IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR VALVES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnston, Metal Merchant, and William
Ross, Brassfounder, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR VALVES."
i
Sealed the 19th February 1861, and dated the 1st September 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Johnston and
William Ross at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 1st September 1860.
We, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, Metal Merchant, and WILLIAM Ross, Brass-
founder, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North-Britain, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR VALVES,"
to be as follows, that is to say :---
This Invention relates to improvements applicable to various classes of taps
or valves, and has for object increased simplicity, economy, and durability.
In a tap embodying the improvements, the valve chamber is bored cylindrically
to receive a species of elongated piston or plunger furnished with two-packings
(or with a single elongated packing) consisting of rings or washers of leather,
or other elastic or pliable-material.. The inlet into the chamber or bore is by
one or more apertures, which, when the valve is closed, lies between or within
the packings of the piston, in-such a way that the fluid can pass in neither
direction. To open the valve any convenient mechanical contrivance is adopted

page_text: to move the piston, so that one of the packings crosses the inlet, and allows
the fluid to pass through that end of the chamber from which the piston has
been moved. The ends of the chamber or bore last referred to may constitute
the mouth or outlet of the tap, or it may be connected to a continuation of
the piping, or both ends of the chamber may be used as outlets accordingly as
the piston is moved one way or the other, this last arrangement constituting
a three-way tap. In some cases a lining tube of a different material, such as
brass or glass, may be fitted in the valve chamber or bore for the piston to
work in. The improved valve is peculiarly applicable to piston water meters.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Johnston and William Ross in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th. February 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM. THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
JOHNSTON, Metal Merchant, and WILLIAM Ross, Brassfounder, both of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of September, in the year of our Lord'
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said William Johnston and William Ross, Her special licence that we, the said
William Johnston and William Ross, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, of such others as we, the said William Johnston' and William' Ross,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and: to others, from time to time. and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed,. should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
fend, within. the. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR
VALVES," upon the condition. (amongst others) that we, the said William
Johnston and William Ross, our executors or administrators, by an instrument.
in writing under our 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 we, the said William Johnston and William Ross,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
Our said Invention relates to improvements applicable to various classes
of taps or valves, and has for object increased' simplicity, economy, and
durability.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood and
carried into effect, we have hereunto appended a Sheet of explanatory
Drawings, shewing some of the modifications and applications of which our
Invention is susceptable.
In taps such as are represented in longitudinal section in Figures 1 and 2;
and embodying our improvements, the valve chamber A is bored cylindrically
to receive a species of elongated piston or plunger B, furnished with two
packings c, d, consisting of washers or rings of leather or other elastic or
pliable material. The inlet into the chamber or bore A is by an aperture F;
which when the valve is closed (as shown in Figure 1) lies between or within
the packings c, d, of the piston B in such a way that the fluid can pass neither
downwards nor upwards. The outlet from the valve chamber or bore A is
(in the examples shewn in Figures 1 and 2), by an aperture G, opposite to
and at a lower level than the inlet aperture F, so that the lower packing d
lies between the inlet and outlet when the valve is closed. To open the valve
any convenient mechanical contrivance may be adopted to move the piston B,
so that one.d of the packings crosses the inlet F and allows the fluid to pass
across the valve.chamber A to the outlet G, as shown in Figure-2; whereia
the valve is represented as open. In the example represented in Figure 1;
the movement of the valve or piston B is effected by means of a small latal or
lever H passed through a slot in the piston B, and jointed on a pin I fixed in
snugs. formed on the sides of the tap. In the example represented in Figure 2
a T.or crutch handle is formed on the upper end-of the piston B, and ȧ
groove J is formed round the body of the piston, into which groove a pin K
fixed in the side of the chamber projects. The groove J is formed with
fnclined or helical portions, so that the turning of the handle 6 Has the effect
of raising or lowering the piston B, and .so opening or closing the tap. The
mode of constructing the piston B or of putting its parts together may be
varied, but the plan we prefer to adopt will be easily understood from
Figure 1, in which the piston is shown in section. In the modification of
piston shown in Figure-8; the packings c, d, are of comparatively thin leather,
and are cupped, their concavities being placed towards each other, so that the

