A NEW OR IMPROVED WATER TAP FOR THE PREVENTION OF WASTE OR THE POSSIBILITY OF FREEZING
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Burgess, of Small Heath, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Musician, for an Invention of A NEW OR IMPROVED
WATER TAP FOR THE PREVENTION OF WASTE OR THE POSSIBILITY OF
FREEZING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Burgess at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th June 1880.
CHARLES BURGESS, of Small Heath, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Musician. "A NEW OR IMPROVED WATER TAP FOR THE PREVENTION OF
WASTE OR THE POSSIBILITY OF FREEZING."
The object of this Invention is described in the title.
I first construct a tap, for the most part of the usual kind, but upon the upper
face thereof I construct a suitable valve or outlet, which is actuated as hereinafter
described.
In the winter months, when frost is expected, the before mentioned valve in its
normal state is open, so that any water above its level is allowed to escape, but so
soon as it is desired to draw water the valve is closed in the following manner :-
By preference I attach to the spindle a stud or projection, which on the tap
being turned on acts upon an inclined plane and so forces the valve upon its
seating.
In the summer months the said valve is kept closed by a screw or other
convenient means.
It must be understood that my new or improved tap is always placed in the
ground below the level of the usual or calculated freezing point.

page_text: said Charles Burgess in the Great Seal Patent Unice on the 13th
December 1880.
CHARLES BURGESS, of Small Heath, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Musician. "A NEW OR IMPROVED WATER TAP FOR THE PREVENTION OF
WASTE OR THE POSSIBILITY OF FREEZING."
This Invention consists of a valve which can be attached to any ordinary water
tap, and being placed in the earth bolow freezing point is used for the purpose of
allowing the water that remains in the service pipe above the tap after the tap is
turned off to run away into the ground, so that thore being no water in the pipe it
cannot become frozen up.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elovation of the apparatus when the valve is open; Figure 2 an
elevation when the valve is closed and the outlet for the escape of the water in the
service pipe open; and Figure 3 a section shewing the valves. (a) Figure 3 is the
valve or plug which opens and closes the water way; (b), (c), is the valve or plug
which when raised allows of the escape of the water from the pipe above tho
portion (d).
The opening and closing of the valves is actuated by means of the rod (e),
Figures 1 and 2, which screws down upon the valve (a) and closes the water way
at (6). To the rod (e) is attached a bent lever (f, f), so that the act of screwing the
rod down to close the valve (a) causes the bent lever (f, f) to come in contact with
a hanging bar (g), shewn in sido view, Figure 4, so as to cause it to swing forward
and bring the foot (h) underneath the plug (c), as shewn in Figure 2, and thus raise
it to the position shewn in dotted lines, Figure 3, and allow of tho escapo into the
ground of all the water contained in the service pipe above (2); (h) is a plate to
which the whole apparatus is attached; and (i) is a guide bracket through which
the rod (e) works; at a point above this bracket (i) is an adjusting nut or collar (j),
which is for the purpose of keeping the rod (e) suspended, and consequently the
whole apparatus out of gear, in the summer when it is not required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I claim, without limiting myself to these precise details,
the improvements in water taps for the prevention of waste, or the possibility of
freezing, as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Burgess, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.