IMPROVEMENTS IN WASTE PREVENTING STOP-COCKS OR VALVES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gordon, Manager to Messieurs Wallace
and Connell, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Plumbers and Brassfounders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gordon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th May 1875.
I, JOHN GORDON, Manager to Messieurs Wallace and Connell, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Plumbers and Brass-
founders, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WASTE PREVENTING STOP-COCKS OR VALVES," to be as
follows, that is to say :-
This Invention comprises various modifications of stop-cocks or valves
of an improved construction, which whilst very simple is accurate and
reliable in action, and not easily put out of order.

page_text: The improved stop-cocks or valves are of a self-closing kind, which
will not allow more than a limited quantity of water (or other fluid) to
pass after each action, even when the handle or equivalent. part is
kept or left in the open position.
A distinguishing feature of the improved construction consists in the 5
valve seat being made movable, and in its following the valve or closing
detail so as to become closed against it after a certain interval, even in
its extreme position..
The valve or closing detail may be of any suitable kind in use for
closing against a fixed seat, but the kind preferred has a small disc of 1
rubber fitted into a metal cup or recessed piece, which may be a
detached disc or formed on the end of a spindle or plug piece.
1 The closing detail may be moved by a spindle passing through an
opening in the stop-cock body, such opening being in some cases packed
by cup leathers, or. by rubber rings or diaphragms, whilst in other 1
cases no packing is necessary, and the movement may be effected by a
lever, or screw, or cam.
1 The valve seat is by preference of the kind with a projecting or raised
rim, and is by the present Invention formed on the outer end of a
tubular piece fitted to move in a bored part of the stop-cock or valve 2
body, being by preference packed by a small rolling ring of rubber.
At a certain distance inwards from the normal position of the valve seat
the bore is enlarged, and the movable tubular piece has an enlargement
formed on it to fit or nearly fit the enlarged bore. When the movable
tubular piece is in its innermost position and the closing detail closed 2
against it an annular space is enclosed between the enlargement on the
tubular piece and the shoulder between the larger and smaller parts of
the bore, and this annular space is filled with water which has got in
past the enlargement or through a small hole provided for the purpose.
When the valve is opened by moving the closing detail away from the 3
seat the water runs, but at the same time the pressure on the enlarge-
ment of the tubular piece causes the tubular piece to move outwards,
and the time that it takes to reach the closing detail depends on
the forcing of the water out from the annular space herein-before
referred to.
3

page_text: Behind the enlargement of the tubular piece there is fitted a conical
diaphragm with a contracted orifice, which is found to improve and
regulate the action; and in some cases there is applied behind the con-
tracted orifice a small plug or valve held by a light rubber or other
spring, which valve tends to close the orifice in proportion as the pressure
of water is greater.
The improved construction is well suited for a discharge valve from
a watercloset cistern, the parts being then in an inverted position, and
the closing detail being connected to the actuating lever by a rod passing
up through the tubular part.
When an after flush is required the lever is not connected directly to
the valve, but by means of a toothed sector or link gives a half or other
sufficient part of a turn to a disc, having in it a slot, in which there is
inserted a pin on a rod connected to the valve. In the normal closed
position both valve and tubular piece are down, and on the lever being
moved both are lifted, but on the slotted disc completing its movement
the pin moves back down the slot and the valve opens. The tubular
piece then follows and closes the outlet, even if the lever be not moved
back. Then on the lever being let go and moving back by the action of
a counterweight the slotted disc causes the action to be repeated, whereby
the after flush is given.
The after flush may also be obtained by using two separate valves of
the improved kind, and supplied directly from the main or otherwise,
the two valves being connected to opposite ends of a lever which actuates
them, so that the one for the after flush is actuated by the returning of
the lever to its normal position.
It is an immantant unantical advantage of the imnnotted atan naaka an
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, .
filed by the said John Gordan in the Great Seal Patent Office.
on the 9th November 1875.

