IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION Or BALL AND OTHER VALVES OR COCKS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Willoughby, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION Or
BALL AND OTHER VALVES OR COCKS FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Willoughby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1880.
JOSEPH WILLOUGHBY, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BALL AND OTHER VALVES OR COCKS
FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
This Invention consists in so constructing valves or cocks for regulating and
controlling the supply of water and other liquids that whether the liquid is at a
high or low pressure, and however great the quantity of the same to be passed
may be, very little power is required to operate the valve or cock, irrespectively of
the size of the latter; and where a ball or float is employed for effecting such
operation the same may be of small dimensions and unassisted by compound levers
or other equivalent mechanical arrangements, whilst when the valve or cock is
closed no pressure within it short of the bursting strength of its casing will force it
open. By means of this Invention the above objects are effected in a more
advantageous manner than is the case when similar valves as ordinarily constructed
are employed, owing to the main valve or plug being connected and acting with a
smaller valve or plug, as hereinafter described.
The improved valves or cocks forming the subject of this Invention are con-
structed as follows:-Within a casing of suitable form is arranged a plug or valve
which has one or more passages through it, which passage or passages is or are
closed or opened as required by a smaller plug or valve formed to work in connection
with it or them. I prefer to have one passage and one smaller valve only.
Although when two or more passages are formed in the main plug or valve it is
preferred to employ only one small plug or valve it will readily be understood that
two or more small plugs or valves similarly constructed and arranged can, when
desired, be employed. To the said smaller plug or valve in the main plug or valve
s attached the lever, or handle, or other contrivance operating the cock, and the
Price 6d1

page_text: area of this smaller plug or valve is such that the pressure of the liquid to be
passed is not able to prevent its being easily opened by the pressure of the hand,
or by power obtained from the action of a float and lever, or other suitable
mechanism.
The said smaller valve or plug in the main plug or valve being opened permits a
flow of part of the quantity of liquid to be passed into the outlet, and so lessens
the pressure upon or against the main plug or valve, which is then easily pressed
back by the continued action of the hand or ball lever, or other mechanism, aided,
if desired, more or less, by the pressure of water passing through.
In constructing this up valve cock I prefer to make the casing and plug or valve
in it in such a manner that when at rest the pressure of the liquid to be passed
bears upon the main valve or plug, and also under the same, except on such part of
it as rests upon the seating, and I so arrange them that the liquid cannot enter
into the casing above the main valve or plug as freely as the smaller valve would,
when open, allow it to escape, the effect of which is that the liquid itself acting on
the opposite area of the main valve forces it open for a full supply to pass.
This action is also obtained where the liquid to be passed is confined only on one
side of the main valve, the smaller valve being opened by the hand or ball lever or
other mechanism; the water or other liquid then freed by the smaller valve before
passing to the outlet impinges upon the surface of the casing.
I form a disc on the end of the main plug fitted to move freely in the casing, and
the liquid before referred to from the smaller valve fills up the space formed between
this disc and the end of the casing, and the effective area of the disc in the casing
being greater than the effective area of the main valve to be opened the pressure
of the supply seeking to pass forces the main valve open.
Valves or cocks constructed as hereinbefore described may be fixed horizontally,
vertically, or at any angle. In order to actuate the said valve or cock the small
valve in the plug hereinbefore referred to is drawn out, pressed in, or opened, or
closed, according to the arrangement of the same, and with regard to the position
in which it is to be fixed, which operation has the effect of releasing a portion of
the liquid and of setting up a difference of pressures on the opposite areas of the
plug, and according to the relative dimensions of the opposing areas of the plug the
supply passing through the valve may be made to yield all the power necessary to
open the valve, or only a portion of it, as may be desired; in the latter case the
remaining power necessary for effecting the desired object being afforded by the
operator, or ball, or float, as the case may be.
When valves or cocks made in
accordance with this Invention for filling tanks and other receptacles are regulated
by means of balls or floats the employment of cupping leathers, springs, arrange-
ments of levers, and packing of any kind can be dispensed with. This also
applies to valves constructed for many purposes and operated by hand, but in
some cases it is desirable to enclose the spindle for opening and closing in a stuffing
box and gland, as will be well understood, and also to aid the opening and closing
of the valves by the employment of springs, diaphragms, or other means ordinarily
in use for such purposes.
It is most important to note that the great advantage possessed by an apparatus
constructed in accordance with this Invention is, that the main valve or plug and
the smaller valve or plug in it are connected, so that the lever or spindle passing
from them may be used to open or close them both in case of any foreign matter
in the liquid causing them to stick to the case or to one another.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Willoughby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
February 1881.
JOSEPH WILLOUGHBY, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BALL AND OTHER VALVES OR COCKS
FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF WATER ANd other LiquiDS.”
