Improvements in Self-closing Taps or Stopcocks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-closing Taps or Stopcocks.
1, JOHN BARR, of The Glenfield Company Limited, of Kilmarnock, in the
County of Ayr, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention comprises an improved construction of tap or stopcock, which,
whilst simple and not liable to derangement, is easy to open and closes automatically
in a manner to avoid concussion or shock.
The closing piece of my improved tap as made according to one modification is
a plug of vulcanised fibre or other suitable slightly compressible material having a
conical or conoidal hearing surface the angle of which is by preference rather acute.
The plug closes with the pressure up against a valve seat through which its spindle
extends, the spindle passing out through packing in the cover of the tap and having
en it an external button or knob by means of which it can be depressed to open
the tap.
Below the plug there is a piston working in a short cylindrical chamber
formed in the lower part of the tap body and when the plug is opened the piston is
depressed and expels some water from under it. On the valve spindle being let
go the pressure tends to close the plug but as it has to draw up the piston in
doing so, it can only do so slowly as water takes a little time to get back under the
piston again. A spring is applied under the piston to bear up more or less of the
weight of the moving parts; and the piston may be packed with a cup leather or
otherwise or it may be made to fit sufficiently closely without packing.
In a second modification the piston is capable of a small movement on the lower
part of the spindle and on the spindle being depressed water can pass from the
lower to the upper side of the piston more freely than it can pass back again when
the tap is closing.
In a third modification adapted for high pressures the spindle when depressed to
open the tap first opens a small valve in the centre of the main valve or plug and
thereby diminishes the resistance to the opening of the latter.
Dated this Twentieth day of Auril 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I'mprovements in Self-closing Taps or Stopcocks.
1, JOHN BARR, of The Glenfield Company, Limited, of Kilmarnock in the
County of Ayr, North Britain, Engineer, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention comprises an improved construction of tap or stopcock, which
whilst simple and not liable to derangement, is easy to open and closes automatically
in a manner to avoid concussion or shock.
The
In carrying out my invention I have the closing piece or plug of my improved
tap, according to one modification made of vulcanised fibre or other suitable
slightly compressible material, having a conical or conoidal bearing surface.
said plug or closing piece is fixed to a spindle passing out through the cover of the
tap, and having on it an external knol, by means of which the plug can be
depressed to open the tap. Below the plug there is a piston, partly supported by
a spring beneath it, and working in a cylindrical chamber formed in the lower part

page_text: of the tap body, and when the plug is opened, the piston is depressed and expels
some water from under it. On the valve spindle being let go, the pressure tends
to close the plug, but as it has to draw up the piston it can only do so slowly, as
water takes a little time to get back under the piston again. Other modifications
are hereinafter described.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and showing three modifications of my improved self closing
tap or stopcock.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a vertical section of one modification and Figure, 2,
is a vertical section of a second modification of my improved tap or stop cock.
Figure. 3, is vertical section of a street pillar fountain as provided with a third
modification of my improved tap which is also shown in vertical section. In these
drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
In the modification shown in Figure, 1, the closing piece of my improved tap is a
plug, A, made of vulcanised fibre or other suitable slightly compressible material
having a conical bearing surface, B, the angle of which is by preference rather
acute. The plug, A, closes with the pressure up against a valve seat, C, through
which its spindle, D, extends, the spindle passing out through a stuffing box in the
cover, E, of the tap, and having on it an external button or knob, F, by means of
which it can be depressed to open the tap. Below the plug, A, there is a piston, G,
working in a short cylindrical chamber, H, formed in the lower part, J, of the tap
body, and when the plug is opened the piston is depressed and expels some water
from under it. On the valve spindle, D, being let go, the pressure tends to close
the plug, A, but as it has to draw up the piston, G, in doing so it can only close
slowly, as water takes a little time to get back under the piston again. A spring, K,
is applied under the piston, G, to bear up more or less of the weight of the moving
parts and the piston, G, may be packed with a cup leather, 1, (as shown in
Figure, 2,) or otherwise or it may be made to fit sufficiently closely without packing
as shown in Figures, 1, and, 3.
As shown in Figure, 2, the piston, G, is made capable of a small movement on
the lower part, M, of the spindle, D. and on the spindle being depressed water can
pass from the lower to the upper side of the piston, G, more freely than it can pass
back again when the plug, A, is closing.
Figure, 3, is a modification of my improved tap or stopcock as adapted for high
pressures. The spindle, D, when depressed to open the plug, A, first opens a
small valve, N, in the centre of the main valve or plug and thereby diminishes the
resistance to the reopening of the latter. Pipes, P, and, Q, serve as feed and
discharge pipes respectively for the stopcock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1.) The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting my
improved tap or stopcock substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in
Figure, 1, of the accompanying drawings.
(2.) The construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting my
improved tap or stopcock substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in
Figure, 2, of the accompanying drawings.
(3.) The construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting my
improved tap or stopcock substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in
Figure, 3, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Nineteenth day of January 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.