IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPE OR COCKS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Whitaker, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Lincensed Victualler, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TAPE OR COCKS"
O
Sealed the 2nd April 1861, and dated the Sth October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Whitaker at
the Office of the Cominissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th October 1860.
I, SAMUEL WHITAKER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Licensed
Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLUID TAPS OR COCKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to various improvements in the construction of fluid
taps or cocks suitable for pressure and general uses, and to registering or
indicating the number of times the said taps or cocks may have been opened,
to shew the quantity of fluid "drawn off" any vessel.
In one construction the plug is made hollow, and placed in a horizontal
position to be operated by a lever, T, or other contrivance, fitted in front of the
tap. In the hollow plug are two openings, the one of which can be moved
opposite to the fluid in the vessel, and the other to the outlet in the tap.
When these openings are in a direct line the flow of fluid can be made con-
tinuous; but when they are placed at or about right angles the only quantity
that can be withdrawn by one movement each way of the lever, T, or other

page_text: contrivance, is that contained in the hollow plug. The hollow plug can be
made of any required size, and is coupled to communicate its movement to a
ratchet wheel and spring, from which latter it is transmitted to an index pro-
perly secured and locked up, so that it will serve as a check on persons in
charge of establishments where liquors are sold, or where it is desirable to
ascertain the quantity of fluid passed through a tap.
Another construction has the lever spindle, which is the equivalent of the
hollow plug, also in a horizontal position. On the end of this spindle, loose or
otherwise, is fitted a movable valve “faced up" to that part of the tap or
cock in which is the outlet passage. This valve has an opening corresponding
in size to the outlet in the cock, and which can be brought opposite to it by
the movement of the lever, T, or other contrivance, and thus leave a free
passage..
A third construction is on the slide-valve principle,and is self-shutting. The
valve is faced and fitted opposite the outlet passage. When the spindle on
which the valve is fixed is depressed the cock is open, but as soon as the
pressure is removed from the spindle, a spiral spring fitting against the
spindle and part of the tap or cock barrel, returns the valve and stops the flow
Another spring keeps the valve close up to the outlet passage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Whitaker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
WHITAKER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Licensed Victualler,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Samuel Whitaker, Her special licence that I, the said
Samuel Whitaker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Samuel Whitaker, 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, au

page_text: Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLUID TAPS OR COCKS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, he said Samuel Whitaker, 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 Samuel Whitaker, 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 (that is to say):—
This Invention relates to various improvements in the construction of fluid
taps or cocks suitable for pressure and general uses, and to registering or
indicating the number of times the said taps or cocks may have been opened,
to shew the quantity of fluid "drawn off"
any vessel.
In one construction the plug is made hollow, and placed in a horizontal
position to be operated by a lever, T,or other contrivance, fitted in front of the
tap. In the hollow plug are two openings, the one of which can be moved
opposite to the fluid in the vessel, and the other to the outlet in the tap.
When these openings are in a direct line the flow of liquid can be made con-
tinuous; but when they are placed at or about right angles the only quantity
that can be withdrawn is that contained in the hollow plug. The hollow plug
can be made of any required size, and is coupled to communicate its move-
ments to a ratchet wheel and spring, from which latter it is transmitted to an
index properly secured and locked up, so that it will serve as a cheque on
persons in charge of establishments where liquors are sold, or where it is
desirable to ascertain the quantity of fluid passed through a tap.
Another construction has the lever spindle, which is the equivalent of the
hellow plug, also in a horizontal position; on the end of this spindle, loose or
otherwise, is fitted a moveable valve "faced up" to that part of the tap or
cock in which is the outlet passage. This valve has an opening corresponding
in size to the outlet in the cock, and which may be brought opposite to it by
the movement of the lever, T, or other contrivance, and thus leave a free
passage.
A third construction is on the slide-valve principle,and is self-shutting. The
valve is faced and fitted opposite the outlet passage. When the spindle on
which the valve is fixed is depressed the cock is open, but as soon as the
pressure is removed from the spindle a spiral spring fitted against the spindle

