IMPROVEMENTS IN APparatus for REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER CLOSETS AND LAVATORIES PROAL
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Goodo Messenger, of Loughborough, in the
County of Leicester, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APparatus for
REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO WATER CLOSETS AND LAVATORIES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Goode Messenger at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th April 1880.
16
THOMAS GOODE MESSENGER, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO
WATERCLOSETS AND LAVATORIES AND OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE INTERMITTENT
SUPPLIES ARE REQUIRED."
My Invention relates to apparatus used for the purpose of supplying water from
a cistern in certain quantity to waterclosets, lavatories, or other places whero a
fixed quantity is required to be delivered at intervals without waste. It has for
its objects improvements in the arrangement and construction of such apparatus, so
that it operates without any valve of the usual kind, and is very cheap, simple,
and certain in its operation, whilst by its use any waste of water is prevented.
1 take a cistern of iron, lead, or other suitable material, and square or other
convenient shape. This cistern is fitted with a supply pipe provided with a ball or
float valve in the ordinary well known way, so that when the level of the water in
the cistern falls a fresh supply is admitted, which is cut off when the ball rises to the
requisite height.
1 fit a syphon pipe to the cistern, arranged so that its shorter leg dips nearly to
the bottom of the cistern, whilst its longer leg passes down through the sido or
bottom of the cistern, and is connected to a pipe leading to the watercloset or other
place to which the water is to be supplied.
The bend of the syphon is arranged at such a height that the level of the water
does not quite reach it when the ball valve has closed the supply pipe, and I
arrange a plate, preferably of iron, which fits or nearly fits inside the cistern in
plan, and is hinged at one end to the latter inside below the open shorter leg of
the syphon. The other end of the plate is connected by wires and cranks or levers
[Price Gl1

page_text: to a handle or other device, by which the apparatus is set in operation whenever
required. The hinged plate may be provided with flanges.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The cistern being filled by means of
the supply pipe and ball valve nearly to the height of the bend in the syphon pipe,
when it is required that a volume of water shall be supplied from the cistern the
hinged plate is raised by means of the handle and wires, and lifts the water with it
sufficiently high to cover the bend in the syphon. The water rising at the same
time within the syphon and filling it escapes down its longer leg, and continues to
run until the cistern is empty and air has re-entered the shorter leg. As the
hinged plato is raised it holds up the ball or float, and prevents a fresh supply from
entering the cistern until its contents have been discharged into the watercloset,
basin, lavatory, or other place, and the plate has been released. The cistern is
made to hold any desired quantity of water, which quantity only is discharged each
time the apparatus is used, and waste is thus prevented.
Instead of raising the level of the water above the bend of the syphon, as
described, the syphon may itself be lowered below the level of the water in the
cistern.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Goode Messenger in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th October 1880.
#
THOMAS GOODE MESSENGER, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO
WATERCLOSETS AND LAVATORIES AND OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE INTERMITTENT
SUPPLIES ARE REQUIRED."
My Invention relates to that class of cisterns known as water waste preventer
flushing cisterns, in which a certain regulated quantity of water is supplied and
discharged for flushing purposes at each use of the water closet.
In order to put my Invention in operation I take a vessel or cistern of cast or
wrought iron, lead, zinc, copper, or any other suitable material. This cistern is
fitted with a syphon made in one or more parts, the shorter leg of which is open
near the bottom of the cistern, so that when the syphon is put in operation each
time the closet is used it discharges nearly the whole contents of the cistern. The
longer leg of the syphon descends, and is joined on to the closet basin or other
apparatus required to be flushed or filled with water. Inside the cistern is fixed a
plate hinged at one end, which when raised by means of a lever and rod or chain
or wire raises the level of the water in the cistern and so charges the syphon,
the contents of which are immediately discharged into the basin or other vessel
below.
The cistern arranged as described is fitted with a self acting ball cock of the
ordinary well known kind connected to a supply pipe, so that when the contents

