IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING, REGULATING, MEA- SURING, AND ARRESTING, THE FLOW OR DISCHARGE OF FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS, AND PREVENTING WASTE THEREOF
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip John Davies, of Number 7, Campsbourne
Terrace, Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING, REGULATING, MEA-
SURING, AND ARRESTING, THE FLOW OR DISCHARGE OF FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS, AND
PREVENTING WASTE THEREOF,
"
Sealed the 81st October 1873, and dated the 2nd May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip John Davies
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd May 1873.
I, PHILIP JOHN DAVIES, of Number 7, Campsbourne Terrace,
Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING,
REGULATING, MEASURING, AND ARRESTING THE FLOW OR DISCHARGE OF FLUIDS OR
LIQUIDS, AND PREVENTING WASTE THEREOF," to be as follows:—
My Invention specially relates to apparatus employed for controlling,
regulating, measuring, and arresting the flow or discharge of water
from cisterns, reservoirs, or other sources of water supply or storeage,

page_text: and has for its main object the limiting of the supply each time the
apparatus is put in action, so as not to exceed a fixed maximum
quantity in order prevent waste.
It is also applicable to apparatus employed for similar purposes in
connection with other fluids or liquids. It consists partly in certain ↓
novel arrangements and combinations of apparatus so contrived and
adapted as to act as waste preventers without the employment of any
close fitting valve whatever, whereby certainty of action and freedom
from derangement are more effectually attained than heretofore. This
I effects by employing a syphon or syphons in connection with the pipe:
through which the flow of fluid takes place, and a service box,
forming a measuring chamber, which draws its supply from the main
cistern or other source of supply through a passage of smaller area than
that by which it is emptied. A syphon action is established in the
pipe when desired either by raising a loose cap with which I in some
cases cover that end of the said pipe which terminates in the service
box or by operating a small pump which I sometimes provide for that
purpose instead of or in conjunction with the said cap. In either case.
the service. box is emptied or nearly so of its contents, and as the supply
of fluid, thereto cannot enter through the smaller passage, as quickly as
the outflow passes off by the larger passage, the syphon action is thereby
broken and no more fluid passes into the pipe until the said cap is
again raised or the small pump operated.
It also consists in certain improved arrangements of movable and
fixed valve seatings and appropriate valves operating in connection with
retarding mechanism, whereby measuring and waste preventing effects
similar to those above mentioned may be attained, such improved.
apparatus being in some cases combined with the syphon and service box
arrangements of the first above described apparatus; in others employed.
separately.
:
Also in the employment for the purpose of a waste preventer of a
retarding apparatus consisting of a cylinder or axis furnished with..
blades or paddles revolving inside a box containing a fluid which offers.
a certain resistance to the motion of the blades or paddles, which being -
connected by suitable mechanism (such, for example, as a chain or cord,
or rack and pinion) with the outlet valve, may be so arranged as to
retard the closing of the latter as may be required. The box may be

page_text: made to revolve while the cylinder or axis remains stationary, or both
may be made to revolve in opposite directions, as may be preferred.
Also in a novel arrangement and adaptation of a float and valve, to
operate effectually as a ball valve however great may be the pressure
of the head of water against the valve, which I effect by causing the
pressure of the column of entering water to act upon a piston or plunger
so disposed, proportioned to and connected with the valve, that as the
valve closes against the pressure the said pressure operates upon the
piston so as to press the valve against its seat with any required
pressure.
"
"water
And also in certain improvements in what are known as
frugals," for which Letters Patent were granted to me, bearing date
the 3rd day of July, A. D. 1871, Number 1716, which consist in
combining the "retarding valve" with the "carrier instead of their
being separate, as heretofore; also in applying to the shut-off valve a
stem, which enters the delivery pipe and is either tapered or provided
with a tapered notch or passage; by either of which means the area of
the outlet is gradually contracted as the valve closes, and the too
sudden closing and consequent tremor or fluttering of the valve is
thereby obviated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Philip John Davies in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PHILIP
5 JOHN DAVIES, of Number 7, Campsbourne Terrace, Hornsey, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
O sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Philip John Davies, Her special
licence that I, the said Philip John Davies, my executors, admini-
strators and assigns, or such others as I, the said Philip John Davies,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: 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 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING, REGULATING, MEASURING, AND {
ARRESTING THE FLOW OR DISCHARGE OF FLUID OR LIQUIDS, AND PREVENTING
WASTE THEREOF," upon the condition (amongst others), that I, the said
Philip John Davies, 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 Philip John Davies, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same ]
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement.
My Invention specially relates to apparatus employed for controlling,
regulating, measuring, and arresting the flow or discharge of water from
cisterns, reservoirs, or other sources of water supply or storage, and has a
for its main object the limiting of the supply each time the apparatus is
put in action so as not to exceed a fixed maximum quantity in order to
prevent waste.
It is also applicable to apparatus employed for similar purposes in
connection with other fluids or liquids. It consists partly in certain a
novel arrangements and combinations of apparatus so contrived and
adapted as to act as waste preventers without the employment of any
close fitting valve whatever, whereby certainty of action and freedom
from derangement are more effectually attained than heretofore. This
I effect by employing a syphon or syphons in connection with the pipe a
through which the flow of fluid takes place and a service box forming a
measuring chamber which draws its supply from the main cistern or
other source of supply through a passage of smaller area than that by
which it is emptied. A syphon action is established in the pipe when
desired either by raising a loose cap with which I in some cases cover 3
that end of the said pipe which terminates in the service box or by
operating a small pump which I sometimes provide for that purpose

