IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF VALVES AND COCKS FOR STEAM, WATER, GAS, AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Allen, of the City of Manchester, Engineer
and Brass Founder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF VALVES AND COCKS FOR STEAM, WATER, GAS, AND OTHER FLUIDS."
Sealed the 1st March 1864, and dated the 18th September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Allen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th September 1863.
I, JAMES ALLEN, of the City of Manchester, Engineer and Brass Founder,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES AND COCKS FOR STEAM, WATER, GAS, AND OTHER FLUIDS,"
to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in placing the screw for working the
valve or cock at the bottom of the spindle and below the seating, thus bringing
the screw close to the valve.
Secondly, in the application of two valves, one on each side of the seating,
and facing each other; the upper valve is worked by a screw in the stuffing
box, and the other is furnished with a screw passing into the spindle of the
first, or the spindle of the first valve may screw into the second. By turning
one of the valves round both valves are brought towards each other against

page_text: the seating to close the orifice, or they are separated from each other to
open it.
;
And, thirdly, in the application of cupped leathers or other suitable sub-
stances to valves or cocks. having recessed seatings to receive them the
cupped valve is placed on the pressure side of the seating, so that when the
valve is closed the pressure of the water or other fluid expands the leather or
other substance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Allen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ALLEN, of the City of Manchester, Engineer and Brass Founder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Allen, Her special licerise that I, the said James
Allen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Allen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES AND COCKS FOR STEAM, WATER, GAS, AND OTHER
FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Allen,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
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 calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said, Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Allen, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
per-

page_text: formed, to.be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
--
The first part of my Invention consists in placing the screw for working
the valve or cock at the bottom of the spindle and below the seating, thus
bringing the screw close to the valve.
Secondly, in the application of two valves, one on each side of the seating,
and facing each other; the upper valve is worked by a screw in the stuffing
box, and the other is furnished with a screw passing into the spindle of the
first, or the spindle of the first valve may screw into the second. By turning
one of the valves round both valves are brought towards each other against
the seating to close the orifice, or they are separated from each other to
open it.
And, thirdly, in the application of cupped leathers or other suitable sub-
stances to valves or cocks having recessed seatings to receive them; the
cupped valve is placed on the pressure side of the seating, so that when the
valve is closed the pressure of the water or other fluid expands the leather or
other substance..
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to
describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figure 1 represents
in section a valve constructed according to my improvements, and particularly
adapted for steam; such valves v may, however, be used for other fluids. The
arrows indicate the direction in which the steam or other fluid passes.
a represents the body of the valve; b, the seating;. c, the valve, cast with
or fixed to the spindle d passing through the stuffing box e, which is screwed
into the body a of the valve; below the valve c is the screw f,. taking into a
thread cut in the nut g, which is also screwed into the body a of the valve;
to the upper part of the spindle is fixed the hand wheel h. By turning this
hand wheel round the screw f works in or out of the nut 9, and, opens or
closes the valve c, and the pressure of the steam or other fluid being at the
under side of the valve has a tendency to hold the valve against the seating b..
Figure 2 is a section of a cock for water or other fluid constructed
according to my improvements. In this instance the spindle d is detached
from the valve c, which is cast with or fixed to the square stud c¹ fitting if a
square hole in the end of the spindle d, or the stud and hole may be of any.
other shape which will prevent the stud turning round in the hole; the valve c
is provided with a washer of leather, felt, or any other suitable yielding
material or substance secured between a plate and a shoulder, and the spindle
has also a shoulder fitting within the stuffing box e to hold it in position. By

page_text: turning the handle h round the screwf working in the nut 9 opens or closes
the orifice for the passage of the fluid.
Figure 3 is a section of a double valve constructed according to my Inven-
tion. c' and i are two valvės fitting one on each side of the seating. 6; the
valve c is cast or fixed to the square stud c¹ passing through a hole in the
nut g, and to the valve c is also cast or fixed the screw f, taking into an
internal screw in the spindle d, which is cast with or fixed to the valve i; the
external screw on the spindle d takes into a screw in the stuffing box e, which
is provided with a second screw acting on the packing. By turning round
the hand wheel h the valves c and i are made to move towards or separated
from each other to close or open the valve.
Figure 4 is a modification of the valve shewn in Figure 3. In this instance
the valve c, stud c', and screw fare similar to those above described, but the
upper valve i is dispensed with, and the spindle d has only an internal screw.
for the screw f; the spindle d has a shoulder fitting in the stuffing box e to
hold it in position.
Figure 5 represents a cock for water or other fluid. The valve c is provided
with a cupped leather, or cupped washer made of any other suitable material,
fitting the seating b. The spindle d is provided with a screw f taking into a
thread in the body a of the cock. By turning round the handle h the valve is
depressed or raised, and as the pressure of the fluid is on the lower surface of:
the valve the cupped washer becomes expanded by the pressure of the fluid,
and forms a tight joint. By removing the nut 9 the valve can be taken out
to clean or repair the cupped washer..
Figure 6 is a modification of the valve shewn in Figure 5. In this case
the valve c is provided with a square stud c¹ passing through a hole in the
washer g', and with a screw f fitting into an internal thread in the spindle d.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described several
modes of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend
to limit myself to the details given,.as they may be varied or modified according
to the particular purpose for which the valve or cock is required; but what I
do claim is,
First, placing the screw for opening and closing the valve or cock below the
seating, as described.
Secondly, the application of two valves, one on each side of the seating, and
facing each other, as described.
Thirdly, the application of cupped leathers, or cupped washers made of any.
other suitable substances, to valves or cocks having recessed seatings, as
described.

page_text: And, lastly, the various modifications of my improvements in the con-
struction of valves and cocks, as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Allen, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-four.
JAMES ALLEN. (L.S.)