AN IMPROVEMENT IN BALL OR FLOAT Cocks
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Edwin Frost, of 135, Goswell Street, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN BALL
OR FLOAT Cocks."
Sealed 3rd July 1855, and dated the 5th April 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Edwin Frost at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th April 1855.
I, JOSEPH EDWIN FROST, of 135, Goswell Street, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN BALL
OR FLOAT COCKS" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object a peculiar construction and combination of
the parts of a ball or float cock. For this purpose the barrel has within it a
seat for a lift or spherical valve. Immediately below the spout or outlet of
the barrel, and in a line with the centre of the valve, there is an axis for the
lever which carrics the ball or float. On this lever is formed a curved incline,
which when the float descends acts on the spindle of the lift valve when used
(or on the valve itself when a spherical valve is usod), and thus lifts the valve
off its seat against the flow and pressure of the water, which it is enabled
more readily to do by reason of the position of the axis of the lever and of
the incline thereon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Edwin Frost in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd October 1855..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
EDWIN FROST, of 135, Goswell Street, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Edwin Frost, Her special licence, that I, the said Joseph Edwin Frost,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Edwin Frost, 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN BALL OR FLOAT
Cocks," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Edwin
Frost, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Joseph Edwin Frost, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):―
This Invention has for its object a peculiar construction and combination of
the parts of a ball or float cock. For this purpose the barrel has within it a
seat for a lift or spherical valve. Immediately below the spout or outlet of the
barrel, and in a line with the centre of the valve, there is an axis for the lever
which carries the ball or float. On this lever is formed a curved incline, which
when the float descends acts on the spindle of the lift valve when used (or on
the valve itself when a spherical valve is used), and thus lifts the valve off its
seat against the flow and pressure of the water, which it is enabled more
readily to do by reason of the position of the axis of the lever and of the
incline thereon.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
explain the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a side view of a ball or float cock constructed according to
my Invention, the parts being in the positions they assume when the valve of
the cock is closed, and at the time the float or ball is at its highest position.
Figure 2 shows a vertical section of the cock, the parts being shewn in the
positions they assume when the valve is fully open. The Drawing shows a
simple lift valve, but in place thereof a spherical valve may be used, in which
case the outlet would be formed so as to allow the spherical valve to protrude
somewhat beyond the outlet, in order that the projecting curved incline on the
lever might act directly on the valve.
a is the barrel of the cock, the form of which may be varied; b is the
outlet; c is the seat of the valve; d is the valve, having a stem d', which
is formed with three hollow sides; e is the axis of the lever f; this axis is
directly below the centre of the valve. In the arrangement of valve and
seat shown, the valve is simply fitted or ground to the seat, but, if preferred,
soft or elastic seats may be used. On the lever f is formed a curved incline f',
by which the valve is raised and kept open so long as the ball or float is below
its highest position. The valve when closed is pressed on by the water in the
supply pipe, but owing to the application of the curved incline on the lever,
and the hanging of the lever below the valve of the cock, a comparatively
light float or ball may be used.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to
the parts separately; but what I claim is, the combination herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Edwin Frost, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
0
Witness,
JNO. ALCOOK.
JOSEPH EDWIN FROST. (L.S.)