MENTS IN VALVES MADE FROM INDIA-RUBBER OR OTHER SIMILAR ELASTIC MATERIAL, THE SAID VALVES BEING APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLUID OR GASEOUS PUMPS, ENEMAS, SYRINGES, SPRAY PRODUCERS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS WHERE VALVES ARE IN USE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Firth, of Rose Villa, Viewforth,
Edinburgh, County of Mid Lothian, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN VALVES MADE FROM INDIA-RUBBER OR OTHER SIMILAR ELASTIC
MATERIAL, THE SAID VALVES BEING APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
FLUID OR GASEOUS PUMPS, ENEMAS, SYRINGES, SPRAY PRODUCERS, AND OTHER
INSTRUMENTS WHERE VALVES ARE IN USE"
Sealed the 26th June 1868, and dated the 13th January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Firth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th January 1868.
I, WILLIAM FIRTH, of Rose Villa, Viewforth, Edinburgh, County of
Mid Lothian, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES MADE FROM INDIA-RUBBER OR OTHER SIMILAR ELASTIC
MATERIAL, THE SAID VALVES BEING APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLUID
OR GASEOUS PUMPS, ENEMAS, SYRINGES, SPRAY PRODUCERS, AND OTHER INSTRU-
MENTS WHERE VALVES ARE IN USE," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the manufacture and use of valves
capable of forming fluid or gas tight joints, and of remaining without
being cemented or otherwise extraneously fastened in the positions in
Pine S1

page_text: which they are placed or into which they are pressed in fluid or gaseous
pumps or other instruments or apparatus in which such valves are
required.
And my Invention consists, in the first place, in making valves from
solid cylindrical pieces of india-rubber, by removing a central portion
from nearly the whole length of the said piece, thereby leaving a hollow
cylinder with an open and a closed end, and separating a portion of
the disc at the closed end from the cylinder, while the remaining portion
is left united thereto. By this means a clack is formed at the end of
the cylinder, which clack is susceptible of being opened by the pressure
of the fluid or gas passing through the cylinder in one direction, and is
closed by the pressure of the same in the opposite direction. This
elastic cylinder may be kept distended as required by the insertion of
a metal or other rigid ring, and the valve will remain in its position
when pressed into a circular opening of slightly less diameter than the
external diameter of the said cylinder. The clack or clacks may be
They may
differently formed in order to suit different valve seats.
be formed so as to open at top and bottom, or at each side from
a central fixture.
My Invention consists, in the second place, in constructing valves
from a cylinder of india-rubber with one end closed, but with openings
cut in the sides of the cylinder, thereby forming a number of outlets for
the passage of fluid or gas when opened by the pressure of the same on
the end disc of the cylinder, and securing ample room for the passage
of the fluid or gas with less action and greater durability in the
valve.
My Invention consists, in the third place, in constructing valves
from hollow hemispheres or cones or conical frustrums of india-rubber,
with openings similar to those already described, such hemispheres,
cones, or conical frustrums being internally supported by wire cloth
or perforated metal or rings of metal or hard rubber, or made of sufficient
strength to dispense with such internal support.
.
My Invention consists, in the fourth place, in constructing cylindrical
valves by means of a series of rings of hard and soft rubber alternately,
with openings cut in them. In this form of valve instead of using
entire rings of hard rubber pieces may be inserted where the rings are
not cut apart, and wire cloth or lattice work may or may not be used
as an internal support for the valve.

page_text: And my Invention consists, in the last place, in cutting a part of
the aforesaid cylinders or cones into rings, or in taking a series of rings
either of flat or round section otherwise prepared, either uniform in
diameter so as to form a cylinder, or gradually diminishing so as to be
conical when laid one over another, and when so laid binding them
together in places to correspond with the parts uncut in those above
described, or otherwise limiting their range or distance of separation or
opening under the pressure of the liquid or gas in passing through
between such rings forming such valves, and internally supporting, such
rings as above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Firth in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FIRTH, of Rose Villa, Viewforth, Edinburgh, County of Mid Lothian,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Firth, Her special licence
that I, the said William Firth, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Firth, 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
VALVES MADE FROM INDIA-RUBBER OR OTHER SIMILARLY ELASTIC MATERIAL, THE
SAID VALVES BEING APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLUID OR GASEOUS
PUMPS, ENEMAS, SYRINGES, SPRAY PRODUCERS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS WHERE
VALVES ARE IN USE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Firth, 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

