IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY CLOSETS, COMMODES, AND URINALS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Ward Girdlestone, of Alderley Lodge, Belvedere,
in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRY CLOSETS, COMMODES, AND URINALS."
Sealed the 28th October 1876, and dated the 3rd May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ward Girdlestone at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1876.
JOHN WARD GIRDLESTONE, of Alderley Lodge, Belvedere, in the County of Kent,
Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY CLOSETS, COMMODES, AND URINALS."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus employed for the
purpose of delivering, casting, or distributing a regulated charge of dry carth,
ashes, charcoal, or other disinfecting, deodorizing, or absorbent substance or substances
of a powdery or granular nature, each and all hereafter referred to as "earth" in
"dry" closets, commodes, and urinals.
The apparatus constructed under the Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing
date A.D. 1870, 2nd September, No. 2398, and referred to in the Specification of
the said Patent as the "second" part of my Invention, consists of
First. A bottomless "oscillating reservoir."
Secondly. An "oscillating hopper" having back and sides, but having neither top
nor bottom, whose upper portion encircles either in whole or in part the lower
portion of the reservoir.
And, Thirdly. A "stationary tray" placed a short distance beneath the oscillating
hopper. On charging the reservoir with carth, souie carth falls through the reservoir
into the hopper and upon the tray, the said tray being so constructed as to enable
it together with the earth standing thereou and with the hopper to prevent under
all circumstances any accidental escape of earth from the reservoir.
In the employ-
ment of the apparatus a charge of earth is cast by means of the hopper from off
the tray and over the excrement.
This apparatus succeeds absolutely so far as the prevention of all accidental
escape of earth from the reservoir is concerned; and when the hopper is swung
forward at an adequate rate of speed, a regulated or adequated charge of earth is
delivered. It has, however, in practice been found an impossibility to insure
uniformity in the rate of speed at which the hopper moves.
Price Gd.1

page_text: I have therefore devised my present improvements with a view both to insure
the delivery of a regulated or adequate charge of earth, whatever be the rate of
speed at which the hopper may move, and at the same time to secure certain other
advantages herein-after specified over the apparatus constructed under the above
recited Letters Patent.
The said improvements consist in the novel construction of the part heretofore
and for the sake of convenience hereafter also termed the "hopper." I fix the
axis of the hopper as heretofore horizontally parallel to the face of the closet, and
at a short distance above the lower extremities of the reservoir. I form the hopper
with sides much as heretofore, but in place of the portion which in the Specification
of the aforesaid Letters Patent I terined the "back" of the hopper (which portion
serves for the purpose of casting the earth out of the tray, and when the hopper is
in its forward position or thereabouts for the purpose also of preventing the escape of
earth from the reservoir), I employ a plate whose upper surface is on all points equi-
distant or nearly so from the axis of oscillation of the hopper. The plate which
may be described as being the segment of a cylinder is situated almost immediately
beneath the reservoir. The sole use of this plate is to prevent, when the hopper is
in its forward position, or thereabouts, the escape of earth from the reservoir.
herein-after terin this plate the "segmental valve, and I attach to the fore part or
thereabouts of this segmental valve a flange extending downward. This flange
occupies a position radially or nearly so to the axis of the said segmental valve, that
is to say, to the axis of oscillation of the hopper. The upper edge of the flange
being flush with the upper surface of the valve, and its lower edge extending as
near as practicable to the tray, whose upper surface is as described in the Specifi-
cation of the above referred to Patent equidistant or nearly so on all points from
the axis of oscillation of the hopper. The sole use of this flange is to push or cast
the earth from off the tray. I herein-after term this flange the "radial pusher."
By way of describing more fully my present Invention 1 will now compare it
still further with the one it is designed to supersede, that is to say, with the one to
which reference has already been made. For the sake of convenience I herein-after
term my present Invention the "new apparatus," and the one it is designed to
supersede the "old apparatus."
