A SIPHOIDAL CISTERN WITH WATER RESERVOIR FOR KITCHEN OR OTHER DRAINS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anne Jean Ferdinand Vigneulle-Brepson, of Paris,
30, Boulevart de Beaumarchais, Architect, for the Invention of "A
SIPHOIDAL CISTERN WITH WATER RESERVOIR FOR KITCHEN OR OTHER DRAINS
"
Sealed the 13th April 1863, and dated the 24th October 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anne Jean Ferdinand
Vigneulle-Brepson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 24th October 1862.
I, ANNE JEAN FERDINAND VIGNEULLE-BREPSON, of Paris, 30, Boulevart
de Beaumarchais, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "A SIPHOIDAL CISTERN WITH WATER RESERVOIR FOR KITCHEN OR OTHER
DRAINS IN COMMUNICATION WITH INFECTED SEWERS," to be as follows:-
This cistern is composed of a shallow basin placed over the widened top of
a pipe lodged in the sink hole of drains; the said basin is supported by three
extended arms, and a circular space is free all round for the outflow of the
water. A circular groove wider than the basin is cut in the top part of the
widened pipe, and the external circular edge of a reverted annulary grated
basin is lodged in the said groove, while its inside circular edge enters the
first basin where it dips into the water which remains constantly in the said
basin, forming thus a permanent hydraulic shutting which completely prevents
the passage of nauseous or mephitic gases.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Anne Jean Ferdinand Vigneulle-Brepson in the Grea
Seal Patent Office on the 23rd April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANNE JEAN
FERDINAND VIGNEULLE-BREPSON, of Paris, 30, Boulevart de Beaumarchais,
Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by. Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Anne Jean Ferdinand Vigneulle-Brepson, Her special licence that I, the
said Anne Jean Ferdinand Vigneulle-Brepson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Anne Jean Ferdinand Vigneulle-
Brepson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A SIPHOIDAL CISTERN WITH
WATER RESERVOIR FOR KITCHEN OR OTHER DRAINS IN COMMUNICATION WITH INFECTED
SEWERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Anne Jean
Ferdinand Vigneulle-Brepson, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Anne Jean Ferdinand Vigneulle-
Brepson, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheets of Drawing forming part of this my Specification, and
to the figures and letters of reference placed thereon:-
The apparatuses or contrivances in use for running off kitchen or other
refuse waters in private dwellings or public establishments permit bad smells
to escape, or require to be opened when used either with a key or lever, giving
whenever opened issue to fetid odours. The siphoidal cistern or trap with
water reservoir and hydraulic shutting or closing of my Invention is intended
to prevent the said inconveniences. It is composed of a basin constantly full of
water to submersion of it stop edge, so that on pouring any more in the pressure

page_text: causes the level to rise, and the overflow takes place through large vent holes or
outlets suitably disposed, and the waters run off leaving the basin always full to
the same level as before. It will be easily understood by inspecting the Figures
of the annexed Sheets of Drawing that this very simple apparatus prevents the
rippling of the water when falling from a spout into the basin, and at the same
time intercepts any fetid emanation or efflux. This apparatus can be adapted
with suitable modifications of arrangement to any places, such as kitchen drains,
kennel gratings, cesspools, or sink holes of drains in which run filthy or infected
waters, for the basin being hermetically closed at its lower part and the over-
plus of water having no escape hole cannot run out but by raising its level to
the vent holes or purging outlets, hermetically closed themselves at their top
within the apparatus by a bottomless basin, the lower edge of which dips in a
circular drain or groove, the nauseous efflux could not penetrate to the places
which are to be preserved therefrom except by running through a deep bed
of water, which is not possible.
The several Figures of Sheet I. represent circular siphoidal cisterns or traps
for kitchen, courtyard, flat roof, sink hole, or any other drains of the same kind
the size of such cisterns being proportionate to the place where they are to be
fitted. In all the Figures the same parts are indicated by the same letters.
Figure 1, plan shewing the grated bottomless basin A, fitted in the outer
chamber B; Figure 2, vertical section shewing every part of the apparatus ;
Figure 3, section of the central moveable open grating; Figure 4, plan
of the basin of the said cistern, its diameter to be modified according to
circumstances; Figure 5, vertical view of the same; Figure 6, plan of the
bottomless basin and outlet chamber, the grating being removed.. The
Figures 1*, 2*, and 3* are corresponding views of a corresponding cistern or
trap for lavatory or kitchen drains; Figure 5*, plan of the lower grating i, i,
holding the foot k of the basin E. Figure 10 shews in vertical section a
special cistern or trap for running off unwholesome and mephitic waters. The
waters run from the basin E into the lower circular channel of the outer
chamber B, and flow out through the outlet O to the pipe or channel which
conveys them to a cesspool, sink hole, or other drain. The basin E is pro-
vided with three footings or bearers f, which bear at X on a groove of the
chamber B. The water remains in the basin E till it overflows its upper edge.
The bottomless basin A dips in the basin E to form a hydraulic shutting or
closing. The circular ditch or channel Z, in which rests the lower edge of the
basin A, is naturally fed by the pressure of the water falling into the basin E
running through grooves cut in the bearings f, which is enough to arrest the
mephitic emanation or efflux which for public health it is most important to