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Oflice within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Firth, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):-
My Invention of Improvements in Valves made from India-rubber
or other similarly Elastic Material, the said Valves being applicable in
the Construction of Fluid or Gaseous Pumps, Enemas, Syringes, Spray
Producers, and other Instruments where Valves are in use," has for its
object the manufacture and use of valves capable of forming fluid
or gas tight joints by contact with more rigid materials, such as
iron or brass, and of remaining without being cemented or otherwise
extraneously fastened in the positions in which they are placed, or into
which they are pressed in fluid or gaseous pumps or other instruments or
apparatus in which such valves are required.
And my Invention consists in the first place in making valves from
solid cylindrical pieces of india-rubber by removing a central portion
from nearly the whole length of the said piece, thereby leaving a hollow
cylinder with an open and a closed end, and separating a portion of the
disc at the closed end from the cylinder, while the remaining portion is
left united thereto. By this means a clack is formed at the end of the
cylinder, which clack is susceptible of being opened by the pressure of
the fluid or gas passing through the cylinder in one direction, and is
closed by the pressure of the same in the opposite direction. This elastic
cylinder may be kept distended as required by the insertion of a metal
or other rigid ring or tube, and the valve will remain in its position
when pressed into a circular opening of slightly less diameter than
the external diameter of the said cylinder; although the said valves
would ordinarily be made from cylindrical blocks of india-rubber or other
elastic material, yet they may be made from blocks of other forms, and
the clack or clacks may be differently formed in order to suit different
valve seats. The clacks may be formed so as to open at top and
bottom or at each side from a central fixture.

page_text: My Invention consists in the second place in constructing valves
from cylindrical blocks of india-rubber with one end closed, but with
openings cut in the sides of the cylinder, thereby forming a number of
outlets for the passage of fluid or gas when opened by the pressure
of the same on the end disc of the cylinder, and securing ample room
for the passage of fluid or gas with less action and greater durability
in the valve. These valves may also be constructed from blocks of
other forms than cylindrical, if required.
My Invention consists in the third place in constructing valves
from hollow hemispheres or cones, or conical frustrums, or pyramidal
frustrums of india-rubber with openings similar to those already
described, such hemispheres, cones, or conical or pyramidal frustrums
being internally supported by wire cloth or perforated metal, or rings
of metal or hard rubber, or made of sufficient strength to dispense
with such internal support.
My Invention consists in the fourth place in constructing cylindrical
or conical or tapering valves by means of a series of similarly shaped
rings of hard and soft rubber alternately with openings cut in or between
them. In this form of valve, instead of using entire rings of hard
rubber pieces may be inserted where the rings are not cut apart, and
wire cloth or latticework may or may not be used as an internal support
for the valve.
And my Invention consists in the last place in cutting a part of
the aforesaid cylinders or cones into rings, or in taking a series of
rings, either of flat or round or other section otherwise prepared, either
uniform in diameter so as to form a cylinder, or gradually diminishing,
so as to be conical or tapering when laid one over another, and when
so laid, binding them together in places to correspond with the parts
uncut in those above described, or otherwise limiting their range or
distance of separation or opening under the pressure of the liquid or
gas passing through between such rings forming such valves, and
internally supporting such rings as above described.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed
to describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be
performed by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which are
represented several forms of valves in illustration of the modes of
construction herein-before referred to.

