IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL COCKS OR VALVES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Craven, of Scarborough, in the County of
York, Plumber, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL COCKS OR
VALVES."
Sealed the 24th February 1860, and dated the 27th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Craven at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th August 1859.
I, THOMAS CRAVEN, of Scarborough, in the County of York, Plumber, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL.
COCKS OR VALVES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of floating ball
cocks or valves, such as are ordinarily used for regulating the height or level
of water in cisterns and fluid holders of various kinds. The shell or case of
the improved valve is in two parts or sections, screwed together at about the
middle, either by screwing one inside the other, or by screws and flanges.
The water inlet is by a short horizontal branch terminating in a widened
portion or larger cylinder, in which, and at the junction of the two, is the
valve seat. This seat consists of a slightly elevated or projecting annular
piece, rounded on its outer edge, and answering as the valvular surface for the
operation of an elastic disc of caoutchouc or other material, which, when

page_text: valve.
pressed fair upon the annular seat, entirely prevents the ingress of water from
the inlet branch into the expanded shell. The waterway from the shell
consists of a short vertical and lateral or transverse branch pipe, by which the
entering fluid is discharged into the cistern. The other section or portion of
the shell consists of a plain horizontal cylinder, bored out true to receive a
turned cylindrical piece of metal forming the spindle and guide piece of the
This cylindrical piece has upon its front or valve end a small disc
face piece to which is screwed the elastic disc for the valvular action, and
when the valve is put together, this elastic. face works in the interior of the
expanded portion of the shell, and has full command over the projecting
annular face herein-before referred to. The outer end of this cylindrical
piece has fitted to it a short spindle, the axes of the two being coincident,
and upon this spindle is a helical spring adjustable by an end cap piece screwed
upon the outer end of the main external shell on that side. In this way, by
turning the end cap either way, more or less elastic resistance can be given
to the valve. This is only necessary when great pressures of water have to
be provided for, and when small cisterns are used. The lower side of the
section of the main shell containing the cylindrical valve piece is slotted through,
and this slot is embraced by a double eye or bracket piece, carrying the
stationary centre on which the floating ball lever works. The upper end of
this lever is cranked so that its terminal portion stands vertically, or there-
abouts. Its centre of motion is at the point where the main portion of the
lever joins the short straight or vertical piece, the extreme end of which is
rounded off and entered through the slot in the external shell, and into a
corresponding slot in the internal cylindrical valve piece.
the ball float rises and falls with the water level it closes and opens the
water way.
In this way, as
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Craven in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
CRAVEN, of Scarborough, in the County of York, Plumber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Craven, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
Craven, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Craven, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BALL COCKS OR VALVES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Craven, 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 within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE; that I, the said Thomas Craven, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
.
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of floating
ball cocks or valves, such as are ordinarily used for regulating the height or
level of water in cisterns and fluid holders of various kinds. The shell or case
of the improved valve is in three parts or sections, screwed together. either by
screwing one inside the other or by screws and flanges. The water inlet is by
a short horizontal branch upon a projecting perforated grate terminating in a
widened portion or largest cylinder, in which, and at the junction of the two,
is the valve seat. This seat consists of a slightly elevated or projecting
annular piece rounded on its outer edge, and answering as the valvular surface
for the operation of an elastic disc of caoutchouc or other material, which,
when pressed fair upon the annular seat, entirely prevents the ingress of water
from the inlet branch into the expanded shell. The water way from the shell
consists of a short vertical and lateral or transverse branch pipe; by which the
entering fluid is discharged into the cistern. The other section or portion of
the shell consists of a plain horizontal cylinder, bored out true to receive a
turned cylindrical piece of metal, forming the spindle and guide piece for the
valve. This cylindrical piece has upon its front or valve end a small disc face
piece, to which is screwed the elastic disc for the valvular action, and when
the valve is put together this elastic face works in the interior of the expanded

