IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM SPINKS RILEY of the Eagle Gun Works Vauxhall St Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to taps, more especially to such taps as are usually
worked by a ball floating on the water, by which means the water is turned on, or
off as may be required.
I make a tap in the ordinary way, but midway between the inlet & the outlet
I create a channel or chamber of a wedge shape, or slightly tapered, in this
channel or chamber, I purpose to fit a sliding block to correspond in shape with
the channel, or chamber, and working perpendicularly, such block to act as a dam
to the water, this block is attached to a rod at one end of which carries a ball,
whilst the other is secured to a stud, the ball rising, and falling with the water,
causes the block in the channel or chamber to work up, and down, thus damming,
or freeing the water as the case may be.

page_text: I WILLIAM SPINKS RILEY of Eagle Gun Works Vauxhall Street Birmingham in
the County of Warwick Gunmaker do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference to Taps, more especially to such Taps, as are usually
worked by a ball floating on the water by which means, the water is turned on, or
off, as may be required.
I make a Tap in the ordinary way, but midway between the inlet, and the
outlet I create a channel, or chamber of a wedge shape, or slightly tapered, in this
channel, or chamber, I purpose to fit a sliding block to correspond in shape with
the channel, or chamber, and working perpendicularly, such block to act as a
dam to the water, this block is attached to a rod, at one end of which carries a ball,
whilst the other is secured to a stud, the ball rising, and falling with the water
causes the block in the channel or chamber to work up, and down, thus damming
or freeing the water, as the case may be.
Having explained the nature of my invention, I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying drawing the manner in which the same is to be
performed.
Figure 1 represents section of a Tap showing the wedge or block A covering the
channel B in such a position as to dam the water, the wedge A is fitted in
chamber C, which chamber is made to correspond in shape to the wedge A.
The wedge AI purpose to cover, either in its entirety or partly with india-
rubber, or any other pliable substance.
D is the rod which connects the wedge A to the rod E by a pin F, the rod E
being attached at one end to stud G by a pin H, and at the other end to a ball L
which ball floating on the water is acted upon by the rise, or fall of the water, or
other liquid thus giving a motion to the wedge A which sliding up and down
causes the channel B to be freed, or blocked as the case may be thus when the
ball is in its normal position the channel is free.
Figure 2 is a part section of a Tap showing the wedge A in an opposite position
to Fig. 1 the wedge playing against the inlet of channel B instead of against the
outlet as in Figure 1.
I do not bind myself to the precise shape of the wedge A.
The same effect can be obtained by reversing the wedge A, and arranging the
ball L and rod E to play over instead of under the Tap.
The outlet of the channel B I purpose to make slightly to the right, or left as
may be most convenient thus preventing its play exactly over the rod E.
Figure 3 is a front view of the chamber C showing the wedge A freeing the
channel B.
Fig. 4 is a side view of Figure 3 showing division of the chamber C as
mentioned below.
Figure 5 is a view of the wedge A, and rod D. I purpose making the Tap
either in a united form or by dividing it through the chamber C, as may be most

page_text: convenient, in which latter case Figure 3 will show how I purpose to unite one
part with the other, namely by pins, as represented in holes M.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my invention,
but I claim as my invention of improvements in Taps more especially to such Taps
as are usually worked by a ball floating on the water, or other liquids,
In witness whereof I the said William Spinks Riley have hereunto set my
hand, and seal this thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred, and eighty five.
WILLIAM SPINKS RILEY.