page_text: Figures 1 to 5 are designed to illustrate the first part of my Invention.
In Fig. 1, A is a section of a portion of a pump barrel formed with an
internal projection at A*, within the hollow of which the valve B is
inserted; C is a tube of brass or other suitable material, somewhat
greater in external diameter than the internal diameter of the valve,
which tube is forced into the valve and serves to keep it distended if
required; this valve is formed by removing a central portion from a
cylindrical block of india-rubber, and cutting through a part of the
closed end of the cylinder, so as to leave a clack D at the said end
capable of moving as on a centre at the bottom, as indicated by the
dotted lines when pressed upon by fluid or gas passing through the valve
in the direction shewn by the arrow, the clack D returning to its
closed position on pressure being applied in the opposite direction.
Fig. 2 represents a double valve with a clack D at each end, and an
aperture in the side to receive the end of a supply pipe E, an aperture
being also made in the tube C for the same purpose; this valve is
capable of passing fluid or gas from the supply pipe E through the pump
barrel A in opposite directions, as shewn by the arrows.
Fig. 3 represents a valve with an excentric clack D, the longitudinal
passage for fluid or gas in the valve being also excentric, a passage
being also formed at right angles to that before named, and opening a
communication with the supply pipe E. F is an ordinary pump bucket.
This valve when forced down to the bottom of the pump barrel A,
will remain in its position and make a fluid-tight contact with the
inside of the barrel. If the supply pipe he slightly larger in external
diameter than the opening into the side of the valve, fluid-tight
contact will be formed between them, and they may be connected or
disconnected, as required, with facility.
Figures 4 and 5 represent in horizontal and vertical section a valve
with several passages, and a clack at one end opening on each side of a
central fixture. In Fig. 4 the flaps or clacks are supposed to be
cut away.
From the foregoing illustrations it will be seen that the central
portions cut away from the solid cylindrical or other forms of solid
blocks of india-rubber, may be so cut as to make the passages either

page_text: concentric or excentric with the body of the valve, and that either one
or more passages may be formed therein. It is also to be observed that
several of the passages or all of them may be covered by one clack, as
shewn in Fig. 5, or each passage may be covered by a separate clack,
and in various ways the forms and arrangements of the passages and
clacks may be adapted to suit different purposes, in all cases, however,
the valves are capable of being inserted in pump barrels and other like
situations, and forming fluid-tight contact with the surfaces to which
they are applied; and when used in buckets, as in Fig. 5, the ordinary
packing can be dispensed with.
Figures 6 and 7 represent in section valves constructed in the manner
stated under the second head of my Invention. In this case a central
Huid or gas passage is formed as before, but one end of the cylinder is
left uncut and openings are made by cuts, as shewn in Fig. 6, which
openings are expanded by the pressure of fluid or gas acting on the end
of the valve, as indicated by the arrows, These valves may be varied in
detail in order to adapt them for different applications and uses, and it
is to be remarked that in this case also a larger piece of india-rubber
may have several of such valves formed in it, each having its own fluid
or gas passage and openings, in which case it will be preferable to form
the part in which the said openings are cut of a cubical or prismatic
shape.
The valves under the third head of my Invention are similar to those
last described, except that they are constructed from hollow hemispheres,
cones, conical frustrums, or pyramidal frustrums, and they may either
be supported internally by tubes or wire cloth, perforated metal or hard
rubber, or made of sufficient strength to dispense with such internal
support. This mode of constructing valves will be readily understood
without Drawings.
Figures 8 and 9 represent a valve constructed as stated under the
fourth head of my Invention; the rings of hard rubber G and of soft
rubber H are placed as required alternately before vulcanization, and
they are vulcanized together. Steel or other rings may be substituted
for the hard rubber rings, and may be placed as required before the
vulcanizing process, holes being made at intervals in the said steel or
other rings to correspond with the parts not cut in, the rubber when
used as described under the second head without such steel rings, the
soft rubber rings on either side adhering to each other through such

