Improvements in Cocks, Taps, Valves, and other like Appliances for Stopping or Controlling the Flow or Passage of Water, Steam, Gas, or other Fluid.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1887
Complete Left, 19th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
Improvements in Cocks, Taps, Valves, and other like Appliances
for Stopping or Controlling the Flow or Passage of Water,
Steam, Gas, or other Fluid.
I, JOSEPH THOMAS HARRIS of Welby House, Lansdown Hill, Lower Norwood,
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention has reference to cocks, taps, valves and other like appliances for
stopping or controlling the flow or passage of water, steam, gas or other fluid whether
mechanically or automatically and consists in so constructing such appliances that
when closed a continuous pillar or column (other than a screw or worm) is formed
between a fixed point and the valve in a line with the fluid pressure to be resisted
whereby such pressure in entirely ineffective so far as its power to open the valve is
concerned unless it be sufficient to either crush such pillar or lengthen or stretch the
ties or connections that retain the pillar or base of resistance in place. Thus not the
slighest movement of the valve can take place to allow of the passage of fluid through
the same.
The pillar or column may be either rigid or slightly elastic and its length
is capable of being increased at pleasure.
The opening of the passage way of the valve or other appliance to any required
extent is allowed by applying a slight power in another direction so as to shorten or
break up the pillar or column of resistance when the pressure of the fluid assisted or
not by a spring will force open the valve.
The closing of the passage way of the valve or other appliance is effected on the
other hand by building up or forming the pillar or column of resistance by the aid of
simple or compound levers. These may be arranged in a variety of ways so as to
close the valve without difficulty and in such a manner as to almost entirely obviate
the concussion ordinarily produced when valves or like appliances are closed
suddenly.
I will describe, by way of example, several methods or arrangements for forming
the column of resistance and for applying the necessary power for closing the valve
and for breaking the column so as to allow the valve to be opened by the fluid pressure
with or without the aid of a spring.

page_text: In one modification I employ a pair of toggle levers, that is to say, two levers
connected together by an elbow joint and I attach one of these levers to the valve
and the other to a fixed piece, the points of attachment being in line with the fluid
pressure, and I combine therewith a lever or lever arm by means of which the toggle
levers can as required be moved either into line with each other so as to form the column
and close the valve, or out of line so as to break the column and allow the valve to
open. In another modification I joint to a fixed point in line with the fluid pressure
one end of a rod or bar whose other end is inclined or rounded to act against the
valve and 1 combine therewith a lever or lever arm by means of which the said rod or
bar can as required be either forced up into line with the fluid pressure so as to form
the column and close the valve, or be freed so as to fall out of line and thereby break
the column and allow the valve to open.
In another modification I mount a snail or spiral cam on an axis in line with the
fluid pressure and I fit this cam with an arm. By simply moving over the arm in the
one direction the cam forces in the valve and forms the column of resistance, while
by moving the arm in the other direction the valve is free to open.
My cam is preferably an irregular snail or spiral, that is to say, it is so formed that
in closing the valve it acts quickly during the first part of the movement and very
slowly afterwards, thus representing the action of two inclined planes; and the
column of resistance which extends from the axis of the cam to the part in contact
with the valve increases as the cam advances.
In another modification I employ a cam similarly fitted with an arm and having a
fork or lugs by which the cam is pivotted to the sides of the body of the valve. The
cam bears against the valve and by pushing it down it closes the valve, the
column of resistance then extending from the cam to its pivot. By again lifting
the cam the valve is free to open.
The action in all the modifications will be obtained either by hand power or by a
ball or float or other automatic contrivance according to the requirements of each
particular case.
The invention is applicable not only to valve or tap appliances which have one
opening, but also to those which have several openings or passages.
Dated this 17th day of June 1887

