IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING AND DRAWING OFF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bartholomew, of Doulton's Sanitary Engineering
Works, Albert Embankment, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING AND DRAWING OFF
WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bartholomew at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1879.
WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW, of Doulton's Sanitary Engineering Works, Albert
Embankment, in the County of Surrey. IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND APPARATUS
"
FOR SUPPLYING AND DRAWING OFF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in taps and apparatus for supplying
and drawing off water and other fluids.
I form upon the body or shell of the tap a cylinder or chamber, within which I
arrange a piston to work easily up and down.
The piston is made with a stem on its under side of smaller diameter than the
piston, and the lower end of this stem is faced with leather or like material, and
forms the main valve; it rests, when down, upon a seat, and so closes the water way
through the tap. A narrow passage connects the upper end of the cylinder or
chamber above the piston with the supply; by this passage the fluid has access to
the upper side of the piston, and the pressure which it exerts holds the main valve
against its seat. There is also upon the upper part of the cylinder or chamber a
small relief valve, which can be removed from its seat by pressure applied by hand
upon a button, screw, or cam action in which the stem of the valve terminates.
The water or fluid is then able to escape from the cylinder or chamber faster than
it can enter by the narrow passage already referred to; the piston then rises in
consequence of the pressure below being now unbalanced, and the water or fluid
issues freely. When, however, the relief valve is permitted to close, the fluid again
accumulates in the upper part of the cylinder or chamber, and exerts a pressure upon
the piston which causes it to descend more or less rapidly, according to the adjust-
ment of the apparatus, and the main valve seating itself, the flow of the fluid is
stopped.
I make the relief valve with a cylindrical stem which is hollow and perforated on.
the side, and when the valve is removed from its seat the small flow requisite to
relieve the pressure in the cylinder or chamber passes through the stem into a

page_text: also as a spring.
In-the-passage connecting the cylinder or chamber with the supply I sometimes
provide an adjustable screw plug, by means of which, and by suitably proportioning
the piston and stem, I can regulate the closing of the main valve to take place at a
certain interval after the relief valve is permitted to return to its seat, and so I can
obtain an after flow of any desired amount.
I sometimes modify the arrangement so that the main valve closes by the pressure
upon the piston in opposition to the flow of the fluid; in this case, the space around
the stem being in communication with the outlet, I apply a cupped leather to the
piston to prevent leakage past it.
I employ a somewhat similar arrangement in connection with valves for the
supply of water to water closets, and for like purposes, where it is desired that the
quantity of water drawn at each use of the apparatus should be limited to a certain
regulated quantity, and also where it is requisite that after the valve has been
released a further small delivery of water should take place, I arrange beneath the
delivery valve a cylinder containing a piston like that in the tap already described.
A small orifice adjustable by a screw places the portion of the cylinder below the
. piston in communication with the source of supply. The space above the cylinder
in to which the stem of the piston enters when the piston rises is closed at the top
by the delivery valve; this space also communicates with the supply, but by openings
of somewhat smaller area than the outlet passage, so that when the delivery valve
is open the pressure upon the stem of the piston is in some degree relieved. This
permits the piston to rise by the influence of the pressure on its under side, and by
the time the proper amount of water has been delivered the upper end of the stem
of the piston reaches the mouth of the delivery passage opened by the lifting of the
delivery valve; the stem of the piston, then fitting as a valve to the delivery passage,
stops the flow, although the delivery valve may remain open. The stem of the
delivery valve is hollow, and within it there is an adjustable rod which may be made
to protrude below the valve to a suitable distance.
When the weighted lever which controls the delivery valve is released this rod
comes into contact with the stem of the piston and presses it away from its seat in
the delivery passage, thereby again opening the delivery passage for the after flow,
which then continues until the piston has been forced so far back as to permit the
delivery valve to again seat itself. The pressure on the two sides of the piston being
equal when the delivery valve is closed the piston then falls gradually to the bottom
of its cylinder, and it remains there until the delivery valve is again opened. I
sometimes also apply a control piston and stem operating to stop the flow when the
main valve has been open for a given time in connection with a delivery valve such
as I have already described, that is to say, having a piston and stem operating under
the influence of a relief valve and closing against the flow of the water. A simple
peg or projection on the under side of the main valve serves to displace the control
piston as the delivery valve returns to its seat.
