IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR REGULATORS FOR WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wright, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon,
Brassfounder, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR REGULATORS
FOR WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wright at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1881.
WILLIAM WRIGHT, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, Brassfounder:
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR REGULATORS FOR WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS."
One form of the improved valve and regulator is constructed as follows:-
An outer barrel or pipe or equivalent contains a smaller inner one, leaving an
annular space containing a piece of rubber pipe or other suitable spring or springy
substance. The inner tube projects downwards, and passes through and is secured
to a ball of ordinary construction. The top of the outer tube is closed in, and
through the cover is a form of seating, through which the water enters from a
suitable branch or pipe. A valve, preferably of rubber, is secured in a convenient
manner upon the upper and closed end of the inner tube (and suitable apertures are
provided for the ingress of the water), so that when this rises the valve is pressed
upon the seating already mentioned, and closes the aperture.
A loose ring lies around the inner tube at the bottom of the annular space, and
a loose collar screws in through the closed bottom of the outer tube, and by thus
compressing or easing the spring in the annular space the flow of water through
the valve is regulated.
The action is as follows:-The water or other fluid pressing upon the valve
forces it from the seat, and compresses the annular spring, enters the outer tube
and passes into the inner tube, and through it and the ball into the cistern or other
receptacle. When the cistern fills the ball rises, and gradually closes the valve and
stops the supply of water.
Most of the materials commonly used for such purposes may be used for these
valves, such as brass for the body of the valve, rubber for the valve itself (though I
can use brass for both valve and seat if preferred), and copper for the ball, so I do
not bind myself to any special material only; and with regard to the exact form,
that also can and naturally would be varied to suit circumstances. One such variation
would be employed in the case of very shallow cisterns or vessels, when the valve
would be placed altogether inside the ball, and so economise space.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th August
1881.
WILLIAM WRIGHT, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, Brassfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR REGULATORS FOR WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS."
My improvement relates to that class of valve or regulator known as ball valves,
the object of which. is to shut off the supply of water or other fluid when the
cistern or vessel to which it is applied has received a sufficient quantity; this is
accomplished by the flotation power of the hermetically closed hollow ball.
My Invention will be best explained by reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, in which like letters represent like parts. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation
of the valve and ball; Fig. 2 shows a modified application of the ball, the valve
remaining unaltered; and Fig. 3 is a section of the valve and seat, showing a slight
modification upon the form adopted in Fig. 1. A is the hollow ball of copper or
other suitable material, through the centre of which is inserted a tube B, soldered
.or otherwise connected airtight to the ball A. One end of tube B is partly closed
by a bridge or equivalent B¹, by which the ball is connected to the valve, but is
free to move up and down outside it. The valve consists of an outer tube C, having
on the top the valve seat C', through which the fluid enters by a suitable straight
or curved branch C. The tube C may be screwed or otherwise attached to the
branch and seating, as shown, or may form part of it, but the former plan is better.
A union joint may if desired be inserted, as shown in Fig. 1, to facilitate the
removal of the apparatus without breaking the soldered joint. Within tube C is a
smaller and generally longer tube D, carrying on its upper end the valve D¹ of
india rubber, leather, or the like; or it may be made of metal, and ground to fit the
seat C¹. The soft valve however is less likely to leak if dirt or leaves get between
the valve and seat, as not unfrequently bappens.
"
or
and
The upper end of tube D consists of a head D², having suitable apertures D³
for the entrance of the fluid to the small tube, and a collar or washer D* fitting
loosely inside tube C so as to work freely within it. In the form adopted in Fig. 3
the head D² is so large as to dispense with the collar D. A loose washer D³ is
placed upon tube D, and between it and collar D is a piece of indiarubber
tube E, a helical spring, or other similar springy material, which would be used as
a substitute for the indiarubber. The end of tube C is screw threaded at C³, and
into this screws a plug or gland F, the edge of which may be "milled
roughened to facilitate turning with the fingers, or squared for the spanner,
which may if desired be packed round tube D with a little cork F or equivalent to
make it slide nicely upon the tube. The projecting end of tube D screws into the
ball bridge B¹, as already described, and it will be noticed that it is immaterial to
the working whether the ball projects upwards so as to surround the valve, or
projects downwards from the end of tube D, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.
Small holes C³, Fig. 3, which should be inclined inwards and upwards may if
necessary be used to permit the escape of the water which might otherwise get
locked between the head and the seating, and prevent the valve closing properly.
The arrangement of valve in Fig. 2 is precisely similar to Fig. 1, except that the
ball is placed at the end of an ordinary lever G pivotted to a suitable bracket or
attachment C upon tube C, and split or divided so as to embrace loosely tube D,
to which it is so connected that it will carry the tube up or down with it as it moves.
The simplest way of doing this is by screwing the bottom of tube D into the
lever G. When this arrangement is used the tube B may be dispensed with, and
the ball then becomes an ordinary ball. The action of this valve is as follows:-
The fluid enters through the branch C, forcing back valve D³, passes the seating

page_text: As
and valve, and enters tube D through the holes D³, as shown by the arrows.
the ball A rises it lifts tube D and valve D' till the opening is entirely closed, and
no more fluid can pass, but as the level of the fluid in the cistern or vessel sinks the
ball drops with it and opens the valve again. The object of the spring or springy
material E is to press up the valve D' against its seat, and counteract the pressure of
the fluid, so that the ball shall have nothing to contend against except the slight
friction and weight of the valve and accessories. The power of the spring E can
be adjusted to a nicety by the plug F, so that a valve which has been working
against a pressure of, say, 100 lbs. per square inch, can be immediately regulated to
suit a pressure of, say, 4 lbs. by merely turning the plug.
However, the plug F could be dispensed with, and a plain cap substituted, but
then the pressure of the spring E would be constant, and could not be altered to
suit circumstances; therefore I much prefer to use the regulating plug. For
shallow or small cisterns the plan with the ball turned up is best, as it takes up
less room, but in some cases where there is plenty of height the ball may with
advantage be turned downwards, in which case the tube B may be, if desired,
of smaller diameter than before, but if it be made so the ball is of course not
reversible. The lever arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is chiefly for the use of those
who are accustomed to the usual form and prefer a long arm.
Having now described my Invention, and the method of performing the same, I
wish it to be understood that I am aware that closing a valve by the flotation of an
airtight ball is no new idea, and therefore that I do not broadly claim the principle
of closing valves in that manner, but that what I do claim and desire to protect
under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. In a ball valve for controlling the supply of fluids the combination with
the valve D¹ of the adjustable spring or equivalent D and regulating plug F,
whereby the valve may be regulated to work at varying pressures, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth and shown.
Second. In a ball valve the combination with the valve D¹ of the spring E,
whereby the pressure of the fluid is neutralized, substantially as set forth and
shown.
Third. In a ball valve the employment of the inner tube D attached at one end
to the ball, and carrying at its other end the perforated head or its equivalent D²
and valve D', in combination with the outer tube C, valve seat C¹, and supply
branch C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.
Fourth. In a ball valve the employment of the ball A directly attached to the
valve spindle or tube D, and centrally open by the insertion of the tube B, within
which is the valve and accessories, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
and shown.
Fifth. In a ball valve the combination of the outer and inner tubes C and D
with the ordinary ball A and lever G, substantially as set forth and shown.
Sixth. In a ball valve the employment of the reversible ball A, substantially as
set forth and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wright, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM WRIGHT. (LS.)