provements in Water Closets, and Flushing Devices connected therewith.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
COMPLETE DE DUIFICATION
mprovements in Water Closets, and Flushing Devices connected
therewith.
I, DAVID THOMAS KENNEY, of North Plainfield, in the County of Somerset,
nd State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America, Plumber, do
ereby 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
tatement:-
This invention relates to water closets; and it consists in the novel devices for
Aushing the same as hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side view of a water closet, showing its cistern and supply pipe in
section.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the flushing valve, drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 3 is a section taken on the line in Figure 2.
B is the
Figure is a cross section taken on the line y-y in Figure 3.
A is the pan of the closet, which is of any approved construction.
flushing valve arranged in close proximity to the pan and provided with a curved
operating lever I. C is the water cistern which is supported above the pan.
B is the outlet chamber of the flushing valve, which is connected to the pan in
any approved manner.
Dis the water supply pipe connected to the underside of the cistern and to the
valve B. The upper end of the pipe D is connected to the cistern by a union or
other approved fastening, and its lower end is screwed into a socket b' which is
provided with a passage e connecting it to the inlet chamber c' of the said valve.
C is a cap secured to and forming the top of the inlet chamber c'.
According to one modification of this invention, the inlet chamber or its cap C¹
may be extended vertically to form a long water column. The air is compressed
in the upper part of the column or cap C by the pressure of the water let into
it by the passage c, and, if desired, the cistern C can be dispensed with when the
column or cap C' is made of sufficient height to take the place of it.
D' is the overflow pipe which passes vertically through the pipe D and is
Berewed into the bottom of the socket . A boss or nipple d projects from the
socket &, and d is an elbow pipe which is connected to the outlet chamber B' of
the flushing valve. A short pipe a provided with unions forms a slip joint or
When the water rises.
connection between the nipple d and the elbow pipe d'.
too high in the cistern it will flow down the overflow pipe into the pan. The
upper end of the overflow pipe is provided with a support to keep it steady.
The supply pipe does not require to be much larger when the overflow pipe is
placed inside it, and the noise caused by the water whirling around in the pipe
and drawing air down its center is prevented.
E is a seat for the main valve at the top of the chamber B'; and E' is tho casing
for the main valve serowed onto the cylindrical portion n which projects upwardly
within the inlet chamber c'.
The casing E is cylindrical, and is closed at the top, and provided with holes or
slots e' in its lower part. A ring e is slidable vertically upon the casing E', and
may be secured in any desired position so as to regulate the passage of the water
through the slots e'. The ring e is preferably screwed on the casing and is moved
vertically by turning it around thereon.

page_text: F is the main valve which slides freely in the cylindrical casing E, so that a
very small annular passage 2 is formed between the casing and the valve, for the
passage of water from the lower to the upper portion of the casing. This passage
is preferably annular, but it might be formed as a groove in the valve or in the
casing.
The valve F is a hollow cylinder, and has a tubular stem f at its base. The
innin valve seat E is secured by a nut 3 in an annular recess 4, and the valve Fis
provided with an annular projection 5 which rests on the said valve seat. The
said valve seat is preferably of soft material, such as lenther, and the recess 4 forms
a water seal for the valve and also prevents the valve seat from being dragged
iuto the opening through which the water rushes when the valve is raised. This
water seal may be dispensed with, if desired, and the main valve may rest on its
seat in any approved manner. When a metallic valve seat is used, the valve may
have a facing of soft material.
A cylinder P depends from the upper part of the chamber B', and forms an
annular air vessel 6 in the upper part of the said chamber. The air in this vessol
lets the water fall freely away from the valve F.
The tubular stem is screw threaded and has two short telescopic cylinders 7
and 8 screwed upon it. The upper cylinder is preferably the larger and may be
secured in any approved manner concentric with the stem f, and the cylinder 8 is
movable inside the cylinder 7 so as to project from it to a greater or less. extent.
These cylinders can be dispensed with altogether, if desired, as the valve will
operate without them.
G is the vent valve which slides freely in the valve F, a very small passage 9
being arranged between them for the water to pass through. A facing g of soft
material, such as leather, is secured to the bottom of the valve G and rests on the
seat g' formed inside the valve around the upper end of the stein f. If desired,
the facing g can be dispensed with, or it may be secured to the sent, instead of to
the valve.
H is the stem of the vent valve provided with a projection a little below the
bottom of the stem when the valve G is closed.
I is an external lover for operating the flushing valve. This lever projects from
a spindle i and is bent around so as to place its free end in any convenient
position.
J is un arm secured on the spindle i inside the chamber B, and this arm is
operatively connected with the lower end of the stem H in any approved manner.
