AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF COCK OR TAP
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John
Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF COCK OR TAP."-A communication from
abroad by Claude Renard, Michel Perret, and Jules César Voituret,
all of the Firm of Gardon and Renard, of Macon, France.
Sealed the 18th June 1869, and dated the 21st December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st December 1868.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Sou, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF COCK OR TAP," a communication to me from
abroad by Claude Renard, Michel Perrct, and Jules César Voituret,
all of the Firm of Gardon and Renard, of Macon, France, to be as
follows:-
-
The cock the subject of this Invention may be termed an every
pressure cock. its exterior may assume any of the usual forms, and it

page_text: Specification; it may also be a three-way cock, be made of any kind of
metal, and of all sizes.
The interior arrangement of a cock made according to this Invention
is shewn at Fig. 3. E indicating a metal lid or cap pierced for the
passage of the stem which governs the movement, and screwed on the
box either interiorly or exteriorly, A, washer of leather, india-rubber,
gutta percha, or any other malleable and impervious material scized by
the inner or outer screw of the cap, and also permitting the passage of
the stem; B, stem or plug governing the movement, and to which is
fitted indifferently a key, a handle, or a spanner G of any desired form.
This stem passes through the metal cap and leather washer and carries so
as to form one piece with it an inner disc of metal coming on to a leather
washer situated above it and acting as an obturator in the manner
herein-after explained; C, stem or plug independent of the first but
governed by it in the circular movement by the aid of a mortice which
unites them at the point N, N; this stem like the upper one has a metal
disc of one piece with it and bearing upon a second washer A³ of leather,
india-rubber, or analogous material, which washer rests upon another
disc F supporting the entire arrangement and forming part of the cock,
being cast with or brazed to it. This second leather washer A' is kept in
place and prevented from following the herein-after described circular
movement by the ring D or by any other means; H, helical spring placed
between the two metal discs and tending to press them on the two
leather washers above and below them. The discs C, F, and washer A
are pierced (Figs. 3 and 4) with two openings L passing through all
three in a direct line; these openings may according to the description
of cock be four in number, or there may be but a single one, it is only
requisite that the disc C should be able to close them as will now be
explained. The water- arriving by the barrel I fills the box or chamber
of the cock, and by its pressure pushes the two metal discs against the
two leather washers, perfectly closes the chamber top and bottom. The
helical spring is intended to reinforce this water power should its p pressure
be insufficient, and may therefore be used or dispensed with according to
requirement. The liquid being introduced into the box by working the
key which actuates the stems or plugs B, C, the lower disc turns
horizontally on its axis, its openings are brought into line with thosa

page_text: of the washer A and of the immoveable disc F, and the water continuing
its course passes into the barrel J and issues therefrom or by M, M, or
as at K (Fig 1). Such is the system which by the soft friction of the
two discs on the two leather washers prevents any leakage of the liquid,
and by the progressive closing of the openings avoids all shock. This
arrangement may if desired be provided with a stop either on the outside
or on the inside. The disc C may, without in any way departing from
the system above described, assume another shape permitting it to act as
an obturator arresting not only the entrance but also the exit of the
liquid. This disc will then assume a hollow conical form (see C, Fig. 5).
It bears on a leather washer A' having the same shape, and is pierced
with holes corresponding with those of this washer. It carries an
adherent or non-adherent stem governed by the upper stem and a
pressure spring as in the preceding case. The working is the same by
a horizontal movement, the openings of the cone are brought in a direct
line with those of the washer and the liquid enters on one side to run
off at the other, the liquid pressing on the cone as on the flat disc.
The barrels of this cock may be straight, curved, or of any of the ordinary
forms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th June 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,. I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11,
Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight; in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence®
that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 tern

page_text: 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 "AN IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF COCK OR TAP," a communication to me from abroad by
Claude Renard, Michel Perret, and Jules César Voituret, all of the
Firm of Gardon and Renard, of Macon, France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 performed, 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 William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheets of Drawing, and to the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon:-
The cock the subject of this Invention may be termed an every
pressure cock, its exterior may assume any of the usual forms, it may
discharge the liquid from beneath, or by a bent, or a straight spout as
shown on the annexed Sheets of Drawing, it may also be a three-way
cock, be made of any kind of metal, and of all sizes.
The interior arrangement of a cock made according to our Invention is
shown at Fig. 3, Sheet I.; E, indicating a metal lid or cap pierced for the
passage of the stem or plug which governs the movement and screwed on
the box either interiorly or exteriorly. A, washer of leather, india-rubber,
gutta percha, or any other malleable and impervious material seized by
the inner or outer screw of the cap, and also permitting the passage of
the stem; B, stem, or plug governing the movement and to which is
fitted indifferently a key, a handle, or a spanner G of any desired form.
This stem passes through the metal cap and leather washer and carries
so as to form one piece, with it an inner disc of metal coming on to a
leather washer situated above it and acting as an obturator in the manner
herein-after described; C, stem or plug independent of the first but
governed by it in the circular movement by the aid of a mortice which
unites them at the point N, N. This stem like the upper one has a