My said Invention consists in so constructing valves or cocks for regulating and
controlling the supply of water and other liquids that whether the liquid is at a
high or low pressure, and however great the quantity of the same to be passed may
be, very little power is required to operate the valve or cock, irrespectively of the
size of the latter, and where a ball or float is employed for effecting such operation,
the same may be of small dimensions and unassisted by compound levers or other
equivalent mechanical arrangements, whilst, when the valve or cock is closed, no
pressure within it short of the bursting strength of its casing will force it open.
By means of this Invention the above objects are effected in a more advantageous
manner than is the case when similar valves, as ordinarily constructed, are employed,
owing to the main valve or plug being connected and acting with a smaller valve
or plug as hereinafter described.
The improved valves or cocks forming the subject of this Invention are
constructed as follows:-Within a casing of suitable form is arranged a plug or
valve which has one or more passages through it, which passage or passages is or
are closed or opened as required by a smaller plug or valve formed to work in
connection with it or them. I prefer to have one passage and one smaller valve
only. Although when two or more passages are formed in the main plug or valvo
it is preferred to employ only one small plug or valve, it will readily be understood
that two or more small plugs or valves similarly constructed and arranged can,
when desired, be employed. To the said smaller plug or valve in the main
plug or valve is attached the lever, or handle, or other contrivance operating the cock,
and the area of this smaller plug or valve is such that the pressure of the liquid to
be passed is not able to prevent its being easily opened by the pressure of the hand
or by power obtained from the action of a float and lever or other suitable mechanism.
The said smaller valve or plug in the main plug or valve being opened, permits
a flow of part of the quantity of liquid to be passed into the outlet, and so lessons
the pressure upon or against the main plug or valve, which is then easily pressed
back by the continued action of the hand or ball lever or other mechanism, aided,
if desired, more or less by the pressure of water passing through.
In constructing this tap, valve, or cock, I prefer to make the casing and plug or
valve in it in such a manner that when at rest the pressure of the liquid to be
passed bears upon the main valve or plug, and also under the same, except on such
part of it as rests upon the seating, and I so arrange them that the liquid cannot
enter into the casing above the main valve or plug as freely as the smaller valve
would, when open, allow it to escape, the effect of which is that on the valve being
operated, the liquid itself, if under very high pressure, acting on the opposite area
of the main valve forces it open for a full supply to pass independently of the
assistance of the float and lever, and assists the action of the float and lever where
the pressure is low.
This action is also obtained where the liquid to be passed is confined only on
one side of the main valve, the smaller valve being opened by the hand or ball
lever or other mechanism; the water or other liquid then freed by the smaller
valve, before passing to the outlet, impinges upon the surface of the casing.
I form a disc on the end of the main plug, fitted to move freely in the casing,
and the liquid before referred to from the smaller valve fills up the space formed

page_text: between this disc and the end of the casing, and the effective area of the disc in
the casing being greater than the the effective area of the main valve to be opened,
the pressure of the supply seeking to pass forces the main valve open, or assists
to do so, as before described.
Valves or cocks constructed as herein before described may be fixed horizontally,
vertically, or at any angle. In order to actuate the said valve or cock the small
valve in the plug herein before referred to is drawn out, pressed in, or opened, or
closed, according to the arrangement of the same, and with regard to the position
in which it is to be fixed, which operation has the effect of releasing a portion of
the liquid and of setting up a difference of pressures on the opposite areas of the
plug, and according to the relative dimensions of the opposing areas of the plug the
supply passing through the valve may be made to yield all the power necessary to
open the valve or only a portion of it, as may be desired, in the latter case the
remaining power necessary for effecting the desired object being afforded by the
operator, or ball or float, as the case may be. When valves or cocks made in accordance
with this Invention for filling tanks and other receptacles are regulated by means
of balls or floats the employment of cupping leathers, springs, arrangements of
levers, and packing of any kind, can be dispensed with. This also applies to
valves constructed for many purposes and operated by hand, but in some cases it
is desirable to enclose the spindle for opening and closing in a stuffing box and
gland, as will be well understood, and also to aid the opening and closing of the
valves by the employment of springs, diaphragms, or other means ordinarily in use
for such purposes.
It is most important to note that the great advantage possessed by an apparatus
constructed in accordance with this Invention is that the main valve or plug and
the smaller valve or plug in it are connected, so that the lever or spindle passing
from them may be used to open or close them both in case of any foreign matter
in the liquid causing them to stick to the case or to one another.
My said Invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the
accompanying Drawings, which shew various modifications of taps and valves or
cocks constructed in accordance therewith.
Figures 1 and 2 are sections of ball taps for ordinary water cisterns; each tap is
shewn closed; a is the casing; b is the plug or valve.
This plug or valve can be made of metal, india-rubber, leather, or other suitable
material, or any combination of suitable materials, some of which are hereinafter
referred to.
