IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER WASTE PREVENTORS APPLICABLE MORE ESPECIALLY FOR CONTROLLING THE DISCHARGE OF WATER TO WATER CLOSETS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry William Pearson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th March 1879.
HENRY WILLIAM PEARSON, of the Bristol Waterworks, Small Street, Bristol,
Civil Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER WASTE PREVENTORS APPLICABLE
MORE ESPECIALLY FOR CONTROLLING THE DISCHARGE OF WATER TO WATER
CLOSETS."
At the present time in order to prevent more than a measured quantity of water
being discharged into the pan of a water closet each time that the valve for dis-
charging water to the pan is lifted, a small tank called a flushing tank capable of
holding the required quantity of water is used. This tank is fixed below the bottom
of the supply tank, and to control the filling of the flushing tank from the supply
tank and the discharge of water from the flushing tank to the pan of the closet a
valve is used consisting of a combination of two valves in one.
The upper part of this valve consists of a cylinder or case with small openings in
its sides, the lower part of which cylinder has a flange forming the face by which
the valve can shut off communication between the supply tank and the flushing
tank. This cylinder works in a cover or lid which is screwed in to the bottom of
the cistern, the underside of which lid forms the seating for the flange or face of
cylinder or case to impinge against.
The lower part of the valve which is cast in one piece with the upper consists of
a discharge valve constructed in the ordinary manner with radiating mid-feathers
to keep it central when moved up or down and serves to control the discharge of
water from the flushing tank to the pan of the closet.
The cylinder or case mentioned above forms the inlet through wnich by means of
the openings in its side the water gains access to the flushing tank, and the openings
are so arranged that when the discharge valve is on its seating the communication
between the flushing tank and supply cistern is opened, and the flushing tank con-
sequently filled, and when the discharge valve is lifted from its seat (which is
ordinarily effected by the action of a lever working a hollow spindle or coupling rod
attached to the upper part of cylinder) the flange above alluded to on the lower
part of cylinder is pressed against the underside of the lid or case forming a seating,
and it is in this position that the openings on the sides of the cylinder are drawn
up
within the lid or case and should cut off communication between the supply
cistern and flushing tank. The imperfection or fault in the construction and action
of this valve consists in its being possible, and in the common working of the valve
it is always the case, that the discharge valve when off its seat does not allow the

page_text: communication between the supply cistern and flushing tank to be cut off, which
entails a waste of water by its being allowed to run direct from the supply cistern
through the cylinder and flushing tank down the discharge pipe, and it is found that
this source of waste is greatly augmented by the practice of propping, or as it is
technically known, of trigging up the valve, whereby a constant stream of water is
kept running through the closet which is of no use for flushing purposes although
in the majority of cases people ignorantly suppose it to be so.
My improvement consists in lieu of having the two valves fixed on one spindle
of having the lower one loose upon the spindle in order that the upper valve may
be lifted a distance before lifting the lower valve, whereby before the discharge
valve can possibly be lifted from its seat the openings in the upper valve are drawn
within an extended case or bush, thereby cutting off communication between the
supply cistern and flushing tank, consequently it is impossible if the valves be
properly constructed that there shall be at any time a communication between the
supply cistern and the discharge pipe at the time when the discharge valve is lifted,
and the possibility of a constant stream of water being used as before described by
propping up the valve or lever is entirely avoided. In connection with this
improved valve I also have the airway necessary for the proper action of same, fitted
outside the cistern and flushing tank in place of its rising up through the cistern as
heretofore, and I also use a solid coupling rod or spindle for the valves which I
consider an improvement upon the old arrangement where a hollow spindle was
used by which air could pass to the flushing cistern as well as by the air tube, both.
which old arrangements being readily tampered with could be and are made great
sources of waste.