IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Arundel, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Plumber, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Arundel at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1878.
GEORGE ARUNDEL, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Plumber. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER TAPS."
This Invention applies more particularly to screw taps, and consists in the use of
a removeable valve seat of leather, rubber, or similar material, or suitable metal,
and in the arrangement of the parts to accomplish that purpose, whereby I obtain
a more durable tap, as well as the means of replacing a worn out seat without
taking off the tap.
In carrying out my Invention in the construction of a high-pressure water tap, for
example, I use the ordinary screw and leather-faced valve. In the body of the tap,
about one-third of its length from the top, I form a flat ring, or washer, or shoulder,
which is either secured to or made solid with the inner circumference of the body,
and having a circular opening corresponding to the diameter of the leather face of
the valve. The outlet or nose of the tap opens into the upper portion, and the inlet
opens into the lower portion of the body, which is provided with a screw thread
reaching up to the ring, washer, or shoulder, or nearly so. A short plug similarly
screwed on the outside, and provided with a centre hole or waterway, carries forward
the leather seat (which is also provided with a central waterway), and presses it
firmly against the ring, washer, or shoulder, and supports it against the pressure of
the screw.
The opening into the lower portion of the tap is closed by an ordinary
screwed plug.
If preferred the removeable seat may be made of copper or other metal instead
of leather, rubber, or similar elastic material.
The removal of a tap often causes a serious trouble in the pulling down of
skirting boards and breaking plaster walls; hence the advantage of a tap that can
be at any time renewed without removal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Arundel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
November 1878.
GEORGE ARUNDEL, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Plumber.
MENTS IN WATER TAPS."
"IMPROVE-
My said Invention applies more particularly to screw taps, and consists in the
use of a removeable valve seat of leather, rubber, or other similar material, or
suitable metal, and in the arrangement of the parts to accomplish that purpose,
whereby I obtain a more durable tap, and ensure the means of replacing a worn
out scat without necessitating the removal of the tap, which often causes a serious
trouble in the pulling down of skirting boards and breaking plaster walls; hence
the advantage of a tap that can be at any time renewed without removal.
In carrying out my said Invention in the construction of a high-pressure tap (for
example) I use the ordinary arrangement of a screw pressing down or releasing a
leather-faced valve, but instead of the seating being formed in one with the metal
of which the tap is constructed, that is to say, being part of the tap itself, as is
usually the case, I make my tap with a loose and removeable seat, so that at any
time it may be removed if desirable. The said loose seat may be constructed of
leather, horn, rubber, vulcanite, or similar material, or of any suitable metal. The
loose seat is held in position by a support or disc of metal screwed up through a
suitable opening in the under side of the tap, which is then closed by a screw plug;
or the plug may be clongated sufficiently to answer both purposes, having a suitable
waterway through it.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a sectional elevation of a high-pressure
water tap constructed according to my Invention.
•
Figure 2 represents in separate detail one form of the removeable seat detached.
And Figure 3 is a sectional view shewing a modified arrangement.
A is a screw actuated by the thumb piece or crutch; B is the guide pin of the
valve, which works loosely in the screw A; Cis a leather valve face held up by the
screw D; E, E, is the loose or removeable valve seat composed of leather, metal, or
other suitable material, held up against the shoulders in the body of the cock F, F,
by the disc G, G, which has a central waterway H, and an annular projection for
supporting the loose seat. J is the plug which closes the opening for the intro-.
duction and removal of the seat.
In Figure 2 an elongated plug combining the disc G and the plug J is represented.
In this arrangement the screw thread need not be continued beyond where shewn
in the Drawing.
Should it be found that the leather face is not easily made water-tight under
high pressure, the modification Figure 3 may be employed with advantage. In
this modification the face of the screwed washer acts as the seat for the valvo, a
thin leather or rubber washer being used to make it water-tight. Should this face
become worn it can readily be removed and re-faced or surfaced by filing or
grinding, or by simply rubbing it on the sink stone. The samo equally well applies
when the plug and seat are in one piece, as in Figure 2.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said In-.
vention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
L. would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the construction and use of water and other taps with
loose removeable seats of leather or other suitable material or metal, whereby a more

page_text: durable and more easily repaired tap is produced, substantially as herein-before
described, and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Arundel, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GEORGE ARUNDEL. (L.S.)