US1006138A - Automatic cistern cut-off. - Google Patents

Description

E. S. SHELBY.

AUTOMATIC GISTERN GUT-OFF.

APPLICATION FILED 11.13, 1911.

1,006, 1 38. Patented 001. 17, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON. [L c.

E. S. SHELBY.

AUTOMATIC GISTERN GUT-OFF.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.13, 1911.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

2 8HBETS-8HEET 2.

cu. \VASHIN coLum EVAN S. SHELBY, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC CISTERN CUT-OFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 13, 1911.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

Serial No. 602,519.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVAN S. SHELBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Fayette, in the county of Tippecanoe, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Cistern Cut-Ofis, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to cistern cut-offs, and has for its object to provide an improved automatic cutoff in that class of cistern pipes in which the down-spout from the roof has connections both to the cistern and to a sewer or other means for discharging waste.

Briefly stated, my invention comprises a casing receiving the lower end of the downspout, and provided with two discharge pipes, one going to the waste and the other to the cistern. A bucket or other receiver is hung in or just below the end of the downspout, and is connected by a chain or cord passing over pulleys to the operating lever of a valve lying below it, and serving to direct the water from the down-spout into either the waste pipe or the cistern pipe, according to the position and condition of the bucket.

Detail features of improvement will appear from the description hereinafter.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of one embodiment of my invention, showing the operating parts in position to discharge into the waste pipe. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified arrangement of the valve. Fig. 4; is a plan view of this modification, the lid being removed. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a further modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 designates a casing of suitable material, preferably sheet metal, having an opening in its top to receive the down-spout 2, a similar opening in its bottom flanged at 3 to fit the cistern pipe, and a lateral opening at 4 to receive the waste pipe. The bottom of the casing is sloped at 5 so as to drain into the cistern pipe. A flat valve 6 is hinged at 7, below the waste pipe, so as to open and close the same as it is swung upon its pivot. Secured upon one wall of the down-spout extension "2 are brackets '8 and 9 for the pulleys 10 and 11, over which passes a cord or chain 12 secured at its upper end to the bucket 13 and at its lower end to the lever 14 extending out from the back of the valve 6 and carrying a counterweight 15. It should be noted that when the bucket is in the position shown in dotted lines and the valve 6 is closed, the upper edge of the latter is protected by a hood or inclined flange 6*, so as to prevent accidental lodgment of material washed down from the roof, and also prevent the water passing to the cistern from penetrating between the valve and its seat so as to open it prematurely. The bucket 13 is covered with gauze 16 and has a small opening 17 in its bottom protected by gauze hood 18. The bucket is made of a diameter considerably less than that of the down-spout so as to leave a substantial clearance all around. The operation of this form of the apparatus is as follows: Normally the parts stand as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the bucket being empty, and the weight of the valve and the counterweight 15 being sufiicient to draw the bucket up into the end of the down-spout, and open the waste pipe. When a shower commences, the first wash from the roof is usually rather light, and in passing through the down-spout, the water follows and clings to its walls. Very little of this first wash therefore will enter the bucket 13, practically all of it passing down between the bucket and the walls of the down-spout, carrying with it soot, leaves, and other foreign matters accumulated on the roof, which pass over the valve 6 and into the waste pipe. As the rainfall increases in volume however, more and more of the discharge passes into the bucket 13 until its Weight is suflicient to raise the counterweight 15 and the valve 6, when the parts assume the position shown in dotted lines, with the waste pipe closed, and the cistern pipe unobstructed to receive the clear water. As long as the shower continues and sufficient-water passes down the spout 2, the bucket will remain full, since it hangs in the direct path of the discharge, and its discharge pipe opening is relatively very small. When the rainfall finally ceases however, the bucket will slowly empty itself and again rise to the position shown in Fig. 1.

7 Figs. 3 and 4: show the same form of bucket, down-spout and pulleys as Figs. 1 and 2, but the arrangement of the valve and discharge pipes is difierent. In this case the valve 6' is centrally pivoted on a transverse flange 7 extending across the casing intermediate of the two discharge openings, to the cistern and to the waste pipe respectively, both of which are located in the bottom of the casing. Extending inward from the side walls of the casing are two inclined bafiies or chutes l8 and 19, either of which will direct the discharge over the valve when the latter is swung on its pivot to that side. Thus, with the parts in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the first wash from the roof passes down around the bucket and strikes in part on the baffle 18 and in part on the upper inclined face of the valve 6, being deflected thereby through the opening 19 into the waste pipe 1; and when the wash has increased in volume so as to load the bucket sufliciently, the valve is thrown over v through the opening 20 to the cistern pipe 3.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to use a suspended bucket to operate a valve so as to direct the wash from the roof into either a waste pipe or a cistern.

