IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS FROM OR INTO PIPES, CISTERNS, TANKS, OR OTHER VESSELS OR APPARATUS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Payton, of Shelgate Road, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES
FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS FROM OR INTO
PIPES, CISTERNS, TANKS, OR OTHER VESSELS OR APPARATUS.”
Scaled the 12th January 1875, and dated the 7th August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Payton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th August 1874.
I, WALTER PAYTON, of Shelgate Road, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF WATER OR OTHER
LIQUIDS FROM OR INTO PIPES, CISTERNS, TANKS, OR OTHER VESSELS OR APPARATUS,”
to be as follows:-
1
My said Invention relates to valves of novel construction, which are
chiefly designed for automatically governing the delivery of water from

page_text: water pipes or passages into cisterns or other receptacles for household
purposes, but which are also applicable for arresting or permitting the
flow of liquids in pipes or passages for any other purpose.
By the peculiar construction herein described I obtain a valve that is
kept closed by the pressure of the water contained in the pipe or passage i
to which it is applied till such times as the pressure so acting upon it is
removed; the valve is then free to open fully and permit water to pass
freely through it, till the pressure is again brought to act upon it to
close it.
My improved valve is constructed as follows:-A socket or box is 1
screwed upon or otherwise attached to the water supply pipe. This
socket has an aperture communicating with the supply pipe, which
aperture is covered when the valve is closed by a flexible diaphragm of
india-rubber or other suitable material. Surrounding the said aperture
in the socket is a flange, and the said diaphragm is enclosed and secured 1
between this flange and a cover, whose inner side is recessed and forms a
chamber or space wherein the said diaphragm can work freely. In the
said flange I form a passage or passages, through which the water
passing through the aperture in the socket when the valve is open may
freely escape into the cistern or other receptacle. In the diaphragm I :
provide a small hole, or I make a passage through the socket and flange
in such a way as to form a communication between the supply pipe on
one side the diaphragm and the chamber in the cover on the other side.
of it, in order that the water in the supply pipe may have access to the
said chamber. In any convenient part of the cover of the diaphragm, 1
or attached to it by a pipe or passage, I place a small perforated nipple.
This nipple forms the seat of a small disc or other suitable valve fixed
on the end of a lever, or working in a guide and operated by a lever
working on a fulcrum in such a way as to cause the said small diso
valve to open or close the passage through the perforated nipple, for the a
purpose of allowing the water in the chamber above the diaphragm to
cscape or to be confined within it.
To the end of the said lever a ball or float is attached, and the
automatic action of the valve is as follows:-When the level of the
water in the cistern or other receptacles rises the ball or float rises with
it, and causes the lever to press the small disc valve upon its scat, and
so close the passage through the nipple. The chamber above the.

page_text: P
diaphragm is then closed, and the water confined within it attains a
pressure equal to that of the water in the supply pipe, and the diaphragm
being subject to such pressure on a greater area in the said chamber
than the area of the aperture in the supply pipe made by such pressure
to close securely the said aperture, and so prevent the further flow of
water from the valve. When the level of the water in the cistern or
other receptacle falls the converse of this takes place, as the ball or float
falling with the water the lever causes the small disc valve to open
the passage through the nipple. The water in the chamber above the
diaphragm is then permitted to escape from it as fast as water is supplied
to the said chamber through the communication between it and the
supply pipe. The pressure of the water in the chamber is then reduced
to less than the pressure of the water in the supply pipe, and the
diaphragm is then free to rise and allow the water to pass from the
supply pipe into the cistern or other receptacle till such time as the
level of the water has again risen and closed the valve. When the
pressure of the water in the supply pipe is not very great the small disc
valve may be operated directly by the ball or float without the inter-
vention of a' lever.
When my improved valve is not required to work automatically I
substitute for the small disc valve and nipple and the lever and ball or
float any suitable tap or other means for closing and opening the passage
from the chamber above the diaphragm, and in some cases I substitute
for the diaphragm and flange a cylinder containing a suitably packed
piston of larger area than the area of the aperture communicating with
the supply pipe.
If desired the arrangement of the supply and outlet passages may be

