Improvements in Stop-cocks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 18th Oct.. 1889-Accepted. 23rd Nov.. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stop-cocks.
We, JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON, and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, of the firm of J. Hopkinson
& Co., of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to stop-cocks with a taper-plug made fluid-tight in the
barrel by packing such as that used in stop-cocks heretofore manufactured by our
said firm.
In the specification of Letters Patent dated 9th June A.D. 1887 No. 8312, stop-
cocks are described in which the plug is made fluid-tight by a peculiar kind of
packing secured in grooves in the barrel, and the specification of Letters Patent
dated 2nd March A.D. 1888 No. 3238 describes stop-cocks in which similar packing
is placed in grooves in the plug. In the specification of Lotters Patent dated
15th January A.D. 1886 No. 674, stop-cocks are described which have soft or elastic
packing placed in a cavity or space between the lower or inner end of the barrel or
socket and the end of the plug.
We have now ascertained that it is very advantageous to combine both of these
arrangements of the packing in a stop-cock, which we do as follows, that is to say:-
We use a taper plug and make the same fluid tight in the barrel or socket by
means of packing placed in annular and longitudinal grooves in the said barrel, which
packing we prefer should be formed of material such as that described in the said.
former specifications and wo combine, with the packing in the annular groove at the
inner or smaller end of the barrel, soft or elastic packing placed in the space between
the end of the plug and barrel as described in the said former specification No. 674.
We thus ensure, by the use of the packing in the grooves, the fluid-tight fitting of
the plug in its barrel or socket, and, by the use of the end packing, we prevent
the jamming or binding of the plug in the said barrel. Moreover, by the combined
use of the two arrangements of the packing, we enclose the soft or elastic end packing
in a chamber or cavity which is separated from the other portions of the barrel by a
fluid-tight, or nearly fluid-tight partition, that is to say, by the ring of semi-hard
packing in the groove, which is inmediately above and, in some instances, in contact
with the end packing. Therefore we obviate the heretofore existing inconvenience
arising from the action of the fluid upon the end packing and the consequent loss
or diminution of the said packing by its disintegration and escape in minute portions
from the stop-cock.
The space or cavity for the end packing may be of any desired capacity and shape,
and the packing may be placed therein in a compact or a loose fibrous condition or
otherwise as may be found convenient.
Instead of applying this invention to a stop-cock which has the packing in grooves
in the barrel as above described, we, in some instances, apply it to stop-cocks having
packed plugs such as are described in the said former specification No. 3238.
Dated this 8th day of February 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stop-cocks.
We, JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, of the firm of J. Hopkinson
& Co., of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers, 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 :—
These improvements relate to stop-cocks with a taper plug made flaid-tight in the

page_text: barrel by packing such as that used in stop-cocks heretofore manufactured by our
said firm, that is to say, packing composed of vulcanized asbestos or other materini
which is sufficiently hard and can be fitted with sufficient necuracy to ensure the fluid-
tightness of the cock without compression or squeezing of the said packing,
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to us and dated 9th June
A.D. 1887, No. 8,312, stop-cocks are described in which the plug is made fluid-tight
by a peculiar kind of packing secured in grooves in the barrel, and the Specification
of former Letters Patent granted to us and dated 2nd March A.D. 1888, No. 3238
describes stop-cocks in which similar packing is placed in grooves in the plug. In
the Specification of former Letters Patent dated 15th January A.D. 1886, No. 674,
stop-cocks are described which have soft or elastic packing placed in a cavity or
space between the lower or inner end of the plug and the body or barrel of the
cock.
We have now ascertained that it is very advantageous to combine both of these
arrangements of the packing in a stop-cock, which we do as follows, that is to say :-
We use a taper plug and make the same fluid-tight in the barrel by means of
packing placed in annular and longitudinal grooves in the said barrel (which packing
may be formed of incompressible material such as that described in our said former
Specifications and which we term "semi-hard packing." or of other suitable material)
and we combine, with the packing in the said grooves, soft plastic or compressible
We thus
packing placed in the space between the end of the plug and the barrel.
ensure, by the use of the packing in the grooves, the fluid-tight fitting of the plug
in its barrel, and, by the use of the elastic or compressible end packing, we prevent
the jamming or binding of the plug in the said barrel. Moreover, we combine the
two kinds of packing at the lower or small end of the barrel in such a manner that
the soft elastic end packing is enclosed in a chamber or cavity which is separated
from the other portions of the barrel by a finid-tight (or nearly fluid-tight) partition,
that is to say, by the ring of semi-hard packing in the groove, which is immediately
above, and, in some instances, in contact with the end packing. Therefore, the
soft compressible packing is not exposed to the action of the fluid and any defects
or inconveniences which might arise from such action are entirely avoided.
