IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER- CLOSETS AND LATRINES, AND IN VALVES FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE OF WATER AND PREVENTING PERCUSSION IN WATER PIPES."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Jennings, of Palace Wharf, Stangate, Lambeth,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-
CLOSETS AND LATRINES, AND IN VALVES FOR REGULATING THE SUPPLY AND
DISCHARGE OF WATER AND PREVENTING PERCUSSION IN WATER PIPES."
31
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Jennings at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1876.
GEORGE JENNINGS, of Palace Wharf, Stangate, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey.
IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS AND LATRINES, AND IN VALVES FOR REGULATING
THE SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE OF WATER AND PREVENTING PERCUSSION IN WATER
PIPES."
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to ine, No. 14,273, in the year
1852, I described making the pan or basin of a water closet to contain a certain
quantity of water and with an outlet at the side or back to the closet trap. Closet
pans so formed have the disadvantage that when water is delivered into the pan
and is directed in a stream around its sides the water tonds to run round and round
the pan instead of passing out in a stream at the outlet. To prevent this I now
form such pans with a rib projecting from the interior of the front of the pau on
the opposite side to the outlet. By this means when water is delivered to the pan
and is directed around its sides in the opposite directions as is usual, the two
streams meet at the projecting rib and are by it diverted and caused to sweep
straight across the pan directly to the outlet; so that the previous contents of the
pan are immediately discharged from it.
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, No. 1504, in the year
1858, I described a closet in which the passage from the basin to the trap was
closed by a valve having a hollow stem or plug which served as an overflow from
the basin, the stem being carried up to such a height as to retain the water in the
basin to a proper height. I now form the valve with a solid stem, and form an
overflow passage leading from the cylinder or chamber in which the valve stem is
located and into the trap which is below the pan. At the top of the descending
limb of the syphon trap I also form a socket to allow of an air pipe being led from
it to the outer air, so as to prevent the descent of water down the soil pipe from
drawing water out of the trap and so unsealing it.
Price Bd1

page_text: In place of making the conical valve seat in the same piece of earthenware as
that of which the pan and trap are formed, I make it of a separate ring of earthen-
ware or non-corrosive material, and cement it into a socket formed to receive it.
I also construct closets in a similar manner to that above described, but to work
without any trap between the valve and soil pipe. In this case I lead the overflow
passage from the pan into the soil pipe and form a trap at the lower end of the
overflow passage. To prevent any of the contents of the pan from entering this
trap I provide a tubular shield passing downwards from the valve scat of the pan
into the soil pipe and terminating below the outlet from the trap.
To regulate the supply of water delivered to the pan of a closet each time that
the closet handle is pulled up, I employ a valve with two deliveries, one to supply
the closet pan, the other to wash out and refill the overflow trap or trap of closet (if
there be one) in case either may be syphoned out by the falling waters down the soil
pipe. The valve I employ is arranged to be moved downwards away from its seat
by a lever handle acting upon a stein which rises upwards from the valve. The lever
handle has a weight upon it as usual to tend to close the valve, but to control the
closing of the valve I form the valve with a short stem descending from its under
side, and attach this stem to the centre of a flexible diaphragm which forms &
division across a small metal chamber. The pressure of water from the inlet or
supply pipe is always above the upper surface of the diaphragm, and tends to hold
the valve down and open until the pressure of water upon the top of the diaphragm
is balanced by the pressure of water upon the under side of the diaphragm.
To allow of water passing from the space above to the space below the diaphragm
a small passage leading from the top to the bottom of the chamber is formed in the
metallic shell or casing. In this passage is a tap, by turning which the opening
through the passage can be controlled and so control the rate at which the main
valve is allowed to close. When the valve is moved downwards and away from its
seat, any water in the chamber below the diaphragm passes up through the metal
stem which connects the diaphragm with the valve, and by side passages enters the
chamber above the diaphragin; the valve can thus be quickly opened; the passage of
water in the opposite direction, that is, from the top to the bottom chamber through
the stem, is prevented by a small valve.
Valves constructed in a similar manner, so as to prevent their being closed too
quickly, are also applicable for controlling the drawing off of water from supply
pipes, and will prevent percussion in the pipes by reason of its being impossible to
close them suddenly.
In constructing latrines, I form each pan of a latrine in two parts, divided
horizontally; the upper half I form to fit into a socket around the top of the lower
half, the lower half I form at the bottom with two short branch pipes on its two
opposite sides, to which short connecting pipes can be secured to couple one pan
with another. The length of these connecting pipes will govern the distanco
between the centres of the pans.
By constructing latrines in the manner above described any obstruction may be
readily removed from the junction pipes or the pans (should any obstruction occur)
without disturbing or unsetting any portion of the work.
