Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1887
Complete Left, 14th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Oct., 1887
I, JOHN HOWES, of Worcester, in the County of Worcester, and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my present invention is to provide a practical and efficient faucet
for water service and similar purposes, which faucet shall be economical to manufacture,
simple and durable in construction, easy of operation, and convenient for use.
To this end my invention consists in a faucet, the mechanism of which is constructed
and organized for operation in the manner hereinafter described.
The faucet is composed of the hollow neck portion having
a suitable connecting
nipple at one end, and provided at its other end with a chambered head containing
the valve seat, and with a depending hollow projection that has a coarse screw-thread
formed on its exterior surface, for receiving the nozzle or thimble. The upper opening
of the head chamber is closed by a screw-cap or hollow nut. The valve seat is formed
by an annular flange or bevel about the central bore or passage.
The head is recessed or under grooved at its junction with its lower threaded
portion, for the reception of the top end of the thinible, which is made to match said
groove or offset, and to form a close joint therewith when it is screwed up, so that
there will be no liability of water escaping or being forced out between the screw-
threads by the back pressure occasioned when a hose or filter is attached to the faucet
nozzle. A packing ring may be inserted in said recess, if desired, or a close fitting
surface formed therein, to match the top of the thimble.
The valve piece is arranged within the chamber of the head, to act in vertical

page_text: direction, and to be closed by the pressure of the water. Its face or packing rests
upon a seat, while its body portion, which is preferably provided with slightly twisted
ribs or flanges extends down through a passage or bore of the part below the seat,
and if desired, its reduced end or stem can be guided by the rims or flanges fitting
within the interior bore of said part below the seat, or by a small eye-bar fixed across
the lower end of the passage. The top end of the valve spindle is fitted to, and guided
by, an axially dispersed recess in the cap, and a spring may be used within the cap to
press the valve downward upon its seat. Said spring is best made of coiled wire and
is disposed within the cavity of the cap around the projection of the valve so as to give
a direct downward pressure, and to obviate any liability of shaking or rattling.
Lugs and grooves are formed on the valve and shell, which intermesh and retain
the valve from turning on its axis. A slight rotative strain is put upon the valve by
deflecting the current of water towards one side, and thus producing a whirl or spiral
action in the head chamber, by means of a boss or projection, formed on the interior
of the shell on one side of the passage, so as to direct the flow of water towards the
opposite side, thus imparting rotative tendency to the valve always in one and the same
direction, and thus preventing any tendency of the valve to shake or vibrate by the
action of the water flowing through the faucet. The twisted flanges also serve to
give rotative strain for holding the lugs and grooves in contact towards one side, and
thereby preventing rattling or noise when drawing water from the faucet.
A lip or projection formed within the passage, serves for deflecting the water
upward from the seat, and thereby obviates any tendency of the stream of water to
force itself beneath the rear edge of the valve more than at any other portion of its
circle, and thereby cut or wear off the valve or seat unequally at its opposite sides.
The thimble is fitted internally with a bridge or bearing step that strikes the valve-
stem and raises the valve from its seat when said thimble is turned on the screw-
threaded projection. A handle is arranged on the thimble by means of which it can
be conveniently operated. The handle is constructed and arranged in such manner as
to be adjustable circumferentially about the thimble, by means of a ring, which
surrounds the thimble, and into which said handle is screwed; so as to clamp the ring
against the thimble; or, if preferred, the handle and ring may be made of a flat piece
of metal bent into the form of a ring to surround the thimble, and clamped thereto
by means of a screw, or fastening device, which connects the ends, one of the ends
being extended sufficiently to serve as a handle.
A stop-pin is fixed in the under side of the neck, for arresting the movement of the
handle and thimble, when the valve is closed. Said stop is in the present instance,
provided with a hinge joint to permit of its being raised, thus allowing the handle to
be swung completely around when desired.
The faucet is opened by swinging the handle to the front, and closed by swinging it
back against the stop.
When the faucet is opened to its full capacity, the top end of the thimble makes a
tight joint against the head and prevents leakage. If hose is to be used on the
faucet, the end of the thimble may be fitted with a screw coupling.
At the lower part of the thimble or nozzle, one or more thin bridges or plates are
arranged across the passage, extending vertically for some five eighths of an inch more
or less. These plates serve to deliver the water in a straight smooth stream. The
plates may be disposed in the form of a cross; or a single plate may be formed across
the passage; or two parallel plates may be employed, as preferred.