In the old apparatus when the hopper is in its forward position the back of the
hopper stands horizontally or thereabouts, that is say, in a position suitable for the
purpose of casting the earth upward instead of as it ought to do forward. In the
new apparatus when the hopper is in its forward position the radial pusher stands
at an angle of 45° or thereabouts below the horizontal line, that is to say, it is in
the position best adapted for the purpose of casting the earth forward. In the old
apparatus the back of the hopper, when the hopper is being swung forward tends
to lift the earth in the reservoir the hopper being retarded in it forward movement
by the resistance with which it meets. In my new apparatus neither does the
cylindrical valves nor does the radial pusher tend in any degree to lift the earth in
the reservoir. In the old apparatus the back of the hopper suitable neither for
the purpose of casting the earth from off the tray, nor for the purpose of preventing
the escape of earth from the reservoir. In my new apparatus the radial pusher is
exactly adapted for the purpose of casting the earth from off the tray; and the
cylindrical valve is exactly adapted for the purpose of preventing the escape of earth
from the reservoir. As a result far less force is required to deliver the carth
efficiently with the new apparatus than with the old apparatus.
The new apparatus has the following practical advantages over the old
apparatus:-
--
First. Exactly the same amount of earth is delivered whatever be the speed at
which the hopper moves.
Second. When the apparatus is rendered automatic the weights on the lever
bars may with advantage be reduced from about 25 lbs. to about 10 lbs., which reduc-
tion involves a saving not merely in the cost of the weight but also in the wear
and tear of the apparatus.

page_text: Third. The seat of an automatic closet can be depressed by a weight of about 20 lb.
instead of by one of not less than about 90 lb., hence automatic closets fitted with
the new apparatus will be available for use by children and adults in common,
instead of by adults only.
Fourth. The said apparatus may with advantage be placed almost out of sight,
and in a position where it cannot by any accident bo soiled.
The apparatus as described is adapted to urinals but has no scat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Ward Girdlestone in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd November
1876.
JOHN WARD GIRDLESTONE, of Alderley Lodge, Belvedere, in the County of Kent,
Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN 'DRY' CLOSETS, COMMODES, AND URINALS."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus employed for the
purpose of delivering, casting, or distributing a regulated charge of dry carth, ashes,
charcoal, or other disinfecting, deodorizing, or absorbent substance or substances of
a powdery or granular nature, each and all hereafter referred to as "earth" in
dry" closets, commodes, and urinals.
"
The apparatus constructed under the Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing
date A.D. 1870, 2nd September, No. 2398, and referred to in the Specification of tho
said Patent as the second part of my Invention, consists of
First. A bottomless oscillating reservoir.
Second. An "oscillating hopper" having back and sides, but having neither top
nor bottom, whose upper portion encircles either in whole or in part the lower
portion of the reservoir.
And, Third. A "stationary tray" placed a short distance beneath the oscillating
hopper. On charging the reservoir with earth some earth falls through the reservoir
into the hopper and upon the tray, the said tray being so constructed as to enable
it together with the earth standing thereon and with the hopper to prevent under
all circumstances any accidental escape of earth from the reservoir. On the employ-
ment of the apparatus a charge of earth is cast by means of the hopper off the tray
and over the excrement.
It
This apparatus succeeds absolutely so far as the prevention of all accidental
escape of earth from the reservoir is concerned; and when the hopper is swung
forward at an adequate rato of speed a regulated charge of earth is delivered.
has, however, in practice been found an impossibilty to ensure except at considerable
cost uniformity in the rato of speed at which the hopper inoves.
I have therefore devised my present improvements with a view both to ensure
tho delivery of a regulated charge of earth, whatever be the rate of speed at which
the hopper may move, and at the same time to secure other advantages herein-
after specified over the apparatus constructed under the above recited Letter Patent.
