US2130954A - Water closet for boats - Google Patents

Description

WATER CLOSET FOR BOATS Filed March 26, 1937 M MI/afm@ @Hy/MA ,S

Patented Sept. 20, 1938 STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,130,954 WATER CLOSET FOR BOATS Edward Hoer-ichs, Baltimore, Md. Application March 26, 1937, Serial No. 133,236

3.0laims. Q.'Zl'he present invention relates to water closets, anjdfmoreespeciallyito those adapted for use on boats; andthe primaryy object is to provide a lwatencloset which may be mounted with the lower endof `the bowl or yhopper at or immediately belowthe water-'line of the boat but which shall effectively ejeCtQits contents automatically and avoid splashing of water upwardly into the bowl 'without'- requiring the use of valves, pumps or other-*objectionable parts. i

@Amore particular object of the invention is to providemeans below the bottom of the hull of theboat to receive refuse from the bowl and I operative, 'bythe action of the water due to the forward motion of the boat, to effectively Withdraw and vdischarge such refuse, said means also serving to prevent splashing ofwater upwardly into the-bowl due to pitching or rolling of the boat, either while in motion or anchored, said Cil meansbeing self-cleaning while the boat is anchored orv not in motion. "'iAnother object is to provide means, operative automatically in consequence of the forward mofon'of the boat (in the water, toforce water upwardlyjand discharge it into the upper portion of the bowl yfor flushing it.` fAffurthe'r object of the invention is to provide a -`vnovel and improved mounting forthe bowl which V'is adjustable to enable the bowl to be mounted at different heights above the bottom of the' hull of the boat so that the lowerend or dislcharge. outlet 4of the bowl may occupy a predetermined orV desired height with respect to the waterfline and to compensate for diierent angles of transverse and longitudinal inclinations of the bottom of the hull 'of the boat in order that the bowlmay occupy an upright or level position when installed in dierent boats. `To' these andyother ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all' as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out more' particularly in the claims at theend ofrthis specification. v

`Intheaccompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalr section through a boat having installed therein av water closet inaccordance with the presentinvention; Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2*-V2i'n Fig. 1;

'Figure' 3is a top`plan view vof theimproved standormounting for the closet bowl;

-lif'g'urie 4 is a side elevation of the mounting or stand showing the manner of mounting it on the laterally sloping side of the bottom of the hull of aboat;

l Figure 5 iis a perspective view of the mounting of end with its members in adjusted relation substantially 'as shown in 4; y"Figure '6' is a detailtop p lan view of the scoop for receiving and forcing water into the upper portion of the bowl for flushing it; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the upper member of the stand adjusted to a higher position.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several figures.

Water closets according to the present invention are adapted to be applied to boats of various sizes and types, and the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter described in detail. It is to be understood however that the invention is not restricted to the particular construction shown since equivalent constructions are contemplated and such will be included within the scope of the claims.

As shown in the drawing, I represents a portion of the bottom of the hull of a boat, the hull bottom sloping longitudinally or in a fore and aft direction as shown for example in Fig, 1 and also sloping laterally or in a direction from the keel to the side of the hull, although it will be understood that the closet is applicable also to boats the bottom of the hull of which is flat or level, either longitudinally or transversely or in both of such directions. 2 represents the closet bowl which may be of any usual or well known construction, it having an annular channel 3 at its top or rim and apertures 4 leading therefrom to the sides of the bowl for flushing it, the lower or discharge end 5 of the bowl being surrounded by an outwardly extending flange 6 which is preferably located above the lower extremity of the bowl.

The closet bowl is mounted on a stand which, according to the present invention, is universally adjustable to compensate for the slope of the hull bottom in a fore and aft direction and a slope of the hull bottom in a direction from the keel to the side of the boat, and is also adjustable so that it may support the bowl at different heights above the water-line of the boat in order that the lower or discharge end of the bowl may occupy the proper height with respect to the water-line. The stand as shown in the present instance comprises upper and lower plates 1 and 8 which may be composed of metal castings, these plates having openings 9 and I0 formed centrally therein and having pairs of segments l I and l2 cast thereon or otherwise xed thereto at opposite sides of the central openings in the respective plates, the pair of segments on one plate being closer together than the pair of segments on the other plate so that they may fit between them. Each of the segments Il on the plate l is provided with a series of holes I3 which are preferably spaced equi-distantly, one of these holes being concentric with the arcuate periphery of the respective segment, and each of the segments l2 on the plate Vll is provided with a series of holes I4,

these holes being also equi-distantly spaced and one of these holes being concentric with the arcuate periphery of the respective segment. Bolts I5 extend through the holes in the respective segments Il which are concentric withA the arcuate peripheries of thesesegment's andv througlh"`holes in the segments I2 and serveto clamp-together the pairs of segments on the plates 1 and 8. Loclf I8 are also inserted in appropriate holes ing bolts in the segments I2, these bolts havingwashersull which overlap the arcuate peripheries of the respective segments I I and serve as-meansrfonrmly v clamping the segments Il .and I2 together after they have been adjusted 'into theappr'opriate angular relationship.

