Improved Means for Operating the Mechanism of Water Closets.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
_ Improved Means for Operating the Mechanism of Water Closets.
I THOMAS CRAPPER of the Firm of Thomas Crapper and Company, of
Marlborough Works, Marlborough Road, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Sanitary Engineer, 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 :-
The
The object of the present invention is to provide simple and effective means
whereby the mechanism of water closets may be operated by the foot.
invention will be found especially advantageous when emptying slops, as both
hands will be left free to hold the receptacle in which the slops are contained, and
the latter can then be emptied and the closet discharge and flushing valves opened
simultaneously. Invalids also will find it less exertion to depress a pedal than to
raise the ordinary pull.
According to my invention I connect a foot lever with the closet mechanism in
such manner that when the lever is depressed it will operate said mechanism and
cause the flushing of the closet and discharge of its contents.
The said foot lever may be employed either in addition to the ordinary pull, or
in substitution therefor.
I will now describe by way of example the application of my invention to an
ordinary valve closet having reference to the accompanying drawings in which
similar letters refer to corresponding parts in all the figs.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a valve closet shewing so much of the mechanism
thereof as is necessary to clearly illustrate the application of my invention thereto.
Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1 shewing the foot lever in side elevation
and its connection with the closet mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the foot lever shewing its connection with the closet
mechanism.
a is the valve box of the closet, 6 the ordinary counterweighted lever which
operates the discharge valve and which works on pivot at c. d is the ordinary
pull connected with lever bat e. f is the usual counterweighted lever for operating
the inlet or flushing valve. g is a foot lever pivotted at h to a convenient standard
or pillar i secured to the floor. One end of this lever 9 is preferably hook shaped
and engages with the before mentioned lever b, the other end of the foot lever g
projects through a suitable slut in the riser m of the closet and is provided with a
foot plate k.
When the said foot lever is depressed it is clear from the drawing that the
closet mechanism will be operated in precisely the same manner as if the pull d
were raised.
I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement
above set forth and illustrated in the drawings as slight modifications in detail,
obvious to any ordinary workman, might be required in applying my invention to
different arrangements of closet mechanism, and although I have only considered
it necessary to shew the application of my invention to one form of closet, namely a
valve closet, I wish it to be clearly understood that it may equally well be applied
to other water closets, such as hopper and pan closets for example.
A foot lever constructed as above described and illustrated can be applied to
existing valve closets without necessitating any alteration in the mechanism of
same, and will not in any way affect the working in the usual way by the pull. There
will also be no waste of water as immediately the foot is removed from the pedal
the inlet valve will be closed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is .
1. The use in combination with water closet mechanism, either in addition to or
in substitution for the ordinary pull, of a foot lever arranged so as to operate the
said mechanism ou being depressed, substantially as described.
2. The general construction and arrangement of foot lever action for operating
water closet mechanism substantially as described and illustrated.
Din 19th den of Tune 1802
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON, Fels. Chartd. Inst. P.A.,
19, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.