IMPROVE- MENTS. IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS. IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS."-A communi-
cation from abroad by William Moodie, of the City of Montreal, in the
Province of Canada.
Sealed the 19th March 1867, and dated the 26th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ilenry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th September 1866.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the. County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND. OTHER FLUIDS," a communi-
ation to me from abroad by William Moodie, of the City of Montreal, in the
Province of Canada, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved and simplyfied construction of tap or
cock suitable for regulating or controlling the flow of water and other fluids,
and consists essentially in providing the body of the tap with an internal tube
opening into a chamber, also formed on the body of the tap; this chamber
has a screwed cap fitted thereon, through the centre of which passes a screwed
spindle provided with the usual handle, which spindle acts upon a cap or
valve inside the chamber and causes it to close down upon the mouth or end
of the internal tube in the chamber. When the tap is intended for low
pressure the cap or valve should be connected to the screw spindle, so as to
enable it to be raised when turning on the water; but if high-pressure service

page_text: be employed then the cap or valve need not be coupled to the screw spindle,
as the pressure of the water will be sufficient to elevate the valve when
released from the pressure of the screw spindle. If desired a packing con-
sisting of a disc or washer of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material
may be inserted in the cap or valve, or the metal surfaces of the valve and
the end of the internal tube may be ground together and used without
packing. The chamber in which the internal tube enters is in communication
with the discharge end of the tap, or may itself form the discharging nozzle ;
whilst the internal tube communicates only with the inlet end of the tap, so
that on opening the valve by unscrewing the screw spindle a free passage of
the liquid takes place through the internal tube, and thence through the
chamber to the discharge nozzle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS," a communication
me from abroad by William Moodie, of the City of Montreal, in the
Province of Canada, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, 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 performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and
to the letters and figure marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to an improved and simplyfied construction of tap or
cock suitable for regulating or controlling the flow of water and other fluids,
and consists essentially in providing the body of the tap with an internal tube
opening into a chamber also formed on the body of the tap. This chamber
has a screwed cap fitted thereon, through the centre of which passes a screwed
spindle provided with the usual handle, which spindle acts upon a cap or valve
inside the chamber and causes it to close down upon the mouth or end of the
internal tube in the chamber. When the tap is intended for low pressure the
cap or valve should be connected to the screw spindle, so as to enable it to be
raised when turning on the water; but if high-pressure service be employed,
then the cap or valve need not be coupled to the screw spindle, as the pressure
of the water will be sufficient to elevate the valve when released from the
pressure of the screw spindle. If desired a packing consisting of a disc or
washer of leather or other suitable material may be inserted in the cap or '
valve, or the metal surfaces of the valve and the end of the internal tube may
be ground together and used without packing. The chamber in which the
internal tube enters is in communication with the discharge end of the tap, or
may itself form the discharging nozzle, whilst the internal tube communicates
only with the inlet end of the tap, so that on opening the valve by unscrewing
the screw spindle a free passage of the liquid takes place through the internal
tube, and thence through the chamber to the discharge nozzle.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the Figure on the accompanying Drawing, which represents a sectional
elevation of the improved tap.
A is the body of the tap, which may be constructed of any suitable shape
or material; B is an inside tube made to form a part of the tap itself, or to
be added to it afterwards; C is a cap or valve with or without a cushion or
washer D of leather, india-rubber, or any other suitable material, and attached
to a screw E working through the collar F, which is tightly screwed down or
otherwise securely fastened to the neck of the tap. It is well known that
taps or cocks, after having been for some time in use and subjected to heavy

page_text: pressure become worn and defective, and allow the water, steam, or other fluid
to escape in consequence of the imperfect fitting of its parts from wear, &c.
By means of this Invention all leakage from this and other causes is prevented
in the simplest and most effectual manner.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The fluid enters in the direction of
the arrow at G and passes along the body of the tap A and up the tube B.
If it be desired to allow the fluid to escape the cap or valve C is raised by
turning the screw E, thus leaving the requisite opening for the fluid to pass.
To close the tap the cap or valve C is lowered down on to the top of the
tube B, upon which it may be pressed with the requisite degree of force by
means of the screw E, and thus prevent the escape of any fluid confined
inside. The screw E may or may not be attached to the cap or valve C,
according as there is pressure or not, or as may be found advisable.
The superiority of this over every other tap consists in its great simplicity,
at the same time it being almost impossible to get it out of repair. When
once fitted up a plumber will not be afterwards required, thereby saving a
considerable expense and annoyance; should it at any time leak it will be
simply necessary to unscrew the top, lift out the cap or valve (C), and insert
a new leather washer, which any person may do; although it may have been
These taps are par-
twenty years in use it will then be as good as new.
ticularly well adapted for high-pressure service.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination in taps of an inner
tube B, cap C, provided with a leather or other washer or packing D, and
operated upon by means of a screw stem or spindle F, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of
March. One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON.. (L.S.)