page_text: metal disc of one piece with it, and bearing upon a second washer A¹ of
leather, india-rubber, or analogous material, which washer rests upon
another disc F supporting the entire arrangement and forming part of
the cock, being cast with or brazed to it. This second leather washer A¹
is kept in place and prevented from following the herein-after described
circular movement by the ring D or any other means; H, helical spring
placed between the two metal discs, and tending to press them on the two
leather washers above and below them. The discs C, F, and washer A'
are pierced (Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet I.) with two openings L passing
through all three in a direct line. These openings may according to
the description of cock be four in number, or there may be but a single
one, it is only requisite that the disc C should be able to close them as
will now be explained. The water arriving by the barrel I fills the box
or chamber of the cock, and by its pressure pushes the two metal discs
against the two leather washers, perfectly closing the chamber top and
bottom. The helical spring is intended to assist this water power should
its pressure be insufficient, and it may therefore be used or dispensed
with according to requirement. The liquid being introduced into the
box by working the key which actuates the stems or plugs B, C, the
lower disc turns horizontally on its axis, its openings are brought into
line with those of the washer A' and of the immoveable disc F, and the
water continuing its course passes into the barrel J, and issues therefrom
or by M, M, or as at K, (Fig. 1, Sheet I.) Such is the system which by
the soft friction of the two discs on the two leather washers prevents any
leakage of the liquid, and by the progressive closing of the openings
avoids all shock. This arrangement may if desired be provided with a
stop either on the outside or the inside. The disc C may without in any
way departing from the system above described assume another shape
permitting it to act as an obturator, arresting not only the entrance
but also the exit of the liquid. This disc will then assume a hollow
conical form (scc C, Fig. 5, Sheet II.); it bears on a leather washer A'
having the same shape, and is pierced with holes corresponding with
those of this washer. It carries an adherent or non-adherent stem,
governed by the upper stem and a pressure spring as in the preceding
case. The working is the same, the openings of the cone are brought by
a horizontal movement into a direct line with those of the washer, and
the liquid enters on one side to run off at the other, the liquid pressing
on the cone as on the flat disc. The barrel of this cock may be straight,
curved, or of any of the ordinary forms.

page_text: Figs. 6 to 9 (Sheet II.) illustrate the construction of a cock or tap
in which to facilitate the manufacture and putting together the arrange-
ment above described and illustrated, Figs. 1 to 5 is reversed, the system
being however in every respect the same.
The piece A (see Fig. 8) represents the guide of the key receiving the
stem B, and moving it by a pin; B' is a piece of leather pressed either
by the force of the water or by the spring C between the washer of the
stem B and the top of the cock, and making joint; this spring C instead
of being outside the stem B as previously described is lodged within
the stem which receives in its mortice the mitre of the perforated disc D.
The pieces A, B, C, D, move circularly together and bring the opening
of the disc D in front of that of the leather piece E to open the cock
and move it away to close the cock. The leather E is pressed by its
circular edge between the barrel of the cock and the piece F, and is
thus kept from following the circular movement by the power of the
spring, and more especially by the force of the water, it is squeezed
between the piece F and the disc D, and any leakage is impossible so
long as the three openings of the pieces D, E, F, are not put in com-
munication, then the cock is open; the piece G screwed within the
bottom of the cock tightens up and supports the entire arrangement;
the stopper I and its leather H close the cock and compel the water
to escape by the spout; if it is desired that the water should run out by
the bottom of the cock all that is needed is to dispense with the spout
and the pieces I and H.
Directions for setting up the improved cock shewn Figs. 6 to 9,
Sheet II. 1°. Insert the plug II in the upper hole of the cock after
having carefully fitted the piece of leather B'. 2°. Fix the key by means
of the pin and place it as for open cock, that is to say, the arrow (Fig. 8)
pointing forwards. 3°. Set the spring C in the hole of the stem or plug B.
4°. Place the pierced disc D, the hole being in the side opposed to the
liquid outlet, and the tenon introduced into the groove of the plug B
on the spring C. 5°. Place the perforated leather E, the holes corre-
sponding exactly with that of disc D. 6°. Place the pierced support F on
the leather making the holes correspond exactly, and causing the pin of
this support to bear against the shoulder (buttée) of the cock; this
shoulder and this pin prevent the entire arrangement from turning when
the tightening ring G is screwed up.. 7°. Tighten the whole by means
of the screw ring G, screwing tightly to keep the parts close together.

page_text: 8°. Close the cock by tightly screwing on the lower cover I. The
strength of this cock is apparent, there is not the slightly friction of
metal against metal, and the pressure of the liquid itself prevents any
leakage.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is carried into practical effect, I desire it to be under-
stood that claim is made to the combination and arrangement of the
discs and washers within the chamber of the cock, so that on the
chamber filling with liquid the pressure of this liquid pushes the discs
against the washers closing the chamber, top and bottom, and forming
a perfectly water-tight cock, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.