IMPROVE- MENTS IN VALVES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William James Frederick Thomson, of Cashirciveen
Camp, in the County of Kerry, in Ireland, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VALVES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William James Frederick
Thomson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th
September 1881.
WILLIAM JAMES FREDERICK THOMSON, Cashirciveen Camp, in the County of
Kerry, in Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES."
This Invention is an improvement in valves, and relates more especially to ball
valves, such as are used for supplying water to cisterns, &c., and consists of a solid
conical india rubber or other elastic washer so constructed as to be adjustable to
the end of the metallic spindle of a valve, such as is now in general use. The
spindle differs slightly from those at present manufactured, however, by having a
shoulder or thimble recess provided in its length in order to meet the apex of the
cone of this washer, so as not only to keep it in its place when adjusted, but also
to make a more perfect water-tight joint between them. Also the metallic seating
for receiving this washer is bevelled to shape, so that there may be a perfect fit
between them for the entire stoppage of any flow of water whatsoever when the
valve is closed.
The main feature of my Invention is the conical washer made of indiarubber or
other suitable elastic material, and it may be applied to ordinary ball valves
without any alterations named of either the seating or the spindle, but in such
case the ball valve to which it is applied would not be as effective or as durable in
its operations as one in which the proper alterations had been made.
The object of my Invention is, that when a ball valve is opened either by the
force of water from the main or otherwise to readily allow of sand, grit, chippings
of iron or lead (generally the result of plumbing operations) to flow through with
the water and not rest on the washer or around the opening; and to thereby
prevent and do entirely away with the danger, inconvenience, and expense con-
sequent on an overflow, such as is found now to be unavoidable with the ordinary
valve fitted with the usual flat washer, since in practice it is found that ball valves

page_text: as at present manufactured with these flat washers will not under such circum-
stances shut off the water at the proper time. By the substitution of a conical in
place of a flat washer, it is perfectly evident that not only is the flow of water less
obstructed, but that there is in reality no resting place for any chippings or grit
which are in any way smaller than the opening.
These same advantages hold good for the application of this conical washer to
all valves that will admit of it, or wherein no liquid, gas, or vapour injurious to the
elastic material of which it is composed is used.
With reference to the Drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of a ball valvo fitted with the valve embodying
my Invention, a portion being shown in section.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of a ball-valve wherein the
valve embodying my Invention is shown closed.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the conical solid elastic washer.
Fig. 4 is an elevation partly in section of my Invention, wherein the valve
seating is prolonged.
A, A, in the Drawings is an ordinary ball valve wherein the washer to the valve,
the valve seating, and the valve spindle have been altered more or less from their
usual construction. These altorations which constitute my Invention aro a solid
conical washer W, made either of indiarubber or of any suitable elastic material.
The seating 8, 8, which is bevelled somewhat sharper than the angle of the conical
washer, and the spindle D, which is provided with a shoulder or thimble t, so as
to receive the apex of the washer W when this washer is adjusted to its place-in-
the usual manner by the nut m. The-valve-seating-8-8,-being-larger at the bottom
than the washer, but fitting it at the top, allows of a continual tight plugging, as
the material of the washer wears or contracts by use or pressure, for it is only
necessary to tighten up the nut n in order to squeeze the elastic washer to fit the
metal seating to the extent required, which tightening up at the same time forces
the top of the washer into the thimble or shoulder, thus making it perfectly
water tight there also, whilst this shoulder acts as a check to the further advance
of the washer.
By examining Figure 1 of the Drawings, it is perfectly evident that any flow of
water through the pipe B would meet with the least obstruction possible in passing
through the valve, and would carry along with it all grit, sand, chippings of iron,
solder, &c., that may be smaller than the opening o, o, between the washer W and
the seating 8, 8, whilst if they should be larger they would still not be able to
prevent the closing of the valve, since as such pieces could never find a resting
place in this opening o, o, they would certainly be forced back again into the valve
pipe on the closing of the valve.
I claim as my Invention,-
1st. The conically shaped washer W, made of india rubber or other similar
elastic material, as a new article of manufacture for valves, substantially as herein
set forth and specified.
2ndly. The combination in ball valves of the solid elastic conical washer W with
the bevelled seating 8, 8, and thimblet provided on the valve spindle D, substan-
tially as herein set forth for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William James Frederick Thomson, have
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