Year: 1898

page_text: THOMAS WILFRED WOODHOUSE, of Hexthorpe Brass Works, Doncaster, in
the County of York, Sanitary Engineer, & ALBERT PEARCE, of the same address,
Brass-finisher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be.as follows:-
Our invention applies more particularly to water taps of the ordinary, well-
known, screw-down type, known as "Guest & Chrimes" pattern," but we do not
confine ourselves to this pattern alone. To illustrate our invention, we will
explain how it can be applied to the tap aforementioned. Immediately beneath
the seat of the tap is an annular-shaped washer of india-rubber, or other con-
venient material. To prevent this ring from falling away, its periphery may be
held in a recess formed in the metal of the tap, as, for instance, the rubber ring
is held in the neck of an ordinary mineral-water bottle. The base of the barrel
of the tap is made removable to admit of the insertion of the annular washer, and
is also cupped on the inner side to contain a hard ball made of glass, stone, carthen-
ware or other durable substance. This cup is formed so that the ball lies approxi-
mately half within it and half without. The object of the invention is to enable
a person to take off the upper fittings of the tap for repairing, without the
necessity of shutting off the water supply behind the tap.
"
The action is as follows:-In ordinary use the lower part of the valve or
jumper" of the tap, being made long enough to project at all times downwards
through the seat, and through the annular washer beneath the seat, keeps the
hard ball away from the hole through this washer. When the upper fittings
are taken off, the ball is immediately impelled upwards by the pressure of the
water, and closes the hole in the annular washer until the upper fittings are
replaced. The annular washer may, if preferred, be dispensed with, but then,
in case the ball is not perfectly spherical, there is a liability to leakage.
nadad this Seventeenth day of February 1898.

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:
This invention relates to water taps or cocks, and consists of improved means
whereby such taps or the like may be laid open for repair or other purposes
without necessitating cutting off the supply of water to the pipes in which the
taps are fitted.
In a screw-down bib or like tap fitted in accordance with this invention, the
lower part A of the valve or "jumper” is made sufficiently long to project
downwards through the seat B, and through an annular-shaped washer C beneath
the seat. This elongated part of the valve must not be so thick as to interfere
with or hinder unduly the flow of water through the tap.
The annular-shaped ring or washer is of india-rubber, india-rubber "inser-
tion," gutta-percha or other convenient material, and its position is immediately
beneath the seat of the tap. To prevent the annular washer from falling away,
its periphery is held in a recess formed in the metal of the tap, as, for instance,
the rubber ring is commonly held in the neck of an ordinary mineral-water
bottle. The hole through the centre of the ring C should be of the same size,
or thereabouts, as the hole through the seat of the tap.
The base of the barrel of the tap is made removable in the form of a screwed
plug D, in order to admit of the insertion of this annular washer, and also of
a hard ball E made of glass, stone, earthenware, or other durable substance.
When the screwed plug is in position in the barrel, a joint is made in the usual
way by means of a leather washer or the like. The ball is thus confined in a
kind of chamber beneath the valve seat. In the upper side of the screwed plug
is formed a cup, and the ball which is placed inside the barrel lies approxi-
mately half within and half without this cup. It is preferred that the shape
of the cup be hemispherical or approximately so, and the ball must lie quite
loosely therein. The ball must be of such a size that it cannot possibly be forced
through the seat of the tap.
The action of the tap when in ordinary use is not interfered with in any way
by the ball beneath the seat. When water is running through the tap, this
ball is constantly forced upwards, but the elongated part of the valve or jumper
protrudes from above as before described, through the seat and through the hole
in the annular washer beneath the seat, so that the hard ball is kept away from
the waterway at all times when the tap is in. ordinary use.
When it is desired to repair or inspect the valve or upper fittings of the tap,
all that is necessary is to unscrew these, and lift them off, taking out the valve.
The impediment being thus removed, the ball is forced upwards, and rests
against the pliable rubber washer, effectually stopping the water while the repair
or inspection is taking place. The office or use of the pliable annular-shaped
washer is to make this stoppage of the water more effectual and certain, even
when a hard ball is used.
If the washer were not present, and a hard ball were used, the ball might in
time be rendered out of shape by the constant agitation, or by accretions from
the water. The sphere being then imperfect, it would not effectually stop the
water.
By our introduction of the pliable annular-shaped washer, this difficulty is
removed: even when the ball is no longer a perfect sphere, the water will be
effectually stopped, when required, as described.
We wish it to be clearly understood that we do not broadly claim as our inven-
tion the use of a ball, and the elongation of the upper valve, but-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
In a screw-down bib cock or tap, improved means for enabling the valve to

page_text: be removed and replaced without necessitating the cutting off of the supply of
water to the pipe to which such cock or tap is connected; said improvement con-
sisting of the introduction of an annular-shaped washer of india-rubber, india-
rubber insertion, gutta-percha, or other suitable substance, in combination with
a ball of glass, stone, earthenware, or other durable substance, confined in the
chamber below the valve seat, and the elongation of the lower part of the valve
or jumper projecting downwards from the valve; the arrangement being such
that the ball under the pressure of the water acting below it, follows the said
elongated part of the valve or jumper" in its travel, and blocks the waterway
at such times as the valve is removed from the cock or tap, substantially as
herein before described.
Dated this 16th day of September 1898.
THOMAS WILFRED WOODHOUSE.
ALBERT PEARCE.