Improvements in Self-closing Water Taps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 28th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-closing Water Taps.
I, ROBERT LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT of 62 Croxteth Road, Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Improvements in Self-closing Water Taps, consisting of a disc borne down by
the weight and force of the water falling on it and so arranged and connected as
to move a door which closes the pipe and stops the flow of the water.
This door may either have an opening through it and be revolved or it may be
a door sliding up and down as shown.
Referring to the accompanying drawings the respective parts are denoted by the
following letters:-The metal of the tap by B, the sliding door for shutting off the
water by D, the disc for receiving the pressure of the water by V, the opening
through the tap by P, the handle and lever by H I J K, the auxiliary lever
by L, the wedges by W, the diaphragm by F, the air chamber by A.
Fig. 1. represents a longitudinal section of the tap.
Fig. 2. is a horizontal section showing the disc V in plan and the sliding door D
in section.
Fig. 3. is the handle and lever showing the connection of its supports and of the
rods for working the door D and disc V.
Fig. 4. is a vertical section through the chamber containing the sliding door D.
In applying this invention the handle H is pressed down, which moves the
door D into the well and so clears the pipe P which remains clear only so long as
the handle is kept down. As soon as the pressure is taken off the handle H, the
volume of water which has passed over the diaphragm F, and filled the upper part
of the chamber falls on the disc V, with such force and pressure as to bring it
down and in so doing also brings down the lever at K and raises the handle H and
the lever at drawing up the door D and closing the outflow. As this wedge-
shaped door D rises it comes into contact with the wedges W which force it
against the metal of the pipe P and ensures contact.
Should the rod carrying the disc V become disconnected there is an auxiliary
lever I underneath having a similar action to the upper one. The air chamber A
is provided so as to facilitate the upward movement of the disc V when it displaces
the water in moving upwards.
The openings for the door D and disc V to pass into place are each secured by
two cover plates attached by screw bolts to the projecting flanges of the tap.
Dated this Eighth day of June 1891.
R. LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-closing Water Taps.
I ROBERT LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT of 62 Croxteth Road Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
:-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby a water-tap may be
self-closing. For this purpose I make a disc and place it horizontal so that the
water after passing over a diaphragm falls on it and forces it down. I also make
[Price 8.11

page_text: a wedge shaped door to slide upwards and cover the pipe. A lever is fixed above
having at one end a rod attached to the disc and at the other two rods attached to
the door. A bar is placed inside at the bottom, supported at its centre and
attached at one end to the underside of the disc and at the other end to the bottom
of the door. In order to ensure the door being forced against the face of the pipe,
two wedges are inserted. An air chamber is introduced to assist in providing
space for air which may be compressed by the water disturbed in pushing the door
down.
The drawings left with the Provisional Specification shew the arrangement
generally.
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section.
Figure 2. is a horizontal section.
Figure 3. shews the handle, lever and rods.
Figure 4. is a section shewing the sliding door.
The different parts are denoted by the following letters,-handle H, lever
attached to handle I J K, metal of tap B, pipe through tap P, air chamber A,
disc V, door D, additional lever in bottom of tap L, wedges for driving the door
against the face of the pipe W, diaphragm F.
In applying my invention the handle H is pressed down thus drawing up the
disc V which is attached to the lever at K by a rod; at the same time the door D
is also pushed down by the rod attached to the lever at I. While the handle H
continues to be pressed down the water flows through the pipe P rising above the
diaphragm F and falling over it onto the disc V and on through the pipe P, also
filling the space containing the supplementary lever L, and then flows over the
door D and out through the mouth of the tap P. When the handle H is released
the force and weight of water passing over the diaphragm F and falling on the
disc V draws it down and also the end K of the lever, so that the lever at I being,
raised, by means of the rod raises the door D and closes the pipe. In order that
the door may be forced against the face of the pipe, the wedges W' are provided,
and are prevented from moving upwards by being in contact with the plates
covering the door cavity. The openings through which the door D and the
dise V are inserted are covered by plates held down by screw bolts and nuts to
the projecting flanges. An auxiliary lever L is also provided in the bottom of the
tap so that if the upper rods were detached the action would be maintained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The application of the water falling on the disc substantially as and for the
purpose herein described and shown upon the drawings.
Dated this Eighth day of March 1892.
R. LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT