IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS AND SLOP-SINKS AND IN FITTINGS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Stevens Hellyer of the Firm of Dent and Hellyer,
Newcastle Street Strand in the County of Middlesex Engineer for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS AND SLOP-SINKS AND IN FITTINGS
FOR THE SAME
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Stevens Hellyer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1883.
SAMUEL STEVENS HELLYER of the Firm of Dent and Hellyer, Newcastle Street
Strand in the County of Middlesex Engineer " IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-CLOSETS
AND SLOP-SINKS AND IN FITTINGS FOR THE SAME."
This invention relates partly to improvements in, and additions to, what is
known as the "Vortex closet "having for their object a quicker and more certain
discharge of the contents of the basin. This I accomplish by the employment of
two side flushes or directing orifices made in the flushing rim or brought in by
nozzles or jet pipes passing through or above or below the flushing rim on opposite
sides of the basin so that these two jets or streams will be directed tangentially
from the said rim partly round the inner sides of the basin in opposite directions
so as to meet in the front or other convenient part of the basin where they unite
and fall over in the form of a cataract which discharges itself direct into the dis-
charging aperture of the basin carrying with it all paper and soil. These side
streams may be further assisted in their action by the existing nozzle or nozzles of
the "vortex closet." In some cases I employ a second trap in the discharging leg
in order that a sucking or exhausting action may be exerted in addition to the
forcing action of the before mentioned jets. For the sake of greater compactness
and to maintain the second trap above the floor level I prefer to make the basin and
traps in one piece.
I diminish the tendency to fouling of the overflow passage of valve-closets and
slop-sinks by raising the overflow lip or orifice to a level or thereabouts with the
lower edge of the flushing rim thereby reducing the chances of access of slops or
foul water to the said overflow pipe. I also improve the flushing of the overflow
pipe by continuing the flushing rim of the basin itself round the top of such pipe.
LD 11

page_text: A small escape aperture is made through the side of the basin into the overflow
pipe to allow of a constant escape down the overflow pipe of the comparatively
clean water of the basin in case of any leakage of the flushing valve and to prevent
the water standing at too high a level in the basin.
In the ordinary mode of fitting a water closet wherein the space containing the
basin and closet apparatus is partly enclosed by the riser and partly by a party
wall or walls of the building free access for foul air is afforded in many cases
through the rough plastering of the party wall or walls to the adjoining apartment
or apartments. With a view to remedy this grave defect I propose to so construct
the casing which encloses the basin and closet mechanism as that it shall be more
or less self contained and isolated from all party walls by leaving a free space
externally between it and such wall or walls. In some cases if found desirable the
said casing may be completely isolated or detached from all surrounding walls so
as to afford a free access thereto all round it. The sides of this partially or wholly
isolated casing may be of wood or other suitable material but I prefer for the sake
of greater cleanliness to construct such casing of glazed earthenware or porcelain
in one or more parts which material whilst being more readily cleaned is not liable
to become foul by absorbing liquid matters as is the case with wood. Ventilation
of the said enclosed space may be ensured by having a grating or open work pattern
in one or more of the sides of the casing. In order to prevent any liquid matters
from gaining access to the interior of the casing I completely cover or close in the
top thereof with a slab of glazed earthenware or porcelain having an opening with
a downward projecting lip corresponding to the mouth of the basin itself the
surface of such slab sloping downwards from all sides towards the said opening so
This slab
that any liquid falling thereon will readily find its way into the basin.
may rest upon rubber packing placed in grooves or channels in the upper edges of
the basin and surrounding casing and is further provided with a turned down lip
A raised
or rim outside and round a portion or the whole of the said enclosure.
boss is formed on the surface of the covering slab for the passage of the rod of the
pull. Above the said covering slab is hinged the usual wooden flap or seat
provided with rubber buffers and with a hinged or other lid or cover as required.
