IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES MADE OF INDIA-RUBBER OR OTHER SIMILARLY ELASTIC MATERIAL
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby, Manufacturing
Goldsmith, of 14, Old Town, Clapham Parish, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION AND
CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES MADE OF INDIA-RUBBER OR OTHER SIMILARLY ELASTIC
MATERIAL."
Sealed the 19th February 1869, and dated the 1st September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas George
Fonnereau Dolby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patente,
with his Petition, on the 1st September 1868.
I, THOMAS GEORGE FONNEREAU DOLBY, Manufacturing Goldsmith, of
14, Old Town, Olapham Parish, in the County of Surrey, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
APPLICATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES MADE OF INDIA-RUBBER OR OTHER
SIMILARLY ELASTIC MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the valve described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to me on the 20th day of January 1868, No. 192, and
consists in the application of such valves to various other useful purposes,
such, for instance, as breast exhausters and pumps, vents and vent pegs,
air exhausters, cigar and pipe tubes for smoking, pumps, filters, and

page_text: pneumatic pumps, and other articles used for the ingress and egress of
air, gases, and fluids.
I find the most convenient mode of applying these valves is to fit
them in metal and apply a metallic seating to them; this seating may
be perforated, or in the form of bars, or any other suitable form according
to the purposes to which the valves are to be applied. In articles, such
as balls, made of india-rubber I find it best in applying these valves to
make a more bevilled cut than ordinary, no metallic seating will then be
required. For washers I take a piece of sheet india-rubber and cut one
or more of these valves, and if necessary place a metal seat at the
back, as before described; I have then a washer and valve combined.
For large works (engineering purposes, for instance,) I do not limit
myself to the thickness or form or size of the india-rubber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 26th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
GEORGE FONNEREAU DOLBY, Manufacturing Goldsmith, of Number 14,
Old Town, Clapham Parish, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
'first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby, Her
"special licence that I, the said Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter 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 APPLICATION AND CONSTRUCTION
OF VALVES MADE OF INDIA-RUBBER OR OTHER SIMILARLY ELASTIC MATERIAL," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas George Fonnéreau
Dolby, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: tinder my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to the particular formation of valve described
and claimed by me in the Specification of a Patent granted to me on
the 20th of January 1868, No. 192, and consists in the application of
such valves to various other useful purposes, such, for instance, as breast
exhausters, vents or vent pegs, air pumps, air exhausters, cigar and pipe
tubes for smoking, pumps, filters, and pneumatic pumps, and other
articles used for the ingress and egress of air, gases, and fluids.
I find the most convenient mode of applying these valves is to fit them
in metal and apply a metallic seating to them. This seating may be
perforated, or in the form of bars, or any other suitable form according
to the purposes for which such valves are to be used. In articles, such as
balls, made of india-rubber I find it best in applying these valves to
make a more bevilled cut than ordinary, no metallic seating is then
required. For washers I take a piece of sheet india-rubber and cut one
or more of these valves, and if necessary place a metal seat at the back,
as already described; I have then a washer and valve combined. For
large works (engineering purposes, for instance,) I do not limit myself
to the thickness or form or size of the india-rubber.
In forming these valves I either cut the valve in sheet india-rubber or
other elastic material, or I mould the same, but in all cases I make the
tongue or flap bevilled, so that it will either partially or wholly form its
own seating.
That my Invention may be more clearly understood I will now
proceed to describe the methods I prefer to employ to carry the same
into practical operation.
In applying my valves to breast exhausters I find a convenient mode
is to fix the valve in the tube attached to the glass reservoir or receptacle

