IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES WORKED BY HYDRAULIC, FLUID, OB STEAM POWER, OR IN MECHANISM OR APPARATUS USED IN REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE, AMONGST OTHER USES, TO WATERCLOSETS, LAVERS, AND. GAS PIPES. FOR PREVENTION OF WASTE OF WATER, GAS, OR OTHER FLUID
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Wilson, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the
County of Durham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES
WORKED BY HYDRAULIC, FLUID, OB STEAM POWER, OR IN MECHANISM OR
APPARATUS USED IN REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS,
THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE, AMONGST OTHER USES, TO WATERCLOSETS, LAVERS,
AND. GAS PIPES. FOR PREVENTION OF WASTE OF WATER, GAS, OR OTHER
FLUID."
Sealed the 12th March 1869, and dated the 17th September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th September 1868.
I, HENRY WILSON, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ENGINES WORKED BY HYDRAULIC, FLUID, OR STEAM POWER, AND IN MECHANISM OR
APPARATUS USED IN REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS, THE
SAME BEING APPLICABLE, AMONGST OTHER USES, TO WATERCLOSETS, LAVERS, AND GAS
PIPES, FOR THE PREVENTION OF WASTE OF WATER, GAS, OR OTHER FLUMS," to be
as follows:-

page_text: The said Invention relates to the improvements in steam engines
hereafter described, and the prevention of waste of water in the use of
waterclosets, public and private water taps, and other appliances for
supplying water or other liquids, by means of which the consumer is
enabled to obtain a proper supply, while the sellers or water companies
are secured against loss from negligence or design.
The first part of my said Invention consists in the use of a cylinder of
cast iron or other suitable material; on the side of this cylinder I cast
or fix a pipe or channel, which runs the entire length of the cylinder,
on the one end of this cylinder I fix a cock or slide valve, which admits
the water or other fluid to the interior of the cylinder at each end
alternately, and in the interior of the cylinder I place a piston formed
by preference of an india-rubber ball, which rolls from end to end of the
cylinder. When the water or other fluid is admitted at one end of the
cylinder, which is done by the action of the cock or slide valve the ball
rolls to the other or outlet end and closes the outlet so stopping the further
supply of water until the valve or cock is shifted so as to admit the water
at the outlet end, (which is by this motion converted into the inlet end)
which drives the ball to the other end, and in turn stops the outlet at
that end, the quantity of water or fluid supplied at each stroke or turn
of the valve or cock being regulated by the length and diameter of the
cylinder. I sometimes use a bucket or piston formed of two cupped
leathers, to which I attach on each side a disc of india-rubber or other
suitable material which forms the valve and closes the outlet.
In applying this part of my Invention to waterclosets I can use a
watercloset constructed in the following manner:-I form the water-
closet with a cylinder and a taper end fitting into the soil pipe and fitted
with a hollow taper weight with a small cistern or trap cast on the upper
part of it. On the taper part of this weight I fix a cover of india-
rubber or other suitable material which fits into the taper end of the
cylinder aforesaid. This forms a valve which closes the communication
between the soil pipe and the upper part of the basin of the closet which
is attached to the cylinder by the branch cast on the side of the cylinder.
The overflow pipe is trapped to prevent the escape of effluvia in the
ordinary manner.
The manner in which the first part of my Invention can be applied to
the above-named watercloset is this:-The handle used for raising the
valve to discharge the contents of the basin has attached to it a rod which

page_text: is attached to a lever acting upon the valve or cock; this admits water from
the main, which drives the india-rubber ball or bucket to the one end of
the cylinder, and in its passage expels the water before it into the basin,
when it reaches the end it covers the outlet and prevents further egress
of water until the handle is let down, when the water is admitted at the
reverse end, which in turn expels the water contained in the cylinder into
the basin, and when the ball or bucket reaches the other end it closes
the orifice and so prevents any further waste of water, so that the basin
is charged with a sufficient quantity of water while at rest to ensure the
soil pipe being effectually sealed, and when the handle is lifted to..
discharge the contents of the basin the action of the valve gives a suffi-
cient supply to flush the basin, but no amount of negligence or design
can cause a continual flow of water to take place unless the handle be
lifted to get one supply and put down to get another. The apparatus can
also be applied to any existing watercloset and entirely dispense with the
use of cisterns. I also apply my Invention to public drinking fountains and
other appliances for the supplying of water where it is required to check
any undue waste from negligence or design. I also apply my Invention
to public urinals, by means of which unnecessary waste of water is pre-
vented in them, the application to them being similar to that for
waterclosets.
Another purpose to which I apply my Invention has for its object the
prevention of waste or danger arising from the escape of gas. I have a
gas inlet and outlet and a water supply pipe. The apparatus is fixed to
the gas main, and is put in action in the following manner:-A handle
attached to the piston rod is pulled down and a small tap leading from.
the the water main set to any given figure on a dial. The water being
slowly admitted under the piston raises it gradually until the face of the
piston which is covered with india-rubber or other suitable material is
brought in contact with the orifice by which the gas is admitted, thereby
shutting off the supply at any given time, which may be regulated by:
the figures on the dial. I also make use of this apparatus for shutting
off the supply of water or other fluid at any given time.
Another purpose to which I apply my Invention is the construction of
a cheap and simple form of steam or water engine, in which instead of
the india-rubber ball or double cupped leather I make use of the ordinary.
steam piston and rod, admitting the steam at the the top and bottom of
the cylinder instead of at the side, thereby saving considerable risk and

