Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar.,
1888
RESER
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 29th Jan., 1889
We WILLIAM COWAN, and WILLIAM HENRY COWAN, of Edinburgh, in the County
of Midlothian, North Britain, Gas Apparatus Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
11
These improvements have reference to the flushing tanks or cisterns described in
the specification of our Patent No. 16824 dated Dec. 16. 1886.
The improvements consist in modifications of the inventions before referred to. In
one modification the ball valve is enclosed within and under the roof of the plunger
chamber, a portion being taken out of the corner of the plunger to enable the latter
to pass clear of the ball valve. The enclosing of the ball valve within the plunger
chamber enables us to also enclose the ball lever entirely within the tank and so
protect it from injury or external interference. From the ball valve the lever passes
vertically downwards in the corner of the plunger chamber and tank, and when low
enough to be quite free from contact with the plunger (when the latter is in its lowest
position) it is bent so as to form almost a right angle and continued horizontally
to within a short distance of the other end of the tank where it is turned up and
joined to the ball.
In the specification No. 16324-86. we described a ball chamber shut off from the
main body of the tank and only communicating therewith by a small hole, but in
these improvements this chamber is dispensed with and the ball is in the tank itsell
without being shut off in any way. In one modification this is effected by providing
a dome or cupola above the roof of the tank, into which the ball rises before the water
has attained the level of the under side of the roof. In order to allow the air within
the cupola or dome to escape and so enable the ball to rise freely and shut the valve, we
provide a small opening at the top of the dome through which the air is expelled as
the ball in rising displaces it. This hole however requires to be very small, for
if large it would allow the air to get too freely away when the plunger was
immersed, and so would prevent the effectiveness of that operation in charging the
unhan

page_text: In the specification before referred to we described and showed the under surface
of the syphon bend only slightly above the roof of the tank, and this necessitated the
placing of the overflow almost close down to the water level. In addition to the
disadvantage of having the overflow so near to the water line this arrangement caused
water to be expelled through the overflow every time the plunger was immersed. To
prevent this we now make, in one of our modifications, the under surface of the
syphon bend two inches above the roof of the tank, and we make the overflow only
half an inch lower.
In this modification too instead of attaching the overflow union to the overflow hole
in the tank itself we interpose between the opening in the tank and the union a
box or chamber which covers over the opening in the tank and carries the union
which is fixed into it at exactly the same height above the water line as the hole
in the tank. There are thus two openings, one in the tank leading into the box
and another in the box leading to the overflow union. There is sufficient space
within the box below these two openings to contain all the water the plunger can
expel, hence the box receives all the water that would but for the box be forced
through the overflow. But, inasmuch as the water so received into the box must
be removed before the next plunge takes place there is a small hole leading from
the box into the tank at or near the water line of the latter, and through this hole
the water which has been forced into the box returns into the tank.
In this arrange-
ment of the apparatus we now make the syphon flat in form as this contributes greatly
to ease in charging and to certain action.
In the second modification we dispense with a roof altogether and the syphon is
made either flat but of the annular form, or of the flat bent tube shape, and the ball
float together with its lever and cock or valve are so exposed as to be easily got at.
Extending over the lower part of the plunger chamber and the syphon chamber there
is a horizontal partition, and in this partition is formed a valve seat. The seat is
fitted with a valve that hangs suspended while the plunger which is made with or
without a bottom is raised, but immediately that the plunger is pulled down the valvo
falls and temporarily closes the communication between the plunger chamber and the
body of the cistern. This has the effect of concentrating the full force of the
plunger upon the syphon, but as soon as the plunger is released the valve is
instantly opened when the syphon will draw off the water from the whole of the
cistern.
To reduce the scattering of water by a violent immersion of the plunger, the
plunger chamber may be provider with a loose cover.
To either of the foregoing arrangements or modifications an index or apparatus
for registering the number of discharges may be applied by making the plunger
or weighted lever operate upon a train of wheel work fixed to the standard or other
suitable part of the cistern.
Dated this 31st day of March 1888.

