IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER CLOSETS
Year: 1880

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hearn Goodson, of Berlin, Germany, at present
of 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of
IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN
WATER CLOSETS." A communication from abroad by Hermann Ernst Thomas
Goodson, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hearn Goodson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1880.
THOMAS HEARN GOODSON, of Berlin, Germany, at present of 123, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR
PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER CLOSETS." A communication from
abroad by Hermann Ernst Thomas Goodson, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany.
My Invention relates to the application of a new or improved automatic apparatus
to water closets for preventing the waste of water therein arising from carelessness
or derangement of parts as is at present the case.
It consists, firstly, in fixing between the supply pipe and the pipe leading to the
closet basin a valve box containing two check valves one above the other, the stem
of the upper valve being enlarged at its upper portion so as to present a larger
area than the valve. The outer end of this enlarged portion of the valve stem works
through a stuffing box and butts against the underside of the front part of the
water closet seat, which is movable and hinged at the back. The lower check
valve is formed with a stem sliding in and guided by the upper valve stem.
Between the two valve seats is a pipe leading to within a short distance of the
bottom of an air vessel placed in any convenient situation. On a downward
pressure being applied to the water closet seat the upper check valve is moved
away from its seat and forces the lower valve on to its seat or closes it so as to stop
the passage of the water from the supply pipe to the closet basin, but at the same

page_text: time allowing it to enter the air vessel where it more or less accumulates and
compresses the air contained therein. On the pressure being removed from the
water closet seat the upper valve (specially shaped) rises (by the superior area of
its enlarged stem) and closes the supply pipe when (continuing to rise) it lifts the
lower valve from its seat or opens it so that the compressed air forces the water
contained in the air vessel through the open valve seat into the closet basin, which
is thereby flushed. By this arrangement (the upper valve being formed as a piston
for a short distance from its face) the lower valve is not allowed to open until the
upper valve is closed, whereby the danger of the latter remaining in an open
position or not closing quickly enough (owing to some sudden diminution of
pressure in the supply pipe) and thereby washing the water from the latter is
avoided and all concussion in the pipes prevented.
Secondly. My Invention consists in fitting to any convenient part of the air
chamber of the air vessel (or pipe leading thereto), above described, a regulating air
cock or valve, by opening which the volume of compressed air in the said vessel
may be diminished according to the quantity of water required for flushing the
closet basin.
Thirdly. In dispensing with the handle and rod at present used for operating
the flushing apparatus of that class of water closets in which the basin is opened
and closed at the bottom by a flap valve or metal pan, and in substituting therefor
a ram or plunger connected with the weighted lever of such apparatus and in
communication with the air vessel before described whereby the pressure from the
latter, acting upon the ram or plunger, opens the flap valve or pan of the basin and
retains it in that position until the requisite amount of water coming from the air
vessel has passed through or flushed the basin, when owing to the diminished
pressure the weighted lever causes the ram or plunger to descend and close the flap
valve or pan, at the same time allowing a certain quantity of water to be retained
by the latter in the basin.
Fourthly. In the application and use to the supply pipe of a strainer or grating
for preventing the passage of any foreign matters to the valves.
Fifthly. In fixing a small pipe between the main pipe leading to the closet
basin and the drain pipe for allowing any water remaining in the closet pipes to
run to waste, thereby preventing the apparatus from being deranged in time of
frost.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Hearn Goodson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th June 1881.
THOMAS HEARN GOODSON, of Berlin, Germany, at present of 123, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR
PREVENTING WASTE OF WATER IN WATER CLOSETS." A communication from
abroad by Hermann Ernst Thomas Goodson, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany.
My Invention relates to the application of a new or improved automatic
apparatus to water closets for preventing the waste of water therein arising from
carelessness or derangement of parts as is at present the case.
My Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Sheet of Drawings on which
Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 a detailed view (to an
enlarged scale) of my improved apparatus, like letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
My Invention consists, firstly, in fixing between the supply pipe A. and the
pipe B leading to the closet basin C a valve box D containing two check
valves E, F, (seen in section Figure 3) one above the other, the stem of the upper
valve E being enlarged at its upper portion G so as to present a larger area than
the valve F.
The outer end of this enlarged portion G works through a stuffing box H and
butts against the underside of the front part of the water closet seat I, which is
movable and hinged at the back. The lower check valve F is formed with a
stem J sliding on and guided by the upper valve stem. Between the two valve
seats is a pipe k leading to within a short distance of the bottom of an air vessel L
placed as shown or in any convenient position. On a downward pressure being
applied to the water closet seat I the upper check valve E is moved away from its seat
and forces the lower valve F on to its seat or closes it so as to stop the passage of
the water from the supply pipe A to the closet basin C, but at the same time
allowing it to enter the air vessel L where it more or less accumulates and com-
presses the air contained therein. On the pressure being removed from the water
closet seat I the upper valve E rises by the superior area of its enlarged stem C
and closes the supply pipe A when (continuing to rise) it lifts the lower valve F
from its seat or opens it so that the compressed air forces the water contained in
the air vessel L through the open valve seat into the closet basin C which is
thereby flushed. By forming the upper valve E as a piston for a short distance
from its face, the lower valve F is not allowed to open until the upper valve E is
closed, whereby the danger of the latter remaining in an open position or not
closing quickly enough (in consequence of some sudden diminution of pressure)
and so wasting the water from the supply pipe A is avoided and all concussion in
the pipes prevented.
Secondly. My Invention consists in fitting to any convenient part of the air
chamber L' of the air vessel L (or pipe leading thereto) a regulating air cock or
valve M (seen more fully in Figure 5), by opening which the volume of compressed
air in the air vessel L may be diminished according to the quantity of water
required for flushing the closet basin C.
Thirdly. My Invention consists, as shewn by Figure 4 on the Drawing, in
dispensing with the handle and rod at present used for operating the flushing
apparatus of that class of water closets in which the basin C is opened and closed
at the bottom by a flap valve or metal pan N, and in substituting therefor a ram
or plunger connected with the weighted lever P and with the pipe k which is in
communication with the vessel L, whereby the pressure from the latter acting upon

page_text: the ram or plunger O opens the flap valve or pan N and retains it in that position
until the requisite amount of water coming from the air vessel L has passed
through or flushed the basin C¹, when owing to the diminished pressure the
weighted lever P causes the ram or plunger O to descend and close the flap valve
or pan N, at the same time allowing a certain quantity of water to be retained by
the latter in the basin C¹.
Fourthly. In the application and use to the supply pipe A of a strainer or
grating (not shown on the Drawing) for preventing the passage of any foreign
matter to the valves E and F.
Fifthly. In fixing a small pipe Q (Figure 2) between the pipe B leading to the
closet basin C and the drain pipe for allowing any water remaining in the closet
pipes to run waste, thereby preventing the apparatus from being deranged in time
of frost.
In towns where the water pressure is not sufficient to work the valves E and F
a strong spring R (see Figure 5) may be used between the stuffing box H and the
outer end of the upper valve stem G¹ in lieu of the enlarged stem G (Figures 1
and 3), the action of this arrangement when fixed under the water closet sent
being the same as before described, except that the upper valve E is closed by the
spring R instead of by the water pressure. If desired, in lieu of operating the valves
E and F by the water closet seat, as described, a handle S may be used and the
spring R dispensed with. In this case the upper valve E is normally open and the
air vessel L' constantly charged with pressure. By lifting the handle S the upper
valve E is closed and the lower valve F opened, when the water in the vessel L¹
flushes the basin as before.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
The application and use of improved automatic apparatus to water closets,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, J, the said Thomas Hearn Goodson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.