IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS, TAPS, AND VALVES."
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Derbyshire, of Longton Potteries, in the
County of Stafford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS, TAPS,
AND VALVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Derbyshire at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the. 23rd
July 1856.
I, JOHN DERBYSHIRE, of Longton Potteries, in the County of Stafford, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS,
TAPS, AND VALVES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a method of employing vulcanized india-rubber
in the construction of cocks, taps, and valves.
In the construction of these articles a tube of vulcanized india-rubber is used,
and it is enclosed in a box slightly shorter than its length when uncompressed,
so that it presses firmly and makes a fluid-tight joint against the top and
bottom of the box. Through a hole in the top of the box a metal spindle
descends, and passing through the india-rubber tube is secured beyond it by a
screw nut. By means of a lever or key the spindle can be drawn up, so as to
raise the end of the india-rubber tube out of contact with the bottom of the
box, and thus uncover a hole therein through which the fluid escapes.
By arranging cocks, taps, and valves in this manner, one piece of india-
rubber tube acts as a valve for stopping the flow of the fluid, as a spring for
keeping the valve firmly on its seat, and as a stuffing box for preventing the
escape of the fluid at the hole through which the spindle passes.

page_text: Self-acting valves may be constructed in a similar manner, only they require
no spindle. The valve is raised by the pressure of the fluid in one direction,
but it prevents the fluid from passing in the other direction. In place of
vulcanized india-rubber, gutta percha or other elastic material may be used,
but vulcanized india-rubber is generally preferable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Derbyshire in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DERBYSHIRE, of Longton Potteries, in the County of Stafford, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Derbyshire, Her special licence that I, the said John Derbyshire,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Derbyshire, my executors, administrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Cocks, TAPS, AND VALVES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Derbyshire, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that. I, the said John Derbyshire, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:—
This Invention consists in a method of employing vulcanized india-rubber
in the construction of cocks, taps, and valves.
In the construction of these articles a tube of vulcanized india-rubber is
used, and it is enclosed in a box slightly shorter than its length when uncom-

page_text: pressed, so that it presses firmly and makes a fluid-tight joint against the top
and bottom of the box. Through a hole in the top of the box a metal spindle
descends, and passing through the india-rubber tube is secured beyond it
by a screw nut. By means of a lever or key the spindle can be drawn up,
so as to raise the end of the india-rubber tube out of contact with the bottom
of the box, and thus uncover a hole therein through which the fluid escapes.
By arranging cocks, taps, and valves in this manner, one piece of india-
rubber tube acts as a valve for stopping the flow of the fluid, as a spring for
keeping the valve firmly on its seat, and as a stuffing box for preventing the
escape of the fluid at the hole through which the spindle passes.
Self-acting valves may be constructed in a similar manner, only they requiro
no spindle. The valve is raised by the pressure of the fluid in one direction,
but it prevents the fluid from passing in the other direction. In place of
vulcanized india-rubber, gutta percha or other elastic material may be used,
but vulcanized india-rubber is generally preferable.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Figure 2 is a plan, of a cock or tap
constructed according to my Invention. a is the vulcanized india-rubber tube
which presses both on the top and bottom of the box b; c is the spindle,
descending through the tube a, and secured beyond it by the screw nut d;
e is the lever, by means of which the spindle c can be drawn up, so as to raise
the end of the tube a out of contact with the bottom of the box b, and allow
the fluid to escape by the spout f. Figures 8 and 4 show different views of
two other cocks or taps, the parts of which are marked with letters to cor-
respond with the description already given. The cock, Figure 3, is suitable, if
the lever e is removed, to be used as a self-acting valve; it will allow the fluid
to pass from right to left, but not in the contrary direction.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Derbyshire, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
5 Witness,
JOHN LUCAS, of Longton.
JOHN DERBYSHIRE. (L.S.)