IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Foster, of the Firm of Edward Foster
and Son, of Halifax, in the County of York, Brassfounders, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES."
Scaled the 8th June 1875, and dated the 9th December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Foster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th December 1874.
I, EDWARD FOSTER, of the Firm of Edward Foster and Son, of
Halifax, in the County of York, Brassfounders, do hereby declare tho
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more especially to valves used for controlling
the flow or escape of steam at high pressure, but is also applicable to
taps and valves for other purposes.
Our improvements consist in constructing the valves of copper, cast
in one nicce and also in construating the conting with,

page_text: the raised portion thereof, instead of having a flat surface as heretofore,
which is liable to allow refuse to rest on the seat and so prevent the
valve from being tightly closed; but by constructing the seat convex as
stated above, the deposit of sediment or refuse is prevented, the pressure
of steam carrying it or forcing it away. This construction of valve is
extremely simple and can easily be repaired.
The advantage obtained by making the valve of copper is that it does
not require the same amount of labour to make tight as when the valvo
is composed partly of brass and partly of a softer metal, which last are
liable to breakage from the unequal expansion of the two metals under
the influence of heat.
By making the raised seating with a convex rim, less pressure is
required to press the valve closely upon the seating, and consequently
the wear and tear is not so great as when the contact between the
surfaces is more extended.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Foster in the Great Seal Patent Offico
on the 9th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
FOSTER, of the Firm of Edward Foster and Son, of Halifax, in the
County of York, Brassfounders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-eight year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Foster, Her special
licence, that I, the said Edward Foster, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Foster, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS
IN TAPS AND VALVES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the

page_text: next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Foster, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is
to say:
This Invention relates more, especially to valves used for controlling
the flow or escape of steam at high pressure, but is also applicable to
taps and valves for other purposes.
My improvements consist in constructing the valves of copper cast in
one piece, and also in constructing the seating with a convex rim on the
raised portion thereof instead of having a flat surface as heretoforc;
which is liable to allow refuse to rest on the seat, and so prevent the
valve from being tightly closed; but the seat of mine being round as
stated above, no sediment or refuse which is at all times liable to be in
pipes can possibly rest on the seat, but must be carried away by the
pressure of the steam, so that as soon as the valve is screwed down on to
the seat, nothing can prevent it from being perfectly tight, and the con-
struction is so simple that they can easily be repaired.
The advantage obtained by making the valve of copper is that it does
not require the same amount of labour to make tight as when the valve
is composed partly of brass and partly of a softer metal. The last
described are liable to breakage from the unequal expansion of the two
metals under the influence of heat.
By making the raised seating with a convex rim, less pressure is
required to press the valve closely upon the seating and consequently
the wear and tear is not so great as when the contact between the
surfaces is more extended.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents the valve in cleva-

page_text: A represents the pressing collar in the stuffing box; B is the flange,
which is cast on the spindle, and when screwed up prevents the pressure
being on the stuffing box when the valve is open; C is the seat which is
made with a convex rim or surface; D is the valve which is cast
entirely of copper, and which fits perfectly tight upon the seat C without
groove or washer, and thoroughly resists corrosion; E shows the inlet,
and F the outlet, which afford a clear and unobstructed passage through.
the valve in equal area to the nine itself.