Improvements in Cocks or Taps, and in Levers Controlling the same.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cocks or Taps, and in Levers Controlling
the same.
I, WILLIAM GUNTER, of Pontywal Farm, Brontlys, Talgarth, Breconshire,
Farmer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object to provide a suitable means whereby taps and
pipes connected to them, will be prevented from becoming frozen in cold weather,
and relates especially to the taps used for admitting water to the house or to part
thereof.
The plug of the tap is formed with the usual passage extending through it, and
also with another passage below the ordinary one, extending from one side through
the bottom of the plug. The pipe through which the water is to be conveyed
after passing through the tap is furnished with a double passage one of which
corresponds to the upper passage of the plug, the other to the lower aperture
above described. The arrangement is such that when the tap is open and the water
is passing through, the lower passage or outlet is closed, but when the tap is turned
off in one direction the outlet is brought into connection with the second passage
of the pipe, and the water in the latter is allowed to escape. All chance of
freezing in the pipe is thus obviated. When the weather is not frosty the tap
should be turned in the other direction, preventing any escape of water.
A modified form having a similar principle is to employ two plugs, preferably
connected so as to be operated simultaneously, being situated in the same passage,
one having the ordinary through passage and the other a curved or bent one, one
end opening at about right angles to the other. When the former is open the
latter passage forms a continuation, allowing the water to pass, but when turned in
one direction, the other end of the bent passage registers with the pipe, allowing
the water accumulated therein to pass away through a suitable aperture.
In order that the plug or plugs may be turned in the proper direction, either for
frosty or ordinary weather, the lever controlling them is furnished with fixed stops
which limit its motion in either direction and an adjustable stop which can be fixed
in one or two positions, allowing the lever to be turned ither to the right or to
the left
This stop consists of a plate having a recess in its edge bolted or screwed to the
casing of the top or other suitable part, under the lever at its open position.
When this plate is in one position one side of the notch prevents the arm moving,
say, to the right, but allowing it to move to the left opening the outlet as above
described. When the plate is turned a short distance, the other side of the notch
forms the stop and the lever is arranged for summer use or when there is no frost.
A projecting part and two recesses may be employed on or in the casing and plate,
so that the latter may be turned the proper amount, the projection taking into
either of the recesses. The lever can thus be arranged easily to suit the state
of the weather.
Dated this 21st day of February 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: VI VITUIV,
Improvements in Cocks or Taps, and in Levers Controlling
the same.
I WILLIAM GUNTER of Pontywal Farm, Brontlys, Talgarth, Breconshire,
Farmer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object to provide a suitable means whereby taps and
pipes connected to them, will be prevented from becoming frozen in cold weather,
and relates especially to the taps used for admitting water to the house or to part.
thereof.
.
The plug of the tap is formed with the usual passage extending through it, and
also with another passage below the ordinary one, extending from one side through
the bottom of the plug. The pipe through which the water is to be conveyed
after passing through the tap is furnished with a double passage one of which
corresponds to the upper passage of the plug, the other to the lower aperture
above described. The arrangement is such that when the tap is open and the
water is passing through, the lower passage or outlet is closed, but when the tap is
turned off in one direction the outlet is brought into connection with the second
passage of the pipe, and the water in the latter is allowed to escape. All chance
of freezing in the pipe is thus obviated. When the weather is not frosty the tap
should be turned in the other direction, preventing any escape of water.
A modified form having a similar principle is to employ two plugs, preferably
connected so as to be operated simultaneously, being situated in the same passage,
one having the ordinary through passage, and the other a curved or bent one, one
end opening at about right angles to the other. When the former is open, the
water passes into the ordinary pipes but when it is closed the second tap is turned
so as to open the pipes to a waste pipe and allow the water to escape, the action
being similar to that described for the single tap.
In order that the plug or plugs may be turned in the proper direction, either for
frosty or ordinary weather, the lever controlling them is furnished with fixed stops
which limit its motion in either direction, and an adjustable stop which can be fixed
in one or two positions allowing the lever to be turned either to the right or to
the left.
