IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL AND BIB TAPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Jefferies, of Wolverhampton, in the County
of Stafford, Manager of Works, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL
AND BIB TAPS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henry Jefferies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1878.
JAMES HENRY JEFFERIES, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Manager
of Works. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL AND BIB TAPS."
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the
construction and arrangements of the parts of ball and bib taps.
The said improvements are especially applicable to ball taps, but may also be
advantageously applied to bib taps.
I will describe my Invention in connection with a ball tap. The valve seat
consists of a circular opening formed in a cap or nozzle screwed on the vertical end
of the supply pipe. A ring of india-rubber or other flexible material is placed upon
the said valve seat and constitutes a water-tight packing.
The valve consists of an inverted cup-like oi mushroom-shaped head with a long
pendent stem or stalk on its under side. The edge of the head of the valve (when
the tap is closed) rests on the india-rubber packing on the valve seat. The long
stalk or stem of the valve protrudes below the bottom of the nose of the delivery
pipe.
Attached to the back of the nozzle described is a bracket, to the lower end of
which the lever of the ball or float is jointed. On that part of the lever of the ball
or float situated in front of the stalk of the valve is a short horizontal arm crossing
the said stalk:
When the lever of the ball is horizontal, this short arm does not touch the stalk
of the valve, but when the ball or float descends by the sinking of the level of the

page_text: water, the said short arm comes against the stalk of the valve and deflects it from
its vertical position.
The action of the tap is as follows:-When the lever of the ball or float is in a
horizontal position, the valve rests upon its seat and is pressed closely thereon by
the pressure of the water upon it. When by the descent of the level of the water
in the cistern the ball or float sinks, the horizontal short arm on the ball lever
presses against the stalk of the valve, forcing it out of its normal vertical position.
By this action the valve is tilted on its seat, that is, its edge is no longer parallel to
the seat of the valve and it now rests at one point only on its seat, the other part
of the edge being raised from the seat. Water consequently passes through the
tap. When the level of the water in the cistern is raised and with it the ball or
float, the short horizontal arm on the ball lever no longer presses on the stalk of the
valve. The said stalk consequently resumes its vertical position, the edge of the
valve bears on its seat all round, and the tap is closed.
The application of my improvements to bib taps differs but little from its
application to ball taps. The pressure upon the stalk of the valve, which in the
case of a ball tap is produced by the action of the ball or float, is in a bib tap
produced by a lever or screw or other equivalent mechanical arrangement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Henry Jefferies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd August 1878.
JAMES HENRY JEFFERIES, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Manager
of Works. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL AND BIB TAPS."
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the
construction and arrangements of the parts of ball and bib taps.
The said improvements are especially applicable to ball taps, but may also be
applied to bib taps.
I will describe my Invention in connection with a ball tap. The valve seat
consists of a circular opening formed in a cap or nozzle screwed on the vertical end
of the supply pipe. A ring of india-rubber or other flexible material is placed upon
the said valve seat and constitutes a water-tight packing.
The valve consists of an inverted cup-like or mushroom-shaped head with a long
pendent stem or stalk on its under side. The edge of the head of the valve (when
the tap is closed) rests upon the india-rubber packing on the valve seat. The long
stalk or stem of the valve protrudes below the bottom of the nose of the delivery
pipe.
Attached to the back of the nozzle described is a bracket, to the lower end of
which the lever of the ball or float is jointed. On that part of the lever of the ball
or Boat situated in front of the stalk of the valve is a short horizontal arm
crossing the said stalk.
When the lever of the ball is horizontal, this short arm does not touch the stalk
of the valve, but when the ball or float descends by the sinking of the level of the
water, the said short arm comes against the stalk of the valve and deflects it from
its vertical position.

page_text: The action of the tap is as follows:-When the lever of the ball or float is in a
horizontal position, the valve rests upon its seat and is pressed closely thereon by
the pressure of the water upon it. When by the descent of the level of the water
in the cistern the ball or float sinks, the horizontal short arm on the ball lever
presses against the stalk of the valve, forcing it out of its normal vertical position.
By this action the valve is tilted on its seat, that is, its edge is no longer parallel to
the seat of the valve, and it now rests at one point only on its seat, the other part
of the edge being raised from the seat. Water consequently passes through the
tap. When the level of the water in the cistern is raised and with it the ball or
float, the short horizontal arm on the ball lever no longer presses on the stalk of the
valve. The said stalk consequently resumes its vertical position, the edge of the
valve bears on its seat all round, and the tap is closed.
