IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE COCKS OR FAUCETS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Powley Alexander, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE COCKS OR FAUCETS." A communi-
cation from abroad by William Denham, Seal and George Washington Harvey,
both of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Powley Alexander
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1878.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent. * IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE
COCKS OR FAUCETS." A communication from abroad by William Denham Seal
and George Washington Harvey, both of Washington, District of Columbia, United'
States of America:
:
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of valve cock
or faucet having a continuous unobstructed fluid passage and a self-closing valve.
The shell or casing may be of any suitable metal or material, and any appropriate
form, nickel plated if required. It is fitted with a branch having a screw-threaded
projection or nipple, fitting an opening in the under side of the casing. A valve is
provided having a packing at the under face resting on the seat formed at the
upper end of the nipple, a fluted valve stem extending into the said nipple. A
coiled spring situate above the valve receives a stud on the top of the valve, and
bears against the top of the interior of the casing. If the valve be pushed up from
below, the liquid will pass freely to the branch without being retarded by any of
the obstructions commonly placed within the casings of faucets and valve cocks.
Any suitable means for elevating the valve may be employed, a very convenient
construction being as follows, namely:-A sliding nozzle extending into the branch
between the end of which and a shoulder on the nozzle intervenes a rubber spring
or packing. When the nozzle is elevated it raises the yalve, and when it is released,
it is depressed by the spring when the valve comes to its seat.
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page_text: Any suitable appliance may be used for elevating the nozzle; for instance, a yoke
and cam lever. A preferable mode is a yoke lever recessed to bear on fulcrum pins
extending from the opposite sides of the branch, and serving to facilitate the un-
screwing of the latter. This yoke is connected by links to the nozzle, so that when
the yoke is raised to a vertical or nearly vertical position, the nozzle will be drawn
up and the valve opened. A hinged metal strap or bridle piece passing over the
casing prevents the yoke from falling below a horizontal position, but by drawing
this bridle piece forward the yoke and nozzle may be detached. Stops are provided
in order to arrest the yoke when it reaches a vertical position, and special recesses
made in the yoke enable it to be applied to lugs on the branch to unscrew the same
when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Powley Alexander in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th October 1878.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE
COCKS OR FAUCETS." A communication from abroad by William Denham Seal
and George Washington Harvey, both of Washington, District of Columbia, United
States of America.
The said Invention relates to faucets and connections thereof, so constructed that
a continuous unobstructed fluid passage is obtained through a faucet which closes
automatically, whilst a ready connection of a discharge pipe with the outlet is
obtained.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is an external view showing one form in which the improved faucet
and coupling may be made; Figure 2, a longitudinal section.
Figure 3, a view of valve operating appliances and coupling.
And Figure 4, an end view showing a modification.
A represents the shell or casing of a faucet or hydrant of any suitable metal or
material and any appropriate form, nickel plated if required. B is a branch having
a screw-threaded projection or nipple & fitting an opening in the under side of the
casing; e is a valve having a packing e² at the under face, resting on the seat
formed at the upper end of the nipple i, the fluted valve stem e' extending into the
nipple is a coiled spring receiving a stud e³ on the top of the valve, and bearing
upon the top of the casing.
If the valve is pushed up from below, the liquid will pass freely to the branch B
without being retarded by any of the obstructions commonly placed within the
casings of faucets..

page_text: Any suitable means for elevating the valve may be employed, a very convenient
construction being shown in the Drawing.
D is a sliding nozzle extending into the branch B, between the end of which and
the shoulder d on the nozzle intervenes a rubber spring or packing d.
When the nozzle is pushed in it raises the valve; and when it is released, it is
thrown out by the spring d, when the valve comes to its seat.
Any suitable appliance may be used for drawing in the nozzle, for instance, a
yoke G and cam lever H (Figure 4) with cam J.
A preferable device is a yoke lever C (Figure 1), recessed to bear on fulcrum
pins b, extending from the branch B, and serving to facilitate the unscrewing of the
latter. This yoke is connected by links h to the nozzle D, so that when the yoke
is raised to the position shown in Figure 3, the nozzle is drawn inward.
A hinged metal strap or bridle piece c prevents the yoke from falling below a
horizontal position (Figure 1), but by drawing this part c forward, the yoke and
nozzle may be detached.
Stops a arrest the yoke when it reaches a vertical position in which it is retained,
owing to the pivot t having passed the centre, and recesses g enable the yoke to be
applied to the lugs b to unscrew the branch B.
When the yoke is detached the spring holds the valve in place, so that no fluid
can be withdrawn until the yoke is again applied, thus locking the faucet. A most
important application of the Invention is in connecting pipes to faucets, street
washers, fire plugs, and the like, the pipe being coupled to the nozzle, as shown in
dotted lines in Figure 2, and the attachment of the nozzle simultaneously opening
the valve when the same is arranged as shown. The device however constitutes a
ready coupling when no spring valve is used, and is applicable to the large faucets
of street hydrants, street washers, and the like.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The faucet having a casing A with an unobstructed passage and an outlet
at one side, closed by a spring valve opening inward.
Second. The combination of the casing and its spring valve bearing on the upper
end of a detachable branch B, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of the spring valve and sliding nozzle D, as specified.
Fourth. The combination with the sliding nozzle and yoke of appliances, whereby
the nozzle is adjustable on turning the yoke, substantially as specified.
Fifth. The said yoke having recesses g adapted to the pins 6 of the detachable
branch B, as specified.
Sixth. The yoke connected to the nozzle, and adapted to be applied to a casing,
and operating when turned to secure the nozzle to the casing, and simultaneously
compress the packing, as set forth.
Seventh. The nozzle D connected to a pipe and adapted for ready application to
the casing having a spring valve adapted to be opened on the application of the
nozzle, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER. (L.S.)