Improvements in Stop Cocks or Valves.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1399-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
Improvements in Stop Cocks or Valves.
A communication by HARLEY M. DUNLAP, M.D., of the City of Battle Creek,
County of Calhoun, State of Michigan, United States of America.
I, JOSEPH JAMES ROYDEN, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Co., British and
Foreign l'atent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Man-
chester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in valve mechanism or stop cocks for
use in connection with medical instruments in which air pressure or a current
of air is employed for spraying purposes. This device is also adapted to other
uses as a stop cock.
As heretofore constructed these devices have relied on springs or complicated
mechanism for manipulating the valve to open and close quickly, none of the
said devices known to my correspondent being entirely satisfactory owing to the
fact that they easily get out of repair and when out of repair are mended again
with great difficulty, and again, those relying on springs lack durability on
account of the inherent defect of all springs that they will wear out.
The objects of this invention are to provide a simple and efficient valve means
or stop cock for the purpose, which shall be positive and quick in its action with-
out the use of springs or any complicated mechanism. Other and further objects
will appear from the detailed description to follow.
The objects of this invention are accomplished by the devices and means
described in this specification. This invention is clearly and definitely pointed
out in the claims. The structure is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing
forming a part of this specification, in which,
Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional elevation through the improved
valve mechanism or stop cock, the valve D, and the push button F being shown in
full lines.
Fig. 2 is a similar detail view of a slightly modified construction.
In the drawing, similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout
the several views.
Referring to the lettered parts of the drawing, A is the valve casing having an
inlet passage I, where it receives compressed air or other vapour from tube G,
which connects to the reservoir for the same. The passage I, leads into the
chamber I', from which there is an opening leading out to a discharge nipple C,
which is adapted to insert into a tube or any instrument as an atomizer which
it is desired to use in this connection. In case only an air blast is used, this
nipple can be left bare or be omitted. A small valve D, is seated in the passage
just beyond the chamber I', and closes against pressure.
The stem D¹, of this
valve extends through the chamber I. The chamber I¹ is preferably circular and

page_text: a diagragm E, is secured over one side of the same by a screw cap B, which
clamps the edges of the same air tight. The stem ¹, of the valve extends
through the central part of the diaphragm E, the projecting part being screw
threaded on which is screwed the button F, which has a stem or shank which is
hollow and screw threaded to receive the valve stem. When the parts are screwed
together they engage the diaphragm at its centre by an air tight joint.
The diaphragm E, is preferably made of rubber fabric, though leather could be
employed in this position or even thin metal. The cap B, might be extended and
bored out like a cylinder and the diaphragm E instead of being flexible might be
a disc, fitting air tight into the extended portion which would serve the same
purpose, though of course it would be much more expensive to manufacture in
this form. This is illustrated in Fig. 2.
It is preferable to make the nozzle C, separable from the main portions though
it might be made integral by making suitable changes in the other parts. The
removable nozzle is preferred. Numerous other modifications are possible and
will no doubt suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the inven-
tion appertains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a valve mechanism or stop cock of the class described, the combination
of the casing A, with an inlet passage I, and chamber I', connected therewith;
a discharge tip C, secured thereto; a diaphragm E; a cap B, to secure said
diaphragm in place to form one side of said chamber I¹; a valve D, with stem D',
closing toward said chamber I'; a button F, with suitable shank clamping said
valve stem to the diaphragm E, all co-acting, so that the air entering at I will
act on the diaphragm and close the valve till overcome by pressure on the
button F, for the purpose specified.
2. In a valve mechanism or stop cock of the class described, a casing having
an inlet and outlet; a valve within adapted to close against the pressure of the
fluid to be retained; a diaphragm or equivalent of larger area than the valve
connected to the same to receive the pressure and hold the valve nominally closed;
and means as a button to apply pressure to the valve to open the same, the pres
sure of the fluid causing the valve to close automatically, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 31st day of July 1899.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.