Improvements in and relating to the Construction of High Pressure Water-taps,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Construction of High Pressure
Water-taps,
I, WILLIAM BRADLEY, of 18, Collegiate Crescent, in the City of Sheffield,
Gentleman, 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;
My invention relates to the construction of high pressure water taps, the object
being to construct a tap which is able to shut off water at high pressure, and
practically without concussion, also without pulsation of the moving parts, and
which is assisted both in opening and closing by the pressure of the water.
The invention is applicable to ball-taps, bib-taps, stops-taps and the like, and the
accompanying drawings clearly illustrate how the invention may be carried into
practice in each case.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in any of the figures in which they
occur.
Fig. 1, is an elevation partly in section of a ball-tap made according to my
invention.
Fig. 2, a similar view of a ball-tap with the valve reversed in position.
Fig. 3, a screw-down-tap constructed to act as a stop-tap, according to my
invention.
Fig. 4, my invention applied to a bib-tap, as an example ouly.
Fig. 5, represents the mechanism for opening the valve instantly to full flow.
In the application of my invention to ball-taps, the outlet may be made either
through the valve itself or the valve may be reversed and the outlet be made
through the seating.
In the ball-tap shown in Fig. 1, the outlet being through the valve, I make the
front part of the body A, vertical, and at a right angle with the inlet passage B,
the lower portion of the front part forming a cylinder, to receive the cylindrical
part of the valve C, with its cup-leather D.
Above the cylinder is an annular chamber E, opposite the inlet passage B, to
permit water to flow freely round the head I, of the valve C, which is located in
this chamber.
Above the chamber E, is a circular opening F, surrounded by a flange, and
communicating with a screw threaded recess into which is screwed a cap G, provided
with a seating H, in the form of a washer, and preferably of rubber or leather,
which is held by the cap firmly against the upper face of the before mentioned
flange.
The central portion of the cap G2, which is of smaller diameter, projects beyond
the seating H, into the annular chamber, leaving a circular opening F, for the
front edge of the valve face 0%, to pass through, and reach the seating H.
The valve seating is secured to the cap by passing it over a thin collar K, which
holds it in position when the cap is removed.
The projection G, is of smaller diameter than the bore of the cylinder in which
the valve C, slides.

page_text: The valve is made with a waterway W, through its longitudinal centre, its upper
edge C, being the valve face, and its lower end C3, being the outlet.
It is preferably made in two parts, which are screwed together for the purpose
of holding a cup-leather D, which fits the cylinder and bears against the shoulder
on the lower part of the valve.
The head of the valve is increased in diameter, and its face is recessed, in two
diameters, the larger one to allow the edge to pass over the collar K, and bed upon
the seating H, and the inner recess to fit more closely over the projection G²,
when the valve is being closed by the action of the float lever J.
As the valve is closing, the projection G², enters the recessed face of the valve,
and when it reaches the edge of the smaller recess, the flow of water passing
through the narow space to the outlet, becomes so attenuated, that the resisting
forces, due in one direction to the water forcing its way to the outlet (tending to
keep the valve open) and in the other direction to its action upon the larger
area of the valve head (tending to close the valve) eventually reach a point of
equilibrium, and then the equilibrium being overcome by the increased pressure
of the float, the valve is instantly closed without concussion, and is held closed by
the pressure of the water. Sufficient play is allowed between the end of the float
lever and the valve, to permit the valve to be closed automatically by the action
of the water alone.
When water is withdrawn from the cistern, the float with its lever descends,
and when it has overcome the resistance of the water pressure and opened the valve
.beyond the point of equilibrium, the valve is forced open to its full extent by the
water automatically.
According to the second arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the valve C, is reversed in
position and is made solid, the outlet being made through the nozzle N, the
upwardly projecting edge K¹, being the substitute for the projection G2, of the
former tap, (shown in Fig. 1,) the construction of the valve face being the same.
A perforated grating P, may be used with advantage, to prevent the entry into
the tap, of foreign substances.
If it is desired that the ball or float-taps shall open instantly to a full flow of
water, I use an arrangement shown in Fig. 5, it consists of a short lever 1, provided
with a weight 2, to actuate the valve 3, and upon the same joint pin 4, and
situated underneath the weighted lever, I arrange the float lever 5, both having
divided or forked ends.
In front of the tap body, I pivot a swinging catch-piece 6, which, either by its
own gravity or aided by a spring 7, is retained in a forward position.
When the valve is open and the water rises in the cistern, the float lever also
rises, and eventually coming in contact with the weighted lever 1, carries it up
until the valve is closed, and the front part 8, of the swing catch passes under
the weighted lever and sustains it.
When water is being drawn off, the float lever descends, and in its descent
presses against the curved face 9, of the catch-piece 6, releasing the lever which
drops and opens the valve to its full extent.
In Fig. 3, the invention is illustrated as applied to a screw-down tap combined
with a stop-tap. For this purpose I lengthen the lower part of the body into
which the outlet nozzle N, is screwed, so as to leave a recess, with a screw threaded
interior below the nozzle, into which recess I screw a union plug U, with a union
pipe L, constructed to make a joint with the end of the nozzle N. This junction
can be used with other taps. This union can be connected or disconnected and a
soldered joint made to a lead pipe, at any time when the valve is closed.
The screw M, travels upon the screwed part of the body A, and forces down the
valve C, through the medium of an interposed spiral spring S, and when turned in
the opposite direction, it raises it by means of a cross-pin O. The action of the
valve is similar to those before described.
In the simple arrangement of a bib-tap shown in Fig. 4, the construction of the
valve and its parts is the same as in the others, but in this tap the valve is

page_text: raised and lowered by the hand, the cap Q, being of any convenient configuration;
or any other suitable attachment,(such as a short lever, or cam,) may be substituted for
the cap Q, if desired. In taps having a valve and its co-acting parts constructed
according to my invention as herein before described, the recoil of the water when
the valve is closed, cannot reopen it, and pulsation of the valve is therefore
impossible.
Having now 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. A float-actuated tap, having a tubular valve C, which forms part of the outlet
water-way, fitted with a cup-leather D sliding with it within the body of the
tap (or sliding through a cup-leather held in the body, as preferred); the head I,
of the valve, located within a chamber E, open to both the inlet and outlet passages;
the face of the valve recessed to fit closely over a corresponding projection G³, and
its annular edge capable of closing against the seating H; the diameter of the
bore of the cylinder A, or cup-leather D, being greater than the diameter of the
outlet C³, and the area of the head I, of the valve C, being larger than the bore
of the said cylinder A, as herein before described, and shown in Fig. 1.
2. A float-actuated tap, having a solid cylindrical valve fitted with (or sliding
through) a cup-leather D, the face of the valve recessed to fit closely over the
upwardly-projecting end of the outlet nozzle, and its annular edge capable of closing
against a seating H; the diameter of the cylinder A, or cup-leather D, being
greater than the diameter of the outlet C3, and the area of the head I, of the
valve C, being larger than the diameter of the said cylinder, substantially as
herein before described, and shown in Fig. 2.
3. In combination with a float-actuated tap, a weighted lever 1, a supporting
catch 6, and a float lever 5, constructed, arranged and operating, as hereinbefore
described, and shown, with reference to Fig. 5.
4. In a water tap, a cylindrical valve, sliding through a cup-leather, (or fitted
with a sliding cup-leather) of larger diameter than the diameter of the outlet
passage, and having a head of larger diameter than the cup-leather, and its face
recessed to fit closely over the edge of the outlet passage, and capable of closing
upon the valve seating, substantially as herein before described and set forth.
Dated the 10th day of May 1899.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for Applicant, Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.