IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY CLOSETS OR COMMODES."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Sydney Smith, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Surgeon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY CLOSETS OR
COMMODES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Sydney Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1876.
CHARLES SYDNEY SMITH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Surgeon.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY CLOSETS OR COMMODES."
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner herein-after
described, the parts of dry closets or commodes, whereby the moving parts of the
closet or commode are to a great extent automatic, the liquid and solid parts of the
excreta are kept separate and a valuable compost obtained. At the back of
the closet is a vertical shaft capable of an intermittent rotatory motion. This shaft
has a ratchet wheel at or near its top, and a pawl engaging with the said ratchet
wheel is so connected by means of a connecting rod with the door of the closet' that
on opening the said door the shaft is turned through a quarter of a revolution. The
said shaft carries a circular plate which is situated on the shaft at a level a little
below that of the seat, and nearly one-half of the said plate extends under the seat.
The said plate 'is not quite flat but slightly inclined from the centre downwards,
that is, it has the figure of a very obtuse cone. The said plate is not continuous,
but is perforated with four equidistant openings, the disc being divided rádially into
eight nearly equal parts, the alternate parts are cut away. In the normal state of
the closet one of the unperforated portions of the rotating plate is under the seat.
In order to ensure the required position of the rotating plate I employ a stop
apparatus constructed as follows:-I fix on the shaft and near its top a stop wheel
having four large teeth or arms, short radial depressions or slots being made at the
angles between the teeth. A locking arm or lever moving in a horizontal plane is
jointed at one end to the side of the closet. Its other end carries a roller which in
the normal position of the rotating plate is pressed into one of the depressions or
slots on the stop wheel, and the plate is thereby firmly fixed. The required pressure
is produced by a coiled or other spring connected with the lever and pressing its
acting end against the stop wheel. When the door of the closet is opened the
connecting rod by which the shaft is turned first acts upon the locking mechanism,
raising the roller from the slot it was engaged in, and next gives motion to the
[Price 6d.]

page_text: unlocked shaft by means of the pawl and ratchet wheel described. During the motion
of the shaft the roller travels up one side of one tooth of the stop wheel, and having
passed its end travels down the other side of the same tooth. Immediately the
roller begins to act on the second side of the tooth it presses the said tooth in the
required direction, and will carry the shaft forward so as to bring the rotating plate
into the proper position and lock it there. The accurate adjustment of the plate is
thus quite independent of the person using the closet, carelessness on whose part
will not result in the improper working of the apparatus. At the back of the
closet is a box or receptacle placed immediately below the half of the rotating plate
situated at the back of the seat. A fixed curved scraper is situated above the plate
over the said receptacle, and a box or holder for ashes or dry earth or sand is
situated above the level of the receptacle described. The said box is divided into
two compartments, the front compartment, or that which is first passed under the
scraper, passes beyond the scraper, the second compartment resting under the
scraper. The end of the front compartment is inclined from the top inwards, and
is perforated and paralled to it, and a short distance from it, within the box, is a
perforated plate, ashes or earth or sand is placed between the perforated plate and
end of the box, and a filter is thus made by which the solid portions of the
contents of a chamber utensil, or slops emptied into the compartment, are retained,
the liquid portion passing off into the drain.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:- -On opening the door of the closet the
partial rotation of the shaft thereby effected brings a fresh portion of the rotating
plate under the seat. The closet being used, the solid matter is received and retained
upon the plate while the liquid runs off and is received in a vessel by which it is
conducted to a drain. On the next opening of the closet door another partial
rotation of the shaft is effected, and that part of the plate on which the solid matter
rested passing under the fixed scraper the said solid matter is arrested by the
scraper, and on the arrival of the perforated part of the plate under the scraper
falls through the opening into the receptacle, and a portion of the ash or other solid
in the holder described is allowed to fall upon it, the mixture of fecal matter
and the ashes, or dried earth or sand, forms a valuable compost. The receptacle is
removed and emptied from time to time of its dry contents, the emptying only
requiring to be effected at intervals varying from a few days to several weeks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Sydney Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th September 1876.
CHARLES SYDNEY SMITH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Surgeon.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY CLOSETS OR COMMODES."
