IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF LAVATORIES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Blundell and James Walter Blundell, both
of Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, Coppersmiths and Engineers, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
OF LAVATORIES.”
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Thomas Blundell and
James Walter Blundell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
26th February 1876.
GEORGE THOMAS BLUNDELL and JAMES WALTER BLUNDELL, both of Limehouse,
in the County of Middlesex, Coppersmiths and Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF LAVATORIES."
This Invention relates to improvements on an Invention for which Letters Patent
were granted to us and to Thomas Blundell in the year One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-three, and No. 671, and consists of an arrangement or
arrangements by which the water may be measured, and may be so constructed
that the quantity measured cannot be exceeded by the person using it, or by a
modification the operator may regulate the supply.
To carry out these objects we make use of the power developed by the water
running from the hand basin or other suitable vessel, and where it compresses or
displaces air in an air-tight container, thus causing the level of a corresponding
amount of water to be raised, stored, or measured. Or our object may be attained
by letting the water flow from a higher level into a chamber which contains the
quantity to be measured for use; in this latter case the waste water container may
or may not form a part of the apparatus.
The clean water reservoir may or may not surround the basin or vessel, or it
may be placed above or partly above and below it as may be found most
convenient.
The measuring chamber may either be separate from or form part of the herein-
before mentioned reservoir.
When a waste water container is employed it is situated below the basin or
vessel, and is provided with an aperture or apertures by or through which the
waste water can be drawn off and the interior of the container cleansed; the
apertures may be made to close air-tight, or the container may be made so as to be
readily detached, or may be hinged or pivoted, or may be entirely separate.
The washing basin or vessel may be supplied with water from the bottom or from
any other convenient place, and a cock or cocks, valve or valves, or other suitable
contrivance, and it or they may be operated by levers, handles, or otherwise.
[Price 6d.]

page_text: When the water is to be measured by the action of the waste water, the fresh or
clean water reservoir must be air-tight above the working level of the water in the
same, and the waste water container must also be air-tight. There is by preference
a division in the reservoir, which thus forms what we shall herein-after call the
measurer; in this division there is provided an aperture or apertures of sufficient
size to admit of free communication for the water between the two chambers thus
formed, or this communication may be effected by other suitable means. From the
reservoir or measurer, or from both is led a pipe or pipes or other channels for
conveying the water to the basin.
There is also a pipe, channel, passage, or orifice from the upper part of the fresh
water reservoir for the escape of air; this escape contrivance may when necessary
be closed by any suitable means, for that purpose apertures for filling with a fresh
supply both the reservoir and measurer are also provided.
From the basin also is led a pipe, passage, or channel which extends to or nearly
to the bottom of the waste water container, and between the upper part of this
container and the upper part of the reservoir is an air passage, through which the
displaced or compressed air passes for the purpose of measuring the fluid.
In the second arrangement we employ a fresh water reservoir, which is situated
above the level of the water in the basin or vessel; this need not be made air-tight,
nor need it necessarily form a part of the lavatory. . Below this reservoir, or
forming part of the same, is the measuring chamber; both reservoir and measuring
chamber communicate by tubes or other means with the atmosphere. The waste
water container need not be made air-tight, nor need it necessarily form a part of the
lavatory body.
In this arrangement the fresh water reservoir communicates with the measurer
by a channel, tube, or passage capable of being closeed when required; a cock or
cocks, valve or valves are so adapted that when communication is opened between
the measurer and reservoir it is closed to the basin; but the basin may be open to
the waste water container, and when the measurer is in communication with the
basin it is closed to the reservoir, and the basin is also closed to the waste water
container. The action may be thus described :-When filling the reservoir the
communication will be open to the measurer, so that both are filled; when filled,
communication may be opened with the basin, the water will then flow from the
measurer into the basin until in both it attains the same level; as there is then
no communication between the reservoir and the measurer the level of the water in
the reservoir will not be affected, and the supply of water thus stored up will be
ready to supply the measurer. When communication between the reservoir and
measurer is allowed the water will again flow into the latter by gravity.
In some instances, as herein-before stated, we do not use the measurer, when the
operator may regulate the supply as he wishes in the basin or vessel by cocks,
valves, or other similar means.
We also provide rails attached to the apparatus for the purpose of airing the
towels.
In order that the nature of our Invention and the manner in which the same
is effected may be particularly described and ascertained, this Specification is
accompanied by a Sheet of Drawings having Figures and letters of reference marked
thereupon, the like letter being used to denote a similar or corresponding part in
each Figure. These Drawings show forms of lavatories constructed according to our
Invention.
Figure 1 in the Drawings is a sectional elevation; Figure 2, a front view' partly
in section; and Figure 3, a plan of the same, also partly in section, of the arrange-
ment first herein-before described; Figure 4 is a sectional elevation; Figure 5, a
front view partly in section, of the second arrangement herein-before described;
Figure 6 shows an arrangement with container pivoted when in position for
emptying.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
A, fresh water reservoir; B, measurer; C, waste water container; D, basin;
E, cock for admitting water to or discharging water from the basin; F, F, pipes
from the reservoir A; G, G, pipes from the measurer; H, pipe to lead waste water
to container C; this pipe need not necessarily be fitted to lavatories constructed
according to the Drawing, Figures 4 and 5; J, air pipe communicating from the
reservoir E with the upper part of container C; K, air pipe affording outlet for air
from reservoir A. When being filled this is closed up by a cock or cocks, so that
when reservoir and measurer are not being filled it or they may be closed;
L, L, M, air pipes making communication between the atmosphere and the
reservoir A and measurer B; N, air pipe for opening communication between
container C and the atmosphere. We sometimes turn the pipe N over into a vessel
containing a disinfecting or other fluid, or filled with charcoal, so as to destroy any
effluvia which may possibly arise from the waste water container C; O, aperture
for cleansing interior of container C; Q, pivot or hinge on which container Ċ turns
for emptying and cleansing; R, aperture for filling the measurer B and reservoir A;
there may be more than one filling aperture, and their position depends on con-
venience; they are by preference closed by a lid which we arrange to close the cock
or valve K, by making it form part of the hinge of the cover to R; S, knob or
lever for turning the cock so as to supply or empty the basin; T, T, towel airers
or rails.
We do not restrict ourselves to making single lavatories, but we may arrange
them in groups, or rows, or pairs, as most convenient; neither do we restrict our-
selves to the exact form, but simply to the application of the principles involved and
before described.
Although the lavatories in Drawing are represented as constructed for use in
ships, yet the principle on which they are constructed is cqually applicable for uso
on shore wherever lavatories are required, and we purpose so applying them with
such modifications as may be necessary in each particular case.
By a simple arrangement we also arrange for the oontainer C to comprise a urinal
and waste water container, when the urine would be conducted to or near the
bottom of the container.
Having now particularly described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that
what we claim and desire to be secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
The arrangements herein in this Specification described and in the accom-
panying Drawings illustrated, for the purpose of measuring or regulating the
quantity of water used.
We claim also, the arranging of the various parts of the lavatories, as and for
the purposes described in this Specification and in the accompanying Drawings
illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Thomas Blundell and James Walter
Blundell, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first day
of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
50
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named
George Thomas Blundell
and James Walter Blundell,
in the presence of
GEORGE THOMAS BLUNDELL. (L.S.)
JAMES WALTER BLUNDELL. (L.S.)