Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1899 -Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
I, GEORGE ONNO HOMFIELD KLOPP, A.M.Inst.C.R., M.S.A.A.E.A., of
2, Carlyle Mansions, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, in the County of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to an improved construction of cock or tap (hereinafter
referred to as taps) that is very simple and cheap to construct and very efficient
and durable in use as I shall now describe with reference to the accompanying
illustrative drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows in central vertical section a tap constructed according to my
invention the tap being shown open.
Fig. 2 shows the same tap when closed.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 represent a plan, section, and front view, respectively, of a clamp-
ring hereinafter referred to.
The above tap, which is of the well-known valve bib-tap pattern, is formed with
two chambers or passages viz.: an outlet chamber A and an inlet chamber B.
In the inlet chamber B, directly below a spindle C, and in the open space B',
I place a ball D made of some hard non-compressible or not easily compressible
material, such for example, as metal. I find in practice that a hollow metal ball,
capable of floating in water or other fluid, may advantageously be used. This
ball D, when the tap is open, lies in the cup of the screw-cap E, which forms
the lower portion of the space B', in which the metal ball works. I use a screw
cup-shaped cap, as in some forms of tap at present in use, as it enables me to
remove the ball easily when necessary. In casting the tap, an aperture is left
in the diaphragm between the chambers or passages A and B, and on the upper
side of a shoulder surrounding this aperture, that is in the space where tho
ball D presses when the water pressure causes it to rise in the space B₁ there is
placed an india rubber or other suitable ring or washer F that serves as a seat
for the ball D. The ring or washer F which is inserted through the chamber A,
is secured in position by a loose clamp-ring or distance piece G, having an aper-
ture G on one side to permit of the How of liquid through the tap. The clamp
ring is also inserted through the upper or outlet chamber A and is held in
position laterally by a key H in the outer casting, which fits into a keyway H
in the clamp-ring (see Fig. 3). When the stuffing-box L, hereinafter referred
to, is screwed down into the outlet chamber A, the clamp-ring G is forced down-
wards thereby and held perpendicularly, thus firmly retaining the washer or
ring F in position, and as the clamp-ring is prevented from rotating, the screwing
in of the stuffing box L will not produce any twisting or distortion of the seat
ring F. This method of introducing and securing the seating is a most important
feature of my invention, as I have found in practice that a ring inserted and
secured by projections below the aperture and between the two chambers becomes
dislodged or forced out of shape under high pressure, thus causing an escape of
fluid. In the outlet chamber or passage A, I place a spindle C as in former

page_text: constructions of taps, but I dispense with the valve or washer heretofore usually
attached to the spindle in such taps. The spindle C is attached to the screw
spindle I and is forced down through the aperture between the two chambers and
raised by means of the screw when the handle J at the top is rotated. In order
to minimise friction against the ball D, I may attach to the face of the spindle C
a small conveniently shaped pad of suitable material such as india rubber.
At a
suitable distance below the crutch or handle J on the screw spindle I there is
placed or formed a ring K to limit the distance that the spindle can be screwed
down. An ordinary stuffing box L L with stuffing M, is screwed into the top
of the tap as shown to secure the screw spindle I and the clamp ring G in position
and to prevent leakage. The ball D is made large enough to prevent its passing
through the aperture formed in the tap between the two chambers A and B so
that the ring or washer I can be replaced by a new one without having to cut
off the supply of water to the tap, the ball at this time seating itself against the
metal edge of the aperture.
Upon water or other liquid being introduced to the chamber or passage B under
pressure, the ball D rises from the cup in the screw cap E into the space B' towards
the aperture F between the two chambers and is there kept in position against
the rubber or other ring or seat F by the pressure of the liquid and in this way
closes the tap. To open the tap the spindle C is screwed down so as to force the
ball towards the cup in the screw cap E and thereby open the aperture F¹ between
the chambers and permit the water or other liquid to flow through the tap.
I, GEORGE ONNO HOMFELD KLOPP, A.M.Inst.C.E., of 2, Carlyle Mansions,
Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
Cocks or taps (hereinafter called taps) have heretofore been constructed with
ball valves working against an annular seat of elastic material such as india rubber
and opened by an endwise movable spindle, but all such previous constructions, so
far as I am aware, possess many serious practical disadvantages, being costly to
construct, difficult to maintain in a fluid tight condition, liable to distortion and
rapid wear of the valve seat and difficult to repair whilst under pressure.
Now this invention relates to an improved construction of tap that is very
simple and cheap to construct and very efficient and durable in use.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 shows in central vertical section a tap constructed according to my
invention the tap being shown open.
Fig. 2 shows the same tap when closed.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 represent a plan, a section and front view, respectively, of a
clamp-ring hereinafter referred to.
The tap, which is of the well-known valve bib-tap-pattern, is formed with
two chambers or passages viz.:-an outlet chamber A and an inlet chamber B.

