IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Croft Wormald Caw, of Ivy Bridge, in the County of
Devon, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND
VALVES."
Sealed the 9th September 1879, and dated the 11th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Croft Wormald Caw at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1879.
CROFT WORMALD CAW, of Ivy Bridge, in the County of Devon, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES."
This Invention relates to plug taps or valves, and is designed to secure a water,
steam, gas, or air tight surface or joint, without the cost and labor of accurate
boring out the tap and of grinding in the plug.
According to this my said Invention I cut or sink a recess or groove around the
plug or valve or in its seating, within which groove or recess is a ring or washer
of india-rubber, gutta-percha, leather, or copper; or two parts lead and one part
tin, or one part lead and two parts tin, or three lead and one tin, or equal parts of
each, of such thickness as to fill the groove or recess and slightly project beyond
the face or circumference of the plug, so that when the latter is secured in position
within the tap or valve the india-rubber or other material, as above named, is
slightly compressed, thereby expanding laterally and making a perfectly tight and
sealed joint.
When the ring or washer becomes worn the replacement by a new ring renders
the tap or valve practically good as when new.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Croft Wormald Caw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
September 1879.
CROFT WORMALD CAW, of Ivy Bridge, in the County of Devon, Engineer. "IM-
September 1879,
CROFT WORMALD CAW, of Ivy Bridge, in the County of Devon, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TAPS
ID VALVES.

page_text: steam, gas, or air tight surface or joint, without the cost and labor of accurate
boring out the tap and of grinding in the plug.
According to this my said Invention I cut or sink a recess or groove around the
plug or valve, or in its seating, within which groove or recess is a ring or washer
of india-rubber, gutta percha, leather, or copper, or two parts lead and one part
tin, or one part lead and two parts tin, or three lead and one tin, or equal parts of
each, of such thickness as to fill the groove or recess, and slightly project beyond
the face or circumference of the plug or spindle, so that when the latter is secured
in position within the tap or valve the india rubber or other material, as above
named, is slightly compressed, thereby expanding laterally, and making a perfectly
tight and sealed joint.
When the ring or washer becomes worn the replacement by a new ring renders
the tap or valve practically good as when new.
Such being the nature and object of this, my said Invention I will now proceed
to describe the particulars thereof, and in order that the Invention may be fully
understood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are elevations of taps having my improvements applied; Figs.
31, 4, and 41 are sections of the same; Figs. 5 and 6 are details. At Fig. 7 I have
shown india-rubber ring applied so as to obviate use of stuffing box. At A is
the spindle, in the valve end of which is cut or formed the recess B, which receives
and holds the washers of india-rubber, gutta-percha, leather, or lead C.
The
conical seating for the valve is at D, on and in which the washer by the pressure
of steam or water is firmly seated until forced therefrom by pressure on the head
of the spindle. When a washer C is mounted on the spindle, as shown at Fig. 7,
it serves in lieu of a stuffing box by preventing the escape of water or steam at F;
any slight escape of water during the time the spindle and washer are being forced
down is diverted by the dome shaped cover and passes downwards to the recess or
other receptacle.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would have it understood that I lay no claim to any of the parts
when considered separately, nor do I claim the use of india-rubber, leather, &c.;
what I do claim is,―
The construction and use of taps or valves comprising combined recessed spindle,
conical valve, and conical seating, as described and illustrated by Drawings or any
mere modification thereof.
Secondly. I claim the use of the washer C¹ as and for the purpose described and
as illustrated by Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Croft Wormald Caw, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
CROFT W. CAW. (L.S.)