IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH CLOSETS AND URINALS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicholas Voice, of Handcross, in the County of
Sussex, Plumber, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED WITH CLOSETS AND URINALS."
Sealed the 2nd July 1869, and dated the 18th January 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Voice at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th January 1869.
I, NICHOLAS VOICE, of Handcross, in the County of Sussex, Plumber,
3 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH CLOSETS AND URINALS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a mechanical arrangement for operating
the pan valve of water-closets and for regulating the supply of water
thereto by the simple opening and closing of the closet door. The
arrangement consists of sliding rods or bars connected by a link to
a stud on the door and by an arm to the ordinary weighted valve lever,
so that when the door is opened the link rods and arm cause the
weighted lever to rise, whereby the pan valve is lowered and the valve

page_text: for admitting water to the pan is opened; and again when the door
is closed the weighted lever is lowered and the reverse action takes
place. I thus ensure that the pan is flushed after each occupation,
and at the same time prevent all chance of the water being left running.
The arrangement and number of the sliding rods will vary according
to the respective position of the closet and door and to whether the
door opens outwards or inwards or from left to right. Friction rollers
may be provided for the rods to slide upon. The link which connects
the rods with the stud on the door is preferably made adjustable by
a slot and screw so as to be readily adapted to any closet notwithstanding
the varying distances between the doors and seats; or the adjustment
may be effected by the particular position of the stud on the door.
The rods are for neatness preferably situated below the floor of the
closet. The parts come into action when the door is about half open,
and the opening of the door to its fullest extent does not further
affect their movement.
In applying my Invention to dry or carth closets the sliding rods
are made to work a scraper or other usual appliance for supplying
the earth to the closets.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Nicholas Voice in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th July 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NICHOLAS
VOICE, of Handcross, in the County of Susssex, Plumber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Nicholas Voice, Her special licence that
I, the said Nicholas Voice, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Nicholas Voice, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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,

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED WITH CLOSETS AND URINALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Nicholas Voice, 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 Nicholas. Voice, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof; referenco being had to. the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in a mechanical arrangement for operating
tho pan valvo of water-closets and for regulating the supply of water.
thereto. by the simple opening and closing of the closet door: The
arrangement consists of sliding rods or bars connected to the door
and by an arm to the valve lover, so that when the door is openci
the rods and arm cause the valve lover to rise or move, whereby the
pan valvo is lowered and the valve for admitting water to the basin.
is opened; and again when the door is closed the valve lever is lowered
or returned and the roverso action takes place. The valve levor may.
bo weighted. so as to return the parts to their normal position and
close the door when pressure is removed from the door, but as the
weight for this purpose would have to be heavy I prefer to fit a
strong spring to the door so as to keep the same closed when not
pushed or pulled open. By my arrangement I ensure that the closet
is flushed after cach. occupation; and at the same time prevent all-
chance of the water being loft running. The arrangement and number
of the sliding rods will vary according to the respective position of
the closet and door, and to whether the door opens outwards or inwards
or from the left or right. Friction rollers may be provided for the rods
to slide upon. The rod which is to bo connected to the door is preferably
made adjustable so as to be readily adapted to any closet notwithstanding
the varying distances between the doors and scats; or the adjustment
may be effected by the particular position of the connection to the door,

page_text: or by an adjustable link connecting the door with the sliding rods.
The rods are for neatness, preferably situated below the floor of the
closet. I prefer that the parts of the closet should come into action
when the door is about half open, and that the opening of the door
to its fullest extent should not further affect their movement.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan or top view showing my Invention applied to a pan
closet. a is the closet to receive the ordinary basin; 6 is the pan valvo
fixed on a horizontal rod c, the end of which is connected with the valve
lever d; e is the water supply pipe, as here shown it is made of india-
rubber or other suitable flexible material, and the supply is controlled
by a weighted leverf which presses upon the flexible pipe so as to
compress the same and prevent the passage of water; g is an arm
(which may be made adjustable by a set screw) on the rod c for the
purpose of raising the leverf when the pan valve is lowered, and
thus to allow of the passage of water to flush the closet; h is an arm
connected at one end to the valve lever d and at the other to a sliding
rod which in its turn is connected to another sliding rod k; the
rod k is connected to or carries a stud on which a plate m to be screwed
to the door of the closet is swivelled. The rod k is adjustable as
seen at n so as to be capable of being adapted to any closet according
to the distance between the closet and the door; other means of
adjustment may however be adopted. o, o, are friction rollers for the
rod to slide upon. This rod is bent as seen at p in order that the
portion of this rod in front of the seat as well as the rod k may be
below the floor. The door of the closet on being opened pushes
inwards the rods k and i, so as to cause the arm h to lift the lower
end of the valve lever d into the position seen in the Figures. The
lifting of the valve lever imparts a partial rotary motion to the rod c,
thereby lowering the pan valve and by the arm g lifting the lever f,
the water is therefore allowed to pass into and flush the basin. When
the door is being closed (the closing being ensured by a spring fitted
thereon) the parts return to their normal position. I do not limit
myself to any particular construction of valve or apparatus for opening
and shutting off the water supply to the basin so long as it is arranged
to be operated by the movement of the sliding rods. When I employ
the form of valve described, I strengthen the india-rubber pipe at
and near the part where the lever f presses by putting an india-rubber

page_text: collar thereon, and I apply a metal boss thereon having a slot to receive
the lever formed therein. As before stated the arrangement and number
of the sliding rods will vary according to the respective positions of
the closet and door and to whether the door opens outwards or inwards
or from the left or right. The arrangement represented in Figures 1
and 2 is intended for a closet in which the door faces the closet or
scat and opens inwards.
Figure 8 represents in plan or top view an arrangement for a closet
in which the door is at right angles to the closet and opens inwards.
Similar letters to those in Figures 1 and 2 rofer to the same parts.
The arrangement of the sliding rods to suit other positions or circum-
stances will be readily understood.
In applying my Invention to dry or earth closets the sliding rods
are made to work a scraper or other usual appliance for supplying the
carth to the closets.
My Invention also applies to urinals, the rods in this case operating
the valve for regulating the water supply.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and 'in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my
"Improvements in Apparatus connected with Olosets and Urinals,"
connecting sliding rods or bars with a closet or a urinal and with tho
door of the same in such manner that the closet or urinal is operated
by the opening and closing of the said door, substantially as heroin-
before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicholas Voice, havo hercunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of July One thousand cight
hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
0
J. C. MEWBURN,
Patent Agent,
172, Flect Street,
London.
N. VOICE. (L.S.)