Improvements in and connected with Siphon Flushing Apparatus of Water Closets.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Siphon Flushing Apparatus
of Water Closets.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows, that is to say:-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
siphon flushing apparatus of waterclosets, and more particularly to apply for
starting the siphonal action appliances which while certain and satisfactory in
operation require extremely small movements for effecting the purpose. My
invention also comprises automatic devices; and also arrangements for diminish-
ing the noise which in ordinary arrangements is produced at the termination of
a siphonal action.
In some of my improved arrangements the long or descent leg of the main
siphon communicates with the downlet pipe through a trap or water seal which
may be arranged at different heights but is preferably at the bottom of the
cistern or in a depressed part of the cistern bottom and to start the siphonal action
the air is drawn out of the upper part of the siphon by means of a small siphon
which may be arranged in various ways.
In one arrangement the long leg of the small siphon is connected to the downlet
pipe, and an upper part of it is connected by a small pipe to the upper part
of the main siphon. When the small siphon is started it starts the main siphon
by drawing air out of its upper part. Various devices may be applied for starting
the small siphon. One device is a jet nozzle directed up into the bottom of the
short leg, the nozzle being on the upper end of a tube which has at its lower end a
hollow elastic ball the compression of which produces a sufficient jet for the
purpose, the ball refilling from the cistern after each action. Or the jet for
starting the small siphon may be furnished by a branch pressure supply pipe
being made to act by means of a spring push valve. Or the jet may be projected
by means of a loose piston in a small cylinder moved by a rod and push button,
or if arranged in the cistern by a weighted lever connected by a cord or wire to a
conveniently placed handle. Ör a lever may be arranged to open a small valve in
the cistern admitting water into the long leg of the small siphon. When a cylinder
and piston in the cistern are used, the piston may be annular and made with a
trunk or tube extending up above the water level, there being within the trunk
an open tube fixed to the cistern bottom. A rod or cord fixed to the closed top
of the trunk extends down through the inner tube and can be moved by a
handle below. The piston and trunk may be connected to a counterweighted
lever to raise them up again after each depression; or a spring may be applied for
that purpose.
Instead of the device for starting the small siphon being actuated by means
of a handle or button, it may be arranged in connection with a movement of the
watercloset seat. For this purpose the seat is arranged so as by a counter-
weight or spring to assume a slightly inclined position, and when depressed a
connection at the back of it acts on the piston or equivalent part of the starting

page_text: device so as to admit water to the cylinder. On the seat again assuming its
inclined position the connection moves the piston or equivalent so as to project a
jet into the small siphon or so as to act in an equivalent manner. With this
arrangement an extremely small movement of the front of the closet seat is
required, and the narrow opening between the basin and seat-may be covered by
a curved shield fixed to the front of the seat and engaging under a moulding
on the basin or on the casing enclosing it, the shield acting as a stop and pre-
venting the raising of the seat too high.
The small siphon may be combined with the main siphon in various ways. The
long leg of the small siphon may extend down vertically some distance into the
downlet pipe; and the pipe for drawing air from the main siphon may extend
some distance down the long leg of the small siphon, or it may have that leg
extending down through it, being in that case made sufficiently large, or having
a bulb-like enlargement just below the bottom end of the small-siphon leg. Instead
of drawing air into itself the small siphon may be arranged to propel air from the
main siphon, the long leg of the small siphon being arranged partly within the
long leg of the main siphon. When the small siphon is running its water enters
as a jet into the flared mouth of a branch pipe leading to the downlet pipe, and
the jet injects air from the main siphon into the branch pipe and thereby starts
the main siphon. One or more cones or short flared tubes may be interposed
between the small siphon and the branch pipe.
When making the downlet pipe with a bulb-like enlargement I form such
enlargement of a pear-like shape the small or conical end being uppermost, and
the lower part joining the continuation of the downlet pipe with a curve which
may have a slight upward bend. Or I make the top of the enlargement flat and
the lower part conical.
A
For the purpose of diminishing the objectionable noise occurring with ordinary
siphons when the siphonal action is terminating, I arrange near the short leg
of the main siphon a vessel having its upper end closed and its bottom open.
small connecting pipe entering either leg, extends up into the vessel a certain
distance; and there is in the vessel a small vertical pipe open at both ends, its
upper end being above the connecting pipe and its lower end extending down
below the bottom of the vessel. During the earlier part of the siphonal action
water is drawn through the vessel and connecting pipe, but on the water level
getting below the bottom of the vessel the passing of water diminishes and air
gradually enters and brings the siphonal action to an end with comparative
quietness. In another modification the top of the main siphon is connected to
the vessel which is made with a bottom lube extending down inside of a cup
which has an opening of suitable size in its bottom. In a third modification the
pipe connecting the top of the main siphon to the vessel dips inside that vessel
which is made with a closed bottom. A small siphon tube dipping into the vessel
to a point lower than the connecting pipe has its long leg connected to the long
leg of the main siphon. These arrangements cause air to be gradually admitted near
the end of the siphonal action and thereby diminish or prevent objectionable noise.
