IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER FROM CISTERNS AND OTHER SOURCES, AND FOR PREVENTING THE CONTAMINATION OR IMPREGNATION OF WATER SUPPLY WITH FOUL Air or GASES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sampson, of Liskeard, in the County of Cornwall,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE
OF WATER FROM CISTERNS AND OTHER SOURCES, AND FOR PREVENTING THE
CONTAMINATION OR IMPREGNATION OF WATER SUPPLY WITH FOUL Air or
GASES."
Sealed the 30th April 1880, and dated the 4th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sampson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1879.
JOHN SAMPSON, of Liskeard, in the County of Cornwall. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER FROM CISTERNS AND OTHER
SOURCES, AND FOR PREVENTING THE CONTAMINATION OR IMPREGNATION OF WATER
SUPPLY WITH FOUL AIR OR GASES."
The chief object of my Invention is to provide simpler while more efficient means
than heretofore for preventing waste of water from cisterns and other sources, and
especially where a continuous supply at bigh pressure is used, and also to prevent
the contamination or impregnation of the water supply by foul air or gases.
Various attempts have been heretofore made to accomplish the above objects,
but I believe nothing has yet been accomplished which so simply and effectually
performs the objects in view, as does the apparatus constructed according to my
Invention.
The service pipe or other source of supply is in direct communication with the
cistern by a short pipe leading to ball cock valve, the latter being provided with
ball cock as usual. To the short pipe a bent controlling lever is jointed, which
extending back over and above the ball cock lever rests, and is raised and lowered
by a partially hollowed quadrant or equivalent on rod extending across the cistern.
The ball cock lever and the bent controlling lever are in connection with one another
by a loop or link, the position of which latter is capable of adjustment by means
of a nut and screw or other appliance, so as to regulate the time the loop shall
operate on the ball cock lever, as may be required according to circumstances.
The discharge valve is in connection with the cross rod over another part of the

page_text: same hollowed quadrant by means of the discharge valve rod and chain or other
convenient connection which has "lost motion."
The action is as follows:-
Supposing the cistern to be full, the ball cock float will be up, the ball cock valve
and the discharge valve closed; then by turning the cross rod by means of a lever
or other suitable connection or connections according to circumstances, for example,
as to where and to what purpose the apparatus may be applied, the first motion
of the lever causes the quadrant to raise the controlling or bent lever, which latter
through the loop keeps up the ball cock and keeps its valve closed, preventing
entry of water from the supply into the cistern, at the same time lifting the weight
in the hollow cylinder until it rests against the bar across the top of the cylinder,
whereby "lost motion" is provided in that cylinder, the continuation of the motion
of the lever operates so as to provide "lost motion-" in the controlling or bent lever
at the same time, lifting the hollow cylinder and valve which is kept in position
on being raised by the claws at the bottom of the valve, thereby permitting the
water to escape by the outlet valve.
On turning the cross rod or lever back again the first part of the motion drops
the hollow cylinder and valve and closes the outlet, the continuation of the motion
allows the weight to subside in the hollow cylinder, at the same time liberating the
controlling or bent lever from the quadrant, and the controlling lever then by its
own weight and the weight of the ball and ball cock lever falls and rests on the
hollow of the quadrant, the ball cock lever then at once opening the supply valve
and allowing the inflow of water. The ball rises with the water in the usual way,
and when the supply of water required for the cistern (the quantity of which
supply may be regulated by the ball cock lever) has been obtained the ball cock
lever shuts off the supply; should there be any leakage from the supply valve any
surplus water or overflow passes-down the hollow cylinder and thence to the outlet
valve, thus preventing any overflow in the cistern.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Sampson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June 2
1880.
JOHN SAMPSON, of Liskeard, in the County of Cornwall. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER FROM CISTERNS AND OTHER
SOURCES, AND FOR PREVENTING THE CONTAMINATION OR IMPREGNATION OF WATER
SUPPLY WITH FOUL AIR OR GASES."
The chief object of my Invention is to provide simpler while more efficient means
than heretofore for preventing waste of water from cisterus and other sources, and
especially where a continuous supply at high pressure is used, and also to prevent
the contamination or impregnation of the water supply by foul air or gases.

