IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COCKS OR TAPS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Squire Farron, of the Britannia Brass Works,
Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounder, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COCKS OR
TAPS."
Sealed the 30th December 1873, and dated the 29th July 1873.*
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Squire Farron at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th July 1878.
I, SQUIRE FARRON, of the Britannia Brass Works, Ashton-under-Lyne,
5 in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COCKS OR
TAPE," to be as follows:-
My present Invention consists in certain improvements upon the
cocks or taps for which former Letters Patent were granted to me on
> the 6th day of October 1869, No. 2897, whereby the said cocks or taps
pre made more suitable for very high pressures,

page_text: In performing my present Invention I make use of a hollow taper
plug as in the former Patent, and the steam or other fluid passes
through an inlet passage in the casing and then through two or other
convenient number of passages in the barrel, and through corresponding
passages in the plug which is tightened by a regulating screw as usual.
The barrel in which the plug fits is connected to the outside of the
casing by mid feathers placed beyond the passages through which the
steam or other fluid passes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Squire Farron in the Great Seal Patent Office on:
the 10th January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SQUIRE
FARRON, of the Britannia Brass Works, Ashton-under-Lyne, in the
County of Lancaster, Brassfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Squire Farron, Her special licence that I, the said
Squire Farron, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Squire Farron, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COCKS OR
TAPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Squire Farron,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Squire Farron, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :-
My present Invention consists in certain improvements upon the
cocks or taps for which former Letters Patent were granted to me
on the Sixth day of October, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine,
Number 2897; whereby the said cocks or taps are made more suitable
for very high pressures.
In performing my present Invention I make use of a hollow taper
plug as in the former Patent, and the steam or other fluid passes
through an inlet passage in the casing and then through two or other
convenient number of passages in the barrel, and through corresponding
passages in the plug which is tightened by a regulating screw as usual.
The barrel in which the plug fits is connected to the outside of the
casing by mid feathers placed beyond the passages through which the
steam or other fluid passes.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a
side elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan of a cock or tap constructed according
to my improvements.
a is the outer casing of the tap; the inlet pipe is screwed into or
otherwise connected to the end a³, and the outlet pipe is connected to
the end a; b is the hollow taper plug fitting accurately in the barrel a',
which is cast with the casing a; b¹, b¹, are two passages through the
taper plug; and a³, a', are corresponding passages in the barrel aª i
a³, a³, are the mid feathers connecting the inside of the casing a to the
outside of the barrel a³, and closing the communication between the
inlet and outlet passages, and a is a partition for closing the com-
munication between the under side of the taper plug and the outlet pipe ;
o is a cap screwed into the casing a. The upper end of the taper plug
is square to receive a key by which the plug is turned round; the plug
6 is tightened in the barrel a' by the nut 6³, which is screwed on a
thread cut in the plug and between the nut 6º, and the end of the casing
is the washer b³ which fits on a shoulder on the end of the plug. This
washer has a flat surface on one side fitting on a similar flat surface on

page_text: the plug. The arrows in Fig. 1 indicate the passage of the steam,
water, or other fluid through the tap; the fluid entering at a¹ passes
partly round the barrel a³ through the passages a' in the barrel, and
through the passages 6' into the interior of the hollow taper plug 6 from
whence it flows into the outlet a³. Or the bottom of the taper plug may
be closed and the outlet passages would then be made through the side
of the plug and through the partition a³ opposite the outlet pipe a³.
The principal advantage of these improved taps or cocks is owing to
the passages in the plug and barrel being opposite to each other;
the pressure is counterbalanced consequently the plug can casily be
moved even when there is a considerable pressure on the steam, water,
or other fluid passing through the tap.
It is evident that the details in the construction of the taps or cocks
must be modified according to the dimensions thereof, or to the
particular purpose for which they are intended, but in all cases the
main features of novelty are retained.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described a
convenient mode of performing the same, I wish to observe that I do
not intend to limit myself to the details given, but what I do claim is,
the improved cock or tap consisting of a hollow taper plug fitting in a
barrel, and with passages opposite each other, as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Squire Farron, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of January One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four.
SOUTRE TARRON