Certain Improvements in the Construction of Water Taps or Stop Cooks.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Feb., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in the Construction of Water Taps
or Stop Cooks.
THOMAS WILSON 49 Frederick Road, Edgbaston Birmingham Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of these improvements is twofold, firstly to render water and other taps
self closing, secondly to more effectually prevent leakage in the said taps.
In carrying out my improvements I proceed as follows, I form the body and
socket of the tap somewhat as usual but at the narrow end of the said socket I form a
slight shoulder or valve-seat into which I fit and grind a correspondingly shaped
conical plug, with a passage through its middle, and which I hereinafter call the
way-plug. On the small end of the way-plug I form a stem, the said stem extending
through the opening in the centre of the valve-seating into an enlarged part formed
in the upper end of the tap socket.
The end of the way-plug stem is formed either square or three sided, on which said
end I fix a suitable cover with thumb piece for operating the way-plug. In the
enlarged part or receptacle formed in the upper end of the tap socket I place a coiled
spring, the lower end wire of which takes into a hole in the shoulder at the bottom of
the enlarged part or receptacle of the tap socket.
The upper end wire of the coiled spring takes into a hole in the fixed cover or
thumb piece on the end of the stem of the way-plug.
The coiled spring is made somewhat longer than the depth of the enlarged part or
receptacle in which it is placed so that on fixing the cover or thumb piece to the
way-plug stem, the coiled spring is compressed in the direction of its length thereby
forcing the way-plug firmly into its socket and against the valve-seating at the upper
end of the said socket. The spring being thus properly placed and the thumb piece
fixed on the way-plug stem, the said way-plug is then turned or rotated to give to the
coiled spring the required amount of circular tension or force, at which point a screw
or stop pin is inserted in the cover or thumb piece, thus limiting the action or turn of
the way-plug to completely closed or fully open..

page_text: It will thus be seen that on turning the way-plug to fully open the coiled spring is
at its greatest tension so that immediately on the operator's loosing the thumb piece or
handle the way plug is instantly forced or returned to its closed position, thereby
preventing the present waste of water or other fluid caused through carelessness or
non-closing of taps. The way-plug is passed into its place through the lower open
end of the socket, the said open end of the socket is then closed by a solid screw plug
thereby rendering leakage in that direction impossible.
As a further means of preventing leakage at the opposite end of the socket I form
an oblique passage in the lower side of the body of the tap, by which the pressure of
the water or other fluid in the main pipe is made to act or press against the base of the
way-plug and thus by forcing the said way-plug into the socket of the tap, effectually
prevents waste in that direction.
Instead of the fixed handle or thumb piece for opening the tap, a loose or separate
key may be employed similar to that used in ordinary beer taps and the outlet of the
tap and way-plug may be so arranged that the handle or thumb piece for opening
the tap can be placed either on the side or in front of the said tap instead of on the
top of it as previously described.
D
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page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in the Construction of Water-taps
or Stop-cocks.
I, THOMAS WILSON of Frederick Road Edgbaston, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in.
and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to taps and cocks for regulating, controlling, and cutting off
the supply of liquids and fluids, for various purposes as herein-after described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents a self closing and self-adjusting
plug.of a plug tap, constructed and arranged according to my invention. The said
figure 1 represents the top open, whilst figure 2 below it represents a like section, but
with the conical plug herein after called the way-plug, closed, and in elevation.
Figure 3 represents a horizontal section of figure 1, upon the dotted lines A B.
Figure 4 represents the plug and its stalk.
Figure 5 shows an inverted plan of the turn or thumb-piece, and figure 6 shows a
section of the same, on the dotted lines CD.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawing.
a is the body of the tap, with a varying all-through chambered middle part a²,
wherein the conical plug 6, as herein-after called the way plug, is disposed and
works.
The upper or crown a³, and the sides of the said chambered middle part, are truly
shaped and ground to both the hemispherical top 62, and coned sides 63 of the said
plug, whose stalk 6* extends upwardly, and is connected at its upper end to a turn or
thumb lever c, which fits socket like upon the square end of the said stalk, and is there
affixed in position by a small screw d.
The plug b has an all-through passage 65, which when brought coincident with the
egress and ingress passages of the tap, (whose barrel is marked at, and bib a')
is open.
The stalk of the way-plug is encircled at its upper end, by a coiled spring e, whose
terminal hooked ends e, e, respectively take within holes made within the shoulder a;
and the underside of the turn or thumb lever c; so that the end e, remains quiescent
with the tap, while the end turns with the thumb lever, and compresses the spring,
which when again relieved of pressure, closes or re-rotates the plug.
The spring is compressed in the direction of its axis, on being placed in position, so
that the way-plug is constantly drawn to its seat and bearing, by the tendency of the
spring to expand itself longitudinally, leaving the spring's compression by torsion, to
close the tap.
The thumb lover is kept in position, and prevented from having more than a semi-
rotation, by a stop pin f, passing through the upper walls of the body of the tap, and
with its inner end taking within a slot or gap, cut within the lower shell or sleeve

page_text: i
part of the thumb lever, and which works socketwise within the open top of the said
body part. Thus the said thumb lever is limited in its action by the stop as
aforesaid.
The bottom portion of the middle chamber of the tap, is enclosed by a screw plug a',
which is inserted fixedly in its place, after the insertion of the way-plug.
Instead of employing the fixed handle or thumb lever for opening and closing the
tap, a detachable key may be employed, similar to those used in ordinary beer taps.
The thumb lever for operating the plug, may be placed upon the side or front,
instead of at the top as described and represented.
As a further means of preventing leakage, I direct an oblique passage a, from the
supply or inlet side of the tap, to the underside of the way-plug b; so that the pressure
of the supply, is utilized for forcing or pressing the plug to its proper bearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First Providing conical or other way-plugs, with a semi-circular or coned crown
part, which fits and works within a like shaped seat, made to receive it, within the tap
body, whereby the efficiency of the plug is secured, and leakage prevented, as set
forth.
Secondly-Employing in conjunction with a way-plug, of a coiled spring, which
acts both for the closing of the tap, and the forcing of the plug up to its seat and
bearing; and which said spring is applied and works, substantially as set, forth.
Thirdly-The combination with a spring e, and its ends e², e, of a tap a, and
thumb-lever, or its equivalent, whereby the said plug, has a self closing action given
to it, by torsion on opening, as set forth.
:-
Fourthly Applying liquid pressure to the underside of the plug, by a hole or
passage as, to a chamber under the said plug, for the purpose as described and set
forth.
.
Lastly-A self-closing and anti-leakage tap, constructing, arranging and operating
the parts, as herein-described and set forth.
Dated this Tanth dar of Desember 1000