IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND TREATING EXCRETA, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A USEFUL MANURE THEREFROM, AND TO RENDER THE SAME LESS OFFENSIVE IN SUCH COLLECTION
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Turner, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster,
Sanitary Inspector, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR
COLLECTING AND TREATING EXCRETA, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS, IN
ORDER TO OBTAIN A USEFUL MANURE THEREFROM, AND TO RENDER THE
SAME LESS OFFENSIVE IN SUCH COLLECTION."
Sealed the 28th November 1879, and dated the 6th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Turner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1879.
"
JOHN TURNER, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Sanitary Inspector.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND TREATING EXCRETA, AND OTHER
SIMILAR MATTERS, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A USEFUL MANURE THEREFROM, AND TO
RENDER THE SAME LESS OFFENSIVE IN SUCH COLLECTION."
My Invention relates in the first place to the collecting of the urine separately
from the solid or partly solid matters. To this end I place under the seat of the
closet, and in close proximity thereto, a guard or screen to intercept the urine or
other liquid substance and convey the same by means of a pipe or conduit into the
drain, or into a separate, receptacle to contain and store the same. The said guard
is formed with a lip into which the liquid substance is collected for conveyance by
means of the said pipe or conduit into the drain or receptacle as will be well under-
stood.
The said guard may be formed of cast or wrought iron, tin, earthenware, or
other suitable metal or material, and preferably of a semi-circular form and con-
struction, being suitably inclined from the outer to the inner side or lip end thereof.
In cases wherein the urine or other substance is run into the drain by means of the
said pipe or conduit connected with the guard I employ a suitable form of stench
trap to the drain or sewer to prevent the escape into the atmosphere of noxious
gases from the said drain. My Invention relates in the second place to the manner
of collecting and treating the solid or partly solid excreta and other matters con-
taining paper and other foreign substances or matters, in order to render the same
less offensive and to prevent to a great extent the escape of noxious gases therefrom
during the time the excreta is contained in the pail, can, or receptacle. The said
n

page_text: pail, can, or receptacle is preferably charged with coal soot from a hopper before
being fixed in position, and when the can or receptacle becomes charged with
excreta and other matters the soot acts as a deodoriser and envelope for the same,
and prevents the excreta from coming into contact with the sides of the can or
receptacle, and admits of the can or receptacle being easily and readily emptied of
its contents. The hopper containing soot may be fixed immediately over and
adjacent to the entrance of the recess in which the can or receptacle is placed to
receive the excreta, and I may supply an additional charge of soot onto the contents
of the can or receptacle before removal if desired. The form of hopper I prefer to
use is so constructed as that the operator may place a given or fixed charge of soot
into the receptacle either before or after being placed in position. I may form a
tank or other receptacle at the back or other convenient part of the closet to
contain the urine, from whence it may be conveyed into carts for removal for use
in fulling and other manufacturing purposes. I subject the excreta after removal
to compression by means of a piston or other suitable apparatus which causes the
soot and contained paper to take up any moisture in the excreta, the residue being
in the form of a solid substance, for use in agricultural purposes as a manure of
highly fertilising properties. When adapting my Invention to the ashpits, I prefer
to raise the flags of the said ashpit in line with the yard so that there will be no
accumulation of water thereon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th March 1880.
JOHN TURNER, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Sanitary Inspector.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND TREATING EXCRETA, AND OTHER
SIMILAR MATTERS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A USEFUL MANURE THEREFROM, AND TO
RENDER THE SAME LESS OFFENSIVE IN SUCH COLLECTION."
