IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPS OR VALVES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Harvey, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPS OR
VALVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Harvey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1881.
ALFRED HARVEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
“IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPS OR VALVES."
The object of this Invention is to improve and simplify the construction of
water taps or valves, such as are fitted to domestic and other water supply pipes,
and to render the durable, water-tight, and more generally efficient than as
hitherto constructed.
The Invention consists essentially in forming such water taps or valves with a
slightly tapered, conical, or conoidal valve seat through which the water passes,
and fitting thereinto a loose valve formed by a round ball of vulcanised rubber,
pliable leather, vulcanised fibre, or other similar slightly elastic substance which
will withstand the action of water, this ball being pressed on to its seat to form a
water-tight valve against the water pressure by a cup shaped or hollow conical
guide piece for the ball on the inner end of the screw spindle or other usual
equivalent turned by the cock or handle outside.
The improved tap or valve may in other respects be of ordinary construction and
shape or contour, but in a modification adapted for general domestic use the tap
comprises an ordinary inlet tube formed with a cylindrical, or annular, or other
valve chamber rather deeper than usual, into which the water passes through a
conical valvo sent with a rubber ball fitted or resting in it, and from which it
flows by the usual discharge bend. The valve chamber is fitted with a cover or
cap in which the turning cock or screw spindle for opening and closing the valve
is fitted, and a rubber washer is fitted between the cover and chamber casing to
prevent leakage and avoid the necessity for a stuffing box round the working
..מ

page_text: spindle. The spindle passes through the rubber washer or diaphragm, and is fitted
with a cap or conoidal pressing piece which fits over the ball and presses it down
on its seat when the handle or cock is screwed down to shut off the water
supply.
The water is allowed to pass through the valve by simply unscrewing the handle
to relieve the pressure of the cup above the ball, when the pressure of the water
raises the ball off its seat, and opens the orifice for the flow of the water to any
desired extent. Any sand or other foreign matter in the water, or which may
gather between the ball and valve seat, is washed away by the flowing water every
time the valve is opened, and an objectionable feature in ordinary taps or valves
which are cut or destroyed by sand is thus removed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Harvey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1881.
ALFRED HARVEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
* IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPS OR VALVES."
The object of my said Invention is to improve and simplify the construction of
water taps or valves such as are fitted to domestic and other water supply pipes,
and to render them durable, water-tight, and more generally efficient than as
hitherto constructed.
The Invention consists essentially in forming such water-taps or valves with a
slightly tapered, conical, or conoidal valve seat through which the water passes,
and fitting thereinto a loose valve formed by a round ball of vulcanized rubber,
pliable leather, vulcanised fibre, or other similar slightly elastic substance which
will withstand the action of water, this ball being pressed on to its seat to form a
water-tight valve by the water pressure, or against it by a cup-shaped or hollow
conical guide piece for the ball on the inner end of the screw spindle or other usual
equivalent turned by a cock or handle outside. The improved tap or valvo may
in other respects be of ordinary construction and shape or contour.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended for that purpose two Sheets
of explanatory Drawings to be hereinafter referred to, and representing modifi-
cations of my improved water taps or valves, and applications of them to various
purposes. In these Drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same
or like parts where repeated in the several Figures.
Figuro 1 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of a
simple construction of tap, such as is used for supplying water to jaw-boxes, baths,
lavatories, and for general domestic use. In this modification the tap comprises
an ordinary inlet tube A formed with a cylindrical, or annular, or other valvo
chamber A, rather deeper than usual, into which the water passes through a
conical valve seat with a rubber ball B fitted or resting in it, and from which
the water flows by the usual discharge bend or noze A The valvo chamber A' is
fitted with a cover or cap C, in which the turning cock D and screw spindle D' for
opening and closing the valve is fitted, and a rubber washer c is fitted between the
cover C and chamber casing A¹ to prevent leakage and avoid the necessity for a
stuffing box round the working spindle D. The spindle D' passes through the
rubber washer or diaphragm c, and is fitted with a cap or conoidal pressing piece Bl
which fits over the ball B and presses it down on its seat when the handle or
cock D is screwed down to shut-off the water supply. The screw spindle D' is
formed with a cross bar D at its lower end, free to nove in vertical guides d in
the cover C, and the turning cock D has a nut D³ secured to it, which when the
cock is turned causes the cup B' to press down the ball B or free it for the passago
of the water. The water is allowed to pass through the valve b by simply
unscrewing the handle D to relieve the pressure of the water which raises the
ball B off its seat b, and opens the orifice for the flow of the water to any desired
extent.