Where it is desired to admit water to and draw off water from basins I provide
at the bottom of the basin a valve with a tubular stem leading into the waste pipe,
and when the waste pipe is open the water passes out and away from the basin down
the tubular stem of the valve.
Around the stem of the valve there is an annular chamber which the valve closes
at the top. The water for the supply of the basin is admitted to the annular
chamber by any suitable tap; it lifts the valve, and so passes into the basin. Thus,
whilst both the inlet and the outlet is at the bottom of the basin, separate channels
are provided for the clean water to enter and for the foul water to run away, and
foul water can never pass from the basin into the passage by which the clean water
enters, this being prevented by the valve, which always remains closed, except when
lifted by the pressure of the incoming fresh water.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Bartholomew in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
January 1880.
WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW, of Doulton's Sanitary Engineering Works, Albert
Embankment, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND APPARATUS
FOR SUPPLYING AND DRAWING OFF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in taps and apparatus for supplying
and drawing off water and other fluids.
I form upon the body or shell of the tap a cylinder or chamber, within which I
arrange a piston to work easily up and down.
The piston is made with a stem on its under side of smaller diameter than the
piston, and the lower end of this stem is faced with leather or like material, and
forms the main valve; it rests, when down, upon a seat, and so closes the water
way through the tap. A narrow passage connects the upper end of the cylinder or
chamber above the piston with the supply; by this passage the fluid has access to
the upper side of the piston, and the pressure which it exerts holds the main valve
against its seat. There is also upon the upper part of the cylinder or chamber a
small relief valve which can be removed froin its seat by pressure applied by hand
upon a button in which the stem of the valve terminates. The water or fluid is.
then able to escape from the cylinder or chamber faster than it can enter by the
narrow passage already referred to; the piston then rises in consequence of the
pressure below being now unbalanced, and the water or fluid issues freely. When,
however, the relief valve is permitted to close the fluid again accumulates in the
upper part of the cylinder or chamber and exerts a pressure upon the piston, which
causes it to descend more or less rapidly, according to the adjustment of the
apparatus, and the main valve seating itself, the flow of the fluid is stopped.
I make the relief valve with a cylindrical stem which is hollow and perforated on
the side, and when the valve is removed from its seat the small flow requisite to
relieve the pressure in the cylinder or chamber passes through the stem into a
passage in connection with the outlet. The stem of the relief valve is passed
through a disc of india rubber which serves both to form a water tight joint and
also as a spring.
In the passage connecting the cylinder or chamber with the supply I sometimes
provide an adjustable screw plug, by means of which and by suitably proportioning
the piston and stem I can regulate the closing of the main valve to take place at a
certain interval after the relief valve is permitted to return to its seat, and so I can
obtain an after flow of any desired amount.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a draw off tap constructed as above
described; a is the shell or body of the tap; b is a cylinder mounted upon it and
containing a piston c. The piston has a stem c¹ the lower end of which acting as a
valve closes the passage from the inlet to the outlet side of the tap. A recess is
formed in the lower end of the stem c¹ into which a disc of leather is inserted.
The edges of the recess are burnished over to retain the leather in its place; d is
a small passage capable of regulation by the screw d', by which water from the
inlet is able to pass into the cylinder b over the piston c, and by exerting pressure
upon the piston to hold it down, and the tap closed; e is the relief valve faced with
leather where it covers the aperture in the side of the cylinder 6 through which
its stem e passes. The stem e¹ traverses the thick ring of india rubber f, and
receives a button upon its outer end.
The ring f both serves to form a water tight joint, and also acts as a spring.
It is received into a gland or cavity provided for it on the side of the cylinder b,
and is retained by a screw cap.
L
The stem e¹ is formed hollow, so that when the stem is pushed inwards water is

page_text: ==
able to escape through it from the cylinder o passing by the passage g provided for
the purpose-to-the-delivery-side_of_the_tap.
