IMPROVE- MENTS IN SELF CLOSING TAPS, VALVES, OR APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF ITS DISTRIBUTION FOR FLUIDS, AND FOR CHECKING WASTE OF WATER IN DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Crawford, of Port Glasgow, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Doctor of Medicine, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF CLOSING TAPS, VALVES, OR APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF
ITS DISTRIBUTION FOR
FLUIDS, AND FOR CHECKING WASTE OF WATER IN
DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Crawford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1881.
GEORGE CRAWFORD, of Port Glasgow, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Doctor of Medicine. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF CLOSING TAPS, VALVES,
OR APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF FLUIDS, AND FOR CHECKING WASTE OF
WATER IN ITS DISTRIBUTION FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
The principal objects of this Invention are to prevent the enormous and
unnecessary waste of water which usually takes place in all kitchen and scullery
jaw boxes, in lavatories, courts, and all other places where the present arrange-
ments of taps, cocks, valves, or other apparatus are in use, and also to prevent as
for as possible waste when drawing off other fluids. This apparatus or Invention
being self-closing, and of such a nature that when the required amount of water or
other fluid is drawn off, and the hand of the operator removed from the spindle
or handle which opens the water way, it becomes immediately closed and the flow
of water or other fluid at once stopped. But nevertheless although it is self-
closing it is entirely under the controll of the operator. Among other advantages
which I claim for my Invention are the following:-Great saving of water or
other fluids when being drawn off for its or their various purposes, simplicity of
construction, efficiency of action, great durability, none liability of failure in any
of its parts, and cheapness of production. To accomplish the above objects a
cylinder made of brass or other strong material is required about two and a half
inches long and one inch in diameter, or larger or smaller according to circum-
stances, such as the pressure of the water or other fluid and the amount to be

page_text: drawn off in a certain time. The cylinder is smoothly bored throughout its entire
length, and at its bottom a valve seat is made, through the centre of which is an
opening three eights to half an inch in diameter, or larger if need be, to allow the
water to escape when desired. The cylinder has a double bottom, and the space
between the two communicates at all times with the inlet pipe. The cylinder is
made water or fluid tight at the top by a properly fitting screw cap, and the space
between this cap and the top of a piston, which is placed inside the cylinder, and
to be afterwards described, communicates at all times with the inlet pipe much in
the same way as the space between the two bottoms of the cylinder does. A piston
made of brass or other suitable material about an inch and a quarter in length,
properly turned to accurately fit the cylinder, is placed inside, and an opening
about three quarters of an inch in length and about three eights in breadth is made
in said piston, and on one side of this opening several teeth are made to fit other
teeth on a spindle, to be afterwards described, for the purpose of raising or lowering
the said piston. On the lower end of the piston is a small screwed pin and nut
for the purpose of keeping a valve, disc, or washer made of leather or other suitable
material in its place for closing the opening at the bottom of the cylinder. On the
upper end of the piston is another screwed pin and nut and a piece of leather or
other suitable material which is so arranged as to be water or fluid tight, and
which tightness can be increased or diminished if desired by the said screw and
nut very much in the following manner :-The leather or other suitable material,
which should be of considerable thickness, is made of a circular form to fit the
inside of the cylinder, and has a circular portion removed from its centre. The
upper diameter of the portion removed is greater than the lower, and into this
space is placed a circular piece of brass or other suitable material, and about the
same thickness as the leather or other suitable material just described, having its
upper diameter also greater than its lower, and slightly larger than the portion of
leather or other suitable material removed, so that it may rest on the beveled surface
of the leather or other suitable material, and not on the upper end of the piston, and
having a small circular hole in its centre to allow it to pass down over the screwed
pin before the nut is placed on it. By tightening the nut on the top of the circular
piece of brass or other suitable material, the circular piece of leather or other
suitable soft material is pressed against the top of the piston and the inside of the
cylinder and makes it perfectly water or fluid tight. The pressure also of the water
or other fluid between the cap, which is placed on the top of the cylinder and the
upper surface of the circular portion of brass or other material before mentioned
tends at all times to press the leather or other suitable material also before described
against the inside of the cylinder and top of the piston, and keeps it water or fluid
tight almost independently of the nut and screwed pin before mentioned so long
as the circular portion of brass or other hard substance does not absolutely rest on
the upper end of the piston. Another nut on the said screw is so arranged as to
