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XLVIII. Description ef an Autocratic Cock, useful in 
Breweries, Distilleries, €§8c. By Josera STEEVENS, 
Esq. 
SIR, 
Hisixe frequently observed the great inconvenience at- 
tending the application of ball- edéke to the supply-pipes of 
large reservoirs, liquor-backs, &c. (arising from their be- 
ginning to close the aperture of the cock Jong before the 
backs, &c. are full); and having had’ a case of this kind 
immediately under my own divedeisn! I was induced to turn 
my attention to the construction of an apparatus to remove 
this objection. , 
The reservoir, or back, being about 60 feet above the level 
of the Thames, from whence it was supplied, it was there- 
fore necessary to have a large conduit-pipe in order to fill 
it during the short period which the water continues on, at 
such heights, at neap tides; and it was also indispensable 
that the cock should remain fully open during the whole 
time, and shut suddenly when the back was full; which 
could not be accomplished by the modes new in use: for 
in cases where large cocks are to be opened and shut by 
means of a ball or other float, the lever must be much longer 
or the float much larger than in common, as some of those 
cocks require a force to turn them from 50 to 100 |bs., with 
a lever 16 or 18 inches Jong: hence it is in broad and shal- 
low backs (the area of some of which are from 4000 to 5000 
feet) that the ball begins to contract what is termed the water- 
way of the cock before the back or reservoir is half full, in 
consequence of which the whole quantity of water would 
seldom be admitted in one tide. I have therefore inclosed 
you a drawing and description of an apparatus* to obviate 
this objection, and which I feel confident in saying will be 
found far more useful in similar situations than the ball- 
eock.—I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
26, Garlick-hill, JoserH STEEVENS. 
Dec.-5, 1806. 
To Mr. Filloch. ‘ 
* The original has been three years in use at the brewery of Cade and Co , 
an acting model of whica is in the Mathematical Society's repository. 
Description 