The application of my improvements to bib taps differs but little from its
application to ball taps. The pressure upon the stalk of the valve, which in the
case of a ball tap is produced by the action of the ball or float, is in a bib tap
produced by a lever or screw or other equivalent mechanical arrangement.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent longitudinal sections of a ball tap applied to a cistern,
the parts of the said ball tap being constructed and arranged according to my
Invention; Figure I representing the tap closed and the supply of water to the
cistern cut off; and Figure 2 representing the said tap open, and water permitted
to pass from the supply pipe to the cistern.
Figure 3 represents in front and side elevation the cap or nozzle end of the tap
detached.
Figure 4 represents in section and elevation the screw collar used to connect the
cap or nozzle to the supply pipe.
"
And Figure 5 represents a portion of the ball or float lever.
The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 1 to 5.
a, b, is the tilting valve of the ball tap, the said valve consisting by preference of
an inverted cup-like or mushroom-shaped head a having a long pendent stem or
stalk b; c is the valve seat consisting of a ring of india-rubber or other flexible
material carried by the upper face of the cap or nozzle d secured to the vertical end
of the supply pipe e of the ball tap. The said cap or nozzle d is shown separately
in Figure 3, and carries the forked bracket or arm to which the ball or float
lever is jointed, as illustrated. The said supporting bracket or arm f is situated
out of the line of the axis of the said cap or nozzle (see the side elevation, Figure 3).
The nozzle d is fixed to the supply pipe e by means of the screw collar h screwing
on the exterior of the said pipe e.
.
By the screwing home of the collar h, the edge of the ring of india-rubber c con-
stituting the valve seat is enclosed between the bottom of the supply pipe e and
the face of the cap or nozzle d, and a water-tight packing is thereby formed between
the two parts.
'
By connecting the two parts e and d together by the screw coller h, the cap or
nozzle d may be fixed to the body or supply pipe e in any position to suit the angle
or position of the ball or float lever g.
The edge of the head a of the valve, when the tap is closed as illustrated in
Figure 1, rests on the india-rubber packing or ring c of the valve seat. The long
stalk or stem 6 of the valve extends to a considerable distance below the nose of
the delivery pipe formed by the cap or nozzle d. Near the end of the short arm of
the float lever g situated near the stalk of the valve is a short horizontal arm g³
(best seen in Figure 5), the said short arm crossing the said stalk b.
When the ball lever is in the position shown in Figure 1, its short arm g² does
not deflect the stalk bas seen in the said Figure 1, but when the ball or float
descends by the sinking of the level of the water in the cistern as illustrated in
Figure 2, the short arm g² of the float lever comes against the stalk b and deflects
it from its normal position, as seen in the said Figure 2.

page_text: When the water in the cistern is at its highest level, and the ball or float is hori-
zontal, or nearly so, the head a of the valve rests upon its seat c, being pressed
closely thereon by the pressure of the water upon it, as illustrated in Figure 1, and
the tap is closed and the supply of water cut off from the cistern. When, however,
by the descent of the level of the water in the cistern the ball or float sinks, the
horizontal short arm 92 of the ball lever g presses against the stalk 6 of the valve,
forcing it out of its normal vertical position, as illustrated in Figure 2. The valve a
is thereby tilted on its seat, one edge of the said valve resting on the seat, and the
opposite edge being raised from the seat. The tap is thereby opened, and water
can consequently pass through the tubular valve seat into the nozzle or delivery
pipe d, as illustrated in Figure 2.
When the level of the water in the cistern is raised, and with it the ball or float
lever g, g², the short horizontal arm g² of the said lever is removed from the stalk b
of the valve, and the said stalk consequently resumes its vertical position, the edge
of the valve a bearing on its seat all round, and being maintained thereon by the
pressure of the water, as seen in Figure 1; the tap is thereby closed.
Instead of making the nozzle or delivery pipe of the ball tap separate from the
supply pipe or body as last described, the said nozzle or delivery pipe and supply
pipe or body may be made in one piece, as illustrated in section in Figures 6 and 7,
and elevation in Figure 8; Figure 6 showing the tap closed; and Figure 7 the same
open. In this arrangement c is the valve seat provided with a ring of india-rubber,
upon which the head a of the tilting valve a, b, seats itself, the said valve seat
being made in one piece with the supply pipe or body i of the tap. The top of the
body is open for the introduction of the india-rubber ring c, and valve a, b, the
said top of the body being closed by the screw cap k.