regulate the distance the piston is to be raised. The inlet of the water or other
fluid is so arranged that it presses at all times on both ends of the piston, and when
the piston is raised the water or other fluid rushes through the opening in the
upper bottom of the cylinder and escapes by an opening partly above and partly
below the level of the valve seat in the bottom of the cylinder which commu-
nicates with an ordinary swan neck or other suitable apparatus. There is an
opening in the side of the cylinder about its middle, and corresponding to a little
above the centre of the opening in the piston through which the spindle before
mentioned passes, and at the same time forming a rest for it, and which spindle has
also a rest on the opposite side of the cylinder but not passing through it. On the
said spindle is a portion of greater diameter than the rest of the spindle, having
teeth on part of its circumference made to fit the teeth in the opening of the piston
afore mentioned to raise the piston when desired: Surrounding that portion of
the spindle which is outside the cylinder is a stuffing box which is made water or
fluid tight with packing of various kinds, which is secured in its place by a screwed
cover through which the spindle passes, and forms at the same time a third rest or

page_text: bearing for the said spindle. On the outer end of this spindle is fitted a cross
or round handle for the purpose of raising the piston inside the cylinder, and
thereby allowing the water or other fluid to escape. As the pressure of the water
or other fluid on the small extent of surface on the lower end of the piston which
covers the opening at the bottom of the cylinder must be the same as that on the
same extent of surface on the upper end of the piston, which is considerably larger
than the surface covering the opening at the lower end, so the pressure must be
considerably greater, and must of necessity on that account keep the valve, disc, or
washer tightly pressed on the lower opening and prevent all escape of water
or other fluid unless when desired. The pressure on the opening at the bottom
of the cylinder can be regulated to any degree desired by increasing or diminishing
the diameter of the cylinder, or by increasing or diminishing the opening in the
bottom of the cylinder, so that the pressure on the valve, disc, or washer covering
said opening may be reduced to a minimum, and the said valve, disc, or washer
remain in a complete and satisfactory condition for a correspondingly longer period.
When the pressure of the water or other fluid is only a few pounds to the square
inch, a small spiral spring placed on the top of the piston is sufficient to force the
piston down and prevent all escape. But in every case where there is a moderate
pressure to that of the highest degree no such spring is required. The spindle
moving in the stuffing box is easily kept tight, as it is placed in the centre of the
piston, which is tight at both ends, and on that account there is no pressure to
resist except when the water or other fluid is flowing, and then only to a very
limited extent. Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner generally
of carrying through the same, I do not bind or restrict myself to all the exact
details herein described, but reserve the power to alter any of the said details for
the successful working of the Invention, while at the same time keeping strictly
to the main principles of the Invention herein described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Crawford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th January 1882.
GEORGE CRAWFORD, of Port Glasgow, in the County of Renfrew, Doctor
of Medicine. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING TAPS, VALVES, OR APPARATUS
FOR DRAWING OFF FLUIDS, AND FOR CHECKING WASTE OF WATER IN ITS
DISTRIBUTION FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Fig. 1 being a longitudinal sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a transverse sectional
elevation.
The principal objects of this Invention are to prevent the enormous and
unnecessary waste of water which usually takes place in all kitchen and scullery
jaw boxes, in lavatories, courts, and all other places where the present arrange-
ments of taps, cocks, valves, or other apparatus are in use, and also to prevent as
far as possible waste when drawing off other fluids. This apparatus being self-
closing, and of such a nature that when the required amount of water or other
fluid is drawn off and the hand of the operator removed from the spindle or
handle which opens the water-way, it becomes immediately closed, and the flow of
water or other fluid at once stopped; but nevertheless although it is self-closing
it is entirely under the control of the operator. Among other advantages which I
claim for my Invention are the following:-Great saving of water or other fluids
when being drawn off for its or their various purposes, simplicity of construction,
efficiency of action, great durability, non-liability of failure in any of its parts, and
cheapness of production. To accomplish the above objects a. cylinder No. 1 made
of brass or other strong material is required, about two and a half inches long and
one inch in diameter, or larger or smaller according to circumstances, such as the
•pressure of the water or other fluid, and the amount to be drawn off in a certain
time.
The cylinder is smoothly bored throughout its entire length, and at its bottom a
valve seat is made, through the centre of which (as shewn in the Drawings) is an
opening three eighths to half an inch in diameter, or larger or smaller if required,
to allow the water to flow or escape. The-cylinder has a double bottom; as shewn,
and the space between the two communicates at all times with the inlet pipe.
