Specification of Adolphus Videky : separating solid from liquid excreta.

  • Videky, Adolphus.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Adolphus Videky : separating solid from liquid excreta. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Videkys Improvements in Separating Solid from Liquid Excreta. pipe or pipes, leading from the closet or privy, and having by preference several bends in it. The object of employing a bent tube or pipe to receive the excrement, urine, and water is because liquids will travel over the surface thereof and follow its course freely, but solids in passing along or falling through it 5 have impediments in the way by reason of the curved surface or surfaces they are compelled to pass before getting through the pipe. At or near one end of the bent tube I place a valve which is free to open downwards on receiving a certain weight, but through which liquids can pass when no weight is on the valve, even when the valve is closed. Eor this 10 purpose there are indentations or apertures at or near the edges of the valve, or the edges are serrated or notched or bent, or the valve is curved so that liquid touching it has always a tendency to run off between it and the walls of the pipe. A weighted lever keeps the valve closed until there is sufficient weight on it to counteract the balance when it opens 15 and the solid matter falls through, the valve closing immediately after¬ wards by reason of the weighted lever. Below the valve the passage is gradually enlarged, and the urine or other liquid which uninterruptedly runs down the walls from the bent tube above is collected therein, and is led off therefrom by pipes to a receiver; below the valve there is 20 another pipe, the diameter of which should be very little more than the diameter of the valve, and this pipe receives the solids directly from the valve above and conveys them to any suitable receptacle. The accompany Drawing illustrates the manner in which the Invention may be carried into effect. 25 a is the tube leading from the closet, which may be bent more or less as found most suitable, but it is essential that this tube a should be curved or bent for the purposes of the Invention ; b is the valve at the lower end of the tube a; c is a weighted lever connected to and supporting the valve b ; e is another tube or hopper immediately below 30 the valve b leading to a vessel f which is placed below the tube e, but which can be easily removed from that position when required; g is a another valve similar to the valve 6, but which is sometimes dispensed with as the apparatus is effective without it, although in some cases it is found advisable to use it, the valve b may also in some cases be 35 dispensed with; Ji is the enlarged part below the valve b; i is the basin or vessel for the reception of the liquid ; and k is the pipe for carrying it off to any desired place or receptacle.