IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR Cocks
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Butler, of Southwark, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR Cocks."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Butler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1876.
GEORGE BUTLER, of Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Engineer.
MENTS IN VALVES OR Cocks."
"IMPROVE-
My Invention relates more particularly to ball or float valves intended for
regulating the supply of water or other liquids under high pressure to cisterns
and similar receptacles, and has for its object utilizing the pressure of the liquid for
assisting the rising of the ball or float, and the maintaining of the valve upon its
seat in the most advantageous manner in order to promote increased steadiness
of action and obviate the_concussion to which the ordinary apparatus is liable.
In carrying out my Invention in order to effect this object I construct the
apparatus in the following manner--The inlet branch for the liquid is arranged
horizontally or nearly so, and terminates in a chamber of a globular or other
enlarged or expanded form in the centre of which is situate the outlet branch
which is placed vertically and extends to a suitable height above the inlet. Tho
chamber and the upper end of the outlet branch are formed with a flango or
with projections, so arranged as to leave an annular space or segmento-annular
spaces for the passage of the liquid, whilst at the same time exercising a restrictive
action upon the incoming liquid and thereby preventing any shaking or tremulous
motion on the valve, or I may employ a partition extending across between the
exterior of the outlet branch and the side of the chamber with a single orifice
of small diameter for the passage of the liquid. The valve consists of a disc of
metal faced on its under side with leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material,
and provided on its upper side with a stem or projection which enters a guide way
formed in a cover screwed or otherwise fitted to the top of the chamber. This
cover constitutes an air chamber for receiving the air from the valve when in the
act of closing, and thus obviating concussion. A spindle attached to the under side
of the valve passes down the interior of the outlet branch and is connected at its
Price Ada

page_text: lower end to the short arm of the lever carrying the ball or float. This lever, which
is by preference centred to lugs formed on the exterior of the outlet branch, passes
into the interior thereof through an opening provided for the purpose, and enters a
slot in the lower end of the valve spindle, so that the ball or float and the valve work
in unison. As the liquid rises in the cistern it carries with it the ball or float,
causing the valve to approach its seat, whilst at the same time the incoming liquid
by acting upon the top of the valve assists in effecting the closing of the same.
The Invention may also be adapted to valves or cocks of other descriptions to
which the same is applicable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Butler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
November 1876.
GEORGE BUTLER, of Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VALVES OR COCKS."
My said Invention relates more particularly to ball or float valves intended for
regulating the supply of water or other liquids to cisterns and similar receptacles, and
hns for its object utilizing the pressure of the liquid for assisting the rising of the
ball or float, and the maintaining of the valve upon its seat in the most advan-
tageous manner in order to promote increased steadiness of action and obviate the
concussion to which the ordinary apparatus is liable.
In carrying out my said Invention in order to effect this object, I construct the
apparatus in the manner herein-after described, reference being had to the two
Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters on which indicate
corresponding parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a vertical section of a valve adapted for
regulating the supply of liquids under high pressure, and Figure 2 represents a
similar view of a valve intended more particularly for low pressure.
Referring to Figure 1 of my Drawings a is the inlet branch for the liquid which
is arranged horizontally or nearly so, and terminates in a chamber b of a globular
or other enlarged or expanded form, in the centre of which is situate the outlet
branch e which is placed vertically, and extends to a suitable height above the inlet.
At the upper end of the ontlet branch c I form a partition d, which extends across
between the exterior of such outlet branch and the side of the chamber b, and is
provided with a small orifice e, or with two or more of such orifices if desired. By
means of this arrangement a sufficient area of passage is provided by the orifice e
for the flow of the liquid, whilst at the same time the partition & exercises a re-
strictive action upon the incoming liquid and thereby prevents any shaking or
tremulous motion on the valve. The valve proper consists of a disc f of metal
faced in its under side with a sunk washer g, of leather, india rubber, or other
suitable material, and provided on its upper side with a stem or projection h, which
enters a guide way formed in a cover i, screwed or otherwise fitted to the top of the
chamber. This cover, which is made hollow, constitutes an air chamber or space
for receiving the air from the valve in the act of closing, and thus obviating concus
sion. A spindle, attached to the under side of the valve, passes down the interior of
the outlet branch c, and is connected at its lower end to the short arm of the lever m
carrying the ball or float n. This lever, which is by preference centred at n¹ to a lug
o formed on the exterior of the outlet branch c as shown passes into the interior
thereof through an opening ? provided for the purpose, and enters a slot in the
lower end of the valve spindle 1, or the end of the lever may, if preferred, be
arranged so as simply to abut against the valve spindle in lieu of passing through
it, suitable projections being formed on the spindle between which the end of the
lever fits, so that the ball or float n and the valve work in unison. As the liquid
rises in the cistern it carries with it the ball or float n, causing the valve ƒ to

page_text: approach its seat, whilst at the same time the incoming liquid, by acting upon the
top of the valve assists in effecting the closing of the saine. The valve is represented
as being in its closed position in my Drawings. The ball or float n is weighted
sufficiently to insure the valve opening when the level of the liquid descends below
a given minimum height.
In the modification shewn in Figure 2, which is more particularly adapted for
low pressures, the air chamber is dispensed with the cover i simply serving as a
closure and as a guide for the stem or projection h of the valve f. In lieu also of
employing a perforated partition I carry the outlet pipe e up within the chamber b,
as in the preceding arrangemont, but in the present case 1 terminate it at a short
distance from the top of the enlarged or expanded portion of the chamber 6 so as
to leave an annular space 9 for the passage of the water, the valve proper being
situate over the top or mouth of such pipe as before.
By these means a result is obtained similar to that described in reference to the
high-pressure valve, Figure 1, viz., by reason of the globular or other enlarged or
expanded form of the chamber, and the elevated position of the mouth of the
outlet pipe c, the action of the incoming liquid is somewhat restricted, whereby
the shaking or tremulous motion of the valve is obviated, whilst at the same time
as the pressure of the liquid for which the apparatus, Figure 2, is intended is less
than that for which the apparatus, Figure 1, is constructed, the flow of the liquid
by reason of the arrangement of annular passage 7 is left less impeded or obstructed
than in the apparatus, Figure 1, the higher pressure in which necessitates increased
restraint.
Ench modification of apparatus is thus adapted for the special duty to be per-
formed, whilst both possess the same peculiar characteristics whereby the pressure
of the incoming liquid is utilized for assisting the rising of the ball or float, and
the maintaining of the valve upon its seat in the most advantageous manner for
promoting the efficiency and regularity in the action of the apparatus.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercin-before in part
recited Letters Patent is―
First. A ball or float valve or apparatus in which the pressure of the incoming
liquid is utilized for assisting the rising of the ball or float, and the maintaining of
the valve upon its seat, whilst obviating concussion and ensuring steadiness and
regularity of a tion by the employment of an outlet pipe, the mouth of which,
surmounted by the valve proper, is elevated above the level of the inlet branch,
and which outlet pipe is surrounded by a chamber of a globular or other enlarged
or expanded form into which the liquid is conducted from the inlet branch, and by
the aid of which, in conjunction or not with a perforated partition, such liquid is
restricted in its ascent to the mouth of the outlet pipe, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. The combination with the said ball or float valve or apparatus of an
air chamber, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Butler, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.