Self-closing Tap or Valve.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Self-closing Tap or Valve.
ROBERT ELLIS Engineer Rose Cottage Hammetts Square Tiverton do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A Tap or Valve, which on turning the handle or lever, water or other fluids aro
allowed to pass through the valve seating into the body of the valve from which they
are discharged through the nozzle or outlet of the said valve or tap.
And when the handle or lever is released the pressure of the water or fluid closes
the valve automatically, the lever or handle not requiring to be turned to shut off the
supply of fluid through the said valve or tap.
The aforesaid valve or tap consists of two main or principal parts, namoly the body
and the top.
The top I form by preference in the shape of a dome in the head of which is cut a
double square female screw of quick pitch, the lower part of the dome being hollowed
out to form an air chamber.
The body of the valve or tap I form preferably of a cylindrical shape, having an
inlet on one end and a nozzle or outlet on the side, the front or top end being formed
with a flange where it engages with the aforesaid top by means of screws.
Between the aforesaid body and the top I fit a diaphragm of india rubber leather or
other suitable material.
Through the head of the top 1 fit a spindle with a square head or lever as may be
preferred and on this spindle I form a double square male-screw of a quick pitch
which engages with the similar female screw formed in the top part.
This spindle is hollowed out to receive loosely a second spindle which is attached
to the aforesaid diaphragm by means of a flange and nut. It is carried through the
diaphragm into the body of the valve to within a short distance of the point at
which the inlet to the body is formed. The inlet to the body is formed to receive a
screwed ferrule tinned for connection to lead pipe or screwed for connection to iron
pipe and is chambered out to enable me to place therein a valve preferably in the form
of a ball and made of india rubber or other suitable material.
The result I obtain is as follows.-
When the lever or handle is turned it presses upon the spindle connected with the
diaphragm this spindle then forces the valve or ball off its seat thus allowing the
water to flow through the valve seating and out of the nozzle or outlet of the tap,
and the water will continue to flow as long as the handle is held in this position.
On releasing the handle however the pressure of the water upon the ball or valve
and upon the spindle and also upon the diaphragm forces the ball or valve into its
seat and stops the supply of water.
I make the top part in the shape of a dome in order to form an air chamber behind
the diaphragm the result of this is that when the handle is turned. the diaphragui is
depressed thus forming a partial vacuum which is slowly filled by the air passing
through the interstices around the screw.
On releasing the handle the valve or ball cannot close until this air has escaped.
It thus forms an air cushion preventing concussion-this is highly important in the
case of high pressures.

page_text: $
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Self-closing Tap or Valve.
I ROBT. ELLIS of Rose Cottage Hammetts Square Tiverton in the County of
Devon, Engineer," do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be perforined, to-be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention consists of improvements in Taps or Valves of the description known
as Self Closing.
The object of my invention is to provide a self closing tap or valve, which, when
the handle or lever is turned, the water will flow & continue to flow so long as the
handle is held; but, directly the handle is released, the water will shut off automatically,
& this effect in the following way.
And in order that this invention may be fully understood, I will now describe the
same, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a sectional view of
this tap or valve (see Figure 1).
This tap or valve consists of two main or principal parts viz. the body, and
the top.
The top I form by preference in the shape of a dome.; & in the head of this dome
I cut a double square female screw of quick pitch T the lower part of the dome being
hollowed out to form an air chamber C.
The body B, I form preferably of a cylindrical, shape, having an inlet at one end
and a nozzle or outlet O, on the side, the front or top end being formed with a flange
where it engages with the aforesaid top by means of screws.
Between the aforesaid body & top I fit a diaphragm D. of indiarubber; leather or
other suitable material.
Through the head of the top I fit a spindle S, with a square head or lever, as may
be preferred and in this spindle I form a double square male screw of a quick pitch-T
which engages with the similar female screw formed in the top part.
This spindle is hollowed out at its lower end to receive loosely a second. spindle S'
which is attached to the diaphragm D by means of a flange and nut. The spindle S'
is carried through the diaphragm D into the body of the tap to within a short distance
of the point at which the inlet is formed.
The inlet I is chambered out to receive a ball valve V. which I make of india-rubber
or other suitable material.
I may also form this valve-in.other shapes if preferred.
The result I obtain is as follows:-
When, the handle H is turned, the screwed spindle advances & presses forward the
spindle connected with the diaphragm D and forces the valve V off its seat thus
allowing the water to flow through the valve seating and out of the nozzle of the
tap, and the water will continue to flow as long as the handle is held in this position.
On releasing the handle however, the pressure of the water on the valve V and, upon
the spindle St and also upon the diaphragm D, forces the valve on to its seat and
pushes back the diaphragm & the spindle connected to the diaphragm, and at the same
time the spindle connected to the handle revolves back to its original position..
I make the top part in the shape of a dome in order to form an air.chamber..C
behind the diaphragm D.
The result of this is that when the handle His turned, the diaphragm.is expanded
thus forming a partial vacuum in the chamber (which however quickly fills with
air passing through the interstices around the screw spindle S:,
On releasing the handle H, the valve cannot quite close until the air has been forced
out of this chamber C, hence the air in this chamber acts as an air cushion and
prevents concussion.

page_text: 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.
1st. Constructing "Self Closing Taps" actuated by screwed spindles.
2nd. Constructing Self Closing Taps, to be actuated by screwed spindles in com-
bination with crutched handles, and rendered non-concussive by specially arranged air
chamber as herein described and shown.
3rd. The construction of Self Closing Taps substantially as herein described and
shown.
1
151 1
1000
ROBERT ELLIS.