Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1888
Among the requirements most felt in houses where the supply of water is limited,
and especially when such houses are inhabited by a large number of people, one of
the principle is a water closet from which no escape or only a minimum escape of
sewer gases can occur.
The different apparatus hitherto employed for this purpose have had the following
disadvantages :-
The trapped or syphon closets require a great quantity of water, without which it is
impossible to ensure the free passage of the soils into the drains or cesspools, and
unless this is effected they soon become choked and require cleaning, which is a very
disagreeable operation.
Closets fitted with a flap valve have the inconvenience that if any object finds its
way between the valve and the pan, the sewer gases will be free to escape, and further
if it is neglected to pull the valve (which frequently occurs in public places) the next
person using the closet finds same dirty, and the place otherwise disagreeable.
In closets having a dish or tray with curved concave sides, which is kept full of
water, and a cover provided to dip into such water and cover the hole in the pan, a
hydraulic sealing is effected, and its action is more perfect than the other kinds above
described; but when the closet is to be used, the necessary operation of removing the
the closet
cover to uncover the pan, renders the apparatus objectionable, especially
is used by a number of people, in which case in order to prevent annoyance the hole
is very often left uncovered, so that the sewer gases have a free outlet.
My invention has for its object to overcome these disadvantages and objections, and
in my apparatus the uncovering and recovering of the pan is automatically effected,
that is to say, according to whether the weight of the person using the closet rests
upon the seat or not, so that there is no necessity to trouble about the closing of the
apparatus, which is completely, automatically and hermetically effected, the cover

page_text: My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section on line A, B, C, D.
Fig. 2 an elevation from the side E F.
Fig. 3 a plan view of the dish or tray.
Fig. 4 a plan view of the top or seat, and
Figs. 5 and 6 a side elevation and plan view, respectively, in detail of the parts
marked G, H.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The seat K, L, M, N, is hindegd at o, o¹, and by exerting pressure thereon the
side L, M, will be caused to descend some centimetres, and bear at P on lever PQ
(fulcrummed at R), thus raising the end Q which is forked. On this fork rests a small
hollow cylinder S, having a small plate at its foot, and which slides on a small rod T
fixed to the dish or tray.
In the walls of cylinder S a groove UV is formed, part of such groove being
straight and then bending over slightly in the form of a helix, and which is wide
enough for a pin X, fixed to the rod T, to slide in. When the small cylinder S is
raised by lever PQ, it turns in following the shape of groove U V, and to this
cylinder is fixed the cover Y, which closes the hole in the dish or tray. Such cover
is raised vertically for a certain distance until it clears the edges of the dish or
tray a, b, c, d, when it will turn to one side (to the right or to the left according to
the direction in which the groove in cylinder S is bent), and be hidden in a space
formed in the wall, occupying the position Z, and leaving the hole of the closet quite
open.
To counterbalance the weight of the cover Y carried by the small cylinder, a
counterweight eis fixed to such cylinder on the opposite side; and to counterbalance
the force of the pressure that the seat exerts at its angle L, the lover PQ is extended
at f, g, and is provided with an additional fulcrum at h, and a counterweight at i. To
close the hole left in the seat for allowing the free movement of the small cylinder S,
a cap J is provided. In the apparatus thus constructed the cover cannot open unless a
person rests his weight upon the top or seat.
In order to prevent the escape of sewer gases during the time the closet remains
open, a flap valve u, v, is applied to the lower end of the pan r, and turns upon a
fulcrum w, a lever wo, x, extending outwards beyond such fulcrum. To this lover at r
is connected a small rod x, y, sliding through a guide z, and the head y of which bears
against the under side of the top or seat. This head may be of yielding material or
in the form of a helix, so that it can be slightly compressed, in order to ensure that if
a resisting body should by chance get between the valve u, v, and the pan r, it will
not stop the descent of the seat, and consequently the whole of the other operations.
By these means, when the seat is depressed, while the hole in the dish or tray is
uncovered, the hole at the bottom of the pan is closed, and the issue of sewer gases
prevented even when the closet is in use, that is to say even when the cover Y is
removed from its place. When the user leaves the seat the hole in the dish or tray
is closed, the hole in the bottom of the pan is opened, and the pan empties itself. To
the above described arrangement may be added other parts which will render the
apparatus more valuable. For example, to change the water in the dish or tray a, b, c, d,
instead of the method hitherto employed in this class of apparatus, that is to say
opening the hole 1, a small tube m, m, may be employed, such tube communicating
with a cistern n, containing a valve p, which is actuated by a pull p₁, situated on one
side of the seat. By these means the water issuing through an orifice in the dish or
tray serves not only to clean the latter but also the pan. By means of the same
tube m, m, and branch Q, Q, which opens into the pan r,. the pan may be cleaned by a
jet of water, as in known forms of closets. Further, and especially in closets used by
a number of persons, it is advisable to arrange the apparatus so that a certain quantity
of water will, at the moment a person leaves the seat of the closet, be discharged

page_text: automatically to clean the pan. To obtain this result the rod of valve a in the
cistern is caused to bear on the end y of lever y d, to which is applied a second
valve w, so that when the valve a is closed, valve w is open; if, then, by means of a
lever and pull connected to the end M, or to a similar point of the seat, when a person
is on the seat the valve a opens, it will be seen that valve w closes, and cistern ẞ will
be filled with water. On the person leaving the seat the reverse movements will be
automatically effected, that is to say, the valve a will close and valve a open, and the
water contained in reservoir ẞ (which is provided with an air inlet ) will be delivered
to clean the pan r.
