A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT ON ALL COCKS, WHICH FROM THE NATURE OF SUCH IMPROVEMENT ARE TERMED BALL COCKS
Year: 1790

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DRING, of Walworth, in the Parish of St. Mary, Newington, in the County of
Surry, Brass Worker and Hydrometer Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS I, the said John Dring, did, by my Petition, humbly represent
unto His Majesty, that, after very great labour and expence, I had found out
and invented "A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT ON ALL COCKS, WHICH FROM THE NATURE
OF SUCH IMPROVEMENT ARE TERMED BALL COCKS," which said Improvement
consists of inclosing in the body of the said cock that part of the key that is
pearced thro' for the purpose of retaining and letting out the liquid contained
in the vessals, which part of the key so inclos'd is in the form of a ball or
cone, or oblique or scaline cylinder, and by inclosing an internal screw in
water ball cocks, the whole of which improvement is designed to preserve
the said cocks in a perfect state, not liable to those imperfections that
all mettle cocks hitherto made have been subject unto; and that the
same has not been before known or invented by any other person, I
therefore most humbly prayed His Majesty that he would graciously
be pleased to grant to
to grant to me, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
His Majestie's Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great
Britain, for the sole benefit and advantage of my said Invention, within
England, His Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for
the term of fourteen years, pursuant to the Statute in the case made and
provided; and whereas by the said Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of
Great Britain, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the thirtieth

page_text: year of the reign of His said Majesty, after reciting the said Petition, and
also reciting that His Majesty, being willing to give encouragement to arts
and inventions which might be for the public good, was graciously pleased
to condescend to my request, His Majesty, of His especial grace, certain
knowledge, and mere motion, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Dring, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said John Dring, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every of
them, by myself and themselves, or by my or their deputy or deputies, servants
or agents, or such others as I, the said John Dring, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend my said Invention
within that part of His Majestie's Kingdom of Great Britain called England,
His Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner
as to me, the said John Dring, my executors, administrators, or assigns, or
any of them, should in my or their discretion seem meet, and that I, the said
John Dring, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should and might
lawfully have and enjoy the whole benefit, commodity, and advantage from
time to time coming, growing, accruing, and arising by reason of the said
Invention, for and during the term of years therein mentioned; to have, hold,
exercise, and enjoy the said licence, powers, priviledges, and advantages therein-
before granted or mentioned to be granted unto me, the said John Dring,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, for and during and unto the full
end and term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent next
and immediately ensuing, and fully to be compleat and ended, according to
the Statute in such cases made and provided; in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, that if I, the said John Dring, should not particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majestie's High Court
of Chancery within one calendar month next and immediately after the
date of those His Majestie's Letters Patent, that then His said Majestie's
Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted,
should utterly cease, determine, and become void, anything therein-before con-
tained to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Dring, in compliance with the
said proviso, do hereby discribably and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention in manner following, that is to say:-

page_text: The several Drawings hereupon delineated, marked Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3,
Fig. 5, are so many sections in which is shewn the nature of the improve-
ments made in the said cocks, the particulars of which is as follows:
Fig the 1. Fig 2d, the key in the form of a cone, the parts similar to
Fig the 1, but with a solid bottom. A, the key inclosed in its sockett. B,
the capping which falls into the upper part of the barrill, which forms part
of the sockett for the ball, over which is laid a covering of leather. C, the
plug which goes into the under part of the barril forming the lower part of
the sockett. D, the capping seperate. E, the plug seperate. F, the lower part
of the key. G, the barrel. II, th liquor way.
Fig the 3. A, a cylindrical key. B, a layer of cork and leather, the other
parts similler to the foregoing. C, screws to fasten the capping.
Figr the 4th, shews an oppening made in the side of the barril, in which is
inclosed a layer of cork and leather.
Fig 5 describes the improvement made in the cistern ball cock. A, a bolt
with its tennant tapt. B, the screw the enters the bolt to fasten it in the
cheeks. C, the cheek with its mortis to prevent the bolt turning by the
rod falling or rising.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto put my hand and seal, this
Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven
hundred and ninety, 1790.
Inrolled the Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and ninety.