IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING VALVES OR COCKS FOR DRAWING OFF WATER
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Lambert, of Short Street, New Cut,
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, and Edwin James White, of.
Overton Maisemore, in the County of Gloucester, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING VALVES OR COCKS FOR DRAWING
OFF WATER."
Scaled the 27th August 1872, and dated the 18th June 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Lambert and
Edwin James White at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 18th June 1872.
We, THOMAS LAMBERT, of Short Street, New Cut, Lambeth, in the
County of Surrey, and EDWIN JAMES WHITE, of Overton Maisemore, in
the County of Gloucester, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING VALVES OR COCKS FOR DRAWING
OFF WATER," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object "Improvements in Self-closing Valves
or Cocks for Drawing off Water." For this purpose the pipe which
supplies the water is connected with a chamber, and on one side of the
chamber (say the top) is covered and closed by a flexible diaphragm,
whilst in the bottom of the chamber there is the outlet orifice by which
the water is drawn off for use. The chamber is supplied with water by
a passage which is smaller in area than the supply pipe and the outlet.

page_text: When the water is not required to flow the outlet orifice is closed by
the diaphragm which is then pressed down against it. The mouth of
the outlet orifice is enamelled in order that the diaphragm may not
adhere to it, and a metal button is attached to the diaphragm to
strengthen and support the part of it which thus acts as a valve. Over
the first diaphragm there is a second, and between the two a space is
cnclosed. This space is by a minute passage (which can be adjusted by
turning a screw) in direct communication with the source of supply, so
that whenever the apparatus has been left at rest for a short time this
space becomes filled with water at the full pressure in the supply pipe,
and by this pressure the lower diaphragm which acts as a valve is held
downwards against the outlet orifice, the pressure of the water on the
under side of this diaphragm being then less than that on the upper as
the part of the diaphragm which covers the outlet orifice is not exposed
to the pressure.
When it is desired to draw water the second or upper diaphragm is
pressed downwards by a screw or lever or otherwise, and so a portion of
the water in the space between the two diaphragms is forced back into
the supply pipe; and in order that this operation may be more quickly
and easily effected a small valve is provided; this valve consists of a
small piece of india-rubber tube inserted into the escape passage, the
space between the diaphragms being thus partially emptied, the upper
diaphragm is again left free, and the lower diaphragm being then no
longer exposed to pressure on its upper surface the pressure beneath
it causes it to rise and leave the outlet orifice. The water then flows
and it continues to do so until water from the supply pipe has again
passed by the minute regulated aperture into the space between the two
diaphragms, and the lower diaphragm is again exposed to pressure on its
upper surface.
By means of the adjusting screw the apparatus may be set to deliver
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Thomas Lambert and Edwin James White in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS 3
LAMBERT, of Short Street, New Cut, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,

page_text: and EDWIN JAMES WHITE, of Overton Maisemore, in the County of
Gloucester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-.
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Lambert and Edwin James
White, Her special license that we, the said Thomas Lambert and Edwin
James White, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Thomas Lambert and Edwin James White, 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, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, au Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CLOSING
VALVES OR COCKS FOR DRAWING OFF WATER," upon the condition (amongst
others).that we, the said Thomas Lambert and Edwin James White, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal one of us or them,
O should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Edwin James White, on behalf of
myself and the said Thomas Lambert, 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 self-closing valves or
O cocks for drawing off water. For this purpose the pipe which supplies
the water is connected with a chamber, and one side of the chamber (say
the top) is covered and closed by a flexible diaphragm, whilst below the
diaphragm there is the outlet orifice by which the water is drawn off for
use. The chamber is supplied with water by a passage which in some
cases is smaller in area than the supply pipe and the outlet.
When the water is not required to flow the outlet orifice is closed by
the diaphragm which is then pressed down against it. The mouth of

page_text: the outlet orifice is enamelled in order that the diaphragm may not
adhere to it, and a metal button is attached to the diaphragm to
strengthen and support the part of it which thus acts as a valve.
In place of contracting the inlet orifice wings or feathers may with
the same object be carried on the under side of the diaphragm to work
up and down on the outlet passage. Over the first diaphragm there is a
second, and between the two a space is enclosed. This space is by a
minute passage (which can be adjusted by turning a screw) in direct
communication with the source of supply, so that whenever the apparatus
has been left at rest for a short time this space becomes filled with water
at the full pressure in the supply pipe, and by this pressure the lower
diaphragm which acts as a valve is held downwards against the outlet
orifice, the pressure of the water on the under side of this diaphragm
being then less than that on the upper as the part of the diaphragm
which covers the outlet orifice is not exposed to the pressure.
When it is desired to draw water the second or upper diaphragm is
pressed downwards by a screw or lever, or otherwise, and so a portion of
the water in the space between the two diaphragms is forced back into
the supply pipe; and in order that this operation may be more quickly
and easily effected a small valve is provided. This valve consists of a
small piece of india-rubber tube inserted into the escape passage. The
space between the diaphragms being thus partially emptied the upper
diaphragm is again left free or again raised, and the lower diaphragm
being then no longer exposed to pressure on its upper surface the
pressure beneath it causes it to rise and leave the outlet orifice; the
water then flows, and it continues to do so until water from the
supply pipe has again passed by the minute regulated aperture into the
space between the two diaphragms. The lower diaphragm is again
exposed to pressure on its upper surface.
By means of the adjusting screw the apparatus may be set to deliver
any desired quantity each time that it is set in action.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, we have shewn in the Drawings hercunto annexed
examples of self-closing valves or cocks constructed as above described.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a bib valve; Figure 2
is a plan view of the same. In Figure 1 the valve is shewn to be