page_text: labour in the casting of the cylinder compared with the ordinary method.
The mode of applying the steam or water is the same as before
described.
In applying my Invention to waterclosets I should sometimes use the
following arrangement:-The cylinder is supplied with water by the
inlet pipe which enters behind the slide valve and passing along a
channel drives the ball or piston which carries the water contained in
the cylinder out and into the basin of the watercloset by the outlet.
When the handle of the closet is drawn up the valve is shifted so as to
bring the water in direct communication with the cylinder, which in
turn drives the piston to the other end, and expels the water along the
aforesaid channel and into the basin through the outlet as before. The
piston or ball closes suitable apertures and prevents the egress of
the water at either end until the valve is shifted. Instead of using a
cylinder and ball or bucket I enclose an india-rubber bag in a case of
cast iron or other material, and the water or gas is admitted to the inside
and outside of the bag alternately, thereby producing the same effect as
is obtained by the cylinder. A two-way cock may be used instead of
the slide valve, if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on'
the 17th March 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WILSON, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Wilson, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Wilson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Wilson, 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

page_text: IN
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
ENGINES WORKED BY HYDRAULIC, FLUID. OR STEAK POWER, AND IN MECHANISM OR
APPARATUS USED IN REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS, THE
BAME BEING APPLICABLE. AMONGST OTHER USES, TO WATEROLOSETS, LAVERS, AND GAS
PIPES, FOR THE PREVENTION OF WASTE OF WATER. GAS, OR OTHER FLUID," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Wilson, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument 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 Henry Wilson, de 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:-
My improvements have for their object the cheapening and simplify-
ing of the construction of engines worked by hydraulic fluid or steam
power as is hereafter more particularly described.
My improvements also comprise the prevention of waste of water in
the use of waterclosets, public and private water taps, and other
appliances for supplying water or other liquids so arranged as to enable
the consumer to obtain a proper supply while the seller or water com-
panies are secured from loss by negligence or design.
And further, my improvements likewise comprise the arrangements
for shutting off gas and for other purposes which are hereafter set forth
and described.
Having thus breifly adverted to the object and nature of my said
Invention I will now proceed with the aid of the Drawings accompany-
ing these Presents to fully and particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed or put in practice, beginning with the water supply arrange-
ments, which are illustrated by Fig. 1 of the Drawings accompanying this
Specification, such arrangements consisting in the use of a cylinder of
cast iron or other suitable material a. a, on the side of which and along
the entire length thereof I cast or fix a pipe or channel b, b; on the one
end of this cylinder I fix a cock or slide valve c for admitting the water
or other fluid to the interior of the cylinder at each end alternately, and

page_text: in the interior of the cylinder I place a piston d formed by preference
of an india-rubber ball which rolls from end to end of the cylinder,
when the water or other fluid is admitted at one end (or the inlet I) of.
the cylinder, which is done by the action of the cock or slide valve c,
the ball rolls to the other (or outlet end O) and closes the outlet, so
stopping the further supply of water until the valve or cock is shifted
so as to admit the water at the outlet end (which is by this motion
converted into the inlet end), the ball is thus driven to the other end
and in turn stops the outlet at that end, the quantity of water or fluid
supplied at each stroke or turn of the valve or cock being regulated by
the length and diameter of the cylinder. I sometimes use a bucket
or piston formed of two cupped leathers, to which I attach on each side
a disc of india-rubber or other suitable material which forms the valve
and closes the outlet.
In said Fig. 1 the handle for working the tap is marked e, the nozzle
for discharge of water f, and the water supply pipe g.
In applying this part of my Invention to waterclosets I can use a
watercloset constructed in the following manner (which is illustrated
by Fig. 2 of the accompanying Drawings): -1 form the watercloset, the
basin or pan of which is marked B, with a trap cylinder x, x, having
a taper end fitting into the soil pipe, and provide the same with a hollow
taper weight y, y, with a small cistern or trap z, z, cast on the upper
part of it. The taper part of the weight y, y, has a cover of india-rubber
or other suitable material o, o, which fits into the taper end of the
trap cylinder x, a, aforesaid. This forms a valve for closing the com-
munication between the soil pipe and the upper part of the basin of the
closet which is attached to the trap cylinder a, a, by the branch u, u,
cast on the side of the cylinder. The overflow pipe is trapped to prevent
the escape of effluvia in the ordinary manner.
The manner in which the first part of my Invention can be applied
to the above-named watercloset is this:-The handle h used for raising
the valve to discharge the contents of the basin has attached to it a rod
which is attached to lever arrangements i, i, acting upon the valve or
cock c and admitting water at O from the main which drives the india-
rubber ball or bucket d to the one end I of the water regulator cylinder
a, a, and in its passage expels the water before it into the basin; when
it reaches the end I it covers the outlet at I and prevents furthur egress
of water until the handle h is let down, when the water is admitted at

