AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATERCLOSETS, CISTERNS, AND SOIL TRAPS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cavanah, of 12, Rake Lane, Liverpool, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATERCLOSETS, CISTERNS, AND SOIL
TRAPS."
Sealed the 29th March 1867, and dated the 3rd October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cavanah at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
October 1866.
I, JAMES CAVANAH, of 12, Rake Lane, Liverpool, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATERCLOSETS,
CISTERNS, AND SOIL TRAPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in the construction of the valve through
which the water is conducted to the pan of the watercloset, and is so con-
structed that when in repose the valve is worked by means of a spring and
washer, which may be made of either steel, iron, india-rubber, wood, or any
other elastic or suitable substance, and may be either flat, spiral, or any other
suitable shape; this spring will press tightly over the valve pipe and
prevent the passage of water. When the passage of water is required the

page_text: valve may be lifted by a lever, handle, rod, or chain, or any other means;
the spring and valve may be attached to any part of the cistern, water pipes,
or basin as may be found most desirable. I do not confine myself to any part
in particular.
The second part of my Invention consists in an improvement in the soil
trap, which may be made of iron, earthenware, or any other suitable sub-
stance. I construct this trap with an opening in the top or some other part
of the trap for the purpose of cleaning it out, when necessary the opening
will be fitted with a lid or stopper which will be air-tight when fixed, and
easily removed when the trap or pipe may happen to become stopped or
require cleaning.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Cavanah in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CAVANAП, of 12, Rake Lane, Liverpool, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Cavanah, Her special licence that I, the said James Cavanah,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Cavanah, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-
CLOSETS, CISTERNS, AND SOIL TRAPS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Cavanah, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Cavanab, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My Invention of "An Improvement in Waterclosets, Cisterns, and Soil
Traps" consists, firstly, in the construction of the valve through which the
water is conducted to the pan of the watercloset; this valve is so constructed
that when at rest it is or may be worked as required by means of a spring
and washer, which spring may be made of either steel, iron, brass, india-
rubber, or other suitable elastic material, and may be either flat, spiral, or of
other suitable shape, in order to press tightly over the valve pipe and prevent
the passage of any water. When the passage of water is required the valve
may be lifted by a lever, handle, rod, chain, or, other suitable means. The
spring and valve may be applied to any part of the cistern, water pipes, or
basin as may be found most desirable.
My Invention consists, secondly, in an improvement in the soil. trap, which
may be made of iron, earthenware, or other suitable material; this trap is
constructed with an opening in the top or other convenient part of the trap
for the purpose of cleaning it out, when required this opening will be fitted
with a lid or stopper which will be air-tight when fixed, and will be removed
when the trap or pipe may happen to become stopped or require cleaning.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by
reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the parts

page_text: shewing the groove in the same; through this boss the water flows into the
flush pipe F when the spring of the valve is raised from its seat. B repre-
sents detached the metal spring shewn in Fig. 1, which is secured by two
screw pins or bolts; C is the connecting rod, as shewn in the cistern in
Fig. 1; D is the screw bolt with two nuts to regulate the length of the con-
necting rod; E, E, is a metal plate with a joint in it, which plate covers
the valve, and is weighted with lead or other metal; this plate is worked by a
lever and rod, as shewn in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents the bottom of the
cistern shewing the parts where the boss and overflow are placed. Fig. 4 is a
section shewing the inside of the cistern, with the valve rod G in its place and
working with a spiral spring. The openings at the bottom of the rod under
the washer a shew the escape for the water into the flush pipe when the rod is
raised. H is the fork of the lever for working the rod G; I is the spiral spring
of brass or other elastic material for acting on the same as required; J is a
rod corresponding with the rod G, but worked with a curved spring K on the
top; this spring may be varied in form and material, and may be applied in
different parts of the cistern.
I proceed now to describe my improvement in soil traps. Fig. 5 represents
the inside of the soil trap with the lid in its place, the pan being shewn on
the trap with the flush pipe connected from the cistern; the dotted line shews
the level of water in the trap. f is an india-rubber washer, which when the lid
is pressed down into its place on the rim N effectually prevents the emission
of any unpleasant smell. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the top of the trap
shewing the lid off. The great advantage to be derived from the use of this
trap is that should it become stopped up the lid or stopper can be removed at
pleasure, when the trap can be cleared and the drain pipes flushed through
the aperture at the top without disturbing the pan or the trap. Fig. 7 repre-
sents a part of the top of the trap with a cork or a common stopper in it, as
this may be used instead of the lid above described. Fig. 8 shews the same
with the cork or stopper out; Fig. 9 represents the bottom of the trap and
the rim fitting into the drain pipe below; Fig. 10 represents the top of the trap
with the openings for the lid and pan to rest upon; Fig. 11 is a plan view of
the rim on the top of the trap when the cork or stopper is fixed in it; Fig. 12
is an edge view of the loose lid that fits into the rim N.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as
of my Invention is,―
First, the adaptation and application to cisterns and waterclosets of a valve
and spring constructed and arranged in the manner herein-before described.

page_text: And, secondly, the construction of soil traps with an opening in the top
capable of being filled or covered with an air-tight lid or stopper, which may
be removed when required in order to admit of the trap being cleared and the
drain pipes flushed without disturbing the pan or the trap, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Cavanah, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JAMES CAVANAH. (L.S.)