AN IMPROVED VALVE OR COCK FOR REGULATING OR STOPPING THE PASSAGE OF GAS, STEAM, WATER, OR OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT
to Charles Theodule Launay and Auguste Maric
Alexandre Domine de Vernez, both of Paris, France, Gentlemen. for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED VALVE OR COCK FOR REGULATING OR
STOPPING THE PASSAGE OF GAS, STEAM, WATER, OR OTHER FLUIDS."
Sealed the 31st July 1860, and dated the 4th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Theodule Launay
and Auguste Marie Alexandre Domine de Vernez at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 4th February
1860.
. We, CHARLES THEODULE LAUNAY and AUGUSTE MARIE ALEXANDRE DOMINE DE
VERNEZ, both of Paris, France, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED VALVE OR COCK FOR REGULATING OR STOPPING
THE PASSAGE OF GAS. STEAM, WATER. OR OTHER FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
This improved valve is constructed in such manner as to prevent any escape
of gas, steam, water, or other fluid to take place between the plug and the seat
or barrel of the valve: for this purpose a cap or lid is screwed over the top of
the valve, and a washer of india-rubber, leather, or any other suitable elastic
yielding material laid in proper grooves is interposed between them; besides,
in the under side of the cap is a recess in which the top of the valve may partly
enter, or the lower end of the cap may form a projecting part entering partly

page_text: in a recess formed in the top of the valve. The lower part of the valve may,
in the same manner, be provided with a lid or cap. If the valve is to serve
for conducting gas or water in the streets, and consequently requires to be
opened or shut from the street, then a second cap or box screwed to the out-
side of the seat or barrel of the valve, and which box is provided with a proper
door or lid, serves for fixing the valve into the wall; the valve is further pro-
vided in the usual manner with entrance and exit pipes for allowing the
passage of the gas, water, or other fluid through the valve.
SPECIFICATION
in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Theodule Launay and Auguste Marie Alexandre
Domine de Vernez in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. we.. CHARLES
THEODULE LAUNAY and AUGUSTE MARIE ALEXANDRE DOMINE DE VERNEZ, both.
of Paris, France, Gentlemen, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Domine de
Charles Theodule Launay and Auguste Marie Alexandre
Vernez, Her special licence that we, the said Charles Theodule Launay
and Auguste Marie Alexandre Domine de Vernez, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles Theodule
Launay and Auguste Marie Alexandre Domine de Vernez, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
therein
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exericse, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED VALVE OR COCK FOR REGU
LATING OR STOPPING THE PASSAGE OF GAS, STEAM, WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Charles Theodule
Launay and Auguste Marie Alexandre Domine de Vernez, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should 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

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Leilers
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Theodule Launay and
Auguste Marie Alexandre Domine de Vernex, do hereby declare the nature of
our said Invention, and in what nummer the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The object of this improved valve or cock for regulating or stopping the
passage of gas. steam, water, or other fluids, is to offer a perfect closure
between the plug and the seat of the valve or cock, so as to prevent any
escape of gas or other fluid, which in other valves or cocks often takes place
hetween the surface of the plug and that of the seat or body of the valve
or cock.
Our improved cocks or valves will he found particularly useful for con-
ducting pipes for gas or steam, as any undue escape of these gaseous bodies
between the surface of the plug and the seat is effectually prevented; the same
are also applicable for regulating or stopping the passage of any suitable fluid
or liquid. For these purposes we provide the upper surfaces of the seat and
of the plug with one or more circular grooves or furrows concentric with the
axial line of the plug the outside of the top of the seat has a screw cut
thereon for allowing to screw on this part a hollow cap. provided or not in the
interior with similar furrows or grooves, a washer of india-rubber, oiled
leather, or other suitable strong, more or less elastic material being interposed
between this cap or nui and the tops of the seat and plug. and so that by
means of this screw cap the washer may be driven into the said furrows or
grooves, and, thus fully prevent any escape of gas to take place between the
surfaces of the seat and the plug. The lower end of the valve or cock may be
provided with a similar arrangement, or the lower end of the seat may be
entirely closed, so as not to allow the lower end of the plug to pass through,
as in ordinary cocks.
in the annexed Drawings are shown various illustrations of the above-
described arrangements. In these Figures corresponding parts are indicated
ly the same letters of reference.
Fig. is an elevation view of one of our improved cocks with the cap a
tightly screwed on the seat b, while the tail c of the plug g protrudes through
the cap a for allowing the turning of the plug: Fig. 2 is a top, view of the
same; Fig. 3 shows the cork, seen from underneath, in order to show that the
lower part of the seat is closed; Fig. 4 is another elevation view of the cock:
Fig. 5 shows the cap a, seen from the inside; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of
the cap a, showing the furrows d at the inside thereof, and the opening e for