By making the valve independent of the thimble or sleeve, and arranging it for
action, as set forth, a free and easy working faucet is produced, wherein it is impossible
to crush or injure the valve-face of packing by force or the screw. The opening and
closing action of the valve is governed by the screw-threads, without connection of
the parts, thus giving all the advantages of a compression cock, without the dis
advantages incident thereto.
By removing the cap, ready and convenient access is obtained to the chamber for
removal of the valve, or any foreign substances which may be actinitted through pipes,
and find lodgement in said chamber.

page_text: If desired, a wheel or circular rim could be employed in lieu of the handle, but I
prefer the construction described.
This faucet may be employed for basin or pantry faucets, by providing an upright
standard in connection with the neck. In this style of faucet the valve may be made
slightly smaller, and the parts more elongated, but the construction and action would
be substantially the same as above described.
I do not desire to claim broadly a valve closed by the pressure of the water, as I am
aware that such feature is old. I am also aware that a rotating thimble-nozzle has
been used for operating a faucet, but is a different construction from that herein
described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improvement in Faucets.
I, JOHN HOWES, of Worcester, in the County of Worcester, and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America, 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 :-
The object of my present invention is to provide a practical and efficient faucet for
water service and similar purposes, which faucet shall be economical to manufacture,
simple and durable in construction, easy of operation, and convenient for use.
To this end my invention consists in a faucet, the mechanism of which is
constructed and organized for operation in the manner illustrated and hereinafter
described.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a front view of my improved faucet.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through the same at line u, u Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section at line v, v.
10, W.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section at line
Figure 5 is a horizontal section at line x, x.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section at line y, y.
Figure 7 is a side view of the valve piece.
Figure 8 is a sectional view at line, looking towards the top end of the valve
piece, and
Figure 9 is a sectional view at line 2, looking towards the lower end of
the valve piece.
Figure 10 is a side view of my improved faucet, adapted for basin cocks.
On the drawings, A denotes the body of the faucet, which is composed of the hollow
neck portion having a suitable connecting nipple at one end, and provided at its other
end with a chambered head A, containing the valve seat a, and with a depending
hollow projection a' that has a coarse screw-thread formed on its exterior surface for
receiving the nozzle or thimble B, as illustrated. The upper opening of the head
chamber is closed by a screw-cap or hollow nut A'. The valve-seat a is formed by an
annular flange or bevel about the central bore or passage, as shown.
The head is recessed or under grooved at its junction with its lower threaded portion,
as at b, for the reception of the top end of the thimble B, which is made to match said
groove or offset band to form a close joint therewith when it is screwed up on the
part a', so that there will be no liability of water escaping or being forced out between
the screw threads by the back pressure occasioned when a hose or filter is attached to
the faucet nozzle. A packing ring may be inserted in said recess b if desired, or a
close fitting surface formed therein to match the top of the thimble.
The valve piece D, which is made in the form show. in Figure 7, is arranged within
the chamber of the head A¹, to act in vertical direction, and to be closed by the
pressure of the water.
Its face or packing D¹ rests upon the seat a, while its body
portion, which is preferably provided with slightly twisted ribs or flanges d', extends
down through the passage or bore of the part a¹ below the seat, and if desired, its

page_text: reduced end or stem d can be guided by the ribs or flanges d' fitting within the interior
bore of the part a', or by a small eye-bar fixed across the lower end of the passage
as illustrated. The top end d of the valve spindle is fitted to, and guided by, an
axially dispersed recess in the cap A3, and a spring E may be used within the cap to
press the valve downward upon its seat. Said spring is best made of coiled wire,
and is disposed within the cavity of the cap A around the projection of the valve d²
so as to give a direct downward pressure. and to obviate any liability of shaking or
rattling.
Lugs and grooves h are formed on the valve D and shell A which intermesh and
retain the valve from turning on its axis. A slight rotative strain is put upon the
valve by deflecting the current of water towards one side, and thus producing a
whirl or spiral action in the head chamber, by means of a boss or projection 1, formed
on the interior of the shell on one side of the passage, so as to direct the flow of water
towards the opposite side, thus imparting rotative tendency to the valve always in one
and the same direction, and thus preventing any tendency of the valve to shake or
vibrate by the action of the water flowing through the faucet. The twisted flanges d'
also serve to give rotative strain for holding the lugs and grooves in contact towards
one side, and thereby preventing rattling or noise when drawing water from the
faucet.