The siphonal flushing appliances herein before described may be fitted in any
suitable known kind of cistern placed either a little higher than the watercloset
or at any convenient greater height. In some cases I make the cistern for being
fixed against a wall, but so as to conceal such tap and pipe details as are not within
the cistern. If the cistern is of castiron, I extend the sides and bottom beyond
the back so as to form a recess for fittings at the back, and I form flanges or
lugs on the edges of the backwardly extending parts for fixing the cistern by to
the wall. In the case of a wooden cistern I form a frame of wood to be fixed to
the wall and fix the cistern to the front of the frame the part within the frame
forming a recess for fittings at the back of the cistern.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Siphon Flushing Apparatus
of Water Closets.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, 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, that is to say:—
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
siphon flushing apparatus of waterclosets, and more particularly to apply for
starting the siphonal action appliances which while certain and satisfactory in
operation require extremely small movements for effecting the purpose.
invention also comprises automatic devices; and also arrangements for diminish-
ing the noise which in ordinary arrangements is produced at the termination of
a siphonal action.
My
My improvements are hereinafter particularly described with the aid of
explanatory drawings upon two accompanying sheets the figures composing which
are referred to and designated in the course of the description. In these drawings
the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
In some of my improved arrangements as shown for example in Figure, 1, which
is a vertical section the long or descent leg, A, of the main siphon, B, communi-
cates with the downlet pipe, C, through a trap or water seal, D, which may be
arranged at different heights but is preferably at the bottom of the cistern or in
a depressed part of the cistern bottom and to start the siphonal action the air is
drawn out of the upper part of the siphon by means of a small siphon, E, which
may be arranged in various ways. As shown in Figure, 1, the long leg, E1, of
the small siphon is connected to the downlet pipe, C, and a higher part of it is
connected by a small pipe, E 2, to the upper part of the main siphon, B.
When
the small siphon is started it starts the main siphon by drawing air out of its
upper part. Various devices may be applied for starting the small siphon, E. One
device is a jet nozzle, F, directed up into the bottom of the short leg, the nozzle
being on the upper end of a tube, F 1, which has at its lower end a hollow elastic
ball or half ball, F2, the compression of which produces a sufficient jet for the
purpose, the ball refilling from the cistern after each action. Or the jet for start-
ing the small siphon may be furnished by a branch pressure supply pipe, F3,
indicated by dotted lines being made to act by means of a spring push valve.
In the modification shown in vertical section in Figure, 2, the long leg, E 1, of
the small siphon is made to project down into the downlet pipe, C, and the jet
pipe, F1, has at its bottom end a flexible half ball, F2, arranged to be com-
pressed by means of a push button.
The jet for the small siphon, E, may be projected by means of a loose piston, G,
in a small cylinder, G1, moved by a rod, G2, as shown. in vertical section in
Figure, 3, or if arranged in the cistern by a weighted lever connected by a cord
or wire to a conveniently placed handle. Or as shown in Figure, 4, a lever, H,
may be arranged to open a small valve, H1, in the cistern admitting water into
the long leg, E1, of the small siphon.
When a cylinder and piston in the cistern are used the piston may be annular
as shown in Figure, 5, and made with a trunk or tube extending up above the
water level, there being within the trunk an open tube, G3, fixed to the cistern
bottom. A rod or cord, G2, fixed to the closed top of the trunk extends down
through the inner tube and can be moved by a handle below. The piston and

page_text: trunk may be connected to a counterweighted lever, H2, to raise them up again
after each depression as shown in Figure, 6; or a spring, G4, (Figure, 5) may be
applied for that purpose.
Instead of the device for starting the small siphon being actuated by means of
a handle or button, it may be arranged in connection with a movement of the
watercloset seat, as shown for example in. Figures, 7, 8, or 9. For this purpose
the seat, J, is arranged so as by a counterweight, J 1, or spring, J2, to assume
a slightly inclined position, and when depressed a connection, J3, at the back of
it acts on the piston or equivalent part of the starting device so as to admit
water to the cylinder, G 1. On the seat again assuming its inclined position the
connection moves the piston or equivalent so as to project a jet into the small
siphon or so as to act in an equivalent manner. With this arrangement un
extremely small movement of the front of the closet seat is required, and the
narrow opening between the basin and seat may be covered by a curved shield, J 4,
fixed to the front of the seat and engaging under a moulding on the basin or on
the casing enclosing it, the shield acting as a stop and preventing the raising of
the seat too high.
