IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER LIQUID."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Buckland, of Swansea, in the County of
Glamorgan, South Wales, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR
COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER LIQUID."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Buckland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April 1880.
CHARLES BUCKLAND, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, South Wales.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER LIQUID."
My Invention refers to taps or cocks, which are self closing, for preventing
waste of water and other liquids, wherein the construction is simple and not
expensive, and at the same time the screws and leathers are not as now so liable to
get out of order.
Taps or cocks made according to my Invention are provided with an angle pipe
or socket, made of brass or any other suitable material, one end for screwing or
soldering into other pipes, cisterns, casks, or other places. The tap is attached
to the other end, and it is made of a case of brass or any other suitable material.
My Invention substantially consists in placing the valve in a vertical position,
and carrying the stem down through a partition below the water or liquid passage
down to the key, and in the shape or form of the key for lifting the valve and
working the tap; also placing a plug at the bottom to prevent the key from turning
too far, and with all the material and parts combined, as hereafter described, makes
it a water or liquid saving tap. The top part of the tap screws into the above
socket or angle pipe, and is countersunk in the centre to admit a valve and a
partition below the water or liquid passage to take the tail end of the valve, and
the bottom part is screwed or tapped to take a plug.
The valve is, ground and fitted airtight into the countersunk part of the case,
and reaches down through the middle partition to the key with india rubber ring
and nut attached to the stem of the valve.
A spiral spring is fitted to the top part of the valve to assist to keep the valve
shut if required, but the valve being placed upright the force of the water or liquid
will close the valve and make it self acting.

page_text: Under the countersunk part of the valve the stem is preferably made triangular
so as to allow a passage for the water or liquid when the valve is lifted up by the
key. The key is filed flat on two sides, one side to fit against the bottom plug and
the other side to fit across the valve nut, therefore no nut is required to keep the
key in its place.
By slightly turning the key it lifts the valve and the lower part of the key
comes against the top of the bottom plug, thereby preventing the key from turning
too far and allowing the valve to shut off the water or liquid when the key is let
go, and by this means it is made a self acting or closing tap with not necessarily
any india rubber or leather attached to the valve, and the tap is not liable to get 1
out of order or leak.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Buckland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
October 1880.
CHARLES BUCKLAND, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, South Wales.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER LIQUID."
My Invention refers to taps or cocks, which are self closing, for preventing waste
of water and other liquids, wherein the construction is simple and not expensive,
and at the same time dispensing with the screws and leathers packing valve now
in use which are so liable to get out of order.
Taps or cocks made according to my Invention are provided with an angle pipe,
or shank, or socket, made of brass or any other suitable material, one end being
formed for screwing or soldering into other pipes, cisterns, casks, or other places,
and the tap-proper being attached to the other end of such angle pipe or shank.
It is made with a case or body of brass or any other suitable material.
My Invention substantially consists in placing the valve in a vertical position,
or nearly so, and carrying the stem down through a partition below the water or
liquid passage down to the key, and in the shape or form of the key for lifting the
valve and working the tap; also in placing a plug at the bottom to prevent the,
key from turning too far, and with all the material and parts combined, as here-
after described, makes it a water or liquid saving tap. The top part of the tap
proper or body screws into the above socket, or angle pipe, or shank, and is
countersunk in the centre to admit a valve, and there is a partition below the
water or liquid passage to take the tail end or stem of the valve; the bottom part
is screwed or tapped to take a plug.
The valve is ground and fitted airtight into the countersunk part of the case
and reaches down through the middle partition to the key, with india rubber ring
and nut attached to the stem of the valve.
A spiral spring is fitted to the top part of the valve to assist to keep the valve
shut if required, but the valve being placed upright the force of the water or liquid
will close the valve and make it self acting.
Under the countersunk part of the valve the stem is preferably made triangular,
or it may be otherwise suitably formed so as to allow a passage for the water or
liquid when the valve is lifted up by the key. The key is filed flat on two sides,
one side to fit against the bottom plug and the other side to fit across the valve
nut, therefore no nut is required to keep the key in its place.
By slightly turning the key it lifts the valve, and the lower part of the key
comes against the top of the bottom plug, thereby preventing the key from turning
too far and allowing the valve to shut off the water or liquid when the key is let
go, and by this means it is made a self acting or closing tap with not necessarily
any india rubber or leather attached to the valve, and the tap is not liable to get
out of order or leak.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings; Figure 1 is a
longitudinal, and Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of a liquid saving tap
constructed according to one modification of my Invention. a is the angle pipe
or socket, which is screwed or otherwise secured to the source from whence the
liquid is to be taken; b is the frame or casing of the tap or cock proper; c is the
valve, and d is the valve stem; e is the partition or bearing through which the
lower end of the valve stem d works; b' is the liquid passage situate above
the partition e; f is the india rubber ring, and g, nut to secure same thereon at the
lower end of stem d; h is the key, and i handle for operating same; k is the bottom
plug of the valve screwed into the body or casing b; lis the spiral spring in the

page_text: angle piece of the tap and above the valve c; m is the triangular portion of the
stem below the valve c. The action of this tap or cock is as follows:-By turning
the key h the stem d is raised, and with it the valve c; liquid then is free to pass
through the top of the passage b so long as the key is kept up or turned, but as
soon as the key h is released the force of the entering liquid assisted by the spring
closes the valve c down on to its seat, where it is retained by the pressure of the
liquid and of the spring, until the valve c is again raised by the key h. I have
shown a handle i for operating the key, but any other approved means such as a
lever or spanner might be used to keep the valve open that the liquid may be
continually allowed to run through the tap if desired, and in this way the tap
could be utilized for watering gardens, filling tanks, and such like purposes.
Figure 3 shows in longitudinal and Figure 4 in vertical section a tap or cock
made according to a modification of the arrangement just described, wherein the
liquid instead of escaping by the ordinary bent spout passes down and through a
spout in a line with the casing of the tap or cock proper; the tap is made and
acts as in the previous arrangement, and accordingly I have marked corresponding
parts in this tap with those in the other arrangement; the action is similar; the
stem d of the valve c in this arrangement is made triangular throughout its length,
and the india rubber ring f in Figures 1 and 2 being dispensed with, thus allowing
a free passage for liquid, air, or steam; the key stop k should be hollow, as shown,
which thereby forms a passage for the liquid or fluid going through the tap. This
arrangement of cock is applicable for steam, air, and liquids.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The tap or cock with valve c on stem d, operated by key h, and adjusted by
spring 1, and with or without washer f, all combined and acting substantially in
manner and for the purposes set forth, together with any mero modification or
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Buckland, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
CHARLES RITOL AND