An important feature in this arrangement is the independent-relief-valve with
its connection-with-the-outlet. side of the tap separate from the piston c, and its
stem-valve c-controlling the water passage.
-
"I sometimes modify the arrangement so that the main valve closes by the
pressure upon the piston in opposition to the flow of the fluid; in this case the
space around the stem being in communication with the outlet, I apply a cupped
leather to the piston to prevent leakage past it.
Figure 2 is a section of a tap of this construction. The parts are lettered to
correspond with the description already given. The relief valve is here mounted
upon the top of the cylinder b.
I employ a somewhat similar arrangement in connection with valves for the
supply of water to water closets, and for like purposes where it is desired that the
quantity of water drawn at each use of the apparatus should be limited to a certain
regulated quantity. I arrange beneath the delivery valve a cylinder containing a
piston like that in the tap already described. A small orifice adjustable by a screw
places the portion of the cylinder below the piston in communication with the source
of supply. The space above the cylinder into which the stem of the piston enters
when the piston rises is closed at the top by the delivery valve. This space also
communicates with the supply, but by openings of somewhat smaller area than the
outlet passage, so that when the delivery valve is open, the pressure upon the stein
of the piston is in some degree relieved. This permits the piston to rise by the
influence of the pressure on its under side, and by the time the proper amount of
water has been delivered, the upper end of the stein of the piston reaches the
mouth of the delivery passage opened by the lifting of the delivery valve. The
stem of the piston then fitting as a valve to the delivery passage stops the flow,
although the delivery valve may remain open. The stem of the delivery valve
protrudes below the valve to a suitable distance.
When the weighted lever which controls the delivery valve is released, this stem
comes into contact with the stem of the piston, and presses it away from its seat in
the delivery passage, thereby again opening the delivery passage for the after flow,
which then continues until the piston has been forced so far back as to permit the
delivery valve to again seat itself. The pressure on the two sides of the piston
being equal when the delivery valve is closed, the piston then falls gradually to the
bottom of its cylinder, and it remains there until the delivery valve is again
opened.
Figure 3 shows in section the arrangement described above in connection with
the ordinary draw off valve of a water closet; h is the delivery valve which when
lifted permits water to flow to the pan of the closet; i is the lever by which the
valve His operated-;-as-is-usual.it.has a sufficient weight attached to it to keep the
valve closed against the pressure, and also as is usual it is connected with a bellows-
regulator, which prevents the too rapid descent after that it has been raised;
and are the piston and stem which I apply in order to prevent too much water
being drawn at a time, say by the handle of the closet being in any way retained
in a raised position. The piston k works in a cylinder in the bottom of which
there is a small aperture 1 adjustable by a screw; m, m, are water passages
connecting the upper part of the cylinder with the inlet at m¹. These passages m
are somewhat smaller in area than that covered by the delivery valve h. As
already explained, as soon as the valve his removed from its seat the piston k
commences to rise, and (if the valve h is left open long enough) after a time the
stem by its upper end closes the delivery passage. When the valve h is allowed
to return to its seat, the projection ¹ beneath it displaces the stem and piston k, k',
and they fall back gradually, to their original position.
I sometimes also apply a control piston and stem operating to stop the flow when
the main valve has been open for a given time in connection with a delivery valve,
such as I have already described, that is to say, having a piston and stem operating

page_text: under the influence of a relief valve and closing against the flow of the water. A
simple peg or projection on the under side of the main valve serves to displace the
control piston as the delivery valve returns to its seat.
Figure 4 is a section showing this arrangement, it requires no detailed description,
the parts being lettered as in Figures 2 and 3. In this Figure, and also in Figure 2,
the stem of the relief valve is not perforated as described in respect to Figure 1,
but the stem of the relief valve passing loosely through its passage the water finds
its way around the stem when the valve is displaced from its seat.