The said improvements consist in the novel construction of the part herein-before
and for the sake of convenience herein-after also termed the "hopper." I fix the
axis of the hopper as heretoforo horizontally parallel with the face of the closet,
and at a short distance above the lower extremity of the reservoir. I form the
hopper with sides nearly as heretofore, but in place of the portion, which in the
Specification of the aforesaid Letters Patent I termed the "back" of the hopper
(which portion serves for the purpose of casting the earth out of the tray, and when
the hopper is in its forward position or thereabouts, for the purpose also of pre-
venting the escape of earth from the reservoir) I employ a plate, whose upper
surface is on all points equidistant or nearly so from the axis of oscillation of tho
hopper. This plate which may be described as being a segment of a cylinder is
situated almost immediately beneath the reservoir. The sole use of the said plate is
to prevent, when the hopper is in its forward position, or thereabouts, the escape of

page_text: earth from the reservoir. I herein-after term this plate the "segmental valve," and
I attach to the fore part or thereabouts of the segmental valve a flange extending
downward. The flange occupies a position radial or nearly so to the axis of the
segmental valve, that is to say, to the axis of oscillation of the hopper, the upper
edge of the flange being flush with the upper surface of the valve, and its lower
edgo extending as near as practicable to the "tray," whose upper surface is as
described in the Specification of the above referred to Patent equidistant or nearly
so on all points from the axis of oscillation of the hopper. The sole use of the flange
is to push or cast the earth from off the tray. I herein-after term this flange the
"radial pusher."
By way of describing more fully my present Invention I will now compare it
still further with the one it is designed to supersede, that is to say, with the one to
which reference has already been made. For the sake of convenience 1 herein-after
term my present Invention the "new apparatus," and the one it is designed to
supersede the "old apparatus."
In the old apparatus when the hopper is in its forward position the back of
the hopper stands horizontally or thereabouts, that is to say, in a position suitable
for the purpose of casting the earth upward instead of as it ought to do forward.
In the new apparatus when the hopper is in its forward position the radial pusher
stands at an angle of 45°, or thereabouts, below the horizontal line, that is to say,
in the position best adapted for the purpose of casting the earth forward. In the
old apparatus the back of the hopper when the hopper is being swung forward
tends to lift the earth in the reservoir, the hopper being retarded in its forward
movement by the resistance with which it meets. In the new apparatus neither
does the cylindrical valve nor does the radial pusher tend in any degree to lift the
earth in the reservoir. In the old apparatus the back of the hopper is suitable
neither for the purpose of casting the earth off the tray, nor for the purpose of
preventing the escape of earth from the reservoir. In the new apparatus the radial
pusher is exactly adapted for the purpose of casting the earth off the tray, and the
segmental valve is exactly adapted for the purpose of preventing the escape of
earth from the reservoir. As a result far less force is required to deliver the earth
efficiently with the new apparatus than with the old apparatus.
The new apparatus has the following practical advantages over the old appa-
ratus:-
First. Exactly the same amount of earth is delivered whatever be the speed at
which the hopper moves.
Second. When the apparatus is rendered nutomatic the weight on the lever bars
may with advantage be reduced from about 25 lbs. to about 10 lbs., which reduction
involves a saving not merely in the cost of the weights; but also in the wear and
tear of the apparatus.
Third. The seat of an automatic closet can be depressed by a weight of about
20 lbs. instead of by one of not less than about 90 lbs., hence automatic closets
will be available for use by children and adults in common instead of by adults
only.
Fourth. The said apparatus may with advantage be placed almost out of sight,
and in a position where it cannot by any accident be soiled.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved
apparatus, showing the oscillating hopper in its backward position.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the said apparatus, shewing the oscillating hopper
in the same position.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the said apparatus, shewing the oscillating hopper
is in its forward position.
In these Figures, a is the oscillating reservoir; b is the axis of oscillation of the
said reservoir; c is the oscillating hopper; d is the axis of oscillation of the said
hopper is that portion of the oscillating hopper herein termed the "segmental
valve" is that portion of the oscillating hopper herein termed the "radial
pusher;" is the stationary tray.
;

page_text: Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim as my Invention for improvements in
dry closets, commodes, and urinals the construction of the oscillating hopper c, and
the combination therewith of the oscillating reservoir a and the stationary tray g,
ns herein described and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ward Girdlestone, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this First day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOHN WARD GIRDLESTONE. (L.S.)