Improvements in Means or Apparatus for the Detention, Regulation, and Controlling of the Supply of Water to Closets, Urinals, and Drains for Flushing the same, and for other similar purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for the Detention, Regulation,
and Controlling of the Supply of Water to Closets, Urinals, and
Drains for Flushing the same, and for other similar purposes.
:
I ALFRED LONG of 22 Aylesbury Street Walworth in the County of Surrey
Chief Sanitary Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
By the employment of the various forms of apparatus now in general use for
flushing purposes a great deal of noise is produced which loudly and offensively
announces the fact that a person is about to leave the closet, which causes in
sensitive persons, a feeling of embarrassment; and in most people, a feeling of
dissatisfaction and want of privacy.
The object of my invention the postponement of the flushing operation for the
space of about a quarter of a minute after pulling the cord or chain; thus allowing
ample time for the occupant of a closet to get away unobserved, before any noise
or the flushing operation takes place.
In carrying out my invention I employ the form of flushing-tank, ball-valve, and
syphon now in general use. To the long leg of the syphou, and inside the flush-tank
I construct a side inlet by means of a short length of tube of about the same
diameter and having its apperture turned upwards, and upon which a hollow or
solid ball capable of easily floating in water is placed so as to act as a valve. This
inlet and ball are so placed inside a separate cistern or compartment in the flush-
tank that no water passes into it excepting through a small syphou which supplies
a tipping-reservoir placed in the upper part of it, which when charged, is over-
turned and the water therefrom raises the ball, passes through the side-inlet, and
starts the action of the flushing-syphon.
For the purpose of detaining the water from flushing the closet after the cord has
been pulled, and until the user of the w.c. has had time to get away unobserved,
I employ another small cistern which has a hole in or near the bottom, and attach
it to the inside of the flush-tank. The above mentioned small syphon is connected
at one end with the inside of this cistern, and the other end discharges into the
tipping reservoir; the syphon-head being above the water in the flush-tank no
action takes place until water passes over the bend, which is effected by the
depression of a displacer in the cistern, by pulling downwards a cord attached
thereto. The time occupied in filling the tipping-reservoir is about a quarter of a
minute, and in this way the requisite delay is obtained.
Another method which I employ is to construct a portion of the said small
syphon of flexible material, and I depress the head of it below the water in the
flush-tank, and so start its action instead of using the displacer and the small
cistern.
In another method, I employ a flat or other shaped valve in lieu of the said ball,
and attach it to a lever arm pivoted at or near its centre, which valve is opened by
being acted upon by the tipping reservoir when in action.
Dated this 31st day of January 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Means or Apparatus for the Detention, Regulation,
and Controlling of the Supply of Water to Closets, Urinals, and
Drains for Flushing the same, and for other similar purposes.
I ALFRED LONG of 22 Aylesbury Street Walworth in the County of Surrey
Chief Sanitary Inspector 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:-
By the employment of the various forms of apparatus now in general use for
flushing purposes, it is found that immediately upon pulling the chain, a great deal
of noise is produced which loudly and offensively announces the fact that a person
is about to leave the closet; thus causing the most unpleasant, and at times vexatious
feelings of embarrassment and want of privacy.
The object or principle of my invention is the detention of the water in the
flush-tank, and the consequent postponement of the flushing operation for the space
of a quarter of a minute or more, after the action of the apparatus has been started;
thus allowing ample time for the occupant of a closet or other place of convenience
to retire unobserved, before the flushing operation takes place, or any appreciable
noise is produced.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ the well known form of flush-
tank, ball-valve, tipping-reservoir, displacer, and flushing-siphon with a side-inlet
now in frequent use; and I enclose the aperture of the said side-inlet within an inner
cistern or compartment, the size of the lower portion of which is about three inches
square, and it is gradually enlarged up to a height of about five inches, at this
point it is about four and a half inches square, and is again enlarged on one of its
sides to eight inches or thereabouts; and its depth in the deepest part is about eleven
inches. It is rendered water-tight at the botton and sides, and around the inlet
aperture, so that no water can enter from the flush-tank, excepting through a small
siphon which will be hereafter described.
In the upper or enlarged portion of this cistern or compartment 1 place the
tipping-reservoir or flush-starting receptacle mounted on pivots in the usual way;
and in the lower or smaller part, I employ a light ball of about twice the diameter
of the aperture of the side-inlet, which ball is capable of easily floating in water
(for example, a hollow india-rubber ball), the said ball acts as a valve when
in use.