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner herein-after
described, the parts of dry closets or commodes whereby the moving parts of the
closet or commode are to a great extent automatic, the liquid and solid parts of the
excreta are kept separate, and a valuable compost obtained. At the back of the
closet is a vertical shaft capable of an intermittent rotary motion. This shaft has
a ratchet wheel at or near its top, and a pawl engaging with the said ratchet wheel
is so connected by means of a connecting rod with the door of the closet that on
opening the said door the shaft is turned through a quarter of a revolution. The
said shaft carries a circular plate which is situated on the shaft at a level a little
below that of the seat, and nearly one half of the said plate extends under the
seat. The said plate is not quite flat but slightly inclines from the centre down-
wards, that is, it has the figure of a very obtuse cone. The said plate is not
continuous but is perforated with four equidistant openings, the disc being divided
radially into eight nearly equal parts, the alternate parts are cut away. In the
normal state of the closet one of the unperforated portions of the rotating plate is

page_text: under the seat. In order to ensure the required position of the rotating plate I
employ a stop apparatus constructed as follows:-I fix on the shaft and near its top
a stop wheel having four large teeth or arms, shallow depressions being made at
the angles between the teeth. A locking arm or lever moving in a horizontal plane
is jointed at one end to the side of the closet. Its other end carries a roller, which
in the normal position of the rotating plate is pressed into one of the depressions in
the stop wheel, and the plate is thereby firmly fixed. The required pressure is pro-
duced by a coiled or other spring connected with the lever and pressing its acting
end against the stop wheel. When the door of the closet is opened the connecting
rod by which the shaft is turned first acts upon the locking mechanism raising the
roller from the depression it was engaged in, and next gives motion to the unlocked
shaft by means of the pawl and ratchet wheel described. During the motion of
the shaft the roller travels up one side of one tooth of the stop wheel, and having
passed its end travels down the other side of the same tooth. Immediately the
roller begins to act on the second side of the tooth it presses the said tooth in the
required direction and will carry the shaft forward so as to bring the rotating plate
into the proper position and lock it there. The accurate adjustment of the plate
is thus quite independent of the person using the closet, carelessness on whose
part will not result in the improper working of the apparatus. At the back of the
closet is a box or receptacle divided into two parts, one part serving to receive the
solid matter, and the other part serving as a filter for filtering chamber slops. The
said box is situated immediately below the half of the rotating plate situated at the
back of the seat. A curved scraper is situated above the rotating plate over the
box or receptacle; and above the rotating plate, and over the said box is a holder
or hopper for containing ashes or dry earth or sand to be delivered on to the solid
matter deposited on the rotating plate. On opening the closet door the rotating
plate is turned through a quarter rotation; the solid matter on it is arrested by
the scraper, and falls through one of the openings in the plate into the box or
receptacle; a portion of dry earth, sand or ash being allowed to fall upon it from
the holder or hopper.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the
manner in which my Invention may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section, Figure 2 in plan partly in
horizontal section, and Figures 3 and 4 in transverse vertical section a dry closet or
commode, the parts of which are constructed and arranged according to my Invention.
The longitudinal section Figure 1 is taken on the line A, B, of Figure 2; the
transverse section Figure 3 is taken on the line C, D, of Figure 1, and the transverse
section Figure 4 is taken on the line E, F, of Figure 1; Figure 5 represents in
section and plan of under side the ash or sand hopper or holder of the closet drawn
to a larger scale; Figure 6 represents in longitudinal section, Figure 7 in plan, and
Figure 8 in cross section drawn to a larger scale, the double box or receptacle for
the solid matter, and also for filtering chamber slops; Figures 9, 10 and 11 represent.
plans drawn to a larger scale of the mechanism by which an intermittent motion
through a quarter rotation is given to the rotating circular plate and the stop
mechanism of the said plate. The same letters indicate the same parts in the
several Figures of the Drawing.
a is the front and b the back part of the dry closet; a³ is the door of the closet;
c is the seat and d is a vertical shaft having an intermittent motion given to it
through a quarter rotation by the opening of the closet door a². The said shaft d
turns in the bearings d², d²; e is the rotating circular plate carried by the shaft d, about
one half of the said plate extends under the seat cas represented. The upper face of
the plate e isi nclined downwards from the centre to the circumference as best seen in
Figure 1, so that any liquid falling on to the said plate passes to its edge and from
thence escapes by the pyramidal drain f; e², e², are the four equidistant openings in the
rotating plate e, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, the said openings alternating
with unperforated parts. In the normal position of the closet one of the unper
forated parts of the rotating plate e is under the opening in the seat c (see Figure 2).

