IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS STOP-COCKS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British
and Foreign Patent Offices, 39 Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS STOP-COCKS."-A
communication from Messrs. A. Massey, G. Jullien, and E. Jullien,
resident at Paris.
Sealed the 30th July 1861, and dated the 21st March 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st March 1861.
I, MARC ANTOINE. FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 32 Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said. Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS STOP-COCKS,"
be as follows:
This Invention mainly consists in a peculiar application of valves to gas
stop-cocks, by means of which, combined with certain modifications in the
general construction, all escape of gas is prevented even during the cleaning
or oiling of the apparatus.
The accompanying Drawing represents different forms of stop-cocks, com-
prising these improvements.
The combination shewn in Figures 1, 2, is composed of an ordinary barrel
A and of a second barrel B of larger diameter, in which is lodged the valve

page_text: G. This valve is constantly pressed by the spring E against the bottom L'
of the first barrel; C, hollow plug, in which is pierced an orifice L, giving
passage to the gas by the outlet pipe I. When this plug is set in position, as
seen in Figure 1, its hind extremity J, which is longer than the barrel A,
displaces the valve G, compressing the spring E, and allows the gas to pass
to the interior by the apertures H. When the orifice L is brought in com-
munication with the outlet pipe I the gas escapes in passing successively by
the apertures H, and the interior of the plug. When the latter is turned half-
way the outlet pipe I is closed by the plain surface, and the supply of gas is
completely shut off. When the plug requires to be withdrawn, the valve G,
acted on by the spring E, covers the opening L of the first barrel, which it
closes hermetically, thus intercepting completely the flow of gas. By this
arrangement the cleaning or oiling of the apparatus is easily effected while
all loss of gas is avoided. The same results are obtained, and in some cases
more advantageously, by the combination shewn in Figure 5 in which the
plug C is shortened (by the portion which in the arrangement above described
passes to the interior of the second barrel B) while the valve G, is acted on by
the rod J.
Figures 6, 8, represents another combination offering considerable advantage
over those above described. I', inlet pipe; F, chamber in which plays the valve
G, acted on from below by the spring H, and guided in its movement by the
bar J. The plug C is provided at its inner extremity with a shoulder a, in
which is screwed a stud b, pressing on the upper end of a slide piece K, the
movement of which is guided by the conductor e. The lower extremity of
this slide piece K is set in the centre of the valve G. To close this apparatus
(which is shewn open in the Drawing) a half turn is given to the plug so as
to bring its plain surface over the orifice of the outlet pipe. In this movement
the stud passing upwards. sets free the slide piece K, while the valve G
repelled by the spring H rises to the conical opening E and closes hermetically
the inlet pipe.
By this means a double obturation is obtained which renders
still more perfect the interception of the gas. When the plug is removed
for oiling the gas is prevented from escape by the valve G. The necessity
for oiling may be entirely obviated by substituting to the plug, as in Figure 9,
a second valve G¹ connected with the first valve G by the rod K, at the centre
of which is a frame L. In this frame is mounted an excentric wheel r, the
axle of which A' traverses the stuffing box B¹. The square end of the axle
A passes into a mortice formed in the centre of the cap D, which is screwed
on the neck of the box: B. The two valves of this apparatus are: opened or

page_text: closed by a half turn of the screw cap D. In the different stop-cocks above
described the plugs are guided and maintained in position either by catches,
as seen in Figures 1, 2, 7, or by caps, as shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6, 8. The
catches, which may either be mounted on pivots, as in f, f, Fig. 2, or on slides,
as in f, g, Fig. 7, serve to secure the plug in the barrel while limiting its
range by the checks a, a'. The movement of the screw caps, as in B, Fig. 5, is
limited in the same manner by the checks a, b, e, Fig. 4, Figure 3 represents
a system of screw joint, which, from its simplicity and facility of application,
may be advantageously employed. with the different stop-cocks above described.
A is a tubulure cast with the barrel of the cock and provided externally with
a right hand screw thread in relief; B collar on which is cut a left hand thread
of the same diameter as that of the tubulure; C, double thread screw nut,
one half of which is tapped to the right and the other to the left. The
extremity of the pipe to be adjusted being widened out is placed on the
tubulure and is secured in position by the collar B screwed down by the double
threaded nut C as seen in the Drawing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the. Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th September 1861..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 39,
Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Marc Antoine, François Mennons, Her.special licence that I, the
said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such, others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 GAS STOP-COCKS," (a com-
munication from Messrs. A. Massey, G. Jullien, and E. Jullien, persons resident