The discharge valve from these latrines, as also from baths, sinks, and other
vessels, I form hollow, with a cylinder having at the top a handle all in one piece,
and by preforations through the side of cylinder regulate the height of overflow.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Jennings in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st June
1877.
GEORGE JENNINGS, of Palace Wharf, Stangate, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS AND LATRINES, AND IN VALVES FOR REGULATING
THE SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE OF WATER AND PREVENTING PERCUSSION IN WATER
PIPES."
In the Specification of a formor Patent granted to me, No. 14,273, in the year
1852, I described making the pan or basin of a watercloset to contain a certain
quantity of water and with an outlet at the side or back to the closet trap. Closet
pans so formed have the disadvantage that when water is delivered into the pan
and is directed in a stream around its sides the water tends to run round and round
the pan instead of passing out in a stream at the outlet. To prevent this I now
form such pans with a rib projecting from the interior of the front of the pan on
the opposite side to the outlet. By this means when water is delivered to the
pan and is directed around its sides in the opposite directions as is usual, the two
streams meet at the projecting rib and are by it diverted and caused to sweep
straight across the pan directly to the outlet, so that the previous contents of the
pan are immediately discharged from it.
Figure 1 shews a vertical section of a closet pan formed in the manner above
described with a rib a projecting from its interior.
Figure 2 shews a horizontal section of part of the pan, the section being taken
through the projecting rib.
I claim, as respects this part of my Invention, the construction of closet pans,
substantially as described.
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, No. 1504, in the year
1858, I described a closet in which the passage from the basin to the trap was
closed by a valve having a hollow stem or plug which served as an overflow from
the basin, the stem being carried up to such a height as to retain the water in the
basin to a proper height. I now form the valve with a solid stem, and form an
overflow passage leading from the cylinder or chamber in which the valve stem is
located and into the trap which is below the pan. At the top of the descending
limb of the syphon trap I also form a socket to allow of an air pipe being led from
it to the outer air so as to prevent the descent of water down the soil pipe from
drawing water out of the trap and so unsealing it.
In place of making the conical valve scut in the same piece of earthenware as
that of which the pan and trap are formed I make it of a separate ring of earthen-
ware or non-corrosive material and cement it into a socket formed to receive it.
Figure 3 shews a vertical section of a closet formed in the above manner. A is
the pan; B, the valve closing the passage from the pan to the trap C; D is the
cylinder or chamber up through which the valve stem rises; and E, the overflow
leading to the trap C. The valve stem shewn in the Drawing is of earthenware
or non-corrosive material, and has a flexible valve of vulcanized india-rubber con-
nected to its lower end in the manner shewn. F is a socket from which a pipe is
to be led to the outer air.
I claim, as respects this part of my Invention, the combined arrangement of closet,
substantially as above described, with the overflow passage E leading from the
chamber D to the trap C.
I construct closets in a similar manner to that above described, but to work
without any trap between the valve and soil pipe. In this case I lead the overflow
passage from the pan into the soil pipe and form a trap at the lower end of the
overflow passage. To prevent any of the contents of the pan from entering this
trap I provide a tubular shield passing downwards from the valve seat of the pan
into the soil pipe and terminating below the outlet from the trap.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 shew a side view, vertical section and plan of a closet so

page_text: constructed. A is the pan; B, the valve closing the passage from the pan to the
soil pipe C D is the cylinder or chamber up through which the valve stem rises ;
E, the overflow leading to the soil pipe; F, a socket from which a pipe may be led
to the outer air: G is the trap between the overflow passage and soil pipe; H is
the tubular shield leading downwards from the seat of the valve B and terminating
below the outlet from the trap G; I is a pipe which may form the waste pipe of a
sink, or this pipe may be omitted.
I claim, as respects this part of my Invention, the construction of closets, sub-
stantially as above described.
For supplying water to a closet I employ a valve with two deliveries, one to
supply the closet pan, the other to wash out and refill the overflow trap or trap of
closet (if there be one) in case either may be syphoned out by the falling waters
down the soil pipe.
This improvement is shown at Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6. a is the passage from the
water supply valve leading to the pan of the closet, and b, a branch leading into
the overflow passage E, and so to the trap G or C.
I claim, as rospects this part of my Invention, the employment for supplying
water to a watercloset of a valve with two deliveries, one to supply the closet pan,
the other to wash out and refill the overflow trap or trap of closet
To regulate the supply of water delivered to the pan of a closet cach time that
the closet handle is pulled up I employ a valve arranged to be moved downwards
away from its seat by a lever handle acting upon a stem which rises upwards from
the valve; the lever handle has a weight upon it as usual to tend to close the valve,
but to control the closing of the valve I form the valve with a short stem descending
from its under side and attach this stem to the centre of a flexible diaphragm which
formis a division across a small metal chamber. The pressure of water from the
inlet or supply pipe is always above the upper surface of the diaphragın, and tends
to hold the valve down and open until the pressure of water upon the top of
the diaphragm is balanced by the pressure of water upon the under side of the
diaphragm.
