IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR VALVES FOR REGULATING AND SUPPLYING UNIFORM QUANTITIES OF WATER TO, AND PREVENTING WASTE IN, WATERCLOSETS, URINALS, AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ross, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Brassfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS OR VALVES FOR REGULATING AND SUPPLYING UNIFORM QUANTITIES
OF WATER TO, AND PREVENTING WASTE IN, WATERCLOSETS, URINALS, AND
OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 27th July 1877, and dated the 5th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ross at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1877.
WILLIAM ROSS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Brass-
founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR VALVES FOR REGULATING AND
SUPPLYING UNIFORM QUANTITIES OF WATER TO, AND PREVENTING WASTE IN,
WATERCLOSETS, URINALS, AND OTHER VESSELS."
The first part of this Invention relates to certain improvements on that class of
duplex regulating valve for the sorvice cisterns of waterclosets and other similar
purposes, which has the valve part lifted by the action of a sucker, either attached
to the top weighted or lifting part of the valve, or to the valve lid; and consists in
guiding the valve part by a central hollow or solid spindle fitted to it and working
through its seat, and also in fitting the lifting part with a solid or hollow spindle,
and working and guiding it in and over the hollow or solid central spindle in the
valve part below it, all without the necessity of outside guiding case or cases as
heretofore used, which will both simply the construction and action of this class
of valve. The small hole for allowing the water to get within the cup sucker or
inner face when it is a flat sucker, or through the sucker itself, is bored through the
boss secured to the sucker, and in through the solid or hollow spindle, as the case
may be, for releasing the valve, the size of the hole determining the time of its
falling, and the quantity of water allowed to pass through at each action or lift of
the valve.
The second part of this Invention has reference to an improved construction and
arrangement of the parts of a new or improved service disc valve and piston tap or
valve combined, fitted or connected to the main service pipes direct, for giving a

page_text: regulated supply of water at each action without the use of service cisterns, and for
saving or preventing the waste of water. And this improvement consists in con-
bining these three parts as a regulating tap for waterclosets and wells or public
service taps, all as follows:-A flexible or elastic disc of india-rubber is secured
between two metal flanges at right angles to and concentric with the inlet duct of
the chest, with a slight hollow or cavity in the face of the flanges in front of and
behind the disc, which has a small face valve projecting from its front centre
sufficient to close the entrance orifice or seat of the inlet pipe below the front
flange, where an annular chamber is formed leading direct to the lateral dischargo
piston valve chamber and its outlet port and branch. A chamber is formed in the
centre of the back flange fitted with a spiral or other spring pressing against the
metal centre of the disc, so as to keep the front valve always close, except when
the pressure is relieved from the back chamber of the disc by the pushing in of the
piston valve, which allows the water in the chamber behind the disc to flow
through a small hole or channel led from the back of the disc along and into the
piston valve chest, so as to escape round the outside of the piston valve into and
through the outlet branch or nose tap when the piston is thus pushed in; when the
pressure of the water on the face of the disc and its closing centre valve acting also
behind the piston valve instantly opens its inner end and chest to the outlet branch,
and closes the said small outlet passage from the back of the disc, so as to keep the
water flowing through the discharge valve or nose tap until the chamber behind
the disc slowly fills with water through a very small hole formed through the metal
centre of tho disc, and its small closing valve or scrow fixing it to the disc, when
the pressure behind tlie disc together with that of the spring on the metal centre
would again close the small inlet centro valve, and prevent the further escape of
water until the piston valve was again pushed in to allow another escape of the
water from the chamber at the back of the disc by the outside of the piston valve
and discharge nose branch; the size of the chamber behind the disc, and that of
the small hole through its centre with adjustable screw determining the period the
valve would remain open, as well as the quantity of water discharged at each
action. The part of the front flange (projecting inwards over the annular chamber
leading from the sinall inlet valve seat to the inner end of the piston valve chest)
supports the regulating disc against the back pressure while the valve remains
closed.
The piston valve is preferably formed with three discs of lonther, two near the
inner end to close the outlet flow of service water at the inside, and the discharge
from the chamber behind the regulating disc, and the third some distance outside of
this, and a groove in the spindle or piston for allowing of this escape, at the same
time preventing any escape at the outer ond, which has a pressing in knob on it,
and a slot and pin to regulate the distance it is moved out and in.
