Improvements in Ball-cocks.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball-cocks.
I, OWEN HUGH JONES, of No. 115 Trumbull Street, Hartford, Connecticut,
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 more particularly to the class of valves used in connection
with supply tanks in the plumbing of buildings, and the, object of, my
invention is to provide a valve that may be used under high pressure of water
flowing through the supply pipe, one in which there is but slight wear on the
valve seat, and one which may be controlled in its opening and closing move-
ments for the supply of water to the tank by a comparatively small float and
aided in its closing by the pressure of the water without any hammering or
chattering.
Referring to the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a view in central section showing a bull cock embodying my invention
with parts broken away to show construction.
Fig. 2 is a view in central lengthwise section through the cock showing the
valve closed.
Fig. 3 is a like view through the cock showing the valve open.
Fig. 4 is a detail end view.
Fig. 5 is a detail view in cross section through the piston on a line between the
retarding piston and valve, looking towards the latter.
Fig. 6 is a detail view of another construction of the valve in section with the
valve closed.
Fig. 7 is a like view showing the valve open.
In Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes the shell
of any desired form and usually cast to shape in a single piece from any suitable
metal. The letter b denotes the inlet, and c the outlet of the shell. A shoulder
forming a valve seat a¹ is located between the inlet and the outlet and a valve g on
the valve spindle d is adapted to close tighuy against the valve seat a¹. A cap e
closes the open end of the shell as by means of interengaging screw threaded
parts, and a central opening is provided in the cap e through which the valve
spindle d extends to the outer side of the casing. This opening is suitably
packed to prevent leakage of fluid from within the shell, and a chamber e¹ may
be formed in the cap for the reception of a balancing shoulder on the valve
spindle d.
A cylindrical chamber a³ is formed in the shell into which the valve spindle d
extends, and within this chamber and secured to the valve spindle is a retarding
piston f. The wall of the chamber in which this retarding piston is located is
so formed that the chamber is not entirely closed by said piston as the valve
spindle commences to move, but in the continued movement of the valve spindle
the retarding piston closes against the wall of the chamber to prevent any great
outflow of fluid from behind the piston, thus providing means for retarding the

page_text: movement of the valve spindle and preventing water hammering as the valve
closes. Any suitable vent may be provided from the chamber behind the
retarding piston to allow it to move sufficiently to enable the valve to close tightly
on its seat.
The valve consists of a cup-shaped piece g¹ in which is located the packing
and a disk is interposed between this packing and a spider d' on the valve
spindle. This spider is properly constructed to effectually back up and support
the packing g, but at the same time not to obstruct the flow of water around the
valve.
A float lever h is supported on a pin and between ears (³ on the shell, the end
of the lever engaging the valve spindle d. A slot h¹ is formed in the float lever,
and a pin a secured to the cars a passes through this slot. The float lever is
connected with any ordinary float i adapted to move the valve spindle as the
water contained in the tank changes its level.
The shorter end of the float lever his loosely connected to the outer end of
the valve spindle d by the described means which provides for a rocking movement
of the float lever and a motion of the valve spindle in a straight line in opening
and closing the valve. The fulcrum h² formed on the lever close to the end which
enters the slot in the valve spindle d is arranged to rest on a bearing surface
formed in this instance by the outer surface of the screw cap e. In its rocking
movement the lever rolls on this fulcrum which is rounded or otherwise so shaped
as to produce the least frictional resistance to the rocking movement of the lever.
This construction of the lever with the peculiar fulcrum located close to the
weight (the resistance of the valve spindle to outward movement in opening the
valve) enables a comparatively small and light float to be used and yet at the
same time one having sufficient power to enable the valve to be promptly opened
as the water flows out of the tank. The function of the ears is to guide the float
lever in its movement in a downward plane, and the function of the pin is to
prevent the accidental lifting of the valve lever out of the guides. The pin also
serves as a pivot for the lever in the closing movement of the valve, but as the
closing movement is made in the direction of the flow of the water but a small
percentage of power is required for this purpose.