The lower plate 8 of the stand is adapted to mounted' on'the., bottom I ofthe hullv and to be clamped in water-tight 'engagement therewith by bolts I8 or other suitable/means. A ferruleor pipe 28, composed oflead or other Vsuitable ductile material andof a size to t over the discharge end of the bowl below the'flange 6 thereon is 'extended through the' openingsv 9 and I8 in theplates 1 and 8 and through an opening 2i of appropriate size' formed in the bottom" I of the hull.' Thelowe'r endof this ferrule is' peened or. otherwise flanged outwardlyag'ainst the Vunderside of the hull bottom I and maybe secured in water-tight engagement therewith by nails' 22. The upper' end of the 'ferrule is 'peened or otherwise ,flanged outwardly and is secured, as by'nails 23 to thefupper side of a board 24 of wood or other suitable vmaterial which is placed on'the upper side ofthe plate 1, the board 24 having a central 'opening therein of suicient size forjthe passage ofthe ferrule. The bowl is rmlysecured on the stand by bolts 25'which extend throughthe flange 6, plate'l and board 24,these bolts, when tightened, firmly securing the bowl on the top of `the stand and clamping the outturned flange on the ferrule and thus lforming a'water-tight joint'between' the bowl and the ferrule. i Y The present invention provides means for automatically 'withdrawing refuse from the bowl while the boat is in/motion, such means compris-7 ing a shoe 26'which may be composed of a casting the `forward 'end of ,which is preferably curved and is provided with an aperture 21 and the rear end of which is open, as at 28 for the discharge of the refuse. "The shoe is provided'at'its upper edge, at the frontl and sides thereof, with anoutturned ange 29 adapted to tagainst the underf side of the hull bottom and to be secured'in wat'er tight engagement therewith by screws 38'or other suitable securing means. n' The interior" ofthe shoe communicateswith the' lower endv ofthe ferrule 20'. Y The present invention 'also provides means for receiving water from the exterior of' the boat while the latter is in motion and for forcing the water upwardly intothe flushing channel 2in the upper portion of the bowl,"such means l*comprising a scoop 3l, which may jbe composed of hollow casting havingv a surrounding lflange 32 adapted to iit'againstl the Vunderside of.' thehull t bottom and'to be secured in water-tight engage-I ment therewith by 'screws 33 'or other'suitable means. The forward side of the vscoop or theside thereof which faces the bow of the boat is pro; vided with a suitable'lnumber of slots', 34 to admit water thereto incident'to the forwardmotion of the boat, and the rear'portion'of ther scoop, is formed at the top `withja plate 35 into ,whi'cha pipe 38 is threaded,`lthi s pipe being yconnected'at its upper end Yto the .lrlushing `"channel 3 inthe `with the incline or inclines of the hull bottom,

and the upper plate 1 set in a level position, the

ybolts I5`Ic`onecting the segments II and I2 permitting such-relative angular adjustment of the platesand the lbolts. I1 locking the plates in angularly "adjusted relationship. The bowl is preferablymounted at such as height with respect to the water-line :I3-fx ofthe boat as to cause water fromv theexteriorof the `boat/to normally 'ri'sein 'the lower end 'ofthe bowl'to a height slightlyiabove'the flange 6 thereof as shown in Figlfl,v themounting of the bowl at the desired height being "accomplished by placing the bolts f I 5 and' `I1` in `Ithe"apprc'npriate vrvertically spaced holes I4 "inthe segments I2, tightening of these bolts Nfirmly 'securing'the Vplates 1 and 8 in adjusted'relationship; In installing the'closet in ak boatvthe bottom of the'hull of which slopes 'upwardly from'the rkeel to theV side of the boat, the 'stand' maybe mounted on the hull bottom inthe'manner shown' in Fig. 4, the segments Il and I2v being ylocated at the front and rear sides vof the ferrule 20V andthe plates 1 and 8 being properly' adjusted'angularly about the bolts I 5 as pivotalcenters so' thatv the plate 8 may occupy inclined'position'corresponding tothe latv eral slope ofthe hull bottom and theupper plate the'slope Of'the hull bottom in both 0f said drections may be compensated for by rotating the stand"`more .or less about its vertical axis Vfrom the'l positionshown in Fig. 4 into the position shownjlfor example in Fig. 5 while the lower plate 8 vrests on kthe boat bottom, and rocking the `ulfniierl p late'1 'about thepivot bolts I5 untiljitassumes aflevel position, after which the plate 1' isrmly secured in such position by tightening ofjthe'bolts I5 and I1. In'installing the bowlunderanyof "these conditions. the ferrule 2 8"is insertedafter'the upper and lower plates of the 'stand haveibeenadjusted with respect to the height of the bowl above the hull bottom and thefslope' or slopesv of the hull bottom, rthe ductilegrnaterial of which ferrul'e is composed, as for eXarnpleof lead, enabling it to be shaped atjits upperend to'conforni with the level position'of' the bowl and at lits lower end to conform with the slope or slopes of the' hullr bottom,

