AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COCKS OR TAPS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wotherspoon, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF COCKS OR TAPS"
Sealed the 15th September 1877, and dated the 3rd April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wotherspoon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd April 1877.
JAMES WOTHERSPOON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COCKS OR TAPS."
" AN
This Invention, which relates to an improvement in cocks or taps, has for its
object to provide a tight fitting seating for the plug to turn in, and one less liable
to wear and tear than metal, also practically unaffected by steam or by the liquids
passed through cocks or taps.
The Invention consists in lining the barrels of the cocks or taps with asbestos
millboard by preference saturated with oil. The millboard is cut into the required
shape, and then pressed into the space in the barrels of the cocks or taps to
receive it.
In place however of lining the barrels of cocks or taps in the manner herein-before
described, the plug may be covered with the millboard, which is secured thereto by
pinching rings or straps, or the equivalent thereof, and in place of using asbestos
millboard, millboard formed of other materials may be employed.
In place of forming the lining of the barrels, or the covering of the plugs of cocks
or taps of millboard, the asbestos may be pulped; and moulded into the required
shape for the lining
Under another method of applying asbestos for lining or covering the moveable
parts of cocks or taps, it is cut into rings of the required dimensions, which are
pressed both into the barrels and on to the plugs thereof, being tightened endways
by pinching nuts. In this manner both the barrels as well as the plugs may be
lined or covered with asbestos, which being compressed, may be turned, polished,
and ground, so as to fit one another without leakage. The way through the body of
the plug may also be lined with asbestos.
ני

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Wotherspoon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
October 1877.
JAMES WOTHERSPOON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COCKS OR TAPS."
My said Invention, which relates to an improvement in cocks or taps, has for its
object to provide a tight fitting seating for the plug to turn in, and one less liable
to wear and tear than metal, also practically unaffected by steam or by the liquids
passed through cocks or taps.
My said Invention consists in lining the barrels of the cocks or taps with asbestos
millboard, by preference saturated with oil. The millboard is cut into the required
shape, and then pressed into the space in the barrels of the cocks or taps to
receive it.
In place however of lining the barrels of cocks or taps in the manner herein-before
described, the plug may be covered with the millboard, which is secured thereto by
pinching rings or straps, or the equivalent thereof, and in place of using asbestos
millboard, millboard formed of other materials may be employed.
Under another method of applying asbestos millboard for lining or covering the
moveable parts of cocks or taps, it is cut into rings of the required dimensions,
which are pressed both into the barrels and on to the plugs thereof, being tightened
endways by pinching nuts. In this manner, both the barrels as well as the plugs
may be lined or covered with asbestos, which being compressed may be turned,
polished, and ground, so as to fit one another without leakage.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings and the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say,-
Figures 1 and 2 are sections at right angles to each other, and Figure 3 is a
section on the line 1, 2, Figure 1, of a cock or tap in which the plug is lined or
covered with asbestos millboard according to iny Invention. The said plug is
formed with a flanch or projection a at the top, and on its lower end is formed a
screw thread to receive a screwed ring b, the projection a and ring b are so formed
as to produce an angular recess at each end of the plug, by which the asbestos mill-
board is firmly held in place. Around the passage c through the plug, projections c¹
of metal are formed so as to protect the edges of the asbestos millboard at that part.
The millboard is cut into the required shape, softened with oil, and formed into a
conical tube, and is then passed on to the plug as seen at d. The ring b is then
screwed in its place, and by being tightened pinches the millboard securely on the
plug.
Figures 4 and 5 are sections at right angles to each other; and Figure 6 is a hori-
zontal section on the line 3, 4, Figure 4, of another arrangement of my Invention,
in which the body of the cock is lined with asbestos millboard.
A flanch or projection e is formed at the lower end of the recess in the body, and
projections of metal fare formed around the edge of the passage through the said
body. The asbestos millboard g is treated as before described, put into its placo,
and secured by the pinching ring h.
Figures 7 and 8 are sections at right angles to each other of a cock or tap in which
both the plug and body are covered or lined with asbestos millboard as described with
respect to the preceding Figure. Corresponding parts in these Figures are marked
with the same lottors of reference.
Figures 9 and 10 are sections at right angles to each other of a blow-off cock in
which the body of the cock is lined with asbestos millboard treated and fixed as
described with respect to the previous Figures. Parts in theso Figures which

page_text: correspond with parts in Figures 4, 5, and 6, are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 11 is a vertical section of a cock or tap in which the asbestos inillboard
coverings or linings of the body and plug are formed of rings of the millboard
marked i, i. These rings are cut of suitable size, and are kept in place and tightened
against each other, those on the plug by the pinching nuts, and those in the body
by the pinching rings . The passage is then cut through to the millboard, and the
bearing parts are ground and polished to fit water-tight together.
The passage or way through the body of the plug may also be lined with asbestos
millboard, as illustrated in Figure 12. A piece of asbestos millboard is cut of the
requisite size, treated as before described, and inserted and cemented in the passage
as at l, which passage is made of a much greater diameter than the bore of the body
as will accommodate the said millboard. In fixing the said lining an expanding
mandril may be inserted and expanded in the lined passage to force the lining
tightly in its place.
It will be seen from the foregoing example, without further illustration, the
manner in which my Invention may be applied to other forms of cocks or taps.
Cement may if desired be employed to cause the asbestos millboard to adhero
firmly to the metal of the cock or tap, and the asbestos millboard may be turned,
polished, and ground, so as to cause the parts of the cock or tap to fit together in a
manner to prevent leakage.
In place of using asbestos millboard, millboard made of other material may be
used and applied in the manner described with reference to asbestos millboard.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is:-The improvement in
the construction of cocks or taps herein-before described, that is to say, providing
the plug or barrel or both with bearing surfaces of asbestos millboard or other mill-
board secured thereto, essentially as herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 1 to 11, both inclusivo, of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wotherspoon, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES WOTHERSPOON. (L.S.)