broken. The hood 11* in this case acts to check the flow of
the water but does not act as a trap as in the case of Fig. 1, where it will be seen
that there is always a water seal which will prevent the air escaping into the pan.
In Fig. 6 the hood 11" is simply supported above the opening into the pipe 13 in
such a way that the water is enabled readily to flow beneath same.
I may
however if desired ventilate the box 9 by leading a pipe therefrom to some suitable
point.
I would point out the advantages however over the arrangement shewn in Fig. 5
of the box at the base of the service pipe and the arrangement shewn in Figs. 1
to 4 and 6. Say two gallons of water are the quantity allowed for the flush and
the pan requires say three quarts of this to recharge it, then in the case of Fig. 5
five quarts of the water only will act upon the air between the double traps, to
assist in withdrawing the contents of the pan the remaining three from the after
flush cistern trickling down on its way to the pan after the siphonage is broken in
the discharge pipe while furthermore the clean flush passes into the pan so quickly
that it reaches the soiled water therein before sufficient air is withdrawn from the
discharge pipe to produce the required siphonage. Thus even this amount of five
quarts works at a disadvantage.
In the case of Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 however the whole two gallons are utilized to
act upon the air as the the box is situated below the junction of the air pipe with
the pipe 4, so that the pan is nearly emptied as before explained before the flush
of five quarts (which is not checked in the early part as in the case of Fig. 5)
reaches same, thus the pan is thoroughly cleaned out before the afterflush of
3 quarts which has been held back by the box reaches it.
In any of the arrangements shown a cock or valve may be placed in the air pipe
by which the velocity of the discharge of the pan may be regulated.
It will be seen that water poured into the pan by outside influences will not
unseal it by syphonic action as there is always a supply of air between the double
traps where the closet is not in use as the air pipe is practically open.
I am aware that broadly the idea of assisting the syphonage from the basin by
removing some of the air from the discharge pipe is not new as this has been
before proposed to be done one way being by allowing a jet or spray of water from
the flush to pass into the trap or discharge pipe but in this case that portion of
the water so used is practically wasted so far as flushing is concerned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In water closets, urinals, wash basins and the like the employment of a nozzle

page_text: in the service pipe, and an air pipe connecting the latter with the discharge pipe
substantially as described.
2. In water closets, urinals, wash basins and the like the combination with the
pan or receptacle, of the service pipe having a nozzle therein, the discharge pipe,
an air pipe connecting the latter with the service pipe, and a box connected with
the service pipe below the point of junction of the air pipe with same for the
purpose of recharging the pan substantially as described.
3. The employment with the apparatus described in Claim 2 of a ventilating
pipe and a trap both communicating with the service pipe substantially as and for
the purpose described.
4. The employment of the apparatus for flushing water closets, urinals, wash
basins and the like substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1893.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agent for the Applicant.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agent for the Applicant.