The space or cavity for the said packing may be of any desired capacity and
shape, and the packing may be placed in it in a compact or in a loose fibrous
condition or otherwise as may be found convenient.
Instead of applying this invention to a stop-cock which has the packing in
grooves in the barrel as above described, we, in some instances, apply it to stop-
cocks having packed plugs such as are described in our said former Specification
No. 3238.
In the accompanying drawings we have shewn, in vertical central section, four
different forms or modifications of our improved stop-cock.
a is the body or barrel of the cock, is the plug, c, are the annular groovas
and d, d the longitudinal grooves containing the semi-hard packing. e is the cover
which may be secured by means of sorew-studs and nuts or in any other woll
known manner, to keep the taper plug upon its seat.
is the soft clustic packing which we employ between the plug and the bottom
or closed end of tho barrel to prevent jamming or binding of the plug in the barrel.
In the cock shewn in Figuro 1, the grooves for the semi-hard packing are formed
in the barrel a. In that shewn in Figure 2, the said grooves are formed in the
plug b.
In both of these cocks, the soft elastic packing is so arranged that it
will not simply to resist and wise movement of the plug and thus prevent jamming of
the said plug in the barrel.
The cocks shown in Figures 3 and 4 have the grooves for the semi-hard packing
formed in the barrel, like that shewn in Figure 1, the soft elastic packing is,
however, so arranged that it will not only prevent jamming of the plug in the
barrel, but, should the lower ring of semi-hard packing become defective, the soft
packing will maintain, or assist in maintaining the fluid-tightness of the cock. This
result is attained by so arranging the soft elastic packing that it is contact with or

page_text: overlaps the semi-hard packing in the lower annular groove el, or in the longitudinal
grooves d, or both, so that, should the fluid pass between the plug and the lower
ring of semi-hard packing, leakage through the cock will still be prevented by the
joint formed by the soft elastic packing overlapping the semi-hard packing in the
space below the plug.
In Figure 3, the ring of semi-hard packing in the groove c' extends below
the small end of the plug, the soft elastic packing f is, therefore, in contact with
the said ring of semi-hard packing.
Figure 4 shows another arrangement in which a flanged metal ring 9 rests upon
the bottom of the barrel a and extends upward into a recess or cavity in the
small end of the plug b. The soft elastic packing is arranged around the said
ring g between the flange thereof and the plug, and is in contact with the semi-hard
packing, which extends below the small end of the plug. By employing the ring g
we reduce the area of surface of the elastic packing in contact with the plug and
thus diminish the resistance to turning of the plug.
It will be seen that, in the cocks shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the collar above
the packing in the upper annular space (referred to in our said former specification
No. 8812) is cast solid or in one with the harrol of the cock as shown at h, instead
of being screwed into the barrel as shown in the drawings accompanying our said
former specification; the packing is thereby more efficiently secured than by the screw-
collar. It will be seen, moreover, that the cocks shown in these Figures are so
constructed that the soft elastic or compressible packing, both in the lower or inner
end of the barrel and in the upper end thereof, is protected from the action of the
fluid whether the cock be open or closed. Therefore loss of the said packing by
wasting or disintegration thereof, and other defects that might be caused by the
action of the fluid upon the packing are avoided, as above stated.
The soft packing in the stop-cocks described in the said former Specification
No. 674, is used with the object of making the cock fluid-tight. For this purpose it
is necessary that the said packing should be compressed until it becomes impervious
to the passage of the fluid. But, in our improved stop-cock, we do not rely upon
the soft elastic packing at either end of the plug for ensuring the fluid-tightness of
the cock, although, in some arrangements, this packing serves as an auxiliary device
for this purpose. Therefore this packing need only be compressed to such a degree
as to prevent jamming or binding of the plug in the barrel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we wish it understood
that we claim the improvements in stop-cocks as herein set forth, niz. :-
First. The combination of the soft elastic or compressible packing for preventing
jamining or binding of the plug in the barrel, with the semi-hard or incompressible
packing whereby the cock is made fluid-tight, substantially as above specified.
Second. The combination of the semi-hard and the soft olastic packing at the
small end of the plug in such a manner that the said elastic packing is enclosed in a
fluid-tight chamber or cavity, for the purpose above specified.
Third. The modification of our invention wherein the soft elastic packing is in
contact with or overlaps the semi-bard packing, for the purpose above specified.
Fourth. The improved stop-cock having the soft elastic packing arranged in the
fluid-tight chamber or cavity between the small end of the plug and the barrel
(which packing may or may not overlap the semi-hard packing) and having the
collar above the upper ring of semi-hard packing formed solidly or integrally with
the barrel, substantially as described with reference to Figure 1, 3 or 4 and for the
purposes above specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.