A further part or improvement of this Invention has reference to the construction
of the double disc piston equilibrium valve, and the lateral inlet branch or port to
it for being fitted to and actuated by the float levers of service cisterns for the
supply of waterclosets, and for other domestic purposes.
The nature of this improvement consists in widening the said entering port from
the size of the service pipe to the full diameter of the cylindrical barrel of the
piston, and contracting it to a corresponding extent in depth in the centre of the
inlet branch nearly opposite the lower disc of the piston valve, when it and the float
lever are in their closed position with the cistern full to its normal level, so that the
lowering of the water a very few inches would open the piston across the said
narrow port, so that the rush of water therefrom would act on the metal disc
securing the under leather closing disc, and not on this as usual, which wore it
away and left it leaking in a short time; and for making this lower disc still more
durable it is cupped up a little at the edges by rounding the end of the piston, and
cupping its holding-on washer or nut, so that when the piston valve is closed the
pressure of water in the narrow port and space all round this cupped disc closes it
more tightly than when constructed as heretofore.

page_text: The advantages of this Invention or improvements are, a more efficient and
certain action of the service valves with greater durability of the parts, and saving
in cost of construction on account of their greater simplicity.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Ross in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th August
1877.
WILLIAM ROSS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Brass-
founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR VALVES FOR REGULATING AND
SUPPLYING UNIFORM QUANTITIES OF WATER TO, AND PREVENTING WASTE IN,
WATERCLOSETS, URINALS, AND OTHER VESSELS."
Figures 1 to 5 are sectional elevations of lifting cap' sucker service valves for
regulating the flow of water to waterclosets or liquids to other vessels for othor
purposes, all constructed in accordance with and illustrative of the improvements
under the first part or head of this Invention.
Figure 1 shows the end part of an ordinary service cistern Z for waterclosets,
fitted with one modification of my said new or improved sucker valve A, B, b. c.
and improved lever arrangement for actuating the same, all to a small scale, the
valve being the same as that represented in sectional elevation in three positions in
Figures 2, 3, and 4, drawn to a large scale to show the construction and action of
its parts more clearly, Figure 2 showing the valve A, a, in its normal shut
position corresponding to Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the top lifter and
sucker B, b, as lowered ready to lift the valve lid A, a; while Figure 4 shows the
valve lid as lifted off its sent C with the arrows indicating the flow of water down
the discharge pipe z to the watercloset.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a different modification of a cup sucker-
valve A*, a*, B, b, C, showing the lifting part or lid A*, a*, of the valve as formed
with an inverted india-rubber cup closing or bearing surface a*, analogous to the
lifting sucker b* above it, but filled with a corresponding spherical segment of
metal A* to give it weight and ensure its automatically falling and closing to the
normal closed position corresponding to Figure 1, 2, and 5.
The first part of my said Invention relates generally to certain improvements in
that class of duplex regulating valves for the service cisterns of waterclosets, and
other similar or equivalent service purposes which have the valve lid part (as A, a,)
lifted by the action of a sucker (as b), either attached to the top weighted or
actuating part B, B', of the valve, or to the valve lid A, a And referring to
Figures 1 to 5 this first part of my improvements consists in constructing the parts
of the valve all as follows:-The valve lifting part A, a', is fitted with a solid or
hollow central spindle A" or A³, as shown respectively in Figures 2 and 5, screwed
or otherwise fixed to it, and projecting down from its under side at A', so as to
work down through and be steadied in an ordinary guide eye C' in the seat C, the
upper end A" of the spindle when solid projecting up through the valve lid, so as
to fit into and form a guide for the hollow spindle B of the lifting part B and
sucker b, as seen in Figures 1 to 4; or as seen in Figure 5, the spindle B² of the
lifting part and sucker B, b, of this arrangement works down into and is guided by
the hollow spindle A in the lifting valve lid A*, a*, below it. The lifting part B
to which the cup b is attached by a groove at 61, Figures 1 to 4, or by a screw
griping flange Figure 5 is fitted with a heavy lead or other inverted cup-shaped
weight B for the carrying down of this lifting part B, and the thorough closing of
the lip b¹ of the sucker b and enclosing and protecting of the cupped part of the
sucker b. The outer sucking or catching flange b₁ of the sucker b may either be
formed outwards or inwards to gripe on the upper flat surface of the metal lifting
part of the valve A, as seen in Figures 1 to 4; or it may be formed inwards and

page_text: act over the flange a¹ of the under inverted india-rubber cup a*, as seen in
Figure 5, all self-contained and without the necessity of an outside guiding case
or cases as heretofore used for guiding the upper lifting parts of sucker valves,
which improvement very much simplifies both the construction and action of this
class of valves. The small hole o for allowing the water to get within the cup
sucker b (or inner face when a flat sucker is used) is bored through the boss B of