My Invention relates in the first place to apparatus for collecting the urine and
other liquid which may be passed through the openings of closet seats or commodes
separately from excreta or solid matters. The second part of the Invention relates
to improvements in the construction and arrangement for fixing the pail, can, or
receptacle in which the excreta and other solid or partly solid matters are for a
time contained. The Invention relates in the third place to means for collecting
the urine in a tank or vessel for use in certain chemical and manufacturing opera-
tions and processes. When carrying out the first part of the Invention, I fix under
the seat of a closet a suitably formed guard or screen, having a lip or channel formed
on the lower end thereof, to intercept and collect the urine or other liquid which
previous to my Invention has ordinarily been conveyed or shot into the pail, can,
or receptacle. The urine or other liquid is conveyed from the channel or lip of the
said guard into the drain or into a tank or vessel as desired, in which latter case
the urine may be collected and be used for certain chemical and manufacturing
operations and processes as is well understood, When conveying the urine or other

page_text: liquids from the guard, and also from the pail, can, or receptacle into the drain
directly from the said guard and pail, can, or receptacle, a filtering-block preferably
made of charcoal is placed in a suitably formed branch-pipe of the drain. The said
charcoal-block acts as a trap in preventing the rising of any noxious gases from the
drain into the atmosphere. The said pail, can, or receptacle is formed and con-
structed with false and removable perforated bottom, and also with perforated
vertical ribs, in order to allow of any contained urine or other liquid in the pail,
can, or receptacle to drain and free itself from the solid or partly solid matters and
to flow through a central opening formed in the bottom of the pail, can, or receptacle
into the branch pipe of the drain and over the said charcoal filter. In some or in
all cases a suitable quantity of coal-soot is placed onto the contents of the pail, can,
or receptacle from a hopper before removal of the same into carts. The said soot
acts as a deodoriser, and prevents to a great extent noxious gases from emanating
from the matters during removal. The residue, after being thus deprived to a great
extent of any liquid previously contained therein, is more valuable as a manure as
will be well understood.
And in order that the Invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto two Sheets of Drawings marked with letters of reference,
corresponding marks indicating the same parts in the various Figures. Refering
in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents a sectional view of a
closet, and indicates the pail f in position under the opening g, and in position for
receiving a charge of soot from the hopper a onto the excreta contained therein.
Figs. 2 and 3 represent the construction and arrangement of forming and fixing the
pail fin position under the opening of the closet seat g; Fig. 2 is a cross section,
and Fig.
a plan. The said pail is intended to receive excreta and is formed
with four vertical and perforated ribs h in this example, but any suitable number
of ribs may be formed therein if desired or found to be suitable. The said per-
forated ribs h and false bottom k admit of any contained liquid in the pail f being
drained therefrom and conducted to the bottom thereof, whence it is allowed to
flow through the opening i. The said opening is provided with a lid or cover in
order to shut off any liquid that may be draining from the contents of the pail at
the time of its removal, but the opening will not often be required to be closed as
the pail, if left in position a suitable interval of time, will be-drained to a great
extent of any contained liquid. The removable and false bottom k is formed with a
suitable number of perforations, and is cast or formed with luggs or feet k¹ to rest on
the bottom of the interior of the pail f in order to allow of a space between the
false bottom and pail bottom. Before placing the pail f in position a quantity of
hay is placed therein, the said hay preventing to a great extent the solid matters
adhering to the bottom and sides of the pail, and to filter through the perforations
any liquid contained therein, and also to admit of the ready and easy removal of
the contents of the pail f. During such time as the pail f is in position any
contained liquid finds its way through the perforations and through the charcoal
block in the branch pipe and into the drain. The charcoal block will prevent
to a great extent the rising of noxious gases in the drain, thus acting the double
purpose as a filter and stench trap. The pipe e is formed with an elbow, as in Fig. 2,
when it is required to convey the urine from the, guard into the branch pipe m
above the charcoal block. The said pipe e is preferably formed of earthenware.
To ensure the correct and ready adjustment of the pail fin position under the
opening and over the branch pipe m a raised part n curved to correspond to the
form of the pail is fixed to the floor. To each end of the fixed abutment n arms or
rods o, o, are hinged, which when the pail is placed against the part n are brought
against the sides of the pail and fixed by means of holding down bolts. In lieu of
this arrangement I employ a bar or part corresponding to the form of a right angle
and within which angle the pail may be placed, or I may lower the floor at the
part which is to support or on which the pail rests. Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet 2, repre-
sent the guard c formed with a lip to collect the urine or other liquid, and with a
bib c to convey the same into the pipe e. The guard c is preferably made of

page_text: galvanized tin, but sheet-iron or earthenware may be employed if desired: Metal
wires p are connected to the guard c, and over the orifice of the bib; in order to
prevent foreign matters; as for example, paper, from entering the bib c, and 'to
check the rebound of urine striking the side of the guard c. Fig. 6 indicates an
arrangement for collecting the urine in a tank q from the guard c. The said tank q
may be placed in any convenient part and made to hold the urine collected from
any number of guards. Figs. 7 and 8 shows the guard c when applied to a commode:
The pipe s conveys the urine from the guard c into the vessel t, and the pail ƒ is
charged with soot in order to deodorise the excréta and to take up to some extent
the moisture or liquid therein:
Having now described and indicated the nature and intent of my Invention, and
means for carrying the same into effect, I would have it to be distinctly understood
that I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore mentioned Letters Patent,-
First. The construction and arrangement of the guard to collect and convey the
liquid matters into the drain or tank, substantially as described and illustrated
herein before and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
· Secondly: The construction of pail intended to receive solid matters, substantially
as described herein before, and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The indicated or similar means for collecting the urine in a tank from
one or any number of closet-guards; substantially as described:
Fourthly. The arrangements for ensuring the proper position of the pail under
the opening of closet seats.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Turner, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed and sealed by the
said John Turner in the
presence of
HUGH G. GRANT,
Agent to the Patentee; ·
24, Bull's Head Chambers,
Market Place,
Manchester.
