Improvements in the Manufacture of Cistern Balls and Floats.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cistern Balls and Floats.
We, CHRISTOPHER WILLIS & ALFRED BATES, Metal Spinners, both of 1, Bond
Street, Halifax, in the County of Yorkshire, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
The invention relates to cistern balls or floats and consists of the improvements
hereinafter described in the construction of their component parts and their
putting together; which improvements are applicable to such articles made of
any suitable metal.
By our invention the manufacture of such articles is very much simplified and
economized and an article is produced which is very much superior for its uses
than those at present in use.
In the ordinary method of constructing these articles the body is made of
copper, in two parts of a like kind; one having a larger flange, both in the
diameter and width, than the other so that it may be lapped over the smaller flange
of the other to form a joint, which joint is soldered to ensure it being water tight.
Soldered to this joint is a small brass lug (cast) whose purpose is to connect
the above ball or float to the cistern tap, being screwed on to the rod which is
affixed to the tap.
In this our invention we purpose the use of aluminium for cistern balls or floats
and to overcome the difficulty of soldering the same we lap the flanges of the
body one way, over each other producing a beadshaped joint of such a solid state
as to require no soldering.
In this our invention to fasten the brass lug we first stamp a raised portion in
the centre of either male or female half: this raised portion can be round square
or the like shape; within this we sink a depression, into which is placed the
flange of the lug and suitable tools are used to force the raised portion over
towards the lug fastening it firmly to the body.
We further purpose in our invention to make the lug out of tubing, (those
in present use being cast, turned, & drilled) cutting it into suitable lengths,
flanging one end and cutting a screw on the inside of the tube.
We will now particularly describe this our invention and the manner in which
it is to be performed by the aid of the accompanying illustrative sheets upon
which are figures & letters of reference.
Fig. 1 is an outline view of brass lug.
Fig. 2 is an outline view of male half showing the raised portion and
depression into which the lugs fits; showing the currigations; and also the
flange for connecting it to female half of ball or float.
Fig. 3 is the female half of ball or float the manufacture of which is not new
but illustrated for the purpose of explanation in reference to the joint which
secures it to the male half.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed section of the joint connecting the lug to the
body

page_text: Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section of joint connecting the male to the female
half,
Fig. 6 shows a view of the ball or float made after the manner of this our
invention.
When making the lug we take a piece of tubing and cut it into short lengths
suitable to our wants and produce, by the necessary tools, a flange at one end
similar to Fig. 1 and cut a screw on the inside of the tube.
We make the body by any of the present know methods of manufacture from
blank sheets of aluminium or copper in two like halfs with flanges male and
female, both bending in one direction when placed one within the other.
In the case of Figure 2 suitable tools would be used to produce raised part c
and depression d, also for currigations around point c; these currigations being
introduced to resist such strain as may be placed on that part when in use.
The female halff would be placed in a revolving chuck, the flange of
male half e we place in flange g and a rolling tool is brought to bear on flange g
folding it tightly over flange h till a bead joint is formed, such as is shown in
Fig. 5, so solid as to be watertight without solder; the same could be produced
with closing tools in a press.
These our inventions apply equally to other than spherical floats, the several
operations in each case being similar.
Tall th
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1000
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cistern Balls and Floats.
CHRISTOPHER WILLIS and ALFRED BATES, Metal Spinners, both of 1, Bond Street,
Halifax, in the County of Yorkshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of cistern
balls and floats; in the component parts and their putting together; which
same improvements are applicable to such articles made of any suitable metal.
By our invention the manufacture of such articles is very much simplyfied &
economised, and an article is produced which is very much superior for its uses
than those of present use.
In the ordinary method of constructing these articles the body is made of
copper, in two parts of a like kind, one having a larger flange, both in the diameter
and width, than the other, so that it may be lapped over the smaller edge of the
the other to form a joint, which is soldered to ensure it being watertight.
Soldered to the joint is a small cast brass lug, drilled & tapped; its purpose being
to connect the ball or float to the cistern tap; being screwed on to a rod which is
affixed to the tap.
In this our invention we purpose the use of aluminium for cistern floats or
balls, and to overcome the difficulty of soldering the joints, we roll both the edges
of the halves of the body, when placed one within the other, in one direction
producing a bead shaped joint of such a solid nature as to be watertight.
We further purpose making the lugs out of tubing, cutting it into suitable
lengths, flanging one end of each of these suitable lengths and tapping a screw on
the inside of the tube.
To fasten the lug, we first stamp a raised part or parts, any shape, in the centre

page_text: of either the male or female half, leaving within the raised part or parts a
depression into which is placed the flange of lug; the raised part or parts being
closed over to fasten it to the body.
We will now particularly describe this our invention and the manner in which
it is to be performed by the aid of illustrative sheets of drawings as "left with the
Provisional Specification" upon which are figures & letters of reference.
Fig. I is a view of the lug.
Fig. II a view of male half of cistern ball or float showing the raised part or
parts, within which the flange of Figure I fits.
Fig. 111 is the female half of ball or float the manufacture of which is not new,
but illustrated for the purpose of explanation in reference to the joint which
secures it to male half.
Fig. IV is an enlarged detailed section of the joint connecting the lug to male
half.
Fig. V is an enlarged section in detail of joint connecting the male half to
female half.
Fig. VI shows a view of the ball or float made after the manner of this our
invention.
To produce the lug we cut a piece of metal tubing into lengths suitable to our
requirements, and by ordinary press tools make a flange at one end of the required
lengths, similar to b, Fig. I, and tap a screw on the inside.
In the case of Fig. II suitable press tools would be used to produce raised part c,
also to close raised part e tightly over flange b; arranged around and from c
we stamp currigations to resist any strain that may be placed on that part of
float when in use.
We make the body by any of the present know methods of manufacture from
strip sheets of aluminium or copper, in two halves, with flanges, female g and
male both bending in one direction when placed one within the other. The
female half would be placed in a revolving chuck, the flange h of male we place
inside flange g, and then bring a rolling tool to bear on flange g closing both h
and g tightly over till a bead joint is formed as shown in Fig. 5, so solid as to
be quite watertight. The same might be done with closing over tools in a
press.
These our improvements apply equally to other than spherical floats, the several
operations in each case being similar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
-
1st. The improvement in the manufacture of cistern balls and floats herein
described & illustrated; that is to say the making of body parts that they may
be joined together watertight without the use of solder, and so enable us to use
aluminium for the manufacture of such articles.
2nd. The improvement in the manufacture of cistern balls and their com-
ponent parts herein described and illustrated that is to say:-the forming &
making of lugs out of tubing.
3rd. The improvement in the manufacture of cistern balls & floats, and their
component parts, herein described & illustrated that is to say, the forming &
securing of joint connecting the lug to the body.
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A1 1 1
CT1 1000