page_text: closed; in Figure 3 the valve is open, and is shewn half in elevation
and half in longitudinal vertical section.
In these Figures a is the inlet passage admitting water to the
chamber b, at the top of which is a flexible diaphragm; c, d, is the
outlet passage from the chamber b. In Figure 1 this is shewn to be
closed by the diaphragm c, whilst in Figure 3 the diaphragm is shewn
away from it; e is the second diaphragm above the diaphragm c, an
enclosed space being formed between the two, as shewn by a metal
ring g being placed between them; a plan view of this ring is shown
separately at Figure 4. In it are formed two passages to connect the
inlet passage a with the enclosed space f; one of these marked g¹ is for
the passage of water from a to the space f, and may either be a fine
hole, such as shewn in plan view, Figure 5, or a set screw g* may be
employed, as shown at Figure 4 to adjust the size of the passage. The
other passage is to allow of water in the space being quickly forced
back into the inlet passage a; in it is a small tube of vulcanized india-
rubber, which acts as a valve to prevent water flowing past it into the
space, but allows water to pass freely from this space. Or in place of
a tube a bent strip of vulcanized india-rubber might be used in the same
manner. The upper diaphragm e has above and below it metallic
washers ex, as shewn separately at Figures 6 and 7. These are both
screwed on to a central screw k, by which they are connected to a
key . An clevation of this key is shewn separately at Figure 10. The
two metallic washers arc screwed tightly against the sides of the
diaphragm, but the screw fits loosely into the key, so that the key
may revolve freely without turning the screw. Partly around the key /
is a spiral slot into which enters a pin m carried by a cap n; this cap
has a flange around it which by screws is held down to the top
of the chamber b, so holding in place the metal ring g and the two
diaphragms c and e.
We would remark however that in place of employing a key 7 for
raising or depressing the upper diaphragm e any suitable mechanism
may be adopted for this purpose, or other means than those above
described may be employed for connecting the upper diaphragm with
the key. We however prefer the arrangement shewn, as it is very cheap
and convenient, and also readily adjusted.
The lower diaphragm c is shewn separately in vertical section at
Figure 8, and an under side view of the same is shewn at Figure 9; it

page_text: carries at its centre above and below it metallic washers or buttons p, p,
both screwed on to a screw stem ", so as to compress the flexible
diaphragm between them. The screw stem also carries feathers or
guides 8, which pass into the outlet tube t, the upper edge of which forms
the valve scat, and may be enamelled, glazed, or japanned, in order that
the vulcanised india-rubber diaphragm c may not adhere to it. The
outlet tube is shown separately at Figures 11 and 12.
The action of the valve is as follows:-When the tap is closed, and
the parts are in the position shewn at Figure 1, the diaphragm c is by
the pressure of water above it held down on to the valve seat &, and the
passage of water through it is thereby stopped. If the key / be now
turned by its handle the upper diaphragm e is raised into the position
shewn at Figure 3, whereby the pressure of water upon the upper
surface of the lower diaphragm is temporarily relieved, and it is at once
raised by the pressure of the water beneath it. Water is then free to
flow through the tap or valve until the space fis again filled by water
passing into it from the inlet passage a by the small orifice h. As this
space fills with water the diaphragm c is pressed downwards by the
pressure above it, and is also drawn downwards by the flow of water
acting upon the upper surfaces of the feathers or guides & until the valve
scat is again closed by the diaphragm. To again open the tap the
key is turned to depress the upper diaphragm into the position shewn
at Figure 1. The water in the space then passes freely back to the
inlet passage a through the passage h, as before explained. Afterwards
the key is turned back in the opposite direction to again raise the
diaphragm into the position shewn at Figure 3, when the same operation
will be repeated.
Figure 13 shews a longitudinal vertical section of another valve, in
which the arrangements for raising and lowering the upper diaphragm e
are somewhat modified; and in place of the wings or feathers & a con-
tractrion a* is formed in the inlet passage a, in order that the pressure of
water in the space fmay be nearly equal to the full pressure in the
inlet passage, whilst the pressure on the under side of the diaphragm c
when partly away from the valve scat shall be less than this pressure.
In this arrangement the upper diaphragm e is not fixed to the key.
The key has an ordinary screw thread upon it instead of the spiral groove,
and there is a screw cap cover in place of a cover which is held down by
screws o̟, as in the construction shewn at Figure 1.

page_text: Figure 14 shews a plan view, and Figure 15 a plan view with the
diaphragms and cover removed of the valve shown at Figure 13.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, we would have it understood that what we
claim as our improvements in self-closing valves or cocks for drawing
off water is,
1. The combined arrangement of self-closing valves or cocks, sub-
stantially as herein described.
2. The employment in self-closing valves or cocks of two diaphragms
with a space between the two connected by a small passage with the
inlet passage of the valve or cock, so as to act substantially in the
manner horcin described.
3. The employment of a flexible diaphragm to close the outlet
passage of the valve or cock in combination with an inclosed space, the
capacity of which can be increased or decreased at pleasure, and to
which water can slowly pass from the inlet passage, so as to act sub-
stantially in the manner herein described.
4. The employment in combination with the diaphragm c of a con-
traction in the inlet pipe of the valve, or cock, or guide feathers & for the
purpose described.
5. The employment of a return valve h, constructed as herein
described, for allowing water to pass quickly from the space f to the
inlet passage of the valve or cock.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin James White, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
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