US651049A - Water-closet. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 65I,049. Patented June 5, I900. S. W. LEWIS.

WATER CLOSET.

(Application filed Apr. 3, 1899.)

(N0 Mode l.) 3 Sheets-Sheet k 2'4 it} I INVENT Fg No. 65!,049. Patented June 5, I900.

S. W. LEWIS.

WATER CLOSET.

(Application filed Apr. 3 1699.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

age

Fig.2-

WITNESSES VENTDR (No Model.)

s. w) LEWIS. WATER CLOSET.

(Application filed Apr. 3, 1899.)

Patented June 5, I900.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNEESEEI iAQYM/ l.

INVENTEIR NITED STATES- PATENT .FFICE.

SAMUEL \VALKER LEWIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE E. GILCIIRIST, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

.WATER-CLOSETL SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 651,049, dated June 5, 1 900.

Application filed April 3, 1899. Serial No. 711,513. (No model.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WALKER LEWIS, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Closets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying V drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to the class of waterclosets operated by direct-supply valves located at or near the closet, and,sometimes termed or known as the fiushometer system; and'it comprises means whereby the valve of such a system is adapted to be operated by the seat of the closet either to provide automatically an afterflow, a forewash, or both. I

I will now describe the invention at length in connection with the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a closet having the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the same, a portion of the casings or covers of apart of the operative mechanism being shown in vertical section. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the devices providing the forewash. Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation, reduced in size, of the complete closet, also showing the full or complete casings or covers represented in section in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail view in plan showing a means for adjusting the valvelever, reference to which is hereinafter made.

In practicing the invention any form of bowl may be used and any type of directsupply or slow-closing valve of the flushometer character. The seat may also be made movable in any desired way.

In the drawings, A represents the bowl of the'closet, and B the movable seatthereof, the two positions of which are shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1. i

O is the valve-casing of a flushing-valve such, for instance, as that described in the patent to Kenney, No. 613,802, dated November S, 1898, and known as the Kenney flushonieter.

Heretofore flushing-valves of the fiushometer type have been operated independently of the seat and by means of a lever or handle which is moved by hand, and. such lover or handle has been pivoted to a projection extending forward from the water-supply. pipe in which the valve is and -connected with the valve by a rearward rock-lever extension. This arrangement of the valveoperating means is not calculated to afford a desirable connection with a movable seat, and as a part of my invention, although not an essential part, I have arranged the lever operating the valve so that instead of moving upon an are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cover and bowl it moves upon an are at right angles to said axis and preferablybehind the supply-valve. .The lever when so arranged provides opportunity for a desirable connection with the seat.

D represents the lever. (See Fig. 3.) It is extension 01 an arm 01, (see Fig. 3,) which is connected with the valve-spindle d of the valve 0. If the closet has an afterflow only,

' thelever extends in but one direction from its pivotal point, and this extension is lettered d If the closet has a forewash also, the lever extends in the opposite direction from its pivot, and this extension is lettered cl. The devices connecting the lever with the seat for both the afterwash and the forewash are substantially the same in principle, with this exception, that one is practically a reversal of the other. These devices will shortly be described at length.

