Improvements in Apparatus for Flushing Water Closets.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Flushing Water Closets.
Communicated from abroad by John Woodbury, Lawyer, a citizen of the United
States of America, residing at 14, Beacon Street, Boston, in the County of Suffolk,
in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of 52, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 apparatus for flushing water-closets and has for its object
the thorough and economical flushing of water-closets in a most efficient manner by
means of a closed tank and apparatus which are nearly noiseless in their operation.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a vertical sectional view of the
apparatus, some of the minor parts being shown in elevation, and the tank, inlet and
drip pipes broken to reduce the height of the drawing.
Figure 2 represents the discharge valve in elevation.
Figure 3 represents a full cross-sectional view of the valve chamber and valve on
line A-B of Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents a full cross-sectional view of Figure 1 on line C-D, the pull
shaft and lever being shown in elevation.
Figure 5 represents in elevation the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the dash-pot
being shown in vertical section.
Figure 6 represents in elevation the discharge valve, inlet pipe, and dash-pot valve
in elevation, the tank and dash-pot being shown in section.
The same reference numbers indicate the same parts in all the figures.
This
The apparatus comprises a closed tank 10 which is preferably constructed of steel,
copper or other sheet metal in the form of a barrel 11 having an upper head 12 and a
lower head 13. This tank is provided with an automatic air-valve 14, communicating
with the interior of the tank at a point below the top thereof so as to leave an air-
space above said point for the compression of air. This air-valve may be of any
suitable construction operated by the rise and fall of the liquid in the tank.
valve opens automatically to permit the inflow of air during the outflow of
liquid for the flushing operation and remains open during the inflow of water
after the flusbing operation to permit the escape of air until the level of
the water reaches the point of connection of the air-valve pipe with the tank.
The casing of the air-valve 14 is surrounded by a drip-cup 15 which catches any
water which may leak around the valve and overflow at the top of the valve casing
when the valve is closed. A pipe 32 connects this drip cup 15 with the outlet pipe 23
at a point below the joint 12 and performs the double function of carrying off the
leakage or drip water found in said cup and also admits air to the discharge pipe
during the flushing operation and thereby prevents the gurgling noise which other-
wise occurs immediately after the closing of the discharge valve.
A discharge valve for the flushing water is preferably located at the bottom of the
tank. This valve is preferably carried in a removable plug 19, which is shown as
hollow and flanged. This plug is set in a screw-threaded opening in the lower head
or bottom 13 of the barrel 11, and the head is preferably conical to effect a free outflow
of the contents of the tank or barrel without the deposit of sediment. When

page_text: constructed as herein shown this hollow plug 19 has an external downwardly extending
preferably integral tubular projection 23 which constitutes the outlet pipe and an
inwardly extending preferably integral tubular extension 20, preferably somewhat
larger in diameter than the outlet pipe 23, and provided at its upper end with a
closing cap 22. This inward extension constitutes the valve chamber for the outlet
or discharge valve. The lower end of the valve chamber is connected with the inner
face of the plug 19 by means of the studs 50 disposed at intervals around the mouth
of the outlet pipe 23 and preferably on a circle of larger diameter than
the interior of the valve chamber. A valve seat 21 is formed on the inner face of the
hollow plug 19 surrounding the mouth of the outlet and this seat may be conical or
of any other suitable shape. A valve 24 is adapted to slide in the valve chainber 20 and is
provided at its lower end with a valve face 25 which fits against the valve seat 21
when the valve is closed. This valve 24 is shown in the form of a hollow cylinder
provided with a transverse head 27 having drip holes 28. The outer periphery of the
cylindrical valve 24 is preferably provided with circumferential grooves 24, which will
become filled with water under the pressure within the tank, when the valve is closed,
and serve as a water packing between the valve and the valve chamber. The valve is
provided at its upper end with a packing 26 of metal or other suitable material. If
any water leaks around the valve it will escape to the discharge outlet thru the
drip holes 28 in the valve head. The pressure of the water in the tank has no
influence on the valve 24 either in its open or closed position.
Any suitable means may be used for opening and closing the valve. The means
herein shown for closing the valve and holding it in normal closed position, consists
of an expansive spring 31 disposed between the cap 22 of the valve chamber 20 and
the partition 27 of the valve 24.
The means shown for opening the valve for the flushing operation, comprises a crank
shaft 29 extending laterally thru the wall of the outlet pipe 23 below the bottom
of the tank and provided at its inner end within said pipe with a crank 36 and at its
outer end with a pull lever 37. A connecting rod 30 connects said crank with the
head 27 of the valve by means of a ball and socket joint or other suitable connection,
and a pull chain 40 is connected to one end of the pull lever. The crank shaft 29 is
preferably journaled in screw-plug 34, which screws into a lateral projection 33 of the
outlet pipe 23. The crank shaft 29 is provided with a collar 39 at the interior of
the pipe 23 and a spiral spring 38 disposed between the outer end of the screw-
plug 34 and the collar near the outer end of said shaft, has a tendency to give said shaft
an outward thrust and thereby holds the collar 39 against the inner end of the
screw-plug to prevent leakage around the shaft.
A chain 40 or other pulling or actuating device is connected to one end of the pull
lever 37 while the other end is provided with the dash-pot connecting rod 41. The
dash-pot 42, which is fastened to the discharge outlet, is provided with the
cylinder 43, cylinder cap 44, and piston 45. The cylinder is provided with the vacuum
relief port 46 and the air escape regulating plug 47. The piston is provided with the
head 48 which is connected with one end of the pull lever by means of the dash-
pot connecting rod 4. Between the piston head and the cap is placed a
spring 49.
The operation of the apparatus will now be described. Supposing the tank to be
empty and the discharge valve 24 shut as represented in Figure 1, the water-supply
valve (not shown in the drawings but which is usually directly over the tank) is
opened, and the water flows freely into the tank through the inlet pipe 17. As the
water rises in the tank, the air therein escapes into the atmosphere thru the
automatic air-valve 14. When the water reaches a level in the tank above the inlet
of the air-valve 14, the air then remaining in the tank is compressed in the space
above the air-valve connection to a pressure equal to that of the water supply, and the
flow of water into the tank is thereby gradually and noiselessly stopped without
water hammering. If the discharge outlet be connected with a water-closet in the
usual manner, then by pulling down the chain, the discharge valve is opened and the
water in the tank will be started out of it under a pressure equal to the pressure of

