Year: 1898

page_text: I, THOMAS WILFRED WOODHOUSE, of Hexthorpe Brass Works, Doncaster, in
the County of York, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows;
1
The objects of the invention are, to facilitate the manufacture, and to simplify
the repairing of water-taps of the screw-down type, though the improvement may,
when it is considered expedient, be applied to water-taps of other kinds, amongst
these being such taps as close automatically, whenever the upper fittings are
removed.
In place of the ordinary valve or "jumper" we have, immediately above the
seat of the tap, a washer of leather, vulcanized fibre, or other suitable substance,
which may, or may not, be perforated in the centre. Above this washer is placed
a disc of brass which may for cheapness be flat at both sides, or may be cupped
on the under side in order that when pressure is applied from above, the washer
underneath may only be pressed against a flat part of the seat of the tap, and not
against the edge of the orifice.
When required for automatic self-closing taps as aforementioned, a spur must
project downwards from the centre of the underside of the brass disc, through the
washer, whose central perforation may be much larger in diameter than the spur
which passes through it. The object of this spur is to keep the valve or bail
that is underneath the seat, from closing the tap when in ordinary use. Regarding
the upper side of the brass disc, this may be indented in the centre so that the
spindle of the tap, being pointed, may always keep this brass disc over the centre
of the seating. Or a point may, if desired, be formed on the brass disc, and a
corresponding recess in the lower end of the spindle of the tap. The brass disc,
and the washer are not fixed together, and this arrangement is more easily made
than the ordinary jumper which is screwed together. The washer need not be
perforated, except in the case to which allusion has been made.
When a new
washer is required, the upper fittings of the tap are removed, the brass disc and
the old washer are taken out, they need only fit loosely in the interior of the tap.
Nothing is then necessary but to replace the old washer with a new one of similar
size, drop in the brass disc, and screw on the upper fittings. Thus this invention
saves labour both in manufacture, and subsequent repair of the kinds of taps to
which it may be applied.
1000

page_text: I, THOMAS WILFRED WOODHOUSE, of Hexthorpe Brass and Iron Works, Don-
caster, in the County of York, Sanitary 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:-
My invention of improvements in water taps relates more particularly to what
are known as screwdown. taps, but it may be applied to other types of water taps
if desired.
The object of the invention is to simplify the construction, and facilitate the
repairing of such taps, more especially in the renewal of worn washers.
In the annexed drawings I have shown my invention applied to a screwdown.
tap.
Fig. 1, is an elevation in section of such a tap.
Fig. 2, is a cross section of the body of same.
Figs. 3, 4, & 5, are cross sections of alternative forms of metal valve discs.
Hitherto it has been usual to bore a hole up the end of the actuating screw S
to receive the spindle of the valve technically called the "jumper," to the underside
of which a leather washer is secured by means of a screw and nut or the like.
In carrying out my invention, I dispense with the so called jumper and sub-
stitute loose discs: The body of the tap B, may be similar to those at present in
use, having a gland G, and the usual water way. The screw S, is made with a
conical recess in its lower end to receive a corresponding point formed upon a
metal disc D, which acts simply as a guide or retainer to ensure the position of
the disc being always concentric with the valve seating C, it will therefore be
obvious that the point may be made upon the screw and the recess in the disc if
desired to attain the same result.
Between the disc D, and the seating C, I place a loose dise or washer W, of
fibre," composition of rubber and fibre, leather or equivalent material, the interior
of the chamber E, being constructed to permit the free up and down movement
of both the metal disc and the flexible dise or washer; the opening O into the
nose of the tap is preferably made to increase in width downwardly, to avoid any
chance of the fibre washer being caught thereby and damaged.
The disc D, may be made in various forms, those shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5,
are cast, they are made with a hollow in the underside, in order that the outer
rim of the face R, may alone press upon the washer to avoid forcing the centre
portion of the washer into the water way, or against the edge of the aperture, it
is also of advantage to bevel the lower edge as shown in Fig. 3. A cheaper disc
may be made by simply punching it from sheet brass of requisite thickness, and
it may either be left plain as punched, or indented in the centre as preferred.
To facilitate the removal of the disc D, from the body of the tap, it may be
made with a ledge L upon it, which can be readily caught by the finger nails or
the like.
It will be clearly understood that the disc D, and the washer W, are separate
unattached parts and may be made of any suitable materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. In a water tap, the combination with a screw spindle S of a senerete

page_text: unattached metal disc D, and a separate unattached compressible disc or washer W,
as herein before described and shown.
2. A valve for screw down water taps, consisting of a loose metallic disc, and
a loose compressible disc or washer, arranged and acting together, substantially
as herein before described and shown.
Dated the 22nd day 01 November Idid.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.