Patent GB-190308773-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Means for Operating Bulkhead Doors and other Doors by Fluid Pressure.
Inventor: PRESTON FREDERICK GEORGE PANIZ
Filed: 1903-04-17
Granted: 1904-04-14
Abstract: 8773. Preston, F. G. P., and Mees, A. B. April 17. Bulkhead doors are operated by fluid pressure and controlled from one main connected to one or more central positions, such as the bridge and engine room, so that all the doors may be operated from such central station. Each door is also provided with a valve near it for operating it, and a float valve in the bilge, arranged to close the door upon an inrush of water to the compartment. Six arrangements are described. (1) Fig. 1 represents a general view of one arrangement. The piston of the door cylinder D is provided with a large piston - rod, the underside of the piston being always exposed to pressure from the pressure main A, and the upper side connected alternately through theworking valve H to the exhaust main C or the controlling-main B. The valve spindle is provided with two valves in connection with a double seat on the partition I, and has recess passages cut in it which cut-off at one seat before opening at the other. The bilge float valve M, and the engine room and bridge valves Q, P, are the same in construction as the valve H. To close the door from the bridge, the handle U is moved to theposition indicated. The pressure is then admitted to the controlling-main B, thence through the valve-casing M and valve-casing H to the upper end of the cylinder D, overcoming the pressure on the underside and closing the door. The engine-room valve operates similarly, admitting pressure by way of the valve-casing P. Should the bilge float rise by reason of a collection of water in the compartment, pressure is admitted above the piston from the pressure main A by way of the valve-casing M and valve-casing H. To open the door, at the door, after it has been closed either by the valve at a central station or the bilge, the weighted handle Y of the working valve H is lifted, opening the upper portion of the cylinder to the exhaust main C through the valve-casing H. The release of the handle Y causes the lever to drop and alter the valve, thus closing the door again. When the handle U or V is put back to its normal position, the controlling-main B is in connection with the exhaust main C. (2) In a second arrangement. the valves P, Q simply operate a supplementary supply valve, which serves to connect the pressure main to the controlling-main, or the controlling-main to the exhaust main, the various operations taking place as previously described. (3) In a third arrangement, all the valves operate a supply valve which is placed near the door and connects the upper end of the door cylinder with the exhaust or pressure main as desired. In this case, the third main is made smaller than the other two since it only operates as a pilot main. (4) In a. fourth arrangement, Fig. 4, instead of the cylinder having constant pressure on one side of the piston, it is made double-acting. Two mains 27, 29 only are used, either of which may be used as a pressure or exhaust main. The door cylinder is supplied with pressure and exhausted through the valve 20. The casing of this valve is connected to the bottom and top of the door cylinder by pipes 21, 22. The spindle of this valve is provided with two valves 24, 25, each working on an upper and lower seat, and is operated by a piston 61 and a weighted lever. The valve-spindle also has recesses, similar to those previously described, cut in it where it passes through the valve seats. The casing 20 is directly connected to the main 27, 29. A supply valve 30 connects each of the mains 27, 29 either with the pressure main 33 from the pumps or the exhaust main 34. The valve comprises two pressure valves 35, 36 and two exhaust valves 37, 38, which have annular seats connected with the exhaust pipe 34 as shown. The valves are operated simultaneously through the weighted lever 40 by pressure under the piston 39 admitted from the valves in the engine room or bridge, and are returned to their normal position by the pressure being exhausted ; in this position the main 27 is the exhaust main, and the main 29 the pressure main. The supplementary supply valve previously referred to is of the same construction as the left-hand half of the valve 30. The bilge valve casing 50 contains a slightly-modified arrangement of valves to that shown in Fig. 1. In the position shown in Fig. 4, pressure is on the underside of the door piston and the upper side of the piston is open to exhaust, thus keeping the door open. To close the door, pressure is admitted from either the bridge or engine room to the underside of the piston 39, thus reversing the condition of the mains 27,29, and, therefore, the pressure being on the upper side of the door piston, the door is closed. Should the bilge float rise, the valve 52 will close while the spindle 51 opens the valve 54. Pressure is then admitted from the main 29 through the valve-casing 50 and the valve-casing 59 to the underside of piston 61, thus reversing the position of the valve and closing the door. The exhaust passes from the pipe 21, by way of the bye-pass 26 <x>, to the exhaust main 27. After the door has been closed, it may be opened by raising the weighted handle 9 of the working valve 59, which is placed near the door and is so connected that it effects the desired operation in whatever position the other valves may be. In place of the valve 20, a valve having a return action due to constant pressure may be used. In this modification of the valve, the valves 24, 25 become piston valves. Either forms may be used in place of the supply valve 30. (5) In a fifth arrangement, the cylinder is provided with a differential-area piston as in the first three arrangements-but the larger end is exhausted for closing the door, the pressure on this end opening the door. The arrangement is similar to the second arrangement except that no exhaust main is used, the bilge valve exhausting into the bilge and the supply valve into the supply tanks for the pumps. (6) The sixth arrangement is a modification of the fifth, having but one main communicating with both ends of the cylinder through a weighted piston valve 126. A slight reduction of pressure in the main 122 allows the weighted valve to close and exhaust one end of the cylinder, thus closing the door. The reduction of pressure may be brought about by a reducing-valve at the bridge or engine room or by a valve, which can be worked from either of these positions. This valve, Fig. 6, is connected to the pressure-pump pipe at 148 and by the pipe 147 to the engine room or bridge. To close the door, the pressure on the underside of the piston 144 is reduced by moving the valve on the bridge or engine room. The valve 145 closes and then pressure in the pipe 122 then opens the valve 146, slightly reducing the pressure in the pipe 122 and permitting the piston valve 126 to exhaust the upper end of the door cylinder. The bilge valve, when lifted, exhausts one end of the door cylinder, and the working valve, when operated, admits pressure to both ends, thus opening the door.