page_text: Various attempts have been heretofore made to accomplish the above objects,
but I believe that nothing has yet been accomplished which; so simply and
effectually performs the objects in view as does the apparatus constructed according
to my Invention.
According to my Invention the service pipe or other source of supply is in direct
communication with the cistern by a short pipe leading to ballcock valve, the latter
being provided with ball cock as usual. To the short pipe a bent controlling lever
is jointed, which extending back over and above the ballcock lever rests, and is
raised and lowered by a partially hollowed quadrant, crank, eccentric, or equivalent,
on rod extending across the cistern. The ballcock lever and the bent controlling
lever are in connection with one another by a loop or link, the position of which
latter is capable of adjustment by means of a nut and screw or other appliance, so
as to regulate the time the loop shall operate on the ball cock lever as may be
required according to circumstances. The discharge valve is in connection with
the cross rod over another part of the same hollowed quadrant by means of the
discharge valve rod and chain or other convenient connection which has "lost
motion."
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the manner in which I carry my Inven-
tion into effect. Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a cistern so fitted
with apparatus constructed according to my Invention, showing the several parts
in their normal position, and as they would be, viz., with the hollowed quadrant or
crank in its first position discharge valve closed and the ball raised; Figure 2 is a
longitudinal vertical section of similar apparatus, showing the second position of
the hollowed quadrant with its attachments and the discharge valve closed;
Figure 3 is a similar view, showing the third position of the quadrant with the
discharge valve open; and Figure 4 is also a longitudinal vertical section of the
opposite side of the apparatus to that shewn at Figure 1, with the discharge valve
closed and the cistern empty; Figure 5 is a plan; Figure 6 is a vertical cross
section showing the discharge valve closed, and Figure 7 is a similar view showing
the discharge valve open; Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 are views of parts in detail
to be hereafter referred to. Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the
Figures.
A is the service pipe; B is the cistern; C is the short pipe or part of the ball
cock connecting the service pipe A and cistern B; D is the ball cock valve; E is
bent controlling lever; F is the partially hollowed quadrant or crank; H is the rod
on which this quadrant or crank is mounted; G is the loop or link connecting
the ball cock lever and the bent controlling lever; J is the nut or screw for
adjusting the position of the loop or link G; K is the discharge valve; L is the
discharge valve rod; M, chain with lost motion; N is the weight in the hollow
cylinder O; P is the lever to the partially hollowed quadrant F; W is the outlet
valve; V, V, are the claws on the bottom of valve K; X is the lever or cross bar
in the hollow cylinder O, against which the weight N comes when at its full
height.
The action is as follows:-Supposing the cistern to be full the ball cock float
will be up, the ball cock valve D and the discharge valve K closed; then by turning
the cross rod H by means of a lever P or other suitable connection or connections
according to circumstances, for example, as to where and to what purpose the
apparatus may be applied, the first motion of the lever P into the position shown
at Figure 2, causes the quadrant or crank F to raise the controlling or bent lever E,
which latter through the loop G keeps up the ball cock lever and keeps its valve 1)
closed, preventing entry of water from the supply into the cistern, at the same time
lifting the weight N in the hollow cylinder O until it rests against the bar X
across the top of the cylinder whereby "lost motion" is provided, in that cylinder
the continuation of the motion of the lever P and into the position, shewn at
Figure 3, operates so as to provide "lost motion" in the controlling or bent lever E,
at the same time lifting the hollow cylinder O and valve K, which is kept in

page_text: position on being raised by the claws V, V, at the bottom of the valve K, thereby
permitting the water to escape by the outlet valve W.
On turning the cross rod or lever P back again the first part of the motion,
Fig. 2, drops the hollow cylinder O and valve K. and closes the outlet, the con-
tinuation of the motion, Figure 4, allows the weight N to subside in the hollow
cylinder O, at the same time liberating the controlling or bent lever E from the
quadrant or crank, and the controlling lever E then by its own weight and the
weight of the ball and ballcock lever falls and rests in the hollow of the
quadrant or crank F, the ballcock lever then at once opening the supply valve D
and allowing the inflow of water. The ball rises with the water in the usual way,
and when the supply of water required for the cistern (the quantity of which
supply may be regulated by the ballcock lever) has been obtained the ballcock
lever shuts off the supply; should there be any leakage from the supply valve D,
any surplus water or overflow passes down the hollow cylinder 0 and thence to the
outlet valve W, thus preventing any overflow in the cistern.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that without contining myself to the precise
details shewn and described, with reference to the accompanying Drawings that I
claim,―
First. The arrangement of cistern or tank, substantially as shown, and the
quadrant or crank action for operating the same, furnishing the absolute prevention
of waste of water, which action by the simple operation of turning a handle or
other appliance first fixes or keeps up the ballcock lever: in such a manner as to
prevent any inflow from the supply valve before the outlet valve is opened, and
then opens the outlet valve, while by reversing the action the outlet valve is shut
before the ballcock lever is freed and the supply valve opened, all substantially as
herein before described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The prevention of overflow of the water (in case there should be any
leakage from the supply valve or inlet) by means of a hollow cylinder in connection
with the outlet valve, which hollow cylinder at the same time effectually operates
as an air pipe, all substantially as set forth.
Third. The prevention of the contamination of the water supply and of the return
of foul air or gases into the supply pipes or cistern, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Sampson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said John Sampson, in the
presence of
BORLASE CHII,D,
of Liskeard,
JOHN SAMPSON. (L.S.)
Solicitor.