IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE VALVES AND THEIR FITTINGS FOR REGULATING AND PREVENTING WASTE BY THE DELIVERY AND SUPPLY OF UNIFORM QUANTITIES OF WATER TO WATER CLOSETS AND URINALS, AND FOR THE LIKE SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS TO OTHER VESSELS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ross, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Brassfounder, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE VALVES
AND THEIR FITTINGS FOR REGULATING AND PREVENTING WASTE BY THE
DELIVERY AND SUPPLY OF UNIFORM QUANTITIES OF WATER TO WATER
CLOSETS AND URINALS, AND FOR THE LIKE SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS TO OTHER
VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ross at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1880.
WILLIAM ROSS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Brassfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE VALVES AND THEIR FITTINGS FOR REGULATING AND
PREVENTING WASTE BY THE DELIVERY AND SUPPLY OF UNIFORM QUANTITIEs of
WATER TO WATER CLOSETS AND URINALS, AND FOR THE LIKE SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS
TO OTHER VESSELS."
This Invention consists of certain simple but important improvements in the
construction and arrangement of the parts of the service valves, having the valve
lid lifted and controlled by a vulcanised india-rubber cup sucker for regulating the
flow or delivery of uniform quantities of water to water closets and urinals, or liquids
to other vessels for other purposes at cach action, and forming the first part or
improvements of the Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to the
petitioner, numbered 480, dated 5th February 1877, and described in reference to
and shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive of the relative final Specification thereof;
which present improvements rather simplify the construction and action, while
rendering the india-rubber cup sucker more durable and lasting, by allowing it to
retain its natural open cup shape (instead of the collapsed shape) when in its normal
or usual position at rest ready for use and action.
And the nature and novelty of these improvements substantially consist in
securing the india-rubber cup sucker in an inverted manner in the centre of its
spindle, with the hollow cup open and distended down into a cavity formed for it
in the upper metal part of the lid of the valve proper, having a smooth turned rim
on which the flange or sucking lip of the india-rubber cup bears fluid tight, and
having its lower hollow, or it might be light solid stem, steadied and working down
into a hollow stem on the valve lid, made close at the lower end and working

page_text: otherwise as usual through a guide in a seat, which is closed by a leather or rubber
washer secured by the spindle on the under face of valve lid. The upper or top
spindle of the lifting cup sucker has a shallow inverted cup-like light metal weight
mounted loose on it, with its outer under rim resting on the upper surface of the
flange of the sucker sufficient to keep it close on that of the cup or cavity in the lid
of the valves. Openings are formed in this upper hollow weight to allow the water
to flow freely out of it, as displaced when the hollow cup sucker is raised and
collapsed by the drawing chain or wire attached to its steun above the weight; or
to flow freely in when let go, to assume its normal cup shape again within the
chamber in the lid of the valve. A small hole is formed in the upper stem of the
sucker a little above it, leading down into its lower hollow spindle into the close
hollow chamber of the lid of the valve below the sucker, which when raised' and
collapsed as stated forms a partial vacuum in the valve lid, and lifts it off its seat
(secured and mounted as usual in the service cistern over and leading to the delivery
or discharge pipe) and allows the water to run down this until it falls down again
and closes on its seat, which it does as soon as the water flows in through the hole
in the spindle to destroy the vacuum in its chamber below the sucker, irrespective
of how long the acting rods and hand lever may be held up. The size of this
inflowing hole (which may be regulated by a plug or other equivalent) in proportion
to the size of the chamber and displacement by the sucker alone determine the
time the valve is held up, and as a consequence the uniform flow or quantity of
water delivered at each action from the service cistern. The sucker, it will thus be
seen, always falls by its own elasticity and the weight of its spindle, assisted by the
vacuum underneath, to its natural cup shape, and when the handle and lifting lever
action is let go the sucker, with its weight, again assume their normal position
within and over the close vacuum chamber of the valve lid, ready to lift it when
the hand lever and spindle of the sucker aro raised.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Ross in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd August
1880.
WILLIAM ROSS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Brassfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE VALVES AND THEIR FITTINGS FOR REGULATING AND
PREVENTING WASTE BY THE DELIVERY AND SUPPLY OF UNIFORM QUANTITIES OF
WATER TO WATER-CLOSETS AND URINALS, AND FOR THE LIKE SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS
TO OTHER VESSELS."
