Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1888
Specification Accepted, 17th Aug., 1888
We SAMUEL HENRY FLETCHER of 97 Phillip's Street, Aston, near Birmingham,
Brassworker, and EDWIN POPPLESTON, of 85 Standish Gate, Wigan, Lancashire,
Plumber do bereby 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
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction and arrangement.
of what are known as self closing taps for water or other liquids, and is chiefly
designed for water service under pressure; and the special objects of this invention,
is, to produce a tap that will be self closing by means of a spring, and having
general improved combination of parts affording compactness, yet ready access to its
parts simple adjustment of certain working parts, and effecting great saving of water
as compared with non-self closing taps of ordinary make.
a
The said invention consists in the employment of a spring (preferably of an involute
form) connected to the plug of the tap, which closes the valve on to its face, and shuts
off the flow; the said valve being opened at will, against the pressure of the said
spring. This valve is further arranged that it does not rotate when upon its face,
thereby reducing wear. The extent of turning or opening the tap is regulated by an
adjustable stop which is strong in its character, and obviates the overstraining of the
closing spring.
We will now proceed to more particularly explain this our invention, by the aid of
the accompanying illustrative sheet of drawings, upon which are figures and letters of
reference, similar letters referring throughout the several views to the same thing
or part.
to
Fig. 1 represents in sectional elevation a tap constructed and arranged according to
this our invention, shewing the valve arranged for the pressure of the water to act
upon the back, tending to close it.
Fig. 2, is a modification of Fig. 1, embracing part of this our invention, and having
the water pressure against the valve, that is, tending to open it.
Fig. 3 represents with but slight variation the external elevation of Figs. 1 & 2.

page_text: We will first describe the arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 1. a, is the body of
the tap, having a water way as indicated by the arrows, and in which a valve face bis
prepared to receive the valve c. This valve c is connected to, and carried by the
plug d, at the upper end of which is the handle e. Upon reference to Figs. 6 & 7,
this will be more readily seen, as such details are increased in size. Upon the upper
side of the valve is the stem f, which is screwed at its upper end to receive the screw
nut 9: and the lock washer h, the said washer having a square hole, and fitting upon a
square formed upon the stem f. At the lower end of the plug d, a swivel joint is
formed to receive the valve, the two pillars of metal i, i, connecting it to the main
part of the plug.
In attaching the valve to the plug, the screw nut is screwed up tightly against
the washer leaving room however for the valve, washer, and nut, as a whole, to
rotate freely in the hole j.
Upon the plug is formed the left-handed screw thread k, fitting into and working
in the screw thread formed in the upper part of the body of the tap.
Immediately above this screw thread, that is, upon the plug, is a square formed,
which receives the stop piece l, and the involute spring m, see also Figs. 4 & 5.
Upon the upper part of the body of the tap, the upright pillar n is provided, having
in it a slit, to receive the end of the spring m, and serving also as a stop, against
which the stop piece rests. The stop piece is made to, pass on to the square part of
the plug freely, so that it can be readily removed, and placed one or more squares
backward or forward, so as to increase or decrease the range of motion of the plug.
The central portion of the spring is also formed into a square hole, by being bent into
shape and soldered as seen in Fig. 4, so that it may pass freely on to the square of
the plug, so that when the plug is turned round, the spring is put into tension; and
also, that in case the elasticity of the spring should weaken, or, for other reasons, it
should be desired to increase its tension, the same may be done by changing the pring
off one square on to another.
The spring &c. is now covered by the cap piece o,. into
which is screwed the gland p, the latter making a stuffing box joint about the upper
part of tho plug.
As is frequently done, a ring of vulcanite, india-rubber, vegetable fibre, leather, or
other suitable substance is inserted in the face of the valve at 9, which presents a
slightly yielding surface when pressed upon its face, and which may be renewed from
time to time. This ring forms no part of this our invention.
Thus it will be seen that upon turning the handle e round (backwards) the valve is
forced from off its face against the pressure of the water; but, upon loosing the said
handle, the spring m immediately brings back the valve on to its face, cutting off
the flow.
In Fig. 2 is shown a modification embracing the greater part of these our improve-
ments, in which the pressure of water is tending to lift the valve from off its face.
In this case it will be seen that a flanged nut r, is inserted into the body of the tap
to receive the screw part of the plug, (the screw thread of which is now right handed,)
in order to provide room for the valve to pass downwards into position before the said
nut is fixed in its place. This nut may further be prevented from turning round
by inserting a pin s, or other equivalent device.
We would point out here that we do not claim the arrangement of guiding and
mounting the valve as shewn in Fig. 2, as it is not new, the said valve being guided
and acted upon by the plug d', in an ordinary manner, and having a conical bearing
at its upper end, the water pressure tending to keep it against such bearing.
In other respects the various parts are constructed and arranged similarly as in
Fig. 1.
'
In most if not all self closing taps of present make, a large amount. of concussion
takes place when the tap closes; but in this combination of the spring, with a,screw
action of the valve, such concussion is obviated.
The spring by reason of its form and arrangement is subjected to a very small
amount of strain, the rotation necessary of the plug being rarely beyond oue third
of a revolution.

page_text: This spring is preferably made of phosphor bronze, but may be made of any other
suitable material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1st. In a self closing tap the combination with the screw plug d, or d¹, of the
closing spring m, constructed and operating substantially as herein described and
illustrated upon the drawings.
2: The combination in a tap, with the screw plug d, of the swivel connection,
whereby the valve is connected to the said plug, substantially as shown and described
in Figs. 1, 6, & 7.
3. The combination in a tap, with the screw plug d, or d¹, and pillar n, of the
adjustable (loose) stop piece 1, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.
4. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting this our improved
tap, substantially as herein-described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7.
5. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting these our
improvements, as described and illustrated in the modification shown in Fig. 2.
Dated this 13th day of July 1888
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.