The seat- B is represented as pivoted to a support I) at I), (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and it may go be turned back upon said support to be entirely independent of the means which connect it with the valve-lever-operating devices. There is also pivoted upon the support I) a lever E, which has a short arm 6 extending 5 under the seat and one or more long arms 6 6 (see Fig. 2) extending backward and bearing at their rear ends overbalancing-weights 6 which serve to lift the seat through the lever to the position represented by dotted outline in Fig. 1 and to hold it in such position. Whether the lever has one or two arms de pends upon whether the closet has an afterfiow and a forewash. I have shown it as hav ing both. The afterflow-lever e is represented as combinable with the arm d of the valve-lever D, and the forewash-lever c is shown as combinable with the arm (1" of the said valve-lever by the automatic engaging and disengaging devices, which are alike in principle and each of which involves the automatic engagement of the lever by a means connected with the seat and moved by it and also the automatic disengagement of the means from the lever, whereby the lever is free from restraint and the valve permitted to automatically close in its customary way. I will first describe the connection between the afterflow-lever e and the valve-lever arm 61 This connection is represented in side elevation in Fig. l, in front elevation in Fi 3, and in plan in Fig. 2. It comprises atripping lever or slide, the principal movement of which is vertical, but which also has in addition automatic horizontal or lateral movements by which it engages and disengages the valve-lever arm (1 Its vertical'movements are imparted to it by the closet-seat and the afterwash-arm with which it is connected,preferably adjustably atits lower end. This tripping lever or slide is lettered F. It is represented as having in its lower end a line of pin-holes f, through one of which a pin f, passing through one of the horizontal lines of pin-holes e in the bifurcated ends of the arm 2, extends. The tripping lever or slide is held and guided by stationary guides f (See Fig.1.) Theseguidesareattached to the wall or any stationary support, and their recesses are of a width and length to permit the necessary vertical and horizontal movements of the trippinglever or slide. The tripping lever or slide also has in its forward edge f a recess f which is slightly wider than the width of the valve-lever arm (1 and it further has an overbalancing-weight f, by means of which it constantly-tends to move forward toward the valve-lever arm and toward the outer ends of the guides f f The front edge of the trippinglever or slide is thus held against the valvelever arm throughout its vertical movement.

To understand the operation of the lever and valve, it must be borne in mind that the valve self closes when the leverD is released from restraint. Itmustalso be borne in mind that an after-flow is occasioned by the upward movement of the closet-seat. Normally or when the closet is not in use the seat and tripping lever or slide bear the relation to each other and to the valve-lever arm d represented by dotted lines in Fig. 1. There is then no engagement between the valve-lever and the seat, the engaging recess or notch f of the trip-lever being considerably below the horizontal position of the valve-lever arm. Upon the downward movement of the closet-seat the tripping lever or slide is moved upward until the recess or notch f closes upon the valve-lever arm d and the parts then occupy the position represented by full lines in Fig. 1 and are then in such engagement that upon the release and upward movement of the closet-seat the supply-valve is caused to be automatically opened and Water permitted to flow to the bowl. This results because the overbalancing-weights e attached to the arm e'or to the arms e 6 if two he used, not only move the seat upward, but also the tripping lever or slide downward, and the downward movement of the lever or slide also moves downward the valve-lever arm d thus causing the valve to be opened. As the seat approaches its highest position the tripping lover or slide is caused by its lateral movement produced by the engagement of its forward edge with the front end of the lower guide and also by the forward draft upon its lower end caused by the movement thereof upon an outward arc to be moved laterally awayf rom the valvelever arm suflicientl y to become entirely disengaged from it when the said arm, being then unrestrained by the tripping or latching lever, will begin to slowly rise and will continue rising until it has reached its normal horizontal position and the valve is closed, while the tripping lever or slide will also retain its lowermost position or the position in which it finally disengages from the said valve-lever arm.

To facilitate the disengagementof the lever from the arm and also for the purpose of regulating the time during which they remain in engagement and therefore the length of the stroke or movement of the valve-lever arm, which results in varying the quantity of water delivered by the valve, I have formed the edge f of the tripping lever or slide below the engaging recess f inclined inwardly from a straight perpendicular edge. This alone, in connection with the forward end of the lower guide, which is, in effect, a fulcrum, tends to assist in the disengagement of the lever from the valve-arm. If, however, the fulcrum be made horizontally adjustable, the time of the disengagement will be varied, and in Fig. 1 I have represented the forward end of the lower guide as having the adjustable fulcrum f which is the end of a screw screwing through the outer end of the guide, the said outer end of the guide having a threaded hole for the reception of the screw and outer end of the screw having means by which it may be turned to adjust its inner end or fulcrum horizontally in the guideway.