By preference the connection is effected by means of a double-eye 40 screwed on
the stem H, and a pin j passing through a slot in the lever. A notch 41 is cut in
the bottom of the stem for the insertion of a screw driver. The time during
which water may flow is regulated by turning the stem H in the double-eye, as
the valves will not raise so high when the double-eye is screwed far up the stem,
and will consequently close in less time.
K is a stuffing-box on the outlet chamber B. The spindle i is journaled in
this stuffing-box, and is provided with a screw threaded end k. M is an externally
screw threaded bearing on the chamber B', and m is a cylindrical nut screwed on
the end and journaled in the bearing M. The nut m has a shoulder mat its
end which bears against the end of the bearing M aud prevents the spindle from
sliding longitudinally in the stuffing-box.
N is a cap screwed over the end of the bearing M for keeping the chamber B'
water-tight. An arm 10 is pivoted to the stuffing-box K by the pin 11, and has a
forked portion 12 which engages with the uut of the stuffing-box and prevents it
from working back. A stop 13 is formed on the spindle i and strikes against the
end of the arm 10 when the lever I is depressed to its full extent. As persons
using the device can see the stop strike the arm they are less likely to try to push
down the lever farther than it should go, than if its travel was determined by an
internal stop which could not be seen.

page_text: The vent valve G is weighted, and may itself be a heavy weight or a weight
such as 50 may he applied to a lever 51 on the spindle i, or in any other approved
manner, so that the valve G may he weighted.
When the flushing valve is closed the water stands in the supply pipe free from
air and ready to rush noiselessly into the pan as soon as the valve is opened.
The pan is flushed by depressing the lever I. The vent valve is raised first and
relieves the main valve of the pressure above it, and the main valvo is then raised
casily. As soon as the main valve comniences to rise, the water rushes through the
holes e and through the opening of the main valve seat. The maiu valve is easily
raised to its full extent, as it has merely to force the water out of the casing through
the vent valve.
When the lever I has been depressed to its full extent, it is let go, and the two
valves descend autoinatically. The weighted vont valve closes first, and then
depresses the buoyant main valve. The strong rush of water, which flushes the
pan, ceases as soon as the bottom edge of the cylinder 8 enters the opening in
the main valve seat, and the water which passes around the cylinders 7 and 8 forms
a gentle after-rush sufficient to fill the pan to the required level.
The volume of water delivered at each operation may be regulated, or made
uniform, for different pressures, by means of the ring e which varies the area of the
inlet opening.
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 main valve, and a casing inclosing it and provided
with a water inlet at its lower part and a water passage connecting its upper and
lower parts; of a vent valve carried by the main valve, and a stem operating to
raise first the vent valve and then the main valve, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with a valve outlet chamber provided with a main valve
seat, of an inlet chamber secured over the said sent, a valve casing provide with
a water inlet at its lower part and secured over the said valve seat inside the said
chamber, a main valve freely slidable in the said casing and provided with a tubular
stem, a vent valve carried by the said main valve, and a stem for raising first the
vent valve and then the main valve, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with a flushing valve provided with a stuffing-box and an
externally screw threaded bearing at the sides of its outlet chamber; of a spindle
journaled in the stuffing-box and provided with an external operating lever and an
internal arm for opening the valve, a cylindrical nut screwed on the end of the said
spindle and journaled in the said bearing, and a cap closing the end of the bearing,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with a flushing valve as set forth in Claim 1; of a ring
slidable on the said valve casing and operating to adjust the area of the said
water inlet.
5. The combination, with a flushing valve as set forth in Claim 1; of cylinders
Becured on the underside of the main valve and forming an annular passage inside
the valve seat, one of the said cylinders being adjustable and permitting the rush
of water through the said annular passage to be varied.
6. The combination, with a flushing valve as set forth in Claim 1; of an annular
air vessel formed under the main valve in the upper part of the outlet chamber,
substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, with the means for operating the flushing valve as set forth
in Claim 3; of a projecting stop on the said spindle, and an arm pivoted to the
said stuffing-box, and projecting into the path of the said stop and provided with a
forked portion engaging with the nut of the stuffing-box.
8. The combination, with a flushing valve at the pan of a water closet; of a
raised cistern, a supply pipe connecting the said valve with the said cisteru, and an
overflow pipe arranged inside the said supply pipe, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 9. The combination, with the supply pipe of a water closet; of a longitudinal
obstruction such as a pipe-arranged inside the supply pipo and operating to
prevent the water from whirling around in the pipe and drawing air down its center.
10. The combination, with a flushing valve having an inlet chamber and an
outlet chamber; of a raised cistern, a water supply pipe connecting the cistern with
the said inlet chamber, and an overflow pipe passing through the said supply pipe
and secured to the said outlet. chamber, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of August 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.