IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS AND TAPS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Hardisty, of 2, St. Alban's Terrace,
Sherwood Street, Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS
AND TAPS."
Scaled the 28th August 1877, and dated the 9th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward Hardisty at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1877.
GEORGE EDWARD HARDISTY, of 2, St. Alban's Terrace, Sherwood Street,
Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS AND TAPS."
In constructing a ball-cock according to this Invention I form the cock in such
manner that the outlet orifice at the end of the supply pipe is closed by a ball
pressed up to a ring of vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic material, which is
contained in a recess around the outlet passage. To press the ball up to and against
the elastic ring I use a metal stem moved endwise to and fro by the lever or arm which
carries the float.
The shell I form in two cylindrical parts, to screw together end to end; one part
is formed to be soldered or otherwise secured to the end of the supply pipe, the other
forms a cylindrical cap, which is screwed on to the end of the first part, and has an
outlet spout or orifice passing from it; it also carries the pin or axis of the float
lever. At the end of the part which is secured to the supply pipe is a recess, in
which is a thick ring of vulcanized india-rubber. When the cap is screwed on, it
compresses the ring and holds it in place. Fitted within the cylindrical cap is a
ball of glass or other suitable material. The ball is pressed up to and against the
clastic ring by a metal stem, which is also within the cap, and is moved endwise to
and fro by the float lever as the float rises or falls. As the float rises and brings
the lever towards a horizontal position, it forces the metal stem and the ball in
front of it towards the elastic seat, and when the ball comes against the seat the
passage of water is effectually shut off.
When the float drops the stem moves away from the ball; the pressure of water
upon the ball from the supply pipe then forces the ball away from its elastic seat,
and water flows past the ball through longitudinal corrugations which are formed
in the interior sides of the cap and escapes by the outlet orifice, whilst the ball,
Price Gl

page_text: fitting approximately to the interior of the cylindrical cap, is restrained from oscil-
lating to and fro; if the ball were not thus restrained, a rattling noise would be set
up whenever water was flowing through the tap. In place of the ball an oblong
plug, with a conical or rounded end, may be used.
With taps constructed as above described, should the elastic valve seating at any
time get out of order, it is only necessary to screw off the cylindrical cap to put in
a new elastic seating, and then to replace the cap; the tap will then be as good
as new.
I also form bib and other taps, to be closed by a ball fitting against an elastic
seating, and so that by simply unscrewing a cylindrical chamber, in which the
ball is contained, the elastic seating may be taken out, and a fresh ono inserted in
its place.
I also form the tap so that the ball is held up against the elastic seat by the
pressure of water, and (when water is to be allowed to pass) is pressed back by the
end of a rod or stem, which may be worked by a lever, screw, or otherwise.
The elastic ring or seat is received in a recess, in a partition between the tap inlet
and outlet. The cylindrical case, containing the ball, is at right angles to this
partition, and passes out through the lower part of the shell of the tap; it has a
screw thread upon it, and screws into a corresponding thread in the opening through
the shell. The upper end of the cylindrical case comes opposite to, and, by prefer-
ence, against the elastic seat, to hold the seat in its place. The sides of the cylindrical
case are perforated. When the ball is pressed back from its seat, water passes from
the tap inlet, through the perforations, past the seating, and out from the outlet
passage. The ball is held up towards its seat by a light coiled spring which bears
upon the closed end of the case.
The india-rubber or other elastic seating may be carried within the upper end of
the cylindrical case, and project somewhat beyond it, so that the elastic seat may be
compressed between the partition and a shoulder within the cylindrical case.
In both arrangements the ball and elastic seat can both readily be got at, by
simply unscrewing the cylindrical case from the shell of the tap.
Bath or lavatory taps may also be made in a similar manner, with a ball held by
the pressure of water against an elastic seat, and with the ball fitting within a
cylindrical chamber, with corrugations along the sides of the chamber, to allow
water to flow past the ball when it is pressed back from its seat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Edward Hardisty in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th September 1877.
GEORGE EDWARD HARDISTY, of 2, St. Alban's Terrace, Sherwood Strect,
Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS AND TAPS."
In constructing a ball-cock according to this Invention I form the cock in such
manner that the outlet orifice at the end of the supply pipe is closed by a ball
pressed up to a ring of vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic material, which is
contained in a recess around the outlet passage. To press the ball up to and against
the elastic ring I use a metal stem moved endwise to and fro by the lever or arın
which carries the float.
The shell I form in two cylindrical parts, to screw together end to end; one part
is formed to be soldered or otherwise secured to the end of the supply pipe, the other
forms a cylindrical cap, which is screwed on to the end of the first part, and has an
outlet spout or orifice passing from it; it also carries the pin or axis of the float
lever. At the end of the part which is secured to the supply pipe is a recess, in
which is a thick ring of vulcanized india-rubber. When the cap is screwed on it
holds the ring in place. Fitted within the cylindrical cap is a ball of glass or other

