CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON COCKS OR TAPS FOR DRAWING OFF LIQUIDS
Year: 1834

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
ARTER, of Havant, in the County of Southampton, Plumber and Glazier,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Twelfth day of August, in the fifth year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Arter, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Charles Arter, my exors, admors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Arter, my exors, admors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His said Majesty's Colonies and
Possessions abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON COCKS OR
TAPS FOR DRAWING OFF LIQUIDS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso that I, the said Charles Arter, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Arter, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being

page_text: thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of certain additional packings or stuffings to the
spindle which actuates the valve or plug, whereby more perfect cocks or taps
will be produced, they being less liable to leakage than those constructed on
any of the ordinary plans now in use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a cock or tap constructed
according to my Invention, and is such an one as is intended for smaller
descriptions of cocks; whilst Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section of a
cock or tap intended for the larger class of cocks or taps. In each of these
Figures the same letters indicate similar parts, a being the barrel or part which
is inserted into the vessel; b is the spout through which the liquid passes when
the valve is open. These parts resemble the ordinary construction of cocks or
taps, as do also most of the other parts shown in the Drawing, with the exception
of the additional packings hereafter more particularly mentioned and destinctly
claimed. c is the spindle of the vale or plug, having a screw formed thereon,
which turns in a female screw cut in the outer part of the cock or tap, as
is clearly shown in the Drawing, and the manner of putting the various parts
together will be equally evident. On the end of the spindle is formed a
triangular, square, or other suitably shaped pin d, to receive the key or handle
e for turning the screw when it is desired to open or close the valve. f is the
valve or plug, which is shown to be conical, accurately ground into its seat;
but I would here remark, that a flat valve may be used in place of a conical
valve, care being observed in making the same set close to its seat and become
water-tight when screwed up to its place. 9 is a circular disc of metal fitting
over the spindle of the plug; and this plate or disc comes against the shoulder
h, turned within the cock or tap, on purpose to receive it; against this metal
plate or disc the ordinary packings j of leather washers or other material
are placed, and the whole is screwed up, and the screw i inserted to retain
the parts in their proper places. Thus far in the description I have not
mentioned the nature or manner of applying of the additional packing or
stuffings which constitute my improvements.
In Figures 1 and 2, k represents the additional packing or stuffing, which
consists of washers of leather, cloth, or other fabric, or other sufficiently
elastic material placed on the spindle c at the back of the valve or plug, the
object of which is that as the valve or plug is drawn back by turning the
screw, the elastic packing k comes against the plate or disc g, and is com-
pressed between it and the back of the valve or plug, thus preventing any

page_text: flow of the liquid to the screw or other parts of the cock or tap. In larger
cocks I find it desirable to have more compression of the packing on the
spindle, and in order to accomplish this object I apply what may be called a
stuffing box in place of the ordinary packing of the cock. In Figure 2,
m, m, are two screws pressing through from the outer side of the cock into
two metalic segments n, n, which in some degree embrace the spindle, there
being a stuffing or packing of hemp, or other suitable material, between the
spindle c and the segments. This will be more evident on inspecting the
transverse section, Figure 3, which is taken at the dotted lines in Figure 2.
It will readily be understood that any requisite degree of pressure may, by
means of the screws m, m, be given to the packing, and thus cause it to bind
closely ou the spindle, and not only keep the same free from leakage, but at
the same time offer any desired degree of friction to the spindle.
Having thus described my Invention, I would remark that I do not confine
myself to applying my improvements only to the precise construction of cocks
or taps here shown and described, but to other shapes to which they are
applicable; for it will be evident that the shape of the same may be varied
without departing from the point of my Invention, which I hereby declare to
consist in the application of the additional packings or stuffings k placed at
the back of the plug or valve in order to prevent leakage at the point
where the spindle comes through. And I also claim the application of the
stuffing box, when the same is composed of segments or pressing pieces n, n,
acted ou from without by the screws m, m, as above described, when the same
are applied to cocks or taps for drawing off liquids.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Arter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.
CHARLES (L.S.) ARTER.