Figure 5 shows an arrangement similar to Figure 1 excepting some minor details ;
a spring o is applied as shown to aid the piston cat the commencement of its
descent; the stem of the relief valve is not perforated but made an easy fit in its
passage as before described, and the stem of the relief valve in place of being
pushed in directly by the finger is operated by turning a small cam ended
lever p.
Figure 5 also differs from Figure 1 in having no special passage for conveying
water from the inlet to the upper side of the piston, this end being attained
simply by making the piston a loose fit in the cylinder, or by filing nicks in
its sides.
Figure 6 is an arrangement similar to Figure 1 but also with no special passage
for conveying water to the upper side of the piston c.
Figure 7 again is similar but the relief valve is on the top of the cylinder;
Figures 8 and 9 are other taps substantially similar to Figure 1, but varied in form
to adapt them to different uses; Figure 8 is a tap specially suited to supply a basin
or bath, and Figure 9 is a tap adapted for use with an earthenware urinal; Figure
10 shows to a smaller scale à cock or like construction provided with flanges for
the connection of the inlet and outlet pipes on either side of it.
Figure 11 is intended for use instead of an ordinary ball cock.
The parts are
inverted and a float is applied upon the stem of the relief valve which is held open
by the float until this is supported by the rise of the water beneath it.
Figure 12 is a tap suitably arranged for the supply of water closets, the relief
valve is operated by means of a small lever p connected with the handle of the
closet, and a screw q is applied to adjust the amount of the rise of the piston c and
consequently of the after-flush or quantity of water permitted to pass after the
handle of the closet is put back to its place.
Figure 13 shows an arrangement adapted to water closets in which the water.
supply is dependant on the movement of the seat. In this case a cavity is formed
within the piston c and an inner piston c* is fitted loosely into it. The piston c³ is
fixed immediately beneath the relief valve upon the same stem.
There is a spring,
as is shown, applied around this stem, and it is of sufficient power to hold the relief
valve to its seat except when pressure is applied upon the top of the stem. The
seat of the closet is hinged in the usual manner and a spring is applied to it which
raises it slightly, but a person sitting on the seat causes it to descend, and it then
thrusts down the stem of the relief valve. The piston c² is thus brought to the
bottom of its cavity in the piston c and the weight of the person on the seat then.
holds down the main water delivery valve and keeps it closed, but when by the
rising of the person from the seat, the stem of the relief valve is relieved from
pressure it immediately rises together with the piston c by the action of the spring
and the water flows freely. By degrees however the water passes up around the
piston c, and having no escape (the delivery valve being now closed) it finds its way
into the cavity beneath the inner piston c; the main piston c. then descends, stopping
the flow of the water as already described.
. Figures 14 and 15 represent taps constructed according to my Invention and so
arranged that only a certain regulated quantity of water can be drawn off at one
time and by no improper use can any considerable waste of water be caused.
This result is obtained in these taps by receiving the water passing out by the
relief valve into a chamber in which it is stored, and when the chamber is full
**
;

page_text: the pressure accumulates in 1, which acting on the piston causes DEO
-close.
In both these Figures the receiving chamber-is-marked-r,.and in Figure 14,
which-represents a draw off tap for domestic use, the relief valve is operated by a
small leverp: The-lever pis itself moved by a finger's projecting from the push
button t: The push button also controls a small valve (similar to the relief valve
already explained) in connection with the receiving chamber r. When the push
button is not pressed upon, the receiving chamber can empty itself, but when the
_ button is pushed in it closes the emptying valve of the receiving chamber imme-
diately before the finger s comes against the lever p. There is also an air hole at the
top of the receiving chamber r to permit the escape of air as the water enters; u is
a pellet of india rubber which floats when the water reaches it and closes the air
hole.
The receiving chamber may be made without an air hole, but in this case it must
be of larger size to accommodate the air confined in it.
In Figure 15, which represents a valve suitable for the supply of a water closet,
the external lever gives motion to a pusher 8* entering into the receiving chamber.
The pusher also carries (upon an arm with which it is provided) a small india
rubber pad to cover and close the outlet w. When the external lever is drawn up
the pusher 8* moves down, it first closes the outlet w and then operates upon and
opens the relief valve e.