The small siphon, E, may be combined with the main siphon, B, in various ways.
The long leg. E 1, of the small siphon may extend down vertically some distance
into the downlet pipe, C; and the pipe, E2, for drawing air from the main
siphon, B, may extend some distance down the long leg of the small siphon as
shown in section in Figure, 10, or the air pipe, E2, may have the leg, E,
extending down through it, being in that case made sufficiently large, or having
a bulb-like enlargement, K, just below the bottom end of the small-siphon leg as
shown in Figure, 5. Instead of drawing air into itself the small siphon, E, may
be arranged as shown in Figure, 11, to propel air from the main siphon, B, the
long leg, E1, of the small siphon being arranged partly within the long leg, A,
of the main siphon. When the small siphon is running its water enters as a jet
into the flared mouth of a branch pipe, E3, leading to the downlet pipe, and the
jet injects air from the main siphon into the branch pipe and thereby starts the
main siphon. One or more cones or short flared tubes, E4, may be interposed
between the small siphon and the branch pipe, E 3.
When making the downlet pipe with a bulb-like enlargement, as described in
Shanks' Patent Specification No. 23413 of 1892, I form such enlargement, K,
of a pear-like shape as shown in section in Figure, 5, the small or conical end
being uppermost, and the lower part joining the continuation of the downlet pipe
with a curve which may have a slight upward bend or be without such upward
bend as shown in Figure, 12. Or I make the top of the enlargement flat and the
lower part conical as shown in Figure 13. The object of these modifications of
shape is to improve the action of the bulb.
For the purpose of diminishing the objectionable noise occurring with ordinary
siphons when the siphonal action is terminating, I as shown in Figure, 14, arrange
near the short leg of the main siphon, B, a vessel, L, having its upper end closed
and its bottom open. A small connecting pipe, L1, entering the leg, extends up
into the vessel à certain distance; and there is in the vessel a small vertical
pipe, L2, open at both ends, its upper end being above the connecting pipe and
its lower end extending down below the bottom of the vessel. During the earlier
part of the siphonal action water is drawn through the vessel, L, and connecting
pipe, but on the water level getting below the bottom of the vessel the passing
of water diminishes and air gradually enters and brings the siphonal action to
an end with comparative quietness. In another modification shown in Figure, 15,
a pipe, M, connecting the top of the main siphon, B, to the vessel, M 1, dips inside
that vessel which is made with a closed bottom. A small siphon tube, M2, dipping
into the vessel to a point lower than the connecting pipe, M, has its long leg
connected to the long leg, A, of the main siphon. These arrangements cause air
to be gradually admitted near the end of the siphonal action and thereby diminish
or prevent objectionable noise.

page_text: The siphonal flushing appliances hereinbefore described may be fitted in any
suitable known kind of cistern, N, placed either a little higher than the water-
closet or at any convenient greater height. In some cases I make the cistern for
being fixed against a wall, but so as to conceal such tap and pipe details as are
not within the cistern. If the cistern is of cast iron as shown in horizontal and
vertical section in Figures, 16, and 17, I extend the sides and bottom, N 1, N 2,
beyond the back so as to form a recess for fittings at the back, and I form flanges
or lugs, N 3, on the edges of the backwardly extending parts for fixing the cisteru
by to the wall. In the case of a wooden cistern as shown in horizontal and vertical
section in Figures, 18, and 19, I form a frame of wood, № 4, to be fixed to the wall
and fix the cistern to the front of the frame the part within the frame forming
a recess for fittings at the back of the cistern.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In siphon flushing apparatus of waterclosets, the combination of a trap or
water seal in the descent leg of the main siphon, with a small siphon arranged to
withdraw air from the main siphon, such small siphon being made to operate by
any of the devices hereinbefore described with reference to Figures, 1 to 11, of
the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved forms of bulb-like enlargement (K) hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures, 5, 12, 13, of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved devices for diminishing noise at the ending of a siphonal flush-
ing action herein before described with reference to Figures, 14, and 15 of the
accompanying drawings.
4. Fixing a watercloset cistern to a wall with a space between it and the wall for
tap and pipe details substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figures, 16 to 19, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Fourteenth day of November 1898.