IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
GEORGE UNDERHAY, of Wells Street, Gray's Inn Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Brazier, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Third day of May, in the eighth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Frederick George Underhay, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege,
and authority, that I, the said Frederick George Underhay, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, or such others, as I, the said Frederick George Underhay, my
exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso, that I, the said Frederick George Underhay, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large.
antear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Frederick George Underhay, hereby declare that the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to. performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the present. Specification thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
Figure 1 of the said Drawings represents an improvement in the class of
valves known by the name of "ball valve cocks." A is the elbow piece of the
supply pipe, through which the water or other fluid is to flow into a vessel to
a height to be regulated by the rise of the ball or float; B, C, is a valve box
which is screwed on to the end of the supply pipe A, and terminates at
bottom in a bearing piece D, having two dependent arms of unequal length,
a, b. The lever E of the ball B is passed through a slot in the long arm a of
the valve box, and secured at its extreme end in an open cleft in the short
arm 6 by means of a cross pin c, which passes through the cheeks of the cleft
and the interposed end of the lever, and on which pin the lever turns freely.
The length of the slot in the arm a determines of course the range of action
allowed to the lever E; Fis the valve which consists of a portion of a metallic
cone c, which fits into a conical recess d in the mouth of the elbow piece A of
the supply pipe; è is the spindle which passes down through a pipe-f, supported
by a cross bearing 9 in the centre of the valve-box C. As long as the water
or other fluid is. at so low a level as not to act on and raise the ball, the
spindle of the valve rests on the lever E, as shewn in Figure 1, and the water
or other fluid flows freely in all around it; but as soon as the rise of the water
raises the ball, it raises in a like degree the lever attached to the ball, and with
it the spindle of the valve F, and so the action continues till the lever E
attains a position exactly parallel with the valvo F (as indicated by the dotted
lines in Figure 1), and that valve closes the mouth of the supply pipe and
prevents the ingress of any more water or other fluid; and by an inverse
course of action as soon as the water or other fluid begins to fall below the
required height, and the ball or float to fall along with it, an opening is made
for a fresh supply.
Figure 2 represents another improvement in the class of ball valve cocks.
A is the ball; B a tube which is passed through the ball from top to bottom;
C is the valve box which is screwed on to the end of the supply pipe D, and
has a short neck, which is inserted into the top end of the tube B; E is the
valve which is screwed by its spindle into the boss of a bridge in the tube B,
and rests when out of action on another bridge at d in the valve box. While
the valve. is out of action the water flows in through the valve box C; but as
the water rises it raises with it the ball, and the ball the valve, till at length

page_text: the valve closes the mouth of the supply pipe D, as indicated by the dotted
lines in the Figure.
A third improvement in the class of ball cock valves is represented in
Figure 3. It is constructed on the same principle as Figure 2, but the
positions of the principal parts are reversed; A is the ball; B the central tube
which passes a little way out through the ball, both at top and bottom; C is
the valve box which is screwed on to the lower projecting end of the tube B;
D the supply pipe, which is inserted through a cap E, screwed on to the upper
projecting end of the tube B, and passed down quite through the pipe B; Fis
a collar on the supply pipe D; which catching against the cap E acts as a
stop to the descent of the ball beyond that point; G is a second collar-attached
to the supply pipe lower down, in order to keep it in a state of parallelism
with the ball tube B; II is the valve which is fitted to a seat h in the valve
box. As the ball is raised by the ascent of the water it raises the valve with
it till it abuts against and closes the mouth of the supply pipe; the ball instead
of being an entire sphere may consist of a hemisphere, as represented by the
dotted lines in Figure 3. Figure 1 represents another description of ball
valve cock in which two discs with similar apertures are made to perform the
office of the ordinary valve according as these apertures are brought to coincide
or the reverse. A is a valve box; B a pipe which admits the water or other
fluid into the box; and C another pipe placed at right angles to the other,
which conveys it to the vessel to be filled; D is a stationary disc fixed in the
valve box-just below the inner mouth of the pipe B; E is a moveable disc
placed above the other, and attached to the end of a spindle G, which passes
up through the top of the cap F of the valve box. A plan of the disc D is
given in Figure 1b, a plan of the disc E in Figure 1°, and a (top) plan of the
cap E in Figure 1d. The spindle has a shoulder a, a, which by limiting the
range of its action keeps the two discs in contact, and it terminates in a square to
which the lever of the ball is attached; K is a collar raised on the top of the cap,
but having part of it cut away, as shewn; L is a stop which projects from the
spindle immediately below the square and takes into the space cut-away in
the collar K, and limits the extent to which the spindle can be carried round
by the action of the ball and lever. The range to be given to the stop L'must
of course depend on the size and number of the apertures in the discs. When
the ball and lever are freely suspended from the end of the spindle the aper-
tures in the disc coincide, and the water or other fluid flows uninterruptedly
through both the passages B and C; but as the water or other fluid raises the
ball and lever the lever turns round the moveable disc E till all its apertures abut