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto mo, the said Walter Payton, Her special licence that I, the said
Walter Payton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Walter Payton, 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 VALVES FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF
WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS FROM OR INTO PIPES, CISTERNS, TANKS, OR OTHER
VESSELS OR APPAratus," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, tho
said Walter Payton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Payton, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
My said Invention relates to valves of novel construction, which are
chiefly designed for automatically governing the delivery of water from
water pipes or passages into cisterns or other receptacles for household
purposes, but which are also applicable for arresting or permitting the
flow of liquids in pipes or passages for any other purpose.
By the peculiar construction herein described I obtain a valve that is
kept closed by the pressure of the water contained in the pipe or passage
to which it is applied till such times as the pressure so acting upon it is
removed; the valve is then free to open fully and permit water to pass
freely through it till the pressure is again brought to act upon it to
close it.

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 mustrate modifications of the sand invention, and are
herein-after fully described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
"
In Figure 1 A is a socket or box of cast iron or other suitable metal;
a is a diaphragm of india-rubber or other suitable flexible material; b is
the inlet passage, and c is the outlet passage; d is a ball or float
attached to the lever e, whose fulcrum is at f. The socket or box A is
screwed upon or otherwise attached to the water supply pipe. The
mouth a¹ of this socket is covered when the valve is closed by the said
flexible diaphragm, as shown. Surrounding the said mouth or aperture
in the socket is a flange 7, and the said diaphragm is enclosed and
secured between this flange and a cover h, whose inner side is recessed
and forms a chamber or space ¹ wherein the said diaphragm can work
freely. In the said flange I form a passage or passages A communicating
with the passage c, through which the water passing through the
aperture in the socket when the valve is open may freely escape into tho
cistern or other receptacle. The diaphragm a has a small hole a in
such a position as to form a communication between the supply pipe on
one side of the diaphragm a, and the chamber' in the cover on the
other side of it, in order that the water in the said supply pipe may havo
access to the said chamber. In any convenient part of the cover h of
the diaphragm or attached to it by a pipe or passage I place a small
perforated nipple i. This nipple forms the seat of a small disc valve.
or other suitable valve fixed on the end of the lever e, working on the
fulcrum in such a manner as to cause the said small disc valve to
open or close the passage through the perforated nipple i, for the. -purpose
of allowing the water in the chamber above the diaphragm a to escape

page_text: with it and causes the lever e to press the small disc valve ; upon its
seat and so close the passage through the nipple i. The chamber h³
above the diaphragm is then closed and the water confined within it
attains a pressure equal to that of the water in the supply pipe, and the
diaphragm being subject to such pressure on a greater area in the said
chamber than the area of the mouth or aperture of the supply pipe is
caused by such pressure to close securely the said aperture and so
prevent the further flow of water from the valve. When the level of
the water in the cistern or other receptacle falls the converse of this
operation takes place as the ball or float d falling with the water the
lever e causes the small disc valve j to open the passage through the
nipple . The water in the chamber above the diaphragm is then
permitted to escape from it as fast as water is supplied to the said
chamber through the communication between it and the supply pipe.
The pressure of the water in the chamber h¹ is then reduced to less than
the pressure of the water in the supply pipe, and the diaphragm is then
free to rise and allow the water to pass from the supply pipe into the
cistern or other receptacle till such times as the level of the water has
again risen and closed the valve. When the pressure of the water in
the supply pipo is not very great the small disc valve j may be operated
directly by the ball or float without the intervention of a lever.
When my improved valve is not required to work automatically I
substitute for the lever and ball or float any other suitable means for
closing and opening the passage from the chamber above the diaphragm.
Such a modification of my Invention is illustrated in Figure 2, in which
B is the upper part of a stand pipe; A. is the box or socket which is
secured upon the said stand pipe by the screws k, an india-rubber ring
or other suitable packing being interposed between these two parts at 7'.
The diaphragma is arranged in combination with the inlet and discharge
passages b, h³, and c, as shown, and the communication between theso
passages when tho valvo is open is through the mouth a'. Tho
diaphragm is confined at its edges between the box or socket and the
cover, in which is the chamber h, and which cover is provided with
a perforated nipple i. In this apparatus as above stated the valve does not
act automatically, but is operated by the pressure upon the knob / which
projects through the front of the box C. This knob has a stem or rod A
which is jointed at to the weight m, the said weight being hinged or
pivoted at m². The disc valvej which closes the aperture in the cover h

