Improvements in Taps or Cocks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Taps or Cocks.
I FRANCIS BREEDEN of the firm of Joseph Breeden and Company Limited of
New Mill Works Fazeley Street Birminghain in the County of Warwick Manu-
facturers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
--
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the
construction and arrangement of the parts of taps or cocks whereby great efficiency
in action and simplicity in construction are secured. Taps or cocks made according
to my invention are in consequence of the simplicity of their construction not liable
to get out of order.
Taps or cocks made according to my invention are especially suited for use
with water and liquids but may also be used with steam and gas.
Taps or cocks made according to my invention have nearly the same figure
externally as an ordinary water tap but internally. I construct and arrange the
parts as follows. The inlet pipe of the tap opens into the bottom of a pipe situated
in the axis of the barrel of the tap. I will call this pipe the axial pipe. The said
axial pipe is open at top and immediately above it is a circular valve which by
being raised from or pressed upon the open top of the axial pipe opens or closes the.
tap. Between the axial pipe and the interior of the barrel is an inverted cup. or
bell having on its exterior a screw thread which takes into a corresponding screw
thread in the interior of the barrel. By a screwing motion the said bell may be
raised or lowered in the barrel. When the said bell is screwed down to its lowest
position it presses the circular valve on the top of the axial pipe and closes the
When by an unscrewing motion the bell is raised the circular valve is
liberated and is raised by the pressure of the liquid in the axial pipe which liquid
flowing over the top of the axial pipe descends in the annular space between the
axial pipe and the interior of the bell. Into this space the outlet pipe opens by
which pipe the liquid passes from the tap. The bell is surmounted by a thumb
plate or key head by which the bell is turned and the tap opened or closed.
water way.
The underside of the circular valve has a packing of leather india-rubber or the
like for making it fit tightly on the top of the axial pipe.
The range of the rising and falling motion of the bell is limited by a pin screwed
into the barrel the end of which pin takes into a groove in the bell and limits the
rising and falling motion of the bell to the breadth of the said groove.
A portion of the interior of the barrel and of the exterior of the bell may be
plain that is without screw threads and a ring packing may be fitted on the bell to
make it work air and water tight within the barrel.
When desirable the circular valve may be connected with the top of the bell and
raised by the raising of the bell instead of by the pressure of the liquid under it;
and instead of making it screw into the interior of the barrel it may be screwed
onto the exterior of the barrel.
Or the screw by which the bell is raised and lowered may be on the stem carrying
the bell the concave screw in which it works being made in the neck of the cap
covering the top of the barrel. In this case the lower part of the bell may be made
of leather and may fit the barrel watertight.
Dated this 26th day of April 1890.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Taps or Cocks.
I FRANCIS BREEDEN of the firm of Joseph Breeden and Company Limited of
New Mill Works Fazeley Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick Manu-
facturers do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the con-
struction and arrangement of the parts of taps or cocks whereby great efficiency in
action and simplicity in construction are secured. Taps or cocks made according
to my invention are in consequence of the simplicity of their construction not liable
to get out of order.
Taps or cocks made according to my invention are especially suited for use with
water and liquids but may also be used with steam and gas.
Taps or cocks made according to my invention have nearly the same figure
externally as an ordinary water tap but internally I construct and arrange the parts
as follows. The inlet pipe of the tap opens into the bottom of a pipe situated in
the axis of the barrel of the tap. I will call this pipe the axial pipe. The said
axial pipe is open at top and immediately above it is a circular valve which by
being raised from or pressed upon the open top of the axial pipe opens or closes the
tap. Between the axial pipe and the interior of the barrel is an inverted cup or
bell having on its exterior a screw thread which takes into a corresponding
screw thread in the interior of the barrel. By a screwing motion the said bell may
be raised or lowered in the barrel. When the said bell is screwed down to its
lowest position it presses the circular valve on the top of the axial pipe and closes
the waterway.
When by an unscrewing motion the bell is raised the circular
valve is liberated and is raised by the pressure of the liquid in the axial pipe which
liquid flowing over the top of the axial pipe descends in the annular space between
the axial pipe and the interior of the bell. Into this space the outlet pipe opens
by which pipe the liquid passes from the tap. The bell is surmounted by a thumb
plate or key head by which the bell is turned and the tap opened or closed.
The underside of the circular valve has a packing of leather india rubber or the
like for making it fit tightly on the top of the axial pipe.
A portion of the interior of the barrel and of the exterior of the bell may be plain,
that is, without screw threads and a ring packing may be fitted on the bell to make
it work air and water tight within the barrel.
When desirable the circular valve may be connected with the top of the bell and
raised by the raising of the bell instead of by the pressure of the liquid under it, and
instead of making it screw into the interior of the barrel it may be screwed onto the
exterior of the barrel.
Or the screw by which the bell is raised and lowered may be on the stem carrying
the bell, the concave screw in which it works being made in the neck of the cap
covering the top of the barrel. In this case the lower part of the bell may be made
of leather and may fit the barrel watertight.
I will proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section a liquid tap or cock the valve
being raised and the tap open, the parts of the said tap or cock being constructed
and combined according to one of the arrangements of my invention; a is the inlet
pipe of the tap opening at bottom into the axial pipe 6, open at top, and c is the
outlet pipe, the direction of the current of liquid through the tap or cock being
indicated by the arrows; d is the barrel of the tap. Immediately above the open
top of the axial pipe is a loose circular valve e the said valve being hollow and
provided with the packing marked. When the valve e, e' is raised from the
open top of the axial pipe 6 (which open top constitutes the annular seat of the

page_text: valve) the tap is open as represented and liquid from the inlet pipe a rising in
the axial pipe 6 flows over the top of the said pipe b into the outlet pipe c.
