IMPROVEMENTS IN FLAP VALVES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the firm of Edwards & Co,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of ". IMPROVEMENTS IN FLAP
VALVES" A communication to him from abroad by Emile Roche, of Marseille,
in the Republic of France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th June 1882.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co-, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLAP VALVES [A communication to him from
abroad by Emile Roche, of Marseille, in the Republic of France]
This invention relates to flap valves used for the purpose of regulating the
discharge of water or other fluid, and has for its object a novel method of
construction by which such flap valves are wedged perfectly tight when closed.
The improved valves may be used for basins, or for the discharge of water from
ponds or reservoirs, and they are simple and cheap in construction as compared
with valves for similar purposes as ordinarily heretofore constructed and used.
Valves constructed according to this invention may be of any desired size, and are
perfectly watertight when closed, whilst they are of great lurability and easily
operated so that a full supply of water can be instantaneously produced, or its
discharge can be regulated as desired.
Supposing the improved valve to be used for regulating the discharge of water
from a reservoir, a flat seat preferably of cast iron is fixed inside or outside the
reservoir over a discharge aperture in the masonry of the latter. This plate may
be fixed in either a horizontal, inclined, or other convenient position over the
corresponding aperture and it has through it an opening corresponding with the
latter. A valve also preferably of cast iron is hinged at one of its sides to the seat,
and is provided with guides upon its upper surface at right angles to the hinge
within which guides fit and work the ends of a transverse bar at the centre of
which is attached or formed a vertical rod by which the crossbar can be raised or
lowered for the purpose of opening or closing the valve.

page_text: The ends of the cross bar are prolonged sufficiently so that when the valve is
closed they pass under the edges of two hooks formed upon or fixed to the seat,
and these edges are made inclined so that when the transverse bar is pressed down
its ends are forced down and it presses the valve into its seat with any desired
pressure. One or more rings or washers of india rubber or other sufficiently soft
material are interposed between the valve and the seat in order to make a
perfectly tight joint.
The vertical bar described passes through guides fixed to the side of the reservoir,
and is screwed at its upper end, which passes through a corresponding screwed nut
turning in one of the guides, so that when the nut is turned in either direction by
means of a suitable fixed or moveable handle, the bar is made to rise or fall and to
open or close the valve. A flat iron bar is preferably cramped or bolted to the
wall of the reservoir, and retains the valve seat in its place and serves to carry the
guides for the vertical bar, and to connect the entire apparatus.
The seat of the valve may be formed with a projection at its back which is let
into the masonry round the discharge opening.
For use in the bottom of a basin or other vessel, the valve and seat may be
arranged as described, a wire or chain being used instead of the vertical and cross-
bars, and a stop being formed upon or attached to the seat in order to limit the
rise of the valve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th December 1882.
EDMUND EDWARDS of the firm of Edwards & Co:-, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLAP VALVES" A communication to me from
abroad by Emile Roche of Marseille in the Republic of France
This invention relates to flap valves used for the purpose of regulating the
discharge of water or other fluid and has for its object a novel method of
construction by which such flap valves are wedged perfectly tight when closed.
The improved valves may be used for basins, or for the discharge of water from
ponds or reservoirs, and they are simple and cheap in construction as compared with
valves for similar purposes as ordinarily heretofore constructed and used. Valves
constructed according to this invention may be of any desired size, and are perfectly
watertight when closed, whilst they are of great durability and easily operated so
that a full supply of water can be instantaneously produced, or its discharge can be
regulated as desired.
Supposing the improved valve to be used for regulating the discharge of water
from a reservoir, a flat seat preferably of cast iron is fixed inside or outside the
reservoir over a discharge aperture in the masonry of the latter. This plate may
be fixed in either a horizontal, inclined, or other convenient position over the
corresponding aperture and it has through it an opening corresponding with the
latter. A valve also preferably of cast iron is hinged at one of its sides to the seat,
and is provided with guides upon its upper surface at right angles to the hinge
within which guides fit and work the ends of a transverse bar at the centre of
which is attached or formed a vertical rod by which the crossbar can be raised or
lowered for the purpose of opening or closing the valve. The ends of the cross bar
are prolonged sufficiently so that when the valve is closed they pass under the
edges of two hooks formed upon or fixed to the seat, and these edges are made
inclined so that when the transverse bar is pressed down its ends are forced down
and it presses the valve into its seat with any desired pressure. One or more rings
or washers of india rubber or other sufficiently soft material are interposed between
the valve and the seat in order to make a perfectly tight joint.
The vertical bar described passes through guides fixed to the side of the reservoir,
and is screwed at its upper end which passes through a corresponding screwed nut
turning in one of the guides, so that when the nut is turned in either direction by
means of a suitable fixed or moveable handle, the bar is made to rise or fall and to
open or close the valve. A flat iron bar is preferably cramped or bolted to the wall
of the reservoir, and retains the valve seat in its place and serves to carry the guides
for the vertical bar, and to connect the entire apparatus.
The seat of the valve may be formed with a projection at its back which is let
into the masonry round the discharge opening.
For use in the bottom of a basin or other vessel, the valve and seat may be
arranged as described, a wire or chain being used instead of the vertical and cross
bars, and a stop being formed upon or attached to the seat in order to limit the rise
of the valve.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention. Figure 1 is a
front view of a flap valve. Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same fitted in a
reservoir. Figure 3 is a vertical section of the valve fitted outside a reservoir.
Figure 4 is a section of the valve for a basin or other vessel. Figure 5 is a section

page_text: of a valve similar to that shewn in figure 3 but projecting into the masonry. The
same letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures. A is the
seat of the valve. B the hinged flap valve. C the hooks, inside which are forced
the ends of the cross bar E, which work in the guides D, by means of the rod F
screwed at its upper end. G is a nut fitted upon the screw and carried in one of
the supports H fixed to the wall by cramps K, so that it can be turned round by a
handle L. One or more rings of india rubber or other sufficiently soft material are
shewn at J. In figure 4 M is a wire to open the valve B, and N is a stop to limit
the movement of the valve. In figure 5, O is a projection upon the valve seat A,
let into the masonry of the wall.
Having now described the invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim-The combination of the valve seat A with or without the
projection O, the flap valve B, the hook C, guides D, crossbar E and screwed rod F
actuated by the nut G or its equivalent, arranged substantially as described and
shewn in the drawing.
In witness whereof I, the said Edmund Edwards, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 15th day of December in the year of our Lord 1882.