IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING TAPS OR VALVES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Storey and Isaac Storey, junior,
of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounders, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING TAPS OR VALVES."
Sealed the 5th May 1876, and dated the 11th November 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Storey
and Isaac Storey at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 11th November 1875.
We, JOHN HENRY STOREY and ISAAC STOREY, junior, of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounders, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING. TAPS
OR VALVES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to valves adapted to be employed more par-
ticularly to control the supply of water, and especially to such valves as
are closed by means of a diaphragm which is caused to close the dis-
charge opening by the pressure of water admitted to act upon the back
of the said diaphragm, the opening of the valve being effected by
opening a small auxillary valve which relieves the back of the

page_text: diaphragm from the excess of pressure. In such valves there has been
a discharge of water from the auxillary valve during the periods when
the main valve was opened, and this discharge has been objectionable in
To remedy this defect we convey the said discharge into
the main discharge passage, and we employ a diaphragm to prevent the 5
fluid from escaping through the opening, through which projects the
spindle by means of which the auxillary valve is opened.
some cases.
In one arrangement the said spindle is tightly inserted in a hole in a
dise of vulcanised caoutchouc, and the edges of the said disc are nipped
between a seating and a screwed cap, the said disc preventing the
escape of fluid, and at the same time permitting the necessary move-
ment of the said spindle.
The closing of the said auxillary valve may be assisted by the action
of a spring or weight or by the resilience of the said disc.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Storey and Isaac Storey in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
HENRY STOREY and ISAAC STOREY, junior, of. Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Brassfounders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said John Henry Storey and
Isaac Storey, junior, Her special licence that we, the said John
Henry Storey and Isaac Storey, junior, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Henry Storey and
Isaac Storey, junior, our 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

page_text: 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 SELF-CLOSING TAPS OR VALVES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Henry
Storey and Isaac Storey, junior, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, 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 we, the said John Henry Storey and Isaac
Storey, junior, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement (and
accompanying Drawings) that is to say:-
Our Invention relates to valves adapted to be employed more par-
ticularly to control the supply of water, and especially to such valves
as are closed by means of a diaphragm, which is caused to close the
discharge opening by the pressure of water admitted to act upon the
back of the diaphragm, the opening of the valve being effected by
opening a small auxilliary valve which relieves the back of the
diaphragm from the excess of pressure. In such valves there has been
a discharge of water from the auxilliary valve during the periods when
the main valve was open, and this discharge has been objectionable in
some cases. To remedy this defect we convey the said discharge into
the main discharge passage, and we employ a diaphragm to prevent the
- fluid from escaping through the opening through which the spindle of
the auxilliary valve projects.
.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood, we have
appended hereunto a Sheet of Drawings made about the full size, so far
as the particular example is concerned, and marked with letters of
reference, corresponding marks indicating the same parts in the various
Figures.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a

page_text: struction; Fig. 2 is a front view with the bonnet or cover removed; and
Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line A in Fig. 1.
In the said Figures a is the body of the tap, which is formed with an
union 6 to connect with an inlet pipe and with an union c to connect
with the outlet or discharge pipe. In the central part of the said body
is formed a valve seating d, around which is an annular chamber e.
The interior of the said seating communicates with the discharge
passage, and the said annular chamber with the inlet passage g. The
said body is formed with a circular flanch, to which a bonnet h is
secured by means of screws. A diaphragm i, formed of leather,
caoutchouc, or other suitable material, is interposed between the said
flanch and bonnet, and to the back of the said diaphragm is secured a
metal disc k. A small passage 1 formed in the flanch on the body com-
municates with a corresponding passage formed in the flanch of the
bonnet, water being thereby admitted from the chamber e into a
chamber m in the said bonnet, and the pressure of the water acting on
the diaphragm presses it against the seating d and closes the passage for
"the escape of water into the discharge pipe.
Wire gauze suitably secured in position may be employed to prevent
the access to the passage of particles of matter large enough to choke
the said passage.
A small valve seating is formed in the said bonnet, and to the said
seating is fitted a valve n, represented detached in Fig. 4. In the
example the said valve is formed in one piece with a shank, and has a
recess turned in the inside of the valve head, and in this recess is fixed
a small washer of leather or elastic material to form a tight joint with
the valve in the bonnet. A spiral spring is mounted on the shank of
the valve, and bearing by one end against the bottom of a recess o in
the bonnet, and by the other end against a nut or collar fixed upon the
said shank keeps the valve pressed against the seating. A small relief
passage p drilled in the bonnet communicates at one end with the
recéss o, and at the other end with a passage which leads into the dis-
charge passage f. The outer end of the recess o is enlarged to receive a
diaphragm 8, which we prefer to make of vulcanized caoutchouc. The
said diaphragm is secured in position by means of a cap t which is..
formed to screw on to the pap in which the recess o is formed and to
nip the edges of the diaphragm so as to make a tight joint which will

page_text: prevent the escape of water. A pusher spindle u formed with a head
and screwed into a pusher nobis fitted to slide in a hole formed in
the said cap.
:
The action of the parts is as follows:-So long as the flow or
discharge of water is not required, the pressure within the chamber m
keeps the diaphragm i tightly pressed against the seating. When the
spindle is pressed inwards the head thereof presses upon the
diaphragm 8, which in turn presses against the collar or nut on the end
of the spindle of the valve n, and by pushing the said spindle inwards
opens the valve passage. The water in the chamber m has now access
to the recess o, and by flowing through the passages p and into the
discharge passage f reduces the pressure upon the back of the
diaphragm i, and the pressure of the water in the chamber e being now
in excess, the said diaphragm is moved away from the seating d and
water is permitted to flow into the discharge passage. On ceasing to
press upon the spindle u the valve n closes, the main valve also closing
after a short interval.
;
Fig. 5 indicates a modification which may be made in the construction
of the tap. In this example the shank of the valve n passes through
and is secured to the diaphragm s, and the pusher knob is fixed on the
end of the said shank. In such a case the spiral spring may be
employed to close the valve, or the resiliency of the diaphragm may
effect the closure.
Other modifications may also be effected without departing from the
nature and intent of our Invention, as for example, weights may be
employed to close the valvė, and levers may be employed to transmit
the opening thrust to the said valve, and also it will be understood that
the improvements are applicable to bib taps or cocks, and to other forms
of taps or cocks.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said In-
vention and the manner in which we carry the same into practical
effect, we would remark in conclusion that we do not claim the
diaphragm i nor the opening and closing action of the same apart from
the means for relieving the back thereof from the excess of pressure,
but that we claim,—
First. The combinations and arrangements of parts forming complete

page_text: taps or cocks, substantially as set forth and indicated herein-before and
in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The relief passage or passages communicating with the
discharge passage through which the main body of fluid flows, substan-
tially as in the case of the passages p and r.
And, Lastly. The diaphragm s, fitted and acting substantially as
and for the purpose set forth and indicated herein-before and in the
accompanying Drawings.
:
In witness whereof, we, the said John Henry Storey and Isaac
Storey, junior, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
Signed and sealed by the said
John Henry Storey and
Isaac Storey, junior, in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentees,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
JOHN HENRY STOREY. (L.S.).
ISAAC STOREY, Jª..
.(L.S.)