page_text: County of Lanark, North Britain, Plumbers and Brassfounders, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Gordon, Her special licence
that I, the said John Gordon, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Gordon, 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 WASTE PREVENTING STOP-COCKS OR VALVES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Gordon, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 John Gordon, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say :-
My said Invention comprises various modifications of stop-cocks or
valves of an improved construction, and which, whilst very simple,
are accurate and reliable in action, and not easily put out of order.
My improved stop-cocks or valves are of a self-closing kind, which
will not allow more than a limited quantity of water (or other fluid)
to pass after each action, even when the handle or equivalent part is
kept or left in the open position.
Various kinds of self-closing valves are in use, but a distinguishing
feature of my improved construction consists in the use of a movable

page_text: valve seat which follows the valve or closing detail so as to become
closed against it after a certain interval, even in its extreme position.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings to be hercin-after referred to, and representing
various modifications of my improved stop-cocks or valves. In these
Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a vertical section of one modification,
having its inlet 9 at the bottom, and its discharge outlet 10 proceeding
laterally from its upper part.
The valve or closing detail may be of any suitable kind in use for
closing against a fixed seat; but the kind I prefer has a small disc 11
of rubber or leather fitted into a recess or socket, which in this modifi-
cation is formed in the bottom of a plug or spindle 12 passing out
through a packed opening in the top of the valve body, and acted on
externally by a lever 13. The spindle 12 of the closing piece may
be packed by a cupped washer, or by rubber rings, or diaphragms;
or in some modifications no packing may be required, and the movement
of the closing piece may be effected by means of a lever, or screw,
or cam.
The valve seat 14 is formed with a projecting or raised rim, and
constitutes the outer end of a tubular piece 15 fitted to move in a
bored part of the valve body 16, and packed in this modification by a
rolling ring 17 of rubber. At a certain distance inwards from the
normal position of the valve seat 14 the bore of the body 16 is enlarged,
and the movable tubular piece 15 has an enlargement 18 formed on it
to fit or nearly fit the enlarged bore. When the movable tubular piece
15 is in its innermost position, and the closing piece 11 and the
closing piece 11 closed against it, an annular space 19 is enclosed
between the tubular piece and the larger part of the bore, and is filled
with water which has got in past the enlargement 18, or through · a
small hole provided for the purpose; or it might be through a lift
valve, as in some of the modifications herein-after described.
.
When the closing piece 11 is opened by raising it off the seat 14,
the water runs out, but at the same time the pressure on the inner
end of the tubular piece 15, and the friction of the water rushing

page_text: COUNTY NO
through the tubular piece causes this piece to move outwards, and the
time that it takes to reach the closing piece 11 depends on the
forcing of the water out from the annular space 19 herein-before
referred to.
Behind or at the inner end of the tubular piece 15 there is fixed a
conical diaphragm 20 with a projecting central tube added to diminish
somewhat the frictional action on the piece 15. This diaphragm 20
improves the action, and in some cases I apply behind it a small
valve 21, or baffling piece held by a light rubber or other spring, and
which tends to close the orifice in proportion as the pressure or current
of the water is greater.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of a second modification which differs
from No. 1 merely in the positions of the parts being changed, whilst
some are slightly different in shape. The spindle 12 of the closing piece
is moved out or in by screwing, and the rubber packing ring 17, of
Figure 1, is changed from the nozzle of the tubular piece 15 to the
inner end of it, where it ensures perfect tightness, when the parts are
closed.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section showing the application of my movable
seat waste preventer to a crane-neck tap. The outlet 10 is through the a
crane-neck curved spout 22, the trunnion of which carries the closing
piece 11 at its inner end and moves it from or towards the valve seat 14
by a screwing action in the neck 23 fixed to the tap body. The tubular
picce 15 moves through a cupped leather packing 17, and the closing
piece 11 is made large enough to cover not only the movable seat 14 but a
also a fixed seat 24,,added to insure perfect tightness when the parts are
closed.
It is an important practical advantage of my improved stop-cocks or
valves that they will work equally well with the principal parts in any
position.
In Figure 1 the movable seat piece 14, 15, is shown as arranged
vertically, and having an upward movement, whilst in Figures 2 and 3
it is shown as moving horizontally.
€
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a modification with the movable seat
piece 14, 15, vertical, but invetred or working downwards. The outlet 10 3
is through the piece 12, which moves the closing piece 11 from or to

