IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, STEAM, AND GASES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Singleton, of Over Darwen, in the County of
Lancaster, Machinist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR
COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, STEAM, AND GASES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Singleton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1880.
THOMAS SINGLETON, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, STEAM,
AND GASES."
This Invention relates to taps or cocks in which there are seatings and plugs
and washers worked by screws kept tight by packing. In general in this
description of tap or cock the water or other fluid entering from below passes out
in hard contact with the seating, and by its friction and frequent attrition of
gritty matters causes the seating to become in a short time so rough and uneven
that it is difficult to keep the tap sufficiently tight to prevent constant dripping
and waste. In order to remedy this defect I cast to the bottom of the plug a
hollow cylinder fitting a hole in the shell or body of the tap, and form in the
cylinder a number of holes leading to the discharge, the tops of the holes being at
such distances below the washer as to allow the water or fluid and earthy matters
to escape with only a minimum in contact with the seating, thereby preventing it
from becoming rough or uneven for a great length of time; or instead of casting
the hollow cylinder to the plug I join them together by a screw at the end of
a T bolt, there being sufficient space between the bolt and cylinder for the passage
of the water or fluid.
When desired I attach to my improved taps, and also to those of the ordinary
construction, a case or shell containing a plug and washer in connection with a
seating in order to shut off the supply when required, the additional plug and
washer being worked by a screw provided with packing, and to prevent this
second seating from being acted upon by the water and other matters when the
tap is in use I cause the bottom of the before mentioned hollow perforated cylinder
to project, more or less, below the second seating.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Singleton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd March
1881.
THOMAS SINGLETON, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR COCKS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, STEAM,
AND GASES."
This Invention relates to high pressure taps or cocks in which there are seatings
and plugs, or valves and washers, worked by screws kept tight by packing. In
general in this description of tap or cock the water or other fluid entering from
below passes out in direct contact with the seating, and by its friction and frequent
attrition of gritty matters causes the seating to become in a short time so rough
and uneven that it is difficult to keep the tap sufficiently tight to prevent constant
dripping and waste.
In order to remedy this defect I cast to the bottom of the plug or valve a hollow
cylinder fitting a hole in the shell or body of the tap, and form in the cylinder one
or more holes or slots leading to the discharge, the tops of the holes or slots being
at such distances below the washer as to allow the water or fluid and gritty or
earthy matters to escape with only a minimum in contact with the seating, thereby
preventing it from becoming rough or uneven for a great length of time, and when
required I reverse the positions of the plug or valve with its hollow perforated
cylinder. When desired I attach to my improved taps or cocks, and also to those
of the ordinary construction, a case or shell containing a plug or valve and washer
corresponding with a seating, so that the supply can be shut off when required, the
additional plug or valve and washer being worked by a screw kept tight by
packing, and to prevent this second seating from being acted upon by the water
and other matters when the tap is in use I cause the bottom of the before mentioned
perforated cylinder to project, more or less, below the second seating.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of a high
pressure tap or cock having a plug or valve in connection with a hollow perforated
cylinder, and also a case or shell containing a plug or valve and washer worked by
a screw for cutting off the supply of water or other fluid when required.
Figure 2 is a detached external view of the plug or valve with its washer and
hollow perforated cylinder.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of one of my improved taps or cocks without the
cutting off valve, and
Figure 4 is a view representing the plug or valve and hollow perforated cylinder
in a reversed position.
In the various Figures a represents the shell or body of the tap or cock; b, the
plug or valve in connection with a hollow perforated cylinder; and c, the screw
and handle for opening and closing the tap or cock.
In Figure 1 the tap is shown open, the water or fluid entering at the bottom of
the hollow cylinder d and passing out through the perforations e, and it will be
seen that the washer f is far above the seating g, and that the perforations e
prevent gritty or earthy matter from acting prejudicially on the scating.
To the lower part of the body a of the tap or cock I screw the case or shell i, in
which there is a washer connected to a plug or valve worked by the screw 1, the
seating of the valve and washer being marked m, and it will be seen that the flow
of water or fluid can be entirely cut off when required.
In Figure 3 the tap is shown closed, the washer f being firmly pressed on the
seating g.
In Figure 4 the plug or valve with its hollow perforated cylinder is shewn
reversed, the screw and handle being turned to lower the plug or valve when the

page_text: tap or cock is to be opened, and turned the reverse way when the tap or cock is
to be closed; and in order that the movements of the handle and screw may be
similar to those in the tap shewn in Fig. 3 I make the screw left-handed.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, I desire
it to be understood that in high-pressure taps I claim, the hollow perforated
cylinder cast or connected to the plugs or valves, as herein described and illustrated
on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Singleton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
CHA³. W. COLLINS,
Engineer,
Manchester.
THOMAS SINGLETON. (L.S.)