page_text: portion of the shell, and has full command over the projecting annular face
herein-before referred to. The outer end of this cylindrical piece has fitted to
it a short spindle, the axes of the two being coincident, and upon this spindle
is a helical spring adjustable by an end cap piece screwed upon the outer end
of the main external shell on that side. In this way, by turning the end cap
either
way, more or less elastic resistance can be given to the valve. The
Jower side of the section of the main shell containing the cylindrical valve
piece is slotted through, and this slot is embraced by a double eye or bracket
piece, carrying the stationary centre on which the floating ball lever works.
The upper end of this lever is cranked, so that its terminal portion-stands
vertically, or thereabouts. Its centre of motion is at the point where the main
portion of the lever joins the short straight or vertical piece, the extreme end
of which is rounded off and entered through the slot in the external shell, and
into a corresponding slot in the internal cylindrical valve piece. In this way,
as the ball float rises and falls with the water level, it closes and opens the
water way.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in ball cocks or
valves may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the
illustrative Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings, which I have
hereunto appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications under
which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice, that
is to say :-
Figure 1, on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, is an elevation of one
modification of my improved valvular arrangement, connected to a floating
ball, for controlling and regulating the flow of water into cisterns or other
similar reservoirs or holders. As arranged in the accompanying Drawings,
the valvular apparatus is screwed or otherwise attached to the edge or other
'horizontal surface of the tank or cistern A. On the inlet or backward
portion B of the cock is cast, on the lower part, a laterally projecting plate,
which is bored and countersunk to admit of its being screwed to the vertical
part A of the cistern. To the outer end of the inlet pipe B, is soldered- the
ordinary service pipe C, through which the water flows to the cistern. The
inner portion of the inlet part B is enlarged in diameter and tapped internally
to receive the externally screwed end of the middle portion D of the tap. The
end of the part D which screws into the inlet portion B is extended beyond
the screw, and formed into a rose-head or perforated diaphragm E, as shown
in Figure 2, the partial closure of the passage serving to prevent the admission
of any large particles or impurities that may be carried into the service pipe.

page_text: The tubular passage beyond the diaphragm E opens into the enlarged central
part of the tap, which forms the valve chamber: the valve seat is formed by
extending the metal of the part a little beyond the enlargement, so as to form
a projecting ring, against which the valve acts. Opening out from the lower
part of the valve chamber, is the outlet pipe F, which in this modification is
arranged in a vertical direction, the water falling therefrom into the cistern or
other receptacle. The valve G is a disc of metal, the face of which next tho
valve seat is covered with a piece of vulcanized.india-rubber or other soft
yielding material, so as to ensure,a water-tight junction: when the volve is
pressed against the seat E. The spindle E of the valve G extends out through
the central portion D of the cock, and through the end piece I, which is
screwed into the part D. This end piece I is of tubular form, with a lateral
opening in it to admit the upper end of the rod J, which is jointed to the end
piece by a screw pin passing through it. The upper end of, the rod J passes
up through a slot made for the purpose in the valve spindle H, as shown in
Figure 2 on the accompanying Drawings. The lower extremity of the rod is
furnished with the ordinary copper float or ball K, the rise and fall of which
opens or closes the passage of the waterway. To assist in keeping the valve
up to its seat, the spindle H is prolonged outwards beyond the end piece I, a
helical spring L is passed over the reduced part of the spindle. One end of
the spring L presses against the shoulder of the spindle H, and the other
against the inner end of the nut M, which is screwed on to the end piece I.
The external thread on the end piece I admits of the nut M being screwed up
so as to temper or adjust the force of the spring, and thus ensure the due and
proper closure of the inlet. Upon the water in the cistern being partially or
wholly drawn off, the drag of the water is at all times sufficient to ensure the
withdrawal of the valve G from its seating. Ball cocks or valvular apparatus
arranged and constructed upon this plan are simple, inexpensive, and very
easily fixed, the internal parts being at all times readily accessible either for
inspecting or cleansing.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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 novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of ball cocks or valvular
apparatus for controlling the flow or passage of liquids, as herein-before
described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Second, the system or 'mode of 'controlling or regulating the flow of liquids
by means of cocks or valvular apparatus in which the horizontally-acting valves
are moved up to or away from vertical seatings by means of floats, the closing
of the inlets being further insured by the pressure of a spring on the valve
spindle, as herein-before described, and delineated on the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Craven, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our
.Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
THOMAS CRAVEN. (L.S.)