An Improvement in or relating to Self-closing Taps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in or relating to Self-closing Taps.
1. ОTHO HENRY STEED, Junior, of 17 St. Paul's Road, Tottenham, County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a water or like draw off tap for domestic supply or
service pipes, the object being to manufacture a tap that shall be self closing and the
water effectually shut off by the valve falling on its seating and be pressed thereon
by the back weight of water in the pipes, this happening automatically the moment
the handle is set free.
The tap has no springs or other internal impediments.
For the purpose of my invention, I provide an internal screw threaded barrel
or casing, the upper end of which is enlarged for the reception of a drop valve and
of a closing cap. The valve is on the upper end of an exteriorly threaded tube with
holes near the top but said holes are closable by descent of the tube within the neck
of a cup or other seating.
The top of the tube is fitted with a stud and collar which may be used plain, or be
provided with a washer to sit upon a cup or other seating recessed into the neck of
the barrel or casing.
The lower end of the interior fitting tube has a wing shaped handle to enable
it to be turned by an upward twist of the thumb of a person who must hold the
wing in the raised position while the water is running because the moment the wing
is released the weight of the internal tube and the wing coupled with the pressure
of water on the head of the valve causes the internal screw threaded tube to reverse
its twist and fall until the valve rests upon its seating and shuts off the flow, the
weight of water in the pipes then pressing on the valve and moving the valve closer
home for effectually sealing the passage.
The tap barrel has the ordinary branch for pipe connection and a stop to limit the
uprising twist motion of the wing which alone lifts the valve from its seating and
leaves a free water way to the interior of the tube.
Tate this 6th day of August 1896
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Otho Henry Steed, Junior.
An Improvement in or relating to Self-closing Taps.
I, OTHO HENRY STEED, Junior, of 17 St. Paul's Road, Tottenham, County of
Middlesex, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to a water or like draw off tap for domestic supply or
service pipes, the object being to manufacture a tap that shall be self-closing and
the water effectually shut off by the valve falling on its seating and be pressed
thereon by the back weight of water in the pipes, this happening automatically the
moment the handle is set free.

page_text: Ine tap nas no springs or other internal impediments.
For the purpose of my invention, I provide an internal screw threaded barrel
or casing, the upper end of which is enlarged for the reception of a drop valve
and of a closing cap.
The valve is on the upper end of an exteriorly threaded tube with holes near
the top but said holes are closable by descent of the tube within the neck of a cup or
other seating.
The top of the tube is fitted with a stud and collar which may be used plain, or be
provided with a washer to sit upon a cup or other seating recessed into the neck of
the barrel or casing.
The lower end of the interior fitting tube has a wing shaped handle to enable
it to be turned by an upward twist of the thumb of a person who must hold the
wing in the raised position while the water is running because the moment the wing
is released the weight of the internal tube and the wing coupled with the pressure
of water on the head of the valve causes the internal screw threaded tube to
reverse its twist and fall until the valve rests upon its seating and shuts off the
flow, the weight of water in the pipes then pressing on the valve and moving the
valve closer home for effectually sealing the passage.
The tap barrel has the ordinary branch for pipe connection and a stop to limit the
uprising twist motion of the wing which alone lifts the valve from its seating and
leaves a free water way to the interior of the tube.
My invention is clearly represented on the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 sectional elevation of tap complete with valve off its seating and wing
handle turned to the right.
Figure 2 section of barrel on line a, a, Figure 1.
Figure 3 corresponding sectional elevation of internal tube.
Figure 4 external elevation of tap with wing handle dropped to the left at which
position the valve would be on its seating.
Figure 5 plan view with cap removed.
Figure 6 plan section through line b, b, of Figure 1.
A, barrel. B, enlarged head. C, cap screw threaded and cramped home in
head B. D, branch of barrel for attachment to service or supply pipe. E, seating
in recess in neck of barrel A. F, internal tube. G, G, holes near top thereof.
H, valve (plain or with a washer). I, screw thread on tube F engaging in internally
threaded portion of barrel A. J, wing handle or thumb piece secured by collar J' on
lower end of tube F and standing up therefrom. K, stop on barrel A.
:
The screw threads in barrel A and on tube F may be at any desired pitch to suit
high or low pressure of water, the valve being positively watertight when on its
seating against which it is put into contact, first by the weight of the tube F and
wing J by their free drop and reverse twist, and finally by the weight of the head
of water in the service or supply pipes pressing on the top of the valve H.
In building up the tap, the several parts being prepared ready, the tube F is
inserted through the enlarged head B for its thread I to engage with the internal
thread of the barrel A, down which it twists until the lower end projects for the
reception of the collar of the wing handle J which is secured by solder or rivet
pin, as desired. Next, the cap C screwed into the head B of the barrel A.
By this construction and arrangement of wing handle J it is not possible for
an attachment of a garden hose as to an ordinary nozzle of a tap, nor can the wing
handle be held in an open condition except by some extraneous means.
The tube F has a double row of holes G, G, so that when the wing handle J
is being turned, the flow of water can be regulated to suit requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A self-closing tap consisting of internally screw threaded barrel A with enlarged

page_text: head B, cap C, valve seating E, externally screw threaded tube F, valve H,
holes G, G, wing J, all combined and acting for the purpose specified.
2. In combination, the screw thread tube F with lift valve H having vertical
action in screw threaded barrel A, the wing handle J secured by a collar J' to
projecting end of tube F and having uprising circular motion around barrel A, as
specified.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Otho Henry Steed, Junior.