Improvements in Waterclosets and Water Supply Valves for the same and similar Apparatus.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 16th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Mar., 1887.
RESERV
Improvements in Waterclosets and Water Supply Valves for the
same and similar Apparatus.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Foundry, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows, that is to.say
My said Invention has for its object to improve the cleansing action of the water
used in water closets, and to limit the supply of water independently of the user, so as
to avoid waste of water.
The first part of my Invention is applicable to a watercloset basin of the kind I
term "wash down," and which is without a discharge valve, the discharge outlet being at
the bottom and communicating immediately with a trap bend to the outer lower end
of which the soil pipe is attached. The trap bend is placed so as to maintain water in
the basin some little distance above the bottom outlet and the basin is shaped in an
improved manner with its horizontal section at the water surface of an oblong form
with the ends at the front and back. The sides of the basin are curved down from
the circular or nearly circular form at the top to the oblong form at the water surface
and are continued below that with a rapid contraction to the outlet. With the
described shape of the basin a comparatively small quantity of water may be used, its
action in clearing out the contents of the basin being concentrated and rendered
effectual. The basin is made with a hollow rim round the top and the flushing water
is admitted into this rim and descends from it through perforations or slits so as to
wash down the sides of the basin, a larger portion of the water being by preference
directed down the front of the basin or at the side opposite to that at which the trap
bend is placed. Or the water may be distributed round the basin by means of an
ordinary fan which may be arranged to have a similar effect. The basin is formed
with a horn projecting upwards for the convenient attachment of the water supply
pipe and it is also formed with a compartment or service box which receives a por-
tion of the supply, the bottom of the compartment communicating with the basin by
a small hole through which the water passes slowly so as to fill up the basin to the
proper level after each flushing action, in the event of the water being drawn off by
siphoning action.

page_text: In my improved water supply valve apparatus, a small disk or button which closes an
orifice against the pressure is connected by a tubular stem to a flexible diaphragm of
greater area than the disk, and in the cover fixed on the outer side of the diaphragm
there is formed in it a cylindrical chamber having on it a piston attached to a spindle
passing out through the cover. When the valve, is closed the water communicating
through the hollow stem presses on the outer side of the diaphragm and makes it hold
the disk to its seat. To open the valve the piston is drawn outwards which reduces
the pressure on the diaphragm and then the water forces open the disk; at the same
time the water also passes through the tubular stem and in a certain interval depend-
ing on the size of the passage fills the chamber in the cover again and acting on the
diaphragm causes it to close the disk again whether the piston is pushed in or not.
When two flushes are required for the watercloset two valves are combined so that
the reversal of the movement which closes one opens the other. The spindle of each
piston is by preference acted on by a screw thread of quick pitch and the opening is
effected by turning a handle or lever; and when the two valves are combined for
giving two flushes one is placed oppositely to the other and the two are worked by
means of one lever. My improved water-supply valves are applicable to various
kinds of waterclosets and also to urinals.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Waterclosets and Water Supply Valves for the
same and similar Apparatus.
I, JOHN SHANKS of Tubal Foundry, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to improve the cleansing action of the water
used in waterclosets, and to limit the supply of water independently of the user, so as
to avoid waste of water.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood 1 hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to he
hereinafter referred to and showing my improved watercloset and water supply
valves.
Figure, 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a front elevation of the
watercloset, water supply valves and cistern. Figure, 2, is a sectional side elevation
of the same. Figure, 3, is a plan of the watercloset and figure, 4, is a sectional
elevation of the water supply valves drawn to an enlarged scale. In these drawings
the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
repeated.