My said Invention consists of certain simple but important improvements in the
construction and arrangement of the parts of the service valves, having the valve lid
lifted and controlled by a vulcanised india-rubber cup sucker for regulating the flow
or delivery of uniform quantities of water to water-closets and urinals, or liquids to
other vessels for other purposes, at each action, and which valves formed the first part
or improvements of the Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to me,
numbered 480, dated 5th February 1877, and described in reference to and shown
in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive of the relative final Specification thereof. The present
improvements rather simplify the construction and action of these valves, while
rendering the india-rubber cup sucker more durable and lasting, by allowing it to
retain its natural open cup shape (instead of the collapsed shape) when in its normal
position at rest ready for use and action.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing or putting my
said Invention into effect or practice may be properly understood I shall now
proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings which I havo
hereunto appended for that purpose, the same reference letters (as far as possible)
representing the same or like parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an arrangement and combination of the parts of
my improved "cup-sucker" lifting valve, constructed in accordance with and illus-
trative of one modification of my present Invention and improvements for delivering
a nearly uniform or regulated quantity of water (or it might be other liquid) at
each action, or when and while the valve lid A, A', is raised as shown in this
position in the Figure. The valve proper, composed of its heavy weighted lid
A, A', a, and india-rubber cup sucker b, b¹, with their spindles A and B, B', with
top weight B, is mounted over an ordinary metal edge rim seat C, with guide
C soldered or otherwise secured inside the supply cistern Z as usual to the top of
the discharge pipes and bottom of the cistern. When the ordinary hand lover
over the cistern (not shown in the Drawings) is pulled it lifts the valve at each
action of the wire e, or it might be a chain, so that the water flows from the cistern
at Z, as indicated by the arrows, over the open seat C, down the discharge pipo z,
to the water-closet or other vessel below into which the water (or other liquid) is
to be delivered, as stated, in regulated quantities. Figure 2 is a corresponding
vertical section of the same valve shown in Figure 1, but with the valve A, A¹, a,
shown as dropped from the sucker b, b', and closed on its seat C, so that no more water,
can flow from the cistern Z; and Figure 3 shows the valve, sucker b, b', and other
parts, all in their normal closed position after the top lever is let go, all ready for
the next action, but showing a slightly different arrangement of seat, with an india-
rubber bearing ring a³ for the valve A to rest on, instead of the metal rim C, thus
dispensing with the leather or india-rubber disc a on the under face of the
valve A.
Referring to these Figures 1 to 3 the nature and novelty of my said Invention
or improvements in reference to these Figures consist substantially in securing the
india-rubber cup sucker b, b', (in an inverted manner from what I formerly have
shown and used it) screwed or otherwise secured between collars 6" on the centre
ofits spindle B, B', with the hollow cup 6 open, and distended down into a recess

page_text: or cavity A¹ formed for it in the upper metal part A of the lid of the valve A, a'
proper, having a smooth turned top rim A" on which the flange or sucking lip b
of the india-rubber cup b, b', bears fluid tight by a weight B" resting over it, and
having its lower hollow (or it might be light solid) stem B open at the lower end,
steadied and working down into the hollow guide stem A2 of the valvo lid A, A',
and made close at the lower end so as to work otherwise as usual through a guide
C¹ in the seat C, which is closed by a leather or rubber washer a, secured on the
under face of valve lid A, A', by the broad disc collar at a' on the screw end of
the spindle A². The upper or top spindle B, B¹, of the lifting cup sucker 6, 6¹, bas
a shallow inverted cup-like metal weight B" mounted over and open on it, with
its outer rim resting on the upper surface of the flange b¹ of the sucker b, b¹,
sufficient to keep it close on the rim A" of the cup or cavity A' in the lid of the
valves A, A. A free opening is left in the eye of the upper hollow weight at 6111
round the spindle B' to allow the water to flow freely out of it as displaced when
the hollow cup sucker is raised and collapsed, as seen in Figure 2, by the drawing
wire or chain e attached to its stem B above the weight B", or to flow freely in
when let go to assume its normal cup shape again within the chamber A¹ in the
lid A of the valve, as seen in this position in Figure 3. A small hole o
is formed in the upper stem B₁ of the sucker b, b¹, a little above it leading
down through its lower hollow spindle B and up between this and its guide
spindle A³, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, up into the close hollow
chamber A¹ of the lid of the valve A below the sucker b, b', which, when
raised by its wire e and spindle B', forms a partial vacuum in the valve lid A, A¹,
and lifts it off its seat, as seen in Figure 1, and holds it up and allows the water to
escape down through the valve seat C and discharge pipe z while the hollow cup-
sucker bis collapsing by the flowing in of the water into the cup A¹ below it, when
it then falls down, as seen in Figure 2, and closes on its seat, C and discharge pipe
while the hollow cup-sucker b is collapsing by the water flowing in through the hole o
and spindle B, and so stops the further flow or delivery of the water from the cistern
Z, quite irrespective of how long the acting rod e and hand lever may be held up.
