IMPROVE- MENTS IN WATERCLOSETS, AND IN VALVULAR APPARATUS FOR THE SAME, AND APPLICABLE OTHERWISE
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Shanks and William Sim at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1880.
JOHN SHANKS, of Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, and
WILLIAM SIM, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATERCLOSETS, AND IN VALVULAR APPARATUS FOR THE SAME, AND
APPLICABLE OTHERWISE."
This Invention has for one of its objects to render certain watercloset apparatus
of a simple kind more satisfactory in action and free from objections than as hitherto
made. The Invention also comprises improved water-supply and outlet valves to
be used in connection with waterclosets, and some of which are applicable for other
purposes.
A watercloset basin made according to the Invention has no main discharge valve
in immediate connection with it, the discharge outlet which communicates directly
with a trap-bend passage beneath the basin being a little above the bottom of the
basin and at the front so that it is not easily seen. The flushing water enters at a
part directly opposite to the outlet by an opening of a horizontally elongated form
having in front of it a fan of small depth, which is shaped to direct the water in a
broad thick stream directly across the bottom of the basin to the outlet. The basin
and trap-bend may be made in one or more pieces.
When the water is supplied directly off the main an improved automatic
regulating valve is employed, the valve spindle of which passes out through a
stuffing box to be moved by a lever or otherwise. The valve spindle has on it a
valve and a piston, the valve closing against the pressure in one modification, the
iplet to the valve chamber being between the valve and piston. The piston works
in a cylindrical part below or beyond the inlet, and is fitted with a single cup
leather placed so as when opening the valve to move easily through the water, but
fitting tightly when moving in the direction to close the valve. The space the
piston works in communicates by a small pipe having a regulating valve on it with
the service pipe, and when the valve has been opened, water passes by this pipe at
a rate determined by the position of the regulating valve, and acting on the piston
gradually shuts the valve. In another modification the valve is arranged to close
with the pressure, its closing being assisted by a spring which may be either a metal
spring or one of rubber, arranged to act also as a packing. The closing is retarded
and regulated by the piston which can only move accordingly as water gets to its
under side through a very small passage provided for the purpose.
When a cistern is used in connection with the closet the cylinder and piston are
used in connection with the downlet valve, the piston being on or connected to the

page_text: valve so as to delay its closing. This causes a supply of water for the after flush
to pass down after the closet handle has been let go, and the arrangement which
forms an improved and simplified substitute for "service" boxes and other apparatus
for the same purpose, can be used in ordinary cisterns or in those with double
compartments, or otherwise arranged to stop the refilling of the cistern or a
compartment of it whilst the closet handle is held up.
By another part of the Invention, the ball float valve of the cistern is in one
modification made to close against the pressure, the valve seat being large relatively
to its opening, and of a conical or conoidal form. The valve piece is a loose thick
spindle fitted with a comparatively thick washer of leather, or rubber or other
-suitable material, shaped conically or conoidally on its bearing surface to fit the
seat. The outer end of the valve piece is also shaped conically or conoidally to
easily fit a similarly shaped socket in the float lever. The parts all fit together
loosely, and the valve accomodates itself to slight differences of position, and is
always tight when closed. The mouth of the valve shell is by preference
internally enlarged, whereby the splashing and noise made by the issuing water are
diminished.
In a second modification the ball float valve is made to open inwards and closo
against the pressure, the valve piece being introduced through the top of the valve
shell which is afterwards closed by a screw cap. A square or indented shoulder is
formed on the valve spindle below the valve seat, which, combined with the internal
enlargement of the mouth of the shell, tends to diminish the splashing and noise of
-the-discharge-In--this-modification the float lever can be raised further after
reaching the height at which the supply valve is closed, and a very simple-arrange-
ment is formed by connecting it to the downlet valve and to the closet handle, the
downlet valve being opened and the float lever held up together so that more water
cannot enter the cistern whilst the downlet valve is open. This improvement is
applicable to tilting ball-float valves and others which admit of the float lever
being further raised without straining the parts after the supply valve has been
closed.
This Invention also comprises a check valve designed for the outlet pipes of
waterclosets fitted in ships, and to prevent water from passing from the sea to the
closets. This check valve is fitted in an enlargement in the outlet pipe, and
comprises a seating, a ball valve, and means for guiding the latter. The ball valve
is of rubber or other suitable material, and is made light enough to float in water;
it is fitted with a diametrical spindle which is horizontal when the valve is closed,
and when open the valve can rotate freely on the spindle as an axis. In one
modification the spindle may be fixed in the ball with its ends projecting into
guide slots; but in other modifications the spindle passes loosely through a tube
fixed in the ball and is directly hinged to a fixed point, or is otherwise connected
so as to guide tho ball in its opening and closing movements. In one modification
the spindle has eyes at its ends to work on stationary guide spindles having heads
or stops on them to limit the extent of opening of the valve. In another modification
the spindle is connected by chains or loose links to suitable fixed points, such
chaius or links guiding and limiting the movements of the valve. In a very
simple modification a stud fixed to the ball has a small head formed on its outer
end, which head is retained loosely in a stationary socket so as to guide and limit
the movement of the ball, or a short chain or loose links may be connected to the
stud for that purpose.
The valve seating may be of rubber, and the ball of metal or other suitable hard
material.