Any sand or other foreign matter in the water, or which may gather between
the ball and valve sent, is washed away by the flowing water every time the valve
is opened, and an objectional feature in ordinary taps or valves which are cut or
destroyed by sand is thus removed.
Figure 2 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings is a front elevation, and Figure 3 is a
longitudinal vertical section of a tap or valvo for domestic use, similar to that
'

page_text: shown and described in reference to Figure 1, but fitted with a common form of
jointed crane or supply pipe E used particularly in connection with jaw-boxes.
Figure 4 of the Drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of the same con-
struction of water tap fitted in combination with a supply regulating arrangement,
which comprises a close cylindrical casing F formed or fitted on the outlet A' from
the improved tap, and provided with a valve seat fand discharge pipe E at its
upper end. A concentric annular chamber or casing F¹ opeu above is fitted with
the casing F, and in this chamber F' is fitted a rubber faced piston valve, which
in its normal position rests on the bottom of the inner casing F', which has a small
opening in its lower closed end.
When water is admitted through the tap it flows through the casing F towards
the discharge pipe E, but a portion of the water flows through the opening f³ in
the lower end of the casing F and gradually presses up the piston valvo f¹ until
it rises within the inner casing F¹ and closes against the valve seat to prevent
the passage of water. By this means only a definite quantity of water is supplied
at each action or opening of the tap and the amount can be regulated by the size
of opening and length of the casing F¹. A very small hole is formed in the
rubber or leather face of the valve f¹ to prevent the formation of a vacuum by the
outflowing water in the pipe E when the valve f' is closed, and thus to ensure the
falling of the valve f1 to its normal position when the supply tap is closed.
Figure 5 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings shows an application of my Invention
to supply taps for service boxes or cisterns for water closets and for similar use, and
Figure 6 is a cross section of the discharge outlet and valve spindle. The inlet
tube A is formed with a hollow conoidal end A¹ to which a similarly formed or
cup shaped end of the outlet A2 is jointed, the latter forming a seat at b for the
ball or valve B which is in the normal position closed against the seat by the
pressure over it of the water from the main. The valve spindle D' is connected
with the usual float lover 7 and when the float g¹ falls by the lowering of the
water level within the cistern G, the spindle D' is raised and lifts the ball valve B
off its seat, and water passes through grooves or channels d' cut in the spindle D' to
the cistern. This form of supply tap is shown applied to a service box in Figure 8,
which is also shown fitted with a waste preventing supply valve arrangement of
the construction shown in vertical section in Figure 7. This waste preventing
apparatus comprises an outer cylindrical casing F and inner concentric tubular
casing F somewhat similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 4. The casing F
has an outlet opening in its upper end closed by a valve H on a vertical spindle H¹,
passing through a closing diaphragin c. This valve spindle H is connected to a
jointed lever H attached by a wire h to the ordinary lever h³, which is acted on by
pulling the closet handle to raise the valve H and allow water to flow from the
cistern G through the casing F, F, valve seat f, and discharge outlet E. The flow
of the water entering the inner casing through the opening fat its lower end
forces up a ball B placed within it, until it rises against and closes the upper
opening or valve seat fand prevents the further outflow of water. A fixed
quantity of water only is by this means allowed to flush the closet at each action
of the handle, and when the handle is let go the valve H falls and closes on its seat,
at the same time pressing down the ball B to its normal position at the bottom of
the casing F¹.
Figure 9 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of an
arrangement of water waste preventing apparatus F, F', the same as shown in
Figure 4, and described in reference thereto, but fitted in combination with n
modified form of my improved tap, which comprises a valvo chamber A¹ to which
the water is admitted by an inlet tube A from the main, and from which it flows
by an outlet valve band tube A² to the regulating valve chambers F, FL, and
discharge pipe E. A rubber or other elastic ball B is fitted within the chamber A',
and in its normal position closes on the valve seat b. by the pressure of the water
behind it. A short spindle D¹ is fitted through the chamber A¹ with a forked
end d' embracing the tubular valve scat b below the ball.