The cylinder is made water or fluid tight at the top by a properly fitting screwed
cap No. 9, and the space between this cap and the top of the piston 2, which is
placed inside the cylinder, and herein after described, is in communication at all
times with the inlet pipe in the same manner as the space between the two
bottoms of the cylinder. A piston No. 2 made of brass or other suitable material,
about an inch in length properly turned to accurately fit the cylinder, is placed
inside, and an opening about three quarters of an inch in length and about half an
inch in breadth is made in the piston, and on one side of this opening a short rack
with several teeth is made to fit into other teeth upon the spindle No. 3, afterwards
described, for the purpose of raising or lowering the piston. On the lower end of
the piston is a small screwed pin and nut for the purpose of keeping a valve, disc,
or washer No. 4 made of leather or other suitable material in its place for closing
the valve at the bottom of the cylinder. On the upper end of the piston is another
screwed pin and nut No. 8, and a packing piece 5 of leather or other elastic
material, which is so arranged as to be water or fluid tight, and which tightness
can be increased or diminished if desired by the said screw and nut very much in
the following manner:-The packing piece 5 should be of considerable thickness,
and made of a circular form to fit the inside of the cylinder, and has a conical

page_text: portion removed from its centre, and into this space a conical plug No. 6 of brass
or other suitable material, and of nearly the same thickness as the leather just
described, is placed so that it may rest on the bevelled surface of the leather
and not quite reach the upper end of the piston, and having a small circular
hole in its centre to allow it to pass down and expand the packing piece 5
before the nut is placed on it. Tightening the nut No. 7 on the cone 6 expands
the packing ring 5, thereby pressing it against the top of the piston and the
inside of the cylinder, and making it water or fluid tight. The pressure also of
the water or other fluid between the cap No. 9, which is placed on the top of the
cylinder, and the upper surface of the piston tends at all times to press the packing
piece 5 against the inside of the cylinder and top of the piston, and keeps it water
or fluid tight almost independently of the nut and screwed pin before mentioned
so long as the conical plug does not absolutely rest on the upper end of the
piston. An ordinary cup leather or other suitable material may also be used and
kept in its place by the nut 7. Another nut 8 on the said screw is so arranged as
to regulate the distance the piston is to be raised. The inlet of the water or other
fluid is so arranged that it presses at all times on both ends of the piston, and
when the piston is the water or other fluid flows through the valve seat in
the bottom of the cylinder and escapes by the opening 13 communicating with an
ordinary swan neck, as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1, or other suitable apparatus.
There is a stuffing box and gland formed in the side of the cylinder about its
middle through which the spindle No. 3 before mentioned passes, and which
spindle has also a bearing on the opposite side of the cylinder, as shewn in Fig. 2.
On the said spindle is a pinion with several teeth on part of its circumference
fitting into the teeth in the rack in the piston before mentioned to raise the piston
when desired. Surrounding that portion of the spindle which is outside the cylinder
is the stuffing box which is made water or fluid tight with ordinary packing and
washer No. 11, which is secured in its place by a gland cover No. 10, through
which the spindle passes and forms at the same time an additional bearing for the
spindle. On the outer end of this spindle is fitted an ordinary wheel or other
handle No. 12 for the purpose of turning the spindle No. 3 and raising the
piston No. 2 inside the cylinder No. 1, and thereby allowing the water or other
fluid to flow or escape.
As the pressure of the water or other fluid on the small
extent of surface on the lower end of the piston, which covers the opening at the
bottom of the cylinder, must be the same as that on the same extent of surface on
the upper end of the piston, which is considerably larger than the surface covering
the opening at the lower end, so the downward pressure must be considerably
greater, and must of necessity on that account tend to keep the valve, disc, or
washer tightly pressed on the lower opening and prevent all escape of water or
other fluid unless when desired. The pressure on the opening at the bottom of the
cylinder can be regulated to any degree desired by varying the diameter of
the cylinder or the port or opening in the bottom of the cylinder, so that
the pressure on the valve, disc, or washer covering the opening may be reduced to
a minimum, and the valve, disc, or washer remain in a complete and satisfactory
condition for a correspondingly longer period. When the pressure of the water or
other fluid is only a few pounds to the square inch a small spiral spring placed on
the top of the piston is sufficient to force the piston down and prevent all escape.
But in every case where there is a sufficient pressure no such spring is required.
The spindle moving in the stuffing box is easily kept tight, as it is placed in the
centre of the piston which is tight at both ends, and on that account there is no
pressure to resist except when the water or other fluid is flowing, and then only to
a very limited extent.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I do not bind or restrict myself to all
the exact details herein described, but reserve the right to vary the details for the
successful working of the Invention without departing from the principle of the

page_text: Invention as, herein described. I wish it to be understood that what I claim and
desire to be secured to me by the berein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
"
The construction, arrangements, and combination of parts, together forming my
improvements in self-closing taps, valves, or apparatus for drawing off fluids and
for checking waste of water in its distribution for domestic and other purposes,
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Crawford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
GEORGE CRAWFORD. (L.S.)