To allow of water passing from the space above to the space below the diaphragm
a small passage leading from the top to the bottom of the chamber is formed in the
metallic shell or casing. In this passage is a tap, by turning which the opening
through the passage can be controlled and so control the rate at which the main
valve is allowed to close. When the valve is moved downwards and away from its
seat any water in the chamber below the diaphragm passes up through the metal
stem which connects the diaphragm with the valve and by side passages enters the
chamber above the diaphragin; the valve can thus be quickly opened; the passage
of water in the opposite direction, that is, from the top to the bottom chamber
through the stem, is prevented by a small valve.
Valves constructed in a similar manner, so as to prevent their being closed too
quickly, are also applicable for controlling the drawing off of water from supply
pipes, and will prevent percussion in the pipes by reason of its being impossible to
close them suddenly.
Figure 7 shews a vertical section of a valve apparatus arranged as above described.
The same apparatus is shown on a smaller scale applied to the closet at Figures 4,
5, and 6. Jis the supply valve arranged to be moved downwards away from its
seat by a lever K; the outer arm of the lever handle passes through a slot in the
side of the chamber D, Figures 4, 5, and 6, and inside this chamber carries an
annular weight L which surrounds the stem of the closet valve B. When the
handle of the closet is raised it lifts the weight L and opens the supply valve J.
The valve J has descending from it a stem M attached to the centre of the flexible
diaphragm N which forms a division across the chamber O. (see Figs. 4 and 6)
is the water supply pipe which supplies water to the upper part of the chamber O.
a is the outlet pipe for conveying water to the pan of the closet. The lower part
of the valve stem AL has a small passage rising up through it from which are branch
rside openings above the diaphragm N. R is the valve which prevents water from

page_text: passing downwards through the passage. S is the small passage in the metallic
shell or casing and forming a communication between the top and bottom of the
chamber O. T is a tap or valve, by turning which the opening through this
passage can be controlled.
I claim, as respects this part of my Invention, the combined arrangement, sub-
stantially as described, for controlling the supply of water to waterclosets, also for
controlling the drawing off of water for other purposes and preventing percussion
in water supply pipes.
In constructing latrines I form each pan of a latrine in two parts, divided
horizontally; the upper half I form to fit into a socket around the top of the lower
half. The lower half I form at the bottom with two short branch pipes on its two
opposite sides to which short connecting pipes can be secured to couple one pan
with another. The length of these connecting pipes will govern the distance
between the centres of the pans.
By constructing latrines in the manner above described any obstruction may be
readily removed from the junction pipes or the pans (should any obstruction occur)
without disturbing or unsetting any portion of the work.
The discharge valve from these latrines, as also from baths, sinks, and other
vessels, I form hollow with a cylinder having at the top a handle all in one pieco,
and by perforations through the side of cylinder regulate the height of overflow.
Figure 8 shews a longitudinal section of a latrine constructed as above described.
A, A, are the pans divided horizontally in two parts as shewn; B, B, are the two
short branch pipes formed at the bottom of the lower half of the pan; C, C, are the
connecting pipes by which the pans are coupled together; D is the discharge valve;
the stem of this valve is hollow and rises up through the chamber E at one end of
the row of latrines and through the sent F; above the seat it has a knob or handle
upon it by which it can be raised; in the valve stem is also an opening as shown
to serve as an overflow outlet; there are also projecting webs G, G, upon the upper
part of the stem. When the valve is down these webs lie in radial slots cut at the
opposite sides of a hole in a metal plate which is fixed to the seat. When the
valve is raised these webs come above the plate, a quarter turn may then be given
to the valve stem and the valve will be held up for as long as desired.
K
Other arrangements of discharge valve and overflow may be adopted in place of
the one shown. The discharge valve may be raised once a day or oftener if there
is an ample supply of water. The supply of water to the latrines can be regulated
by a valve or stop-cock.
At Figures 9, 10, and 11 I have shewn various views of a sink provided with an
outlet valve having a hollow stem to serve as an overflow in the manner above
described with reference to Figure 8. In this case the radial projections G at the
upper part of the hollow valve stem pass through corresponding openings in a lid
by which one end of the sink is covered over, and the knob or handle at the upper
end of the valve stem is above this lid. When the valve is closed the sink may be
used as a bath or basin for washing purposes. At Figure 12 I have shewn the same
arrangement of overflow and outlet valve applied to a bath.
I claim, as respects this part of my Invention,-
First. The construction of latrines, substantially as above described.
Second. The combined arrangement of outlet valve D with its hollow stem
serving as an overflow, and with outer projections G at its upper end, and knob or
handle K at the top, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Jennings, have hereunto set my hand
and seal. this Twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord. One thousand
GEORGE JENNINGS. (L.S.)