page_text: (the cup or nipple cover of which is applied to the breast), as shewn in
Fig. 1 of the Drawings attached to this Specification. My valve, when
applied to the tube as shewn, opens outwards, that is towards the teat,
and allows of the exhausting of the breast by gradual suction or
mechanical action, as will be hereafter explained. When the suction
ceases the valve closes upon its seat, and thus prevents any air from
returning back into the reservoir or receptacle through the tube; it
would thus, in the absence of a supply of air, be difficult to remove the
exhauster from the breast, but to overcome this difficulty and to remove
the exhauster without pain to the patient, and without inconvenience, I
so form the glass reservoir or receptacle that air shall be supplied through
any convenient part of it. I will give an illustration of one or two
methods I employ for supplying air, but without in any way limiting
myself to them. In constructing a glass reservoir for the purposes of
this Invention one convenient mode is to form a projection in any
suitable part of the reservoir, and fix a valve thereto or therein. This
valve can be actuated by means of the finger or in any other convenient
way or instead of a projecting piece and valve I sometimes simply
make a hole. This hole may be flush or nearly flush with the surface of
the reservoir or receptacle, whichever is preferred or found. most con-
venient, and may be of any form or size as may be required. When the
breast is being exhausted this valve or hole is kept air-tight, but when
the breast has been wholly or sufficiently exhausted air is allowed to
enter through the valve or hole (or other means resorted to for supplying
the air), the exhauster will then leave the breast without difficulty and
without pain or inconvenience to the patient.
Upon referring to Fig. 1 of the Drawings annexed hereto it will be
seen that a valve A is fitted in the tube about midway between the
reservoir and teat. This valve for its convenient application is encased
in metal, such metal being formed in the manner more particularly
described hereafter, but I do not limit myself to such form. B is the
cup of the reservoir, which fits over the nipple of the breast; C is an
example of a method of supplying air to the receptacle, but instead of
this a simple hole may be used, as already explained; D. is the teat.
Fig. 2 of the Drawings shews an instrument made of india-rubber or
other elastic material, which is in use for exhausting the air from the
reservoir when suction by the mouth is not resorted to. This instrument
can be fastened to the tube or the reservoir in any convenient way, so

page_text: long as my valve is applied effectively. In the example given in the
Drawings (Fig. 2) my valve is attached at the part marked E, while the
instrument is attached to the reservoir or exhauster at the part where
the valve A is fixed, or it can be attached in place of the teat D. Instead
of having the valve attached to any portion of the instrument it can be
cut in the air chamber of the instrument itself; this will then do away
with all accessory details and appendages. It will now be understood
that upon pressure being applied to the chamber G air will be forced out
through the valve fixed at the part marked E, and upon the pressure
being taken off, and the chamber returning to its original shape, air will
be sucked from the reservoir or receptacle through the valve A. If the
pressure is then reapplied more air will be forced from the chamber
through the valve fixed at the part marked E, and upon the pressure
being removed more air will be sucked or drawn from the reservoir, and
so on in succession until the breast has been exhausted or sufficiently
exhausted. The pressure on the chamber will force the valve fixed at
the part marked E open, and at the same time will force the tongue of
the valve A down upon its seat, and so prevent any air from returning
into the reservoir through the tube. The cup B and hole or valve Care
during these operations closed, but immediately it is desired to remove
the exhauster from the breast the hole or valve (C) is opened, air rushes
in, and the exhauster leaves the breast without pain or difficulty. The
above is one example of exhauster, but I do not confine myself thereto,
as my Invention may advantageously be applied to other exhausters
besides the example given.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the
precise details above given and illustrated in the Drawings, as other
details may be resorted to without in any way departing from the nature
of this part of my Invention'.
My Invention further consists in applying my valves to vents and vent
pegs.
In applying these valves to vents and vent pegs I find a con-
venient form is to encase them in metal and fix them in the peg, as
shewn at A, Fig. 3 of the Drawings. For admitting air to casks and
other vessels, when the contents are being drawn off, the valve is so fixed
that its tongue shall work inwards. Thus while the liquor is being
drawn off the valve will be in action and air will be supplied to the
interior of the cask, but immediately the liquor. ceases to flow the tongue
will close upon its seat and so stop the supply of. air. By reversing the