If there is not a special urinal in the closet, the apparatus above described may be
used for the purpose. In order not to compel the person using same as a urinal to
have to press upon the seat directly by hand, it is preferable to provide the apparatus
with a lever s, t, pivotted at the fixed point s, so that by pushing the handle t down-
wards by hand, pressure will be exerted upon the seat and be transmitted to the lever
which removes cover Y. The same result might be obtained by means of a pull s¹, t¹,
having the handle at s¹, and its lower end secured to the lever f, g, P, Q, at the
point g.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Closing and Flushing Water Closets.
I, ERMINIO ANDREONI, of Novara, Italy, Architect, 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:-..
Among the requirements most felt in houses where the supply of water is limited,
and especially when such houses are inhabited by a large number of people, one of the
principle is a water closet from which no escape or only a minimum escape of sewer
gases can occur.
The different apparatus hitherto employed for this purpose have had the following
disadvantages
:-
The trapped or syphon closets require a great quantity of water, without which it is
impossible to ensure the free passage of the soil into the drains or cesspools, and
unless this is effected they soon become choked and require cleaning, which is a very
disagreeable operation.
Closets fitted with a flap valve have the inconvenience that if any object finds its
way between the valve and the pan, the sewer gases will be free to escape, and further
if it is neglected to pull the valve (which frequently occurs in public places) the next
person using the closet finds same dirty, and the place otherwise disagreeable.
In closets having a dish or tray with curved concave sides, which is kept full of
water, and a cover provided to dip into such water and cover the hole in the pan, a
hydraulic sealing is effected, and its action is more perfect than the other kinds above
described; but when the closet is to be used, the necessary operation of removing the
cover to uncover the pan, renders the apparatus objectionable, especially if the closet
is used by a number of people, in which case in order to prevent annoyance the hole
is very often left uncovered, so that the sewer gases have a free outlet.
My invention has for its object to overcome these disadvantages and objections, and
in my apparatus the uncovering and recovering of the pan is automatically effected,
that is to say, according to whether the weight of the person using the closet rests
upon the seat or not, so that there is no necessity to trouble about the closing of the
apparatus, which is completely, automatically and hermetically effected, the cover
entering the dish or tray containing the water, into which it dips. The apparatus
will be useful in private houses, but more particularly in public places (schools, offices,
works, hotels, etc.).
My invention is illustrated in the drawings accompanying my provisional specifi-
cation, and a modification is shown in the additional sheet of drawings accompanying
the present specification (Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11).
Fig. 1 is a vertical section on line A, B, C, D.
Fig. 2 an elevation from the side E F.
Fig. 3 a plan view of the dish or tray.
Fig. 4 a plan view of the top or seat, and

page_text: The same letters indicate corresponding parts in all these figures.
The seat K, L, M, N, is hinged at o, o¹, and by exerting pressure thereon the
side L, M, will be caused to descend some centimetres, and bear at P on lever PQ
(fulcrummed at R), thus raising the end Q which is forked. On this fork rests a
small hollow cylinder S, having a small plate at its foot, and which slides on a small
rod T fixed to the dish or tray.
In the walls of cylinder Š a groove U V is formed, part of such groove being
straight and then bending over slightly in the form of a helix, and which is wide
enough for a pin X, fixed to the rod T, to slide in. When the small cylinder S is
raised by lever PQ, it turns in following the shape of groove U V, and to this
cylinder is fixed the cover Y, which closes the hole in the dish or tray. Such
cover is raised vertically for a certain distance until it clears the edges of the dish
or tray a, b, c, d, when it will turn to one side (to the right or to the left according
to the direction in which the groove in cylinder S is bent), and be hidden in a space
formed in the wall, occupying the position Z, and leaving the hole of the closet
quite open.
To counterbalance the weight of the cover Y carried by the small cylinder, a
counterweight e is fixed to such cylinder on the opposite side; and to counterbalance
the force of the pressure that the seat exerts at its angle I, the lever P Q is extended
at f, g, and is provided with an additional fulcrum at h, and a counterweight at i,
To close the hole left in the seat for allowing the free movement of the small
cylinder S, a cap J is provided. In the apparatus thus constructed the cover cannot
open unless a person rests his weight upon the top or seat.