page_text: instead of or in conjunction with the said cap. In either case the service
box is emptied or nearly so of its contents, and as the supply of fluid
thereto cannot enter through the smaller passage as quickly as the out-
flow passes off by the larger passage the syphon action is thereby broken
and no more fluid passes into the pipe until the said cap is again raised
or the small pump operated.
It also consists in certain improved arrangements of moveable and
fixed valve seatings and appropriate valves operating in connection with
retarding mechanism, whereby measuring and waste preventing effects
similar to those above mentioned may be attained, such improved
apparatus being in some cases combined with the syphon and service box
arrangements of the first above described apparatus; in others employed
separately..
Also in the employment for the purpose of a waste preventer of a
retarding apparatus, consisting of a cylinder or axis furnished with
blades or paddles revolving inside a box containing a fluid which offers a
certain resistance to the motion of the blades or paddles, which being
connected by suitable mechanism (such for example as a chain or cord,
or rack and pinion) with the outlet valve may be so arranged as to
retard the closing of the latter as may be required. The box may be
made to revolve while the cylinder or axis remains stationary, or both
may be made to revolve in opposite directions as may be preferred.
Also in a novel arrangement and adaptation of a float and valve to
operate effectually as a ball valve however great may be the pressure of
the head of water against the valve, which I effect by causing the
pressure of the column of entering water to act upon a piston or plunger
so disposed, proportioned to and connected with the valve that as the
valve closes with the pressure the said pressure operates upon the piston
so as to press the valve against its seat with any required pressure.
"
And also in certain improvements in what are known as water
frugals," for which Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date the
3rd day of July, in the year of our Lord 1871, No. 1716, which consist
in combining the "retarding valve" with the "carrier" instead of their
being separate as heretofore; also in applying to the shut-off valve a
stem which enters the delivery pipe, and is either tapered or provided
with a tapered notch or passage, by either of which means the area of
the outlet is gradually contracted as the valve closes, and the too sudden

page_text: closing and consequent tremor or fluttering of the valve is thereby
obviated.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation of my Invention for fixing in ||
cistern under water, which I have denominated as the London closet
valve. B is the body of my valve; O is the adjusting or regulating
screw valve which opens or closes the passage or water way between the
top and lower part of the regulator G; D, the top part of my valve
shewn screwed into the body B, through which works the hollow
spindle E which passes through a cup leather stuffing box, diaphragm,
or other suitable arrangement in order to make a tight joint to prevent
leakage at F; G is a regulator which works in the body B to prevent
the too sudden closing of the outlet valve J; H is my inlet cap and
ball valve which is partially formed on the bottom of the hollow:
spindle E; I is my moveable inlet valve box, the top of which forms
the inlet cup valve seating, and is so arranged that the pressure from
the reservoir tends to keep the cup and ball valve sound, that is to say,
the greater the pressure is on the bottom of the reservoir the closer my
cup and ball valve faces will become. The bottom of my cup and ball |
valve box forms the face of the outlet or discharge valve J. N is the
actuating lever; O is a passage for regulating or controlling the flow of
water from below the cup leather or regulator G to the space above, or
vice versa; P, the let out union; Q is the inlet holes to hollow spindle;
R is the inlet and outlet pipe for the purpose of supplying and exhausting
the service box shewn on Sheet 2.
Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a section (at right angles to Fig. 1) of my hollow.
spindle, with stuffing box, top regulating cup, leather and cup and ball
valve box separately.
Fig. 3, Sheet 1, is a section of my hollow spindle, with cup and ball :
11