I prefer that the valve-lever I) be adjustably secured to its shaft in order that it may be in the first instance properly set with respect to the tripping-lever, and also that its angle may be slightly varied at any subsequent time. A means for accomplishing this is represented in Fig. 6, where the shaft is represented as having fixed to it a member g of an adjusting device, which has laterallyextending teeth g, and the valve-lever is also represented as having secured to it a like member g having teeth 9 which are adapted to interchangeably engage the teethof the member 9. The lever is free to turn upon the end of the shaft, and the engagement with the shaft is by means of the teeth of the two parts g 9 Consequently the lever D may be moved laterally upon the shaft sufficiently to disengage its member from the shaft member and then be turned to any desired position and replaced and engagement with the lever in a new position be effected. The range of the adjustment will vary according to the size and number of the teeth.

I will now describe the connection between the closet-seat and the supply-valve for the purpose of providing the bowl with a forewash. This connection is best represented in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.. The supply-valve is thenjoperated by the downward movement of the seat B. This causes the forewash-arm e to be moved upward, and it is combined with the forewash-arm d of the valve-lever D by the tripping or latch lever or slide H, which, as I have already intimated, is in principle of operation like the trip-lever F. It differs, however, in shape and in time of operation, and it serves to open the valve by an upward movement and is automatically disengaged from the forewash-arm of the valve-leverat or before the end of its upward movement. Consequently normally it is in its lowest position, but in engaged relation with the said forewash-arm d Such relation with the said arm is represented by dotted outline in Fig. 4. The relation whichit bears to said arm at the time of its disengagement is represented by the full lines of Fig. 4. The trip-lever H is preferably adj ustably connected with the end of the arm 6 by a pin and pin-holes in the manner in which the afterflow trippinglever is connected with its operating-arm. It has the overbalance h at its upper end, which constantly tends to move it forward and hold its forward edge h in contact with the fulcrum h and the inner side of the forewasharm d of the valve-lever. It is held upright by a single fixed guide 7L2, in which it has lateral and vertical movement and which supports the fulcrum h, preferably adjustable, as is the fulcrum of the afterliow-lever above described. The outer edge h of the trippinglever is outwardly curved or inclined from the shoulder or latch 7L3 to the point if and the latch-lever has sufficient movement to bring the shoulder or latch 71. below and under the arm (2" when in its lowest position and the seat is in its highest position. Upon the downward movement of the seat the latch-lever-is moved upward, moving with it the forewash-arm d of the valve-lever, and thereby causing the valve to be opened. \Vhen, however, the closet-seat is approaching its lowest position, the upper end of the said tripping-lever is moved inwardly laterally by the combined operation of its incline and the fulcrum h and of thebackward draft upon its lower end sufficiently to withdraw, the shoulder or latch h from beneath the arm (1 thereby relieving the valve-lever from restraint and permitting the valve to immedi-v ately begin its closing movement. The tripping-lever occupies this highest position released from the valve-arm until the closetseat isreleased and permitted to move upward, when the tripping-lever'is moved downward and automatic engagement with the valve-arm again effected, in readiness for the next operation or use of the closet. The foreflow and afterflow mechanisms may be used together or separate, and when used together the operation of one will not prejudice or affect the operation of the other, as they operate at two different periods, and while it is true that the afterflow-arm d of the valvelever is moved downward during the opening of the supply-valve for the foreflow it is not by such act brought into operative relation with its tripping-lever F, which then occupies its lowest and disengaged relation with respect to said arm, and likewise uponthe downward movement of the arm 01 in the at terwash the forewash-arm d is disengaged from its tripping-lever H, but is returned to.

operative engagement therewith upon the release of the afterwash-arm d and the closing of the supply-valve. r

I prefer that the two tripping-levers and their guides, adjusting devices, and arm ends be inclosed in coverings or casings, and I have so represented them in Figs. 2, 3, 4E, and 5 of the drawings, said casings being lettered, re

spectively, K K. They are of a size to receive andhold the said levers, and they are provided with slots through which the ends of the valve-lever arms and of the arms 6' 6 may extend into the cavities or chambers which they form. They serve not only to provide an ornamental covering to these parts,

but they also prevent tampering withthem. and protect the clothing of the user of the closet from contact therewith and also enable a cheaper, because less finished, construction to be used than if exposed. I

Where the fore and after flows are both used, I prefer that the arms e e be constructed so that there shall be an unobstructed opening between them, whereby they may be located'on each side of the supply-valve after the supply-pipes and flushing-valves have been installed.