page_text: the compressed air. The column of water thus started quickly and thoroughly flushes
the closet.
After this flushing has taken place and the chain-pull is released, the dis-
charge valve is automatically closed by means of the action of the spiral
spring 31.
If by chance the chain pull should be released before the main body of the
water in the tank is exhausted, a gurgle will ensue due to the water then remaining
in the discharge outlet and in the pipe connections to the closet unless means are
provided to prevent it. The drip and vacuum relief pipe 32 permits air to enter
the discharge outlet and thereby breaks the vacuum and effectually prevents the
gurgle.
In coine makes of closets it is necessary after the main flush has taken place that
there should be an automatic after-flush and to accomplish this result the dash-pot 42
is provided, which operates as follows: When the chain is pulled down the piston 48
is raised to the position shown in Figure 6. The piston in rising passes the vacuum
relief port 46 in the side of the dash-pot thru which air will enter and fill the
cylinder of the dash-pot below the piston. This air will form an air cushion
below the piston when the chain pull is released and the bottom of the piston closes
the vacuum relief port as it is forced to descend to its lowest position, as shown in
Figure 5, by the action of the spring placed between the piston head and the cap of
the dash-pot. The speed of the descent of the piston is regulated by the manipula-
tion of the air escape regulating plug 47 in the common way. This slow closing of
the balanced outlet valve due to the action of the dash-pot will accomplish the desired
main flushing and automatic after-flushing, in the following manner the body of
water held in the tank, as the outlet valve is opened, will cause the main flush and as
the outlet valve closes in a gradual manner, due to the action of the dash-pot, the
water flowing into the tank thru the inlet pipe, which is always open, will cause
in an automatic manner the desired after-flush. The tension of the dash-pot spring
may be regulated by means of the screw-threaded dash-pot cap.
It will be observed that either the valve spring 31 or the dash-pot spring 49 may
be relied on to close the discharge valve, and either one may be dispensed with; but
the spring 31 is preferably retained. The dash-pot may also be dispensed with.
It is obvious that the outlet valve may be successfully packed in any well known
way and that the valve face and seat may be constructed after the manner of any
style of valve suitable for the purpose.
In a flushing tank for water closets the pulling force required to open the dis-
charge valve should be uniform. This condition does not exist where the valve is
influenced by the water pressure which varies widely from different causes in all
water supply systems. In the apparatus herein described the discharge valve being
independent of the fluid pressure of the tank, the actuating force required to open
it is substantially constant. This feature is of great importance, from a practical
standpoint.
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 a flushing apparatus, the combination of a closed tank provided with an
inlet for the supply and with an outlet for the flush and with a valve-seat surround-
ing said outlet, a cylindrical valve-chamber disposed in said tank over said outlet and
provided with a closed upper end and with lateral openings at its lower end around
said valve seat, a cylindrical valve independent of the pressure within the tank,
adapted to slide in said valve-chamber and provided with a valve-face adapted to
fit said valve seat, means for closing said valve automatically, and means for opening
said valve.
2. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a closed tank, provided with an
inlet for the supply and with an outlet for the flush and with a valve-seat surrounding
said outlet, a cylindrical valve-chamber disposed in said tank over said outlet and

page_text: provided with a closed upper end and with lateral openings at its lower end around
said valve seat, a cylindrical valve independent of the pressure within the tank,
adapted to slide in said valve-chamber and provided with a valve-face adapted to fit
said valve seat, means for closing said valve automatically, means for opening said
valve, and an automatic air valve which permits the inflow and outflow of air with the
outflow and inflow of water.
3. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a closed tank provided with an
inlet pipe for the supply and with an outlet pipe for the flush and with a valve-seat
surrounding the mouth of said outlet pipe, a cylindrical valve-chamber of larger
diameter than said outlet pipe disposed within said tank over said pipe and provided
with lateral openings around said outlet, a cylindrical valve independent of the
pressure within said tank, adapted to slide in said valve-chamber and provided at its
lower end with a valve-face adapted to fit said valve seat, said valve being adapted to
close flush with said outlet pipe, and means for opening and closing said valve.
4. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a closed tank provided with an
inlet for the supply and with an outlet for the flush and with a valve-seat surround-
ing said outlet, a cylindrical valve-chamber disposed in said tank over said outlet and
provided with a closed upper end and with lateral openings at its lower end around
said valve seat, a cylindrical valve independent of the pressure within the tank,
adapted to slide in said valve-chamber and provided with a valve-face adapted to fit
said valve seat, a spring disposed in said valve-chamber, over said valve for closing it
automatically, and means for opening said valve.
5. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a closed tank provided with a dis-
charge opening at its bottom surrounded by a valve seat, a valve-chamber surround-
ing said seat and provided with lateral openings, said chamber extending inward and
being provided with a closed top, a valve adapted to slide in said valve chamber
provided with a head having perforations for the passage of leakage water, and with
a valve face at its lower end adapted to fit said valve seat, a pull lever operating
mechanism for opening said valve, and means for automatically closing said valve.
Dated this 12th day of December 1899.