the sucker, and passes in through the hollow or solid spindle B' or B, Figures 2 or 5,
as the case may be (or it might be through the body of the sucker b itself), for
releasing the valve A or A*, from the sucker b, the size of the holes o determining
the time the sucker will take to fill and the valve A or A* to fall from it, and con-
sequently the quantity of water which will flow through the seat C at each action
or lift of the valve A or A*, thus preventing waste by regulating the supply passed
down the service pipe at each discharge. These cup sucker lifting valves,
Figures 1 to 5, are each raised by its lifting chain or wire e attached at its lower
end to an eye in the top of the lifter B or its guiding stem B', and coupled or
linked above to its actuating lever G in a new or improved manner through a short
endless chain E at el passed over the pulley E' carried over the valve in the
bracket F¹ projecting up from the fulcrum carrying block F of the actuating lever G,
attached at its counterweighted free end G¹ by an eye or hook at el to the lower
opposite loose side of the chain E from that e', where the connection is made with
the top of the rod e of the valve, all so that when the ordinary pulling cord f
attached to the arm of the lover G, projecting over the outside of the cistern Z, is
drawn down it raises the heavy end G¹ of the lever, and so first allows the chain E
to turn over its pulley E¹ and lower the top weighted part B, B", of the valve from
the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, to that shown in Figure 3, which thus
crushes in and displaces the water out of the cupped sucker b, and then as the
lever G is pulled up to its full height, as dotted in in Figure 1, it raises the lifter
and sucker B, b, which by the action or partial vacuum formed within the sucker b
also lifts the lid part A, a, of the valve off its scat C to the position shown in
Figure 4, and holds it open and allows the water to flow out of the cistern Z down
the pipe until sufficient water flows through the small hole o and hollow spindle B¹
or B into the hollow sucker b to destroy the vacuum, as indicated by the darts in
Figures 4 and 5, when the valve lid A, a, or A*, a*, will then fall on to its seat C,
and close the flow of liquid from the service cistern Z and assume the normal
position shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5. This regular measuring and self-adjusting
action will take place cach time the lever G is lifted, whether the person continues
to hold it up or not, as the weighted end G¹ on the inner end of the lever G when
let go is sufficient to bring the lever and valves to the normal position of the parts
shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5, and also give an after or second discharge when that
is desired.
Although this improved arrangement of connecting chain E and lever G is
preferred for allowing the cup suckers b always to assume their proper hollow shape
while standing ready for action, it is to be understood that they can be worked by
an ordinary simple lever directly connected at the top of the wire, or a chain as c
to the lever in its lowest position, allowing the sucker and its weighted lifter B, b, to
remain, as shown in Figure 3, in their normal closed position ready for being lifted
by the lever, which is held up while the supply of water flows, but as before stated
the valve A, a, closes as soon as the sucker b ceases to hold it up.
Figure 6 shows a sectional clevation of another arrangement or modification of
my improved sucker or vacuum lifting service valve. The sent C, C¹, is of an
ordinary construction, as indicated in Figures 1 to 5, shown soldered to upper end
of the discharge or serving pipez and bottom of a lead supply or service cistern Z,
but this seat part C might be formed to fit iron or other cisterns in any of the usual
methods. The lifting lid A is fitted with an under disc a of leather or other
equivalent, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, and used in many other such valves for
forming the close liquid tight joint on the seat C. The improvements are essentially
connected with the guiding and actuating of the lid A, a, and its moving parts; in

page_text: this case, Figure 6, the lid A, a, is formed with a hollow stem A' guided in its
seat C below (as seen in Figure 5), but with a new hollow cylinder A³ on the top,
closed in at the bottom and open above to the water in the cistern, and fitted with
a thin metal disc B having holes B* through it, as seen in the under face sectional
plan in Figure 7, and formed with a hollow or solid stein B* on its under side,
working and guided in the hollow stem A³, having a thin disc or sucker b of india-
rubber or other flexible fabric fitted above the disc and holes B, B*, and a
weight B on the top to hold it down at the centre, but rounded towards the outer
edge to allow the disc b to rise, and the water or other liquid admitted to the under
part of the cylinder A³ through the small inlet hole o below the disc b, to flow
quickly through the holes B* up round the edges of the weight B" as it falls when
the acting lever attached to the wire e above is let go, so that the parts would all
assume the normal closed position, shown in Figure 6; but when the lever is lifted
the sucker b would close the holes B* and its edges would fill the cylinder A³ over
the rounded edges of the disc B, and so create a partial vacuum within the
cylinder A3, and lift the valve lid A, a, which would remain open for the regulated
time which the water would take to flow through the small hole o into the cylinder
below the discs B, b, and allow the cylinder A and valve A, a, to again close on its
seat C and stop the supply all ready for the next action.
