IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS AND STREET GULLIES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Cardwell, of Bradford, in the County of Lancaster,
Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS AND
STREET GULLIES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Cardwell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1879.
ROBERT CARDWELL, of Bradford, in the County of Lancaster, Ironfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS AND STREET GULLIES."
My Invention relates to a former Invention for which Her Majesty's Royal
Letters Patent bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy seven, and numbered 250, have been granted to me.
In the said former Invention when constructing a street gully I divided the
receptacle into two chambers by means of a vertical partition, the matters passing
through the grid falling into the first chamber which received and retained to a
great extent the stones, mud, and other matters, the water flowing over the partition
into the second chamber, from whence it escaped through a syphon pipe or branch.
From the grid an inclined diaphragm extended downwards into the first chamber.
In practice I have found that straw and other matters get into the angular space
between the cover and the diaphragm and are not easily removed. In my present
Invention fringe the cover to the receptacle as before, but instead of the grid
being in one piece with the cover it is hinged thereto so that it can be opened
without raising the cover, and when opened any matters resting upon the diaphragm
may easily be removed or he swept downwards into the "sludge box." I bevil the
edges of the grid and cover and the seatings on which they rest in order that there
may be less liability for matters to lodge on the seatings, and that such lodgements
may more readily be removed I form the syphon branch on the side of the receptacle
or on the side which is towards the centre of the street when the gully is in position,
In some cases I
so that the matters flow more directly towards a central sewer.
substitute a plain curved plate of malleable iron for the grid, the water flowing
through inclined openings at each side of the said plate. The improvements are
applicable wholly or in part to stench traps adapted for use in dwelling houses or
otherwise than in streets.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Cardwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
September 1879.
ROBERT CARDWELL, of Bradford, in the County of Lancaster, Ironfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STENCH TRAPS AND STREET GULLIES."
My Invention relates to the stench traps and street gullies employed in connec-
tion with gully gratings or grids, and otherwise employed to prevent the escape of
gases from sewers, and consists principally of improvements in a former Invention
for which Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of
January, in the year One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven, and numbered
two hundred and fifty, have been granted to me. In the said former Invention the
whole of the grid or grating was hinged to the upper part of the box or receptacle
and arranged to be opened when the receptacle or box had to be cleansed. On the
under side of this grid or grating two diaphragms was cast or formed thereon which
extended into and below the surface of the water contained in the sludge-box or
receptacle. The said box or receptacle was divided into two compartments by
means of a partition or midfeather extending from the bottom upwards. When
constructing a gully trap in accordance with my present Invention I form the top
of the gully in two portions, one part being hinged to the side of the box or
receptacle and the other part to the end thereof, so that the first part can be raised
without having to raise the whole of the top as in my said former Invention. I
dispense with the diaphragm connected to the grating portion of my said previous
Invention as matters do not so readily enter the sludge box by its employment.
The other part of the top or cover of the box is formed as a plate and is formed
with a diaphragm, the whole being hinged to the top and syphon end of the box or
receptacle. This diaphragm dips into the sludge-box into which fluid and other
matters collect and prevents such matters as stones, mud, and straw, 'from getting
into the compartment connected by the syphon with the sewer. This diaphragm
is inclined at a suitable angle from the said plate to its end which dips into the
sludge-box, so that mud, straw, and other matters do not readily collect thereon.
When the sludge box is to be emptied of its contents the grid or grating is raised
and any matters collected on the said diaphragm connected to the plate are readily
pushed down therefrom into the said sludge-box. The walls of the box or chamber
are suitably beviled at their top and inner edges, together with the ends of the
grating, so as to assist in the conveyance of the water and other matters into the
sludge-box or receptacle; I provide the said sludge can or receptacle with a con-
venient form of handle to admit of its easy removal from the gully.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood and readily
described, I have caused to be attached hereunto a Sheet of Drawings made to a
scale of about one half the full size, but it must be understood that the dimensions
and size vary according to different requirements, the above being given by way of
example. The said Drawings are marked with letters of reference, similar letters
indicating the same parts in the three Figures. Referring in this place to the said
Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a stench trap taken on the line A, B,
in Fig. 2, and constructed in accordance with my present Invention; Fig. 2 repre-
sents a plan of the same; Fig. 3 represents the improved form of diaphragm. In
Fig. 1 a, a, are the walls of the box or chamber. The said box is divided into two
compartments by means of a midfeather b. The grid or grating c is hinged at d,
and the plate carrying the midfeather is hinged at e, and to the end of the said
box a, a.
The grid or grating c is suitably formed with slots therein for the passage
of fluid and other matters. The plate g is preferably cast with the diaphragm, but
may be formed separately and connected thereto in the usual or any suitable
manner, I place in that portion of the box or chamber situated on the left hand side
of the midfeather ba removable receptacle or sludge box formed of sheet-iron or
other suitable metal, and may be coated with zinc, and is provided with a convenient

page_text: form of handle by means of which it can be readily lifted out of the box or recep-
tacle and emptied of its contents into carts for removal. I have not illustrated in
the Drawings any form of handle as the same may be of any convenient form. The
side of the sludge can is formed with a lip which conveys the water over the said
midfeather and into the second compartment from whence it is conveyed by means
of the syphon into the drain. The sypbon branch may be connected either to the
end or side of the gully. The escape of noxious gases into the atmosphere is pre-
vented, the same being sealed by the elbow h and contained water in the trap, but
it must be understood that I do not claim this as novel in itself only in so far as
the employment therewith of the diaphragm f which acts as an additional trap, as
gases cannot readily escape if the first compartment is full although the second
compartment may be empty. The action of the said gully is as follows:-When
water and other matters flow through the grid or grating they fall into the recep-
tacle or sludge can. The diaphragmnf prevents the matters from entering into the
second compartment with which the syphon branch is connected. The water over-
flowing from the sludge can is conveyed by means of the lip into the second
compartment from whence it is conducted by means of the said syphon branch into
the drain. At required times the grid or grating c is raised in the usual manner.
When so raised the grid is in the position shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and mud,
straw, stones, and other matters may be readily swept into the sludge can.
plate and connected diaphragm is then raised and will be in the position represented
by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The said sludge box can then be readily lifted out and
emptied of its contents into carts for removal; the said sludge can is then placed
again in position in the first compartment. Access to the first compartment is only
had when the grid or grating is raised to sweep into the sludge box any matters as
desired. Access to the second or syphon compartment is not required so often as it
only requires cleansing at long intervals.
The
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my Invention, and means
whereby the same may be carried into effect, I would have it to be understood that
I claim,
First. Forming the top of the gully in two parts, being separately hinged to the
side and end thereof, so as to allow of the sludge and other matters collected on the
diaphragm being readily placed into the sludge box before removal, substantially as
set forth and indicated herein and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The employment of the diaphragm formed and acting substantially in
the manner herein set forth and indicated.
Thirdly. Forming the upper and inner walls of the box or chamber and the outer
sides of the grid or grating of an inclined or beviled form, so as to assist in the
conveyance of the water and other matters into the sludge box, substantially as set
forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Cardwell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
"
Signed and sealed by the
said Robert Cardwell
in the presence of
MESS BOSSHARDT and GRANT,
Agents to the Patentee,
Manchester.
R. CARDWELL. (L.S.)