The lower part or delivery pipe of the tap body carries the bracket 7, to which
the ball lever is jointed. The action of this tap is the same as that first described,
and corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Instead of placing the india-rubber ring upon which the head of the valve bears
on the body or delivery pipe of the tap, the said ring may be placed in the under
side of the head of the valve itself.
This modification of my Invention is illustrated in Figure 9. In this modifi-
cation the under side of the head of the valve a, b, is recessed, and in the recess the
india-rubber ring c is placed. The valve seat on which the head a of the valve
bears is made on the upper face of the delivery pipe e, on which pipe e is the
bracket to which the ball lever g is jointed.
The delivery pipe e of the tap is connected to the supply pipe h by screwing the
former into the latter, as represented in the Drawing, or by means of a screwed
collar or boss as described and represented with respect to Figures 1 and 2.
Instead of making the valve head a with a sharp ring-like edge, the said edge
may be dispensed with, and the flat under side of the head a bear directly on the
india-rubber ring or seat c, as represented in Figures 7 and 8.
Instead of making the supporting bracket which carries the ball or float lever on
one side of the delivery pipe of the tap as before described and represented, the said
supporting bracket may be situated at the middle of the said pipe, that is, in a
plane passing through the axis of the said pipe.
This modification of my Invention is represented in back elevation in Figure 94,
and plan and elevation of a portion of the float lever in Figure 9B. In the said
Figure 9 the supporting bracket is marked 1, and its position with respect to the
delivery pipes will be readily understood by referring to the said Figure 94. In
this arrangement tho ball or float lever g has a somewhat different shape, and the
arm g² of the said lever g instead of passing on one side of it passes on each side of
it, as seen in the plan view, Figure 9³.
Instead of making the crossing arm g², Figures 94 and 9³, straight as represented,
it may have a semicircular figure, or a V or angular figure in plan with the same
effect, but I prefer to make the crossing arm straight as represented in the
Drawing.

page_text: Figures 10, 11, and 12 represent two kinds of bib taps made according to my
Invention; Figures 10 and 11 representing a tap of the kind called a stop valve,
having straight ends, and Figure 12 a tap having a curved or bent end, constituting
the delivery pipe.
In Figures 10 and 12 the valves of the taps are represented open; and in
Figure 11 the valve of the tap is represented closed.
a, b, is the tilting valve pressed up and held to its seat at c by the pressure of
the coiled spring d assisted by the pressure of the water entering the tap by the
entrance pipe e. The said spring is supported upon the screw plug f at the bottom
of the body of the tap.
The acting or pressing under face of the valve is furnished with an india-rubber
disc or washer b, which seats itself against the edge of the valve seat at c.
The screw g connected with the handle h of the tap has on its under side a leg or
stalk i excentric to the axis of the said screw. The said screw g works in a screw
box in the barrel of the tap in the usual manner.
When the handle h is turned in the direction proper to raise the screw g in the
barrel, its excentric leg or stalk i no longer presses the valve a from its seat, and
the said valve is raised by the spring d and the pressure of the liquid to its seat at
c, and the tap is closed.
When the handle h is turned so as to advance the screw g in the barrel, its leg
or stalki travelling upon the marginal portions of the valve a tilts the said
valve and partly opens the waterway of the tap, as illustrated in the valve,
Figure 12.
By the further descent of the screw g, its leg or stalk i may be made to com-
pletely push back the valve a from its seat, and fully open the waterway of the tap,
as illustrated in Figure 10.
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, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention, but I claim as my In-
vention,―
First. The improvements in ball taps herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 94, and 9B of the accompanying Drawings; that is to
say, the construction of the tilting valve described and represented, the said valve
having a long stalk or stem projecting considerably below the delivery pipe, by
which long stalk or stem the valve is tilted on or raised at one side from its seat
when the level of the water in the cistern sinks, the said tilting valve being
combined with the other parts of the tap, substantialy as described and illustrated;
also providing the acting end of the ball or float lever with a crossing arm for
operating upon the long stalk or stem of the tilting valve when the level of the
water in the cistern sinks, substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The combination or arrangement of the parts of bib taps herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 10, 11, and 12 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henry Jefferies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
H. HODGKINSON,
Wolverhampton.
JAMES HENRY JEFFERIES. (L.S.)