0
The second part of my said Invention has reference to a new or improved con-
struction or arrangement of the parts of a regulating servico duplex disc valve and
piston valve or tap combined, shown in vertical section, and half plan and hori-
zontal section in Figures 8 and 9 respectively, with cover B and disc valve b, c,
removed in Figure 9, for fitting or coupling to the main inlet service pipes direct
at Z, to give a regulated supply of water at each action by the outlet branch z
without the use of service cisterns, and to be used as a service or supply tap or
valve for waterclosets and wells, and for saving or preventing the wasto of service
water generally used for household, business, or public purposes. Referring to theso
Figures 8 and 9, this new or improved construction of compound regulating supply
valve or tap consists of a disc b of vulcanized india-rubber or other equivalent
flexible or elastic material secured between two metal flanges C", B", formed on the
inlet valve chest and at right angles to and concentric with the inlet duct and valve
seat Z, C, having slight hollowed cavities C", B', formed in front of and behind the
disc b, which has a sinull face valve o fixed to and projecting down from its front
screw centre c¹, and just large enough to close the seat C at the entrance orifice of
the inlet branch Z. Below the front flange C or its inner face C¹ which supports
the disc b against excessive pressure, an under cut or annular shallow chamber c¹¹ is
formed, leading by the duct c" direct into the inner end of the discharge piston
valve chamber D, and its lateral outlet port and branch z. A spiral spring b² is
fitted in a small central chamber in the back flanged cover and recess B, B³, so as to
act on the back of the metal centre cl, fixing the disc band valve c, and so keep the
valve c always liquid tight and close on its seat C, except when the pressure is
relieved from the back chamber B₁ of the disc b by the pushing in of the piston
valve d, which allows the water in this chamber B' to flow through the small hole
and channel b' led from the back of the disc b along the solid metal of the cover B
and upper side of the piston valve chest D, so as to escape round the outer end or
recess in the piston valve d into and through the outlet branch z, or it might be
a service nose pipe or tap at when the piston d is thus pushed in by the knob on
the outer end of its handle d*, as indicated by the darts and the position of the
parts in these Figures. The pressure of the water then acting with full force on
the lower face of the closing centre valve cand that of the disc b, opens the valvo
and flows through the channels c¹¹, c¹¹¹, into the inner end of the chamber D behind
the piston valve d, which is thus instantly pushed out again so as to open a direct
course from the inlet valve c through the chest D to the outlet port D¹ and
branch z, at the same time closing the outlet communication with the said small
outlet passage b' from the back of the disc b by the outer groove d in the piston
valve d and chamber D, all so as to keep the water flowing through this arrange-

page_text: ment of service or discharge valve or nose tap at 2, until the chamber B¹ behind the
disc slowly fills with water through a very small regulating hole o formed through
the central screw c in the metal centre c¹ of the disc b and its small closing valve c
or other equivalent passage through these; then the water flowing in through this
small hole o fills the chamber B₁ and space d² behind the piston valve d, and causes
the pressure behind the large disc b, together with that of the spring b² acting on its
metal centre c¹, to again close the small inlet centre valve c, and prevent the further
escape of water until the piston valve d is again pushed in to allow another escape
of the water from the chamber B' at the back of the disc b by the passage bland
annular equilibrium space d of the piston valve d and discharge nose branch,
all as before described; the size of the chamber B¹ behind the disc b and that of
the small hole o through its centre, with adjustable screw c³ determining the time
this valve would remain open, and consequently the quantity of water discharged at
each action..