JOHN TURNER: (L.S.)

page_text: We, JOHN TURNER of 51 Bury New Road, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Sanitary Engineer and JAMES ROBERTSHAW of tlie same address,
Sanitary Engineer, seek leave to amend the Specification of Letters Patent
No. 3594 of 1879, as shown in red ink in the copy of the Original Specification
hereunto annexed, by omitting the words "The Invention relates in the third
place to means for collecting the urine in a tank or vessel for use in certain
chemical and manufacturing operations and processes." forming part of the thirty-
second, the whole of the thirtythird, and part of the thirtyfourth lines of the
second page.
1
Also, by omitting the words. "When conveying the urine or other liquids from
the guard, and also from the pail, can, or receptacle into the drain directly from the
said guard and pail, can; or receptacle, a filtering block preferably made of charcoal
is placed in a suitably formed branch pipe of the drain. The said charcoal block
acts as a trap in preventing the rising of any noxious gases from the drain into the
atmosphere." forming part of the forty-first line of the second page, and the first,
second, third fourth, and part of the fifth lines of the third page.
Also, by omitting the words "and through the charcoal block in the branch
pipe" forming part of the forty-second and fortythird lines on the third page.
Also, by omitting the words, "The charcoal block will prevent to a great extent
the rising of noxious gases in the drain, thus acting the double purpose as a filter
and stench trap." "The pipe e is formed with an elbow, as in Fig. 2, when it is
required to convey the urine from the guard into the branch pipe m above the
charcoal block ." "The said pipe e is preferably formed of earthenware." forming
part of the fortythird, and the fortyfourth fortyfifth, fortysixth and fortyseventh
lines of the third page.
Also, by omitting the words "Fig. 6 indicates an arrangement for collecting the
urine in a tank q from the guard e. The said tank q may be placed in any
convenient part and made to hold the urine collected from any number of guards "

page_text: °
forming part of the fourth, and the fifth, sixth, and part of the seventh, lines of the
fourth page.
Also by omitting the third claim, reading, "The indicated or similar means for
collecting the urine in a tank from one or any number of closet-guards substantially
as described " and by making the present fourth claim into the third claim.
And by omitting Fig. 6 from the second Sheet of Drawings.
"Our reasons for making this amendment are as follows:-
:-
We find that the portions we wish to omit are not novel having already been
patented in Patent N° 499 1873 and 3368-1871.
The undersigned John Turner is the original patentee; and the undersigned
James Robertshaw is the owner of a half share, of the beforementioned Patent
N° 3594 of 1879 by reason of an assignment dated the Twenty-eighth day of
March One thousand eight hundred and eightyone and registered in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the Sixteenth of April in the same year."
TAHU MTHED
In the matter of Letters Patent granted to John Turner, N° 3594 of the series
of the year 1879.
I hereby grant leave to John Turner and James Robertshaw to amend the
Specification, filed in pursuance of the said Letters Patent, in the manner proposed.
this 10th
معمل
CA 7001.
J. CLARK HALL,
Deputy Comptroller.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Turner, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster,'
Sanitary Inspector for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR
"
COLLECTING AND TREATING EXCRETA, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS, IN
ORDER TO OBTAIN A USEFUL MANURE THEREFROM, AND TO RENDER THE
SAME LESS OFFENSIVE IN SUCH COLLECTION,"
Sealed the 28th November 1879, and dated the 6th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Turner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1879.
JOHN TURNER of Bury in the County of Lancaster Sanitary Inspector
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND TREATING EXCRETA AND OTHER
SIMILAR MATTERS, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A USEFUL MANURE THEREFROM AND TO
RENDER THE SAME LESS OFFENSIVE IN SUCH COLLECTION."
