IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE PLUGS OR VALVES TO BE USED IN EXTIN-. GUISHING FIRES, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE WATER IS REQUIRED TO BE DRAWN PROM MAINS UNDER PRESSURE
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Brierley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd May
1862.
I, JOSEPH BRIERLEY, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Borough
Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE PLUGS OR VALVES TO BE USED IN EXTIN-.
GUISHING FIRES, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE WATER IS REQUIRED TO BE DRAWN
PROM MAINS UNDER PRESSURE," to be as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to construct fire plugs or valves in such a
manner that the flow of water from the main is unimpeded by any of the
working parts of the valve, and by thus reducing the friction to secure the
greatest amount of effective force.
In constructing fire-plugs and valves upon my improved principle, the case
in which the valve is to work is cast or formed with a box or chamber on one
side of the waterway, into which the valve passes when the fire plug is in use.
The valve turns upon an axis, and is arranged in the following manner :-
Through the box or chamber I place in an horizontal direction a shaft; upon
this shaft, and fixed thereto, is the segment of a "cog" or toothed wheel.
From the boss of this segment wheel (and nearly opposite thereto) is an arm,
upon which is fixed the valve for opening or shutting off the supply of water..
This valve is formed of a disc of brass, and on the face thereof is secured a
packing of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material for the purpose of
rendering the joint of the valve water-tight. Upon the top of the box or

page_text: chamber I fix a stuffing box, through which and through the box or chamber
passes (in a vertical position) another shaft, and upon the last-named shaft is
fixed a "worm" or coarse pitched screw, which gears with the teeth of the
segment wheel on the horizontal shaft; the lower end of the vertical shaft is
received by and works in a "footstep" placed at the bottom of the box or
chamber. The upper end of this shaft projects through and extends to a
suitable distance above the stuffing box, and is squared for the purpose of
being turned by means of a key. It will now readily be seen that upon a
key being placed on the squared end of the vertical shaft, and turned in a
proper direction, the segment wheel will be raised by the worm, whilst the
valve being fixed on the projecting arm from the same boss, and nearly
opposite thereto, will move in the contrary direction, thus gradually opening a
passage for the water by removing the valve from its seat into the box or
chamber, thus securing a clear and open passage. The worm, segment
wheel, boss, and projecting arm I make from brass to prevent corrosion, or I
work the valve in the following manner:-The valve is fixed on an arm
mounted on the horizontal shaft as before. The lower part of the vertical
shaft is screwed, and upon it is placed a corresponding screwed nut, which is
connected by a link at each side to a pair of levers or arms keyed upon the
horizontal shaft in such a manner that upon turning the vertical shaft in one
direction by means of a key, the rising of the nut on the screw opens the
valve, the closing of the saine being effected by turning the key in the reverse
or opposite direction.