A lip or projection m formed within the passage, serves for deflecting the water
upward from the seat a, and thereby obviates any tendency of the stream of water to
force itself beneath the rear edge of the valve more than at any other portion of its
circle, and thereby cut or wear off the valve or seat unequally at its opposite sides.
The thimble B is fitted internally with a bridge or bearing step that strikes the
valve siem d and raises the valve from its seat when said thimble is turned on the
screw-threaded projection a. A handle I is arranged on the thimble by means of
which it can be conveniently operated. The handle is constructed and arranged in
such manner as to be adjustable circumferentially about the thimble B, by means of a
ring 1', whien surrounds the thimble, and into which said handle is screwed, so as to
clamp the ring against the thimble; or, if preferred, the handle and ring may be made
as indicated in Figure 4, of a flat piece of metal bent into the form of a ring to
surround the thimble, and clamped thereto by means of a screw or fastening device i
which connects the ends, as illustrated; one of the ends being extended sufficiently to
to serve as a handle.
A stop-pin K is fixed in the under side of the neck, for arresting the movement of
the handle and thimble B when the valve is closed. Said stop is, in the present
instance, provided with a hinge joint to permit of its being raised, as indicated by
dotted lines Figure 2, thus allowing the handle to be swung completely around when
desired.
The faucet is opened by swinging the handle to the front, and closed by swinging
it back against the stop.
When the faucet is opened to its full capacity, the top end of the thimble makes a
tight joint against the head at b, and prevents leakage. If hose is to be used on the
faucet, the end of the thimble may be fitted with a screw coupling as indicated in
dotted lines, Figure 2.
At the lower part of the thimble or nozzle B, one or more thin bridges or plates e
are arranged across the passage, extending vertically for some five eighths of an inch,
more or less, as indicated. These plates serve to deliver the water in a straight smooth
stream. The plates may be disposed in the form of a cross as in Figure 5, or a single
plate may be formed across the passage, or two parallel plates may be employed, as
preferred.
By making the valve independent of the thimble or sleeve, and arranging it for
action, as set forth, a free and easy working faucet is produced, wherein it is impossible
to crush or injure the valve-face or packing by force of the screw. The opening and
closing action of the valve is governed by the screw threads, without connection of the
parts, thus giving all the advantages of a compression cock without the disadvantages
incident thereto.

page_text: By removing the cap A ready and convenient access is obtained to the chamber A'
for removal of the valve, or any foreign substances which may be admitted through
pipes, and find lodgement in said chamber.
If desired, a wheel or circular rim could be employed in lieu of the handle I, but
I prefer the construction shown.
This faucet may be employed for basin or pantry faucets, by providing an upright
standard A in connection with the neck A, as indicated in Figure 10. In this style
of faucet the valve may be made slightly smaller, and the parts more elongated,
but the construction and action would be substantially the same as above described.
I do not desire to claim broadly a valve closed by the pressure of the water, as
I am aware that such feature is old. I am also aware that a rotating thimble-nozzle
has been used for operating a faucet, but in a different construction from that herein
shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The faucet hereinbefore described, consisting of the body or shell A having the
externally screw-threaded projection A', and the valve seat it, the independent valve-
piece D having a stem supported and guided within the part A¹ and cap A², and the
screw-threaded thimble B having a bridge-bar or step e, across its interior below the
end of the valve-stem, whereby said valve is elevated, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, as described, of the body A having the screw-threaded
extension A¹ provided with an offset rim and groove b at the junction of said extension
with the shell, the screw-threaded rotating thimble B provided with a step for lifting
the valve, and having its top end fitted to and adapted for making a close joint with
said offset or groove when in elevated position, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. A water-service faucet, having its shell A and valve D provided with inter-
meshing lugs and grooves that prevent rotation of said valve upon its seat, and an
inclined projection or deflector / for imparting a whirl or spiral action to the water in
contact with said valve, substantially as set forth.
4. The shell A provided with a deflecting lug or flange m located in the neck
passage adjacent to the valve-seat, for deflecting the flow of liquid upward from the
edge of the valve, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, with the shell having the screw-threaded projection a, and the
thimble B fitted to said projection and rotatable thereon for lifting the valve, of the
adjustable handle I and its supporting ring P. substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
6. The combination, with the shell A, rotating screw threaded thimble, and adjustable
handle I, of the stop-pin K, substantially as shown and described.