Improvements in Water Taps or Cocks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1997-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Taps or Cocks.
We, THOMAS HENRY COLES, of 8, Colston Street, Bristol, Managing Ironmonger,
WILLIAM WARD, of 80. Redcliff Hill; Bristol, Engineer, and ARTHUR HENRY
SUTTON, of Ingleneuk, Hartington. Park, Bristol, Commercial Traveller, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to water taps or cocks, and consists in means whereby the
valves thereof can be withdrawn for repair or other purposes without necessitating
cutting off the supply to the pipes in which the taps or cocks are fitted.
In a vertically disposed tap fitted in accordance with this invention, the usual screw
down valve piston carries at its underside a pin centrally situated and terminating at
its lower end in a disc which is concave on the lower face. Below the disc is a ball
of india-rubber or other suitable material which, by the pressure of the water acting
upon it from below, is held up in contact with the disc aforesaid.
The ball follows up the valve as the latter is raised from its seat to open the cock,
and the outflow of water is not blocked by the ball even though the valve be fully
raised.
When, however, it is required to withdraw the valve for repair or other purpose,
the cover of the valve chamber is unscrewed and the ball rises with the valve until the
ball reaches the underface of the valve seat. The ball then prevents further outflow,
and the valve may be removed.
Re-application of the valve forces the ball down and restores the tap to working
order.
In the application of this invention to a floating ball tap such as is commonly
employed in service and other cisterns, the pin carrying the disc, as aforesaid, is
screwed or otherwise conveniently connected to the inner end of the spindle with
which the lever of the floating hall engages. As in the arrangement above
described, the india-rubber ball does not prevent the flow of water when the valve
is opened and the parts are in their normal positions, but if the valve spindle be
removed for repair or other purpose, or if the floating ball should become charged
with water and thus be unduly depressed, or should the floating ball lever be
broken off, the india-rubber ball follows up the disc and is forced into a seat and
thus prevents further outflow by blocking an aperture situated in the water way.
Dated this 7th day of July 1896.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
We, THOMAS HENRY COLES, of 8, Colston Street, Bristol, Managing Ironmonger,
WILLIAM WARD, of 80, Redcliffe Hill, Bristol, Engineer, and ARTHUR HENRY
SUTTON, of Ingleneuk, Hartington Park, Bristol, Commercial Traveller, do hereby
O 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 water taps or cocks, and consists in improvements

page_text: whereby the valves thereof can be withdrawn for repair or other purposes with
necessitating cutting off the supply of water to the pipes in which the taps or
cocks are fitted.
In a screw down bib or like tap fitted in accordance with this invention, a
centrally situated pin extends downwards from the valve. This pin is broadened
at its lower end to form a disc the under face of which is made concave. Below
the disc is a ball of india-rubber, vulcanite, or other suitable material. This ball
which is contained in a chamber between the valve seat and the lower end of the
tap body, is kept constantly in contact with the disc by the pressure of the water
acting upon it from below. Consequently, the ball follows the disc and the valve
as the tap spindle is screwed up or down.
At such times as it may be required to withdraw the valve from the tap for
repair or other purpose, the cover of the valve chamber is unscrewed and removed,
carrying with it the spindle, gland, and valve. As the said cover is being unscrewed,
the ball aforesaid is forced by the water pressure into the water-way of the valve
seat and blocks the outlet; thus preventing escape of water. When the cover of
the valve chamber is restored to place, the ball is forced down and clears the
water-way.
The application of the invention to a ball cock, such as is employed in service
and other cisterns, is substantially the same as the application to a bib tap as
above set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a section of a bib
cock or tap arranged and fitted in accordance with this invention. Extending
downwards from the piston valve a is a pin or spindle a securely fixed, by
screwing or otherwise, in the valve. At the lower end of the pin or spindle a is
a disc a² concave on its under face. In the chamber b, between the valve seat c and
the removable plug d at the bottom of the tap, is a ball e, of india-rubber, vulcanite,
or other suitably strong light, and durable material. The ball e is placed in and
withdrawn, at will, from the chamber 6 through the aperture into which the plug dis
screwed.
The
While there is water behind it, the ball e is, by the pressure of water acting on it.
constantly in contact with the under face of the disc a, following the latter up and
down as the tap spindle is operated for raising and lowering the valve a.
water passes, when the tap is open, up about the ball and around the pin or spindle a¹
and through the aperture c¹ in the seat c.
When it is required to take out the valve a for repair or other purpose, the cover g
of the valve chamber is unscrewed and withdrawn, carrying with it the spindle, the
gland h, and the valve a. The ball e rises into and blocks the water-way cl in the
seat c, as shown in the section Fig. 2, and so prevents escape, of water. The ball
blocks the water-way before the cover g is wholly unscrewed. In replacing the cover,
the ball is dislodged from the water-way by the pin a'. Thus the valve a can be taken
out of the body of the tap and replaced therein without necessitating stopping of the
water supply to the pipe to which the cock is connected.
The plug d, of which an elevation is shown at Fig. 4, has slots d' at opposite sides
for the purpose of admitting water below the ball e when the latter is down on the
top of the plug b where it rests when the water supply to the pipe to which the tap is
attached is cut off.
At Fig. 3 is shown in section, a ball cock, for service and like cisterns, arranged
and fitted in accordance with this invention. To the spindle i is screwed, or otherwise
secured, the pin i¹ having at its outer end the disc against which the outer or
concave face of which the ball; of india-rubber, vulcanite, or other suitable material,
is constantly held by the pressure of water in the supply pipe k.
As in the arrangement above described, the ball does not affect the working of
the valve when the spindle i is operated within usual working limits, but if it be
required to take out the said spindle, for repair or other purpose, or if the floating
ball attached to the lever I should become charged with water through an aperture
therein and the lever thus become unduly depressed, or should the lever / become

page_text: severed, the spindle i is forced outwards through such causes and the disc passes
outwards through the water-way m in the seat m'. The ball j then blocks the water-
way and prevents further supply of water to the cistern. The ball is readily dislodged
and water supply restored, by replacing the spindle in proper working position.
By providing the floating ball attached to the lever with an aperture towards the
top side, and fitting an air escape tube to the said ball, the latter is adapted to become
charged with water and to sink when, through a leaking valve, the water rises to the
level of the aperture in the ball when fully raised in the cistern. By thus sinking,
the ball causes the water-way m to be closed by the ball as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a screw-down bib cock or tap, means for enabling the valve to be removed
and replaced without necessitating cutting off supply of water to the pipe to which
such cock or tap is connected; said means consisting of a ball such as e, of india-
rubber, vulcanite, or other suitable substance, confined in the chamber below the valve
seat, and a pin or spindle such as a¹ fixed to and extending downwards from the valve
of the cock or tap; the arrangement being such that the ball, under the pressure of
water acting below it, follows the said pin or spindle in its travel and blocks the
water-way in the valve seat at such times as the valve is removed from the cock or
tap, substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 4, of the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a ball-cock for service and other cisterns, means for enabling the valve to be
removed and replaced without necessitating cutting off supply of water to the pipe to
which such cock is connected; said means consisting of a ball such as j, of india-
rubber, vulcanite, or other substance, situated behind the valve seat, and a pin or
spindle such as fixed to and extending horizontally from the ordinary valve spindle,
so that if the latter be taken out or withdrawn beyond a given limit, the ball closes
the water-way m in the seat m¹, substantially as herein before set forth with reference
to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1897
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.