IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR REGULATORS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Edward Lucas, of Charles Street, Hatton Garden,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES
OR REGULATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Edward Lucas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1881.
ALBERT EDWARD LUCAS, of Charles Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR REGULATORS."
These valves are applicable as ball valves, and also in place of the ordinary or of
the screw down taps or valves. In a chamber in the body is a seat situated at the
top of the discharge passage, and upon this seat is a valve, by preference of the
"three feather or "mushroom" type. A hole is made up the stem of this valve,
and reaching, for more perfect action, a little above the line of the seating, though
the valve would work even if the hole were not carried so far in.
"
At or near the outer end of the discharge branch is pivotted the ball lever, its
inner end carrying a pin pivotted to it, which pin extends upwards inside the valve,
and when in action carries the valve upon its point. A suitable stop is provided
to prevent the ball dropping too far, and lifting the valve off its seat or jamming it.
The water or other fluid is led into the chamber in any convenient manner, as by a
side or top branch, and the tank or vessel to which it is applied being empty, and
the valve being raised in consequence of the falling of the ball end of the lever,
passes freely into the discharge passage, and so into the tank. As the water in
the tank rises the ball rises with it, thereby lowering the inner end of the lever
and the valve with it, until it closes altogether.
It will be noticed that this valve is closed by the pressure of the water, and
opened by the weight of the ball and lever, and that it permits of the water leaving
the main if the pressure be withdrawn, since the air can freely enter by merely itself
raising the valve; this is important in frosty weather. It is preferred to have the
end of the pin inside the valve pointed to allow free action, and the end of the hole
as it would be left by the drill.

page_text: In applying this Invention to a valve which may be used in place of an ordinary
tap, but particularly for hot water under pressure, the general conformation is
similar to that already described, but the long end of the ball lever and the ball are
removed, and a convenient handle is run through where it is pivotted, so that by
turning this the pin which carries the valve is actuated in a manner like that
described with the ball valve.
For heavy pressure it is also advisable to employ what is generally known as a
vacuum chamber," to prevent the shock consequent upon the valve closing too
suddenly.
These regulators may be made of any of the ordinary materials for such articles,
say, brass for instance, but although I have described the valve as a mushrooui or
other, formed for an angular seat, they may be constructed when desired with
rubber or leather or the like upon the valve or seating.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an. Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Albert Edward Lucas
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th March 1882.
ALBERT EDWARD LUCAS, of Charles Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR REGULATORS."
"
These valves are applicable as ball valves, and also in place of the ordinary or of
the screw down taps or valves.
"
"
In a chamber in the body is a seat situated at the top of the discharge passage,
and upon this seat is a valve, by preference of the "three feather or " mushroom
type. A hole is made up the stem of this valve, and reaching for more perfect
action a little above the line of the seating, though the valve would work even if
the hole were not carried so far in.
At or near the outer end of the discharge branch is pivotted the ball lever, its
inner end carrying a pin pivotted to it, which pin extends upwards inside the
yalve, and when in action carries the valve upon its point. A suitable stop may be
provided to prevent the ball dropping too far and lifting the valve off its seat or
jamming it. The water or other fluid is led into the chamber in any convenient
manner, as by a side or top branch, and the tank or vessel to which it is applied
being empty, and the valve being raised in consequence of the falling of the ball
end of the lever passes freely into the discharge passage, and so into the tank.
the water in the tank rises the ball rises with it, thereby lowering the inner end of
the lever and the valve with it, until it closes altogether.
As
It will be noticed that this valve is closed by the pressure of the water, and
opened by the weight of the ball and lever, and whilst it permits of the water
leaving the main if the pressure be withdrawn, since the air can freely enter by