page_text: Fig. 5, Sheet 1, shows another arrangement of my hollow spindle and
valve box closed to dispense with the stuffing box top, or cup leather,
which is done by using the diaphragm D attached to the hollow spindle E,
which I sometimes apply to the body B, Fig. 1.
Fig. 6, Sheet 1, shews (another arrangement of my hollow spindle
working through a stuffing box, with my valve box having a leather
or other suitable material for the inlet valve face."
Fig. 7, Sheet 1, shews another arrangement of my hollow spindle and
stuffing box top, with cup and ball valve box attached to the top of the
hollow spindle, having a spring N for the purpose of keeping the valve
faco J against its seating, as shewn in Fig. 1, Sheet 4.
Fig. 1, Sheet 2, shews an arrangement of my London closet valve as
fitted to an ordinary lead or zinc cistern. The parts of the valve aro.
lettered as in Fig. 1, Sheet 1.
.
I will now describe the action:-The inlet valve being open, a water-
way is established between the large cistern A and the service box K.
The water flows, as shewn in the direction of the arrows, until the
service box is full. On pulling or operating the ball lever T, it actuates
the lever N and raises the hollow spindle E, the bottom of which
partially forms the inlet valve. H, thus closing the cup and ball valve
box I, which cuts off the supply of water between the large cistern A
and the service box K; the pull being continued opens the discharge or
outlet valve J. The water then begins to descend and flows out at the
outlet aperture J. But if the ball lever T should be dropped suddenly
before the service box K is emptied, the cup-shaped regulator G opens
and draws water up the small aperture O, according as the regulating
screw O may be opened, thus allowing the hollow spindle E, with my
valve box I, to descend gradually, and without shock or tremor closes
the outlet valve J.
Fig. 1, Sheet 3, is an arrangement of my London closet valve in
action, for fixing in slate, iron, or other cistern. The action of the
hollow spindle and cup, and ball valve box are in principle the same as
that described in Fig. 1, Sheet 2, the difference being that the weight N
is employed direct on the top of the hollow spindle E instead of a lever.
› I also fix this valve to the service box K as shewn, and I sometimes
employ a syphon V to give the after flush so necessary for what is now
known as pan or valve.closets..

page_text: The action is as follows:-The ball lever T being raised shews the
inlet valve H closed, and the water flowing out at the outlet valve J ; on
lowering the weight N, the hollow spindle E, with my cup and ball valve
box, comes in contact with the valve seating J. The water then flowing
down the pipe P, tends to create a partial vacuum, and the water in the 5
box K is then drawn up the syphon V, and the box becomes exhausted
by reason of the hollow spindle E being much smaller in diameter than
the syphon V.
Fig. 2, Sheet 8, shews my syphon apparatus for preventing waste and
drawing off regulated or measured quantities of liquids, especially where 1
close fitting valves cannot be employed with safety; this I do by
employing two or more syphons in connection with the service box K,
which holds the required quantity for each operation. A is the reservoir;
B, the small inlet passage to the service box K; C is a loose cap which
I sometimes work with the rod H; the dotted lines J shew that I 1
sometimes use two caps working within each other; D is the main outlet
pipe which is covered by the cap C or the caps C and J; E' is a spindle
which I sometimes employ as a guide for the cap or caps; G is a fixed
cap which holds the liquid to trap the main pipe D; K is an enlarged
portion of the main pipe D; Lis the main pipe continued below the 2
principal trapping chamber G, and when used for flushing waterclosets
takes this form of trap below the closet seat:
The action is as follows:-On raising the cap C or the caps O and J
above the top of the main outlet pipe, so that the confi air (which is
pent up between the trapping chamber and the cap C) is liberated, the 2
liquid then rushes down the main pipe D and drives all air which may
be pent up in other syphons before it, the rush of liquid thus putting
all the syphons into action, which soon exhausts the box K (the inlet
passage being too small to supply the syphons continually), and allows
air once more to enter the syphons..
•
3
Fig. 1, Sheet 5, is an arrangement of my London closet valve for
fixing in cisterns over mouth of existing or old pipes the hollow
spindle, and my valve box is in principle and action the same as in
Fig. 1, Sheet 3, the difference being that the hollow spindle and valve
box, Fig. 6, Sheet 1, is applied to the body B, and is worked, as shewn, 3
with a lever. .