The first part of my Invention is applicable to a watercloset basin, 5, of the kind I.
term "wash down" and which is without a discharge valve, the discharge outlet, 6,
being at the bottom and communicating immediately with a trap bend, 7, to the outer
lower end of which the soil pipe (not shown) is to be attached. The trap bend, 7, is
placed so as to maintain water in the basin, 5, some little distance above the bottom
outlet, 6, and the basin, 5, is shaped in an improved manner with its horizontal section
at the water surface of an oblong form with the ends at the front and back. The
sides of the basin, 5, are curved down from the circular or nearly circular form at the
top to the oblong form at the water surface and are continued below that with a rapid
contraction to the outlet, 6. With the described shape of the basin a comparatively
small quantity of flushing water may be used, its action in cleaning out the contents
of the basin being concentrated and rendered effectual. The basin, 5, is made with a
hollow rim, 8, round the top and the flushing water is admitted into this rim, 8, and
descends from it through perforations or slits so as to wash down the sides of the
basin, 5, a larger portion of the water being by preference directed down the front of
the basin or at the side opposite to the outlet, U. Or the water may be distributed by
means of an ordinary fan which may be arranged to have a similar effect. The basin, 5,
is formed with a horn, 9, projecting upwards for the convenient attachment of the
lower end of the water supply pipe, 10, and it is also formed with a compartment or
service box, 11, which receives a portion of the supply, the bottom of the compart-
ment, 11, communicating with the basin, 5, by a small hole through which the water
passes slowly so as to fill up the basin to the proper level after each flushing action,
in the event of the water being drawn off by siphoning action.

page_text: My improved water supply valve apparatus shown separately and enlarged in
figure, 4, is made with a valve box, 12, which has a coupling, 13, at one end to which
a pipe, 14, for the passage of the supply from the cistern, 15, is attached; and a
valve, 16, which closes the inlet orifice against the pressure and which is fitted with an
annular leather or rubber washer is connected by a tubular stem, 17, to a disk or
piston, 18, having fixed to it a flexible diaphragm, 19, of greaterarea than the valve, 16.
In the cover, 20, fixed on the outer side of the diaphragin, 19, to the valve box, 12,
there is formed a cylindrical chamber having in it a piston, 21, attached to a
spindle, 22, passing out through the cover, 20. When the valve is closed the water
passes through a small hole, 23, and through the hollow stem. 17, to the outer side of
the diaphragm, 19, and by its pressure makes it hold the valve, 16, to its seat. To
open the valve the piston, 21, is drawn outwards which reduces the pressure on the
diaphragm, 19, and then the water forces open the valve, 16, and passes by the outlet, 24,
and pipe, 10, to the watercloset. At the same time water also passes through the
tubular stem. 17, and in a certain time depending on the size of the passage fills
the chamber in the cover, 12, and acting on the diaphragm, 19, causes it to close the
valve, 16, again whether the piston, 21, has been pushed in again or not. When the
piston, 21, is pushed back a portion of the water between it and the diaphragm, 19,
has to return into the inlet pipe, 14 and to facilitate its return a check valve, 25, is
fitted to the inner end of the tubular valve stem, 17. This valve, 25, is closed by the
action of a helical spring arranged within the tubular valve stem, 17, to act on a
perforated disk, fixed on the end of a spindle formed on the valve. The sinall hole, 23,
hereinbefore mentioned as for the passage of the water to the outer side of the
diaphragm, 19, is made through the check valve, 25. To prevent the flexible
diaphragm, 19, being overstrained when the valve is opened an annular metal guard, 26,
is fixed along with it in the joint between the box, 12, and its cover, 20. The
valve spindle, 22, is by preference made with a screw thread of quick pitch and the
opening of the valve is effected by turning it by means of a weighted handle or
lever, 27, fixed on the spindle, the lever, 27, having a cord or wire, 28, attached to its
outer end.
When a second flush or after service is desired for the watercloset two valves are
combined as shown in the drawings the one being placed oppositely to the other and
the two are worked by means of one lever, 27, so that the reversal of the movement
which closes one opens the other. My improved water-supply valves are applicable
to various kinds of waterclosets and also to urinals; and when the water is supplied
without a cistern by a service pipe directly from the main the valve or pair of valves
may be conveniently arranged below the watercloset seat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Making the basin of a
wash down watercloset of the improved form herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. Combining an after-service compartment, (11) with the improved form of "wash-
down" basin as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved construction of water-supply valve, the distinguishing feature
thereof being the application of a piston in the cover of the valve box arranged to
open the valve by diminishing the pressure on the outer side of the diaphragm
substantially as hereinbefore described.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.