page_text: holes. The purpose of such hard rubber, or steel, or other rings is to
provide rigidity, secure large fluid or gas ways or passages, and form
convenient surfaces along which to make the cuts to form the openings.
The bottom ring of this valve composed of soft india-rubber is inserted
in the metal ring I, and secured therein by an internal strengthening
ring. At the top of the valve is a disc K of hard rubber, and between
these two india-rubber rings are a series of hard and soft rubber rings,
and the valve is opened into the position, shewn in Fig. 9, by the upward
pressure of fluid or gas on the under side of the disc K.
Fig. 10 represents a mode of constructing these valves conical so as
to be used with a central rod. For this purpose the several metal or
rigid rings are made about double the width of the soft rubber rings with
which they form fluid or gas tight contact, having the soft rubber rings
united at intervals to their inner and outer edges, as shewn. S is a soft
rubber ring sprung round and resting against a shoulder on the central
rod R. In one half of this section the valve is shewn open, and in the
other half shut.
Valves constructed as stated under the last head of my Invention are
formed of separate or detached rings instead of partly cut rings, as are
those described, under the second, third, and fourth heads thereof. These
separate or detached rings ore bound together at intervals, and the
requisite openings are formed by the rings being caused by the pressure
of fluid or gas to move from each other in those parts thereof which are
not bound. The mode of binding the rings at intervals may be varied,
as, for instance, by means of small nails with split prongs, such as are
commonly used for binding loose sheets of paper, or other convenient
means may be adopted. The general appearances of valves of this kind
resemble that represented at Figures 8, 9, and 10, and do not require to
be illustrated by Drawings. In this case, as in that last described, the
valve may be composed of a series of hard and soft rubber rings arranged
alternately, or the hard rings may be of steel or other suitable material.
But the range of movement of these separate rings one from the other
so as to leave openings between them may be controlled by various
means in order that openings may be made all round the rings instead
of only at intervals or between the parts united or bound together. For
this purpose the valve is required to be constructed so as to admit of
the rings being raised one from another, and thereby leaving openings
between them all round. This may be accomplished in various ways

page_text: by combining the metal portions of the valve with the portions composed
of india-rubber.
In Figures 11 and 12 are represented two modes of such combinations.
In Fig. 11 the ring of india-rubber is shewn on the under side of the
metal ring, and in Fig. 12 the rings of india-rubber are shewn on the
upper and under sides of the metal rings. Also in Fig. 11 the mode of
controlling the extent of movement of the
tubes of varying lengths, against the flanges of which the rubber rings
are pressed and with which they form fluid or gas tight contact, the
other ends of such tubes being controlled or stopped by a crosshead L,
as shewn in Fig. 12.
rings is by means of flanged
In the foregoing descriptions under the fourth and fifth heads of my
Invention reference has been made to valves constructed with a series
of soft and rigid rings alternately, but such valves might be made with
one rigid disc and a soft india-rubber ring fixed to the said disc and
the valve seat by springing it into or over fixtures of suitable form for
the purpose.
By the arrangements shewn and in various other modes the india-
rubber rings may be sprung on to and combined with metal rings and
other metal portions of valves so as to admit of their being separated
by the pressure of fluid or gas, as required, in order to leave openings
between them all round, and to effect fluid-tight contacts between the
india-rubber and the metal in the parts required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would remark that the several
forms of valves and modes of constructing them herein-before described
may be varied in detail without departing from the peculiar character of
my Invention; but I declare that what I claim as of my Invention is,―
First. The construction of valves out of blocks of india-rubber in the
modes described under the first head of my Invention, such valves being
capable of forming fluid or gas tight joints by contact, and being applied
without extraneous fastening, as described.
Secondly. The construction of valves from cylindrical blocks of india-
rubber with cuts in them to form openings for the passage of fluid or
gas, as described under the second head, such valves also forming fluid
or gas tight joints by contact as described.

page_text: Thirdly. The construction of valves, similar to those last referred to,
out of different forms of india-rubber blocks, as described.
Fourthly. The construction of valves in a series of hard and soft
rubber rings or india-rubber and metal rings with cuts in or between
them to form openings, as described under the fourth head of my
invention.
And, lastly. The construction of valves in a series of hard and soft
rings, either bound together at intervals with openings between, or
combined so as to admit of being moved wholly from each other to
suitable distances, as required, in order to provide outlets for fluid or
gas between such rings all round, as described with reference to the
last head of my Invention.
In witness whereof, J, the said William Firth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
ALEX. LAWSON,
, Rosebank Cottages, Edinburgh,
Clerk.
W. FIRTH. (L.S.)