page_text: by which it can be disconnected with screws from the cistern at any
time.
Fig. 1, Sheet 6, shews another arrangement of my London closet
valve for fixing the box K below the bottom of the reservoir. I some-
times attach the body B separately to the top of the service box K,
and I form the seating J in the bottom of the box, but the way I
prefer to make this valve is as shewn with the body attached to the
seating ring W with three or more lugs which answer two purposes,
that is, as a. guide to keep the hollow spindle E perpendicular, also
to keep the seating J perfectly level with the body B. I prefer to use
the hollow spindle working through a stuffing box and packing in
this valve as shewn in Fig. 3, Sheet 1. This valve is precisely the
same in action as those described in Fig. 1, Sheet 2, with the exception
of the regulator G not been fixed on the hollow piston E.
Fig. 1, Sheet 7, is an arrangement of my London closet valve for
fixing in a cistern or reservoir under water, the hollow spindle and
valve box being in principle the same as Fig. 3, Sheet 1, the only
difference is the guide plate Y, which keeps the spindle upright; I also
make a difference in the fixing of this valve, which is done by making
the valve seating to screw into the ring W; I also shew a way of
fixing the cup leather or stuffing box S to the under side of the body
top D. The action of this valve is the same as Fig. 1, Sheet 6.
Fig. 1, Sheet 4, shews an arrangement of my London closet valve
particularly adapted for fixing in small cisterns, for what is known
as the constant supply system; the parts are as follows:-K, the box
to hold about one and a half gallons; A, the cistern to hold about half
one gallon, in which is fixed my London closet valve sometimes with the
syphon V complete; R is the inlet and outlet passage to the box K; N is
the actuating lever; C is the regulating plate. The valves I prefer
to use in the cistern are shewn in Figs. 4, 5, and 7, Sheet 1.
The action is as follows:-On actuating the lever N it first closes
the inlet valve H, then opens the outlet valve J, and the water in the
service box K rushes down the pipe P. On leaving go the handle
the valve J is closed, and water rushing down the pipe P causes the
syphon V to come into action, which soon exhausts the small covered
in portion of the cistern A by reason of the small hole in the regulating
plate O not giving sufficient water to supply the syphon V, which shews

page_text: the contrast with Fig. 2, which depends entirely upon the pressure or
flow of water through the ball cock from the main, that is to say, if
the pressure of water in the main is too powerful it will supply the
cistern, Fig. 2, faster than the syphon can carry it away, and the syphon
will continually run.
G, Fig. 1, Sheet 4, shews a novel arrangement of a Stanhope lever
ball valve, the lever of which is free to act without interfering with
the valve except in one direction, the valve itself being closed by a
spring in the cylindrical top, and the pressure of the water.
The action is as follows:-On the ball falling it gives motion to the 1
cranked end of the lever M which carries the end of the link at S in
the direction of the arc shewn by the dotted lines, this presses down
the end of the lever U, and raises the valve Z up into the cylindrical
top, which it fits freely, so that it is impossible to injure the seating by
pulling up the lever M.
1
Having described my Invention of improvements in apparatus for
regulating, controlling, measuring, and arresting the flow or discharge
of fluids or liquids, and preventing waste thereof, and the manner
of performing the same, I declare that I do not claim as my Invention
the exclusive use of the several parts herein-before described or 2
referred to, except when the same is used in conjunction with an
hollow spindle and loose valve box, or other parts that I have par-
ticularly referred to as my Invention, and used for the purpose specified.
I claim as my Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent.
First. The construction of apparatus for controlling, regulating,
measuring, and arresting the flow or discharge of fluids or liquids,
and preventing waste in which my hollow spindle and loose valve box
is combined, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 1 of the
accompanying Drawings:
Secondly. The construction of apparatus shewn and described with
reference to Fig. 1, Sheet 2, of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The construction of apparatus shewn and described with
reference to Fig. 1, Sheet 3, of the accompanying Drawings.
2
8
Fourthly. The construction of apparatus shewn and described with 3
reference to Fig. 1, Sheet 4, of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Fifthly. The construction of apparatus shewn in and described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 5, of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly. The construction of apparatus shewn in and described with
reference to Fig. 1, Sheet 6, of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly. The construction of apparatus shewn in and described with
reference to Fig. 1, Sheet 7, of the accompanying Drawings.
Lastly. The construction of apparatus shewn in and described with
reference to Fig. 2, Sheet 3, of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip John Davics, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.