Improvements in Ball-taps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894
IUNAL DI BULTIVATI
Improvements in Ball-taps.
1. JOHN MATHER of 387 and 389 Station Road, Bamber Bridge, near Preston
Lancashire, Plumber and Decorator do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The improvements consist in making the taps so that the position of the ball
relative to the valve or plug is readily adjustable.
Ball-taps are usually made with the lever or ball-arm in one piece and in order
that the arm may be bent so that the tap closes when the level of water has reached
the desired height, it is made of bendable metal. This construction is defective
and inconvenient, for the arm is liable to "give" by the continual strain on it, thus
allowing the level of water in the cistern to rise above the desired height; and the
bending backwards and forwards sometimes breaks the arm, and at best is an
unsatisfactory and inconvenient method of adjustment.
To obviate these defects I make the arm in two or more pieces and provide
adjusting devices, which, when set to the desired position, can be locked or
otherwise secured.
In addition to the facility and convenience with which the water level can be
regulated, the use of my invention enables me to employ parts made of rigid and
strong materials, thereby preventing the gradual yield of the ball-arm which so
often occurs in taps made in the ordinary way.
Dated this 14th day of September 1893
JOHN MATHER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball-taps.
I, JOHN MATHER 387 and 389 Station Road Bamber Bridge near Preston
Lancashire Plumber and Decorator 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 :-
(1.) The improvements consist in making the taps so that the position of the ball
relative to the valve or plug is readily adjustable.
(2.) Ball taps are usually made with the lever, or ball arın, in one piece, and in
order that the arm may be bent so that the tap closes when the level of water has
reached the desired height, it is made of bendable metal. This construction is
defective and inconvenient, for the arm is liable to "give" by the continual strain
on it, thus allowing the level of water in the cistern to rise above the desired
height; and the bending backwards and forwards necessary in adjusting the height,
sometimes breaks the arm, aud at best is only an unsatisfactory and inconvenient
method of adjustment.
(3.) To obviate these defects I sometimes make the arm in two or more parts
and provide adjusting devices, which, when set in the desired position can be locked
or otherwise secured.
(4.) In addition to the facility and convenience with which the water level can
be regulated, the use of my invention enables me to employ parts made of rigid and
strong materials thereby preventing the gradual yield of the ball-arm which so often
occurs in taps made in ordinary way.

page_text: (5.) One way of carrying out my invention when applied to ball taps of the
ordinary form, is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. of the accompanying drawings, the ball
arm being made in two parts A and B. Fig. 1 shows an elevation (partly in section
and Fig. 2 a sectional plan through the split pins which form the pivots. In these
figures, as in all those shown, G indicates the body of the tap, P'the plug, A the
arn to which the ball is attached, and S the screw for operating or fixing the
adjusting devices. It will be readily understood that when S (Fig. 1) is screwed
down, the part A will be depressed relatively to B, consequently the level of water
in the cistern at which the tap closes, will be lowered. By screwing it down
sufficiently the tap can be kept closed when the cistern is empty. Conversely, by
unscrewing S, the water level can be raised.
(6.) Other methods of attaining the same end are shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive.
In Figs. 3 and 4 a rectangular ring R which slides on A and can be fixed thereto
by the screw S, carries a wedge piece W, which can be pushed more or less under
the plug P, thus lowering or raising the water level.
(7.) In Figs. 5 and 6 a piece B, hinged to the ball-arm A, passes below the
plug Pas shown, and the latter can be raised or lowered relative to A by the
screw S.
(8.) Figs. 7 and 8 show the application of my invention to a "Lambert's equilibrium
"ball-valve. Here the top end of the plug P receives a screw S which presses on
the ball-arm A, and thus forms a very simple and convenient adjustment. The
lengths of the screw and the slots in the plug P and body G are arranged to that
the valve may be readily closed when desired. A lock-nut is sometimes used
on S.
(9.) It will be readily understood that my invention is not only applicable to the
two forms of ball-tap herein described, but that analogous methods can be applied
to other forms of taps or valves.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
―
1. The use of ball-taps adapted for ready adjustment of the water level as and
for the purposes described.
2. The method of constructing adjustable ball taps as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, and described in § § (5), (6), (7).
3. The method of constructing adjustable ball taps as shown in Figs. 7 and 8,
.and described in § (8).
Dated this Fourteenth day of Luna 180.1
JOHN MATHER.