page_text: engages
On the top of the shaft d carrying the rotating plate e, a ratchet wheel I turns
loosely, and below the said ratchet wheel g and fixed rigidly to the shaft d is a stop
wheel. The shape of the said stop wheel his best seen in the separate enlarged
views, Figures 9, 10, and 11. The said stop wheel his star shaped, and has four
large teeth or arms, a semicircular depression being formed at the angle between
the teeth; is a horizontal locking arm or lever for engaging with the stop wheel
h, the said arm or lever being pressed into contact with the said wheel by the
spring The end of the locking arm i is jointed at is to the side of the closet,
and its outer end carries a roller, which at the proper time is pressed into one of
the depressions 2 in the stop wheel h, and fixes the said stop wheel and the shaft d
carrying the rotating plate e, and thereby ensures the proper position of the said plate..
The intermittent motion of the rotating plate e is produced, and the stop
mechanism thrown into and out of action, by the opening of the closet door a² in
the manner which will be understood by reference to the enlarged views, Figures 9,
10 and 11, that is to say, at the back of the closet door a² a connecting rod k is
jointed, the said rod_k being connected with the loose ratchet wheel g by a pin g² on
the said wheel taking into a slot in the said rod. The extreme end of the rod /
bears in its normal position against the stud l on the jointed locking arm i carrying the
which
roller, as represented in Figure 9. On the stop wheel is a pawl m,
with the teeth of the loose ratchet wheel g. When the closet door a² is opened the free
or fore end of the connecting rod k first acts against the pin on the locking arm i,
and pushing aside the said arm raises its roller from the depression ² in the
stop wheel. By this motion of the connecting rod the shaft d is released, and
may now be rotated, the parts of the stop mechanism occupying the respective
positions represented in Figure 10. In consequence of the slot in the rod k
working on the pin g on the ratchet wheel g, the first motion of the said rod does
not impart motion to the said ratchet wheel, but as soon as the stop wheel h and
shaft have been released the further motion of the rod k gives a partial rotation
to the ratchet wheel g, and the latter through the pawl m gives a corresponding
motion to the stop wheel and the shaft & upon which it is fixed. During this
motion of the stop wheel the roller of the locking arm i travels up the side /*
of one of the teeth of the said stop wheel, the parts now occupying the positions
represented in Figure 11. The said roller having passed the end of the tooth,
the said roller travels down the other side of the same tooth. As the roller
travels down the second side h' of the tooth it presses the said tooth in the direction
of the arrow Figure 11, and further carries forward the stop wheel and shaft d
so as to bring the rotating plate e into the proper position, that is, to make one
of its unperforated parts come underneath the hole in the seat c. Having brought
the rotating plate e to the position described the roller is pressed into the
depression between the teeth of the stop wheel and locks the said stop wheel
and the shaft d and the rotating plate on the said shaft. By this arrangement
the accurate adjustment of the position of the rotating plate e is made quite
independent of the person using the closet. The travel of the roller down the
second side /* of the stop wheel is effected by the pressure of the spring on the
locking arm i. As the connecting rod k makes its back motion on the door being
closed by the spring it gives a back motion to the ratchet wheel g, the teeth of
the said wheel slipping under the pawl m on the stop wheel; the said stop wheel
is thus unaffected by the return motion of the ratchet wheel g and rod k.
n is the
box or receptacle for receiving the soil or solid matter deposited on the rotating
plate e. The said box n (shown separately in Figures 6, 7, and 8) is placed below
the half of the rotating plate e situated at the back part b of the closet, as seen in
Figure 1. p is the fixed curved scraper for removing the solid matter from the
rotating plate e into the box n. The said box is double, that is, has two coin-
partinents marked respectively n and n². Into the front or large compartment n
the solid matter removed from the rotating
end of the other compartment n² is inclined
to the inclined end is a perforated plate n³.
