Improvements in and relating to Faucets.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Faucets.
I, GEORGE TYSON KENLY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
Lake Montebello, in the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland, United States of
America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to that class of faucets which are adapted to supply either hot
or cold water, or a mixture of both; and it consists of certain novel features and
combinations that will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly set forth in
the claims.
The principal object of the invention is to produce a superior faucet of the class
before mentioned and one which, owing to its simplicity, cheapness and adaptability,
will prove exceedingly valuable and effective in operation in the various positions
where a faucet of this class is desired.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved faucet, showing in dotted lines
the different positions of the valve or piston and plunger, when in operation;
Figure 2, a side and end view, respectively, of the valve or piston, and
Figures 3 and 4 side and sectional views, respectively, of a modified form of means
for holding the valve and plunger in depressed positions.
Referring to the several views of the drawing-The letter A indicates the faucet or
spigot, which may be of any approved construction-suitably ornamented-provided
with the usual spout 1. The exterior body portion of the casing or shell of the faucet
is provided with a flange, 2, a screw-threaded nut 3, being employed to secure the
faucet in fixed position. The upper end of the casing or shell is screw-threaded to
receive a perforated screw-threaded packing-cap, 4, and the lower end is screw-
threaded to receive a screw-threaded cap, 5, which is preferably provided with a central
opening to receive a cold water supply-pipe 6. When the pressure of the water is
very great, it is desirable to connect the cold water supply pipe to the side of the
casing or shell, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, in which case the cap 5 is made
solid. The interior of the shell or casing is divided into two chambers by an apertured
partition, 7, and a suitable distance below this partition is situated a hot water
supply-pipe 8.
In the lower chamber of the casing or shell is a piston-valve, 9, which fits the side
wall of the chamber snugly, yet so easily as to render the valve capable of perfectly
free movement. This piston-valve is provided with diametrially disposed arc-shape
longitudinal delivery-chambers 10 and 11, which afford water communication between
the upper and lower chambers. The lower end of the piston-valve is provided with a
centrally disposed washer, 12, which is securely held in proper position by a bolt or
screw, 13. This washer is adapted to close the cold-water supply-pipe 6 when the
piston-valve is at the limit of its downward movement, as shown by dotted lines in
Figure 1. A coil spring, 14, serves to keep normally the piston-valve at the top of
the chamber. The upper end of the piston-valve is provided with two washers, 15
and 16, the smaller one of which seats within the aperture of the partition 7, and
the larger one against the underside of the partition, thus closing communication
between the two chambers when the piston-valve is at the limit of its upward
movement.

page_text: The piston-valve is provided with a piston-rod, 17, which is screw-threaded at its
upper end to permit the attachment of a removable-headed plunger-rod, 18, capable of
free movement through the aperture of the packing-cap 4. The plunger rod is
provided with suitable letters or graduating marks to indicate the distance it has to be
depressed in order to obtain the desired temperature of water.
In operating my improved faucet, the required temperature of water is obtained by
depressing the plunger-rod 18. If cold water is desired, the plunger rod is depressed
the proper distance, indicated by the word "cold." As soon as pressure is applied to
the head of the plunger rod the valve begins to leave its seat at the partition 7 and the
water to rush up through the channels in the valve. When the plunger-rod has
reached the cold water mark the valve will have moved a sufficient distance to permit
a strong and ample flow of water out through the spout, yet its movement will not be
sufficiently far to open up the hot water supply-pipe. If water at a temperate degree
is desired, the plunger-rod is depressed to the "temperate" mark, and a mixture of
hot and cold water is obtained. This operation will move the valve a distance sufficient
to half uncover the hot-water supply inlet, yet without, in any manner whatever,
interfering with the, supply of cold water. If hot water is desired the plunger-rod is
depressed to the proper indicating mark. In this operation the valve will have reached
the full limit of its downward movement, closing the cold water inlet entirely, and
positively shutting off the supply of cold water and letting on a full supply of hot
water.
In order to avoid the necessity of the user or operator holding the plunger-rod in
depressed position, when it is desired to have the water run to obtain a large quantity,
I have provided means for locking the plunger-rod and holding the valve in either of
the desired positions. In Figure 11 have shown one means, consisting of a series of
pivoted bails 23, 24, 25, of different lengths, which when placed over the head of the
plunger rod will hold the said rod and valve in locked position. The shorter bail is to
be used when hot water is desired, the next size for temperate, and the larger bail for
cold water.
In Figures 3 and 4 I show the piston-valve rod provided with a removable headed-
cylinder, 26, which is provided with a slot 27, having recesses 28 in one of its side
edges, which are adapted to engage a pin 29, and lock the plunger-cylinder and valve
when the same are depressed and the plunger-cylinder slightly turned.
1 do not desire, therefore, to limit myself to the precise construction herein shown
and described, but consider myself entitled to all such variations as come within the
spirit and scope of my invention.
One of the main advantages of my invention is that no waste of water is likely to
occur, as the faucet closes itself automatically and has the combined action of the spring
and the pressure of the cold water to keep the valve securely closed, thus preventing
the slightest possible leakage whatever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
_
1. In a faucet divided into two chambers by an apertured partition, the combination
of a depressible piston-valve movable in the lower chamber said valve being provided
with a channel or channels extending therethrough, a hot water pipe leading into said
lower chamber, a cold water pipe extending up through the bottom of the chamber,
washers connected to the upper and lower faces of the piston-valve, and means for
raising and lowering said valve, substantially as described.
2. In a faucet, the combination with the casing or shell divided into two chambers
by an apertured partition, of hot and cold water supply-pipes leading into the lower
chamber, a spring-pressed piston-valve freely movable in said lower chamber, said
valve being provided with a channel or channels extending therethrough, but normally
seated to prevent the passage of water, a depressible plunger connected to the piston-
valves, and a series of pivoted bails of different lengths adapted to engage with the
plunger, substantially as specified.

page_text: 3. In a faucet, the combination with the casing or shell divided into two chambers
by an apertured partition, of a depressible piston-valve movable in the lower chamber,
said valve being provided with a channel or channels extending therethrough, a
plunger connected to the piston-valve, a hot water pipe leading into said lower
chambers, a cold water pipe extending up through the bottom of the chamber, a coil
spring encircling the projecting portion of the cold water pipe and pressing against
the bottom of the piston-valve, washers connected to the upper and lower faces of said
valve, and means for locking the plunger at different heights, substantially as
specified.
4. In a faucet, the combination with the casing or shell divided into two chambers
by an apertured partition, of a depressible piston-valve movable in the lower chamber,
said valve being provided with a channel or channels extending therethrough, a hot
water pipe leading into said lower chamber, a cold water pipe extending up through
the bottom of the chamber, a coil spring encircling the projecting portion of the cold
water pipe and pressing against the piston-valve, and washers connected to the upper
and lower faces of said piston valve, substantially as specified.
Dated this 26th day of January 1897
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.. Patent Agents.