Improved Syphon Tank for Flushing Water-closets.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 19th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Syphon Tank for Flushing Water-closets.
CHARLES STOCKWELL of 405 Oxford Road, Manchester, Mechanic and
PETER SMITH of 123 Conran Street Harpurhey Tinsmith do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The tank is constructed of cast iron or other suitable metal, and has at the
bottom a well through which passes the discharge pipe, the top of the discharge
pipe being flush with the top of the tank. The discharge pipe is so constructed
that, in that portion contained in the well there is a U water seal. From the
lower portion of the seal is extended a pipe which is continued upwards until
it is level with the top of the discharge pipe.
In flushing the cistern or tank, the bell, which is held in position by suitable
lever arrangement, is depressed until there is a sufficient quantity of air expelled
down the discharge pipe, the air being allowed to escape up the branch pipe.
Upon releasing the lever, the bell is raised by a weight arrangement and the
water seal in the discharge pipe being reformed, the water in the tank rises up the
bell to replace the expelled air, and by flowing over the top of the discharge pipe,
establishes a syphon action which continues until the required quantity of water
has been discharged.
On the bell is fixed a pocket, which is filled with water during the depression of
the lever. On the bell being allowed to rise to its normal position, the water in
this pocket is allowed to flow out of a small hole in the bottom of the pocket, and
when the pocket is empty, the air is allowed to escape into the bell by a hole which
is placed in the bell just above the bottom of, and inside the pocket, which escape
of air into the bell destroys the syphon action.
Dated this 17th day of June 1893
CHARLES STOCKWELL.
PETER SMITH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Syphon Tank for Flushing Water-closets.
We CHARLES STOCKWELL of 405 Oxford Street, in the City of Manchester,
Mat Manufacturer, and PETER SMITH of 123 Conran Street, Harpurhey, in the
said city, Metal Plate Worker, 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 and accompanying drawings:-
Our said invention relates to certain improvements in flushing apparatus. The
advantages of our invention are, that it obviates waste of water by preventing
continuous syphoning; the absence of valves prevents leakage and lessens the
danger of getting out of order.
In addition to this, its construction is simple and economical, while the arrange-
ment of its parts renders it almost noiseless in operation.
To render the construction of our apparatus more easily understood, and to
enable us better to point out and limit our claims, we have attached hereunto a
sheet of drawings which clearly illustrate the improved flushing tank and
contained parts.
$

page_text: Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved apparatus while Fig. 2 is a plan
view.
The tank is composed practically of two parts, the upper part or tank proper a
and a lower part or well a'. The discharge syphon pipe is marked b, and is of
the indicated form. The open end projects above the normal level of the water in
the tank, while the other discharge end is led through the bottom of the well a¹
at the water tight joint marked c. The syphon bend between the open end of the
pipe band the discharge end is water sealed in the indicated manner.
as
From the sealed portion of the pipe b, there extends a stand pipe 6 open at the
top and carrying a removable dash cap d to prevent upward splashing. Also on
the side of the open end of the pipe b we form a chamber b³, also open at the top
and communicating by a small hole with the pipe b. In our Provisional
Specification we described the chamber as an annular casing surrounding the
pipe but to diminish the size of the bell e we prefer to arrange the chamber b³
now described, although except in detail, there is practically no difference
between the two. The bell e is hung from the pivotted counter-balance lever f
one end of the lever being connected to the bell pull g and the other being formed
with a counter-balance weight f¹. A bracket supports the pivotted lever f
The belle has formed on its side a chamber or pocket e', open at the top and
communicating at the foot by means of a small hole y with the interior of
the bell e. The tank is fitted with the usual supply cock and ball ij and
overflow k.
Such being the construction and arrangement of the parts constituting our
improved apparatus, we will now describe their functional operation when the
flushing tank is put to use. In Fig. 1 the parts are shown in the position they
occupy when at rest, the water in the tank being shown at its normal level and the
syphon curve of the pipe b properly sealed. Upon pulling the bell pull g, the
lever is depressed, lowering the belle over the pipe band chamber. The
descent of the bell e causes a quantity of air to be driven down the discharge
pipe b, forcing before it the bulk of the water in the pipe and displacing a portion
of the water seal over the bend . On the air reaching the foot of the stand
pipe it passes up this pipe and escapes by a small hole at the top, any splashing
over the edge of the tank being prevented by the dash cap d and pulsation being
prevented by the small hole. The water in the discharge pipe bend falls back and
the seal is re-formed at the bend b¹.