The size of this inflowing hole o (which may be regulated by a plug or other
equivalent) in proportion to the size of the chamber A¹ and displacement by the
sucker b, b', alone determine the time the valve is held up, and as a consequence
regulate the uniform flow or quantity of water delivered from the service cistern
Z at each action or raising of the valve A, A', as described. It will thus be seen
that the sucker b, b', always falls by its own elasticity and the weight of the
spindle B, B¹, to its natural cup shape as the handle and lifting lever action is let
go, the sucker b, b¹, with its weight B" again assume their normal position within
and over the close vacuum chamber A¹ of the valve lid A, as shown in this
position in Figure 3, all ready to be lifted again when the hand lever and
wire e and spindle B', B, of the sucker b, b¹³, are raised. In these valves, Figure
1 to 3, the spindle A2 of the valve lid A is made hollow, of brass tube, soldered
close at the lower end to prevent the admission of air or liquid to the vacuum
cavity A' except by the regulated hole o, and to act as a guide for the spindle B of
the cup-sucker b, b¹, and its weight B", which is also shown as made hollow, or of
brass tube, for giving strength and rigidity with lightness, and as a simple and
inexpensive mode of construction which requires very little turning; but this inner
spindle B might, when desired, be made solid, in which case the hole o for regu-
lating the admission of water or other fluid to the vacuum chamber would be
formed through the stem part near the collars b" direct into the chamber A', or it
might be through these or the cup 6 of the sucker itself, when preferred.
valve A, A', is made heavy so as to fall freely (when the sucker and vacuum which
lifts it lose the power) and close on the valve seat C fluid-tight, and so simple in
shape and construction, as also the weight B", that they can be cast of lead, or an
alloy of this and tin or other metal, in turned metallic moulds, and all as true as
to require no turning; and when the spindle A² is screwed into the valve A a
screw nut or socket u can be cast into this; but when not screwed the end of the
The

page_text: spindle may be expanded or roughened and cast into the valve, as shown at a¹¹¹ in
Figure 3, and which is very suitable where the seat C is formed with an india-
rubber close bearing joint face ring a², as shown in this Figure.
But the main
improvements and objects or advantages of these valves, as shown in Figure 1 to 3,
are the having of the india-rubber cup-sucker valve b, b', in its natural open
distended form while the valve is in its norinal closed position, as seen in Figure 3,
and only collapsed while it is being raised or in action, as shown in Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are a side elevation and plan respectively of an arrangement
and application of my improved valve (as shown in Figures 1 to 3) to any ordinary
arrangement of lever service valve L, V, V, for supplying from the main pressure
pipes by one inlet branch and discharge branch v', as indicated by the arrows,
for the purpose of delivering a regulated or nearly uniform quantity or supply of
water thereby from the pressure service pipes. In this arrangement the valve or
vacuum chamber part A, A', is simply fixed or otherwise connected to the upper
free end of the lever L of the valve V. The other end of the lever L is fulcrumed
at L' to a bracket bearing projecting up from the case VI of the valve V which
opens when the lever is raised, and closes when it falls by the weight of the case
A, A', which has mounted in and over it the cup sucker b, b', and its weight B¹¹
raised by its spindle B¹ and wire or cord e by a lever, or it might be simply up
over a pulley down to a "hand pull," so that (as described in reference to tho
former Figures) when the wire c and spindle B' are lifted the sucker b; b', raises
the vacuuin chamber weight A, A', and lever L sufficient to open the service
pressure valve V, and keeps it open for the regulated time it will take for air or
water to pass through the small hole o into the chamber A' below the sucker b, b',
to destroy the vacuum and allow it to collapse, when the weight A, A¹ and lever L
would fall and close the supply, the size of the hole o of course, as before stated,
regulating the time of and regular quantity of water which would be delivered. at
cach action. This arrangement may either be worked in the open air or in water,
but with air a smaller hole is required than when used and acting in water.