segments H which are adjacent to the 'lower Y edgesthereof and in the upperholes I4 inthe segments I2, and bolts Iiia are placed in appropriate holes' |3`in the segmentsv 'II immediately" above the'upper curved edges of thefsegments ,1.2, these bolts having peripherally toothed or serrated washers I6b thereon which are eccentric to the respective bolts I6a and are adapted to grip or mesh with the correspondingly toothed r serrated curved edges I2a on the segments I2. In using this arrangement, the upper and lower plates 'I and 8, after being adjusted to the desired height and set in the proper angular relation to bring the upper plate I level and compensate for slope of the bottom of the hull in a fore and aft and/or a lateral direction, are securely locked by rotating the eccentric washers in opposite directions on the respective bolts I6a until these washers engage the respective serrated edges of the segments I2, the longest radii of the eccentric washers then extending divergently toward opposite sides of the axes of the bolts |63, and then tightening the bolts II'Sa and the bolts I5, the divergent setting of the eccentric washers causing them to lock against the segments I2 and to rmly prevent rocking of the upper plate 'I in either direction relatively to the lower plate 8. The stand as thus adjusted, may be otherwise installed and used in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

In operation, water from the exterior of the boat will normally rise into the lower end of the bowl to the level of the water-line st a, or substantially so. Any refuse that may be contained in the lower end of the bowl or in the ferrule, while the boat is at anchor or not in motion, will be withdrawn and washed out of the discharge end 28 of the shoe 2E by water entering the shoe through the aperture 21 incident to the tide or current of water beneath the hull. When the boat is in motion in a forward direction, water will enter the slots 34 in the scoop 3| and will be forced by the pressure of the water, incident to the forward motion of the boat, upwardly through the pipe 35 into the channel 3 surrounding the upper end of the bowl and such water will discharge through the openings 4 into the bowl, thereby flushing or washing it. At the same time, the movement of the shoe 26 through the water will produce a partial vacuum at its rear discharge opening 28 which will act to withdraw water and refuse from the lower end of the bowl and ferrule 29' and to eject the same into the water, and also water will enter the aperture 21 in the forward wall of the shoe thereby producing a current rearwardly in the shoe which will assist in ejecting refuse therefrom. Since the shoe 26 covers the lower or discharge end of the ferrule 20, it will serve to prevent splashing of water upwardly into the bowl incident to pitching of the boat in the water.

The stand provided by the present invention enables the closet bowl to be readily mounted at the desired height with respect to the waterline of the boat so that the proper amount of water may be normally contained in the lower portion of the bowl to provide a seal, and it enables the bowl to be mounted in a level position irrespective of the fore and aft or transverse slope of the bottom of the boat hull, thus obviating the necessity of cutting a special block for mounting the bowl to suit each installation as heretofore required and which is difficult and laborious.

The shoe beneath the bowl discharge will effectually withdraw refuse from the lower portion of the bowl and from the ferrule automatically in consequence of the forward motion of the boat in the water, and at the same time, the scoop will force water from beneath the boat upwardly into the upper portion of the bowl for washing or flushing it. While the boat is anchored or at rest, refuse will be washed automatically from the shoe by the tide or current of the water which will enter the aperture in the front end of the shoe and pass out through the discharge opening in the rear thereof, thereby keeping the shoe clear of refuse. These results are all attained by the present invention without requiring the use of valves, pumps or other accessories which are liable to get out of order and are otherwise objectionable.

I claim as my invention:

1. A Water closet for boats comprising a bowl having means for mounting it in a boat and having a discharge pipe at its lower end extending directly downwardly therefrom to below the water line of the boat, said discharge pipe being open at its lower end beneath the bottom of the boat hull and providing a body of water in the lower portion of the bowl, and a member adapted for attachment to the under side of the bottom of the hull beneath the open end of the bowl discharge pipe and operative to prevent splash of water into said discharge pipe, said member being open at its rear side and operative by the action of the water thereon during the forward motion of the boat, to withdraw refuse from the bowl.

2. A Water closet for boats comprising a bowl having means for mounting it in a boat and having a discharge pipe at its lower end extending directly downwardly therefrom to below the water line of the boat, said discharge pipe being open at its lower end beneath the bottom of the boat hull and providing a body of water in the lower portion of the bowl, and a member adapted for attachment to the under side of the bottom of the hull beneath the lower open end of the bowl discharge pipe and having a wall beneath said open end of the discharge pipe, said member being open at its rear side for the discharge of refuse from the bowl and closed at its opposite side and provided with an aperture located above the level of said wall for admitting and directing a jet of Water over the surface of said wall and toward the open side of said member.

3. A water closet for boats comprising a bowl having means for mounting it in a boat and having a discharge pipe at its lower end extending downwardly therefrom to below the water line of the boat and through the bottom of the boat hull and providing a body of water in the lower portion of the bowl, the bowl having flushing means in its upper portion, a member adapted for attachment to the underside of the bottom of the hull beneath the bowl discharge pipe and operative, by the action of water thereon during forward motion of the boat, to withdraw refuse from the bowl, and means adapted for attachment to the underside of the boat hull and connected to the flushing means in the upper portion of' the bowl and operative, during forward motion of the boat, to force water into the flushing means to flush the bowl.

EDWARD HOERICHS.

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