Improvements in or relating to Closing Devices for the Valves of Water Cisterns and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
Improvements in or relating to Closing Devices for the Valves of
Water Cisterns and the like.
A communication from FRIEDRICH WANGELIN, Engineer, of Dresden, Saxony, in
the Empire of Germany,
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Chartered 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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the present invention is a device for closing the admission-
valves in cisterns, water tanks and the like, and especially in flushing tanks
for water-closets.
In a former British Patent No. 10138 of 1896 a device is shown for closing
and opening the valve of a water cistern or the like, in which the usual float
or floating body is dispensed with, and in which the automatic operation of a
lever for opening and closing the water admission valve is dependent upon the
difference in weight between a weight arranged at the end or near the end of
one arm of a fulcrum lever, and a vessel arranged at the end of the other arm
of said lever, the said vessel being open at top and provided with openings at
its bottom, so that, in the course of the water running out of the cistern, said
vessel was gradually emptied and as it lost thereby in weight, the weight on
the other arm of the lever became preponderant, thereby turning the lever and
causing it to close the valve.
In the present invention a float is also dispensed with and use is made of a
similar pivoted lever, provided at one end with a weight and at its other end with
a vessel, but with this main difference, that the said vessel is not an open one,
but a vessel closed at all sides and perfectly water tight. It is to be particularly
understood, that this closed vessel has not for its object to perform the duty of
a float, because it is constructed of such dimensions and of such thickness of its
walls that it will not float but simply sink to the bottom, if it is put in sufficient
water. Said vessel is of such dimensions and of such weight, that if it is
arranged at one end of the said lever and if it is surrounded on all sides by water
in the cistern or tank, its specific weight will be such, that it is overbalanced
by the weight at the other end of the lever, whereby the admission valve is
kept closed, whereas, if the cistern or tank is partly or entirely emptied, the
vessel will become partly or entirely surrounded by air and the absolute weight
of said vessel will overbalance the weight at the other end of the lever, whereby
the admission valve will be kept open, until by the rising of the water level in
the cistern or tank, the vessel becomes entirely surrounded by water again;
thereby losing its absolute weight and being reduced to its specific weight, the
other weighted lever arm will become preponderant, the lever will turn and the
admission valve will be closed.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 shows in section a filled tank with a device according to this in-

page_text: Figure 2 shows in section an emptied tank with a device as above, the position
of the lever parts being reversed by the absence of a high water level.
The tank is shown as a flushing tank for water closets and provided with a
syphon arrangement for causing a sudden rush of water out of the tank, but
of course such arrangement for creating a syphon action does not form part of
this invention.
a is a tank, 6 the outflow pipe with its upward prolongation, covered by a
bell shaped valve c which may be worked by a cord or chain as usual to create
a syphonic action.
The tank is divided by a partition wall n, which wall ends below the upper
edge of the tank a; and within the compartment a¹ of the tank a vessel k is
arranged, which is closed water and air tight on all sides, and is connected to
the corresponding arm of the operating lever f, the latter having its fulcrum
at g and carrying a weight h at its other end. In the position of the parts shown
in the filled tank, Figure 1, the projection on the upper side of the lever f bear-
ing against valve plug e, keeps the same closed, so that no water can escape
through the admission pipe into the tank. The weight may be adjustable
on its lever arın.
In the lower part of the partition wall n a flap valve o is arranged, so that
the water, rising in the tank to refill it, will not enter into the separated part at
of the tank until its level reaches or exceeds the height of the wall n, the cham-
ber a being then filled by the water rushing in over the top of the partition
wall.
In emptying the tank, the flap valve o will allow the water from the cham-
ber a to pass through the valve opening into the main part, of the tank, but not
vice-versa
The cup-shaped part 2, which receives the lower rim of the bell shaped valve c
is provided with a series of flap valves r on its under side, which valves only
open into the cup-shaped part when the water passes out of the tank by
syphonic action, the flap valves allowing almost the entire emptying of the tank.
From the foregoing it will be noted, that when the tank is filled, the weight h
keeps the lever in such a position, that the valve e is closed. If by syphonic
action the water passes out of the tank, the closed vessel k will increase in weight,
being no longer surrounded by water (contrary to the Patent No. 10138/1896,
in which the vessel k decreases in weight by the sinking of the water level) the
lever will turn as seen into the position Figure 2, where it rests on the partition
wall, and the water admission valve e will be kept open, until the tank has been
refilled.
It is to be particularly noted, that the closed vessel k does not perform the duty
of a float, but that it is its difference in weight, which causes the action of open-
ing or closing the admission valve by the projection or equivalent of the lever,
such difference being established by the vessel & being either surrounded by air
or by water, in the first instance the absolute or increased weight of the vessel,
in the second instance the specific or reduced weight of the vessel coming into
action.
In flushing tanks of the kind referred to the exact action of the lever upon
the valve e is generally regulated by an adjusting screw, arranged so as to allow
any desired regulation of the closing of the valve. Such regulating screw had
to be adjusted by the fitter and the exact working of the closing device was
dependent upon the skill of the workman or fitter.
In order to avoid the use of such regulating screw, the valve seat is made
adjustable within the valve casing, and the valve seat is adjusted in the device
before leaving the work-shop, so that any further adjustment by the fitter
becomes unnecessary. The adjustable valve seat is shown in longitudinal cross
section in Figure 3, in which f is the lever working with its nose against the
valve e, and pressing the same against its adjustable seat s.
The latter is pro-
vided with a screw thread, and the bore in the casing is provided with a corre-

page_text: sponding thread, the end of the seats being provided with suitable cuts or
grooves, for a screw driver to be inserted into the casing for adjusting the seat.
This regulation will limit the movement of the lever f, the two limit positions
of this lever according to the adjustment of the valve seats being shown in
Figures 1 and 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A closing device for cisterns, tanks or water-closet flush-tanks or the like,
consisting of a two-armed pivoted lever, having a projection or equivalent
adapted to operate the water admission valve, said lever being provided at each
end with weights, the one being an ordinary adjustable weight the other being
suspended at the other end of the lever and consisting of closed water-tight
vessel, of such weight and dimensions that it will not float on or within the filled
tank, whilst its absolute weight (if surrounded by air) will be greater than that
of the other weight thereby causing the opening of the water admission valve
whereas its specific weight when surrounded by water will be less than that of
the other weight thereby causing the closure of said valve substantially as
described.
2. In a closing device for cisterns, tanks, water closet flush tanks or the like
an adjustable seat such as s, for the admission valve substantially as and for the
purpose described.
3. The complete closing device for cisterns, tanks, water closet flush tanks,
or the like substantially as described or illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
D
1
e
1000