USRE752E - Improved faucet - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT FULLEILOF CINUINNATI, OlllO.

,'lMPaovED EAUCET.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentfNo. 13,677, datcd'Oc'ltober 16, 1855 Reissue No. 752.1 dated c July 5, 1859.

To ail lwhom, it may concern: Y

Beit known that I', ALBERT FULLER, of Cincinnati, in the county ot'V Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented new' and useful Improvements in Stop-Cocks; and 1 do here by declare that the following is a full and com|` plete description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the let-- ters of reference marked thereon,

In the construction of stop-cocks it is difficultto make metallic joints permanently-tight; thereforea packing ot india-rubber or other elastic material has been much employed. But such packing is liable soon to become ine'ectual, either from its wear, owing to the rubbing or abrasion of its surface Vin openngand closing the valve or from the compression and hardening ot' the packing, Consequently the packing must often be renewed, which is not only expensive, but a serious inconvenience, as

` the stop cock is out ot repair ata time when itis wanted for use.

My invention consists inan improvement in the construction and operation of stop-cocks or faucets, by which all diicult v:from the abrasion or wear of the rubber sur ace and the hardening of the-rubberfrom eompressionis avoided, thus rendering 'the cocks far more 'durable and reliable. A In the accompanying drawings, Figure l isA a. sid-e view of a faucet or stop cock with my improvement, and'havin g a portion ofthe supply pipe attached.' Fig.2 is a perpendicular section ofthe same, showing my improvements.,

- Fig. 3 is a. modified arrangement of the valve.` In Fig. 1, A-represents the faucet, B'tlle' handle for opening and closing the valve, and

C a portion ofthe supply-pipe. The water or steam flows in they direction of the arrows, Fig'. 2. AThe supplypipe U is connected with the cock A by screw-threads, and the valve. seat D is situated at this point of connection, so that the valve is outside the chamber of the cock. By'this' arrangement the valve is conveniently inserted, and as the water is excluded frm'the chamberof the cock-whcn the valve is closedt here is no possibility of injuryto the faucet by the freezing of the water.

The valve consists,lessentially,of a plug of indiaarubber, 4which must be of-sucient length and thickness for the elasticity ot' the rubber ball permanently to resist the whole force of the duid Without crushing the rubber or hard enin g it by compression. The plug must also be large eno ,gli pljumply to till the valve-seat without sliding into thc latter so as to abrade the surface otl the rubber. This plugis shown at E, Fig'.; 2. Itis molded fromv .semi-duid rubber under a very great pressure, andthen vulcanized in the mold at a temperature-.of

about'b'OOOr Fahrenheit. It is attached to a stem, F, so as to receive a positive motiourfrom vthe eccentric arm L. In `order permanently to preserve theorginal shape ofthe plug, a dish-shaped sliield, G, is employed, and also a broad shoulder, H, upon thestem F, Eig. 2, or a screwcap,l,Fig. 3. The shield G so embraces the rubber plug .as to prevent the pressure of the valve-seat from either crushing or spreading the plug, thus enabling the rubber permanently to rc'- sist such pressure without being forced outfof shape or hardened by compression. By means of a screw-nut, N, the shield G'can be pressed forward so as to com press the plug E-between said shield and the shoulders H, shortening the plug longitudinally and expanding it laterally. In this manner'the plug, when slightly Worn by long usemay be enlarged,bett.er to au the .viveseat., 'rinsdju'st'me'nt of the.

shieldG'not only changes the'shape of the ballor plug ot' rubber, but also .in effect adjusts .the plug upon the stem F so that ,the

`rubber presents a new bearing to'meet the valve seat D. For the same purpose the plug or ball of rubber may be made completely adu -justa le along the stem F without 'changing the s ape of th plug, as shown 'in Fig. 3, where an adjustable cap, l, is used instead 0i' the shoulder H, Fig. 2. Therefore the length ofthe st eln F or the distance between the rubberpIUg and the eccentric arm L can be changed so as always to bring the valve firmly home upon its sea-t when the eccentric -completes its stroke without overcompressiug the rubber valve or plug.

The-number of screw-threads to the inch cut upon the' arm L is the same as that cut upon the shaft K, so that the arm is conveniently inserted, and will always bring the stem F into p roper position in the center of the valve-seat. Thus the valve is supported so es' to move back and forth Without dragging. and is drawn side so as to become irregular in shape, and

, seat in the same direction that the water yielding ofthe valve gives room for the ice,

into the valve-seat with great accuracy. Conscquentl y theplug is never Worn away on one l thus fail to make a close joint. The valve being outside of thechamber of' the cock and working in the 'supply-tube, is drawn into its flows. Therefore the pressure of the water can liever force the valve from its seat, but always tends to hold the valve securely in place and prevent leakage. This construction of stop cock -is applicable to steam as well as to water, as the'increased pressure of steam upon the. valve serves to tighten the joint by pressing the valve more closely upon its scat. In like manner the freezing of water in thc supply-pipe C presses the valve more firmly into its seat without injury to the cock. This and thusprevents the rupture of the supplypipe near the stop-cock.

My improved stopcoek combines the fol'- lewin g advantages:

First. The whole body of the plug or valve, being madeof india-rubber,.is so compressi ble both longitudinally and laterally that 'it muy be brought home upon its seat by a positive motion with sufficient force 'to make a reliable joint without either the abrasion or the hardening of' the india-rubber, and, i the plug being confined by a cap, the indiarubber is not easily pressed out of shape. Therefore, it is far more durable than a valve having a merc packing of india-rubber.4

Second. The valye is drawn into its seat in l thedireetion in which the wateror steam flows, i sojthat the pressure of the fluid tends to hold the valve in place, instead of f'orcing it from its seat. l Third. The motion of' the eccentric is-lim ited,'so as liever to overcompress the elastic 1 plug-valve.

Fourth. The plug` valve may be compressed longitudinally, and thus expanded laterally, in i order to enable it better to fit the valveseat after it has been a long time in use.

Fifth. The plug or valve is adjustable upon the stem, so as to regulate the action of the eccentric arm or theforce with which the valve is pressed into its seat. l

Sxth. The valve heilig placed outside the chamber of the cock, the fluid all escapes from the faucet as soon as the valve is closed. Therefore, it is impossible to injure the faucet l by freezing.

I am aware that in the construction of faucets'and stop-cocks a packing or lining of'. iudiavrubber has been used toform a ti ght joint. Therefore,ldo not broadly claim the use of india-rubber, but confine my claims'in regard to india-rubber to my improved mode of using the latter. Neither do I claim the above-described mechanical devices as new in themselves; but I limit my claims to thc improvements iu faucets or stop cocks.

I do not confine myself to the precise con-v struction above described so longas the same result isy produced, as the arrangement of parts may be somewhat varied, or gatta-percha may bee-substituted for india-rubber without departingfroin the principlesof-my invention or improvements.

Having thus fully'described my invention, l

what I claim as an improvement iu stop-cocks, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of' the United States, isl 1. The elastic plug-valve attached to astem, when operated by an eccentricv or its equivalent, substantial y as set f'orfh,'forthe purposes described. 2. The elastic plugvalve, constructed as described, in combination with the cup-sha pcd cap to prevent the plug from spreading, substantially as described.

ALBERT FULLER. Witnesses EDM. F. BROWN, DANiEL Bauen.

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