Upon the release of the bell pull and the ascent of the bell the air in the bell is
rarefied and the water in the tank a rises between the bell and the pipe >> into
which latter it overflows. The syphoning is now set up and continues until the
requisite quantity of water has been discharged. The flushing continues until the
level of the water falls beneath the lower edge of the bell, whereupon air enters
the bell and puts a stop to the syphoning action. As the discharge under the
syphon action is vigorous, the bend of the discharge pipe might be nearly cleared
out and an insufficient seal left at U. To prevent this and to ensure the proper
re-sealing of the bend, the aforesaid chainber 63 is provided. Its action is as
follows.
When the flushing comes to an end the chamber 63 is full of water. This water
now begins to flow into the pipe through the hole z and so fills up the lower part
of the pipe, re-making the seal at '.
In addition to this we preter to make the chamber 63 of such a capacity that
not only shall it fill the lower part of the discharge pipe, but will also overflow
at the bend b', sufficiently to give a small after flush and so fill up the pan of the
closet, which may have been almost emptied by the violence of the final rush.
We also make provision to prevent the continuous syphoning and consequent
waste of water which takes place in many flushing cisterns now in use.
This over syphoning is brought about by the intentional or accidental holding
down or weighting of the float j and consequent continuance of the flow of water
into the cistern.

page_text: By this means not only the water in the tank a, but also the additional water
running into the cistern would be syphoned out, whereby a great deal of water woul
be used, over and above the regulation quantity.
To prevent all this, we have provided the pocket el on the side of the bell e.
This pocket communicates by means of a hole y with the bell e, and is timet to
empty simultaneously with or slightly in advance of the tank a, when a proper
flush is obtained. If the apparatus is in order or has not been tampered with, the
pocket e¹is filled on the lowering of the bell and simply empties simultaneously with
the tank.
Even if the float is held down so as to continue the feed of water to the cistern
during the syphoning this will have no effect as the water will drain from the pocket
in the usual time and allow the air to rush into the bell through the hole y so as to
break the syphon action and stop the discharge to the closet.
The indicated check arrangement we have devised prevents all waste of water
whether by ignorance or by intention.
We wish it to be understood that so far as relates to the particular construction
and form of the improved check pocket e¹ and chamber 63 we do not consider our-
selves bound to the exact disposition shown so long as the pith and marrow of
our invention is retained.
For example the form of chamber which is described and illustrated in our
Provisional Specification might if desired be adopted, and such a form would be
well within the scope of our claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
our improved syphon tank or flushing cistern for water closets, substantially as
described and as illustrated.
2. In a syphon tank or flushing cistern as described, the fixed syphon bend
and discharge pipe b, b formed with an air stand pipe b (fitted with a dash
cap d) and combined with a side, or annular or other suitable chamber b³, comuni-
cating with the pipe and provided for the purpose of restoring the seal and
giving an after flush, all arranged and acting substantially as described and as
illustrated.
3. In a syphon apparatus of the indicated or equivalent nature, the chamber b³,
formed either as described and shown in the drawings or in any other equivalent or
suitable manner, and communicating with the syphon or discharge pipe, for the
purpose of restoring the seal and creating an after flush, in the manner described
and indicated.
4. In combination with the bell e, arranged and acting in the indicated manner,
the water waste preventer or pocket e' communicating with the interior of the bell,
and timed to empty about simultaneously with the tank, substantially as described
and shown.
5. As means for preventing waste of water in syphon tanks or flushing cisterns
for water closets, providing the bell with a pocket or receptacle, communicating
with the bell, and arranged to be filled when the bell is dipped and to empty
simultaneously with the tank, so as to permit ingress of air to the bell and syphon,
and so stop the action as soon as the proper quantity of water has been discharged,
substantially in the manner described and illustrated, or any mere modification
thereof.
Dated this 13th day of April 1891
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.