US1449761A

US1449761A - Porcelain tank and process of making the same

Info

Publication number: US1449761A
Application number: US550211A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles J Kirk; Brain George
Original assignee: UNIVERSAL SANITARY Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: UNIVERSAL SANITARY Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1922-04-06
Filing date: 1922-04-06
Publication date: 1923-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1940-03-27

Description

Mar. 21,1923.

(3-. 'KIRK ,ET AL;

PORCELAIN TANK AND.,1 ROGE'SS"O F MAKING THE SAME Filed Apr. 6, 1922 oRs Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UHTE STATES 1,44aii PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J KIRK AND GEORGE BRAIN, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS T0 UNIVERSAL SANITARY MANUFACTURING 00., OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PORCELAIN TANK AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed April 6,

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, CHARLES J. KIRK and GEORGE BRAIN, citizens of the United States, and residents of New Castle, in the exact descriptionv thereof.

Our invention relates to porcelain tanks and similar articles of generally rectangular form which are cast from liquid clay clip.

One object of our invention is to provide a tank of the character indicated, wherein the corners shall befree from cracks and stronger than the articles produced by ordinary casting methods.

Another object of our invention is to pro vide a process of making cast porcelain tanks in which the time required for setting the porcelain shall be materially reduced, and in which the product shall be materially stronger than ordinary cast porcelain articles, particularly with respect to the construction of its corners.

Porcelain tanks, such as flush tanks, are cast from liquid slip, and must be kept in the molds until the slip has set. The diagonal width of the corners of such tanks is necessarily greater than the width of the side walls, and these thick corner portions of the tank require a longer time for setting than the side walls, because the setting time of the slip is practically proportional to the thickness of its section. In the case of flush tanks for sanitary installations, it is found that the side walls and bottom of the tank will set satisfactorily in approximately three hours, while the corners of the tank require as much as six hours for setting. Since the side walls set quicker than the corners, strains develop between the set and unset portions, producing cracks at the corners which are patched up when the cracks are not large, and which often are sufiicient to break entirel through the corner and spoil the tank. 8n account of this condition of unequal setting the corners of the tank are permanently in a condition of strain, and the corners therefore are the weakest parts of the tank and most subject to breakage.

According to our present invention, we

1922. Serial No. 550,211.

avoid all of the difficulties mentioned above by casting the tank in the ordinary manner, permitting it to rest inthe mold until the side walls have set properly, then piercing a hole through the bottom of the tank below each corner portion, drainingout through these openings the slip which still remains liquid inside the corners, andthen plugging the pierced openings, which leaves all por- The accompanying drawing shows one method of carrying out invention. Fig. 1 is'a perspective view of a finished flush tank; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts in section of one end of the tank;

and Fig. 3 is a plan view of one end of the TF1 tank, with one of the corners shown in section.

The drawing shows a cast porcelain tank having a front wall 2, side walls 3, a rear wall 4, a bottom 5, rounded front corners 6 and rear corners 7 Thistank is cast in the usual manner in a mold which may be of any usual or desired construction. The rear wall 4 rests flat against the wall against which the tank is installed. It will be seen that the rear corner portions 7 of the tank are materially thicker than the wall and bottom portions.

After the tank is cast it is allowed to set for a time suflicient to set the wall portions of the tank, at which time the rear corner portions 7 will have solidified to a depth ap: proximately equal to the thickness of the side walls, and will contain a core of liquid slip which has not yet hardened. Openings 8 are then pierced through the bottom 5 in such positions as to provide outlets for the liquid slip contained in the corners 7 and small vent openings 9 are pierced through to the'liquid core near the top of the tank. The liquid slip is then drained out, leaving vertical. openings 10. The drainage openings 8 are then plugged with clay, putty or any other suitable material, as shown at 11, Fig. 1, and the small vent openings 9 are left open to keep the inner spaces 10 in communication with the outer air, so as to permit the free passage of air with changes in temperature, and to prevent the air within the spaces 10 from expanding when heated and exerting pressure on the porcelain. In the case of a flush tank such as that shown in the drawing, the vent openings 9 are preferably pierced through to the spaces 10 from the rear of the tank so as to be out of sight when the tank is installed.

The porcelain tanks constructed in the manner described above present the same outer appearance as ordinary cast porcelain tanks. They have the advantages that the corners are free from cracks, are free from internal strains, and have a tubular construction which adds to the mechanical strength of the corners.

It is recognized that the method herein described may be varied in some respects without departing from our invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

e claim as our invention:

1. The process of casting porcelain tanks having corners that comprises pouring liquid slip into a suitable mold, permitting the porcelain to set until the side walls of the tank have solidified, piercing one or more of the corners to permit the escape of unsolidified slip and draining off the unsolidified slip.

2. The process of casting porcelain tanks having corners that comprises pouring liquid slip into a suitable mold, permitting the porcelain to set until the walls of the tank have solidified, making an opening through the bottom of the tank adjacent to one or more of its corners, draining off unsolidified slip through the said openings, and plugging the said openings.

3. The process of casting porcelain tanks having corners that comprises pouring liquid slip into a suitable mold, permitting the porcelain to set until the walls of the tank have solidified, making an opening through the bottom of the tank adjacent to one or more of its corners, draining ofi" unsolidified slip through the said openings, plugging the said openings, and forming vent openings to place the chambers left by the said liquid slip in communication with the outer 2111',

4:. A cast porcelain tank having one or more hollow corners.

5. A cast porcelain tank having one or more corner portions of greater thickness than the wall portions of said tank, the said corner portions being hollow and the walls of the said hollow corners being of substantially the same thickness as the side walls of said tank. a

6. A cast porcelain tank having one or more hollow corners and having one or more vent openings for placing the interior of said corners in communication with the outer air.

7. A cast porcelain tank having one or more corners of greater thickness than the side walls of the tank, the said corners being hollow and having walls of substantially the same thickness as the side walls of said tank, the said corners being provided with vent openings for placing the hollow interior of said corners in communication with the outer air.

In testimony whereof,

we the hereunto set our hands.

CHARLES. J. KIRK. GEORGE BRAIY.

said CHARLES J. KIRK and GEORGE BRAIN, have