IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP-COCKS OR VALVES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Zebulon Erastus Coffin, of Newton Center, in the
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP-COCKS OR VALVES."
Sealed the 24th August 1869, and dated the 20th May 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Zebulon Erastus Coffin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th May 1869.
I, ZEBULON ERASTUS COFFIN, of Newton Center, in the State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP-COCKS OR VALVES," to be
as follows:-
This Invention is for stopping the flow of a liquid, fluid, or gas,.
through a pipe by means of a sliding valve or gate.
The case of the cock is connected to the pipe or pipes by couplings
or bolts, and the said case contains two valve seats facing each other
and standing further apart on one side than an the other. Between,

page_text: these seats the valves work and are slidden backward to open the cock
or forced down between the inclined seats to close the same. The
valves are separate, placed back to back and guided in their movement
by projections on their edges entering, loosely in grooves at the sides
of the case. A rod passes down between the valves having a collar
or neck taking semicircular recesses at the backs of the valves, and
this rod is actuated by a screw and hand wheel or other means to
give end motion to the same and draw the valves away sidewise from
between the seats or force them down into the inclined space against
the seats to shut the cock tightly. The valves take an even bearing
all around on the respective seats. These valves may be jointed to
each other and to the rod that moves them or otherwise united so that
they bear against each other near the centre of the backs of the valves
in order that the said valves may accommodate themselves to the seats
and take an equal bearing thereon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Zebulon Erastus Coffin in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ZERULON
ERASTUS COPPIN, of Newton Center, in the State of Massachusetts,
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Zebulon Erastus Coffin, Her special licence that
I, the said Zebulon Erastus Coffin, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Zebulon Erastus Coflin, my
executors, 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 "IMPRO.EMENTS IN
STOP-COCKS OR VALVES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Zebulon Erastus Coffin, my executors or administrators, by an

page_text: 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 Zebulon Erastus Coffin, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures thereon (that is to say):-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the stop-cock in a form especially
adapted to water pipes; Fig. 2 is a similar section of the stop-cock in
a form especially adapted to steam or gas pipes; and Fig. 3 is a sectional
plan at the line x, x, Fig. 2. Similar marks of reference indicate
corresponding parts.
This Invention is for stopping the flow of a liquid fluid or gas through
a pipe by means of a sliding valve or gate.
The case a of the cock is connected to the pipe or pipes by couplings,
bolts, or otherwise, and said case contains two flat valve seats b, b,
facing each other and standing at an inclination to each other. Between
these scats the the valves c, c, work and they are slidden off the seats to
open the cock or forced down between the inclined seats to close the
same. The valves c, c, are separate, placed back to back, and guided
in their movement by projections d, d, on their edges entering loosely
in grooves e, e, at the sides of the case a. A rod passes down between
the valves having a collar or neck i taking semicircular recesses at the
backs of the valves, and this rod is actuated by a screw and hand wheel
g or other means to give end motion to the same and draw the valves
away sidewise from between the seats or force then down into the
inclined space against the scat to shut the cock tight. The valves
take an even bearing all around on the respective seats of the rod.
These valves may be jointed to each other or to the nut of the rod
that moves them as seen in Fig. 1 or otherwise united, so that they
bear against each other near the center of the backs of the valves in
order that said valves may accomodate themselves to the scats and
take an equal bearing thercon. The projections d that guide the valves
in their movement might be upon the nut to which the valves are

page_text: loosely hinged as in Fig. 1, and this nut is moved with the valves by
the rotation of the screw in opening or closing the valve. Stop-cocks
or valves made in this manner are very tight and durable, cach valve
can be easily fitted to its scat, and is self-adjusting in consequence
of being free to accomodate itself to the inclination of that seat and
take an even bearing thereon when closed, because the pressure that
holds the valve to its scat is applied near the middle thereof. By
allowing the collar i to set loosely within the recesses of the valves
the said collar will act to force the valves to their seats, and upon
drawing the collar back the valves will be relieved of pressure before
they are slidden off their seats. The same effect will be produced by
allowing a slight play in the joints shown in Fig. 1, so that the
mechanism that operates the valves has a slight movement to relieve
the valves of pressure on the seats before the valves are themselves
moved.
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The valves placed back to back and connected near their center
portions with the operative mechanism in combination with the inclined
seat, substantially as set forth.
Second. Relieving the valve from its seat by a movement that is
allowed to the operative mechanism before the valve is moved, substan-
tantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Zebulon Erastus Coflin, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twelvth day of July, A. D. Onc
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
ZEBULON ERASTUS COFFIN. (L.S.)
Witnesses,
SAM. B. C. MORSE,
Newton Center, Mass.,
EDWARD J. CHADBOURNE,
Newton Center, Mass.