In Figure 1 is shewn an india rubber disc with washers at the centre to
strengthen it, but when it is desired this disc may be thickened at the centre and
the washers dispensed with, or it may be of thin sheet phosphor, bronze, or steel,
or of other suitable elastic material or combination of materials capable. of forming
a tight joint when resting upon the seating 8, in all cases the passage c for the
valve & being suitably formed in the centre.
In Figures 2,17, 8, and 11, the valve or plug b is shewn of india rubber cased in
metal; in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10, it is shewn formed of metal having india
rubber suitably combined with it to rest upon the seating s; and it will be readily
understood that the arrangement and form of this plug may be greatly varied, the
same end being obtained in all cases provided a passage is made through its centre;
c is a passage through the plug or valve b; d is a smaller plug or valve formed to
work in connection with the plug or valve b and to open and close the passage cas
required; e is the connection between the lever g and the float h; i is the inlet;
o, the outlet; & is the seating on which the valve or plug b rests when the tap is
not permitting water to pass through it.
The difference in the diameter of this seating s and that of the plug bis
immaterial provided the annular space / formed about s is of sufficient capacity to
allow of a free passage for the water into the outlet.
The action of the said ball tap is as follows:-
The float falls when water is drawn from the cistern which the tap supplies,

page_text: and carries with it the lever g, thereby lifting the small plug or valve d, which
permits the escape of the water gathered in the space m between the casing and
the valve b, which water gathers there in consequence of the valve or plug b,
Figure 1, being perforated, and in Figure 2 being made so as to slide up and down
in the case c, but not in a water tight manner.
The projection or shoulder e' now presses against b; this shoulder is hollowed so
as to prevent its stopping the passage c, and bis lifted from the seating 8 by the
action of the float and lever, when water. immediately passes through to the outlet o.
It is obvious that if the water to be passed through is at any pressure, this pressure
will assist the action of the float and lever to press up the valve b after d is lifted,
so that however the pressure of the water upon this tap may vary, it will work
equally well under such variations of pressure. On the float again rising in
consequence of a sufficient supply having been passed into the cistern, it will by
means of the lever y draw down the small plug d upon the plug b, and so gradually
force b upon its seating s; and it will here be obvious that if the water passing is
at any pressure, this pressure will assist the float h and lever g to bring 6 upon its
seating, since the small valve & being closed upon b the water will gather in the
space m, and so equalize to a certain extent the pressure against the underside of b;
and when the valve b.is down upon its seating s the total pressure upon b will be
in excess of the force under it, seeking to lift it up as will be readily understood, so
that no pressure within it short of the bursting strength of its casing will force
it open.
b
I make the small valve d of very small area, so that the action of the lever and
float may easily open it against the highest pressures, and the relative area of this
small valve, and length of lever, and weight of float may be varied, as may be
easily understood to make them act under all or any desired pressures.
Figure 3 is a modification of the valve as before described, the letters and
description before given applying in this case. The inlet is above the seating 8.
This form of valve is most desirable when the water passing it has with it
insects, leaves, or other foreign matter, which in passing over the seating s are apt
to catch, and so prevent the closing of the valve upon its seating.
I attach to the valve b a grating or strainer, shewn at x, which effectually
prevents the passage of such foreign matter, and by removal of cap p and
disconnecting the lever and float, the valve is easily removed for clearing.
Figure 4 is another modification of this valve, where the liquid to be passed is
confined to one side only of the valve b. This arrangement is most suited to be
worked by hand, and instead of ball and lever, as before, is shewn a knob h, which
when pressed in permits a flow of water through the passage e into the space m,
and so the valve or plug is easily forced back, as before described.
The action of the spring serves to keep the valve d close upon b when the tap
is not passing water, as in the case of Figures 1, 2, and 3, where the float or ball
so acts.
Figures 5 to 11 are modifications of the valve or tap; varied arrangements for
opening and closing being shewn, the letters and description hereinbefore given
being in all cases applicable, and will make the Drawings easily understood.
Figure 10 shews a disc of india rubber, phosphor bronze, steel, or other suitable
material between the spring r and the space m instead of packing, as shewn in
Figures 4 and 6.
It is apparent that various other modifications of this tap or valve may be made
so as to form the various kinds of taps known to the trade, without departing from
the principle of my said Invention.
This tap or any of its parts may be made in any metal, india rubber, vulcanite,
or other suitable material, and its shape of case, and also relative dimensions of
valves d and b to dimensions of seating s, and to each other may be varied without
affecting its action. The plug b may be square, octagonal, or of any shape, the
case being suitably formed to receive it.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which it is to be carried out in practice, I would observe in conclusion
that what I claim as new in a ball or other valve or cock for regulating and
controlling the supply of water and other liquids is,―
The construction of the plug or valve with one or more passages through it,
which passage or passages are closed and opened by a smaller plug, or valve, or
valves connected with the lever, or handle, or float, or other mechanism by which
the tap is operated, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Willoughby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
THOMAS HARRIS,
3, Cheltenham Place,
Plymouth.
JOSEPH WILLOUGHBY. (L.S.)