Year: 1885

page_text: T. C. CARTWRIGHT,
Agent for the Inventor.

page_text: Improvements in Taps for Water and other Liquids and Steam.
I HENRY CURWEN of Number Sixty three Beaconsfield Street in the City &
County of Newcastle-on-Tyne Gentleman, & formerly of number nine Vine Street
in Norton Malton in the County of York 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in Taps for Water, Steam & other liquida
whereby simplicity of construction, ease & efficiency in opening & shutting &
adaptation to cope with high pressure without leakage & with reduced friction are
ensured and that my Invention may be the better understood I have annexed
drawings thereof which I now proceed to describe viz:
The lever handle A. is fixed on to the square axle B in the dome of the Tap P &
the said axle B passes through the upper end of the double jointed rod C which is
connected with & attached to the internal plug valve' D & E by means of a through
screw & nut, so that when the lever handle A is drawn forwards towards the mouth
of the tap M the internal plug valve E is forced back against the coil spring N
& along the cavity of the protruding tube F till the holes (one or more) K are
open for the free passage of the water or other liquid which immediately flows out
at the spout M.: When the lever handle A is pushed backwards in the reverse
way it immediately draws the double jointed rod C forward which being attached
by a through screw & nut to the internal plug valve D & E draws it past the
holes K & closes them & then onward till the washer D in the recess of the plug
valve E presses tightly against the inner rim of shoulder F & so closes the tap
effectually this action is assisted by the pressure of the liquid through the holes W
in the cap G & also by the coiled spring N which is kept in it's place by the cap or
plug screw G which is fastened to the end of the protruding tube F so that the
internal plug valve works with ease & regularity.
The protruding portion of tube F which is encased & fixed into the shell L
by its own screw & which protrudes into the outer cavity H is of great importance
in this invention as it protects the internal plug valve from over pressure & liability
to get out of order. The only passage or passages for the water or other liquid to
pass through in the protruding tube F on it's way out being confined to the holes K,
& the internal plug valve E opening & closing these holes with great ease gives
complete command over the water or other liquid in the pipe by moving the lever
handle A backwards or forwards-this action is therefore both easy & effectual in
coping with all degrees of pressure-where the pressure is great the plug screw G
& the coil spring N may be dispensed with the pressure of the water or other
liquid acting upon the internal plug valve E being sufficient of itself to keep the
tap tight but I also in some cases lengthen the rod C & attach to the end thereof
a brass cap valve T as shown on fig. 3 which on being drawn forward over the pro-
truding tube F & past the holes K on to an indian rubber or other seat U effectually
closes the same, & this form is more especially useful & applicable to steam purposes
& for fire & other hydrants-The tap proper with all its moveable parts is attached

page_text: to, & the protruding tube F is inserted into the shell L at the shoulder V by being
screwed therein & is therefore detached with ease when required by substituting a
plug having a corresponding thread, & this is especially useful in the case of
domestic water supply, thus avoiding the inconvenience & necessity of shutting off
the supply at the main service.
The lever handle A is not of necessity a fixture but may be removed & a loose
handle or a spanner be used instead as in the case of hydrants for fire & other
purposes or where it is expedient to limit by locking or otherwise the general
control in any way-Also for cisterns the ball can be attached in the ordinary way.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
as follows, viz:
1. In a valve tap the use of the lever handle and crank rods attached to the
internal plug valve or cap valve & also the use of the protruding tube F in the
outer tube or shell L as herein before described.
2. In a water or other liquid or steam tap the holes K which are effectually
closed when the valve or cap is drawn on to it's seat, thus preventing leakage under
high pressure and which act of closing is assisted by the pressure of the liquid and
by the coiled spring N acting upon the internal plug valve E so forcing it to it's
seat as to add to the soundness thereof as herein before described.
3. In a water or other liquid or steam tap the contrivance to give facility of
detachment as hereinbefore described.
4. In a water or other liquid or steam tap decreasing the liability to leakage by
allowing the pressure to act on the plug valve E or cap T rendering the coiled
spring optional as herein before described.
Pp HENRY CURWEN,
T. C. Cartwright,
Agent.