Figure 16 shows in section a modification of my Invention in which the valve is
opened by the application of manual force and not by relieving the back pressure
upon the piston.
b is the cylinder; c, the piston with its stem c¹ closing the outlet. The piston
not fitting the cylinder tightly, water leakes past it, and accumulates so as to exert
a pressure on the top of the piston which keeps the valve on its. seat. The cylinder
is closed at the top by an india rubber diaphragm held in place by the cap x. A
rod is screwed into the upper side of the piston c; it passes watertight through the
diaphragm and out through the centre of the cap; y is a lever jointed to the top of
this rod, and when the lever is turned down, it operates by its cam like end to
draw up the rod and open the valve; the water in the upper part of the cylinder is
then expelled downwards past the piston. When however the lever y is raised, the
valve does not close suddenly (in a way to cause concussion which is a serious evil,
and is liable to occur more especially if the pressure of the supply be large), but the
water taking an appreciable time to find its way back past the piston to the upper
side of the cylinder, the valve comes quietly to its seat. The closing may be made
to occupy more or less time, according to the less or more freedom allowed in the fit
of the piston.
Another part of my Invention relates to apparatus adapted to the supply of
water to basins.
Where it is desired to admit water to and draw off water from basins, I-provide.
at the bottom of the basin a valve with a tubular stem leading into the waste pipe,
and when the waste pipe is opened, the water passes out and away from the basin
down the tubular stem of the valve.
Around the stem of the valve there is an annular chamber which the valve closes
at the top. The water for the supply of the basin is admitted to the annular
chamber by any suitable tap; it lifts the valve and so passes into the basin. Thus,
whilst both the inlet and the outlet is at the bottom of the basin, separate channels
are provided for the clean water to enter, and for the foul water to run away, and
foul water can never pass from the basin into the passage by which the clean water
enters, this being prevented by the valve which always remains closed, except when
lifted by the pressure of the incoming fresh water.
Figure 17 shows this arrangement for the supply of basins, or it may be other
vessels in which it is desired to have separate passages for the entrance of clear
water and the escape of dirty or used water, and where it is required that both the
entrance and the exit should be at the bottom of the basin or vessel.

page_text: A and A' are two pipes or passages bringing in the water from the hot and cold
water supply, the water enters the annular chamber B, and acting beneath the
valve C, it lifts it, and the water enters the basin or vessel. As soon as the taps
by which the water supply is controlled are closed, the valve C settles down, and
the annular knife edge projection on the under side of the valve closes upon the
surface beneath it. C' is a passage through the middle of the valve C, and it is
formed in a stem which descends down into the mouth of the waste pipe D, so that
when the tap which controls the exit is opened, the basin or vessel empties by a
passage which is quite separate from that by which the water is admitted.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,―
First. The tap substantially as shown at Figure 1, and which closes with the
flow of the water.
Second. The tap substantially as shown at Figure 2, and which closes against the
flow of the water.
Third. The arrangement substantially as described in respect to Figure 3 of a
cylinder with a piston and stem, cutting off the supply before it reaches the delivery
valve when this valve is opened for too long a time.
Fourth. The combination substantially as described in respect to Figure 4 of a
cut off cylinder, piston, and stem, with a tap operating by means of similar parts.
Fifth. The taps substantially as shown by the Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Sixth. The ball or float tap substantially as shown by the Figure 11 adapted for
the supply of cisterns.
Seventh. The tap substantially as shown by the Figure 12, adapted for the
supply of water closets, and in which the distance travelled by the piston is con-
trolled by an adjustable stop, so that more or less afterflush may be obtained.
Eighth. The tap substantially as described in respect to Figure 13 for a moving
scat watercloset.
Ninth. The taps substantially as described in respect to Figures 14 and 15, for
drawing off only a regulated quantity at each action, this end being attained by
confining the water after it has passed the relief valve.
Tenth. The tap substantially as described in respect to Figure 16.
Eleventh. The apparatus substantially as described in respect to Figure 17, for
supplying and drawing off water from basins and other vessels.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bartholomew, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW. (L.S.)