page_text: against the solid parts of the fixed disc D, and any further supply is shut off.
Figure 2, Figure 2b, Figure 2°, represents a modification of the ball valve.
cock last, described. In this the moveable disc is placed undermost and the
spindle to which it is attached is passed through the fixed disc and has a
spring z, z, coiled round it which keeps the two discs in contact.
Figure 4 (and end view), and Figure 5 (a side view), represent the first of
a class of valves to which I give the name of "cam valves" because of their
action depending on the movement of certain cam bandles. The Figures (4
and 5) exhibit the valve as applied to a lifting pump; A is the valve box; B, the
inlet pipe; E, the outlet pipe; F, the valve; f, the spindle which works freely
up and down through a stuffing box. In the top of the valve box g is a spring.
which is coiled round the spindle; G is the cam handle which turns on an axis
which is immediately over the top end of the spindle supported by two
cheeks h, h. In the end view, Figure 4, the handle is represented as in a
horizontal position, the valve and spindle as up, and the inlet and outlet
passages as open.
The side view, Figure 5, shews how, by the turning round of the cam
handle, the spindle is pressed down and the passages closed.
i
B
Figure 6 represents another cam valve for pumps which is precisely similar
to that shewn in Figures 4 and 5, with the exception that the inlet
is placed immediately under the valve box instead of at the side.
passage
Figure 7 represents a modification of the cam valve for pumps in which the
inlet and outlet passages are placed as in Figure 6 but on the reverse side, and
the spring round the piston rod is dispensed with. The valve is supposed to be
kept up by the interior pressure of the water, air, or other fluid, but to yield
readily to the cam handle when it is turned backwards from the position in
which it is represented in the Figure, and brought down upon the top end of
the spindle.
Figure 8 shews a stop tap with cam valve differing from the preceding only
in the relative positions of the inlet and outlet passages.
Figure 9 represents a steam guage cock with cam valve so adapted to it
that the action of the cam handle closes the valve, and Figure 10 a modi-
fication of Figure 9, in which the action of the handle opens the valve.
Figure 11 (a side view), and Figure 12 (an end view), represent a
modification of the cam valve in which the handle is made to act as a double
lever, both to raise and to depress the valve spindle. The cam is cut away
on one side from m to n, as shewn, and a groove o, o, then made in the
diminished side. The top end of the valve spindle has a cleft p made in