page_text: the reverse end I and in turn expels the water contained in the cylinder
into the basin, thus when the ball or bucket reaches the other end O it
closes the orifice at O and so prevents any furthur waste of water and
the basin is charged with a sufficient quantity of water while at rest
to ensure the soil pipe being effectually sealed. Upon the handle /
being lifted to discharge the contents of the basin the action of the
valve c gives a sufficient supply to flush the basin, but no amount of
negligence or design can cause a continual flow of water to take place
unless the handle h be lifted to get one supply and put down to get
another. This apparatus can be applied to any existing watercloset
and the use of cisterns may be entirely dispensed with.
In said Drawings, Fig. 2, b denotes the pipe or channel on the side
of the cylinder; d, india-rubber ball piston; I, inlet end; O, outlet end;
P, P, water discharge into basin.
I also apply my Invention to public drinking fountains and other
appliances for the supplying of water where it is required to check any
undue waste from negligence or design.
I also apply my Invention to public urinals by means of which
unnecessary waste of water is prevented in them, the application to
them being similar to that for waterclosets.
Another purpose to which I apply my Invention (as illustrated at
Fig. 3 of the accompanying Drawings) has for its object the prevention
of waste or danger arising from the escape of gas. I have a gas inlet a
and outlet b, and a water supply pipe c.
The apparatus is fixed to the gas main and is put in action in the
following manner:-A handlee attached to the piston rod / is pulled
down and a small tap g leading from the water main set to any given
figure on a dial; the water being slowly admitted under the piston h
raises it gradually until the face of the piston, which is covered with
india-rubber or other suitable material, is brought into contact, with
the orifice by which the gas is admitted. thereby shutting off the
supply at any given time, which may be regulated by the figures on the
dial.
I also make use of this apparatus for shutting off the supply of water
or other fluid at any given time.
In said Drawing Fig. 3. i denotes the gas cylinder.

page_text: of a cheap and simple form of steam or water engine in which, instead
of the india-rubber ball or double-cupped leather herein-before described,
I make use of the ordinary steam piston and rod, but I admit the steam
at the top and the bottom of the cylinder instead of at the side, thereby
saving considerable risk and labour in the casting of the cylinder com-
pared with the ordinary method.
The mode of applying the steam or water is the same as herein-before
described with reference to waterclosets and other uses.
In applying my Invention to waterclosets (as shown at Fig. 2) I
should sometimes use the following arrangement in lieu of that herein-
before described:-The cylinder is supplied by the inlet pipe with water
which enters behind, the slide valve passes along a channel and drives
the ball or piston, thus carrying out the water contained in the cylinder
into the basin of the watercloset by means of the outlet, and when the
handle of the closet is drawn up the valve is shifted so as to bring the
water in direct communication with the cylinder, which in turn drives
the piston to the other end and expels the water along the aforesaid
channel and into the basin through the outlet as before, the piston or
ball closing suitable apertures, and prevents the egress of the water at
either end until the valve is shifted.
Instead of using a cylinder and ball or bucket 1 use the arrange-
ment illustrated at Fig. 4 of the Drawings, 1 enclose an india-rubber
bag a, a, in a case of cast iron or other material b, b, and the water or
gas is admitted (at c) to the inside and outside of the bag alternately,
thereby producing the same effect as is obtained by the cylinder.
In said Drawing Fig. 4, c', c', water channel or pipe; d, water
discharge; d', outlet end; e, inlet end; /, slide valve.
As shown at Figs. 5 and 6 of the Drawings, a two-way cock may
be used instead of the slide valve if desired. For public fountains,
lavers, and other purposes I apply my Invention to water savers
for which I sometimes use the following:--
26
"
The apparatus in this case acts in the same manner as in the water-
closet, see Figs. 7, 8, and 9. A handle a moving the valve e has to be
held at the points marked "open" to permit the contents of the cylinder
b, b, to pass out at the nozzle c, and springs d,d, keep the valve e closed
when the apparatus is not in use. The use of this arrangement is to
prevent the waste of water which might take place if only a portior.

page_text: of the contents of the cylinder b, b, be required to be drawn, as whenever
the handle a is let go it springs to "shut" and thereby closes the inlet;
I, inlet end; O, outlet end; f, piston or ball; g, water supply; h, h,
channel or pipe on side of cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put
in operation, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention as herein-
before specified, it being understood that I do not claim nor do I
restrict myself to the use of exactly the same constituent parts or details
as shown by the Drawings and herein described, as these are merely
constituent elements of my Invention which must be combined and
used substantially in the manner and for the purposes described, though
they may be varied as to form and disposition so long as the substantive
character of my Invention is retained and used.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Wilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
JOHN WILSON.
HENRY WILSON. (L.S.)