This stop consists of a plate having a recess in its edge bolted or screwed to the
casing of the top or other suitable part, under the lever at its open position. When
this plate is in one position one side of the notch prevents the arm moving, say,
to the right, but allowing it to move to the left opening the outlet as above
described..
When the plate is turned a short distance the other side of the notch forms the
stop and the lever is arranged for summer use when there is no frost. A projecting
part and two recesses may be employed on or in the casing and plate, so that the
latter may be turned the proper amount, the projection taking into either of the
recesses. The lever can thus be arranged easily to suit the state of the weather.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figs. 1, 2 & 3 are sections through the tap and connections, Fig. 1 showing the
tap open, Fig. 2 closed and with the escape open, and Fig. 3 arranged for summer
use with both passages closed.
Fig. 4 is a plan and Fig. 5 a side elevation of the tap handle and stop
device and
Fig. 6 is a detail view of the stop, and

page_text: .
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, & 3 A is the plug with ordinary passage a, and escape
passage a' the latter opening through the bottom of the plug in the drawings, but
it is obvious that it may also pass through the side. The casing B is formed with
the passage b through which the water passes from the pipe C to D the latter
forming the house or other supply. Connected with 6 on the side at which the
pipe D is placed, is the branch passage b' communicating when the tap is turned
into the position shown in Fig. 2 with the passage a¹ of the plug, so that when the
passage a is turned out of line with b and the supply from C cut off, the water will
escape through 6' and a¹. As shown in Fig. 3 both passages are cut off at the
same time a¹ and b₁ not coming into operation at all, as the plug is turned, when
the tap is to be opened or closed, only a quarter of a circle.
at one
In order to ensure that the tap be turned in the proper manner the arrangement
shown in Figs. 4, 5, & 6 is employed, consisting of a handle E fitted to the plug
stem, and a frame F with stops fat each end and a central stop G at the middle.
The arm, when the tap is turned off in either direction, will abut against one or
other of the end stops f. The central stop G is circular with a large notch
side which is placed so that one side of the notch will project above the frame F and
will prevent the handle passing it as shown in Fig. 5. This stop can be turned
into two positions bringing either side into action, and stopping the arm from
passing either from one side or the other. The stop G is fixed to a part 1 of the
frame F by means of a bolt g¹ two notches 9 and a projection g³ being formed in
or on the stop and frame which retain the stop in one or the other position ensuring
that it be adjusted accurately.
As can easily be seen from Figs. 1, 2, & 3 when the handle is turned from the
left hand side to the centre and vice versa, the supply and escape will be alternately
opened and the tap is arranged for winter use, while when moved to and from the
right side, only the supply passage is opened or closed.
The modified form shown in Fig. 7 employs two plugs A and A¹ the former
having the supply passage and the latter the escape, the arrangement being similar
to that already described, the pipe D being situated between. The plugs may be
connected by the gear wheels H shown in dotted lines if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
(1.) A tap for house and other water supply with a plug having a supply
passage, and a second passage serving as a waste allowing the water from one
side to escape and a casing with supply passages and a branch passage at one
side opening to the waste passage in the plug substantially as described and for
the purposes specified.
(2.) A tap for house and other water supply, having a plug formed with two
passages, one, a supply, extending across it, and the other, a waste passage
opening at one side and passing through the bottom of the plug, and a casing
with supply passages, and a branch passage communicating with the waste when
the plug is turned into a certain position, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
(3.) In combination with the said tap, a handle and a frame with a stop at each
end, and an adjustable stop at the centre, against which the arm abuts when the
tap is turned on or off, the central stop being arranged so as to present a stop
side in either of two directions, allowing the handle to move in an arc on one or
the other side substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(4.) In combination with a tap of the kind described a handle and a frame
carrying a fixed stop at each end and an adjustable stop at the middle fastened
by a bolt or screw to the frame and having a notch against either side of which
the handle can abut according to the position in which the stop is fixed,
substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(5.) The improved tap and stop arrangement for house and other water supply

page_text: constructed substantially in the manner described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 of
the accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
(6.) The modified form of tap in which two plugs are employed one with a supply
and the other with a waste passage substantially as described and shown in Fig. 7
of the accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 20th day of November 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.