Suitable provision is made when moulding or otherwise forming the sides and top
or cover of the earthenware or porcelain casing for the passage through them of
the various pipes or fittings leading to or from the closet or for the grating when
not moulded in one therewith. A tray or "safe" of earthenware provided with a
short outlet pipe communicating with the overflow pipe through the external wall
and having raised sides all round may be fixed underneath the closet so as to
correspond with the earthenware enclosure in lieu of the usual lead "safe."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Stevens Hellyer in the Great Seal Patent Office ou the
2nd August 1883.
SAMUEL STEVENS HELLYER of the Firm of Dent and Hellyer, Newcastle Street
Strand in the County of Middlesex Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS
AND SLOP-SINKS AND IN FITTINGS FOR THE SAME
My said invention relates :-
"
First. To improvements in or additions to what is known in the trade as the
"Vortex "
closet basin and to other closet basins provided with flushing rims
having for their object a quicker and more certain discharge of the contents of the
basin.
Secondly. To a means for diminishing the tendency to fouling and for improving
the flushing of the overflow pipe or passage of valve closets and slop sinks.
Thirdly. To fittings and cases to be used in connection with water closets and
slop sinks whereby the sanitary conditions of the closet are improved greater
cleanliness is ensured and a more ornamental and sightly appearance presented.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the explanatory sheet of drawings hereunto annexed the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
figures.
Figure 1 of my drawings is a plan showing my improvements under the first
head of invention as applied to what is known as the "Vortex Closet" basin which
consist in the application and use of two side flushes or directing orifices made in
the existing flushing rims a or brought in by nozzles or short jet pipes b b passing
through or above or below the flushing rim at or about a tangent thereto on
opposite sides of the basin c so that two distinct and separate jets or streams will
be directed tangentially from the said flushing rim partly round the inner sides of
the basin in opposite directions so as to meet in the front or other convenient part
of the basin where they unite and fall over in the form of a cataract which
discharges itself direct into the discharging aperture of the basin carrying with it
all paper and soil. These special side streams will be further assisted in their action
by combining them with the existing nozzle or nozzles d of the "Vortex closet"
but they may be used separately if desired.
Figure 2 is a vertical section and figure 3 a plan of a water closet basin or of a
slop-sink showing my improvements for diminishing the tendency to fouling and
for improving the flushing of the overflow pipe or passage of valve closets.
In carrying out this part of my invention I form the overflow lip or orifice b
at a level or thereabouts with the flushing rim a thereby reducing the chance
of access of slops or foul water to the overflow pipe c. I also improve the
flushing of the said overflow pipe by continuing the flushing rim of the
basin or slop sink itself round the top of such pipe as shown at a¹ and in order
to allow of a constant escape down the overflow pipe of the comparatively clean
water of the basin in case of the existence of any leakage of the flushing valve I
form at a short distance below the overflow lip b a small escape aperture & through
the side of the basin or slop-sink communicating directly with the overflow pipe
which escape aperture further serves to prevent the water standing at too high a
level in the basin.
Figure 4 is a perspective view. Figure 5 a horizontal section taken along the
line 1-2 in figure 6. Figure 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-4 in
figure 7 and Figure 7 is a plan illustrating the third head of invention.

page_text: According to this part of my invention I employ in addition to and below the
usual seat board a of a water closet a peculiar fitting consisting of a slab or cover.b
of glazed earthenware porcelain or similar material having an opening therein
provided with a downward projecting lip c corresponding with and dipping into
the mouth of the basin itself as shown clearly in figure 6 the said slab completely
covering or closing in at the top the surrounding space between the outside of the
rim of the basin and the inner side of the enclosure or casing d its object being to
receive and intercept any dip or splashing and prevent the same from gaining
access to the interior enclosure or casing and also to preserve the wooden seat a
perfectly clean and dry the said seat being hinged to the slab and provided with
rubber buffers or stops on its under surface so as to be free to be turned back out
of the way when using the closet as a slop sink or urinal. The upper surface of
this slab is made to incline or slope downwards from all sides towards the mouth
of the basin so that any liquid or slops falling thereon will readily find their way
into the basin in lieu of soaking into the wooden seat as heretofore I prefer that
this slab should rest upon rubber packing e placed in grooves or channels in the
upper edges of the basin and of the riser or casing d which encloses the basin and
closet mechanism in order to form a close joint therewith. The usual lid or cover
for the basin may be used in combination with the hinged seat it being binged
thereto or detached as preferred.