page_text: the tail of the plug to pass through: Fig. 7 represents a vertical section, and
Fig. 8 a top view. of the seat with the plug removed, and showing the
furrowd of the seat b; the Figs. 9 and 10 show respectively a top and
sectional view of the plug and of the furrow in this latter: the Figs. 16
& 17 show a side elevation and top view of a valve constructed according to
our system: Fig. 17 shows the cap of the valve: the Figs. 19. 20, and 21
show respectively an elevation. longitudinal section, and top view of a cock
for drawing off liquids, constructed according to our principle.
When conveying gas or water from the main pipes into the dwellings of the
consumers. it is often required that one or more supply cocks may be temporarily
shut by the company's servants; for this purpose these cocks are enclosed in
a kind of box generally situated in the wall of the house, which box is provided
with a moveable lid or door with a hole in it. through which the key for
opening or shutting the cock is introduced. Now, in order to allow the com-
pany of preventing a consumer of opening the cock with the usual key,
.whenever this consumer should no more have a right to the supply, we
provide the inside of the door of the above-mentioned box with a small lid
turning on a hinge just above the hole for actuating the cock; the door itself
turns on a hinge, so as to allow of opening or shutting the same by means of
a key, to be kept in the possession of the company. Whenever it should be
required to prevent the consumer from having any further access to the cock.
the companie's servant only requires to open the door, let down the lid, so as
on closing the door again keep the hole for actuating the cock shut. When
afterwards the use of the cock is again to be allowed to the consumer, it will
be required only to open the door, lift up the lid, and close the door with the
lid in this lifted position, whereby the hole for actuating the cock will be left
open. Fig. 11 shows a view from the under side of the box and valve or cock:
Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the same, with the door removed from the box:
and Fig. 13, a view from the inside of the box, with a door P opened; C¹ is
the lid for closing the opening C, through which the key for turning the valve
or cock is introduced; the door itself is provided with a small bolt F, gliding
in suitable guides G, the end of which bolt F takes under the rim of the
box 1; the bolt. F has a projecting part J acted on by a small lever K,
having its fulcrum in ; Fig. 14 shows a front view of this lever K provided
with a rim : having two projecting teeth i, which may take into two corre-
sponding serrations in the end of the hollow key L, Fig. 15, for thus allowing
this key to turn the lever K when introduced in this latter, and thus open the
door P, or shut the same, as required.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said

page_text: Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect.
we would observe, in conclusion, that we do not confine or restrict ourselves
To the precise details of the arrangements of the cocks or valves hereabove
described. as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the main features of our Invention: but we claim the general arrangement of
the cocks or valves above described. for the purpose of preventing any undue
escape of fluid between the surface of the seat and the plug, and also the
arrangement of the door for consumers' cocks, for the purpose of allowing gas
or water companies momentarily to forbid any consumer the use of his supply
cock.
In witness whereof, 1. the said Auguste Marie Alexandre Domine de
Vermez, have hereunto set my hand and scal, this Thirty-first day of
July. One thousand eight hundred and sixty.