IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR LIQUIDS OR GASES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Macintosh, of North Bank, Regent's Park, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS
OR COCKS FOR LIQUIDS OR GASES."
Sealed the 15th April 1864, and dated the 3rd November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Macintosh at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
November 1863.
I, JOHN MACINTOSH, of North Bank, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR LIQUIDS OR GABES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in ordinary taps or cocks,
whereby they are rendered secure from being accidentally opened. For this
purpose the plug of an ordinary tap or cock is formed with a recess or hole,
so that when the passage into which it fits is closed, a spring bolt or lover is
caused to act thereon so as to lock or secure it in position until the locking
instrument is removed or withdrawn to allow the tap or cock to be opened.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Macintosh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MACINTOSH, of North Bank, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Macintosh, Her special licence that I, the said John Macintosh,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Macintosh, 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
TAPS OR COCKS FOR LIQUIDS OR GASES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Macintosh, 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 John Macintosh, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention has for its object in provements in ordinary taps or cocks,
whereby they are rendered secure from being accidentally opened. For this
purpose the plug of an ordinary tap or cock is so formed with a recess or
projection that when the passage into which it fits is closed, a suitable spring
.bolt or lever is caused to act thereon so as to lock or secure it in position
until the locking instrument is removed or withdrawn to allow the tap or
cock to be opened.
Accidents frequently occur from the ordinary taps of gas pipes being turned
on after it is supposed they have been properly turned off, and from much
usage the taps move so freely that an accidental touch is sufficient to turn

page_text: the T-pieces; and in like manner it is often very important to secure the taps
of beer barrels and other like vessels to prevent the waste which results from
their being accidentally turned. Now my Invention effectually locks the taps
or cocks to which it is applied, so that it becomes almost an impossibility that
the tap should be opened accidentally.
For carrying my Invention into effect I adopt one of the two following
modes, which I will proceed to describe.
-
In the first mode a spring bolt runs through the plug, and catches into a
recess made for it; in the other mode a spring is affixed externally to the
T-piece, which catches into a recess prepared for it in the barrel, and is
actuated by a lever or bolt passing through the plug. In both modes of
acting on the plug the pressure of the finger or thumb is required either on
the spring bolt or on the bolt which actuates the vertical spring, in order to
release the catch from the aperture into which it fits, and this pressure can be
readily applied by one and the same action that turns the T-piece of the tap
or cock. In the first-named mode of effecting the locking of the tap or cock
a slot or hole is drilled through the T-piece just over the barrel, and a recess
is made on the exterior of the barrel. The spring bolt is inserted, and the
catch at the end thereof fits into the recess and firmly locks the tap or cock.
When it is desired to open the tap or cock pressure is applied to the back of
the spring bolt, which causes the catch to move or rise from the recess, and
permits of the free action of the plug. When it is desired to shut off the
supply of gas or fluid it is requisite only to move the T-piece half round in
the ordinary manner, and the catch follows the motion of the T-piece until it
fits again into the recess and locks the plug. In my other mode of locking
the tap or cock a spring is attached from the T-piece vertically, the end
fitting into a recess made in the exterior of the barrel; when shut the end of
this spring fits into the recess, and can only be moved by pressure applied to a
bolt or lever which is inserted in a hole drilled through the T-piece or plug.
In both modifications the same action which shuts off the supply of gas or
fluid effectually locks the tap or cock, so that pressure must be deliberately
applied to the spring bolt or spring before the passage can be opened, and
from the protected position of these bolts it is almost impossible to actuate
them accidentally, whereas the T-pieces of gas burners, &c., from their
exposed position are liable to be turned in the act of dusting shops and
rooms, &c., and may be very readily turned undesignedly, causing fires,
explosions, and other disastrous accidents.
But in order that my said Invention may be better understood, I will
proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a tap with my first arrangement shown applied
thereto. A is the spring bolt passing through the plug B; C is the recess in
the barrel. Fig. 2 shows my second arrangement. D is the vertical spring
on the outside of the T-piece; E is the bolt or lever which passes through the
plug F; G is the recess on the barrel..
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and how the same
is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to any precise arrangements so long as the peculiar features of my
Invention be retained; but what I claim and desire to secure by these Letters
Patent is, the locking of ordinary or other taps or cocks to prevent their being
accidentally turned, by the means herein-before described and shown by the
Drawings annexed, wherein a spring bolt or bolt or lever passing through the
plug either catches into a slot or recess on the barrel or actuates a vertical
spring which similarly takes into a recess or catch on the barrel.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Macintosh, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOHN MACINTOSH.
L.S.)