IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH DRAWING OFF WATER OR OTHER Lrowing
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Furness, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Brass Founder, and James Robertshaw, of the same Place,
Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
DRAWING OFF WATER OR OTHER Lrowing"
TAPS FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Furness and
James Robertshaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
8th July 1881.
GEORGE FURNESS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounder,
and JAMES ROBERTSHAW, of the same Place, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
CONNECTED WITH TAPS FOR DRAWING-OFF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS."
The Invention relates to improvements in the construction of taps employed for
drawing-off water and other liquids, and consists in substituting for the present
washers of leather or other flexible material a plug of lignum vitaé or other
suitable material. To this end we form on the tap spindle a boss having a
suitably formed recess on the underside thereof to receive and maintain in position
the said plug, which is preferably made slightly tapering or conical on its periphery.
If preferred the said plug may be cemented within the said recess. A suitable
seating in the body of the tap receives the said plug in which it is rotated. By
these means a more durable seating is obtained, whereby leakage is to a greater
extent prevented, and the cost of maintainance is comparatively less.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Furness and James Robertshaw in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th January 1882.
GEORGE FURNESS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounder,
and JAMES ROBERTSHAW, of the same Place, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
CONNECTED WITH TAPS FOR DRAWING-OFF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS."
The Invention relates to improvements in and connected with taps for drawing-
off water or other fluids, and consists principally in the employment of and
combination with the tap of a plug of lignum vitae or other suitable hard
substance or material in lieu of the leather washer ordinarily employed. To this
end we cast or form on the lower end of the tap-spindle a boss, having formed
thereon an internal recess to receive and maintain in position a plug of wood or
other suitable hard substance or material, which is preferably made of a slightly
conical form; or we form an annular seating in the body of the tap, and fit
therein an annular plug. The said plug may be cemented within the said recess
or annular seating, a suitable seating being formed to receive the said plug when
screwed down to shut off the discharge of fluid.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood we have caused
to be appended hereto a Sheet of Drawings, to which reference will now be
made.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent a transverse section and plan respectively of a form of
tap for opening or closing the discharge for fluid, and having the improved plug
applied thereto; Figs. 3 and 4 represent a section and plan. respectively of a tap-
with a modification in the formation and manner of connecting the plug; Figs. 5,-
6, 7, and 8 represent two formations of plug.
The plug a (Figs. 1 and 2) made of wood, cement, or other suitable hard
substance is suitably turned to fit the recess formed in the boss g of the metal
bush c, or may be of an annular form, as shewn in Figs. 7 and 8. The spindle b
connected with the plug a is formed with a right or left handed screw-thread.
The said spindle b when turned or rotated in the bush c by the hand wheel d
causes the plug to open or close the thoroughfare for fluid. The plug a when
screwed down by the spindle fits tightly against the upper faces of the mid-
feather e and web f cast with the body of the tap. The said faces are ground to
a true surface so as to present an even surface to the face of the plug. In Fig. 3
the plug is made of an annular form (indicated by Figs. 7 and 8), and is fit into a
groove or recess formed in or cast with the body of the tap. In this example the
boss g of the spindle.b is made solid, and when pressed down forces itself tightly
against the said annular plug, and effectually closes the thoroughfare or passage
for fluid, and is not liable to become permeated with fluid.
The cap or
bonnet is connected to the body of the tap by screws, which permit of its ready
removal when it is required to cleanse the interior of the tap or to renew the plug.
By these means a more lasting, perfect, and durable plug is obtained, and at a
comparatively less cost than when leather washers are used, and is moreover less
liable to cause leakage through wear. The Invention is equally applicable to other
forms and descriptions of taps for drawing-off water and other liquids in which
plugs are employed.
Having now described and indicated the nature of the Invention, and some
applications of the same, we would have it to be understood that we claim,-
The combination with and application to taps for drawing-off water or other

page_text: fluids of the solid or annular plug of wood or other suitable hard substance, for the
purpose specified and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Furness and James Robertshaw,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty fourth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Signed and sealed by the
said George Furness
and James Robertshaw
in the presence of
HUGH G. GRANT,
FERDINAND BOSSHARDT,
Patent Solicitors,
Hopwood Avenue,
Manchester.
(L.S.)
GEORGE FURNESS.
JAMES ROBERTSHAW. (L.S.)