page_text: In the inlet chamber B, directly below a spindle C, and in the open space B',
I place a ball 1 made of some hard non-compressible or not easily compressible
material, such for example, as metal. I find in practice that a hollow metal ball,
capable of floating in water or other fluid, may advantageously be used. This
ball 1, when the tap open, lies in the cup of the screw-cap E, which forms
the lower portion of the space B', in which the metal ball works. I use a screw
cup-shaped cap, as in some forms of tap at present in use, as it enables me to
remove the ball easily when necessary. In casting the tap, an aperture is left
in the diaphragm between the chambers or passages A and B, and on the upper
side of a shoulder surrounding this aperture, that is in the chamber A there is
placed an india rubber or other suitable ring or washer F that serves as a seat
for the ball D. The ring or washer F which is inserted through the chamber A,
is secured in position by a loose clamp-ring or distance piece G, having an aper-
ture G on one side to permit of the flow of liquid through the tap. The clamp
ring is also inserted through the upper or outlet chamber A and is held in
position laterally by a key H in the outer casting, which fits into a keyway H
in the clamp-ring (see Fig. 3). When the stuffing-box L, hereinafter referred
to, is screwed down into the outlet chamber A, the clamp-ring G is forced down-
wards thereby and held perpendicularly, thus firmly retaining the washer or
ring F in position, and as the clamp-ring is prevented from rotating, the screwing
in of the stuffing box L will not produce any twisting or distortion of the seat
ring F. This method of introducing and securing the seating is a most important
feature of my invention, as I have found in practice that a ring inserted and
secured by projections below the aperture and between the two chambers becomes
dislodged or forced out of shape under high pressure, thus causing an escape of
fluid. In the outlet chamber or passage A, I place a spindle Cas in former
constructions of taps. The spindle C is formed in one with the screw
spindle I and is forced down through the aperture between the two chambers and
raised by means of the screw when the handle J at the top is rotated. In order
to minimise friction against the ball D, I may attach to the face of the spindle C
a small conveniently shaped pad of suitable material such as india rubber. At a
suitable distance below the crutch or handle J on the screw spindle I there is
placed or formed a ring K to limit the distance that the spindle can be screwed
down. An ordinary stuffing box L L with stuffing M, is screwed into the top
of the tap as shown to secure the screw spindle I and the clamp ring G in position
and to prevent leakage. The ball D is made large enough to prevent its passing
through the aperture formed in the tap between the two chambers A and B so
that the ring or washer F can be replaced by a new one without having to cut
off the supply of water to the tap, the ball at this time seating itself against the
metal edge of the aperture.
Upon water or other liquid being introduced to the chamber or passage B under
pressure, the ball D rises from the cup in the screw cap E into the space 13¹ towards
the aperture between the two chambers and is there kept in position against
the rubber or other ring or seat F by the pressure of the liquid and in this way
closes the tap. To open the tap the spindle C is screwed down so as to force the
ball towards the cup in the screw cap E and thereby open the aperture between
the chambers and permit the water or other liquid to flow through the tap.
Another form of tap constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in
sectional elevation in Fig. 6, in side clevation in Fig. 7, and in horizontal section
on the line X X of Fig. 6 in Fig. 8, while the clamp ring is illustrated in
plan in Fig. 9, and in front elevation in Fig. 10.
In this example the screw spindle I is formed with a coarse thread of quick
pitch so that the flowing water acting on the ball D causes it and the screw spindle,
when the latter is released after drawing liquid, to rise and automatically close the
aperture between the chambers A and B, thus preventing waste.
The screw spindle is prevented from being accidentally entirely withdrawn

page_text: as
by the flange formed upon the spindle C which is screwed into the spindle
shown, coming into contact with the under portion of the screw plug L that holds
the clamp ring G in place and through which the screw spindle I passes. O is a
rubber packing ring loosely compressed and free to travel upon the screw spindle
within a cavity formed between the said screw spindle and its holder L. H² is a
screw passing through the body of the tap and entering the keyway H in the
clamp ring G to prevent the same turning.
.
As will be seen the improved cocks or taps are very simple in construction, the
elastic valve seat I is held firmly in place without liability of its being distorted
by the means employed for fixing it in place or of being dislodged or forced out
of shape by liquid under high pressure in contact therewith, and the said seat
can be readily inserted and fixed in place, or removed, whilst liquid under pressure
is within the chamber B..
i.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A cock or tap comprising a body formed with an inlet chamber having a
discharge aperture, a ball-valve located in the inlet chamber and of such a size
that it cannot pass through the discharge aperture, a rubber or other suitable
ring or washer held in position by a non-rotatable clamp-ring within the said
aperture so as to serve as a valve seat, and means whereby the said ball can be
forced from its scat, to permit the discharge to take place,, substantially as
described.
2. The improved cocks or taps hereinbefore described with reference to and
shown in the accompanying drawings.