IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas William Helliwell, of Brighouse, in the County
of York, Architect, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas William Helliwell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st July 1880.
THOMAS WILLIAM HELLIWELL, of Brighouse, in the County of York, Architect.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CLOSETS, AND IN FLUSHING APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of my Invention is to construct water closets and flushing apparatus
in such manner that the excrement may be readily and effectually washed away
with one flushing and the discharge pipe "trapped" or closed, so as to prevent any
disagreeable smell from bad gases, and so arranged that no excrement is in the
trap or closet when not in use; also to afford easy facility for cleansing the
discharge pipes when necessary, and to limit the quantity of water supplied for
each "flushing."
The basin which I employ has a discharge pipe or orifice at one side thereof a
sufficient distance from the bottom to allow any given quantity of water to rest in
the basin.
The discharge pipe terminates within a box or chamber in connection with the
sewer, and from which a vent pipe also passes to the outside of the building. To
the end of the discharge pipe is hinged a lid or valve so weighted as to open
readily when the basin is flushed, and close again when the flush ceases, thereby
acting as a trap and preventing return gases.
The box or chamber within which the discharge pipe terminates is provided
with a door, so that the pipes may be cleansed with little trouble as often as
necessary.
The flushing cistern is of sufficient size to contain the requisite supply of water,
and is provided with inlet and outlet pipes, in each of which is a tap or valve
connected together in such a manner that by pulling a rod or other connector the
outlet valve is opened and the inlet valve closed, thereby allowing the water
contained in the cistern to flow into the basin of the closet; the rod being then
released the outlet valve is closed and the inlet valve opened by means of a
counterbalance weight or spring, whereby the cistern is again filled.
The cistern may consist of a metal pipe, say, 6 inches in diameter, and of
ufficient length to contain the requisite amount of water, the ends being closed,
except where connected to the inlet and outlet pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas William Helliwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st January 1881.
THOMAS WILLIAM HELLIWELL, of Brighouse, in the County of York. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER CLOSETS, AND IN FLUSHING APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"
The object of my Invention is to construct water closets and flushing apparatus
in such manner that the excrement may be readily and effectually washed away
with one flushing and the discharge pipe "trapped" or closed, so as to prevent any
disagreeable smell from bad gases, and so arranged that no excrement is in the
trap or closet when not in use; also to afford easy facility for cleansing the
discharge pipes when necessary, and to limit the quantity of water supplied for
each flushing.
In order that the Invention may be more fully understood, reference is made to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof. A is the basin having a
discharge pipe B terminating within the box or chamber C in communication with
the soil pipe D and sewer pipe E. At the end of the discharge pipe B is hinged a
lid or valve F, which opens readily when the basin is flushed and closes again
when the flush ceases, thereby acting as a trap and preventing return gases. The
box or chamber C is provided with a door G, so that the pipes may be cleansed
with little trouble as often as necessary. H is the flushing cylinder provided with
an inlet valve I and outlet valve J both attached to the rod K, and L is a cistern
containing water for flushing purposes.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the handle M is pulled downwards the rod K is raised and the inlet
valve I is closed, and the outlet valve J is opened, thereby allowing the water
contained in the cylinder H to escape and flow into the basin, sending the
excrement down the pipe B into the chamber C. When the handle M is released
the rod K drops, aided by the weight N, and the position of the valves are reversed,
the outlet closed and the inlet open, whereby the cylinder H is again filled for
another operation, and so on.
By this arrangement of mechanism the basin is cleansed at one flushing, and all
excrement is washed far away; the shape of the basin does not admit of any
matter lying in the bottom, and the valve F is especially useful for preventing gases
from returning up the discharge pipe.
Having now described my Invention, and shewn by the Drawings how the
same is to be perforined, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the exact details herein shewn and described, as they may be varied without
departing from the essential features of the Invention, neither do I claim any of
the parts separately considered; but what I believe to be new, and therefore claim
as my Invention is,―
Firstly. The combination of the discharge pipe B, valve F, and chamber C for
the purpose substantially as shewn and described.
Secondly. The doubled valved flushing cylinder H when used in combination
with the discharge B, valve F, and cylinder C for the purpose substantially as
shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas William Helliwell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
THOS. W. HELLIWELL. (L.S.)