page_text: it into which the larger or undiminished side of the cam-fits, and the upper
side of that cleft q is reduced to the size of a pin, just large enough to move
freely in the groove o, o, of the cam. When the cam handle is turned back-
wards from the position in which it is shewn in Figure 11; the cam acting
against the top of the valve spindle depresses it, and when turned in the
opposite direction it raises the piston by acting upwards against the pin q.
Figure 13 (a side view), and Figure 14 (an end view), represent a modifica-
tion of the arrangements shewn in Figures 11 and 12. In this case the cam
is cut away on both sides, and through and through to the extent shewn, and
an arched piece s left standing out from the centre of the cam (viewed endwise
with an open space between it and the body, of the cam. The valve spindle
has à cleft made in the upper end of it, the two cheeks of which carry a cross
pin t. The arched pieces of the.cam is inserted in this cleft behind the cross
pin t, so that when the cam handle is brought forwards from the position in
which it is shewn in Figures 13 and 14, the body of the cam acts on the valve
spindle to press it down, and when turned the other way the pressure of the
arched piece against the cross pin t raises the piston.
Figure 15 represents a valve worked by an eccentric in a manner similar to
the cam valves before described. A is the eccentric, consisting of a steel
cylinder v, enclosed in and turning freely in an exterior brass ring w; Bis
the valve spindle, which is attached to and turns (as on a binge) in the loop x
projecting from the brass ring; C is a forked lever within the forks, of which
the eccentric is secured by a cross pin c, when the lever and the eccentric are
in the position represented in the Figure the valve is up; but when the lever
is turned round in the direction indicated by the dotted lines the valve is
depressed.
:
Figure 16 represents an improved spring valve, suitable for water-closets:
A is the valve box; B and C the inlet and outlet passages; D is the valve;
E is the valve spindle, which is continued through and beyond the valve to the
extent shewn. The prolonged. part fits into a recess or socket y in a cap F,
screwed on to the bottom of the valve box, and has a spring = coiled round it,
which allows of its being pushed down into the socket y by the pressure of the
band or the knob G at the top end of the valve spindle, and so to open both
the passages B and C, but throws the valve up again into its seat on the
pressure on the knob being withdrawn, and thereby recloses both passages.
Figure 17 represents an ordinary lever valve of an improved construction.
A is the valve; B, the valve spindle, which passes upwards through a box C
in the bearing piece D; E is a standard at one end of the bearing piece D,

page_text: to which the lever F is hinged; G is a forked standard, shewn, separately
in Figure 18, and on the opposite end of the bearing piece D, within which
the free end of the lever falls; II is a swivel bridge, which turns on a
vertical pin h', screwed into the top of one of the forks, and has at one
side of it, in or near the centre, a claw-shaped recess k, which, on the bridge
being brought round to the pin h² on the top of the other fork, embraces that
pin within it; K is a binding screw, which, being screwed down through the
swivel bridge upon the end of the lever within the forks, presses that lever
down on the end of the spindle to any extent which may be required.
'
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I. declare that though I have in most of
the Drawings hereunto annexed and before described represented the valves as
consisting of solid metallic cones, or portions of cones, fitting into corresponding
recesses, yet that I do not confine myself to the use of such valves, for that in
some cases valves of leather, canvas, hemp, or other. flexible substance may be
conveniently substituted for the same. And I declare that what I claim as
my improvements are as follows:-
First, I claim, in respect of the ball valve cock represented in Figure 1, the
enclosing of the lower valve in a valve bed attached to the mouth of the supply
pipe, as before described.
Second, I claim, in respect of the ball valve cocks represented in Figures 2
and 3, the arrangement before described, whereby the ball, or half ball, or
hemisphere is made to slide up and down on the supply pipe, and the valve to
open or close (as the case may be) the mouth of the pipe.
:
Third, I claim, in respect of the ball valve cocks represented in Figure 1,
1, 1, and 1d, and Figure 2, Figure 2b, Figures 2, & Figure 2, the
employment in combination with a ball and lever of two discs formed to admit
and shut off the water or other fluid according as similar apertures are brought
by the action of the ball and lever to coincide or the reverse, as before
described.
Fourth, I claim, in respect of the series of cam valves shewn in Figures 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the employment of the cam handle of
the particular form represented in each case, or of any other analogous form,
to act on the top of the rod of the valve spindle in manner before described;
however, the form of the valve box or position of the outlet and inlet passages
may be varied.
Fifth, I claim, in respect of the valve represented in Figure 15, the employ-
ment of an eccentric to actuate the valve, as before described.

page_text: Sixth, I claim, in respect of the water-closet valve represented in Figure 16,
he employment of a valve spindle prolonged through and beyond the valve,
nd with a spring coiled round the prolonged part, as before described.
And, seventh, I claim, in respect of the lever valve represented in Figure 17,
he employment of the swivel bridge and binding screw, as before described.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day
of November, One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.