Improvements in Flushing Tanks and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flushing Tanks and the like. :¨
I, EDWIN THOMAS HOWARD of Wellington Somerset Architect do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in automatic flushing tanks and avoids the
use of complicated valves taps and similar devices.
I carry my invention into practice in manner as follows.
I construct any suitably shaped tank which may be made of any of the usual
and well known material that is used for such tanks such tanks as hereinbefore
described will be hereinafter referred to as the tank.
In the tank a syphon is placed the longer leg of such syphon passing through
the bottom or side of the tank as may be deemed desireable.
This syphon may be formed in the same shape as any of the usual and well-
known forms of syphons are made excepting always the bend of the syphon which
may have one or more undulations bends dips or curves either in a vertical or
angular direction as regards the plane of the two legs of the syphon.
Suspended pivoted or otherwise fixed but so as to be free to move in a certain
pre-arranged manner is a vessel which will hereinafter be referred to as the
tipper.
The tipper may be variously shaped but the shape I prefer may be likened as
regards the longitudinal section of the tipper to that of a flying kite cut in half
along the line of its longer axis it will thus be readily understood that this section
will give the tipper a scoop like longitudinal section. The scoop is now poised on
two gimbals and is so balanced or poised that the deeper end of the scoop falls
slightly below the level of the shallower end and the result of this balancing will
be that if the tipper is filled with water when the water overflows it will do so from
the deeper end and not the shallower end and thus fill the tank to underside of
syphon.
I do not confine myself to this form of tipper but in practice I have found it
simple and effectual.
Attached to the underside of the tipper at its deeper end are one or more floats
or buoy-balls hereinafter referred to as floats shaped in any suitable form, or the
said floats may be attached to hinged stems or levers so placed as when they are
raised by the rising of water in tank they strike against the underside of the
deeper part of the tipper the equilibrium of the tipper is then upset and the water
in which being moved to the shallower end of the tipper completely overbalances
the tipper and discharges all the water contained in the tipper, which causes the
water to rise over the top of syphon starting syphon and thus discharging tank in
a very short time or by a series of one or more levers attached to one or more
floats at the shallower end of the tipper the same effect of overbalancing and
discharging the tipper is brought about in the manner as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 19th day of November 1894.
WM. LLEWELLIN, C.E.,
15 King Square, Bristol, Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I, EDWIN THOMAS HOWARD of Wellington Somerset Architect do bereby
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:
My invention has reference to certain improvements in automatic flushing cisterns
or tanks that are used for sanitary or other purposes where flushing is required
periodically.
My invention is carried out in manner as follows.
I construct any suitably shaped tank or cistern (which may be made of any of
the usual well known metals or materials or may be constructed of brick stone or
cement if so required).
In the tank one or more syphons may be used but in the description which
follows the case where one syphon is used will only be considered for the sake of
perspicuity but it must be most distinctly understood that there may be duplicate
or any other number of sets of syphons or other parts in the same cistern or tank
placed at any desired position.
The long leg of the syphon may pass through or over any suitable part of the
tank and may discharge itself through any syphon shaped or other tubes or pipes.
The bend of the syphon that is the part between the connected legs of the syphon
has one or more depressions in it but the depressions do not alter the calibre of the
pipe. At or near the top level of the tank is suspended pivoted but otherwise free
to move in a certain pre-arranged direction a vessel which will be hereinafter
referred to as the tipper.
The tipper may be shaped in any suitable manner but the shape I prefer may
be likened as regards its longitudinal outline to the half of a kite or pear when
these are cut through their longitudinal axis it will be seen that this section gives
the tipper a scoop like shape.
In order that the tipper may move in the required direction it is pivoted or hung
on one or more pivots or gimballs in such a manner that when the tipper is filled
with water it is in a state of equilibrium and when full of water the water over-
flows into the tank preferably from its deeper end. Attached to the tipper in
either a fixed or adjustable position are one or more floats or ball buoys such
floats or ball buoys will be hereinafter referred to as "floats." Instead of the
floats being attached to the tipper they may be quite separate from it but so
arranged as at certain levels of the water in the tank the float rises or buoys up and
strikes against the underside of the deeper end of the tipper in a pre-arranged
manner.
This buoying up of the tipper disturbs its equilibrium aud causes the tipper
tilt and so discharge its contained water into the tank. The tipper is filled from
any source of water supply which supply is controlled or regulated by taps or
valves this cycle of events goes on as long as water flows into the tipper.
In order that my said invention may be better understood I annex hereto one
sheet of drawings which are to be taken and read as part of these presents.
Like letters correspond to like parts in all the drawings.
Figure 1. is a plan of the arrangement.
Figure 2. is a sectional elevation through the tank.
Figure 3. is a modification of the arrangement of the tipper and buoys.
A sides of the tank B the tipper I pivots upon which the tipper is balanced, one
end of the pivots being attached to the side of the tipper and the other end
socketed in the sides of the tank A but so fitted that the tipper is free to move in
a more or less vertical direction D are the floats C is the float lever pivoted or

page_text: hinged at E to the side of the tank. The other end of the lever being attached
to the floats D.
F is the short leg of the syphon H is the long leg of the syphon passing out
the bottom of the tank at M. Connecting the long and short legs of the syphon
are the parts H' G F¹ of which G is depressed or curved downwards is a valve
through which a controlled supply of water passes to fill the tipper. L is a syphon
through which the flushing water passes. N is a stop to prevent tipper over-
balancing in one direction.
Figure 3 shows the adjustable attachment of the floats to the tipper in
which K is a set screw to regulate the distance of the float D from the
tipper B.
The working of the apparatus is as follows.
The tipper B being in the position as shown by the continuous lines and the
float D' being in the position shown by the dotted lines and the water flowing into
the tipper through O and from thence overflowing into the tank from its deeper
end X gradually rises in the tank until it floats the float D' up into the position D
when it strikes the tipper at P and upsets its equilibrium the tipper then assumes
the position B' B' and discharges its contained water into the tank A. and by this
means raises the height of the water in the tank to such a level that it sets in action
the syphon H. F. and thus discharges the contents of the tank as soon as the water
level falls the float D assumes the position D' and the state of equilibrium in the
tipper being restored it again assumes the position B this series of operations goes
on as long as water flows into the tipper.
The depression G in the syphon serves the purpose of assisting to seal and start
the syphon by means of a very small increment of water in the tank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare what
I claim is-
1. I claim the use of a syphon with a dip or dips in the bend substantially in the
manner as herein before described and set forth.
2. The use of a tipper in a flushing cistern substantially and in the manner
hereiubefore described and set forth.
3. The actuating of the tipper by means of float or floats substantially and in
the manner herein before described and set forth.
4. The combination of the various parts hereinbefore described and set forth.
Dated this 20th day of August 1895.
WM. LLEWELLIN, C.E.,
15 King Square, Bristol, Agent for Applicant.