An Improved Ball-valve for Cisterns or Troughs.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1888
Specification Accepted, 17th Feb., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ball-valve for Cisterns or Troughs.
I, JAMES ISAAC FAIRWEATHER, of Adelaide, in the Province of South Australia,
Inspector of Water-services, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN
IMPROVED BALL-VALVE FOR CISTERNS OR TROUGHS" and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
"My invention relates to valves for use in cisterns or troughs where water is obtained
through a service pipe from the main or other similar source of supply. My improve-
ment consists in employing the pressure of the water itself as the sole power for
closing and keeping the valve closed and in the special construction by which this is
accomplished. By this method, waste of water and other inconveniences arising from
the overflow of cisterns are prevented. The quantity of water to be admitted can be
accurately regulated and will not be affected by variation in the pressure from the
service pipe. For opening the valve, use is made of any ordinary float. Its action is
very simple; as the float falls by reason of water being withdrawn from the cistern or
trough, the end of the float-lever raises the valve-plug. On the cistern filling and the
float rising with it, the float lever gradually allows the pressure of the water from
the service pipe to cause the valve to take its seat. It is afterwards kept there by the
same means, and, if desired for any purpose, the float can be removed altogether
without interfering with the valve or the necessity arising for shutting off the water
at the stop-cock. My improved ball-valve consists of a valve-casing provided with a
screw-thread for attaching to the service pipe. Through the screw, a hole is drilled
horizontally into a vertical chamber, the lower part of which is enlarged and provided
with an internal screw-thread for attaching to the service pipe. Connected with this
is a screw-nut having a hole, of less diameter than the chamber, bored through its
centre and a conical countersink in the top which forms the seating of the valve,
whilst the bottom is enlarged to reduce the spread of the water. The head of the
valve-plug fits closely the chamber of the casing and extends slightly below the inlet
so as to act as a cut-off when the valve is closed. The upper portion of its body is
made of smaller diameter and provided with a conical base carefully ground to the
countersink of the screw-nut. The lower part is flattened at opposite sides or
otherwise reduced so as to allow the water to pass when the valve is open. Forming

page_text: part of the valve-casing is a joint to which the float-lever is attached by a pin and
beyond which its end projects to the foot of the valve-plug. By reference to the
accompanying drawings, it will be seen that Fig. I is a cross section of the valve-
casing and plug showing the valve closed together with an elevation of the float and
lever the position of which when it has raised the plug being shewn by dotted lines.
Fig. II is an end view of the valve-casing with plug within.
Fig. III a side view of the valve-casing.
Fig. IV a plan of the valve-casing.
Figs. V and VI side elevations of the plug.
Fig. VII a plan of the plug with head shewn in full lines and lower parts dotted.
Fig. VIII a cross section of the valve-casing, plug, plug-cap and screw-nut; and
Fig. IX an elevation of the plug as shown in Fig. VIII. A is the valve-casing;
a the screwed ond where it joins the service pipe; a² the hole for the water supply;
the central chamber enlarged at its lower extremity and there provided with an
internal screw-thread; a the lugs or joint on the valve-casing A, to which the float-
lever is fastened a' a split pin for a, forming a fulcrum for the float-lever; B the
metal plug or valve; 6 the rounded head of B; 62 the body of the plug of less
diameter than the head 61; 63 the cone-shaped base of the body 62; the lower part
of the plug of less diameter than 2, and flattened at opposite sides, or otherwise
reduced, except at the foot; a nut with a screw-thread corresponding to that of the
lower part of the chamber a³; c¹ a hole drilled through C, with countersink c³,
carefully ground or otherwise fitted to 3 and enlarged at ca for the purpose indicated;
Da leather washer; E the float; and F the float-lever.
The action of the valve is exceedingly simple. When the cistern is full, the float-
lever touches lightly or disengages the foot of the plug 6. Meanwhile the water
from the service pipe, passing through the hole a², fills the chamber a³, and by its
pressure against the side and on the head of 61, the cone-shaped base 6³ is forced on to
the seating or countersink and the valve effectually closed. When from any cause
water is withdrawn from the cistern, the float E falls and raises the point of the
lever F. This, pressing against the foot b*, lifts 63 from the seating c² and raises the
head into the chamber a³. The water then escapes past the body 62 through
the valve and along the flattened sides 64.into the cistern. The enlargement c³
prevents the water from spreading unduly and splashing in the cistern from contact
with the float-lever F; as the cistern fills and the float rises, the action of the float-
lever on b is gradually reduced and the plug b³ is pressed again on to its seat and the
valve closed.
I wish to shew a variation of the valve by reference to Fig. VIII in which the
central chamber a³ is enlarged and the valve-casing A consists of a hollow casting.
The plug B (Fig. IX) is constructed with a short straight head 6 having a cone-
shaped top. A loose cap G is provided into which 6' fits easily and 'the base of which
is notched with four or more notches. G is so constructed as to rest on the upper
surface of the screw-nut C and to extend upwards about midway past the opening a².
In use, the water from the service pipe fills the chamber a³ and, entering through the
notches in the base of G, keeps the valve closed as before described by pressure on
the plug B. The advantage of the cap G is that no foreign matter can enter the
valve and interfere with its action by clogging the valve-seat, whilst the pressure of
the water keeps the cap in position and provides a sufficient scour for the notches.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is:
First. In the construction of ball-valves, the valve-casing A provided with an
internal chamber a³ enlarged at its lower extremity or otherwise provided with an
internal screw-thread and with an inlet a connected with the main service pipe
substantially as herein described and shewn in Figures I, II, and VIII.
Second. In the construction of ball-valves, the screw-nut C provided with a
central hole c' the upper extremity of which c² is recessed and countersunk and forms

page_text: the valve-seating, the lower extremity being enlarged substantially as herein
described and shewn in Figs. I and II.
Third. In the construction of ball-valves, the plug B provided with a head 62
fitting closely the chamber a³ and extending below a and body 62 and foot 6* of
smaller diameter substantially as herein described.
Fourth. In the construction of ball-valves, the plug B provided with a straight
head band a cap G having a notched base substantially as herein described and
shewn in Figs. VIII and IX.
Fifth. The construction of the valve consisting of a plug having a cone-shaped
base 6 and of a corresponding recess and countersink c², both parts being of metal
and without a washer of any description substantially as herein described.
Sixth. The construction of the lower part of the plug B with opposite sides
flattened or recessed substantially as herein described and for the purpose indicated.
Seventh. The combination of the float-lever F with the plug B substantially as
herein described.
Eighth. The combination of the plug B with the chamber a3 and with the inlet a²
and with the outlet c¹ substantially as herein described.
Ninth. The combination of the parts A, B, C, F, G or any one of them separately
with any other substantially as herein described.
Dated this Twenty fifth day of November 1887.
JAMES ISAAC FAIRWEATHER.