Year: 1888

page_text: I, WILLIAM BIRCH of 50 Rockingham Street, Uxbridge in the County of Middlesex
Working Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This tap is designed to supply a simple form of secure self-closing tap for hot and
high-pressure fluids and for other purposes.
In its construction, the ordinary expedients of springs or screws are dispensed
with.
It is applicable to almost all uses in which the flow of fluids is checked or
controlled.
It consists of a central chamber or body having a horizontal annular seat through
which the fluid ascends from the inflow pipe and then passes out by the exit which is
above the annular seat.
This annular seat is closed by a metal disc faced on its lower side with india-rubber
which forms the lower end of a vertical rod or plug which extends upwards through a
stuffing-box or gland, and is swivelled on to a horizontal lever at a short distance
from its fixed fulcrum.
This vertical rod is provided with a second disc faced on its upper side with india-
rubber, which when the rod is drawn up to open the tap, effectually closes the
entrance to the stuffing-box or gland, and enables it to be re-packed when the water
is on.
A screwed metal cap of the ordinary kind connects the stuffing-box with the body
of the tap.
Attached to this tap is a short horizontal projecting arm, joined or swivelled to the
end of which arm is a short vertical bar, the upper extremity of which forms the fixed
fulcrum of the horizontal lever before referred to.
This lever is first swivelled to its fulcrum, then similarly attached to the vertical rod
which forms the plug of the tap, and is then extended to any length required, a fow
inches being usually sufficient.

page_text: At the outer end of this lever is placed a weight sufficiently heavy to ensure the
effective closing of the tap.
This weight may be formed solid with the lever, or separate therefrom or to slide
thereon, according to the uses to which the tap is to be applied.
The weighted lever thus forms a handle by lifting which, the tap is opened, and by
letting it fall the tap is closed.
It can therefore be made of an ornamental pattern.
By turning the cap the lever can be placed in any desired position around the body
of the tap.
For public water supply, as a waste-not lock tap in out-door positions, my tap is
especially suitable, as it can be so enclosed that only the nose is exposed to view, and
the lever can be raised by turning a knob forming the end of a small horizontal
spindle which carries two small flaps or arms at right angles to its length.
When the knob is turned either way, one of these arms raises the weighted lever
and thus opens the tap.
Directly the knob is released the weight falls and the tap is securely closed.
For greater security the seat of the chamber of the tap can be formed with a
horizontal annular rib projecting upwards so that the descending india-rubber disc
becomes grooved or channelled by the indentation of this circular rib.
When preferred, to avoid the necessity of holding the weighted lever in the hand
while the liquid is flowing, the weight can be made so that it can be removed and
hung on a stay placed conveniently to receive it, or it may be suspended by an
S hook to a hook or nail during the time the tap is required to flow.
1000
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C.,
Patent Agent.

page_text: I, WILLIAM BIRCH of No. 50 Rockingham Street. Uxbridge in the County of
Middlesex, Working Sanitary Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This improved tap is designed to supply a simple form of secure self-closing tap for
hot and high pressure fluids and for other purposes. In its construction the ordinary
expedients of springs, or screws, or revolving plugs, are dispensed with.
It is applicable to almost all purposes or uses in which the flow of fluids is checked
or controlled.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows the plug or piston which closes the outlet passage in my improved
taps.
Fig. 2 shows a section of a main cock for gas, fitted with my improved plug and
scat lever and balance weight. This tap is shown open.
Fig. 3 shows a section of a bib cock for high pressure similarly fitted. This tap is
shewn closed.
It will be seen that the inside of the tap consists of a central chamber or body
having a horizontal annular seat B through which the fluid ascends from the inflow
pipe denoted by arrows, and then passes out through the outlet which is above the
annular seat.
This annular seat is closed by a metal disc F attached to a plug A the metal disc
being faced on its lower side with the disc D formed of india-rubber or other suitable
packing material.
The plug A extends upwards through a stuffing box or gland G and is swivelled on
to a horizontal lever H at a short distance from its fulcrum, the pivot joint K.
This vertical plug is provided with a second disc E formed of india-rubber or other
packing on the upper side of the metal disc F which when the plug A is drawn up to
to open the tap, presses against the upper seat C and effectually closes the entrance to
the stuffing box & and allows it to be repacked when the water is turned on.
A screwed metal cap of the ordinary kind connects the stuffing box with the body
of the tap, attached to this cap or if preferred to tap itself is a short horizontal arm,
jointed to which at K¹ is a short vertical standard I the upper extremity of which is
jointed at K2 at the end of the lever H and forms its fulcrum.
This lever H is similarly attached at K to the upper end of the plug A and is then
extended to the required length to receive the weight La few inches being usually
sufficient. The weight L is placed on the outer end of this lever and it must be heavy
enough to close the tap effectually. It can be formed solid with the lever or fastener
thereto, or can be allowed to slide to and fro thereon according to the uses to which
the tap is to be applied. The lever may be notched on its upper edge and the weight
formed so as to fit in the notches if preferred, so as to keep the weight from slipping.

page_text: The weighted lever thus forms a handle by lifting which, the tap is opened, and by
letting it fall the tap is closed. It can therefore be made of an ornamental pattern.
By turning the cap before described the lever can be placed in any desired position
around the body of the tap.
For public water supply as a waste-not lock tap in out door positions my tap is
especially suitable as it can be so enclosed that only the nose is exposed to view, and
the lever can be raised by turning a knob forming the end of a small horizontal
spindle, which carries two small flaps or arms, at right angles to its length.
When the knob is turned either way, one of these arms raises the weighted lever
and thus opens the tap. Directly the knob is released the weight falls and the tap is
securely closed.
For greater security the seat of the chamber of the tap can be formed with a
horizontal annular rib projecting upwards, so that the descending india-rubber disc
becomes grooved or channelled by the indentation of this circular rib.
When preferred, to avoid the necessity of holding the weighted lever in the hand
while the liquid is flowing, the weight can be furnished with a fork M as shewn in
Fig. 2 bent so as to rest on the stuffing box and thus by sustaining the weight the fork
keeps the tap open as long as desired.
For Steam valves, asbestos, or other steam proof, packing can be used instead of
india-rubber or a ground metal service may be used to close the valve.
For Gas main-cocks my improved tap is especially suitable, as it cannot become
fixed or clogged by the action of the ammonia in the gas. Moreover from its simple
form of action it can be opened, or closed by a cord from an upper chamber.
My improved tap is equally adapted for low pressure water supply, as the valve
must open when the lever is raised.
My improved tap will also serve as a safety valve in the case of boiler explosions as
it can be set to open at any required pressure. This makes it especially valuable for
use in connection with kitchen boilers, or for bath purposes.
There being no screw thread to wear out it will be very durable in wear, and the
india-rubber or other packing used to close the valve, will last much longer than in
screw down taps having only the pressure of the leverage to bear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
In a tap or valve for water, Gas, Steam and other fluids, the combination of the
lower annular seated valve B with inlet below and outlet above; together with the
piston or plug A, the discs D. E F, the upper annular seat C, the stuffing box G
the lever H with the vibrating standard I, the balance weight L the fork M, and stop
pin N as herein explained and set forth.
Dated this 11th day of October 1888