Although the slab or cover b may be fitted onto an ordinary casing or enclosure
I prefer to combine the said slab with an ornamental casing or enclosure d
(figures 4 and 5) moulded or otherwise formed of glazed earthenware porcelain or
other like material or composed of wood if desired such casing being made in one
or more parts and so fitted as to be completely isolated or detached from all party
walls thereby preventing the passage of foul or vitiated air through the rough
plastering of the party walls to the adjoining apartment or apartments whilst
affording free access to the closet from all sides.
In order further to prevent the passage of foul or vitiated air into the adjoining
apartments (through the spaces between the floor and ceiling) I mount the closet
upon a raised step or platform thereby enabling the trap and branch to be situate
above the floor which floor I make air tight. This arrangement is more particularly
applicable in those cases where the height of the closet and apparatus necessitates
its trap being on a lower level than the standing surface of the person using the
closet.
I form a downward projecting lip c¹ on the outer edge or edges of the before
mentioned slab b so as to project over the upper edge of the ordinary riser (where
used) or over the upper edge of the wholly or partially detached or isolated casing
or enclosure d above referred to thereby preventing all chance of slops or wet
percolating into the interior of the said enclosure. A raised boss e' with a hole
therein for the passage of the rod of the pull of an attached supply valve is
moulded on the top of the slab for the same object.
Ventilation of the enclosed space may be ensured by having a grating ƒ (figure 4)
or openwork pattern inserted into or moulded in one with one or more of the
sides of the surrounding casing or enclosure. Suitable provision is made when
moulding the earthenware or porcelain casing d and slab b for the passage through
them of the various pipes or fittings leading to or from the closet and for the
reception of the ventilating gratings when not moulded in one with the casing or
enclosure d.
I fix underneath the closet or slop sink basin and inside the space enclosed by
the casing d a tray or "safe" of glazed earthenware or porcelain as being more
easily kept clean than the usual lead "safe" such porcelain "safe" being formed
with raised sides all round and provided with a short overflow pipe carried through
the external wall towards which pipe the bottom of the safe or tray is made to
incline
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into

page_text: effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :—
First. The improvements in water closets and slop sinks and in the fittings and
cases connected therewith substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
my drawings.
Secondly. The application and use of two tangential and opposing jet orifices or
nozzles made in or passing through or above or below the flushing rim of a water
closet basin substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Thirdly. The combination with the flushing rim and nozzle of what is known
as the "Vortex" closet basin of two additional tangential and opposing jet orifices
or nozzles made in or passing through or above or below the flushing rim and so
arranged as to direct their streams in opposite directions round the sides of the
basin substantially as herein before described and illustrated by figure 1 of my
drawings.
Fourthly. Forming the overflow lip or orifice in water closets and slop sinks on
a level or thereabouts with the flushing rim as and for the purpose specified.
Fifthly. Continuing the flushing rim of the basin of a valve closet or slop sink
round the top of the overflow pipe or passage as and for the purpose specified.
Sixthly. The application and use in combination with a water closet or slop sink
basin and its enclosing casing of a glazed earthenware or porcelain slab having a
sloping surface converging towards an opening corresponding to the mouth of the
basin and provided or not with turned down lips substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described and illustrated by my drawings.
Seventhly. The application and use of water closet and slop sink enclosures or
cases composed of glazed earthenware or porcelain as specified.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Stevens Hellyer have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty sixth day of July in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
2 STEVENS HELT VED