Improvements in Cocks and Taps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JULES ALBERT ELSNER, of Paris, in the
Republic of France, Civil Engineer, and WILLIAM HAGEMANN, of Berlin,
in the Empire of Germany.]
Improvements in Cocks and Taps.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Inst. Ch. P.A.,
practising as Phillips and Leigh at No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of my invention, is to utilize the pressure of the atmosphere for
keeping the plug of a cock, or tap, firmly secured in its seat.
To effect this, I provide the casing in which the plug works with a hollow
spherical enlargement, so arranged that the bottom of the plug when fixed tight in
its seat, closes it, and prevents communication with the outside air.
To secure the plug in its place, it is first of all removed and the hollow ball
or sphere is heated by a lamp or any other suitable means. The plug is then
slightly greased and re-inserted. As the ball cools a partial vacuum is produced
inside it by the contraction of the previously heated air. The result is, that a
difference is produced between the pressure on the upper and the lower surface of
the plug. This difference of pressure suffices to retain the plug firmly and securely
in its seat.
Where the construction of the tap or cock is such, that the hollow ball cannot be
arranged underneath, as where for instance, the tap is employed to discharge a
liquid vertically downwards, I make use of a somewhat different arrangement. In
this instance the case surrounding the plug is enlarged in the centre so as to form
a ball through which the plug projects, having two seats, one above, and the other
below. The plug is removed and the ball is heated as in the former case, the
result of replacing it and allowing the air to cool inside the ball, being of course
similar.
In either case the desired end of causing the tap to fit tight, and work
hermetically, is attained.
HENRY H. LEIGH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cocks and Taps.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A.,
practising as Phillips & Leigh, at No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the present invention is to utilize atmospheric pressure for the
purpose of keeping the plug or other closing device of a cock down, and in so far to
dispense with the screw devices heretofore used for that purpose.
In order that the invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part
of this Specification and read therewith.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating the application of my invention to a
stop-cock.
Fig. 2 is a sectional longitudinal elevation corresponding therewith.
Fig. 3 is a plan.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 7 is an elevation illustrating the application of my invention to a cock
through the plug of which the liquid is delivered vertically downwards.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 9.
Fig. 9 is a plan, and
Fig. 10 is a horizontal section along the line 10-10 of Fig. 8.
C
Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, a is the cock-barrel, b is the cock-plug and c is the top
of the latter. d is a hollow spherical enlargement of the barrel. The spherical
may be replaced by any other suitable shape. In respect of position, it is
preferable, principally on the score of convenience, that the hollow enlargement
should be underneath and close up to the barrel as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.
The plug is subjected to the pressure of the atmosphere, so as to realise the
object of the invention, in the following manner.
The enlargement d is heated so as to rarefy the air inside it. The plug after
having been greased is pressed down into the barrel, in which it will be held down
by the excess of the pressure of the air upon the top of it over that of the air within
the enlargement upon the bottom of it.
Referring to Figs. 7 to 10, e is the port through the plug b, and as both are
required to present themselves at the bottom of the tap, the enlargement d is placed
around the barrel a. When the invention is applied to the barrel in the manner
just described, the plug is kept in its seat by the pressure upon its top less the
upward pressure from within the enlargement and that upon the transverse area of
the plug from underneath.
It will therefore be understood that the hollow enlargement may be in any
position provided that the exposed surface of the top of the plug is interposed
between the air above it and the junction of the enlargement with the barrel.
Further, it must be understood that the invention is applicable to various kinds
of valves and cocks and is not limited to the particular application illustrated and
described herewith, but includes any application of an atmospheric vacuum to the
purpose of keeping the controlling device,-e.g., the plug, disc or equivalent-in
proper touch with its relative surface during the time that the top is in use whether
open or closed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
--
1. The application of an atmospheric vacuum to the purpose of keeping the
controlling device of a valve or cock in proper touch with its relative surface
during the time that the tap is in use.
2. The combination of plug, barrel and hollow enlargement of the latter, as and
for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of taper plug, barrel and a vacuum chamber communicating
with the latter, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of May 1805
HENRY H. LEIGH,
Chartered Patent Agent.