I shall not claim this feature broadly therefore.

So far as I know however such devices as have heretofore been brought out are not satisfactory for the reason that none valve will be kept in operative position to fill the cistern as long as the rainfall continues, the limit being when the fall is so light that the discharge through the opening 17 of the bucket is not compensated for, and

no dirty water passes into the cistern either directly or from the bucket. It will be noted moreover that the arrangement of my casing and valve in both forms and particularly in the form shown in Figs. 3 an t is such that accidental clogging by accumulation of waste matter such as leaves is rendered almost impossible. The only obstruction in the way of clear water discharge is the lever or handle 14 and there is no obstruction whatever in the path of the first wash as it passes to the waste pipe. Moreover, the lever 14; is made of very small diameter, and may be carried to one side of the valve instead of the middle, and if desired may be formed in U-shape like a bail, with its ends attached to opposite sides of the valve, and its legs lying close to the side walls of the l casing. The cord 12 would then be attached to the arch of the U and the discharge would pass between its legs.

I am aware that divers and sundry changes may be made in non-essential details of the apparatus thus described, without departing from the spirit of my invention. I wish it understood that I contemplate all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the appended claims. For example, Fig. 5 shows the bucket constructed and arranged so as to perform the functions of the valve, being pivoted at 6 and having one side 6 continued as a fiat chute or baffle plate extended substantially from one side of the casing l to the other. Normally the drip from the downspout 2 passes around the bucket and into the waste pipe 4, but when sufficient water has entered the bucket, it turns upon the pivot 6 lifting the coun-. terweight 6' and assuming the position shown in dotted lines, whereupon the discharge from spout 2 passes over the outside of the baffle 6 and is directed into the cistern pipe 3.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a casing, a down-spout entering the upper portion thereof, a bucket of smaller diameter than the down-spout hung centrally and directly beneath the same without intervening obstruction, a waste pipe and a cistern pipe separately connected to the casing, a valve movably secured within the casing in the path of the flow from the down-spout after it passes the bucket, and a working connection between the bucket and valve adapted to shift the latter so as to drain the water into the waste pipe when the bucket is empty and into the cistern pipe when the bucket is filled, whereby a first limited wash, flowing along the walls of the down-spout will not fill the bucket, but passing the same 11 will be deflected into the discharge pipe, while a fuller flow, by filling the bucket will shift the valve to automatically deflect itself into the cistern.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing, a downspout entering the upper portion thereof, a bucket suspended so as to reciprocate vertically in the axis of the spout and normally lying partly within the v same, but with a clearance space around it, a cistern pipe and a waste pipe connected to the lower portion of the casing, a valve adapted to drain the water alternately into the cistern and the waste pipe, and an operating connection between the bucket and the valve adapted to move the valve so as to close the waste pipe when the bucket is filled, and the reverse when the bucket isempty, substantially as described. a

3. In a device of the class described, 21.13.)

casing, a down-spout entering the upper portion thereof, a bucket having a diameter less than that of the down-spout and sus pended so as to reciprocate vertically in the axis thereof, said bucket normally lying partially within the spout, a cistern pipe and a waste pipe connected to the lower portion of the casing, a valve adapted to drain the Water into said pipes alternately and an operating connection from the bucket to the valve adapted to drain into the waste pipe While the bucket hangs empty within the down-spout, and during the first Wash therethrough, but to deflect the water from the waste pipe to the cistern pipe when the bucket becomes filled and thereby drawn by gravity out of the spout, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a casing, a down-spout entering the upper portion thereof, a bucket suspended coaxially therewith, a sheave within the spout, a cistern pipe, a waste pipe, a valve adapted to drain the Water alternately into the cistern and the waste pipe, and a flexible suspending device extending from the bucket over said sheave and having its end connected to the valve so as to operate the same by gravity when the bucket fills, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EVAN S. SHELBY. Witnesses i L. H. POTZLER, JAMES H. MARE.-

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). 0.

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