IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR COCKS AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE SAME"
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Penn of Westbury Street Wandsworth Road
in the County of Surrey Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VALVES OR COCKS AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE
SAME"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thoinas Penn at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1882.
THOMAS PENN of Westbury Street Wandsworth Road in the County of
Surrey Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR COCKS AND IN THE MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
12
My said Invention has reference to improvements in valves or cocks and the
means or apparatus for operating the same which improvements are especially
adapted for application to the water supply apparatus of water closets but are also
applicable to other purposes. It may with advantage for example be applied to
water closet apparatus wherein in order to regulate the quantity of water supplied
to the closet oil or other fluid is caused to pass from one side to the other of a
piston or pistons in one or more regulating cylinders or vessels such for instance as
the apparatus described in the Specification filed in pursuance of Letters Patent
No 2025 dated the 21st day of May A.D. 1879. According to my said Invention
I so construct the valve that it can be readily opened from its seat against a high
pressure in the mains or supply pipe. To effect this I construct the valve in two
parts one part of considerably less area than the main body of the valve this
small part is attached to the valve spindle and constitutes with the second part
the main body of the valve. This second part encircles the smaller part being
threaded upon the valve spindle the part of the valve on the valve spindle taking
its seat in the second part so that it forms with the said second part when tho
valve is closed virtually one valve closing the inlet passage the said second part
seating itself upon the seat around the inlet passage to close it. In opening the
valve the pressure of the inlet water upon only the smaller area of the part
attached to the valve spindle has to be overcome for as soon as this part leaves its
seat in the second part the water flows to the back of the said second part which

page_text: now being subjected to equal pressure on both sides readily leaves its seat thus
opening the full inlet passage of the valve This improvement is applicable to
valves generally which have to be opened against considerable pressure and also
to ball cocks and the like. I prefer to form the second part of the valve of
vulcanized fibro otherwise known as "Elamite" which I turn truly on its exterior
to take its seating upon the seat around the inlet passage and on its interior to
give a seating for the small part upon the valve spindle
In place of the ordinary gland or packing in the valve casing for the passage
of the valve rod therethrough I employ a cup shaped disc of India rubber, leather
or other flexible water-tight material which encircles the valve spindle at one edge
and is firmly connected water tightly thereto its other or outer edge being con-
nected watertightly to the valve casing. The cup shape of the material allows it
to yield to the movement of the valve rod and at the same time it forms a water-
tight closure to the valve casing
I connect the pull rod (by which the valve is operated through the intervention
of levers as usual or otherwise) to the sliding part or guide by forming the end
of the said rod with a screw extending through some considerable distance from
the lower end. Upon this screw are adjusted nuts between which a projection
from the sliding part or guide is fixed. These nuts can be turned to bring them
to the requisite position upon the rod to enable the handle carried at the upper
part of the rod to be readily adjusted to the proper elevation. The bracket in
which the basin for the handle is contained is formed with a stalk or leg piece
which is fitted upon and screwed or otherwise secured to the piece which forms
the guide surface or carrier for the before mentioned sliding piece or guide of the
operating mechanism

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Penn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st December 1882.
THOMAS PENN of Westbury Street Wandsworth Road in the County of
Surrey Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES OR COCKS AND IN THE MEANS
OR APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
"
My said Invention has reference to improvements in valves or cocks and the
means or apparatus for operating the same which Improvements are especially
adapted for application to the water supply apparatus of water closets but are
also applicable to other purposes.
It may with advantago for example be applied to water closet apparatus
wherein in order to regulate the quantity of water supplied to the closet oil or
other fluid is caused to pass from one side to the other of a piston or pistons in
one or more regulating Cylinders or vessels such for instance as the apparatus
described in the Specification filed in pursuance of Letters Patent Nº 2025 dated
the twenty first day of May One thousand eight hundred and soventy nine.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same Letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation and Figure 2 an
end view of an apparatus for supplying wator to water closets with my improve-
ments applied thereto and figure 3 is a vertical section of the valvo box (drawn
to an enlarged scale) illustrating my improved construction of valves and parts
connected therewith.
The apparatus which I have shown for the purpose of illustrating my improve-
ments is of the class described in the Specification of the hereinbefore mentioned
Letters Patent N° 2025 A.D. 1879 but it will be understood that my said
Improvements may be applied to apparatus of any other form to which they are
or may be applicable.
According to my present Invention I so construct the water supply valve v that
it can be readily opened from its seat against a high pressure in the mains or
supply pipe To effect this I construct the valve in two parts (See Figure 3)
the part being of considerably loss area than the main body of the valve. The
part is attached to or formed in one piece with the valve spindle t and .con-
stitutes with the part the main body of the valve. The part encircles the
part being threaded or mounted loosely upon the said valve spindle t the part
taking its seat in or on the part so that it forms therewith when the valve is
closed against the seating y (as shewn in full lines) virtually one valve closing the
inlet passage for water from the source of supply.
In opening the valve the pressure of the inlet water upon only the smaller area
of the part has to be overcome. As soon however as this part leaves its seat
in the part (as shewn in dotted lines) the inlet water flows to the back of the
part v which now being subjected to equal pressure on both sides readily leaves
its seat with the exertion of but slight force thus opening the full inlet passago
of the valve I have shewn holes in the flange piece v for the passage of the
water to the back of the part v but it will be understood that any other suitable
passage or passages may be employed. This improvement is applicable to valves
generally which have to be opened against considerable pressure and also to ball

page_text: cocks and the like. Its application to these will be evident from the foregoing
description.
The part of the valve may be made of vulcanized fibre (otherwise known as
"Elamite" which I turn truly on its exterior and interior to ensure its seating
itself truly upon the seat y and to form a good seating for the part but metal
or any other suitable material may of course be employed-
In place of the ordinary gland or packing in the valve casing for the passage
of the valve rod t therethrough I employ a cup shaped disc of India rubber
leather or other flexible water tight material which encircles the valve Spindle t
at and is firmly connectly water tightly thereto by pinching it between two
parts of the said spindle t or otherwise as may be convenient. The other or outer
edge of the said disc is connected water tightly to the valve casing v being
pinched between the flanges thereof The cup shape of the material allows it
to yield to the movement of the valve spindle and at the same time it forms
a water tight closure to the valvo casing V
I connect the pull rod f (by which the valve is operated through the intervention
of levers as usual or otherwise) to an arm b' on the sliding part or guide b by
forming on the end of the said rod a screw thread 2 extending some distance
from the lower end and screwing it through the said arm or projection b² and
securing it in the required adjusted position by jam nuts h-By this means the
handlo carried at the upper part of the rod can be readily adjusted to the proper
elevation. The bracket i for carrying the basin for the handle a is provided
with a stalk or socketted leg piece which is fitted upon and screwed or
otherwise secured to the piece s upon which slides the guide of the operating
mechanism.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used orcarried 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 improvements in valves or ball cocks or the like consisting in forming
the part which closes and opens the inlet (that is to say the valve proper) in two
parts arranged and operated substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Second. The flexible water tight Cup shaped disc arranged in the valve box
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Third. In apparatus for operating valves for supplying water to water closets
or other like purposes connecting the pull rod to the guide b so as to be capable
of being adjusted as herein before described and illustrated in figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In connection with apparatus for operating valves for supplying water
to waterclosets forming or fastening the bracket for the pull handle basin on or
to the upper end of the guide bar a as herein before described and illustrated in
figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Penn have to this my Specification
set my hand and scal this twenty-first day of December One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
THOMAS. PENN (L.S.)