IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LETTING IN OR SHUTTING OFF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Pierre Alexandre Douchain, of St. Cloud,
in the Empire of France, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR LETTING IN OR SHUTTING OFF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 31st October 1862, and dated the 1st May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Pierre Alexandre
Douchain at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 1st May 1862.
I, CHARLES PIERRE ALEXANDRE DOUCHAIN, of St. Cloud, in the Empire of
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LETTING IN OR SHUTTING OFF WATER OB
OTHER LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
The sump cock which forms the object of my Invention is so constructed
that it may be examined and repaired without removal from the conduit or
pipe. For this purpose, that is to say, to be enabled to repair without removal
to a workshop, the cast-iron sump, which is conical, has two hollow fillets, in
each of which is adjusted a leather washer fixed simply by the dilatation or
expansion of the leather when wet. This leather thus held on the sump rubs
against two brasses forming one body with the cast-iron tap. The sump is
worked as in ordinary sump cocks by the aid of a bronze screw fixed by a collar
rubbing between two bronzes independant of the stuffing box. Caoutchouc
or other substance forming a water-tight joint by the pressure of the sump

page_text: may be substituted for the leather, according to requirement, and the
above arrangement is applicable to all cocks of whatever exterior diameter,
and however jointed and fixed on the conduit. In case of accident to the
washers they may be rapidly replaced by taking off the upper part of the tap,
and withdrawing the sump, when by cutting the leather washers in two or
three parts they may be withdrawn and replaced by new ones.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Pierre Alexandre Douchain in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
PIERRE ALEXANDRE DOUCHAIN, of St. Cloud, in the Empire of France,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Pierre Alexandre Douchain, Her special licence, that I, the said
Charles Pierre Alexandre Donchain, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Pierre Alexandre Douchain, my execu
tors, 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 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LETTING
IN OR SHUTTING OFF WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS," upon the condition (aniongst
others) that I, the said Charles Pierre Alexandre Douchain, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Pierre Alexandre Douchain,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what imanner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing

page_text: bereunto annexed, and forming part of this my Specification, and to the
figures and letters of reference placed thereon:-
My improvements consist in the construction of a sump cock, which may
be visited and repaired without removal from the conduit or pipe to which it
is fitted; such removal often being very difficult, and interrupting the service
if the cock be upon a main conduit. For this purpose, that is to say, to be
enabled to repair without removal to a workshop, the cast-iron sump, which
is conical, carries two hollow dovetailed fillets, in each of which dovetails a
leather washer of guage corresponding with the cock, and fixed simply by the
dilitation of the leather, which is placed on its thickness when wet; a little
ammonia being added, if necessary, to fix the oxydation. This leather thus
held on the sump rubs against two surfaces in brass or bronze of a cone
forming one body with the cast-iron cock, having previously been turned with
it, and imprisoned by the aid of a hydraulic press and conical mandril. This
arrangement permits the cock to be of one piece, that is to say, without joint
at the side, which lessens the chance of leakage, and further, in case of
accident to the leather washers they may be rapidly replaced by taking the
upper part of the cock to pieces, lifting out the sump, cutting the old washers
into two or three pieces to permit their withdrawal and substituting new ones,
which are all turned of the same caliber or guage. This arrangement is
applicable to all cocks of whatever interior diameter, and however fixed on the
conduit, whether with two flanges or rings, or by any other joint. In the case
of pipes or conduits working under great pressure the leather washer may be
turned or stamped into the shape of an angle iron, and held on one side by
the dovetail in the sump, and on the other by a bronze or other metal washer
fixed by screws. The sump works as in all sump cocks by the aid of a
bronze screw fixed by a collar rubbing between two bronzes or brasses inde-
pendent of the packing of the stuffing box; caoutchouc or any other
material, which will make a water-tight joint by the aid of the pressure of the
sump, may be used in lieu of the leather, according to the destined use of my
improved sump cock, which is shewn drawn to half its usual size in Figures 1,
2, 3, and 4 of the annexed Drawing.
The arrangement above described and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet.
of Drawing at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of a leather washer in a dovetail groove
in lieu of grinding true the sump and barrel of the cock, may be applied to
the valves used in reservoirs, as shewn, Figures 1 and 2*, which represent a
pivot valve with equilibrating or moveable packing for bottom or surfaco
drainage. The seat of this valve is formed of a bronze washer D sunk in a
casting M, which carries a pivot P, of which the top is circular, and the

page_text: extremities carry lugs B and B', serving as guides to the upper part N, so
that the rest C, which is of one piece with this upper part, cannot vary. On
this upper part N, which receives the surface pipe S, is fixed a leather
washier E, set in a circular dovetailed groove. The weight of the surface
column pressing this leather washer on the bronze one, the communication with
the bottom drainage is interrupted. To drain from the bottom it suffices to
cause the upper pipe S to oscillate slightly round the pivot P, and the water
will escape at M. Lastly, when the reservoir is empty the upper part N may
be removed to entirely unmask the valve at the bottom. The washer is fitted
dry, and is fixed when dilated by the humidity. In case of deterioration this
washer may be withdrawn, and replaced by a new one. The Figures 1*
and represent vertical section and plan of this valve. The upper part N
is shouldered to receive the surface pipe, which may be flanged. Figures 3*
and 4 shew a valve with equilibrating or moveable packing, which may be
refitted without emptying the reservoir or pond. The bronze valves ordinarily
used may get out of order, and to repair them the reservoir must be emptied;
by using the valve, shewn Figure 3 and 4*, this inconvenience is obviated.
The seat of the valve is a bronze washer C sunk in a lower piece M, and the
clack valve F carries a leather washer B dovetailed into a circular groove;
further, the clack valve F carries two lugs or ears D, D', which play easily
between the two guides A, A', which are of galvanized iron, and connected
at their upper part by a cross piece carrying the bearing with nut, in which
is engaged the screw working the valve. This arrangement permits the with-
drawal of the valve from the water in order that the washer may be changed,
and its being relowered into its place when repaired. The upper part of the
clack valve F carries a bronze cone E, which guides it into its place; I thus
dispense with the inner cross pieces, which are often a cause of obstruction, and
prevent the closing of the valve, of which they also lessen the surface.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Pierre Alexandre Douchain,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two.
C. P. A. DOUCHAIN. (L.S.)