When
the valve e, e is pressed down upon the top or seat of the axial pipe b the tap is
closed. The loose valve e e² is pressed to its seat to close the tap by the inverted
cup or bell within which the valve is situated, the stem of the valve taking into
an axial hole in the solid top of the bell. The valve is lifted from its seat to
open the tap by the pressure of the liquid in the axial pipe b when the bell is raised.
The lower part of the exterior of the bell is screwed and works in a concave screw in
the interior of the barrel d. The belly is raised and lowered by the thumb plate
or key head . The top of the barrel d is closed by the screw cap g. The axial
pipe 6 has a solid back at so that the liquid passing over the top or seat of the
said axial pipe escapes only at the side which is presented to the outlet pipe c.
The action of the tap is as follows:-When the bell is turned by its key head f
in the direction proper for closing the tap the screwed part of the bell advancing in
the internally screwed barrel d forces before it the loose valve e e² and presses the
packed face of the said valve to the annular seat or top of the axial pipe band
closes the tap. By reversing the screwing motion of the bell it is raised in
the barrel d and the loose valve e 2 being liberated is raised by the pressure
of the liquid in the axial pipe and opens the tap as represented in the drawing
and the liquid flowing over the top of the axial pipe descends in the space
between the axial pipe and the interior of the bell to the outlet pipe as indicated by
the arrows.
The rising motion of the bell is limited by a shoulder on it bearing
against the screwed closing cap 9;.
Figure 2 represents in longitudinal vertical section and Figure 3 in horizontal
section (taken through the barrel, bell and axial pipe) a modification of the tap
last described. In this tap the screwed part of the bell works upon a screw
on the outside of the axial pipe and the liquid when the loose valve e has been
raised flows over the top or seat of the axial pipe band escapes to the outlet
pipe e by vertical passages f³, f³ in the bell instead of descending in the space
between the bell and the axial pipe. The action of the tap Figures 2 and 3 is the
same as that represented in Figure 1 and corresponding parts in both arrangements
are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 4 represents the arrangement of my invention in which the bell screws
outside the barrel instead of inside the barrel or upon the axial pipe, the
interior of the barrel and the exterior of the bell being plain. The bell in this
modification is made at its base with two concentric tubes marked respectively f
and, the outer tube being screwed internally for screwing upon the barrel d.
The inner tube f* is plain and works in the annular space between the barrel d
and axial pipe b. Or the long internal tubular part of the bell may be made
separate from the external screwing part fand key head f' and the separate internal
part of the bell be fitted with a valve or packing and be made to constitute a long
loose valve in place of the short loose valve represented in the said Figure 4.
Figure 5 represents the arrangement of my invention in which the bell is raised
and lowered and the loose valve e pressed down or permitted to rise by the stem ƒ³
of the bell being screwed and taking into a concave screw in the neck of the cap g
covering the top of the barrel d.
The key head in this arrangement must be made separate from the bell and its
stem and the parts connected together by soldering after the screw has been
engaged with the screw cap g. The action of this tap is the same as that of the
taps hereinbefore described and corresponding parts are marked with the same
letters of reference.
Figure 6 represents in longitudinal section and Figure 7 in plan a tap in which
the screwed bell is raised and lowered in the barrel by an arm or lever; f is the
bell screwing into the interior of the barrel d as described with respect to Figure 1;
e is the loose valve pressed upon the top of the axial pipe b by the descent of the
screwed bell and lifted from the said axial pipe, when the bell is raised, by the
pressure of the liquid in the said axial pipe; a is the inlet pipe and c the outlet

page_text: pipe is an arm or lever passed through a loop on the top of the bell and i is a
stop on the barrel d by which the motion of the arm or lever to raise and lower
the bell is limited to nearly a circle in either direction.
In
Figure 8 represents a self closing tap constructed according to my invention.
this arrangement the bell has a sliding motion in the barrel and is raised to lift
the valve e carried by the bell to open the tap by a lever and pressed down to
close the tap by a coiled spring 7 between the top of the bell and the underside of
the cap g. The stem of the bell is prolonged upwards and the lever k is passed.
through it. A loose valve or a packing may be situated in the interior of
the bell.
Figure 9 represents the last described arrangement modified to fit it for use as a
ball cock; is the bell working horizontally in the barrel d of the ball cock and
carrying at its closed end the valve or packing e; is the axial pipe on the open
end of which the valve or packing of the bell seats itself when the said bell is
pressed inwards by the rising in the cistern of the arm m carrying the ball or float,
the projection m² of the float arm m bearing against the closed top of the bell and
pressing the valve or packing to its seat as represented in the drawing. On the
descent of the ball or float the pressure of the float arm m, m² is removed from the
bell when the said bell is pressed outwards by the liquid in the axial pipe brand
the ball cock is opened as before described; a is the entrance pipe and e the exit
pipe of the ball cock.
The improvements I have described and represented with respect to liquid taps
or cocks are also applicable to taps or cocks for regulating the passage of air steam
and gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my
invention of "Improvements in taps or cocks
First The combination of a screw bell or inverted cup having within it a loose
or disconnected valve, with an axial pipe in communication at bottom with the inlet
pipe and at top with the outlet pipe of the tap or cock; whether the said bell screw
into the interior or upon the exterior of the barrel of the tap or cock or upon the
exterior of the axial pipe of the tap or cock the several parts being arranged and
acting substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
6, and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly The combination of a bell having a loose valve within it, with an
open axial pipe communicating with the inlet and outlet pipes of the tap, the
screwed stem of the bell working in the screwed neck of the closing cap as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly The combination of the parts of the self closing tap having a sliding
bell hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Lastly The adaptation of the sliding bell arrangement represented in Figure 8
to ball cocks as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 9 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated the 9th day of January 1891.
FRANCIS BREEDEN.