Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 17th May, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY CORY WEEDEN, of 84, North Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Dealer in Plumbers' Supplies.]
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
The object of my present improvement is to provide a water trap, the seal of which
shall be proof against being broken, either by back pressure or siphonage, even
though no ventilating or air supply pipe be used in connection with it, and in the
accompanying drawing I have represented in vertical section a trap embodying my
present improvements, which I will now proceed to point out.
My improved trap contains, as is customary in structures of this class, an inlet
pipe A, connecting with the fixture to be trapped, an outlet pipe B connecting with
tho sewer or other receptacle into which the contents of the fixture are to be dis-
charged, and an interposed water chamber C, with which both the inlet and outlet
pipe communicate, the latter at the higher level so as to form a water seal in the
ordinary manner.
My improvement consists in providing the inlet pipe with a valve arranged to open
a passage from the inlet pipe to the trap, chamber, and outlet pipe, but to close the
passage in the reverse direction. An ordinary flap valve on the end of the inlet pipo
will accomplish this purpose and such a valve is represented at D in the drawing. I
also provide a valve arranged to bear upon and close the orifice of the outlet pipe, but
to open by flotation when the water in the trap chamber has risen to a sufficient
height. An ordinary float valve, that is to say, a valve provided with a float, which
norinally rests upon and covers the mouth of the outlet pipe, but which will float up
and open the same when the water rises in the trap chamber, is a convenient form of
valve for the purpose described, and I have represented such a valve at E in the
drawing.

page_text: In connection with a valve of this form, should a central guide be desired, it can be
conveniently obtained as shown in the drawing by a stem F passing down into a holo
in the upper part of an annular float chamber of thin metal, as for example copper,
made water-tight, the guide F entering the space in the centre of the annulus to guide
the valvo as it rises and falls.
The operation of the trap is as follows: The parts normally stand as represented in
the drawing, the outlet pipe valve bearing upon and closing the mouth of the outlet.
In case now that water is discharged from the fixture through the trap, the valve D
on the inlet pipe opens and allows the water to pass into the trap, and this water
rising causes the valve E to rise and open the orifice of the outlet pipe, thus allowing
the flow of water through the trap to the drain or soil pipe. As soon as the flow of
water ceases, the subsidence of water in the trap chamber allows the valve E to close
the orifice of the outlet pipe. Should a tendency to siphonage occur, as for example
by the sudden passage of a body of water through the drain past the mouth of the
outlet pipe, thereby producing an outward draught in it, the valve E will press even
more tightly against the orifice of the outlet pipe, thereby preventing the siphonage
or drawing off of the contents of the trap. On the other hand, the valve on the
mouth of the inlet pipe, will in like manner prevent the displacement of the water in
the trap by back pressure.
I prefer to make the water chamber cylindrical and to provide it with a clean-out
cover at the top in the ordinary manner as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
The improved trap herein described, having an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and an
intermediate water chamber, the orifice of the inlet pipe being provided with a valve
opening toward the water chamber, and the orifice of the outlet pipe being provided
with a float valve located within the water chamber, all substantially as set forth and
for the purposes herein specified.
Dated this 29th day of March 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.