IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS OR TAPS, AND IN BALLS OR FLOATS TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith and Thomás Phillips, of Snow Hill,
in the City of London, Gas Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. William Smith and
Thomas Phillips at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 19th January 1855.
We, WILLIAM SMITH and -THOMAS- PHILLIPS, of .Snow Hill; in the City
of London, Gas Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS OR TAPS, AND IN BALLS OR FLOATS TO BE USED
THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to arranging cocks or taps with a surface of vulcan-
ized india-rubber between the plug & the barrel, for the purpose of forming a
close though yielding connection between the parts, and thereby preventing
leakage. We would state we are aware that it has heretofore been proposed to
apply a lining of leather, gutta percha, and other flexible substances between
the plug and the barrel of taps or cocks; but, to the best of our belief,,yul-
canized india-rubber has not hitherto been used for that purpose; whilst other
substances have not been found to answer; and the arrangements heretofore
suggested for the application of such other substances were not applicable to
the use of vulcanized india-rubber.. We form the plug hollow, open at

page_text: end, as a passage for the fluid or other matters to pass to an opening as an
outlet in the length of it, which, when opposite to a similar opening or passage
in the barrel, forms the passage through the tap or cock. The vulcanized
india-rubber we employ of.a tubular form, somewhat longer than the barrel,
and with an opening in its length corresponding to the outlet openings in the
plug and the barrel. Having passed this tube into and so as to project some-
what beyond the ends of the barrel, we turn over those projecting ends on to
the ends of the barrel, which are in form to receive them; and we find it
better that the parts of the barrel to which the india-rubber is applied be
roughened, as the holding thereof is thereby more securely effected, whilst the
surface of the plug in contact with the india-rubber is made smooth, in order
that it may more freely turn within it. Taps or cocks thus formed with the
barrel capable of turning on a stationary plug are especially adapted as ball
cocks, to open and close by a float, as the outlet for the fluid passing there-
through, being thereby caused to change in direction with the float, will
prevent the flow falling on the float to interfere with its free operation..
Although we have explained the cock or tap to have its plug stationary with
the barrel, capable of turning thereon to open or close the passage through it,
this may be varied, and the barrel may be stationary, with the plug turning
therein, as is ordinarily the case.
The balls or floats we form of galvanized iron, or of tin plate galvanized in
place of copper, by which we effect considerable economy in manufacture.
We prefer to form them of a figure composed of two cones united at their
bases, but this may be varied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Smith and Thomas Phillips in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th July 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
SMITH and THOMAS PHILLIPS, of Snow Hill, in the City of London, Gas
Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said William Smith and Thomas Phillips, Her special license that we, the
J

page_text: said William Smith and Thomas Phillips, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said William Smith and Thomas Phillips,
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 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 COCKS OR TAPS, AND IN BALLS
OR FLOATS TO BE USED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said William Smith and Thomas Phillips, or one of us, by an instrument
in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of
us, 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 William Smith and Thomas Phillips,
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 (that is to say):-
The improvements relate, firstly, to a mode of arranging cocks or taps with
a surface of vulcanized india-rubber between the plug and the barrel, for.
the purpose of forming a close though yielding connection between the parts,
and thereby preventing leakage.
Secondly, the improvements relate to a mode of forming balls or floats to
be used with cocks or taps for the purpose of opening, and closing them.
In order that the nature of our said Invention, and the means by which we
carry the same into effect may be fully understood, we will proceed to describe
the Drawing annexed.
Figure 1 shows an external view, Figure 2 a section, Figure 3 an end
view, Figures 4 and 5. transverse sections, of a cock or tap constructed
according to our Invention; Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 show the parts of the
tap separately. This tap or cock is arranged more especially to be used with
a float or ball, as a "ball-cock or tap," to be closed or opened by the rising or
falling of the liquid in the reservoir which it is intended to fill...
We would here state, we are aware that it has heretofore been proposed to
apply a lining of leather, gutta percha, and other flexible substances between
the plug and the barrel of taps or cocks; but, to the best of our belief, pre-