page_text: Improvements in Cocks, Taps, Valves, and other like Appliances
for Stopping or Controlling the Flow or Passage of Water,
Steam, Gas, or other Fluid.
I JOSEPH THOMAS HARRIS, of Welby House, Lansdown Hill, Lower Norwood,
Surrey, Engineer, 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 has reference to cocks, taps, valves and other like appliances for
stopping or controlling the flow or passage of water, steam, gas or other Huid whether
automatically or otherwise. In my improved cocks or other like appliances when
closed (and when nearly closed) there is a continuous pillar or column (not a screw or
worm) between a fixed point and the valve in a line with the fluid pressure to be
resisted whereby such pressure is entirely ineffective so far as its power to open the
valve in concerned. Thus not the slightest movement of the valve from the action of
the fluid pressure can take place to allow of the passage of fluid through the same.
The pillar or column may be either rigid or slightly elastic, the elasticity being obtained
by the use of one or more india rubber or leather washers.
For the purpose of my invention I employ a snail or spiral cam of special form as
hereinafter described which I mount on a pin or axis in line with the fluid pressure
and I fit this cam with an arm. By simply moving over the arm in the one direction
the cam forces in the valve and forms the column of resistance while by moving the
arm in the other direction the valve is free to open. The arm can be moved by hand
or automatically as for instance by the action of a ball or float. My cam is an irregular
snail or spiral, that is to say, it is so formed that in closing the valve it acts quickly
during the first part of the movement and very slowly afterwards thus representing
the action of two inclined planes of different gradients; and the column of resistance
which extends from the axis of the cam to the part in contact with the valve increases
as the cam advances.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section of a bib cock
constructed according to my invention. a is the body of the cock, b the inlet of same
representing the line of the fluid pressure, and c the outlet. d is the valve, it is shown
as faced with a washer e of metal, india rubber or other suitable material which when
the valve is closed is forced into contact with the opposing face f of the inlet b. g is a
spring which tends to force the valve open; j is a cup leather which prevents the
passage of fluid between the body a and the valve d. h is the cam; the face of which
bears against the valve d; it is mounted on the axis i which is in a line with the fluid
pressure. is a slotted boss on the back of the valve in which the cam works and
which serves as a guide to the valve ensuring that the faces e and shall always meet
in the same place. k is an arm for working the cam.
It will be seen that the cam is irregular, as it represents the action of two inclined
planes of different gradients or in other words it comprises two curves struck from

page_text: different centres and both excentric to the axis i. These two curves meet at the point 1.
This is more clearly seen in Figure 2 in which the difference of the two inclines or
curves is shown more pronounced or exaggerated; the dotted circle is struck from
the centre i. It will be noticed that the curve or part of the cam from the point 2 to
the point 1 quickly increases in distance from the centre i while the curve or part
from the point 1 to the point 3 and onwards increases in distance very slowly from
the centre i. It therefore follows that in turning the cam by means of its arm k so as
to close the valve (which is seen in the open position in Figure 1) the closing action
is quick until the point 1 of the cam is reached and that the closing action then
becomes very slow. When the point 1 has been passed the fluid pressure is unable
to overcome the column of resistance even if the cam is not made to force the valve
quite home; the valve can therefore be left partially open if desired which would not
be practicable with a cam of other form.
Figures 3 and 4 respectively shew my invention applied to ball taps, the valve in
Figure 3 being fitted to act vertically and that in Figure 4 to act horizontally. Both
valves are shown closed. Similar letters to those in Figure 1 indicate corresponding
parts. The cam works in a slot in the outer face of the valve and bears against a
rounded part of the valve as clearly seen in the figures. The slot acts as a guide to
the valve ensuring that the faces e and f shall always meet in the same place.
Although I have described that the cam has two inclines or curves struck from
different centres it is evident that in large sizes of cam there may be more than two
such inclines or curves each one being slower in its action than that immediately
preceding.
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
In a cock, tap, valve or apparatus for stopping or controlling the flow or passage
of
water, steam, gas or other fluid, a cam mounted on an axis or centre in line with the
fluid pressure and working against the valve or closing device so as to control the
opening and closing of same, the said cam comprising two or more inclines or curves
struck from different centres so that it acts quickly during the first part of the closing
movement and very slowly afterwards while in the latter part of this movement and
when the valve is entirely closed it constitutes a column of resistance to the fluid
pressure which this pressure is unable to overcome, all substantially as herein before
described.
Dated this 19th day of March 1888
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.