IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS OR TAPS. AND IN APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick George Underhay, of Wells Street. Gray's
Inn Road, and Josiah Latimer Clark, of Haverstock Hill, Hampstead,
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
both in the County of
L
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick George Underhay
and Josiah Latimer Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 22nd May 1858.
We, FREDERICK GEORGE UNDERNAY, of Wells Street, Gray's Inn Road,
and JOSIAH LATIMER CLARK, of Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, both in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS OR TAPS. AND IN APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in cocks or taps, and in
apparatus for flushing. For these purposes, in constructing ball and other
cocks, means are provided for the passage of water from the face of the valve,,
which closes the water-way or passage to the back of another valve or piston,
Price 8d1

page_text: so as to produce more or less complete an equilibrium in regard to the pres-
sure of the water. Through the stem of the valve there is formed a small
passage, and at the further end of the valve stem is formed or affixed a piston
or valve, which, in one arrangement. is a cupped leather, or a cup of suitable
flexible material, and such piston moves in a cylinder formed on the cover of
the cock and in another arrangement a flexible diaphragm or partition is
used, which is fixed at its centre to the valve stem, and at its periphery or
circumference it is fixed between the body or barrel. and the cover of the cock,
the stem of the valve. as in the other arrangement, having a small water
passage through it.
In constructing apparatus for flushing water-closets, urinals, and other places,
the outlet of the water cistern is covered with a valve, to which is attached a
float, by a chain or suitable connection. The valve is arranged to open on
an axis and arm, or lever, by which it is moved away from its seat, and
allows a free passage of water so soon as the height of the water in the cistern
causes the float to rise and float. It is preferred that the float for this purpose
should be conical, and that it should float on its side, but assume a vertical
position when the valve is closed. It is not essential that the float should be
conical, or that only one float should be used for each valve, nor is it essential
that the valve should open on an axis, as in some arrangements, other forms
of valves and floats are used; in some cases two floats are employed. one con-
nected to the valve, in order, when permitted so to do, to raise the valve, and
another float to regulate the height to which the water shall rise in the water
cistern or vessel before the valve is raised, such second float being arranged to
release the valve float.
In some cases the cistern or vessel used for flushing is divided into two
compartments, and mounted on an axis in such manner as to incline first in
one direction and then in the other, the water being supplied first into one and
then into the other compartment from a constant source of supply. Each of
the compartments has an outlet at the bottom, which is closed by a valve, and
such valve is caused to open by the act of the water vessel or cistern inclining
over to one side. By these means, there being a constant supply of water to
a cistern or vessel, the water will be periodically allowed to flow out of the
vessel, and cause the flushing action to take place from time to time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick George Underhay and Josiah Latimer Clark in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we. FREDERICK
GEORGE UNDERHAY, of Wells Street. Gray's Inn Road, and JOSIAH LATIMER
CLARK, of Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, both in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did. for Herself, Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto us, the
said Frederick George Underhay and Josiah Latimer Clark. Her special
licence that we, the said Frederick George Underhay and Josiah Latimer
Clark, our executors. administrators. and assigns, or such others as we, the
said Frederick George Underhay and Josiah Latimer Clark. 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
OR TAPS, AND IN
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN Cocks
APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Frederick George Underhay and Josiah Latimer Clark, our execu-
tors, or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 1, the said Frederick George Underhay, on behalf
of myself & the said Josiah Latimer Clark, 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
thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in cocks or taps, and in
apparatus for flushing. For these purposes, in constructing ball and other
cocks, means are provided for the passage of water from the face of the valve,
which closes the water-way or passage to the back of another valve or piston,
so as to produce more or less complete an equilibrium in regard to the pres-
sure of the water. Through the stem of the valve there is formed a small

page_text: passage, and at the further end of the valve stem is formed or aflixed a piston
or valve, which, in one arrangement, is a cupped leather, or a cup of suitable
flexible material, and such piston moves in a cylinder formed on the cover of
the cock and in another arrangement a flexible diaphragm or partition is
used, which is fixed at its centre to the valve stem, and at its periphery or
circumference it is fixed between the body or barrel, and the cover of the cock;
the stem of the valve, as in the other arrangement, having a small water
passage through it.
In constructing apparatus for flushing water-closets, urinals, and other places,
the outlet of the water cistern is covered with a valve, to which is attached a
float. by a chain or suitable connection. The valve is arranged to open on
an axis and arm, or lever, by which it is moved away from its seat, and
allows a free passage of water so soon as the height of the water in the cistern
causes the float to rise and float. It is preferred that the float for this purpose
should be conical, and that it should float on its side, but assume a vertical
position when the valve is closed. It is not essential that the float should be
conical, or that only one float should be used for each valve, nor is it essential
that the valve should open on an axis, as in some arrangements, other forms
of valves and floats are used, in some cases two floats are employed, one con-
nected to the valve, in order, when permitted so to do, to raise the valve, and
another float to regulate the height to which the water shall rise in the water
cistern or vessel before the valve is raised, such second float being arranged to
release the valve float.
In some cases the cistern or vessel used for flushing is divided into two
compartments, and mounted on an axis in such manner as to incline first in
one direction and then in the other, the water being supplied first into one and
then into the other compartment from a constant source of supply. Each of
the compartments has an outlet at the bottom, which is closed by a valve, and
such valve is caused to open by the act of the water vessel or cistern inclining
over to one side. By these means, there being a constant supply of water to
a cistern or vessel. the water will be periodically allowed to flow out of the
vessel, and cause the flushing action to take place from time to time.
Having thus stated the nature of our said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure shows a section of a ball cock constructed according to our
Invention. a is the valve, which may be of any ordinary form as shown; it is
simply a disc valve covered on the under side with a disc of vulcanized india-