Figures 6 and 7 are a sectional elevation and plan of a modified arrangement of
my improved cup-sucker A, b, 61, applied also as a water waste preventer for
delivering a nearly uniform quantity of water at each action from pressure service
supply pipes as suitable for urinal and other purposes. The whole is erected in
and on a small brass or other metal case I, I, screwed together pressure flaid-tight
at I", having an inlet branch i from the pressure supply pipes and a discharge or
delivery branch at i¹ formed with a lip valve C over it, fitted with a short lifting
and falling valve lid A, a, with guiding spindle or stem A2 working down into
the throat of the discharge branch, and closing by its own weight and the
pressure of the water within through a leather or india-rubber disc a on its under
side resting on the seat C. The lower part I of the case is secured to any con-
venient horizontal base by screws at 11, so that the valve A and its lifting cup
sucker b, b', and spindle B, in this case inverted, all work vertically without a
weight on the flange b¹ of the cup-sucker b, which is screwed by a broad head or
hollow screw 6" to the broad lower curved end B of its spindle B', which works
out through a stuffing box I' in the top I' of the case I, I, with a spiral spring J
mounted on it between the stuffing box and a securing pressing knob J: The.
spring is made to hold up the india rubber cup-sucker b, b', in its natural expanded
position at the top of the case always ready for action, as indicated in sharp lines
in Figure 6, and shown in dotted lines as pressed down by the thumb on the
knob J, to press the rim 6' of the sucker down on the upper rim of the valve
lid A without the necessity of a weight B" in the case, and also press down the
cup part b to force the water out of it, so that as soon as the pressure and thumb
of the person is removed off the knob J' the spring J raises the spindle B and
sucker b, b', which by the partial vacuum thus formed in it raises the valve A off
its seat C and allows the water to flow out by the branch i¹, as indicated by the
arrows, during the time the water takes to flow through the small hole o (formed

page_text: in the neck of the spindle at B and screw b¹¹) to fill the cup 6 of the sucker, when
the valve lid A then falls and closes the further delivery, the size of the hole o as
in the other cases determining the quantity delivered at each action.
Figures 8 and 9 show a side elevation and a corresponding section of a modification
of my cup sucker valve A, b, b', B, for delivering regular quantities of water from a
cistern Z (as in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3). Figure 8 shows the parts
all in their normal position ready for action and enclosed within a case A³, formed
on and projecting up from the outer rim of the valve lid A with a cover weight B³
secured on the top of the cup-sucker spindle B, B¹, sufficient to compress the cup
b, b¹, and be raised a short distance to produce a partial vacuum within the cup b, b³,
before the weight B" is lifted off its gripping rim b', as indicated in dotted lines
in this Figure. Figure 9 shows the sucker b, b', and valve A, A³, lifted off the
seat C, and in the act of delivering its supply of water from the cistern Z into the
delivery or discharge pipe 3, as indicated by the arrows, the cup sucker b, b¹, and
its rim pressing weight B" with the lid B³ over it being all guided within and
over the case A3 by the central spindle B working down. into the hollow close
spindle A³ of the valve A, substantially in the improved manner described in
reference to and shown in Figures 1 to 3, but with the sucker b, b', as collapsed
by the weight of the spindle B, B¹, and top weight B³, and the edge of the
weight B¹ resting on the rim b' of the cup, all in the normal position of the parts
ready for action, as seen dotted in Figure 8.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The general construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of
cup-sucker lifting service regulating valves, having the cup-sucker b, b', left in its
open expanded state when the valve A is in its normal closed position, all for
giving a nearly uniform supply of water or other liquid to water closets, or to
other vessels for other purposes, at each action, either from service cisterns above
or service pressure pipes, all substantially as and for the purposes and advantages
herein described and distinguished in reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 4 to 7
respectively, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The arrangement and combination of the parts of cup-sucker lifting
valves having its cup sucker b, b', guided by its central spindle B in that of the
valve lid A either open or enclosed within a case A³, A, all substantially as and
for the purposes and advantages herein described and distinguished in reference to
Figures 1 to 3 and 8, 9, respectively, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ross, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
WILLIAM ROSS. (L.s.)