Improvements in Cocks or Faucets.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1899-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cocks or Faucets.
A communication from abroad by IRA D). PERRY, of Illinois Central Station,
Park Row, and JOHN B. WEIR, of 1135, Monadnock Building, both of
Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of
America, Gentlemen.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E., of Norfolk House, Norfolk
Street, London, W.C., in the County of Middlesex, Chartered Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad)
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 fluid pressure controlling
cocks or faucets and it further relates to certain improved means for automatically
controlling and checking the closing movements of the valve used to cut off, or
admit, the fluid pressure.
Heretofore, in water faucets, blow off cocks, and in fact in all fluid controlling
valve apparatus in which the fluid is discharged into the open air, it is generally
necessary to provide packing for the purpose of preventing the escape of the
fluid through the joints of the valve apparatus. The use of packing, is a source
of difficulty, as it wears out and becomes decomposed necessitating the repacking
of the joints at frequent intervals. In the case of water faucets used in the house-
hold, in order to prevent leakage, as the result of defects in the packing, it
becomes necessary to call upon the skilled plumber to repair the faucets and as a
consequence the faucets in a house when used for any length of time generally
remain leaky and out of order.
In order to avoid the use of packing resort has been had to flexible
diaphragms arranged to cut off the fluid from escape through the joints, but these
diaphragms also wear out, become decomposed and also fail to operate under
certain conditions.
The object of this invention is to provide a construction which shall entirely
overcome the necessity of packing the joints, or of providing a supplemental cut
off to protect the joints, and which prevents the escape of the fluid pressure
through any of the joints which are used in this class of apparatus, notwith-
standing the said joints are unpacked and unshielded, or cut off, by a diaphragm,
or other supplemental means.
Water hammer and other disagreeable and damaging effects, in water systems,
are caused by the sudden and quick closure of the valve controlling the water
supply. Attempt has been made to remedy such defects by resort to air cushions,
which act upon the moving column of water to gradually bring it into a position
of rest. The use of these air cushions is a source of considerable expense in
plumbing and fails to accomplish the purpose.
The object of the invention in this respect, is to provide means whereby to
act upon the valve stem, or spindle, and positively and gradually close the valve
and thus gradually cut off the advancing column of water, to prevent water hammer
and other like effects which are disagreeable and damaging.

page_text: This invention has certain other objects in view and consists in certain features
. about to be described. Reference being now made to the accompanying drawings
in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the interior of the improved water faucet.
Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a fragment of sectional view in the direction of the supply channel,
and taken on the line 3-3 through the center of the spindle.
Figure 4 is a view of a modified form showing a web across the supply channel.
Figure 5, shows the invention as applied to a bib cock.
Figure 6 is a view of a modified form without the deflecting web, or surface.
In Figure 1, the valve is designated at A, of ordinary construction, connected
with the upright spindle B, which latter extends through the cap 1) screw seated
on the end of the casing E. The casing may be of any desired shape, or outline,
and may have any suitable discharge spout opening into unconfined space, such
as is shown at H.
One of the main features of this invention resides in the means by which the
column of water, as it advances from the valve A when open, is caused to pass
the spindle, or stem B, without leaking into the chamber beyond the stem, thus
rendering it unnecessary to pack the stem to avoid leakage of the faucet.
The supply channel from the valve A is designated at J, opening into the dis-
charge channel, or spout, H. The cross sectional area of the discharge channel,
or spout, H is greater than the cross sectional area of the supply channel J. The
supply channel J terminates, as shown, at the center, or near the center of the
spindle B and opens into the discharge channel H. Although it is more practical
to terminate the discharge channel, as described, it may, however, be terminated
at a point slightly in front of the spindle.
By reason of the difference of cross sectional area between the discharge spout,
or channel, and the supply channel, a step is formed and a clear space exists
between the column of advancing water and the sides, or side, of the discharge
spout or channel. This prevents the water from passing upward through the
opening, designated at 132 about the spindle B. Any water which may creep
upward about the stem on the front side thereof immediately falls by gravity,
or is drawn downward by the suction created by the column of advancing water
in the opening about the stem, or spindle.
When the column of water is admitted through the valve A, in the form of
construction shown, it is deflected, or guided, laterally away from the discharge
spout and from the spindle B, and also directed upwardly through the supply
channel. It is then deflected in the direction of the discharge channel, or spout,
and delivered therein, passing the spindle in the manner described. In Figure 5
is shown what are called bib-cocks, in which the water is discharged horizontally
from a controlling valve designated at B. This valve is controlled by a rod B
and handle B. In this construction the discharge spout, or channel, is shown
of a greater cross section than that of the supply channel, designated respectively
at J2 and H2. It is evident that in this form of construction it is unnecessary to
form the supply channel in a manner to laterally and upwardly deflect and guide
the water, as shown in Figure 1.
In Figures 1 and 3 is shown a V shaped web K vertically positioned in front
of the spindle B within the supply channel J. This web serves to separate the
column of water and deflect it on either side of the spindle to still further insure
against the passage of water through the opening about the spindle.
In Figure 4 is shown a partition K2 extending across the supply channel.
In Figure 3 is shown the enlargement of the sides of the supply channel, about
the spindle, in order that the area at this point for the passage of the water may
equal that of the supply chamber.
Another feature of this invention is to provide a water cushioning chamber,
which is located between the valve and the discharge channel for the water, or
other fluid. The valve stem, or spindle, is extended into said chamber and a

page_text: head, exposed to the pressure of the water, secured to the stem or spindle, is
adapted to move within said chamber. The open valve is gradually and slowly
closed by the resistance of the water cushion acting upon the head secured to the
stem, the cushion of water being gradually released and discharging into the
discharge channel.
The valve is designated at A and controls the entrance to what may be termed
the supply channel J. The stem B of the valve, extends vertically and passes
through a cushioning chamber E². A head or diaphragm H is secured to the
stem and movable with it in the cushioning chamber E.
When the valve A is opened, the water passes through the valve port into the
channel and also into the water cushioning chamber E2 above the diaphragm,
or head H3. When the stem B is released the valve A has a tendency to return
with great force to its seat. This tendency is controlled and checked by the
cushion of water above the head, or diaphragm H³, and the valve is gradually
and slowly permitted to resume, or find, its seat owing to the decrease in resistance
of the water cushion, caused by the passage of the water through the opening J³
about the stem, into the discharge channel H.
The degree of velocity at which the valve may close is regulated, or deter-
mined, by the size of the opening J3, for it is evident that the velocity of dis-
charge of the water in the chamber above the head H³, determines the resis-
tance of the water cushion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a cock or faucet, a valve, a supply pipe and a discharge pipe of a rela-
tively greater area commencing at a point in proximity to the spindle, or stem,
and a step formed at said point.
2. In a cock or faucet, a valve, a spindle therefor, a supply channel laterally
extended away from the spindle and a discharge channel the area of which is
greater than that of the supply channel.
3. A cut off valve, a discharge channel and a water cushioning chamber,
located between the discharge channel and the valve, together with a stem, or
spindle, for the valve, passing through the water cushioning chamber, a
diaphragm, or head, exposed to the resisting pressure of the water cushion,
carried by the valve stem, or spindle, and movable within the water cushioning
chamber, and a release opening for the water cushion.
4. In a cut off valve apparatus, a stem therefor, a head or diaphragm on the
stem, a water chamber within which the head or diaphragm moves, which latter
is exposed to the resisting pressure of the water in the chamber and a release
opening for the cushion of water.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1899.
J. G. LORRAIN, C.P.A.,
Communicatee.