The piston valve chamber D is preferably made cylindrical, the piston & being
formed with three discs d¹, d¹¹, 1, of leather, two near the inner end; the one d
to close the outlet flow of service water at the inside, and the other ¹¹ to close the
discharge from the chamber B¹ behind the regulating disc b, and the third dill some
distanco outside of this, leaving an annular groove d² in the spindle or piston for
allowing of this escape, at the same time equalizing the pressure on the piston
within this space and preventing any escape at the outer end, which has a collar d³
and a slot and pin d to regulate the distance of its motion in and out, moved
inwards by the hand on the outer knob d*, and outwards by the pressure of the
water on the inner end d¹ of the piston d, all as before stated.
A further part or improvement of this Invention has reference to the improved
construction of duplex or equilibrium piston float valve for being fitted to the
pressure service water pipes, to regulate the supply to a uniform level in service
cisterns for waterclosets, and other domestic or useful purposes, as shown in vertical
and horizontal sections in Figures 10 and 11, although it is also applicable to other
service and supply valves than float valves. And, referring to these Figures, the
improvement in this valve consists in widening the entering port q from the size of
the service pipe Q to nearly the full diameter of the cylindrical barrel P of the
piston valve 2, and contracting it to a corresponding extent in depth in the centre
of the inlet branch Q, nearly opposite the lower disc p of the piston valvo p, when
this and the float lever L are in their closed position, with the float and water at the
full normal level in the cistern, as seen in Figures 11 and 10 respectively, so that
the lowering of the water a very few inches would open the piston up across the
narrow port g, when the force or rush of the escaping water therefrom would act on
the edge of the lower metal disc p³, and not upon the under closing leather disc p²
as usual, which cut this away and left it leaking in a very short time. For making
this piston valve ? perfectly equilibrious in its action, and still more durable, the
leather or elastic discs 21, 22, are cupped inwards towards each other at the edges
by cupping the ends of the recess 2 in the piston p, and rounding the ends of the
holding-on washer piece at p¹ between the leather washers, which are secured by a
central stem and end disc p³ and nut p¹, so that the pressure of water from the
narrow port q entering the space p' acts equally all round the two cupped discs p", p³,
and makes this piston valve p, P, perfectly equilibrious in its action, and closes it
more tightly than when constructed as such float valves have been heretofore. In
this arrangement the piston valve p is shown as worked vertically by the inner
short arm L of the float lever L working in a slot in the upper part of the piston
stem
p, and fulcrumed on a double joint at 7 on the top front part of the cylindrically-
bored valve chamber P. The float and free end of the lever L are shown as broken
away, these being constructed and actuated as other float valves; they are not
shown in the Drawings; but a stop segment is shown near the fulcrum to act on
the side of the valve chamber, and prevent the float falling further than to fully
open the valve, and another advantage of this equilibrium or equal balance-pressure
service valve is that a much smaller float actuates it. It will be evident that this
2
.

page_text: valve is also capable of being worked by a hand lever or shifting spindle and knob
(as d, dx, in Figures 8 and 9, instead of by the float lever L, shown in Figure 10)
for other service taps than that of an automatic service valve for cisterns.
The advantages of my said Invention or improvements are, the great saving of
public water when these valves are applied for general water service purposes, and
a more efficient and certain action of the service valves made in accordance therewith;
also greater durability of the working parts and saving in the cost of construction, on
account of their great simplicity.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the mannor of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
First. The general construction or arrangement of the parts of sucker lifting
service regulating valves and their actuating lever connections for giving a nearly
uniform supply of water, or other liquid, at each action to waterclosets, or to other
vessels for other purposes, all substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Second. The guiding and steadying of all the working parts of sucker lifting-
service regulating valves wholly by central spindles, solid and hollow, working into
each other, all substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in
Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The general construction and use of a differential pressure disc with face
valve and discharge piston valve chamber combined as a servico valve or tap for
delivering a nearly uniform supply of water at each action from pressure service
pipes or mains to waterclosets or other vessels, all substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying Drawings, or
any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The construction and use of service valves with double cup-ringed
equilibrium pressure parallel piston valve P, p, having a central inlet port or
recess q, for attaching to and regulating the supply of water from pressure service
pipes to cisterns or other vessels, all substantially as herein described in reference to
and shown in Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ross, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven
Witness,
JOHN BROWN,
Patent Agent,
96, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
WILLIAM ROSS. (L.S.)