plate e by the scraper p passes. The
and perforated, and above and parallel
Ashes or earth or sand being placed

page_text: A
between the plate n³ and the inclined end of the box, as represented, a filter is
thereby made by which the solid portions of the contents of chamber utensils or
slops emptied into the compartment n³ are retained, the liquid portion passing
through the perforated end and being conveyed to the drain f. The liquid or slops
are received in the compartment n² through the funnel 7 (see Figure 2).
urinal is situated at the opposite end of the back part b of the closet to that
at which the funnel q is situated, the urine being conveyed to the drain f by the
pipe Above the rotating plate e, and over the box or receptacle n, is a hopper
or holders for holding ashes, dry earth, or sand. A measured quantity of the said
ashes, earth, or sand is delivered on to the excrement or solid matter on the plate e
before the said solid matter is removed from the said plate by the scraper p, in the
following manner :-The hopper s is fixed, and its bottom is perforated with four
equidistant holes or perforations, as represented in the enlarged views, Figure 5.
Below and working against the said perforated bottom of the hopper is a rotating
covering disc t, carried by the shaft u, the said disc t being perforated similarly to
the bottom of the fixed hopper 8. The shaft u of the disc t and the shaft d of the
rotating circular plate e are geared together by the endless chain v, toothed wheels
on the said shafts and d engaging with the said endless chain, as represented in
Figures 1 and 2. When the rotating plate e is moved through a quarter rotation
a like rotation is communicated through the chain and gearing described to the
shaft and disc t. During the quarter rotation of the disc t the holes in it pass
under the holes in the bottom of the hopper 8, so as to allow a measured quantity
of sand or earth to pass from the said hopper, the further rotation of the said disc
closing the said holes. The ash, sand, or earth falling from the hopper 8 is con-
ducted by the inclined plate s² on to the soil or solid matter on the rotating plate,
and in front of the scraper p, with which sand, ash, or earth the solid matter is
thoroughly coated or covered before it is scraped by the scraper p, into the box or
receptacle n. The mixture of fecal matter, and ashes, sand, or carth in the box n
forms a valuable compost. The box or receptacle n, n², is removed and emptied
from time to time of its dry contents, the emptying only requiring to be effected
at intervals, varying from a few days to several weeks. The box or receptacle is
removed from the back part 6 of the closet through the opening at b. For the
purpose of gaining access to the rotating plate e and drain f the scat c is jointed
at &, and the upright c is jointed to the seat at c', so that the said seat and its
upright may be turned on their hinges and folded up against the dividing wall
of the closet and fixed there, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. w is a cask
or dust bin for receiving refuse matters from the house.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-On opening the door a² of the closet
the partial rotation of the shaft & thereby effected, brings a fresh portion of the
rotating plate e under the seat c. The closet being used the solid matter is
received and retained upon the plate e while the liquid runs off and is conducted
to the drain f, the upright of the closet seat being protected from the liquid by
the dashboard c³. On the next opening of the closet door another partial
rotation of the shaft d is effected, and that part of the plate e on which the solid
inatter rested, passing under the fixed scraper p, the said solid matter is arrested
by the said scraper, and on the arrival of one of the perforated parts of the
plate e under the scraper the said solid matter falls through the said opening into
the box or receptacle n, a portion of the ash, or other solid in the hopper or holder
having been previously conveyed to the said solid matter, as herein-before
described.
8,
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention. But I claim as my Invention
of improvements in dry closets or commodes―
First. The general arrangement or combination of the parts of dry closets or
commodes, herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.

page_text: Secondly. The arrangement or combination of the parts of mechanism, herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, for locking and
unlocking and ensuring the required position of the rotating plate of the closet,
and for giving the required intermittent rotatory motion to the said plate.
Thirdly. Constructing the rotating plate of the closet with an inclined top, or
giving the said top the figure of a very obtuse cone, for the purpose of separating
the liquid from the solid parts of the excreta, as described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly. The construction of the ash, sand, or earth delivering hopper, and the
arrangement for working the same, herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, whereby a determined quantity of ash, sand, or dry earth
is delivered on to the solid matter on the rotating plate of the closet.
Lastly. The combination with the box or receptacle for receiving the solid
matter from the rotating plate of a filter, for the purpose described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Sydney Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
HENRY SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
CHARLES SYDNEY SMITH. (LS.)