My Invention relates in the first place to the collecting of the urine separately
from the solid or partly solid matters. To this end I place under the seat of the
closet and in close proximity thereto a guard or screen to intercept the urine or
other liquid substance and convey the same by means of a pipe or conduit into the
drain or into a separate receptacle to contain and store the same. The said guard
is formed with a lip into which the liquid substance is collected for conveyance by
means of the said pipe or conduit into the drain or receptacle as will be well under-
stood.
The said guard may be formed of cast or wrought iron tin earthenware or
other suitable metal or material and preferably of a semi-circular form and con-
struction, being suitably inclined from the outer to the inner side or lip end thereof.
In cases wherein the urine or other substance is run into the drain by means of the
said pipe or conduit connected with the guard I employ a suitable form of stench
trap to the drain or sewer to prevent the escape into the atmosphere of noxious
gases from the said drain. My Invention relates in the second place to the manner
of collecting and treating the solid or partly solid excreta and other matters con-
taining paper and other foreign substances or matters in order to render the same
less offensive and to prevent to a great extent the escape of noxious gases therefrom
during the time the excreta is contained in the pail, can, or receptacle. The said
pail, can, or receptacle is preferably charged with coal soot from a hopper before
being fixed in position, and when the can or receptacle becomes charged with
excreta and other matters the soot acts as a deodoriser and envelope for the same,
and prevents the excreta from coming into contact with the sides of the can or
receptacle, and admits of the can or receptacle being easily and readily emptied of
its contents. The hopper containing soot may be fixed immediately over and
adjacent to the entrance of the recess in which the can or receptacle is placed to
receive the excreta, and I may supply an additional charge of soot onto the contents
of the can or receptacle before removal if desired. The form of hopper I prefer to
use is so constructed as that the operator may place a given or fixed charge of soot

page_text: into the receptacle either before or after being placed in position. I may form a
tank or other receptacle at the back or other convenient part of the closet to
contain the urine, from whence it may be conveyed into carts for removal for use
in fulling and other manufacturing purposes. I subject the excreta after removal
to compression by means of a piston or other suitable apparatus which causes the
soot and contained paper to take up any moisture in the excreta, the residue being
in the form of a solid substance for use in agricultural purposes as a manure of
highly fertilising properties. When adapting my Invention to the ashpits I prefer
to raise the flags of the said ashpit in line with the yard go that there will be no
accumulation of water thereon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th March 1880.
JOHN TURNER of Bury in the County of Lancaster Sanitary Inspector
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND TREATING EXCRETA AND OTHER
SIMILAR MATTERS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A USEFUL MANURE THEREFROM AND TO
RENDER THE SAME LESS OFFENSIVE IN SUCH COLLECTION."
My Invention relates in the first place to apparatus for collecting the urine and
other liquid which may be passed through the openings of closet seats or commodes
separately from excreta or solid matters. The second part of the Invention relates
to improvements in the construction, and arrangement for fixing, the pail can or
receptacle in which the excreta and other solid or partly solid matters are for a
time contained. The Invention relates in the third-place-to-means for colleeting
the urine-in-a-tank or vessel for use in certain chemical and manufacturing opera-
tions-and-processes. When carrying out the first part of the Invention I fix under
the seat of a closet a suitably formed guard or screen having a lip or channel formed
on the lower end thereof, to intercept and collect the urine or other liquid which
previous to my Invention has ordinarily been conveyed or shot into the pail can
or receptacle. The urine or other liquid is conveyed from the channel or lip of the
said guard into the drain or into a tank or vessel as desired in which latter case
the urine may be collected and be used for certain chemical and manufacturing
operations and processes as is well understood. When-conveying the urine-or-other
liquids-from-the guard and also from the--pail-can or receptaele, into the drain
directly from-the said guard-and-pail ean of receptacle-a-filtering bleek preferably
made of charcoal is placed in a suitably formed branch pipe-of-the-drain. The snick
eharcoal-block-acts as a trap-in-preventing the-rising of any noxious gases from-the
drain into the atmosphere. The said pail can or receptacle is formed and con-
structed with a false and removable perforated bottom and also with perforated
vertical ribs in order to allow of any contained urine or other liquid in the pail
can or receptacle to drain and free itself from the solid or partly solid matters and
to flow through a central opening formed in the bottom of the pail can or receptacle
into the branch pipe of the drain and over the said charcoal filter. In some or in
all cases a suitable quantity of coal-soot is placed onto the contents of the pail can
or receptacle from a hopper before removal of the same into carts. The said soot
acts as a deodoriser and prevents to a great extent noxious gases from emanating
from the matters during removal. The residue after being thus deprived to a great
extent of any liquid previously contained therein is more valuable as a manure as
will be well understood.