page_text: suitable material. The ball is pressed up to and against the elastic ring by a metal
stem, which is also within the cap, and is moved endwise to and fro by the float
lever, as the float rises or falls. As the float rises and brings the lever towards a
horizontal position, it forces the metal stem and the ball in front of it towards the
elastic scat, and when the ball comes against the seat the passage of water is
effectually shut off.
When the float drops the stem moves away from the ball, the pressure of water
upon the ball from the supply pipe then forces the ball away from its clastic scat,
and water flows past the ball through longitudinal corrugations which are formed
in the interior sides of the cap, and escapes by the outlet orifice, whilst the ball,
fitting approximately to the interior of the cylindrical cap, is restrained from oscil-
lating to and fro; if the ball were not thus restrained, a rattling noise would be set
up whenever water was flowing through the tap. In place of the ball an oblong
plug, with a conical or rounded end, may be used.
With taps constructed as above described, should the elastic valve seating at any
time get out of order, it is only necessary to screw off the cylindrical cap to put in
a new elastic seating, and then to replace the cap; the tap will then be as good
as new.
I also form bib and other taps to be closed by a ball fitting against an elastic
senting, and so that by simply unscrewing a cylindrical chamber, in which the
ball is contained, the elastic seating may be taken out, and a fresh one inserted in
its place.
I also form the tap so that the ball is held up against the clastic seat by the
pressure of water, and (when water is to be allowed to pass) is pressed back by the
end of a rod or stem, which may be worked by a lever, screw, or otherwise.
The elastic ring or sent is received in a recess, in a partition between the tap inlet
and outlet. The cylindrical case, containing the ball, is at right angles to this
partition, and passes out through the lower part of the shell of the tap; it has a
screw thread upon it, and screws into a corresponding thread in the opening through
the shell. The upper end of the cylindrical case comes opposite to, and, by prefer-
ence, against the elastic seat, to hold the seat in its place. The sides of the cylindrical
case are perforated. When the ball is pressed back from its seat water passes from
the tap inlet, through the perforations, past the seating, and out from the outlet
passage. The ball is held up towards its seat by a light coiled spring which bears
upon the closed end of the case.
The india-rubber or other elastic seating may be carried within the upper end of
the cylindrical case, and projects somewhat beyond it, so that the olastic seat may be
compressed between the partition and a shoulder within the cylindrical case.
In both arrangements the ball and elastic seat can both readily be got at by
simply unscrewing the cylindrical case from the shell of the tap.
Bath, spirit, or lavatory taps may also be made in a similar manner, with a ball
held by the pressure of water against an elastic seat, and with the ball fitting within
a cylindrical chamber, with corrugations, along the sides of the chamber, to allow
water to flow past the ball when it is pressed back from its seat.
The Drawings hereunto annexed show various cocks and taps constructed as above
described.
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the ball-cock, and Figure 2 a transverse
section of the same on the line 1, 1, Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of a bib-cock, and Figure 4 a side view of
part of the same.
Figures 5 and 6 show a longitudinal section and side view of a lavatory tap.
In Figures 1 and 2 A, B, is the shell of the tap in two parts; the part A is formed
to be soldered or otherwise secured to the end of the supply pipe, the cap or part B
screws on to the end of A, and has an outlet spout B₁ passing from it, and also
carries a pin B, which forms the axis of the float lever. C, D, is the thick ring of
vulcanized india-rubber, contained in a recess in the end of the part A. The end of
the ring is slightly overlapped by the part B, and the ring is thereby retained in the

page_text: recess. E is the glass ball, and F the metal stem which slides to and fro within the
cap B. The short arm of the float lever passes into a slot in the stem F, so that the
stem is moved to and fro as the float rises or falls. B³ are the longitudinal grooves
along the interior of the cap B, by which water flows past the ball E whenever the
float drops, and the ball E moves back from its seat. The grooves B³ open into a
groove B, formed all around the interior of the cap B, just above the outlet spout B¹,
so as to give a free waterway to the spout.
In the bib tap, shown at Figure 8, A is the shell of the tap; B, the partition
betweent he tap inlet and outlet; B¹ is the waterway through the partition; C is
the elastic ring or seat below this waterway; it is carried at the end of the cylin-
drical case D, which case passes out through the lower part of the shell, and has a
screw thread upon it, which screws into a corresponding thread in the shell, as
shown; E is the glass ball within the case; F is the coiled spring which holds the
ball up to the clastic scat C; the sides of the cylindrical case are perforated (as
shown clearly in the side view of this case at Figure 4) to allow water to pass from
the inlet to the outlet of the tap when the ball is pressed back from its seat; G is
a screw stem, the screw on which screws into a corresponding thread at the upper
part of the shell; the upper part of the stem G passes out through a stuffing box,
and has a handle G¹ secured to it, by which it may be turned; when the screw is
screwed inwards the lower end of the stem comes on to the top of the ball E and
presses it down.
The lavatory cock shown at Figures 5 and 6 is constructed in the same manner as
the tap shown at Figure 3, except that the stem G, in place of being a screw stem,
has a thumb piece on its head, by which it can be pressed down. In place also of a
stuffing box being employed to prevent the escape of water past the stem a flexible
disc H is used as shown.
In both of the taps, in place of the cylindrical case D, which contains the ball and
elastic seat, being screwed into the lower part of the shell, the cylinder might be
secured to or cast with the partition B, which forms part of the shell; in this case
the opening at the lower part of the shell would be closed by a screw plug.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of ball cocks, substantially as herein described and
illustrated at Figure 1.
Second. The construction of cocks and taps, substantially as herein described and
illustrated at Figures 3, 5, and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Hardisty, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight.hundred and seventy-seven.
GEORGE EDWARD HARDISTY. (L.S.)