AN IMPROVED VALVE-COCK
Year: 1885

page_text: "
I, GEORGE SYMES of 36 Locksley Street, Burdett Road, Limehouse in the County
of Middlesex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED VALVE-COCK" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a valve-cock chiefly designed for use with baths, where
the supply of both hot and cold water is usually controlled by one cock or valve;
the said valve-cock may however be used for other purposes.
Cocks or valves as heretofore constructed for this purpose, although perfectly
water-tight when used with cold water, frequently leak when used with hot water,
for the reason that the heat causes the unequal expansion of the different parts of
the cock or valve.
The object of my invention is to provide a valve-cock which will not be affected
by expansion and which will therefore not be liable to leak from this cause.
In constructing a valve-cock according to my said invention I provide a shell
which has the form of a cylinder and is closed at the ends. This shell is made in
two parts which are screwed one upon the other. One end of the shell, say the
lower end, assuming the cock to be arranged in a vertical position, is perfectly
plain, being faced internally. The upper end of the said shell may be of any
suitable shape, and is provided with a central aperture through which the valve-
operating spindle passes.
This spindle, at one end, enters a circular hole which serves as a bearing in the
lower face, and carries a faced disc which works upon the said lower face.
Through the latter one or more openings are formed; when used with a bath
two openings are formed, one for hot and the other for cold water, the said openings
being connected by pipes with the hot and cold water supply tanks. Through the
disc is formed an opening adapted to coincide with either of the openings in the
lower face. When the hole in the said disc coincides with one of the lower
openings hot water say, enters the shell of the cock and flows from thence through
a suitable spout; and when the hole in the said disc is placed in coincidence with
the other lower opening, cold water is supplied.

page_text: In order to prevent water from escaping around the operating spindle, the latter
carries a collar against which the inner surface of the upper portion of the shell
bears when the two parts thereof are screwed together. A stuffing box, or the
like, may also be arranged upon the said upper portion of the shell around the
valve-operating spindle.
It is obvious that I may vary the details of the construction hereinbefore
described without departing from the nature of my invention, the main feature of
which consists in the employment, in a valve-cock, of two plain surfaces which
are in contact with each other and which are not affected by expansion and
contraction.

page_text: I, GEORGE SYMES, of 36 Locksley Street, Burdett Road, Limehouse, in the
County of Middlesex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to an improved valve-cock chiefly designed for use in
connection with tanks and pipes for the supply of both hot and cold water, but
also applicable for other purposes.
The cocks or valves heretofore generally used for the supply of hot and cold
water, are liable to leakage by reason of the unequal expansion and contraction of
their parts. The main object of my invention is to provide a valve-cock which
will not be injuriously affected by expansion and contraction, and will, therefore,
not be liable to leakage from this cause.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of one form or modification of my valve-
cock, and
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
a is the shell or body of the cock, which is made in two parts united by screw-
threads at a¹. bis the valve, which consists of a disc or plate provided with a
hole b midway, or about midway, between its centre and circumference. This
valve is held, as hereinafter described, against a valve-seat c in the shell or body a.
Two inlet pipes c², c² are fitted in the bottom of the shell or body a, each of which
corresponds in internal diameter with the hole b¹ in the valve b. One of these
inlets is for cold water and the other for hot water. d is the outlet nozzle
or spout.
The valve b has a stem or spindle e extending therefrom through the upper end
of the shell or body a and provided with a handle e¹ for operating the valve. This
spindle has a collar or shoulder e2 formed thereon, and a shoulder a² is formed on
the said shell, so that, when the two parts of the latter are firmly united, the
valve b will be held against its seat c and the shoulder e² against the shoulder a²
with sufficient pressure to prevent leakage but, at the same time, permit the turning
of the valve by means of the handle e¹. The valve has a projection e³ on its
underside, which fits into a bearing a³ in the shell or body a, and serves to keep
the valve concentric with its seat.
The spindle is kept watertight, where it passes through the shell a, by means of
he packing-box or nut f which is screwed upon the extension a' of the shell a,
and has inserted in it a ring f' of leather or other suitable material, which, when
he nut fis screwed up, is pressed tightly against the spindle e.
When the hole 6¹ in the disc or valve 6 coincides with the pipe c² as shewn, hot .
vater (for example) enters the shell a and flows thence through the nozzle or
pout d. By turning the valve b on its axis until its hole b¹ occupies a position
etween the pipes c1, c2, (for instance, as indicated by the dotted lines at 6 in
Figure 2), the supply of water will be cut off; by turning the said valve so that
shole b¹ coincides with the pipe c¹, cold water will be permitted to flow through
he cock.

page_text: Those portions of the valve-spindle e and of the shell a between the valve-seat c
and the shoulder a³ will expand and contract equally, or approximately so;
therefore the valve-cock will remain tight notwithstanding such expansion and
contraction. Moreover, the inlet apertures are very small, therefore the pressure
of the water acts upon a very small portion of the surface of the valve when
closed.
My improved valve-cock will operate advantageously with the valve either
vertical, horizontal or inclined. It has the great advantage over screw-down valves
that it can be closed by turning the handle e' through a small angle. Moreover,
as the valve does not leave its seat, no dirt or grit can enter between the said valve
and its seat.
It is obvious that I may modify the details of construction hereinbefore described
without departing from the nature of my invention; for instance, I sometimes
make my valve-cock with a single 'inlet for the supply of hot or cold water or
other liquid; or I provide the said valve-cock with three or more inlets, if desired;
moreover I sometimes employ other means than those above described for holding
the valve in contact with its seat in such a manner as to avoid leakage due to
expansion and contraction of the parts of the valve-cock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. A valve-cock which has a rotary valve held in contact with its seat
substantially in the manner above described for the purpose specified.
Second. The improved valve-cock consisting of the parts constructed and com-
bined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing and
operating as above specified.
1
of Wahnuo 1886