page_text: This spindle D' is connected to a lever arm H acted on by the pull of the closet
handle, and when so acted on it raises the spindle D' and thereby lifts the ball B
off its seat to allow the water to flow freely through the valve seat b.
When the closet handle is released the spindle D' falls again and allows the
ball B to close against the seat b.
Figure 10 is a vertical section of a water-closet fitted with the improved tap
and regulating supply arrangement last described and shown in Figure 9. The
lever arm H opening and closing the ball valve B, b, is connected by a pin and
alot i to a long rod 1' attached to the closet handle I, to which is also connected a
lever J, which when the handle I is pulled lowers a rubber faced drum or piston
valve J' to allow the closet basin J to be emptied through the discharge bond or
trap J. The same action of the handle which empties the closet basin admits the
water to it by raising the ball B of the improved tap and allowing the water to
flow through the casings F, F, and discharge pipe E leading to the basin, the
supply of water being determined or limited by the time it takes for the valve f¹
to rise and close against its upper seat f. A branch is fitted to the pipe E leading
into a small close box or cistern K, and when the water under pressure is flowing
towards the closet basin part of it ascends the tube k into the cistern K. From
this cistern K the water, which has accumulated during the flushing of the closet,
escapes by a small discharge pipe k' into the closet basin to serve as an after flush.
A small tube e is fitted in connection with the casing F to relieve the pressure of
the water on the valve f¹ when closed, and allow it to fall from its scat ƒ when the
ball valve B, b, is closed.
Figure 11 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings is a vertical section of my improved tap,
similar to that shown applied in Figures 9 and 10, but designed in this case for
supplying definite quantities of water to jaw-boxes, wash-hand basins, and the
like. The valve chamber A¹ is fitted with a tubular outlet A' which forms a sent
at b for the rubber ball valve B, which in its normal position closes the outlet by
reason of the water pressure acting on the ball. A spindle D' fitted with a knob Ď
outside, and passing through a stuffing box in the chamber A', is formed with
a forked crosshead d² inside, embracing the outlet valve seat b, and when the
knob D is pressed, it raises the ball B off its seat and allows the water to flow
freely. The suction of the outflowing water and the pressure on the ball B cause
it to press back the spindle D', d, and close the outlet, and the supply of water is
limited by the time taken to press back the spindle D', which on account of the
friction of the packing in the stuffing box moves slowly.
Figure 12 is a vertical section showing an application of my improvements to
pumps and water feeding apparatus. A rubber ball B is fitted in the chamber A¹
to bear on a seat b on the inlet A, and a screw spindle D' and wheel D fitted at
the lower end with a pressing cup B¹ are provided for keeping the ball valve B, b,
closed, and to open it by turning the spindle D₁ and relieving the pressure over
the ball; Figure 13 is a vertical section of my improved valve applied to feeding
apparatus for steam boilers and the like. A rubber ball B is fitted within the
chamber A' and is raised off its seat b by the pressure of the water entering by the
inlet A, the extent to which the ball rises being limited by the cup B' on the end
of the screw spindle D' which is fitted with a nut D outside for adjustment.
When the pressure of the water entering the inlet A¹ is lower than the boiler
pressure, or the water supply is shut off, the tendency of the water to return
through the discharge outlet A causes the ball B to close on its seat b and closes
the valve effectually.
Figures 14 and 15 aro vertical sections of pumps to which my improved valves
are shown applied. The reciprocation of the rain or plunger L causes the ball B
at the inlet orifice A to open and close against its seat, while the ball B at the
outlet orifice A closes or opens on its seat b* in a manner similar to the action of
ordinary clack valves. Guard rings bare provided to prevent the balls B, B*,
being carried away from their seats with the water.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of

page_text: performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herciu before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The construction and arrangement of water taps or valves in which the
supply or passage of water is controlled by means of a vulcanised rubber or other
similar elastic ball fitting on a valve seat formed by the inlet or outlet, and opened
or closed by the action of a moving spindle, substantially as herein described in
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The arrangement of a water supply tap or valve in which the admission
of water is controlled by a vulcanised rubber or similar elastic ball closing on the
inlet or outlet, in combination with waste preventing and regulating apparatus for
baths, lavatories, water-closets, and similar purposes, substantially as hercin
described in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Harvey, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-one.
Witness,
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E.,
Of W. R. M. Thomson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Glasgow.