I do not, of course, confine myself to the specific form of tripping or latching lever, slide, or connection herein described, but

may use in lieu thereof any mechanical equiv-;-

alent. Neither do I limit myself to the type of flushometer-valve referred to, as any similar valve having a self-closing valve may be used. Neither do I confine myself to the form of closet or to the kind of moving seat shown. v

The flushing-valve audits actuating devices are represented in the drawings as 10-, cated in frontof the room-wall but of course IIO they may be located upon the back or rear side of it as well, in which case the wall would have the necessary holes or slots for the passage of the levers and pipe.

A cushion or butter L,-located so as to cushion or check the downward movement of the lever E to prevent jar and stress of the parts, may be used, and such a buffer is represented in Fig. 1.

I would say that the under side of the notch or recess f 5 in the tripping-lever F is inclined in order that the arm 61 of the valve-lever may pass the opening to said notch or recess in the tripping-lever as it is moved downward during the forewash and while the arm 01 of the lever is being pushed up, it being understood that during this upward movement of the forewash-arm d the forewash-arm d is moving downward and at the same time the tripping-lever F is being moved upward.

I have shown the overbalancing-weight as located at the upper end of the tripping-levers. I would say, however, that I do not confine myself to this location, as they may be at the lower end or in any other position to accomplish their purpose. I would further say that any equivalent for such overbalanclug-weight, such as springs, may be used.

It should be understood that this invention is an improvement upon that class of waterclosets or similar receptacles which employ as a portion of the apparatus an automatic slow-closing valve in the direct water-supply pipe located adjacent to the closet and which entirely does away with the use of a tank, a submerged valve in or attached to the tank, and devices connecting the closet with the valve in or at the tank.

It should further be understood that this invention is an improvement in that it provides means whereby the valve is automatically operated by the user of thecloset to provide both a forewash and an afterwash, and in also that the movable seat of the closet is connected with said automatic slow-closing valve by simple and direct-acting connections so organized and arranged in relation to the seat of the closet and to the bowl of the closet that they do not project in front of the back portion of the seat or materially below the top of the bowl, and therefore do not in any way prevent all portions of the seat and outer surfaces of the bowl from being at all times seen and reached for the purposes of cleanliness, and that therefore the invention complies with the best sanitaryconditions as now practiced.

the wall to any greater extent than it is ordinarily set.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a water-closet of the character speci' fied the combination of the closet-bowl, a pipe leading from the source of water-supply to the bowl and opening into the bowl, an automatic slow-closing valve located in said pipe adjacent to the bowl and forming the sole meansfor governing the supply of water fed to the closet, a valve-lever for opening said valve arranged to extend from said pipe and upon each side of its fulcrum to provide two operative sections, a movable seat adapted to be moved by the weight of the user of the closet, intermediate connections between said seat and said valve-lever comprising a lever adapted to be automatically moved vertically in one direction by the seat and in the opposite direction by a weight, and having two branches 'or arms extending backward horizontally from the seat, vertical trippingslides attached to the said arms of the lever to be vertically moved thereby, one of which tri pping-sl'ides-isadapted upon the downward movement of the movable seat to move said valve-lever by coming in contact with one section thereof to move it in one direction and to then become disengaged therefrom, whereby a preliminary how or wash of water is obtained and the valve then permitted to slowly close, and also adapted upon the upward movement of the seat to be moved to an engaging relation with said lever, and the other of which tripping-slides is adapted upon the downward movement of the said seat to be moved to a position to engage the other section of said lever and upon the upward movement of said seatis operated 'to move said lever to open the valve-and to then become disengaged therefrom, whereby the valve is permitted to slowly close and an after flow or wash of water to the bowl is obtained, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination in a water-closet of a movable seat hinged at its rear end to a support, a lever behind the seat extending backward from the seat and movable in one direction thereby, weights applied to the lever to move it and the seat in a reverse direction, a water-supply passage connected with the closet, a self-closing valvein said supply-passage, an arm connected with the valve, movable in one direction to open the valve, a device connecting the inner end of the seatlever and said valve-arm, comprising a lever pivotally attached to the seat-lever, to be movable vertically thereby, and also to permit it to be swung laterally as it is moved, the said lever having a shoulder to engage the valve-arm and means for moving said lever laterally during its vertical movement, whereby it may be engaged with said valvearm at one end of its stroke, serves to communicate the movement of the seat-lever thereto during-a stroke and is automatically disengaged from the said valve-arm at the end of its operative stroke.

