IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER COCKS OR VALVES, SPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO MUD COCKS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Charles Etchells, of Newton Heath, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
AND OTHER COCKS OR VALVES, SPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO MUD COCKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Charles Etchells at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1880.
JOHN CHARLES ETCHELLS, of Newton Heath, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER COCKS OR VALVES, SPECIALLY
APPLICABLE TO MUD COCKS."
This Invention has for its object the construction of a cock or valve, the working
parts or frictional surfaces of which are arranged to expand and contract equally,
and thus obviate the tendency to jamb fast when heated, which has hitherto proved
so objectable, especially in mud cocks. Now this Invention consists in arranging
an annular or hollow tapered socket rising up inside the cock or valve body nearly
to the top, and on the outside or inside of which the corresponding tapered plug or
valve is mounted for opening and closing the necessary orifices by means of the
usual spindles. This socket is entirely surrounded by a jacket or passage, through
which the steam or other fluid or liquid is capable of passing from the inlet side,
and finds its way through corresponding openings formed in the socket and plug or
valve into the inside of the said socket, and from thence to a suitable passage com-
municating with the open bottom of the said socket, with the outlet side of the
cock or valve body, or vice-versa, this construction giving the advantages and
obviating the objections hereinbefore mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Charles Etchells in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
February 1881.
JOHN CHARLES ETCHELLS, of Newton Heath, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER COCKS OR VALVES SPECIALLY
APPLICABLE TO MUD-COCKS.”
This Invention has for its object the construction of a cock or valve, the working
parts or frictional surfaces of which are arranged to expand and contract equally,

page_text: and thus obviate the tendency to jamb fast when heated, which has hitherto proved
so objectionable, especially in mud cocks. In accordance with this Invention the
cock or valve is so constructed that the steam or other fluid can entirely surround
the bearing surfaces of both the plug and socket, and the thickness of the metal is
so equalised throughout as to avoid unequal expansion in the bearing surfaces of
the plug and socket.
And in order that this my said Invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings
illustrating several modifications of my Invention, and I will now proceed to
describe the same by reference to the Figures and letters of reference marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a mud cock constructed in accordance with my
Invention; and Fig. 2 is a front sectional view of Fig. 1 taken on the line C-D;
Figs. 3 and 4 are side sectional views of two other cocks or valves, representing
modifications of my Invention.
In all the views A is an annular socket forming one piece with the spindle A³,
passing through the stuffing box A³ in the usual manner. This socket A is "ground
upon" and is capable of turning upon the tapered plug B, which forms one piece with
the body E. Corresponding orifices Fare formed through the socket A and through
the plug B, and, by preference, opposite each other as illustrated, to allow of the
passage of the liquid or fluid from the inlet to the outlet side. It will thus be
observed that the socket A and plug B are entirely surrounded by a passage G
on the inlet side, so that the steam or other heated fluid or liquid entering at the
inlet can entirely surround that part of the socket A which is in contact with the
plug B, thus keeping the parts of the same temperature throughout, and further,
that by equally distributing the thickness of the metal throughout the bearing
surfaces of both the socket A and plug B, the socket A receiving its heat from
the steam or other fluid and communicating it to B, they are both caused to expand
equally, and the socket and plug are thus effectually prevented getting fast one
upon the other.
Although only specially described in reference to mud cocks it will be apparent
that these improvements are equally applicable to other descriptions of cocks or
valves.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions herein before
described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing, as the same may be
considerably varied without departing from the Invention, but what I claim is,―
Constructing cocks or valves with a passage entirely surrounding the bearing
surfaces of both the socket and plug, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, tho said John Charles Etchells, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 24th day of February, in the year of our Lord
1881,
JOHN CHARLES ETCHELLS. (L.S.)