ALFRED HARVEY. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Harvey, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPs or
VALERS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Harvey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1881.
ALFRED HARVEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPS OR VALVES."
The object of this Invention is to improve and simplify the construction of
water taps or valves, such as are fitted to domestic and other water supply pipes,
and to render them durable, water-tight, and more generally efficient than as
hitherto constructed.
The Invention consists essentially in forming such water taps or valves with a
slightly tapered, conical, or conoidal valve seat through which the water passes,
and fitting thereinto a loose valve formed by a round ball of vulcanised rubber,
pliable leather, vulcanised fibre, or other similar slightly elastic substanco which
will withstand the action of water, this ball being pressed on to its seat to form a
water-tight valve against the water pressure by a cup shaped or hollow conical
guide piece for the ball on the inner end of the screw spindle or other usual
equivalent turned by the cock or handle outside.
The improved tap or valve may in other respects be of ordinary construction and
shape or contour, but in a modification adapted for general domestic use the tap
comprises an ordinary inlet tube formed with a cylindrical, or annular, or other
valve chamber rather deeper than usual, into which the water passes through a
conical valve seat with a rubber ball fitted or resting in it, and from which it
flows by the usual discharge bend. The valve chamber is fitted with a cover or
cap in which the turning cock or screw spindle for opening and closing the valve
is fitted, and a rubber washer is fitted between the cover and chamber casing to
prevent leakage and avoid the necessity for a stuffing box round the working
....

page_text: spindle. The spindle passes through the rubber washer or diaphragm, and is fitted
with a cap or conoidal pressing piece which fits over the ball and presses it down
on its seat when the handle or cock is screwed down to shut off the water
supply.
The water is allowed to pass through the valve by simply unscrewing the handle
to relieve the pressure of the cup above the ball, when the pressure of the water
raises the ball off its seat, and opens the orifice for the flow of the water to any
desired extent. Any sand or other foreign matter in the water, or which may
gather between the ball and valve seat, is washed away by the flowing water every
time the valve is opened, and an objectionable feature in ordinary taps or valves
which are cut or destroyed by sand is thus removed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Harvey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1881.
ALFRED HARVEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER TAPS OR VALVES."
The object of my said Invention is to improve and simplify the construction of
water taps or valves such as are fitted to domestic and other water supply pipes,
and to render them durable, water-tight, and more generally efficient than as
hitherto constructed.
The Invention consists essentially in forming such water-taps or valves with a
slightly tapered, conical, or conoidal valve sent through which the water passes,
and fitting thereinto a loose valve formed by a round ball of vulcanized rubber,
pliable leather, vulcanised fibre, or other similar slightly elastic substance which
will withstand the action of water, this ball being pressed on to its seat to form a
water-tight valve by the water pressure, or against it by a cup-shaped or hollow
conical guide piece for the ball on the inner end of the screw spindle or other usual
equivalent turned by a cock or handle outside. The improved tap or valve may
in other respects be of ordinary construction and shape or contour.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended for that purpose two Sheets
of explanatory Drawings to be hereinafter referred to, and representing modifi-
cations of my improved water taps or valves, and applications of them to various
purposes. In these Drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same
or like parts where repeated in the several Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of a
simple construction of tap, such as is used for supplying water to jaw-boxes, baths,
lavatories, and for general domestic use. In this modification the tap comprises
an ordinary inlet tube A formed with a cylindrical, or annular, or other valve
chamber A¹, rather deeper than usual, into which the water passes through a
conical valve seat with a rubber ball B fitted or resting in it, and from which
the water flows by the usual discharge bend or noze A². The valvo chamber A' is
fitted with a cover or cap C, in which the turning cock D and screw spindle D¹ for
opening and closing the valve is fitted, and a rubber washer c is fitted between the
cover C and chamber casing A' to prevent leakage and avoid the necessity for a
stuffing box round the working spindle D. The spindle D' passes through the
rubber washer or diaphragm c, and is fitted with a cap or conoidal pressing piece B¹
which fits over the ball B and presses it down on its seat when the handle or
cock D is screwed down to shut-off the water supply. The screw spindle D' is
formed with a cross bar D at its lower end, free to move in vertical guides & in
the cover C, and the turning cock D has a nut D³ secured to it, which when the
cock is turned causes the cup B' to press down the ball B or free it for the passage
of the water. The water is allowed to pass through the valve b by simply
unscrewing the handle D to relieve the pressure of the water which raises the
ball B off its seat b, and opens the orifice for the flow of the water to any desired
extent.