In order to prevent the escape of sewer gases during the time the closet remains
open, a flap valve u, v, is applied to the lower end of the pan r, and turns upon a
fulcrum w, a lever wo, x, extending outwards beyond such fulcrum. To this lever at
is connected a small rod x, y, sliding through a guide z, and the head y of which
bears against the under side of the top or seat. This head may be of yielding material
or in the form of a helix, so that it can be slightly compressed, in order to ensure that
if a resisting body should by chance get between the valve u, v, and the pan r, it will
not stop the descent of the seat, and consequently the whole of the other operations.
By these means, when the seat is depressed, while the hole in the dish or tray is
uncovered, the hole at the bottom of the pan is closed, and the issue of sewer gases
prevented even when the closet is in use, that is to say even when the cover Y is
removed from its place. When the user leaves the seat the hole in the dish or
tray is closed, the hole in the bottom of the pan is opened, and the pan empties
itself.
The mechanism serving to actuate the cover of the closet by means of the weight
of a person resting upon the seat, may be modified in the manner shown in Figs. 7, 8,
9, 10 and 11, Sheet 2 of the drawings.
The seat K, L, M, N, is still made movable on its two hinges o, o³, by bearing
upon such seat the side L, M descends several centimetres, and acts at P upon the
lever PQ (which is fulcrummed at R), raising the end Q which is flattened. Upon
this flattened part rests a small rod S having a small plate at its foot, and which
slides in the cylinder T, T', fixed to the pan. The cylinder T, T' has in its walls a
groove U, V which is nearly vertical and then bent to a slightly helical form, the
width being sufficient to allow a small pin or roller ✗ to slide therein, the pin being
fixed to the small rod S. The small rod S being raised by the lever P Q is caused
to follow the form of the groove U, V, and as at the end of such rod is fixed the
cover Y which closes the hole of the closet-which is of the kind herein before
described such cover is raised almost vertically until it clears the edges of the dish
or tray a, b, c, d, when it moves laterally so as to completely uncover the hole in the
closet. To counterbalance the weight of the cover Y secured to the end of the small
rod S, a counterweight e is fixed at the foot of such rod and on the opposite side
thereof. Similarly to counterbalance the pressure exerted by the seat upon the
angle L, the lever Q, P, is prolonged at f, g, and has another fulcrum at h and a
counterweight i.

page_text: In this system also the apparatus is uncovered only when the weight of a person
rests upon the seat.
To the above described arrangements may be added other parts which will render
the apparatus more valuable. For example, to change the water in the dish or
tray a, b, c, d, instead of the method hitherto employed in this class of apparatus, that
is to say opening the hole l, a small tube m, m, may be employed, such tube communi-
cating with a cistern n, containing the valve p, which is actuated by a pull p², situated
on one side of the seat. By these means the water issuing through an orifice in the
dish or tray serves not only to clean the latter but also the pan. By means of the
same tube m, m, and branch q, q, which opens into the pan r, the pan inay be cleaned
by a jet of water, as in known forms of closets. Further, and especially in closets
used by a number of persons, it is advisable to arrange the apparatus so that a certain
quantity of water will, at the moment a person leaves the seat of the closet, be
discharged automatically to clean the pan. To obtain this result the rod of valve a in
the cistern is caused to bear on the end y of lever y d, to which is applied a
· second valve w, so that when the valve a is closed, valve w is open; if, then, by means
of a lever and pull connected to the end M, or to a similar point of the seat, when a
person is on the seat the valve a opens, it will be seen that valve w closes, and
cistern will be filled with water. On the person leaving the seat the reverse move-
ments will be automatically effected, that is to say, the valve a will close and valve w
open, and the water contained in reservoir ẞ (which is provided with an air inlet ø)
will be delivered to clean the pan r.
If in the closet there is not a special urinal the apparatus above described may be
used for the purpose. In order not to compel the person using same as a urinal to
have to press upon the seat directly by hand it is preferable to provide the apparatus
with a lever s, t, pivotted at the fixed point 8, so that by pushing the handle t down-
wards by hand, pressure will be exerted upon the seat and be transmitted to the lever
which removes cover Y. The same result might be obtained by means of a pull s', t¹,
having the handle at s', and its lower end secured to the lever f, g, P, Q at the
point g.
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
-
The improved automatic hydraulic sealing water closet, in which
a. The opening and closing of the top of the pan is automatically effected by means
of pressure exerted on the top or seat of the closet, such pressure being obtained by
the weight of the person using the closet, thus avoiding the necessity of all operations
for opening and closing the hole in the pan, substantially as specified.
b. The renewal of the water which serves to effect the hydraulic sealing is effected
by means of a special pull, substantially as specified.
c. The water serving to clean the dish or tray and the pan may be delivered
automatically to such parts by means of the weight of the body, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 17th day of October 1888.