3. The combination in a water-closet of a movable seat hinged at its rear end to a support, a lever behind the seat extending backward from the seat and movable in one direction thereby, a weight applied to the lever to move it and the seat in a reverse direction, a

water supply passage connected with the closet, a self-closing valve in said supplypassage, an arm connected with the valve movable in one direction to open the valve and devices connecting the inner end of the seat-lever and the said valve-arm comprising a lever pivotally attached to the seat-lever to be movable vertically thereby and also to be permitted to be swung laterally as it is moved, the said lever having a shoulder to engage the valve-arm, means for varying the relation of thepivot connecting said levers with respect to the ends of said levers, means for moving said shouldered lever laterally during its vertical movement whereby it may be engaged with the valve-arm at one end of its stroke, serves to communicate the movement of the seat-lever thereto during the stroke and is automatically disengaged from said valve-arm at the end of its stroke and devices between its pivotal end and said shoulder comprising an inclined surface upon one edge of the lever and a bearing-surface against which said inclined surface is adapted to ride, which bearing-surface is horizontally adjustable and whereby the length of the time of the engagement between the said should era-nd the said valve-arm is made variable, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination in a water-closet of a seat hinged at its rear end to a support, a lever extending backward from said seat and movable in one direction thereby, means for moving said lever and seat in a reverse direction, a water -.supply passage connected with the closet, a self-closing valve in said supply-passage, a valve-arm connected with said valve, movable in one direction to open the same, a lever pivotally attached to the seat-lever and whereby it may be also swung laterally, having a shoulder to engage the valve-arm, means for guiding said lever and moving it laterally, comprising slotted supports in which the lever is movable, a stationary surface and a gniding-surface on the lever to ride thereon and an overbalancingweight to act upon the lever to move it laterally and to maintain its guiding-surface in contact with the guide.

5. In awater-closet of the character specified the combination of the closet-bowl,a pipe leading from the source of water-su ppl y to the bowl and opening into the bowl,'a movable seat adapted to be moved by the weight of the user of the closet, an automatic slow-closing valve located in said pipe adjacent to the bowl forming the sole means for governing the water-supply fed to the closet and adapted to be operated upon the downward move ment of the seat to provide a forewash and upon the upward movement thereof to pro vide an after-Wash, a lever for opening said valve arranged to extend from said pipe having two operating-arms, intermediate connections between said seat and said valve-lever arms comprising a lever adapted to be automatically moved in one direction by the seat and in the opposite direction by aweight extending backward horizontally from the seat and two vertical tripping-slides attached to the lever to be vertically movable thereby, the first of which is connected with one arm of the valve-lever to move the same to open the valve upon the downward movement of the seat and to be then disengaged therefrom, and the second of which is connected with the other arm of said valve-lever to movethe same to open the valve upon the release of the weighted lever by the upward movement of the said seat and to be then automatically disengaged therefrom,the said tripping-slides and arms of the valve-lever being so organized that the arm of the valve-lever may be moved away from the engaging part of its tripping-slide after the said part has been moved into operative relation therewith, and by the oppositely-acting tripping-slide, and may be returned in closing automatically to said engaging position, as and for the purposes set forth.

SAML. WALKER LEWIS.

In presence of- F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, K. T. BUTLER.

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