In a convenient position in the flush-tank I employ another small cistern or
compartment of about three and a half inches in length, by one and a half inches
in width, and about seven inches deep, having a hole or tube in the lower part of
about three eighths of an inch in diameter. I attach this cistern to the inside of
the flush-tank in such a position that the top of it is about two inches above the
surface of the water in the flush-tank when ready for discharging. Near to the
bottom of this cistern I insert one end of the small siphon above referred to, which
is about three eighths of an inch internal diameter: the top of this siphon is about
an inch and a half above the highest point to which the water rises in the flush-
tank, and the other end terminates in the tipping-reservoir near the bottom and in
such a position as not to hinder its freedom of action. In this small cistern or
compartment I employ a light water displacer or float of about five inches in depth,
and only as much smaller than the cistern itself as will leave it perfectly free to
rise or fall by the action of the water, or when pulled downwards by means of
the cord or other appliance. To the top of this displacer I attach a small arm
extending outwards over the side of the flush-tank, and to this I attach the said

page_text: cord and handle which are sufficiently light to be easily supported by the float
when the cistern is charged in the ordinary way.
In another method which I employ, instead of using the displacer previously
described for the purpose of forcing the water through the small siphon, I use
compressed air in the following way; I construct the top of the small cistern in
such a manner as to be air-tight (all but a small pin-hole), and not more than one
i.ch above the water line in the flush-tank. Near to, or in the top of this com-
partment I insert the end of a tube of about the eighth of an inch internal diameter,
which terminates at the other end in a compressible air-tight ball of india-rubber,
which is used for the purpose of compressing the air within the cistern or chamber
aforesaid. Instead of the hole in the bottom of the chamber, I sometimes employ
a tube of about the same size as the small siphon, and extending to within half an
inch from the bottom of the flush-tank.
K. (Fig. 3.) Tube instead of hole in displacer cistern F.
L. The small pin-hole.
The action of the apparatus is as follows;-The flush-tank A having been charged
with water by the ordinary means through the ball-valve, the water will then stand
at the same level in the small displacer-cistern F, and the displacer and arm G will
be in their highest attainable position. Upon the cord and handle being pulled
downwards, the float in the small cistern will be lowered, the water level therein
will be raised so as to pass through the bend of the small siphon H, its action will
then be started, and the tipping-reservoir I will commence filling.
Or, when the compressible ball is squeezed so as to compress the air in the said
chamber, the water will be forced through the bend of the small siphon and the
action of the apparatus will be started as before described, but without any
perceptible noise. Of the two methods of starting the action of the apparatus,
prefer that by compressed air, as it more nearly approaches absolute silence.
Immediately after starting the action, the person may leave the closet, and all
will remain quiet for the space of a quarter of a minute or more; after which the
tipping-reservoir 1 will have become sufficiently charged with water to be overturned,
and the water therefrom will instantly dislodge and raise the ball E from its seat,
and the greater portion of it will pass into the large siphon B through the side-
inlet D, the ball will again descend with the remainder of the water, and at the
right moment close the aperture, the complete flushing action will then be started.
I employ the floating ball E in preference to the "fat or other shaped valve";
and I also use the compressible ball, or the displacer and cistern with the small
metal siphon in preference to the "flexible siphon" (both of which are referred to
in my Provisional Specification), as I have found them to be more effectual in action,
and in every way more suitable for the purpose intended.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed; I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature or principle of my said invention;
nor do I claim generally the use of the flush-tank, inner-cistern, small metal siphon,
compressed air chamber, flushing-siphon with the side-inlet, displacer and cistern,
or the tipping-reservoir; as these have already been used in immediate-flushing
apparatus, or in continuous-action automatic arrangements; but what I do
claim is :-
1. The combination of parts of apparatus as means for carrying into effect the
principle of detaining the water in the flush-tank so as to postpone the flushing
operation for a suitable period after starting the action of the apparatus for the
purpose and in the manner substantially as herein described.
2. The means of gradually charging a flush-starting receptacle or tipping-
reservoir with water within a suitable period and in such a way as, firstly; to
prevent immediate flushing; and secondly; so as to secure one flushing operation
and no more whenever the action of the apparatus is started for the purpose and
in the manner substantially as.herein described.
3. The employment of a loose ball of suitable size and material which is capable
of easily floating in water to act as a valve upon the side-inlet aperture within a
separate cistern or compartment for the purpose and in the manner substantially as
.herein described.
In witness whereof I the said ALFRED LONG have hereunto set my haud
and seal this Twenty-fourth day of October in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and ninety-five.
ALFRED LONG.