page_text: at Paris,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Marc Antoine
François Mennons, 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 Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 Figures of the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
The Invention communicated to me consists in a peculiar application of
valves to gas stop-cocks, by means of which, combined with certain modifications
in the general construction, all escape of gas is prevented even during the
cleaning of the apparatus.
The accompanying Drawing represents different forms of stop-cocks com-
prising these improvements.
The combination shewn in Figures 1, 2; is composed of an ordinary barrel
A, and of a second barrel B, of larger diameter in which is lodged the valve G.
This valve is constantly pressed by the spring E against the bottom L' of
the first barrel. C is a hollow plug in which is pierced an orifice L giving
passage to the gas by the outlet pipe I. When this plug is set in position, as
seen in Figure 1, its hind extremity J which is longer than the barrel À
displaces the valve G, compressing the spring E, and allows the gas to pass
to the interior by the apertures H. When the orifice L is brought into
communication with the outlet pipe I the gas escapes in passing successively
by the apertures H and the interior of the plug. When the latter is turned
half way the outlet pipe I is closed by the plain surface, and the supply of gas
is completely shut off. When the plug requires to be withdrawn, the valve
G acted on by the spring E covers the opening L' of the first barrel, which
it closes hermetically, thus intercepting completely the flow of gas. By this
arrangement the cleaning or oiling of the apparatus is easily effected while all
loss of gas is avoided. The same results are obtained, and in some cases
more advantageously, by the combination shewn in Figure 5, in which the
plug C is shortened by the portion which in the arrangement above described
passes to the interior of the second barrel B, while the valve G is acted on by
the rod j.

page_text: Figures 6; 8, represent another combination offering considerable advantages
over those above described; I' is the inlet pipe; F, chamber in which plays
the valve G, acted on from below by the spring H, and guided in its movement
by the bar J. The plug C is provided at its inner extremity, with a shoulder
a, in which is screwed a stud b. pressing on the upper end of a slide piece K,
the movement of which is guided by the conductor e. The lower extremity
of this, slide piece; kis set in the centre of the valve G. To close this
apparatus (which is shewn open in the. Drawing,) a half turn is, given to the
plug,so as to bring its plain surface over the orifice of the outlet pipe. In
this movement the stud b. passing upwards sets free the slide piece k, while
the valve G, repelled by the spring H, rises to the conical opening E, and
closes hermetically the inlet pipe. By this means a double obturation is
obtained which renders still more perfect the interception of the gas. When
the plug is removed for oiling, the gas is prevented from escape by the valve
G. The necessity for oiling may be entirely obviated by substituting to the plug,
as in Figure 9, a second valve G¹ connected with the first valve G by the rod
K, at the centre of which is a frame L. In this frame is mounted an excentric
wheel r, the axle of which A¹ traverses the stuffing box B'. The square end
of the axle A¹ passes into a mortice formed in the centre of the cap D which
is screwed on the neck of the box B'. The two valves of this apparatus are
opened or closed by a half turn of the screw cap D. In the different stop-
cocks above described the plugs are guided and maintained in position either
by catches as seen in Figures 1, 2, 7, or by caps, as shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6,
8. The catches, which may either be mounted on pivots as in f. f. Figure 2,
or on slides, as in f, g, Figure 7, serve to secure the plug in the barrel while
limiting its range by means of the checks a, a'. The movement of the screw
caps, as in B, Figure 5, is limited in the same manner by the checks a, b, e,
Figure 4. Figure 3 represents a system of screw joint which, from its
simplicity and facility of application, may be advantageously employed with
the different stop-cocks above described. A is a tubulure cast with the
barrel of the cock, and provided externally with a right-hand screw thread in
relief. B is a collar on which is cut a left-hand thread of the same diameter
as that of the tubulure. c is a double thread screw nut, one half of which is
tapped to the right and the other to the left. The extremity of the pipe to be
adjusted being widened out is placed on the tubulure, and is secured in
position by the collar B screwed down by the double-threaded nut C, as seen
in the Drawing.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,

page_text: .and..the manner of carrying it into effect. I declare that, without con-
fining myself to the precise details above laid down, I claim the improved
¿construction and arrangement of gas. stop-cocks, comprising one or several
⚫escape preventing valves distributed and actuated substantially as herein set
forth and represented in the different Figures of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereunto set 'my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.