The cars and the pin form merely one means of attachment of the lever to the
shell, but any device for loosely connecting these parts in such a manner as to
permit the lever to have a rolling or rocking movement on its fulcrum as compared
with the rotary movement on a fixed pivot will come within the scope of the main
feature of my invention.
The fulcrum projection may obviously be formed on either the lever or the
valve body or cap as desired without departing from my invention.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 the letter 7 denotes a valve body having an annular
seat m, and the valve spindle n supports within the chamber a valve o adapted
to close the water way through the valve body when the valve spindle is at the
lower limit of its play. On the outlet side of the valve seat m and in line with
the axis of the valve spindle n is arranged a plunger chamber p in which the
plunger is located. When the valve is closed the bottom of the plunger g is
located at a distance above the bottom of the plunger chamber to provide at all
times a space for the reception of the water which forms a cushion to graduate
and in a measure control the closing movement of the spindle. The direct object
of this construction of plunger and plunger chamber is to prevent water hammer
and jar by sudden closing movement of the valve.
The upper end of the spindle n projects through a cap r the lower part of which
is threaded so as to fit the threaded socket in the valve body the opening through
the cap being arranged with its center in the axis of the valve and plunger
chamber so that the spindle may reciprocate on its supports without any cross-
wise or clamping action.
In the under surface of the cap there is a sockets forming a packing chamber
in which is located the packing which is preferably cup-shaped and

page_text: ecured to the spindle so as to move with it, the free edges of the packing hanging
downward and with a space between the downturned edges of the packing and
he surface of the valve spindle to allow the pressure of the water upward against
the spindle and the plunger to expand the latter against the walls of the packing
chamber and prevent the leaking of water through the cap r under the pressure
of water within thevalve.
The back of the valve o presents a surface upon which the pressure acts to
hold. the valve closed.
On a bracket u forming part of or secured to the valve body is supported a
float lever the end of the lever engaging the upper end of the valve spindle
preferably by extending into the slot therein as shown in the drawings, the ball
means for governing the
on the outer end of this float lever forming a
reciprocating movement of the valve spindle to conform to the raising and
lowering of the water in the tank.
I have found by experiments and tests that in this valve the ratio between the
diameter of the outlet measured around at the inner edge of the valve seat when
fixed with relation to the diameter of the packing chamber has a material effect
in securing the proper closing action of the valve.
In order to cause the valve to close automatically, quickly and with certainty
the diameter of the outlet, as stated, must be greater than the diameter of the
packing chamber, although the exact difference between the two may be very
small. A difference measured in hundredths of an inch is sufficient, but there
must be a ratio of difference in which the diameter of the outlet at the valve sent
is the greater factor.
Such a construction, taken in combination with the slow closing device of
plunge and plunger chamber, produces a valve which is sure to close without
any chattering or water hammer.
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:
1. In a valve, in combination, a valve-shell, a valve with its spindle projecting
beyond the shell a float-lever supported on the shell and with its inner end loosely
engaging the valve-spindle, a rocking fulcrum located adjacent to the spindle,
and guide supports beyond the fulcrum all substantially as described.
2. In a valve, in combination, a valve-shell with its spindle projecting beyond
the shell, a float-lever supported on the shell and with its inner end loosely
connected with the valve-spindle, a rocking fulcrum located adjacent to the
spindle, guide-supports beyond the fulcrum, a curved guide-slot located in the
float-lever, and a pin projecting into said slot, all substantially as described.
0 3. In combination, in a valve having a fluid-way, a reciprocating valve-spindle
with a valve located in the fluid-way, a valve-seat formed at the edge of the outlet
from the valve-chamber, a plunger-chamber opposite the valve-seat, a plunger
on the valve-spindle, a cushioning device on the spindle, and a float-lever
supported on the shell with its inner end loosely engaging the valve-spindle and
5 having one fulcrum adjacent to the spindle and another located at a greater
distance from the spindle, all substantially as described.
Dated the 3rd day or
OWEN HUGH JONES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.