IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL VALVES OR BALL COCKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Firmin, of Teesdale Street, Hackney Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Brass Founder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BALL VALVES OR BALL COCKS.”
Sealed the 1st September 1877, and dated the 20th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Firmin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th March 1877.
WILLIAM FIRMIN, of Teesdale Street, Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Brass Founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL VALVES OR BALL COCKS."
My improvements chiefly relate to horizontal equilibrium ball valves or cocks, but
are also in part applicable to other ball valves or cocks.
Horizontal equilibrium ball valves or cocks have hitherto been made with the
body in two pieces, for the purpose of enabling the seating to be got into place, and
these two pieces have been fastened together by flange joints or screw joints. Now
I make or cast the body in one piece, and I employ a plug, ball, or cone embedded
in or composed of india-rubber or other suitable flexible material, which plug is
inserted through the end of the valve body, and acts as a valve to stop the supply
of the water. I also employ a cup leather, such as is used in the class of valve
known as "Underhay's," or a small diaphragin, which I secure by a "cap and lining
joint." The plug before-named is screwed or otherwise fastened to a bush, to which
the ordinary lever is attached in the usual manner.
For equilibrium valves the bush and plug are formed with a small longitudinal
hole, to give passage to the water to the other side of the cup leather, or of the
diaphragm before referred to, but in ball valves which are not equilibrium valves
the bush and plug are solid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Firmin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th September
1877.
WILLIAM FIRMIN, of Teesdale Street, Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Brass Founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL VALVES OR BALL COCKS."
My improvements chiefly relate to horizontal equilibrium ball valves or cocks,
especially such as are used for supplying or discharging water or other liquid to or
from pipes or cisterns, but they are also applicable to other ball valves or cocks.
Horizontal equilibrium ball valves or cocks have hitherto been made with the
body in two pieces, for the purpose of enabling the seating to be got into place, and
these two pieces have been fastened together by flange joints or screw joints. Now
I make or cast the body in one piece, and I employ a plug, ball, or cone composed
of or embedded in india-rubber or other suitable flexible material, which plug is
inserted through the end of the valve body, and acts as a valve to stop the supply
of the water. I also employ a cup leather or a small diaphragm. The plug before
named is firmly fixed to a bush connected to a spindle, to which the ordinary lever
is attached in the usual manner.
For equilibrium valves the bush and plug are formed with a small longitudinal
hole, to give passage to the water to the other side of the cup leather, or of the
diaphragm before referred to, but in ball valves which are not equilibrium valves
the bush and plug are solid.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side view, with the body in section,
of an equilibrium ball valve constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a
section of the spindle with the bush and plug attached; and Figure 3, a section of
the bush, with the plug of india-rubber or other suitable material firmly embedded
therein.
A is the valve body cast in one piece; B is the plug made of india-rubber or
other flexible material, and firmly fixed in the bush C, which is screwed upon the
spindle D, a cup leather or packing E being interposed between them. Through the
spindle D, I make a small hole, and also through the plug B, to allow the water or
liquid to pass to the other end of the valve, and so cause an equal pressure at both
sides. Fis another cup leather or packing at the other end of the spindle D, and
secured by a small nut or screw. The spindle bush plug and packing connected
together, as seen in Figure 2, are inserted through the end of the body A, which is
then closed by a screw cap X. G is the usual float lever attached to the valve in
the ordinary manner.
It will be understood that when the rod or lever G falls, the spindle D with its
plug B is withdrawn from its seating, and allows the liquid to discharge at H; at
the same time the pressure is reduced at the other end of the spindle. When the
rod or lever rises and returns the plug to its seating the water passing through the
small hole in the spindle D and plug B causes an equal pressure on the spindle, and
keeps it to the seating.
Figure 4 is an elevation, and Figure 5 a vertical section of a self-closing valve in
a case, Figure 6 being a plan. The arrangement is the same as that shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, so far as concerns the spindle D, plug B, and cups or packing E
and F. M is the case in which the valve is enclosed; K is a weight on the lever G ;
and J is a knob or handle, the stem of which fits into a cam L. When the knob J
is turned the cam Lacts upon a projecting piece N on the rod or lever G, and
therefore lifts this rod and opens the valve, and when the knob J is released the
weight K falls and closes the valve, the pressure of water also assisting. The valve
shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, is represented with a screw and back nut O for fixing
to iron or other pipes. A crutch key inay be used in place of the knob J. I do
not confine myself to the precise arrangements, as they may be slightly varied.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner
thy name is to be performed, I declare that I claim, constructing ball valves or ball

page_text: cocks in which the body is made in one piece, and the plug, bush and spindle are
combined together and inserted through the end of the body, substantially as
herein-before described and represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Firmin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
soventy-seven.
WILLIAM FIRMIN. (L.S.)