IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES AND VALVE Cocks
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Shore, of Numbers 19 and 20, Cardigan
Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Brassfounder, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES AND VALVE
Cocks."
Sealed the 11th October 1867, and dated the 13th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Shore at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th April 1867.
I, JOHN SHORE, of Numbers 19 and 20, Cardigan Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES AND VALVE
Сocks," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of
valves and valve cocks, whereby absolute freedom from leakage and other
important advantages are secured, the same being applicable to a great
variety of purposes.
An important feature connected with this Invention is the manner in which
the faces of the valve and its seat are formed. In simple valves, for such
purposes as clack valves are ordinarily employed, the respective faces of the
valve and seat are formed with a series of concentric grooves or channels
therein, the edges or ridges between such grooves or channels on one face
exactly coinciding with the grooves or channels on the other face, and fitting
closely therein when the two faces are brought together, thus constituting a
series of concentric valves which entirely prevent the possibility of leakage,
and for this reason valves thus constructed are especially adapted and valuable

page_text: for pumps and other analogous purposes. Instead of forming the valve seat
with concentric grooves or channels, as before mentioned, they may, if desired,
be dispensed with, the seat face being furnished with a washer or bed of some
comparatively soft, or elastic, or semi-elastic substance, such as lead, leather,
cloth, india-rubber, or cork, into which the valve face when closed is pressed,
or such washer or bed may be applied to the valve seat even when the latter
is formed with concentric grooves or channels.
In the construction of cocks, in accordance with this Invention, the for-
mation of concentric grooves or channels on the valve face and seat, as before
described, is a most important feature, the same being capable of application
to every variety of cock, whether for the outlet of liquids, steam, or gases.
Ordinary delivery cocks are made in two parts, the same being joined or
combined at or near the centre of the entire length of the cock. The portion
of the cock which comprises the outlet or delivery pipe or aperture contains
the valve which is of a T form, and mounted on a spindle, which spindle
works through a suitable gland or stuffing box, guide bars or blocks or other
suitable contrivances being provided, if desired, in the interior of the inlet
portion of the cock for the purpose of ensuring the accurate working of the
valve. The valve seat is formed so as to correspond with the face of the
valve, the same being respectively constructed with concentric grooves or
channels, as before described, and a washer or bed of comparatively soft or
elastic or semi-elastic material, as herein-before mentioned, being used or not
as may be desired. The valve may be actuated in different ways; the exterior
portion of the valve spindle may have a screw thread formed thereon, and
may be actuated in either direction so as to open or close the valve by means
of a wheel or lever mounted on such spindle, and provided with a screw thread
gearing into and corresponding with that on the spindle.
Another mode of arranging and actuating the valve spindle is to form the
outer end thereof with a head, between which and the body of the cock is
placed a spiral or other spring around the spindle, the length thereof being
so proportioned as, when uncompressed, to bring the valve down upon its
seat. By compressing the spring the valve is removed from its seat, but
immediately returns by the action of the spring upon the pressure being
removed from the spindle head. The same effects may be produced by
arranging the spring at the other extremity of the spindle, as will be well
understood by persons conversant with mechanical contrivances.
In the construction of stop-cocks the same principles of construction are
employed, except that the valve and spindle are necessarily placed transversely
instead of longitudinally to the line of outlet, the spindle being actuated by a

page_text: screw, as before described, or by means of a rack and pinion arrangement, or
other equivalent contrivance. For certain purposes, such as, for instance, guage
cocks for steam engines, a compound arrangement of valves and valve cocks
constructed in accordance with this Invention may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Shore in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN SHORE,
of Cardigan Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
. WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Shore, Her special licence that I, the said John Shore,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Shore, my 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
THE CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES AND VALVE COCKS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Shore, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals,
sbould 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 I, the said John Shore, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of
valves and valve cocks, whereby absolute freedom from leakage and other
important advantages are secured, such valves and valve cocks being applicable
to a great variety of purposes.

page_text: An important feature connected with my said Invention is the manner in
which the faces of the valve and its seat are formed. In simple valves for
such purposes for instance as those for which clack valves are ordinarily
employed the respective faces of the valve and seat are formed with a series
of concentric grooves or channels therein, the edges or ridges between such
grooves or channels on one face exactly coinciding with the grooves or
channels on the other face, and fitting closely therein when the two faces are
brought together, thus constituting a series of concentric valves, which entirely
prevent the possibility of leakage, and for this reason valves thus constructed
are especially adapted and valuable for pumps and other analogous purposes.
Instead of forming the valve seat with concentric grooves or channels, as
before mentioned, they may, if desired, be dispensed with, the seat facing being
furnished with a washer or bed of some comparatively soft or elastic or semi-
elastic substance, such as lead, leather, cloth, india-rubber, or cork, into which
the valve face, when the valve is closed, is pressed, or such washer or bed may
be applied to the valve seat even when the latter is formed with concentric
grooves or channels.
In the construction of cocks in accordance with my said Invention, the
formation of concentric grooves or channels on the valve face and seat, as before
described, is a most important feature, the same being capable of application to
every variety of cock, whether for the outlet of liquids, steam, or gases.
Ordinary delivery cocks are made in two parts, the same being joined or
combined at or near the centre of the entire length of the cock. The portion of
the cock which comprises the outlet or delivery pipe or aperture contains the
valve, which is of a T form, and is mounted on a spindle, which spindle works
in and through a suitable gland or stuffing box, guide bars, or blocks, or other
suitable and analogous contrivances being provided if desired in the interior
of the inlet portion of the cock for the purpose of ensuring the accurate
working of the valve. The valve seat is formed so as to correspond with the
face of the valve, the same being respectively constructed with concentric
grooves or channels, as before described, and a washer or bed of comparatively
soft or elastic or semi-clastic material, as herein-before mentioned, being used
or not as may be desired. The valve may be actuated in different ways. The
exterior portion of the valve spindle may have a screw thread formed thereon
gearing into a corresponding thread in the neck, through which the valve
spindle works, the valve spindle being actuated in either direction, so as to
open or close the valve by means of a wheel or lever mounted on such spindle.
Another mode of arranging and actuating the valve spindle is to form the
outer end thereof with a head, between which and the body of the cock is

page_text: placed a spiral or other spring around the spindle, the length thereof being so
proportioned as when uncompressed to bring the valve down upon its seat;
by compressing the spring the valve is removed from its seat, but imme-
diately returns by the action of the spring upon the pressure being removed;
the same effects may be produced by arranging the spring at the other
extremity of the spindle, as will be well understood by persons conversant
with mechanical contrivances.
In the construction of stop-cocks (and also of cocks applicable to various
purposes) the same principles of construction are employed, except that
the valve and spindle are placed transversely instead of longitudinally to the
line of outlet, the spindle being actuated by a screw, as before described,
or by means of a rack and pinion arrangement, or other equivalent contrivance.
For certain purposes, such as for instance guage cocks for steam engines,
compound arrangements of valves and valve cocks may be constructed in
accordance with my said Invention.
The nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood by
references to the annexed Drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in elevation and section a cock with the valve
spindle placed transversely; Figures 3 and 4 shew also in elevation and
section a cock constructed with the valve and spindle working longitudinally;
Figure 5 represents the valve with its guides, and Figure 6 is a plan view of
the valve with its guides and seat.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that
I do not claim the several parts of the mechanism herein-before described
separate and apart from each other, as being of my Invention; but what I
consider as novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
combination and arrangement of parts and mechanism in the construction of
valves and valve cocks, substantially herein-before described and set forth, or
any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Shore, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN SHORE. (L.S.)