Year: 1888

page_text: I, JOHN DAVEY of The Water Works, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is applicable to most syphons whether fixed or movable but I will
describe it as applied to a flush cistern for water-closets &c. it being understood that
I do not confine myself to any one application. I find that considerable difficulty
exists with syphons as generally constructed in getting them to stop at the proper
moment as owing to the cistern filling by the ball cock they sometimes go on
dribbling for hours after being used.
In my improved syphon I prefer to use a curved pipe one end being flexibly con-
nected with the discharge from the cistern and the other opening into the cistern to
take in the water. At a suitable point upon the syphon is a hole and I prefer to have
above this a regulating cistern or box which moves with the syphon; the requisite levers,
pivots &c. are of course provided and the action is as follows. The supply of water
to the flushing cistern is controlled by the usual ball-cock and when the handle is
pulled to start the syphon the latter (which in its normal position is elevated so that
its highest part is out of the water) is dipped and the regulating tank fills with water;
as soon as the handle is released the syphon rises under the influence of a counter-
balance and the flow of water takes place and continues until the water contained in
the regulating box has run by the hole into the syphon. As soon as this occurs the
air enters and the column of water is broken and the syphon stops as soon as the
water in it has run out.
Where a fixed syphon is employed the water may be placed in the regulating
cistern or supplied to the aperture in the syphon by means of a cup which moves in
However various other means may be
conjunction with the operating handle.
employed for this purpose and so long as the syphon is charged in the required manner
the exact means used are unimportant.
By varying the size of the aperture in the syphon the quantity of water used at
each operation can be determined, the flow ceasing as soon as the air is admitted by

page_text: this hole. An alternative means of woiking this system would be to dispense with
the regulating box and provide means to keep the syphon under water for a fixed
period the flow ceasing as soon as the hole was clear of the water. Instead of the
curved and jointed pipe a telescopic or equivalent arrangement may be used the open
pipe or opening in the pipe being so arranged as to get clear of the water at the proper
moment.
I, JOHN DAVEY of The Water Works, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, 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 :-
This invention is applicable to most syphons whether fixed or movable but I will
describe it as applied to a flush cistern for water closets &c. it being understood that I
do not confine myself to any one application. I find that considerable difficulty exists
with syphons as generally constructed in getting them to stop at the proper moment
as owing to the cistern filling by the ball cock they sometimes go on dribbling for
hours after being used.
In my improved syphon I prefer to use a curved pipe one end being flexibly con-
nected with the discharge from the cistern and the other opening into the cistern to
take in the water. At a suitable point upon the syphon is a hole and I prefer to
have above this a regulating cistern or box which moves with the syphon; the
requisite levers, pivots &c. are of course provided and the action is as follows. The
supply of water to the flushing cistern is controlled by the usual ball-cock and when
the handle is pulled to start the syphon the latter (which in its normal position is
elevated so that its highest part is out of the water) is dipped and the regulating tank
fills with water; as soon as the handle is released the syphon rises under the influence
of a counterbalance and the flow of water takes place and continues until the water
contained in the regulating box has all run by the hole into the syphon. As soon as
this occurs the air enters and the column of water is broken and the syphon stops as
soon as the water already in it has run out.
Where a fixed syphon is employed the water may be placed in the regulating
eistern or supplied to the aperture in the syphon by means of a cup which moves in
conjunction with the operating handle. However various other means may be