page_text: and part of the tap or cock barrel returns the valve and stops the flow,
Another spring keeps the valve close up to the outlet passage.
That the various improvements referred to may be more clearly understood,
I have hereunto attached an illustrative Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1
represents a longitudinal section of a tap having a hollow plug, with the
openings to the supply and outlet nozzle in a direct line. Fig. 2 is also a
longitudinal sectiou of a similar arrangement, but with small inlet openings
around the hollow plug to equalize the pressure, and a spiral spring to keep
the hollow plug in position. Fig. 3 a vertical section of a hollow plug arrange-
ment, with the openings to the supply and the outlet nozzle so situated that
one movement of the lever or handle will only allow the withdrawal of the
quantity contained in the vertical hollow plug; the discharge of the full
quantity contained in the said hollow plug or chamber being secured by the
air-regulating apparatus attached to or in the same and shewn, suitable for
connection with the registering apparatus illustrated in conjunction with a
front elevation of the same tap at Fig. 4. Fig. 5 a sectional view of the air-
regulating apparatus at X, X. Fig. 6 a front elevation of a vertical
hollow plug arrangement similar to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, but having two outlets
and two registering arrangements, so that whole and half quantities can be
withdrawn and registration of the same effected. Fig. 7, a transverse section of
Fig. 6 at Z, Z. Fig. 8 represents a longitudinal section with a horizontal
spindle and "faced up" valve, specially suitable for pressure; and Fig. 9 a
longitudinal section of a self-shutting tap.
In
In Fig. 1, a represents the barrel, shewn in two pieces and secured together;
b, the lever for operating the hollow plug c, in which are two openings, inlet d
and outlet e, as shewn by the arrows. In Fig. 2, is the barrel, similar to
Fig. 1; g, the lever; h, stuffing puts; i, hollow plug, with inlet perforations j
at short distances apart, and outlet k, l, spiral spring to keep the hollow plug
up to its seating or bearings. The current is indicated by the arrows.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, m shews the barrel; n, the lever; o, packing nuts; p, ver-
tical hollow plug or chamber, part of which is encircled by the barrel m;
gistationary air passage, which admits the pressure of the atmosphere at 1, to
discharge any liquid contained in the chamber p; 8, ports or openings into the
stationary air tube q to allow the exit of air when the chamber is being filled,
and which ports or openings are closed by the rising of the float t, to which is
attached the button valve u; v, stud, with spring or pall fastened to the hollow
plug p. The said spring or pall bears on or works in or against the ratchet
wheel w, which is fastened to the loose box a on the stationary air passage q
and each movement of the lever, and consequently the hollow plug, transmits

page_text: the motion by the said spring or pall v, ratchet wheel w, worm and wheel y, to
an ordinary neter index, as shewn at z. In Figs. 6 and 7 a¹ represents the
barrel of the tap; ', the nozzle or outlet where the whole quantity contained
in the hollow plug c¹ may be withdrawn; d', the nozzle or outlet where one
half or a less quantity than the whole may be withdrawn by one movement of
the lever e. When this lever is at rest the supply enters at f¹, but when
moved to the right or left as desired, either of the quantities herein-before
named can be obtained. The returning of the lever or handle again allowing
the chamber to be filled with a supply. In this arrangement the air-regulating
apparatus is precisely similar to that just described under Figs. 3, 4, and 5.
The registering apparatus is also similar, but as there are two indexes to shew
the different quantities withdrawn, it is necessary to throw the one out of gear
when the other receives motion from a movement of the lever, so that the
registration effected may be correct; and this is accomplished by having two
tappets or studs fastened to the stationary air tube or the index framing to lift
out of gear either of the springs or palls g', according as the lever e¹ may have
been moved; ', ratchet wheels; 2, right and left handed screws or worms
gearing with toothed wheels j', as part of an ordinary meter index 11. In
Fig. Sa represents the barrel; 2, the lever fastened to the spindle c², which
is packed at d³,and couples to the valve e². This valve has oneor more opening
or apertures which are brought opposite the outlet, as shewn in the Drawing.
In Fig. 9 a³ represents the barrel; 63 a cap sliding over part of the barrel or
framing; c³, the valve spindle; 3, the valve attached to the end of the same.
When a downward pressure is applied to the said cap the valve passes under
the level of the outflow orifice, and allows the liquid to flow over it; but as
soon as the pressure is withdrawn, the spiral springs e³ and f³ respectively
carry it upwards and close against the outflow aperture y³.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of my said Iuvention of
"Improvements in the Construction of Fluid Taps or Cocks," I would have it
distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details laid
down, as they may be variously modified; but what I claim is,-
Firstly, the construction of fluid taps or cocks with hollow plugs, as herein
described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the same being modifications for
allowing a continuous flow.
Secondly, the construction of fluid taps or cocks with hollow plugs or
chambers and air regulating and registering apparatus, or either of them, as
herein described and illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, the same being
modifications, by which only limited quantities can be withdrawn at one time.
1 Thirdly, the construction of fluid taps or cocks with spindle and "faced up"

page_text: valve, as herein described and illustrated in Fig. 9, the same being specially
suitable as a pressure tap or cock.
And fourthly, the construction of fluid taps or cocks made self-shutting by
springs, as herein described and illustrated at Fig. 9, the same being suitable
for stock and other casks frequently used.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Whitaker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal; this Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
Que thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
JOHN T. KING.
SAMUEL WHITAKER. (L.S.)