•
And in order that the Invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto two Sheets of Drawings marked with letters of reference
corresponding marks indicating the same parts in the various Figures. Referring
in this place to the said Drawings Fig. 1' Sheet 1 represents a sectional view of a
closet and indicates the pail f in position under the opening g and in position for
receiving a charge of soot from the hopper a onto the excreta contained therein,

page_text: Figs. 2 and 3 represent the construction and arrangement of forming and fixing the
pail in position under the opening of the closet seat g Fig. 2 is a cross section
and Fig. 3 a plan. The said pail is intended to receive excreta and is formed
with four vertical and perforated ribs h in this example, but any suitable number
of ribs may be formed therein if desired or found to be suitable. The said per-
forated ribs h and false bottom k admit of any contained liquid in the pail ƒ being
drained therefrom and conducted to the bottom thereof, whence it is allowed to
flow through the opening i. The said opening is provided with a lid or cover in
order to shut off any liquid that may be draining from the contents of the pail at
the time of its removal but the opening will not often be required to be closed as
the pail if left in position a suitable interval of time will be drained to a great
extent of any contained liquid. The removable and false bottom is formed with a
suitable number of perforations and is cast or formed with luggs or feet k¹ to rest on
the bottom of the interior of the pail f in order to allow of a space between the
false bottom k and pail bottom. Before placing the pail fin position a quantity of
hay is placed therein, the said hay preventing to a great extent the solid matters
adhering to the bottom and sides of the pail and to filter through the perforations
any liquid contained therein and also to admit of the ready and easy removal of
the contents of the pail f. During such time as the pail f is in position any
contained liquid finds its way through the perforations and through the charcoal
block 7-in-the-branch pipe and into the drain. The charcoal block-l-will-prevent
to a great extent-the-rising of noxious gases in the drain thus--neting the double
purpose-as-a-filter-and stench-trap. The pipe-e-is-formed-with-an-elbow-as-in-lig, à
when-it-is-required to convey the urine from the guard-nito the branch-pipe-m
above-the-charcoal block-7. The sa vipe-e is preferably formned of earthenware.
To ensure the correct and ready adjustment of the pail fin position under the
opening g and over the branch pipe m a raised part n curved, to correspond to the
form of the pail is fixed to the floor. To each end of the fixed abutment n arms or
rods o o are hinged which when the pail is placed against the part n are brought
against the sides of the pail and fixed by means of holding down bolts. In lieu of
this arrangement I employ a bar or part corresponding to the form of a right angle
and within which angle the pail may be placed or I may lower the floor, at the
part which is to support or on which the pail rests. Figs. 4 and 5 Sheet 2 repre-
sent the guard c formed with a lip to collect the urine or other liquid and with a
bib c to convey the same into the pipe e. The guard c is preferably inade of
galvanized tin but sheet-iron or earthenware may be employed if desired. Metal
wires p are connected to the guard c, and over the orifice of the bib, in order to
prevent foreign matters as for example, paper from entering the bib c¹ and to
check the rebound of urine striking the side of the guard c. Fig. 6-indicates-an
arrangement-for-collecting the urine-in-a-tank-q-from the-guard-e. The-suid-tank-q
may be placed in any convenient part and made to hold the urine-collected from
any-number-of-guards. Figs. 7 and 8 shows the guard c when applied to a commode.
The pipe s conveys the urine from the guard c into the vessel t and the pail ƒ is
charged with soot in order to deodorise the excreta and to take up to some extent
the moisture or liquid therein.
Having now described and indicated the nature and intent of my Invention and
means for carrying the same into effect I would have it to be distinctly understood
that I claim as secured to me by the herein before mentioned Letters Patent-
First. The construction and arrangement of the guard to collect and convey the
liquid matters into the drain or tank substantially as described and illustrated
hereinbefore and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction of pail intended to receive solid matters substantially
as described hereinbefore and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The indicated-or similar means for collecting the urine in a tank from
one-or-any-number of closet guards-substantially-as-described.

page_text: Fourthly. The arrangements for ensuring the proper position of the pail under
the opening of closet seats.
In witness whereof I, the said John Turner have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty-eighth day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed and sealed by the
said John Turner in the
presence of
HUGH G. GRANT,
Agent to the Patenteo,
24, Bull's Head Chambers,
Market Place,
Manchester.
JOHN TURNER. (L.S.)