page_text: rubber. leather, or other suitable material. The stem of the valve passes
out at the upper part of the body of the cock, and the passage is rendered
water-tight by means of a disc of vulcanized india-rubber c. or the passage may
be otherwise rendered fluid-tight; d is a disc of vulcanized india-rubber or
other suitable flexible material, which is fixed at its centre to the stem of the
valve, and at its edge or circumference by being secured between the flanches
of the two parts of the body of the cock.. The stem of the valve is made
hollow up to the points e, e, by which means the water pressing on the under
side of the valve, with a tendency to raise it from its seat. is counterbalanced
by the pressure on the disc or flexible piston d; the area of this disc or piston
d, pressed on by the water, may be such as exactly to counterbalance the
pressure on the valve a; or the area pressed on may be less or greater than
the surface of the valve a.
Figure 2 shows the section of another arrangement, which principally
differs from the cock shown by the previous Figure, inasmuch as the stem of
the valve does not pass out of the body of the cock. but the end of the lever g
passes into the body of the cock. as shown. In this arrangement, a is the
valve; b. the stem: d. disc or piston of flexible materials. The stem of the
valve is hollow, or has a small passage from end to end, and it is preferred to
use a coiled spring f. on the stem pressing with a tendency to close the valve.
Figure 3 shows another arrangement, in which a cup piston d is used in
place of the flexible piston d shown in the other arrangements. a is the valve;
b, the hollow stem of the valve.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, show three other modifications of cocks, which differ
only slightly from the arrangements before described; two of them are, however,
not shown as ball cocks, but like arrangements may have levers and balls
applied to them, and similar arrangements to those shown by the other Figures
may be arranged with suitable handles in place of levers and balls, so that
they may be used as other than ball cocks. The peculiarity in this part of our
Invention consists in the modes herein explained of combining the parts of
ball and other cocks. whereby in each are combined a valve a, a hollow stem
b, a piston d, a lever or handle g, and suitable body or barrel, as herein
described. We would state. that we make no claim to any of the mechanical
parts separately.
Figure 7 shows a section, and Figure 8 a plan of apparatus applied to
cisterns, for the purpose of periodically flushing water-closets, urinals, and
other places. h. h. show parts of the bottom of a cistern to supply water, into
which there is a constant supply of water, and from which water is allowed to
flow immediately it has arrived to such a height as to raise a float and an out-

page_text: et valve in connection therewith. or acted on by the float. The mechanical
details for accomplishing this part of our Invention may be varied, but we
believe the arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8 will be found the most
convenient. is the outlet valve; is the outlet pipe. which leads to a water-
closet or to a urinal or other place which is to be flushed at the upper part: this
outlet pipe is enlarged and forms a box, into which the water first passes; k is
an overflow pipe to the cistern b. h. The outlet valve i is counterbalanced, as
shown, and it is connected by a chain to a conical float; the form of the float,
however, may be varied. In use, this arrangement of apparatus will act as
follows: Supposing the valve to be shut, the supply of water to the cistern will
in time cause the float to rise, and by its rising it will lift the valve from its seat
and the water will flow freely from the outlet, for a time the float will descend
and the valve will again be closed. and remain closed till the cistern is again
sufficiently filled with water to again raise the float to such a height as again
to open the valve. In some cases we use two floats, as is shown in Figure 9.
where the outlet valve i has a float which will support the valve and spindle,
but will not lift the valve from its seat: b is a fixed bar or plate which prevents
the valve rising beyond it, and it at the same time guards the valve and
prevents it being closed by the rush of water, when the outlet valve is opened.
C is the float by which the valve i is lifted from its seat when the water rises
sufliciently high in the cistern into which there is to be a constant flow or
supply of water.
Figure 10 shows another arrangement, where the valve i is raised off its
seat and retained in such position by the float A: but such float A is prevented
rising by the curved surface B'. on the lever of the ball float B. such curved
surface B holding down the stem of the outlet valve till the float B floats into
the position shewn by the Drawing.
Figure 11 shows another arrangement of apparatus for flushing at intervals
where a constant supply of water is employed. The cistern a, a, is mounted
on axes b. This cistern is divided into two compartments, to each of which
there is an outlet valve c. c. There is a constant supply of water to the cistern
by the cock and pipe d. The supply of water is alternately received into the
two compartments of the cistern, and so soon as a compartment becomes filled
with water, it is caused to incline over, and by so doing, the valve thereto is
opened and the water is allowed to flow away through the pipe below to the
placed to be flushed. The valves are opened by the chains e, e.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, we would state. that we make no claim to any of the
mechanical parts separately, but what we claim is,-

page_text: First, the mode of combining the mechanical parts, as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Secondly, the modes of combining the mechanical parts described with
reference to Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10.
And, lastly, the combination described with reference to Figure 11.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Frederick George Underhay, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
F. G. UNDERHAY. (L.S.)