IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS, VALVES, AND COCKS FOR MEASURING, REGULATING, AND DISCHARGING LIQUIDS, GASES, OR FLUIDS
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
. March 1868.
I, HENRY WILSON, of Stockton-upon-Tecs, in the County of Durham,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METERS, VALVES, AND COCKS FOR MEASURING, REGULATING, AND DISCHARGING
LIQUIDS, GASES, OR FLUIDS," to be as follows:—
My improvements have for their object the prevention of waste of
fluids by an improved form of cock or valve for discharging the same;
likewise an improved meter for measuring and registering the quantity
discharged.
My first improvement consists in the construction of the cock or
valve. I form the interior of the cock or valve with a valve face, on
this face rests a valve with a spring attached to hold it to the face
or seating of the cock; the fluid to be discharged likewise presses
against the valve to assist in keeping it to the scating of the cock;
the upper or lower part of the valve, as the case may be, I form serrated,
the spindle or lever which moves the valve is formed with a conical
or wedge-shaped end to fit into the serrations of the valve. To open

page_text: the valve the spindle or lever is turned slightly right or left, and the
valve is pushed open by the conical end of the spindle working on the
serrated top of the valve; thus to keep the valve open it is necessary
to hold the lever, as soon as the lever is let go the spring combined
with the pressure of the fluid instantly closes the valve. To prevent
concussion in the supply pipe consequent on the instant closing of
the valve, I form an air cushion by extending the supply pipe a short
distance above the cock or valve.
My next improvement consists in the application of the valve already
described in combination with an ordinary cock to a cistern or other
air-tight vessel. On the upper or under part of the valve seat or box
I construct a cock, the plug of which has a conical or wedge-shaped
end working in the serrated top of the valve, with ports or ways so
arranged that when the valve is open the cock is shut, and vice versa.
When the valve is opened the liquid flows into the air-tight cistern
until the pressure of the compressed air forced to the top of the cistern
is equal to the pressure in the supply pipe, the cock is then opened
which shuts the valve, and the compressed air contained in the cistern
forces the water out through the cock. I sometimes use a second valve
instead of a cock, as described, so arranged that both cannot be open
at one and the "same time. I sometimes by preference use a cistern
divided into two parts, to which I apply a cock constructed in the
following manner:-I form the barrel of the cock with a passage on
each side, the one passage being connected to a pipe leading into one
part of the cistern, whilst the other passage is connected to, the other
part of the cistern. The plug of the cock is formed thus,―the inlet
side of the plug is open at the bottom, and has two ports or outlets;
the outlet side of the plug is solid at, the bottom, and has also two
ports or outlets; the bottom of the plug is conical, which works into
the serrated top of the valve, as described in my first improvement,
and is worked in the following manner:-The handle or lever attached
to the plug being turned opens the valve, and at the same time brings
one of the ports of the inlet side of the plug in communication with
the passage leading to one division of the cistern; the ports of the
outlet side of the plug being placed in communication with the other
division of the cistern, and while one division is filling the other is
emptying. I also sometimes use a single cistern or cylinder with a
plunger working inside of it, the water being admitted to the top and
bottom alternately; or I use an india-rubber bag or bellows inside the

page_text: cistern to which the water is admitted, the bag being filled with water;
the filling of the bag expels the water from the cistern, and vice versa.
In my improvements for measuring or registering fluids I attach a
toothed rack to the plunger or piston which works in the cistern already
described, the said rack being geared to a pinion to which the index
or registering wheels are attached; the fluid being admitted under the
piston drives it to the top of the cistern or cylinder and carries round
the pinion which gives motion to the dial or index wheels; for the
return or down stroke of the piston I provide a paul, which is fixed
and slips over the ratchet or toothed wheel attached to the pinion
without moving it, so that each double stroke of the piston indicates
a given quantity. I also attach a catch or tappet to the piston rod
which turns the lever attached to the cock or valve at the top and
bottom of each stroke, thereby converting it into a self-acting meter
of simple construction.
I apply my improved cock or valve to waterclosets, the cylinder or
cistern being placed under the seat, or in any convenient position.
In using my Invention for steam or hot water I use ground metallic
faces. Further, in its application to steam or other engines motion is
given by eccentric or crank to the lever or spindle of the cock having
the conical or wedge-shaped end, by which the valve will be alternately
opened and shut, thereby admitting steam to the ends of the cylinder
alternately.