IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF CLOSING VALVES OR COCKS FOR DRAWING OFF WATER AND FLUSHING WATER CLOSETS
Year: 1884

page_text: We EDWARD TILEY LAMBERT of Short Street Lambeth S.E. Civil Engineer and
EDWIN JAMES WHITE of Overton Maisemore near Gloucester Civil Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF CLOSING
VALVES OR COCKS FOR DRAWING OFF WATER AND FLUSHING WATER CLOSETS,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to that class of self closing valves or cocks for drawing
off water in which the passage from the inlet to the outlet of the cock or valve is
closed by an elastic diaphragm pressed downwards on to a valve seat by the
pressure of water above it, and in which the lifting of the diaphragm from off the
valve seat can only be effected by suction caused by the lifting of another
independent diaphragm and in which the pressing downwards of the first mentioned
diaphragm can be effected by water passing slowly from the water inlet into the
space between the two diaphragms.
In cocks or valves of this construction a small valve has to be provided, by
which water contained in the space between the two diaphragms can be allowed to
pass back quickly from this space to the water inlet and it is of great importance
that this valve should close instantly whenever the upper diaphragm is lifted,
otherwise, if any water were allowed to leak past this valve at the time of lifting
the upper diaphragin, the cock or valve would close too soon and the amount of
water which could be drawn off at each time of opening the cock or valve
would be diminished and its action rendered irregular and uncertain.
In order to remedy this evil we employ for the purpose a conical valve of large
diameter relatively to the amount of water which has to pass it and at the back of
this valve we provide a stop which only allows the valve to move an extremely
small distance away from its seat, so that the distance the valve has to travel to
close the passage is extremely small.
We also combine together two such self closing cocks or valves constructed in
the above manner to control the supply of water to the pans or basins of water

page_text: closets. Such double self closing cocks will not only give a flush of water to
cleanse the closet basin at the time when the closet handle is pulled up but will in
addition when the handle is lowered also give an after flush of water to trap
the pan.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and
Figure 2 a plan view of a single cock or valve of our improved construction..
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section Figure 4 a cross section and Figure 5 a plan
of one of our double valves.
In Figures 1 and 2 A is the water inlet. B the diaphragm by which the
passage of water from the inlet A to the outlet passage C is closed. D is the
independent diaphragm forming the top of a chamber E which is above the
diaphragm B.
Each diaphragm is nipped at its centre between metal discs. The upper
diaphragm can also in the construction shewn in the Drawings be drawn upwards
by turning a screw F but other means might be adopted for drawing it upwards.
When the upper diaphragm D is drawn upwards the lower diaphragm B is at the
same time drawn away from its seat by suction, leaving the water way open
between the inlet A and the outlet C.
A small stream of water then commences at once to pass from the water inlet
into the chamber E through a small passage not shewn in the Drawing.
The size of the orifice through which water can so pass to the chamber E is
regulated as is usual by a pointed screw G.
As the chamber E fills with water, the pressure of water above the diaphragm B
gradually forces this diaphragm down on to its seat and closes the water way and
this will take place whether the screw F be turned so as to press the disc D
downwards, or whether it be left raised.
His a small conical valve which although large relatively to the amount of
water whichever has to pass it is small as compared with the dimensions of the
other parts it is formed with feather guides and fits against a seat formed in the
small passage leading from the space between the two diaphragms. I is a screw
stop the end of which comes into close proximity to the back of the valve so that
the valve is allowed but little movement. J is a passage leading from the space at
the back of the valve into the water inlet of the cock.
In the valve shown at Figures 3, 4 and 5 there are two valves side by side, and
the upper diaphragms of the two valves are acted on by opposite arms of a lever
in such manner that when one is raised the other is lowered.
The water inlet A is made to pass all around the casing. B B are the diaphragms
by which the passage of water from the inlet A to the outlet C is closed. D D are
the upper diaphragms-they have stems projecting upwards from them by which
they are connected to opposite arms of a lever J the longer arm of which is made
to carry a weight which tends always to draw it downwards. G G are regulating
screws by which the speed at which water can pass from the water inlet to the
spaces E between the diaphragms B and D can be regulated. H H are the small
conical valves with feather guides which allow water to pass back to the water
inlet from the spaces between the diaphragms. One of these valves with the stop I
at the back of it is shown on a somewhat larger scale at Figures 6 and 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said.
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. The construction of self closing cocks or valves of the kind herein before
described with conical valves H for controlling the passage of water out of the
space E between the two diaphragms back into the inlet of the valve substantially
as hereinbefore described.

page_text: Second. The application of a conical valve H with feather guides made and
controlled substantially as and for the purpose herein described to the kind of
self closing cocks or valves described herein.
Third. The construction of self closing taps or valves for drawing off water
substantially as herein before described and shewn in the Drawings annexed.
Dated this 9th day of September 1884.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.