page_text: -
is formed or fixed upon the lower face of this weight, as shewn, and
when the said weight is at rest the said disc valve; keeps the said nipple
aperture closed, and therefore no water will pass through the valve.
But by pressing in the knob the weight is thrown back on its
pivot ; thereby raising the disc valve ; from its seat and allowing the
diaphragm to rise and permit water to be discharged from the valve, the
said water passing from the stand pipe through the passage u. When
the knob is released the weight falls back to its normal position, as
shown, thereby stopping the action of the valve.
In some cases I substitute for the aforesaid diaphragm and flange
a cylinder containing a suitably packed piston of larger area than the
arca of the aperture communicating with the supply pipe. Figure 8.
shews such a modification of my said Invention with the valve closed,
and Figure 4 shews the same with the valve open. n is a short
cylinder, formed of brass or other suitable metal, fitted with a cover n³,
in which is formed the perforated nipple i, and o is the piston fitted to
work in the said cylinder. The said piston is provided with an india.
rubber ring o', or other suitable packing, for making it tight in the
cylinder. The under side of the said piston is also provided with india-
rubber or other suitable packing o³, which, when the valve is closed,
makes a tight joint between the piston and the seat p that forms a
portion of the cylinder n. Attached to the under side of the piston o is
a tube & projecting some distance below the valve seat p, and at its
lower end is the small aperture a³ through which the water has access
to the chamber /' above the piston o.
".
"
In this apparatus the small disc valve ; is fixed or formed on the
weighted lever whose fulcrum is at r³, and which has, an arm ³
extending to the vertical discharge passage c. The object of this
arrangement is to provide means for the operation of the said valve,
which is effected by screwing down the stand pipe B, the same being
provided with an extension B' which, acts on the arm of the lever.”
and thereby opens the valve j, as shown in Figure 4. The pressure on
the main side of the piston then causes it to rise, and the water passes
from the supply pipe 6 through the spaces between the under side of the
piston and the valve seating-p, as shown by the-arrows in Figure 4, to
the discharge passage c and pipe B. When the pipe B is withdrawn the
disc valve j is closed, and the pressure in the chamber acting upon

page_text: the piston o causes it to descend upon the valve scating' p and so closo
the valve.
When the valve is not required to be used the pipe B is withdrawn
and a screw plug s is used to close the passage c, as in Figure 3.¨¯ This
form of valve is more particularly designed to be used as a hydrant 5
or valvo for supplying water from water mains for the purpose of
extinguishing fires, and should be so fixed that the surface of the screw
plugs is about level with the surface of the road or pavement, but
when it is to be used for supplying water to water carts or locomotive
tenders, or for other like purposes, the construction of the casing in 1
which it is enclosed may be varied as required, and any other suitablo
means for opening and closing the passage in the nipple i may be sub-
stituted for the weighted lever and arm „ºª.
•
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I 1
wish it understood that I claim,— .
First. The apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 of the Drawing, and con-
sisting of the box or socket provided with inlet and outlet passages,
between which is interposed the diaphragm that is arranged to operato
in combination with a small disc or valve fitted to open and close an 2
aperturo in the end or cover of the said box or socket and controlled by
a ball or float, as herein set forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. In the said apparatus the contral inlet passage communicating
with the space or chamber in the cover through a small perforation in
the diaphragm and in combination with the surrounding outlet or 2
.discharge aperture or passage, as hercin set forth.
Third. The combination of the valve apparatus with the pivoted
weight and pusher, or other suitable device for operating the said weight,
as illustrated in Figure 2 of the Drawing, and as herein described, and
for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The apparatus illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawing,
consisting of a piston working in a short cylinder in combination with
the inlet and outlet passages, and with a small disc or other valve
arranged to control an aperture in the cover or other part of the said
8

page_text: cylinder, and operating as herein set forth, and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Payton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
HY. JA³. NOONE.
WALTER PAYTON. (L.S.)