Any sand or other foreign matter in the water, or which may gather between
the ball and valve seat, is washed away by the flowing water every time the valve
is opened, and an objectional feature in ordinary taps or valves which are cut or
destroyed by sand is thus removed.
Figure 2 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings is a front elevation, and Figure 3 is a
ongitudinal vertical section of a tap or valve for domestic use, similar to that

page_text: shown and described in reference to Figure 1, but fitted with a common form of
jointed crane or supply pipe E used particularly in connection with jaw-boxes.
Figure 4 of the Drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of the same con-
struction of water tap fitted in combination with a supply regulating arrangement,
which comprises a close cylindrical casing F formed or fitted on the outlet A' from 5
the improved tap, and provided with a valve seat fand discharge pipe E at its
upper end. A concentric annular chamber or casing F¹ open above is fitted with
the casing F, and in this chamber F¹ is fitted a rubber faced piston valve f", which
in its normal position rests on the bottom of the inner casing F', which has a small
opening in its lower closed end.
When water is admitted through the tap it flows through the casing F towards
the discharge pipe E, but a portion of the water flows through the opening f" in
the lower end of the casing F and gradually presses up the piston valve f¹ until
it rises within the inner casing F¹ and closes against the valve seat f to prevent
the passage of water. By this means only a definite quantity of water is supplied
at each action or opening of the tap and the amount can be regulated by the size
of opening and length of the casing F¹. A very small hole is formed in the
rubber or leather face of the valve f¹ to prevent the formation of a vacuum by the
outflowing water in the pipe E when the valve f¹ is closed, and thus to ensure the
falling of the valve f¹ to its normal position when the supply tap is closed.
Figure 5 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings shows an application of my Invention
to supply taps for service boxes or cisterns for water closets and for similar use, and
Figuro is a cross section of the discharge outlet and valve spindle. The inlet
tube A is formed with a hollow conoidal end A¹ to which a similarly formed or
cup shaped end of the outlet A is jointed, the latter forming a seat at b for the
ball or valve B which is in the normal position closed against the seat by the
pressure over it of the water from the main. The valve spindle D' is connected
with the usual float lever g and when the float g' falls by the lowering of the
water level within the cistern G, the spindle D' is raised and lifts the ball valve B
off its seat, and water passes through grooves or channels d¹ cut in the spindle D¹ to
the cistern. This form of supply tap is shown applied to a service box in Figure 8,
which is also shown fitted with a waste preventing supply valve arrangement of
the construction shown in vertical section in Figure 7. This wasto preventing
apparatus comprises an outer cylindrical casing F and inner concentric tubular
casing somewhat similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 4. The casing I
has an outlet opening in its upper end closed by a valve H on a vertical spindle H¹,
passing through a closing diaphragm c. This valve spindle H' is connected to a
jointed lever H² attached by a wire / to the ordinary lever h', which is acted on by
pulling the closet handle to raise the valve H and allow water to flow from the
cistern G through the casing F, F', valve seat f, and discharge outlet E. The flow
of the water entering the inner casing through the opening fat its lower end
forces up a ball B placed within it, until it rises against and closes the upper
A fixed
opening or valve seat f and prevents the further outflow of water.
quantity of water only is by this means allowed to flush the closet at each action
of the handle, and when the handle is let go the valve H falls and closes on its seat,
at the same time pressing down the ball B to its normal position at the bottom of
the casing F¹.
Figure 9 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of an
arrangement of water waste preventing apparatus F, F', the same as shown in
Figure 4, and described in reference thereto, but fitted in combination with a
modified form of my improved tap, which comprises a valve chamber A' to which
the water is admitted by an inlet tube A from the main, and from which it flows
by an outlet valve band tube A³ to the regulating valve chambers F, F, and
discharge pipe E. A rubber or other elastic ball B is fitted within the chamber A'
and in its normal position closes on the valve seat b by the pressure of the water
behind it. A short spindle D' is fitted through the chamber A' with a forked
end d' embracing the tubular valve scat b below the ball.

page_text: This spindle D' is connected to a lever arm H2 acted on by the pull of the closet
handle, and when so acted on it raises the spindle D' and thereby lifts the ball B
off its seat to allow the water to flow freely through the valve seat b.
