IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING TAPS OR VALVES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Brough, Engineer, and Charles Bell, Agent, both of
Sunderland, in the County of Durham, for the Invontion of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SELF-CLOSING TAPS OR VALVES.”
Scaled the 28th February 1879, and dated the 5th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Brough and Charles
Bell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September
1878.
ROBERT BROUGH, Engineer, and CHARLES BELL, Agent, both of Sunderland, in
the County of Durham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING TAPS OR VALVES."
Our Invention for self-closing taps or valves is especially adapted for water
services, pumps, and marine and stationary engine governors.
In carrying out our Invention, we adopt mainly the following arrangements for
opening, closing, and cushioning self-closing taps or valves for the above-mentioned
purposes: We use a metallic or cup leather piston larger than the valve, same
being made with a hollow spindle to form a guide for the spindle of said valve. A
cam or lever is employed for opening the valve. A small port is provided, which
admits fluid on to the piston from the inlet or pressure side of the tap or valve.
The action is as follows:-On lifting the valve by the cam before described, the
liquid or steam is forced through the small port against the pressure in the inlet;
such pressure then lifts the valve, and the liquid passes to the outlet. When the
cam or lever is released, the liquid passes through the small port on to the piston,
which gradually closes the valve without shock or concussion.
A modification of the above we sometimes use, in which the liquid or steam
passes through a hollow spindle from the pressure side to the top of piston before
described.
Sometimes the tap or valve is so formed that the pressure acts between the piston
and valve, in whch case a small valve is used for admitting the pressure on to tho
'

page_text: piston through a port, which forms an equilibrium to the piston, and thus opens the
valve and cushions the piston.
When the small valve is closed (which is effected by the pressure in the inlet),
the liquid or steam passes through a small hole into the port, and thence to the
outlet.
The tap is sometimes formed so that the pressure also acts between the piston and
valve, as above described.
The liquid however in this arrangement is taken from the outlet through a small
hole and port on to the back of the piston.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Brough and Charles Bell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th March 1879.
ROBERT BROUGH, Engineer, and CHARLES BELL, Agent, both of Sunderland, in
the County of Durham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING TAPS OR VALVES."
Our Invention for self-closing taps or valves is especially adapted for water
services, pumps, and marine and stationary engine governors.
In carrying out our Invention, we adopt substantially the following arrangements
for opening, closing, and cushioning self-closing taps or valves for the above-men-
tioned purposes: We use a netallic or cup-leather piston larger than the valve,
same being made with a hollow spindle to form a guide for the spindle of said
valve. A cam or lever is employed for opening the valve.
A small port is pro-
vided, which adınits fluid on to the piston from the inlet or pressure side of the tap
or valve.
The action is as follows:-On lifting the valve by the cam before described, the
liquid or steam is forced through the small port against the pressure in the inlet ;
such pressure then lifts the valve, and the liquid passes to the outlet. When the
cam or lever is released, the liquid passes through the small port on to the piston,
which gradually closes the valve without shock or concussion.
A modification of the above we sometimes use, in which the liquid or steam
passes through a hollow spindle from the pressure side to the top of piston before
described.
Sometimes the tap or valve is so formed that the pressure acts between the piston
and valve, in which case a small valve is used for admitting the pressure on to the
piston through a port, which forms an equilibrium to the piston, and thus opens the
valve and cushions the piston.
When the small valve is closed (which is effected by the pressure in the inlet),
the liquid or steam passes through a small hole into the port, and thence to the
outlet.
The tap is sometimes formed so that the pressure also acts between the piston and
valve, as above described.

page_text: The liquid however in this arrangement is taken from the outlet through a small
hole and port on to the back of the piston.
Having thus far described the nature of the said Invention, and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, wo
will now proceed (aided by the accompanying Drawings) to further and particularly
describe and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, that is to say :-
Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of one form of our improved taps or valves.
Fig. 2, plan.
Fig. 3, detail view of part into which the scrowed portion from valvo B takes.
Fig. 4 is sectional clevation of a modified form of that shown by Fig. 1.
Fig. 5, plan.
Fig. 6, detail view, showing in plan the hollow spindle.
A is a metallic or cup leather piston, larger than valve B, and is formed with a
hollow spindle, as shown, to act as a guide for spindle of valve B; C is a cam or
lever for opening the valve B; F is a small port for admitting the fluid on to
piston A from the inlet or pressure side D; E is the outlet.
The action is as follows:-On lifting the valve B by cam C, it forces the liquid or
steam through the small port F against the pressure in the inlet D. The pressure
at D then lifts the valve B, and passes to the outlet E. When the cam or lever C is
released, the liquid passes through the small port F on to the piston A, which
gradually closes the valve B without shock.
In Fig. 4, the same letters indicate similar parts as in Fig. 1, the liquid or
steam in this arrangement passing through the hollow spindle F¹, from the pressure
side D to the top of the piston A.
Figure 7 shows a sectional view of another form of our improved tap or valve.
Fig. 8, plan.
Fig. 9, detail view.
In this arrangement, the pressure acts between the piston A and the valve B; D
is a small inlet or pressure side; E, the outlet; C is a valve for admitting the
pressure on the piston A through the port H, which forms an equilibrium on the
piston A, and thus opening the valve B, cushions the valve A. When the small
valve C is closed, which is effected by the pressure in the inlet D, the liquid or
steam passes through the hole G into the port F, thenco to the outlet E.
Fig. 10 represents a sectional view of another form.
Fig. 11, plan; and Fig. 12, detail view.
In this arrangement (Figs. 10 and 11) the pressure acts between the piston A and
valve B, as in Fig 7; D is the inlet or pressure side; E, the outlet; C is the cam or
lever for opening the valve B, as before described. The liquid for cushioning in this
valve or tap is taken from the outlet E through a small hole G and port F on to
the back of the piston A.
Figs. 13, 14, and 15 show modified forms of taps or valves.
Figs. 16 and 17, detail views of Fig. 14.
In these Figures, the flat-faced valve or seat before described is dispensed with,
and cup leathers or metallic pistons instead thereof are used.
Fig. 18 represents another form, in which A is the inlet; B, outlet; C, cup
leather valve for cushioning valve E; D, hollow spindle for passing fluid from
inlet A to cup leather C; F is a variable pitched screw, made according to the various
pressures.
Fig. 19, detail view.
These forms, represented by Figs. 13, 14, 15, and 18 are all constructed on the
same principle as the other forms described, the cushioning in each case being the

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
Baid Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, we hereby declare that we claim the said Invention of "Improvements in
Self-closing Taps or Valves," substantially as herein-before set forth and described,
and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, in which Invention the following are
important and particular points or features.
First. The piston and loose valve, combined with the small port for cushioning
such piston, and the mode of lifting the valve with cam or lever, or direct with
button.
Second. The hollow spindle for cushioning the piston.
Third. Using the pressure between piston and valve, as also the small valve
before described, and hollow spindle, and also the cup that holds the india-rubber or
leather.
Fourth. Using the pressure between the combined piston and valve, with cam or
lever for lifting valve, also taking the liquid from outlet for cushioning piston.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Brough and Charles Bell have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
GEORGE BELL,
4, The Green,
Sunderland.
ROBERT BROUGH. (L.s.)
CHARLES BELL.
(L.S.)