page_text: internal pressure when the valve is closed has. a direct-tendency to keep the
packings tight.
:
In some cases a continuous packing may be used in place of the two c, d
described, being proportioned to extend a sufficient distance in each directioni
beyond the inlet-F, when the-valve is closed; and in some cases a-lining tube
of a different material, such as brass (in the case of iron taps, for example) on
glass may be fitted in the valve chamber or hore A for the piston to. work-in.
Instead of one inlet or outlet aperture in the side of the valve chamber, there
may be two or more, and such apertures may be in various positions round
the chamber. Instead of the water or fluid way being across the valvė
chamber A, as in Figures 1 and 2, the outlet may be by one end of the
chamber, as shown in Figure 4. This modification is of very economic con-
struction, and whilst it may be fitted to be actuated by a latch H (Figure 1);
handle 6 (Figure. 2), or similar contrivance for the hand, it is very suitable for
a ball float cock, as shown in Figure 4. In this case the piston B is actuated by
the projecting end of the float lever L, which lever is centered on a pin I fixed
in snugs formed on the side of the tap. If the usual ball float M. of copper
is employed for this tap, it is necessary to weight it slightly as at N., as the tap
is "equilibrium," and requires as much force to open. it as to shut it, although
it does not require as much force to shut it as those shutting against the pres-
sure. We prefer, however, to fit-ball-float cocks constructed according to our
said Invention with floats made of earthenware or glass, of stich a thickness as
to be of the proper weight. Convenient modes of fixing such earthenware or
glass floats m on the levers E are shown in Figures 5 and 6. In Figure 5
the float is shown as formed with a slightly recessed cavity p, into which
cement or lead, or other easily fused metal is east, and the end of the lever L
is screwed into this metal; or the ball may be formed with an external screw
or other projection q. Figure 6, which is screwed or otherwise fixed into the
end of the lever L, enlarged and tapped for the purpose; or the float ball may
be made of wood, painted or otherwise coated, to render it impervious to
water...
: "Figure 7 represents in section a modification of our improved tap, suitable
for a continuous pipe or for one which supplies other branches or taps; in it
provision is also shown for emptying the pipes beyond the tap, which is of
importance where such pipes are in situations subject to frost. In this example
the piston-B is fitted with three packings or washers c, d, e, the two first of
which, c, d, act precisely as in the arrangements herein-before described, whilst
the third, e, prevents the access of the fluid to the under end of the piston,
which would tend to force the tap full
open when it might not be required;

page_text: whereas, with this provision, the tap-will-retain its position when left partially
bpen. The tap is represented in the Figure as closed to the inlet, whilst an
aperture R is in communication with the outlet, by.which aperture the pipes
in connection with the outlet can empty themselves.. This aperture R is closed
by the lower washer e on opening the tap just before the inlet F is uncovered
by the washer d.. . :
!
Figure 8 represents' partly in 'section a "swan-neck" or "tube" cock, as
constructed with our improvements.. In this Figure- the inlet into the chamber
A is hid by the piston B, which last is made tubular, and has the swan-neck S
fitted to it. .The turning up or round of the swan-neck S and with it of the
piston B is.made to shift the piston longitudinally in the chamber A by means
of a groove and fixed pin, as in the modification represented in Figure 2. The
consequent change of position of the washers c, d, on opening the tap admits the
fluid to the inner end of the chamber A, and thence out through the piston B
and swan neck S, the reverse taking place on closing the tap. The extreme sim-
plicity and cheapness of our improved tap, and its non-liability to derange-
ment, render it peculiarly suitable for "cottage" waterclosets, we therefore
consider it desirable to show its application in this way, as is done in Figure 9.
We prefer to apply the tap T to the side of the closet instead of to the back,
as has been the common practice, the side being the most convenient position
for use. The closet comprises simply an earthenware or fire-clay pedestal
seat or case U, painted externally, with a wooden rim. or seat V, and an
internal earthenware basin W; these details forming with the tap T a combi-
nation, remarkable alike for economic cost, simplicity, cleanliness, and
durability.
:
Finally, we show in Figure 10 a modification of our improved taps or valves,
peculiarly suitable for liquid meters of the cylinder and piston or reciprocatory
class, where the liquid to be measured has to pass alternately through different
passages. This arrangement comprises two pistons B, B', in separate cham-
bers A, A, each, constituting a species of three-way tap... Each piston is fitted
with three washers or packings c, d, e, and the two pistons are worked recipro-
cally by means of the lever L. The two pipes or passages X, Y, communi-
eating with the different ends or compartments of the meter communicate by
passages,y, with the valve chambers A, A, and it will be seen that with the
arrangement of the parts shown in the Figure, the alternate movements of the
pistons B, B', will cause the passages x, X, and y, Y, to be alternately put in
communication with the inlet F and outlet G.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we have to state that

page_text: we do not restrict-ourselves to the precise details herein-before described.or
delineated; but that what we consider to be novel and original and claim as the
Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
the constructing and applying of taps or valves substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Johnston and William Ross,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-one.
'Witness,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square,
Glasgow.
W JOHNSTON. (L.S.)
WILLIAM ROSS.
(L.B.)