IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND THE CHAMBERS CONNECTED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE TO HYDRANTS AND TAPS FOR THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith Wheatcroft, Engineer and Surveyor,
and James Newton Smith, Agent, both of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND THE
CHAMBERS CONNECTED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE TO HYDRANTS AND TAPS FOR THE
SUPPLY OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS."
Sealed the 12th February 1858, and dated the 13th August 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith Wheat-
croft and James Newton Smith at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 13th August 1857.
We, WILLIAM SMITH WHEATCROFT, Engineer and Surveyor, and JAMES
NEWTON SMITH, Agent, both of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES
AND THE CHAMBERS CONNECTED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE TO HYDRANTS AND TAPS FOR
THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
Our improved valve is particularly applicable to water hydrants and public
taps used for the supply of water, and consists of a cylinder and top plate
made of cast iron or other suitable material, attached and secured to an outer
casing or receptacle. On the upper part of the said cylinder we place a rod
which is acted upon by a screw or other power, for the purpose of giving
pressure to a disc or valve placed at the lower part of the cylinder. The
seating of the disc or valve is formed by the same packing that is used and

page_text: applied to joint the connection between the cylinder and the receptacle within
which it is placed. The disc is secured to a pin or spindle passing through the
centre of the cylinder and top plate, and also through a spring of india-rubber
or other suitable material, and afterwards secured by a nut or cotter, the
elasticity of the spring drawing the valve or disc upon its seating inde-
pendently of any pressure of fluid that may be acting on the under or back
surface of the disc or valve. In order to draw off the liquid the disc or valve
is separated or removed from its seating by applying power to the top of its
spindle, thereby overcoming the action of the spring and permitting the fluid
to escape to the interior of the cylinder, from whence it passes through a hole
to any required outlet, according to circumstances. The spring will cause the
valve to close to its seating even independently of any varied or non-pressure
of the fluid, thereby preventing waste. The casing or receptacle is chambered
so as to receive a non-conducting medium, in order to counteract the effects of
frost.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Smith Wheatcroft and James Newton Smith
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
SMITH WHEATCROFT, Engineer and Surveyor, and JAMES NEWTON SMITH,
Agent, both of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said William Smith Wheatcroft and James Newton Smith, Her
special licence that we, the said William Smith Wheatcroft and James
Newton Smith, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said William Smith Wheatcroft and James Newton Smith, our
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND
THE CHAMBERS CONNECTED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE TO HYDRANTS AND TAPS FOR THE
SUPPLY OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that

page_text: we, the said William Smith Wheatcroft and James Newton Smith, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal
of one of us, 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 we, the said William Smith Wheatcroft and James
Newton Smith, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):-
Our Invention consists in various improved arrangements particularly
applicable to water hydrants, stand pipes, and public taps for the supply of
water. We connect with the branch from the main pipe a cylinder or valve
chamber, attached to which is a top plate having an improved arrangement
of valve seating connected thereto or forming part of the said top plate, of any
required dimensions, being of less area than the cylinder, and projecting so far
from the under side of the said top plate as to leave sufficient area and
clearance for the valve seating. Upon the said valve seating we employ a
disc or valve of metal or other suitable material, having a central rod or
spindle passing through a hole in the said top plate, and through a spring of
india-rubber or other suitable material of an elastic and water-tight nature,
encased in a box or cup of any proper material, through which also is passed
the said rod or spindle, and afterwards secured by means of a nut or cotter,
the elasticity of the spring drawing the valve to its seating even independant
of any varied or non-pressure under the said disc, the said india-rubber spring
also answering the purpose of an efficient packing to the spindles. In order
to draw off the liquid or fluid the disc or valve is separated or removed from
its seating by applying power to the top of its spindle, thereby overcoming the
action of the spring and pressure of fluid, &c., and permitting the fluid, &c.,
to escape to the interior of the top plate, from whence it passes through a
hole to any required outlet according to circumstances.
After the power is
removed the elasticity of the india-rubber or spring again draws the disc
or valve to its seating, thereby preventing waste. For stand pipes and publie
taps we place the disc at the lower part of the inner cylinder, having pressure
given to it also by means of a lever or screw at the top of the cylinder; the
seating for the disc or valve may or may not be formed by the same packing
that is used and applied to joint the connection between the cylinder and the
receptacle within which it is placed.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the ac-

page_text: companying Sheet of Drawings, with the figures and letters of reference
thereon, in which Fig. 1 is an external elevation of our improvements adapted
for hydrants; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 3, an arrange-
ment of our improved valve applied to stand pipes; Fig. 4, a modification
of the same; and Fig. 5, the same improved valve applied to house taps,
shewing the valve open.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the valve chamber or cylinder a as forming one part of
the hydrant is intended to be connected as shewn to the branch from the
main pipe b. On the said cylinder a is placed a top plate or conducting pipe
c, to which is attached, or forming part thereof, the projecting chamber or
valve seating d, of any required dimensions, but having a less area than the
cylinder a, so as to pass into the said cylinder, and allow sufficient area for
the escape of water that may be required. Upon the projecting chamber or
valve seating is placed the disc or valve e, with its spindle f passing through
the top plate, and also through the india-rubber spring and packing g enclosed
in the box h, so that the spring may not be injured by the nut i in the top of
the valve spindle. When the nut is screwed down it gives. an elastic force to
the india-rubber spring, having the effect of keeping the valve close and firm
to its seating, thereby preventing waste of water or other fluid. In order to
open the valve, and permit the liquid to escape, we overcome the action of the
india-rubber spring by applying force to the top of the valve spindle by means
of the screw k, having a large square head at the top to acquire purchase, the
said screw working in a nut l, in the standard or frame m, fixed to the top
plate, or a lever and weight, or a lever only, may be employed to effect the
same object. The valve may be mounted with leather or other suitable
material, or left plain, as desired, and the flanges and passages constructed of
any size and shape, adapting them to house taps, stand pipes, and other
requirements; but whatever modification is adopted the valve or disc is held
tight by an india-rubber and packing spring, when no liquid is required to
pass, and the force of the said spring overcome by a lever or screw, so as to
open the valve when the conveyance of liquid is to take place.
In Fig. 3, representing a self-acting and frost-resisting arrangement
adapted for stand pipes, n is the part attached to the supply or main; o, the
cylinder; p, the disc or valve; q, the packing; r, the spindle or rod passing
through the cover s, and also through the india-rubber spring t, the resistance
of which is overcome by the handle or lever u pressing down the valve, and
opening communication for the liquid. The chamber v is for the reception
of non-conducting material, for the purpose of preventing the injurious action
of frost.

page_text: In Fig. 4 the india-rubber spring is pressed and the valve is opened by the
knob and screw w working in the nut x.
In Fig. 5, shewing the house tap, a is the elastic spring, and 6 the disc.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be distinctly
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details herein set
forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof, neither do we confine ourselves to its application for the supply of
water, as it may be advantageously used in some cases for the supply of steam,
gas, &c.; but we claim as our Invention, and which, to the best of our
knowledge and belief, has not been hitherto used within the realm, the
peculiar arrangement and construction of valves and apparatus connected
therewith, as applicable to hydrants and taps for the supply of water and other
fluids, as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Smith Wheatcroft and James
Newton Smith, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-eight.
JAMES NEWTON SMITH.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named William Smith Wheatcroft and
James Newton Smith, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
UTI.
(L.B.)
(L.S.)