page_text: We WILLIAM COWAN and WILLIAM HENRY COWAN both of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas Apparatus Manufacturers, 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 :-
These improvements have reference to the flushing tanks or cisterns described in
the specification of our Patent No. 16324 dated Dec. 13. 1886.
In order that the invention may be easily understood drawings are attached hereto,
Fig. 1 being a side elevation with the side plate removed, of the first modification,
and Fig. 2 a plan of the same, while Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the second
modification with the side plate removed and a part of the interior division plate
broken away, and Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3.
The improvements consist in modifications of the invention before referred to. In
one modification the ball valve A Fig. 1 is enclosed within and under the roof B of
the plunger chamber C, a portion being taken out of the corner of the plunger D to
enable the latter to pass clear of the ball valve A. The enclosing of the ball valve
within the plunger chamber enables us to also enclose the ball lever E entirely within
the tank and so protect it from injury or external interference.
valve A, the lever E passes vertically downwards in the corner of the plunger
From the ball
chamber and tank, and when low enough to be quite free from contact with the
plunger (when the latter is in its lowest position) it is bent so as to form almost a
right angle and continued horizontally to within a short distance of the other end of
the tank where it is turned up and joined to the ball F.
In the specification No. 16324-86 we described a ball chamber shut off from the
main body of the tank and only communicating therewith by a small bole, but in
these improvements the chamber is dispensed with, and the ball is in the tank itself
without being shut off in any way. In one modification this is effected by providing
a dome or cupola G above the roof of the tank, into which the ball rises before the
water has attained the level of the under side of the roof. In order to allow the air
within the cupola or dome to escape and so enable the ball to rise freely and shut the
alve we provide a small opening H through which the air is expelled as the ball in
ising displaces it. The hole however requires to be very small, for if large it
would allow the air to get too freely away when the plunger was immersed, and
o would prevent the effectiveness of that operation in charging the syphon.
In the specification before referred to wo described and showed the under surface of
he syphon bend only slightly above the roof of the tank, and this necessitated the
lacing of the overflow almost close down to the water level. In addition to the
isadvantage of having the overflow so near to the water line this arrangement caused
ater to be expelled through the overflow every time the plunger was immersed. To
revent this we now make, in one of our modifications, the under surface of the
phon bend two inches above the roof of the tank, and we make the overflow only
If an inch lower.

page_text: In this modification too, instead of attaching the overflow union J to the overnow
hole in the tank itself we interpose between the opening in the tank and the union a
box or chamber K which covers over the opening in the tank and carries the union
which is fixed into it at exactly the same height above the water line as the hole in the
tank. There are thus two openings, one in the tank leading into the box and another
in the box leading to the overflow union. There is sufficient space within the box
below these two openings to contain all the water the plunger can expel, hence the
box receives all the water that would but for the box be forced through the overflow.
But inasmuch as the water so received into the box must be removed before
the next plunge takes place there is a small hole leading from the box into the
tank at or near the water line of the latter, and through this hole the water
which has been forced into the box returns into the tank. In this arrangement
of the apparatus we now make the syphon L, flat in form, as this contributes
greatly to ease in charging and to certain action.
In the second modification we dispense with a roof altogether and the syphon M
is made flat but of the annular form and the ball float F together with its lever E
and cock or valve are so disposed as to be easily got at. Extending over the lower
part of the plunger chamber and tho syphon chamber there is a horizontal partition N,
and in this partition is formed a valve sent O. The seat is fitted with a valve P that
hangs suspended while the plunger is raised but immediately that the plunger is
pulled down the valvo falls and temporarily closes the communication between the
plunger chamber and the body of the cistern. This has the effect of concentrating
the full force of the plunger upon the syphon, but as soon as the plunger is released
the valvo is instantly opened, when the syphon M will draw off the water from the
whole of the cistern.
To reduce tho scattering of water by a violent immersion of the plunger, the
plunger chamber may be provided with a loose cover Q.
To either of the foregoing arrangements or modifications an index or apparatus for
registering the number of discharges may be applied by making the plunger or
weighted lever operate upon a train of wheel work fixed to the standard or other
suitable part of the cistern.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
1. The construction of flushing cisterns with a box K Fig. 1, and with the variou
parts arranged as herein described and shown on the drawings.
2. The construction of flushing cisterns with a partition N, valve P, and valv
seat O, together with the other parts of the apparatus arranged as herein describe
and shown on the drawings.
1000