page_text: pared, or what is commonly called vulcanized, india-rubber has not hitherto
been used for that purpose, whilst other substances have not been found to
answer; and the arrangements heretofore suggested for the application of such
other substances were not applicable to the use of vulcanized india-rubber.
a is the plug of the tap or cock; this plug is, according to this arrangement,
stationary, there being a screw thread a' formed thereon, to facilitate its con-
nection to the supply, but this mode of connection may be varied.. b is the
barrel, which in this case is the moving part, and it carries the outlet passage
b'; c is the surface of vulcanized india-rubber between the parts a and b. The
surface of vulcanized india-rubber, it will be seen, is of a tubular form, and
somewhat longer than the barrel b; it also has an opening in its length at c',
corresponding with the outlet opening in the barrel b to the passage b'. 'In
applying the tube c to the barrel b, it is placed in that barrel with its ends pro-
jecting beyond each end of the barrel, and those projecting ends are then
turned over, as shewn, on to the parts of the barrel, which are in form to
receive them; and we have found it better that the interior of the barrel and
the surface of the parts be be roughened, as thereby the india-rubber is better
held in position from any tendency to slipping; and in most cases it will be
better when the cock or tap is of cast metal, simply to leave these parts in the
condition obtained by the casting, whereby, in addition to the advantage in
use by the better holding of the india-rubber thereto, a saving of labor in the
construction will be effected. When the barrel with its india-rubber lining is
applied to the plug, the turned-over ends of the india-rubber tube will be pre-
vented shifting, partly by the projecting rim a and partly by the projecting
head of the screw a', which screw also retains the parts together; and the only
parts of the tap or cock necessary for its correct working to be turned truly
are the surfaces of the parts a, a', and a', which rub against the inside and
turned-over surfaces of the tube of vulcanized india-rubber, to avoid friction
and rubbing thereto. And in place of forming such taps of brass or mixed
metals, they may be readily formed of malleable cast iron, at considerably
less cost.
It will thus be seen that in use the water or other fluid will pass in at one
end of the hollow plug a, and when the opening in the barrel b and tube c to
the passage bare opposite to the opening a³ in the plug a, such water or other
fluid will flow out by the passage b'; but when the barrel is turned partly
round with its india-rubber lining c, as shown by Figure 5, that lining will
close the opening a, and no fluid will flow therefrom. When using such cocks
or taps with balls or floats, we apply the arm or lever of the ball or float to the
part b, and we apply a stop to such arm, to act against a stop a" on the fixed

page_text: part of the tap, to prevent the parts turning too far. And we would state that
we consider cocks or taps thus formed with the barrel capable of turning on
a stationary plug are especially adapted as ball-cocks, to open and close by a
float, as the outlet for the fluid passing therethrough, being thereby caused to
change in direction with the float, will prevent the flow falling on the float
to interfere with its free operation; but we do not confine ourselves to such
special adaptation.
Although we have explained the cock or tap to have its plug stationary with
the barrel, capable of turning thereon, to open or close the passage through it,
this may be varied, and the barrel may be stationary, with the plug turning
therein, as is ordinarily the case with other taps or cocks.
Figure 12 shows an external view of another tap or cock arranged accord-
ing to our improvements, but with the barrel stationary and the plug turning
therein for the flow. Each of the like parts is marked with the same letters
of reference to those already employed. The water or other fluid will flow
into the barrel of the tap or cock by the passage b', and thence out therefrom
at a³.
Figure 13 shows an arrangement of cock or tap according to our improve-
ments, suitable for the flow of gas or other such aeriform fluid. In this case,
the outlet from, as well as the inlet to, the cock or tap is in the barrel, as indi-
cated by the arrow, though the flow may be in the opposite direction, and the
passage from one part to the other of the barrel is through the plug a.
The balls or floats we form of galvanized iron, or of tin plate galvanized, in
place of copper, by which we effect considerable economy in manufacture; and
we prefer to form them of a figure composed of two cones united at their bases,
as shown by Figure 14, but this may be varied. Having placed the two parts
of the ball or float together, we unite them then by turning over the edge of
one part upon the edge of the other, commonly called "seaming," or by any
suitable means by which the parts may be held together, and having "pickled "
and cleansed the parts, so that, aided by a suitable flux, as is well understood,
they may readily receive a coating of molten metal; we immerse them in a bath
of molten tin or zinc, or other suitable soft metal, by which they will receive
a coating thereof, and be retained together water-tight.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the best means
we are acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it
understood that what we claim is,-
First, the mode of constructing cocks or taps by the application thereto of
valcanized india-rubber, as explained.

page_text: And, secondly, we claim the forming of balls or floats to be used with cocks
or taps of galvanized iron, or tin plate galvanized, as explained.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Smith and Thomas Phillips,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of July,
in the year of our Lord' One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
WILLIAM BROOKES,
73, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agent.
WILLIAM SMITH. (L.S.)
THOMAS PHILLIPS. (L.S.)