When the closet handle is released the spindle D' falls again and allows the
ball B to close against the seat b.
Figure 10 is a vertical section of a water-closet fitted with the improved tap
and regulating supply arrangement last described and shown in Figure 9. The
lever arm H opening and closing the ball valve B, b, is connected by a pin and
slot to a long rod I attached to the closet handle I, to which is also connected a
lever J, which when the handle I is pulled lowers a rubber faced drum or piston
valve J' to allow the closet basin J2 to be emptied through the discharge bend or
trap J. The same action of the handle which empties the closet basin admits the
water to it by raising the ball B of the improved tap and allowing the water to
flow through the casings F, F, and discharge pipe E leading to the basin, the
supply of water being determined or limited by the time it takes for the valve f¹
to rise and close against its upper seat f. A branch & is fitted to the pipe E lending
into a small close box or cistern K, and when the water under pressure is flowing
towards the closet basin part of it ascends the tube into the cistern K. From
this cistern K the water, which has accumulated during the flushing of the closet,
escapes by a small discharge pipe k' into the closet basin to serve as an after flush.
A small tube e is fitted in connection with the casing F to relievo the pressure of
the water on the valve f' when closed, and allow it to fall from its seat ƒ when the
ball valve B, b, is closed.
Figure 11 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings is a vertical section of my improved tap,
similar to that shown applied in Figures 9 and 10, but designed in this case for
supplying definite quantities of water to jaw-boxes, wash-hand basins, and the
like. The valve chamber A¹ is fitted with a tubular outlet A' which forms a seat
at b for the rubber ball valve B, which in its normal position closes the outlet by
reason of the water pressure acting on the ball. A spindle D' fitted with a knob Ď
outside, and. passing through a stuffing box in the chamber A', is formed with
a forked crosshead d² inside, embracing the outlet valve scat b, and when the
knob D is pressed, it raises the ball B off its seat and allows the water to flow
freely. The suction of the outflowing water and the pressure on the ball B cause
it to press back the spindle D', d³, and close the outlet, and the supply of water is
limited by the time taken to press back the spindle D', which on account of the
friction of the packing in the stuffing box moves slowly.
Figure 12 is a vertical section showing an application of my improvements to
pumps and water feeding apparatus. A rubber ball B is fitted in the chamber A¹
to bear on a seat b on the inlet A, and a screw spindle D' and wheel D fitted at
the lower end with a pressing cup B₁ are provided for keeping the ball valve B, b,
closed, and to open it by turning the spindle D' and relieving the pressure over
the ball; Figure 13 is a vertical section of my improved valve applied to feeding
apparatus for steam boilers and the like. A rubber ball B is fitted within the
chamber A' and is raised off its seat b by the pressure of the water entering by the
inlet A, the extent to which the ball rises being limited by the cup B' on the end
of the screw spindle D' which is fitted with a nut D outside for adjustment.
When the pressure of the water entering the inlet A¹ is lower than the boiler
pressure, or the water supply is shut off, the tendency of the water to return
through the discharge outlet A³ causes the ball B to close on its seat b and closes
the valve effectually.
Figures 14 and 15 are vertical sections of pumps to which my improved valves
are shown applied. The reciprocation of the ram or plunger L causes the ball B
at the inlet orifice A to open and close against its seat, while the ball B* at the
outlet orifice A² closes or opens on its seat b* in a manner similar to the action of
ordinary clack valves. Guard rings b' are provided to prevent the balls B, B*,
being carried away from their seats with the water.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of

page_text: performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and
thereforo claim as the Invention secured to me by the bereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction and arrangement of water taps or valves in which the
supply or passage of water is controlled by means of a vulcanised rubber or other
similar elastic ball fitting on a valve seat formed by the inlet or outlet, and opened
or closed by the action of a moving spindle, substantially as herein described in
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The arrangement of a water supply tap or valve in which the admission
of water is controlled by a vulcanised rubber or similar elastic ball closing on the
inlet or outlet, in combination with waste preventing and regulating apparatus for
baths, lavatories, water-closets, and similar purposes, substantially as herein
described in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Harvey, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-one.
Witness,
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E.,
Of W. R. M. Thomson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Glasgow.
ALFRED HARVEY. (L.S.)