page_text: nerely itself raising the valve; this is important in frosty weather. It is preferred
to have the end of the pin inside the valve pointed to allow free action, and the
end of the hole as it would be left by the drill.
In applying this Invention to a valve which may be used in place of an ordinary
tap for water under pressure, the general conformation is similar to that already
described, but the long end of the ball lever and the ball are removed, and a
convenient handle is run through where it is pivotted, so that by turning this the
pin which carries the valve is actuated in a manner like that described with the
ball valve.
"
For heavy pressure it is advisable to employ what is generally known as a
vacuum chamber," to prevent the shock consequent upon the valve closing too
suddenly.
These regulators may be made of any of the ordinary materials for such articles,
say, brass for instance, and although I have described the valve as a mushroom, or
other, formed for an angular seat, they may be constructed when desired with
rubber or leather or the like upon the valve seating.
Reference being now had to the accompanying Drawings, in which like letters
represent like parts,-
Figure 1 is a section of the whole valve with metal valve and seating.
Figure 2 is a like view of the valve, but with a scating of rubber, leather, or the
like.
Figure 3 shows the Invention as applied to water taps, and
Figure 4 is a view of one form of handle employed for actuating the valve in
Figure 3.
A, Figure 1, is the tap body; B, the valve; C, the spindle for raising it; D, the
ball lever; and E, the ball; F, the screw cap; G, the inlet; and H, the outlet or
discharge into the cistern. The hole B' up the centre of the valve B is larger than
the spindle C, so as to allow it free play, and the spindle C is by preference carried
higher than the seating level, so as to raise the valve more freely; the lever D is
pivotted at D, and the spindle C is jointed to it at C. As shown in Figure 1, the
cistern is full, and the ball lifted up so that the pressure of the liquid in the pipe
closes the valve effectually. As the ball falls, owing to the level of the water or
other liquid in the cistern falling, the spindle C rises and lifts the valve, thereby
letting more fluid pass. Should the pressure in the main be withdrawn, the water'
in it can fall back as the air readily forces an entrance into the pipe by merely
lifting the valve off its seat; this is an important advantage in frosty weather.
The action of the form shown in Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1, but a piece of
rubber or the like I is inserted to form the seat, and the outlet branch H is made
separate from the body A and screws into it, thus securing the seating ring I,
pressing it firmly against the edge (preferably undercut as shown) of the flange or
collar A¹. A narrow flange A2 is by preference left for H to bed against, so that
whilst the rubber ring gets well pinched, it may not be too much flattened out, so
as to interfere with the free action of the valve.
In Figure 3 is shown in section the tap, the general features of which are similar
to those already described, but the valve is lifted in a different manner. The
spindle C is forked at its lower end, which fits upon the excentric portion K' of the
tup spindle K, which passes through the outlet branch H. In this case a recess F¹
is formed in the cap F, or in the upper part of the body A, if no loose cap be used,
into which fits loosely the prolonged top B of the valve B, and the action is as
follows: The pressure of the water keeps the valve closed, but when it is desired
to draw same, the tap spindle K is turned by the handle L, and the excentric K¹
working in the fork raises the spindle C, and so lifts the valve and " opens the.
tap. A stop is provided to prevent the handle being turned, so as to bring the
excentric quite vertical, which might result in its sticking open; whereas by means
of the stop the water can at all times close the valve. Where there is a heavy
pressure the sudden closing of the valve not unfrequently causes the pipes to break
in consequence of the violent shock; this is obviated by the recess F¹ and plug or
"

page_text: piston B, the partial vacuum formed in the recess causing the valve to settle down
gradually after having been lifted.
It will be observed that the water tap can be worked in a similar manner to the
ball valve, shown in Figures 1 and 2, by cutting short the lever D and bending it
up and putting a handle upon it. I prefer the plan first described or a similar
arrangement. This tap, like the ball valve, can, if desired, be made with a soft
seating, in which case I prefer to form the branch H separate from the body, and
screw it in as already described. By reducing the spindle K to form the
excentric K', the whole can be passed through the hole in the branch H, and thus
the squaring of the spindle and fitting of a separate excentric or lever arm is saved,
An alternative way of raising the spindle is to form a toothed rack upon it, and to
have a pinion upon the tap spindle K to gear with the said toothed rack.
Having now described my Invention, and the method of performing the same, I
wish it to be understood that I am aware that it is no new thing to effect the
gradual closing of a valve by means of the vacuum chamber or recess F' and
piston B2, and also that it has been before now proposed to open a ball valve by
forcing the valve in against the pressure of the water, and that I therefore do not
broadly claim either of these devices, but what I claim and desire to protect under
the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. In a ball valve, the employment of the valve B centrally suspended (when
raised off its seat) by and upon the lifting spindle C, by which spindle it is opened
against the pressure of the fluid in combination with the pivotted ball lever D, by
which said spindle C is actuated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. In a ball valve, the employment of the valve B in combination with the
central lifting spindle C, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. In a ball valve, the combination of the flange or collar A¹ with the
separate discharge branch H, between which, when the said discharge branch is
screwed up, the seating ring I is pinched and prevented from getting loose,
substantially as set forth and shown.
Fourth. In a tap for water or other fluids, the combination of the valve B to
close the aperture and lifting spindle C, actuated by an excentric or other
equivalent device to open the valve, substantially as set forth and shown.
Fifth. As a device for opening the valve of a tap for water or other fluids, the
combination with the forked lifting spindle C of the tap spindle K, a portion
whereof is reduced_in_diameter_and_formed-into-an-excentric,-whereby-the-said-
excentric, being of smaller diameter than the spindle, may be passed through the
spindle hole in the branch H, and fitting of the excentric upon its spindle is
thereby obviated, substantially as set forth and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert Edward Lucas, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.