IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Aitchison, Brassfounder, of Sheffield, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS."
Sealed the 7th October 1859, and dated the 12th April 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Aitchison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th April 1859.
J, PATRICK AITCHISON, Brassfounder, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS,"
to be as follows:-
I
propose to form the valve of leather or other material bushed with brass
or other metal, and to construct the valve seat with a projecting rim con-
centric with the circumference of the orifice therein. The valve is attached
to the key spindle or plug, which works in a screw collar, and closes the valve
upon the projecting seat, or removes it therefrom, according to the motion.
imparted to it. The pressure of the water, which ordinarily causes vibration
of the valve when open, and intermittent action, is regulated, where the supply
pipe is attached, by diminishing the inlet orifice of the tap.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Patrick Aitchison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PATRICK
AITCHISON, Brassfounder, of Sheffield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Patrick Aitchison, Her special licence that I, the said
Patrick Aitchison, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Patrick Aitchison, 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 Kingdoms of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Patrick Aitchison, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Patrick Aitchison, 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 fol-
lowing statement (that is to say) :-
:-
In my improved taps I propose to form the valve of leather or other
material encased in brass or other metallic substance, and to construct the
valve seat with a projecting rim concentric with the circumference of the
orifice therein. The valve is attached to the key spindle or plug which
works in a screw collar and closes the valve upon the projecting seat, or
removes it therefrom, according to the motion imparted to it. The pressure
of the water which ordinarily causes vibration of the valve when open, and
intermittent action, is regulated where the supply pipe is attached by the
diameter of the inlet orifice of the tap.
In the accompanying Drawings the improvements contemplated by my
said Invention are fully delineated, similar parts in each Figure being marked

page_text: by similar letters of reference. Fig. 1 is a section on the line a-a, (see
Fig. 3) of a ball tap, shewing the valve open. Fig. 2 is a section of the same
on the line a-b, (see Fig. 3) shewing the valve closed. Fig. 3 is a sectional
plan on the lines b-b, b-b, (see Figs. 1 and 2); and Fig. 4 is a front view or
elevation of a bib tap. The key spindle or plug A, to which motion is
communicated by the external lever or handle B, B, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) works
in a screw collar C, and to it is affixed by screw, as shewn, or by a pivot, the
valve a, with leather or other packing, enclosed in the metallic guard b; the
screw collar C terminates with the concentric rim c, which projects beyond
the shoulder of the collar, and forms the valve seat. The connections of the
tap at e and fare rendered watertight by packing. When the spindle or
plug A is turned in the proper direction by the action of the handle or lever,
it moves in the screw collar C until the valve a closes with the face of leather
or other material upon the concentric rim c, and the greater the pressure upon
it the more perfectly watertight will it become; when the spindle is turned in
a contrary direction the valve a is raised from its seat and affords an opening
for the passage of water. The vibration of the valve, when open, is obviated
by adapting the size of the inlet orifice g to the pressure of water to which
the tap may be subjected. Taps of this construction are applicable for ball
and bib taps, street fountains, fire plugs, and general purposes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect,
I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not claim the various parts of the
taps herein-before described; but what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention to be secured to me by the above in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly, the projecting valve seat c.
Secondly, the peculiar construction of valve with encased facing.
And, thirdly, the adaptation of the diameter of the inlet orifice to the
pressure of water.
In witness whereof, I, the said Patrick Aitchison, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our
Tawl One thousand right hundaad and 6fter nine
Witness,
T. F. CASHIN.
PATRICK AITCHISON. (L.S.)