page_text: employed for this purpose and so long as the syphon is charged in the required
manner the exact means used.are unimportant.
By varying the size of the aperture in the syphon the quantity of water used at
each operation can be determined, the flow ceasing as soon as the air is admitted by
this hole. An alternative means of working this syphon would be to dispense with
the regulating box and provide means to keep the syphon under water for a fixed
period the flow ceasing as soon as the hole was clear of the water. Instead of the
curved and jointed pipo a telescopic or equivalent arrangement may be used the open-
pipe or opening in the pipe being so arranged as to get clear of the water at the
proper moment.
In the accompanying drawings in which I have represented as examples my inven-
tion carried into practice in two different ways,
Fig. 1 is a plan of one form of the apparatus of which Figs. 2 and 3 are practically
similar sections illustrative of its operation; Fig. 4 is a plan of the other form of the
apparatus of which Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections taken respectively on the
lines A B and C D of fig. 4 and fig. 7 a transverse section taken on the line E F of
fig. 6.
.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings A is the syphon and A' a piece of
india-rubber or other suitable flexible tubing connecting one of its ends with the
outlet A² which is secured in any suitable manner to the bottom of the cistern B. Tho
syphon A may if desired be flexibly connected to the outlet A' by a hinged or any
other suitable joint. A³ is the hole in the syphon and C is the regulating trough or
box through the bottom of which the said hole extends and which is secured on the
syphon in any suitable manner. C is a grating to protect the hole A³. D is a rod
supported in eyes A* provided on the syphon and D₁ is a link coupled at its lower end
to the said rod D and at its upper end to the arm D2 which is rigidly secured on the
shaft D. This shaft is supported in two of the walls of the cistern and has secured
to it the counterweight D₁ and at the outside of the cistern the arm D' by means of
which and a wire or other suitable connection D (represented in dot and dash lines).
the apparatus may be operated from a distance.
When it is desired to cause water to flow or flush from the cistern B the arm D³ is
depressed by means of the wire D or otherwise and through the shaft D³, arm D²,
link D and rod D the syphon A and with it the regulating trough C will also bo
depressed so as to be completely submerged in the water as represented in Fig. 3
the water level being in that figure and fig. 2 indicated by the dot and dash line E.
When the arm D or wire D is released the various parts of the apparatus will under
the influence of the counterweight D' be returned to their respectivo normal posi-
tions the trough C being then filled with water. The syphon A being then also filled,
the water will commence to flow out from the cistern through the syphon A and
outlet A and will continue to flow so long as water covers the hole A. The water
in the trough C however gradually passes through the hole A³ into the syphon and so.
soon as it has all passed through or uncovered the said hole air will be admitted
through it into the syphon and the column of water flowing out will be broken and
the flush of water stopped. The cistern B will then again be filled by means of the
ball cock in the usual manner.
In the apparatus represented in figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings the syphon is
stationary. In these figures A as before indicates the syphon and B the cistern to
one of the walls of which the said syphon is preferably secured in any convenient
manner. A figure 5 is the opening through which the bulk of the water passes from
the cistern proper into the syphon A. C is the regulating trough or box which in
this example is a fixture and preferably secured against the walls of the cistern
and A³ figure 6 is the hole through which air enters the syphon to stop the flow of
water through it. B is a partition which with parts of the walls of the cistern forms
a compartment or chamber in which a piston is capable of being moved up and
down. B³ figures 6 and 7 is an aperture through which water may enter from within
the casing B to the syphon A, B figure 6 being a partition for directing the water so

page_text: entering towards the upper part of the syphon. G is a regulating valve so called
because it may be adjusted so as to more or less close the opening A³ and relatively
cause the outflows of water from the cistern to be of longer or shorter duration and G¹
is a screw passing through a slot in a portion of the valve and by means of which tho
said valve may be secured in any desired position. F is a rod which is preferably
formed in part with the piston Fand the upper end of which is coupled to the arm D
which is fixed upon the shaft D³. Dis the counterweight also connected to the
shaft D. E represents the water level which is maintained by any suitable con-
struction of ball-cock or valve. As in the preceding example a grating (not shown
in the drawing) is provided to protect the hole A³.
-When it is desired that water should flow from the cistern B the arm D5 (figure 4)
secured on the shaft D³ is drawn down and through the arm D2 and rod F¹ the
piston F will be depressed. This will put a pressure on the water then below
the piston and within the chamber B2 and force it through the opening B³ into
the syphon A and will expel the air from the syphon and cause water to flow in a
continuous stream from the cistern proper through the opening A' and syphon A and
through the outlet A3 to the place at which the water is required. The water in the
trough C will be drawn into the syphon A through the opening A3 but will cease to
flow immediately the water in the said trough falls below the level of the top of the
hole A3 the air then enters through the opening A³ and causes a break in the column
of water so that no more water than is then contained in the syphon will flow out.
By adjusting the valve G so as to project more or less into the opening A³ the
quantity of water allowed to escape at each operation can be correspondingly increased
or decreased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
-
1. The combination with a syphon having an opening such as A³ of a trough or box
such as substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a syphon having an opening such as A3 and trough or box
such as C of a valve substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a movable syphon of a trough such as C connected with
the syphon by an opening such as A³ substantially as and for the purpose herein
described and illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of November 1888.