Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Sept., 1888
I, WILLIAM HENRY FOSTER, of the firm of Edward Foster and Son, Central Brass
Works, Halifax, Yorkshire, Brass Founders and Finishers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
11
My invention has special reference to ball taps usually employed in connection with
water cisterns, and the peculiar feature of my invention consists in the pressure of the
water being the means of closing the valve.
In carrying out my invention I employ any ordinary valve seat, and place thereon a
valve having a vertical spindle on each side thereof. The opening for the introduction
of water is arranged at a position above the valve, so that the pressure of such water
acting upon the upper part of the valve closes the same, but if the water in the cistern
gets low, the usual float on the end of the lever descends, in doing which the opposite
end of the said lever, which is detached from any part of the valve, is caused to rise
and act at the bottom of the valve spindle, whereby the valve is opened and water
admitted. As soon as the float rises to its normal position, the opposite end of the
lever ceases to act underneath the valve spindle, whereupon the pressure of the water
closes the valve and prevents any further admission of water, by which means a safe
and reliable ball tap is constructed, and one not liable to soon get out of order.
Dated this 14th day of October 1887.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY FOSTER of the firm of Edward Foster and Son, Central Brass
Works, Halifax, Yorkshire Brass Founders and Finishers 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 has special reference to ball-taps usually employed in connection with
water cisterns, and the peculiar feature of my Invention consists in the pressure of the
water being the means of closing the valve.
In carrying out my Invention I employ any ordinary valve seat, or as hereafter set
forth, one of special design, and place thereon a valve having a vertical spindle on each
side thereof. The opening for the introduction of water is arranged at a position
above the valve, so that the pressure of such water acting upon the upper part of the
valve closes the same; but if the water in the cistern gets low, the usual float on the
end of the lever descends, in doing which the opposite end of the said lever, (which is
detached from any part of the valve,) is caused to rise and act at the bottom of the
valve spindle, whereby the valve is opened and water admitted. As soon as the float
rises to its normal position, the opposite end of the lever ceases to act underneath the
valve spindle, whereupon the pressure of the water closes the valve, and prevents
any further admission of water; by which means a safe and reliable ball tap is con-
structed, and one not liable to soon get out of order.
And in order that my Invention may be more readily understood, reference is given
to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an external view of my improved tap with ball and lever attached. Fig. 2
is a vertical section to a larger scale.
a is the case or shell of the tap, preferably cylindrical in shape, having two
diaphragms and c. The former of these bis provided with a tapped hole in the
centre, into which the valve seat d is screwed from the water or pressure side. This
valve seat d is formed with a central hole through which the lower part of the valve
spindle passes; the hole being somewhat larger than the spindle to allow of the
passage of the water through the valve seat, when the valve g is raised from its seat.
The lower diaphragm c, which extends only partly across the interior of the shell or
case, as shewn in the horizontal section, (taken on line A. B), is bored to fit the lower
part of the valve spindle f¹, so as to serve as a guide for the same.
e is the inlet for the water, which is formed above the valve or valve seat d.
The screw cap g¹, which closes the upper end of the shell or case a of the tap, is
provided with a central recess bored out to serve as a guide to the upper end of the
valve spindle f. Between the under side of this screw cap g¹, and the top of the
valve is or may be fitted the spiral spring i, which serves to assist in closing
the valve g down on to its seat.
The ball lever is hinged at m,.and the short arm of the lever terminates in a
circular or semi-circular end immediately below the lower end of the valve spindle fi,
but is not directly or positively connected to the valve spindle f¹. The ball n is
suitably weighted so as to open or lift the valve g, when not floated sufficiently by the
water.

page_text: The action of the tap is as follows.
When the cistern is empty or only contains a small quantity of water, so that the
ball is not floated, the short arm of the lever is raised, holding the valve 9 oven
against both the water pressure and the pressure of the spring i; and water passes
beneath the raised valve g through the valve seat d into the cistern. As the water
rises, the ball n is floated, and the short end of the lever gradually lowered, allowing
the valve g also to gradually descend under the pressure from the water and the
spring i. When the water in the cistern has risen to a sufficient height, the valve g
will have descended so far as to rest on the valve seat d, shutting off completely the
water.
Owing to the water pressure being on the top side of the valve, it will be evident
that the greater the pressure of the water, the more tightly is the valve g kept closed
on its seat d. In order to render still more certain the tightness of the valve on its
seat, I in some cases form an annular recess in the under side of the valve, and fit
therein a ring of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material, and which rests
directly on the valve seat, when the valve is down.
It will be understood that the form both of the valve and valve seat, as also other
details of my improved ball tap may be somewhat varied from those shewn in the
drawings, without in anyway affecting the principle of my Invention, as for example
the seat and valve may be both formed conical, or the valve may be a ball or sphere,
or the shell or case oval or rectangular in horizontal section.
The advantages of my improved tap are :-
That the tightness of the valve on its seat is automatically adjusted to the corre-
sponding water pressure, and the waste of water which occurs with many other kinds
of ball-taps is prevented. The tap can be cleaned, or the valve or interior of the
tap readily got at for repairs etc., from the pressure side. Also the arrangement of
lever detached from the spindle permits the lever to be moved out of the way, (i.e. raised,)
or removed without interfering in any way with the tap itself.
Instead of mounting the lever on a pin and securing the same by means of a cotter
or split pin, I prefer to use a turned set screw, by means of which any undesirable
play in the motion of the lever may be prevented.
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 :-
In Ball Taps.
1º. The fitting or introduction of the valve seat into is place from the pressure
side, as set forth.
2°. The fitting or arranging of the valve, (preferably guided at each end as shewn,
by the double ended spindle,) on the pressure side of the valve seat; so that the
pressure of the water may be the sole or the main cause or means of closing the valve,
substantially as herein set forth.
3º. A lever detached from the valve or valve spindle and arranged to operate or
cause only the opening of the valve, substantially as herein set forth.
4°. The use of a set-screw hinge or axis for the lever, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
5°. The general arrangement, construction, and design of ball tap, substantially as
herein set forth and as illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Datel this 10th day of August 1888