page_text: valve so that the tongue shall work upwards or outwards gases or fluids
generated in casks or other vessels by fermentation or otherwise will by
their own pressure on the valve be released. The valve, when used in
the way lastly described, will act as a safety valve when applied to casks
and other vessels containing spirits and other liquids that give off or
generate dangerous and explosive gases.
Fig. 3 of the Drawings shews a vent peg with a valve fitted. A is
the valve; B, the stem having a screw thread cut on its periphery
to facilitate its being inserted in the vessel and to make it fit tight
therein; C is the cap or cover. The air passes through the hole in the
cap or cover in the direction indicated by the arrow, thence through the
valve, down the stem and through any convenient number of holes cut
in the bottom or side of such stem, and into the cask or vessel. Fig. 4 is
a side view of the metal in which the valve is encased, and Fig. 5 is a
plan of the top; but it must be understood that I do not confine myself
to this particular form of casing, as other forms may be resorted to, as
will be hereafter explained; nor do I confine myself to the particular
shaped peg above described and shewn in the Drawings, as other pegs or
articles of a similar nature may advantageously have my valve applied to
them, but that shewn in Fig. 3 is a convenient form.
In all articles in which these valves are applied it must be understood
that the largest side of the tongue must be placed in the direction in
which the air, gases, or fluids are to flow, and I fit or encase such valves
in metal of a convenient form for the purposes for which such valves are
to be used.
I will now proceed to describe some of the methods I employ of
fixing or encasing the valves. I place a metal seat to that side of
the india-rubber valve in which the tongue or flap is smallest; this
enables the valve to resist a much greater pressure than otherwise, it also
allows of the use of much thinner india-rubber than could be used if no
such backing were applied. I find by using thin india-rubber that the
valve is much more free and resilient in its action than when thick india-
rubber is used. In using thick india-rubber a great amount of pressure
is sometimes required to open the valve, whereas by using thin india-
rubber with a metal seat, such as will be hereafter described, I obtain a
self-acting valve that will open freely and readily and yet resist more
than the ordinary pressure of the atmosphere. The metal seat may be in
the form of bars, or it may have one central hole or a number of holes.

page_text: Fig. 6 of the Drawings shews a side view of the valve encased in metal,
and Fig. 7 a section of the same; Fig. 8, a top view; and Fig. 9 a plan
at bottom; Fig. 10 shews a section of the metal casing with a central
-hole, while Fig. 11 is a side view of the same, and Fig. 12 a plan. Like
letters indicate similar parts in these Figures. A is the cap or cover
screwed down upon the valve. B (Figs. 7 and 10) is the india-rubber
valve. C is the backing or seating, and D the metal casing. The cap or
cover shewn in Figs. 10 and 11 can be either screwed or burnished on.
Fig. 13 shews a valve applicable to breast exhausters, vents and vent
pegs, air pumps, air exhausters, cigar and pipe tubes, pumps, filters,
pneumatic pumps, and other similar articles, as well as tubes for a number
of purposes. A is the metal casing; B, the valve; C, tubes affixed, but
these tubes can be dispensed with when necessary. Fig. 14 shews a
section of the india-rubber valve with the tongue open.
In all metallic backings or seatings a sufficient space must be left to
allow the free passage of the gases, air, and fluids, and yet the backing
must form a sufficient support to the tongue and other parts of the valve,
so that pressure in the reverse direction will not cause the tongue to be
forced through in the wrong direction and so render the valve inoperative.
In applying my valves to balls I find it best to make a more bevilled cut
than ordinary; no metal seat will then be required. I cut the largest
part of the tongue inwards, so that when the ball is filled with air the
pressure of such air will force the tongue upon its seat and so prevent
the air from escaping. In manufacturing balls I find it best to cut the
valve before the two halves of the ball are put together. Balls con-
structed according to my Invention can at any time be exhausted of air
and rolled up and stowed away. The ball can be refilled with air when
required. My Invention is particularly applicable to foot balls, although
it can advantageously be applied to hand balls.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the methods I
employ to carry it into practical operation, I wish it to be understood
that, without confining myself to the particular details, forms, and shapes
herein described and illustrated in the Drawings, what I claim and desire
to secure by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The application of the particular valve described to the articles
named, as well as other articles, for the ingress and egress of air, gases,
and fluids

page_text: And, 2ndly. Casing and backing or seating valves in metal or other
suitable material in the way described or in any similar or analogous
way..
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
Witness,
THOMAS GEORGE FONNEREAU DOLBY. (L.S.)
J. EGGLETON,
22, Old Town,
Clapham.