MAKING A GAS, STEAM, AIR, OR LIQUID SAFETY TAP
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Wright, of Number Twenty-four,
Church Street, Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "MAKING A GAS, STEAM, AIR, OR LIQUID SAFETY TAP."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Wright at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th May 1858.
I, SAMUEL WRIGHT, of Number Twenty-four, Church Street, Shore-
ditch, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "MAKING A GAS, STEAM, AIR, OR LIQUID SAFETY TAP "
to be as follows:-
A bulged barrel, in which is inserted a plug or valve differently
placed to any other plug or valve now in use, inasmuch as the plugs
or valves now in use are pressed against the gas, steam, air, cr water
in order to prevent the escape of the same, whereas in this tap the
gas, steam, air, or water presses against the plug or valve, by which

page_text: difference of construction the greater the pressure from within the less
chance there is of the escape of the contents.
It is opened by means of a rod connected with the plug or valve,
which extends to the outside of the tap, and by a pressure leverage
or rack the tap is opened at pleasure, and can be made of any
material, and is applicable to all purposes that any other tap can be
applied to.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Wright in the Great Soal Patent Office,
on the 17th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
SAMUEL WRIGHT, of 24, Church Street, Shoreditch, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Samuel Wright, Her special licence that
I, the said Samuel Wright, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Samuel Wright, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "MAKING A GAS, STEAM,
AIR, OR LIQUID SAFETY TAP," upon the condition (amongst others) that
J, the said Samuel Wright, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-

page_text: formed, and cause the sanie to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Ollice
within six calendar mouths next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Wright, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
My Invention of improvements in the make of a safety tap or taps
consists in so making them that the valve or plug opens against the
pressure, and are so actuated as to render them unerring, whether
applied as self-acting taps or otherwise.
Fig. 1, represents in side elevation one of my improved safety taps
as a self-acting supply tap. Fig. 2, is a section of the same. Fig. 3,
is a transverse section of the same on a, b; and Fig. 4, is a transverse
section on c, d. e, is the barrel of tap in which a globular swell f, is
formed, and in which the valve h, is placed. The other part of the
barrel 9 is screwed into the globe f, and the end forms the valve seat i.
The valve is mounted on a pink, fitted to slide in a cross bar (,
and projects through the side of the exit chamber, where it is jointed
at m, to the ball lever n, which is mounted on a fixed fulcrum at o.
The valve h, is faced with india-rubber, leather, or other suitable
material to render it water-tight, and is indicated as being open or
shut by the positions shown at dotted lines in Fig. 2. The valve being
mounted on and moving with the horizontal rod k, maintains its truc
position to its scat, and when open ensures a clear waterway through
the valve apperture, which is also provided in the other parts of the
passage, thus securing an uninterrupted flow and delivery of the liquid.
A small washer p, of india-rubber or leather presses up to the orifice
in the discharge, where rod k, enters and prevents any escape of liquid
at that opening when the valve is full open. The ball lever is weighted
so that it just floats; the weight of ball being required to open the valve
against the pressure of the liquid, when the liquid subsides in the

page_text: receiving vessel. On the liquid again rising in the receiver the ball
rises and closes the valve, in which it is also assisted by the pressure
of liquid in the containing vessel from which the supply is discharged,
thus a certainty of self-action is ensured.
Fig. 5, represents in elevation a tap of a similar construction
adapted as a hand tap for drawing off liquids under pressure, and so
arranged that pressure may exist on both sides of the valve. Fig. 6,
is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 7, is an underside plan, and
Fig. 8, is a side view, showing the hand lever orifice. The globular
chamber valve h, valve seat i, and valve rod k, are all similar to that
before described, but with the valve stem k, in a vertical position, in
which it is sustained by a cross bar ; in addition to the pressure of the
fluid in the supply, the valve h, is forced downwards on its scat i, by a
spring s, encircling the rod ; the spring s, takes its bearings between
the cross bar e, and the enlarged head of stem, between which it is com-
pressed so as to give downward force for the purpose. My improvements
in the make of this valve is in the lever action by which it is actuated;
t, is the hand lever, which is mounted on a fulcrum pin u, fixed in a
collar v, which collar is pressed into its seat by a screw cap w; a thick
washer a, of vulcanized india-rubber is placed in the bottom of collar
sent against which it is pressed, and rendered air or water tight. This
washer, of vulcanized india-rubber also, fits close to the stem of hand
lever t, on which a small collar y, is placed, and pressing it close to the
collar v, so as to render the whole air and water tight at that point.
The screw part of barrel at top is connected with the supply, and
the screw part at bottom of the barrel is placed in connection with the
receiver. When it is desired to draw off the liquid the hand lever t
is depressed, which raises the valve h, by its connection with the stem
at lower part, which rising allows an uninterrupted flow of the fluid,
and again when released the springs, brings the valve down to its
seat, assisted by the pressure of the fluid in the vessel of supply.
Although water may be contained and remain in the barrel below, the
valve, the lever action, and fitting will remain quite tight, and prevent
escape at that point.
•

page_text: Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
the making of taps or valves, which open against the pressure of the
fluid to be discharged, fitted, actuated, and arranged, as hercin-before
described.
In witness whercof, I, the said Samuel Wright, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
SAMUEL WRIGHT.