page_text: are discharged the cistern is refilled through the ball cock to a level somewhat below
the bend of the syphon.
Should the operator hold the hinged plate or its equivalent in a raised position
for any length of time after the water is discharged, the water is prevented from
running in through the ball cock by an adjustable stud or catch pin fixed to the
lifting rod, and arranged so that when raised it keeps the ball cock closed until the
charging hinged plate is allowed to fall into its place, and waste of water from
this cause is thus prevented. Should the operator allow the charging plate to fall
immediately after lifting it (which would set the syphon in operation), I provide
the cistern with a vessel which serves as a self acting balance weight, to which
chains or wires are attached, which by means of wheels or levers are connected
with the ball of the ball cock, in such manner that as long as there is water
sufficient in such vessel to overcome the weight of the ball the latter is prevented
from descending, and the water is excluded from the cistern.
The interval of time during which the ball is so held up may be made to depend
upon the size of a small hole at the bottom of the vessel through which the water
gradually escapes. The vessel being open at the top becomes filled every time the
cistern is filled, and contains sufficient water to overcome the weight of the ball and
keep the ball cock closed, so that when the water is discharged from the cistern the
water cannot flow from the ball cock and pass through the syphon during the
operation, thus preventing waste of water if the operator should allow the charging
or hinged plate to fall immediately after lifting it, and setting the syphon in
operation. From these two causes the operator has no power to waste the
water.
In cases where it is required that flushing cisterns should be so constructed as to
contain and discharge a given quantity of water for each flush, the quantity
of water so discharged can be so adjusted by raising or lowering the syphon as may
be required.
To facilitate the lifting of the hinged charging plate I prefer to construct air
ducts or passages at the back of the radius plate, the air being admitted through
the same to the under side of the charging plate; or I fix air ducts to the charging
plate itself carried above the water line, or both methods may be adopted. If
desired a case made of iron or other material may be used outside and in
combination with the cistern, leaving a space between the cistern and case, which
space may be filled with non-conducting inaterial to prevent freezing.
If desired a cover may be fixed to either the cistern or the case, but I prefer to
apply it to the cistern only.
My Invention may be very advantageously used for self acting closets to be worked
either by seat or door in the well known usual ways. In the accompanying
Drawing, which is in illustration of my Invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation
of a water waste preventer flushing cistern according to my Invention, and
Figure 2 is a plan of the same. A is the vessel or cistern fitted with a syphon B,
the longer leg C of which descends to the closet basin or other apparatus which it
is required should be flushed or filled. Inside the cistern is fitted the hinged
charging plate D, which being actuated by the lever and rod E, E, raises the water
in the cistern A from the water line N to O, and immediately charges with water
the syphon B. The cistern is fitted with an ordinary self acting ball cock F, which
when the contents of the cistern are discharged allows it to become refilled to
within about half an inch of the bend of the syphon B.
Should the charging plate D be held any length of time after the water is
discharged, the water is prevented from running in by fixing an adjustable stud or
catch pin P upon the lifting rod E, and handle R (or its equivalent), thus keeping
the ball cock closed until the charging plate 1 is allowed to fall into its place.
And should the charging plato D be allowed to full immediately after lifting it,
which would set the syphon B in operation, the cistern A is provided with a
vessel G serving as a self acting balance weight, to which are attached chains or
wires, which by means of a wheel or lever communicate with the ball H, and as

page_text: long as there is water sufficient in the vessel G to overcome the weight of the ball H
the water is prevented from entering the cistern. The vessel G being open above
becomes filled every time the cistern A is filled, and contains sufficient water to
more than balance the ball H and to keep it closed, so that when the water is
discharged from the cistern A the water cannot flow from the ball cock and pass
through the syphon B and C.
In order that the flushing cistern may contain and discharge a given variablo
quantity of water for each flush, the height of the syphon B may be made variable,
so that it can be raised or lowered as desired. To facilitate the lifting or action of
the charging plate D I construct air ducts at the back of the radius plate K, the
air being admitted through the same to the under side of the charging plate D.
Or I fix air ducts to the charging plate itself, which are carried above the water
line. Or a weight S may be used to bring the charging plate back into its placo.
If desired a case made of iron or other material, as L, may be used in combination
with the cistern proper, leaving a space between the cistern and case to be filled
with non couducting material to prevent freezing, and a cover, as shown at M, may
be fixed to either cistern or case.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it which it is to be
performed, I claim,-
The combination of the adjustable syphon, the hinged charging plate, and the ball
cock, all substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn in the
Drawing.
Also the water vessel serving as a balance weight to the ball cock, and having a
discharge opening below, substantially as and for the purpose described and
shewn.
Also the exterior casing or jacket in combination with the cistern containing
the syphon aud hinged plate, substantially as and for the purpose described and
shewn.
Also the adjustable stud or pin acting upon the ball cock when the hinged plate
is raised, and keeping the ball cock closed, substantially as described.
Also the method of arranging air ducts for the admission of air below the
charging plate, substantially as and for the purpose described and shown.
Also the general arrangement of the apparatus, substantially as and for the
purposes described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Goode Messenger, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 26th day of October, in the year of our Lord
1880.
THOMAS GOODE MESSENGER. (L.S.)