An Improved Valve Cock

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

An improvement in the above has been in-vented by John Griffith, of Philadelphia, Pa. The valve cock possesses advantages overthe plug cock in its lightness, and, the facility with which the valve is ground tight ;o as at present constructed, it is frequently in practice very imperfect. It is usual to make the scr*w, by which the valve is opened and closed on the valve stem, and unless every part is very perfectly constructed, this will cause one side oi the valve to close sooner or bear in its seat harder than the other parts, which will be liable to bend the stem, and this difficulty is attended with worse consequences when the valve has a broad bearing. The object of this invention is to provide a remedy for the above difficulties, by making the valve with a cylindrical stem, passing through a, hollow stem, which forms part of the body of the cock, and is furnished outside with a screw, to which is fitted a nut. This nut carries a yoke, in which the valve stem is capable of turning freely but not of moving longitudinally. By turning the nut the valve is raised and lowered from and to its seat, in a right line; the valve being avays kept in such a position that itwill fall truly into its seat and close perfectly when the valve stem is turned. The inventor has taken measures to secure his invention by patent.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American