page_text: the seat 14, and to insure tightness when the parts are closed the
movable piece 15 is forced up against a rubber disc 25 fixed at the top
of the inside of the valve body 16.
My improved construction is well suited for a discharge valve from a
watercloset cistern, the parts being then in an inverted position, as
shewn in Figure 5, which is a vertical section of a modification arranged
for that purpose. The valve body or casing 16 is screwed into the
mouth of the downlet pipe 26 in the bottom of the cistern. The closing
detail 11 is connected by a rod 27 to a lever 13 which is actuated by a
wire. The movable tubular piece 15 is in this example weighted by
lead 28, and flap valves 29 are fitted to the enlargement 18 to
admit the water freely to the space 19 when the parts are raised,
holes being formed through the lead weight 28 for access to the
valves 29.
When an after flush is wanted the parts may be arranged according
to one modification, as shown in plan in Figure 6, and in vertical
section in Figure 7. The actual valve details are the same as in
Figure 5, but instead of the lever 13 connected directly to the valve,
the ordinary lever at the top of the cistern is connected by a rod (not
shown) to an eye 30 on a toothed sector 31 centered at 32 on a
bracket 33. The sector 31 on being lifted gives a part of a turn to a
toothed disc 34 also centered on the bracket 33, and this disc is formed
with a slot having inserted in it a pin 35 fixed to a weighted lever 36
and also jointed to arod 37 connected to the rod 27 of the closing piece 11.
In the normal closed position both valve 11 and tubular piece 15 are
down, as shown in Figure 7, and on the sector 31 being raised both are
lifted; but on the slotted disc 34 completing its movement the pin 35*
drops down to the other end of the slot, which is then in a reversed
position, and the valve 11 opens. The tubular piece 15 then follows
down and closes against the valve 11, even if the sector 31 be not
moved back. Then on the lever at the top of the cistern being let go,
its end connected to the sector 31 being weighted to overcome the
weighted lever 36 below, the slotted disc 34 causes the action of the
valve to be repeated, whereby the after flush is given.
The after flush may also be obtained by using two separate valves of.
my improved kind and supplied directly from the main or otherwise, the
two valves being connected to opposite-ends of a lever which actuates

page_text: them, so that the one for the after flush is actuated by the returning of
the lever to its normal position.
An after flush may also be obtained directly from the main or any
service pipe by means of a single set of my improved apparatus when
arranged as shown in section in Figure 8. In this modification the
valve or closing piece 11 is suspended by a rod 27, having a cross head
resting loosely in the enlarged upper end of the movable tubular piece 15,
the valve 11 being acted on by a spindle 38 passing down through a
packed nozzle. In the normal or completely closed position of the parts
the valve 11 is down upon a fixed valve seat 39 below it, the tubular
piece 15 being then lower than as shown in Figure 8. When the closet
handle is raised its rod is made in any convenient way to lift a small
weighted lever 40 turning on a fixed centre 41, and the nose of this
lever 40 acting on a hinged part 42 of the spindle 38 lifts the valve 11
and tubular piece 15 to their highest position, the parts then assuming
what is the closed or normal position of the modifications shown in
.Figures 1 to 5. As the lever 40 continues to rise its nose escapes past
the corner 42, and the spindle 38 and valve 11 then drop into the
position in which they are shown in Figure 8, whereupon the water
runs until the tubular piece 15 following closes down on the valve 11.
Afterwards when the closet handle is let go the lever 40 returns down-
wards, the hinged part 42 of the spindle 38 turning turning its projecting
part out of the way, and the spindle 38 then descends toits lowest point.
This sets the valve 11 free to descend, but only until supported by the
tubular piece 15, and then the water again flows through and supplies
the after flush until the gradual further descent of the tubular piece 15
finally allows the valve 11 to close on the lower valve seat 39. Or the
valve 11 might simply come to rest on the end of the spindle 38, and
the closure be effected by the tubular piece 15 closing down on the
valve 11 in its lowest position; the closing down on the fixed seat 39
however completely prevents any leakage past the tubular piece 15.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to
the precise details herein described and delineated, but that what I believe
to be novel and original and claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The constructing of a stop-cock or valve with a movable valve

page_text: seat which follows the valve or closing piece, substantially in the manner
and for the purposes herein-before described.
2. The combining of a movable or following valve seat with other
parts, substantially in any of the modes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gordon, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN GORDON. (L.S.)