page_text: prevent, and which is completely effected by this system of cistern or trap.
Figure 7 is a sectional view; Figure 8, a plan of the basin; and Figure 9, the
plan of a lower grating as in Figure 2*. This sort of trap or cistern is fit for
vent holes of a large size; it is disposed so as to prevent chocking by mud or
dirt carried away by water running with velocity in kennels. Figure 10,
previously described, is a cistern or trap for gutters, the direction of the flow
into which is shewn by arrows. Curved pipes can either be cast or adjusted
according to the direction in which the water is to be conveyed, as shewn in
Figure 10 by dotted lines.
In Sheet II. other arrangements are shewn, but always on the principle of
my Invention, namely, hydraulic shutting or closing of siphoidal cisterns or
traps for preventing any unwholesome or nauseous efflux or emission from
infected sewers. The cisterns or traps disposed either for kennels or large
gutters are half-round shaped and fitted in a square chamber to enable their
being adjusted with the pavement of courtyards, galleries, or the leads of roofs
and similar requirements. Such a cistern or trap is represented, Figure 1, in
vertical section, Figure 2 in plan, and Figure 3 in end view, shewn half in
section. It is chiefly composed of two pieces, the outer chamber A with
its water receiver a, where the water falls before flowing out through the
outlet a', and the upper reversed basin B, the lower edge of which is resting
in a groove of the chamber A at P. The grating will be fitted or disposed
according to circumstances. In order to obviate accidental choking up which
might happen in a gutter, the reversed or inverted basin B is pierced with
two apertures G, each provided with a clack valve d, snugly adjusted and
actuated by a float e as soon as the level of the water rises above h. Instead
of the clack valves a single discharge aperture G' can be cut through the
basin B, which aperture is covered by a thin plate surrounded beneath by a
projecting edge u dipping in a groove 'g; the edge u of the thin covering plate
being submerged in the said groove prevents the escape of the nauseous efflux
from the drain. In the event of the cistern or trap being liable to become
choked up a purging or vent plug N is fitted in the bottom part a, of the receiv-
ing chamber A; this plug being lifted up by a rope or rod R suitably disposed,
the water and mud run through a pipe in connection with the main pipe a'.
Figure 4 is the vertical section, and Figure 5 the plan, of a siphoidal cistern
or trap disposed for a kennel situated either in a passage or entry porch, the
outlet channel O runs under a foot-way; Figure 6 is the receiving basin ;
Figure 7, reversed covering basin effecting the hydraulic closing or shutting;
Figure 8 is a cross section of the cistern or trap through the line S, T;
Figure 9 is a general vertical section of a siphoidal cistern with an electric alarm

page_text: bell. This trap is intended to be fitted in remote places where there is a
liability of its becoming chocked up by mud or dirt as shewn in the Figure, in
which case the water rising in the reversed basin A will bear on a special
valve L, causing it to move and set in action the electric alarm bell, when the
persons in charge will raise the vent plug P by the ring R and rope i, j.
Figure 10 is the plan of the grating of the cistern or trap, Figure 9; Figure 11
is the vertical section of a siphoidal cistern or trap with a double hydraulic
closing. A, A', bottomless basins, their reversed or inverted edges resting
at x and ' in grooves in the upper and lower enclosing pipes or chambers
B, B'; the basins E and E¹ are carried by the same chambers. The waters
escape at O, in the direction indicated by the arrows.
My Invention being now described and illustrated by the several Figures
on the annexed Sheets of Drawing, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details, so long as the principle of my said
Invention is retained, as of course the arrangements which have been described
and represented may be modified in various ways; but the novelty of my
siphoidal cisterns or traps consists,―
.
Firstly, in the simple or double hydraulic closing or shutting by the outer
edge of a bottomless reversed or inverted basin dipping in a circular groove
of an outer chamber, the internal edge of the same dipping in a receiving basin,
which basin can itself be disposed or fitted as at Figure 10, of Sheet I., so as
have its lower edge dipping also in a circular channel, thus forming another
lower hydraulic closing or shutting.
Secondly, the simple, speedy, and easy method of combining the parts of
my apparatuses so that each piece may be readily taken out for cleaning and
inspection.
Thirdly, the method of giving warning by the electrical ringing of a bell
when the cistern or trap becomes choked and requires cleaning or flushing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anne Jean Ferdinand Vigneulle-Brepson,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Signed and sealed in the pre-
sence of
L. D'AUBREVILLE, C.E.
VIGNEULLE-BKEPSON. (L.§.)