Patent GB-190915517-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to the Opening and Closing of Doors by Hydraulic Means.
Inventor: ANDERSON HARRY PERCIVAL HARVEY
IPC: B63B19/00
Filed: 1909-07-03
Granted: 1909-12-23
Abstract: 15,517. Anderson, H. P. H. July 3. Operating swinging and sliding doors.-Relates to hydraulic apparatus for operating bulkhead and other doors from a distance, or locally, in which the local control may be effected automatically by the rise of water in the bilge, and consists (1) in employing a closed liquid circuit through which the operating-liquid is circulated, (2) in an improved construction of the distributing-valves, and (3) in improved means for automatically actuating the local control valve from the rise of water in the bilge. Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a section through the apparatus. A double acting pump A, driven by a direct-acting engine, for example of the Worthington type, is connected by pipes 1, 2 to a main control valve-box which consists of four chambers B, C, 8, 11. The chamber 8 communicates with the chambers B, C through valves 4, 5 respectively, and also with the chamber 11 by a port as shown. The chambers B, C also communicate with the chamber 11 through valves 3, 6. The chamber 11 contains a hand-actuated piston-valve 7 which controls ports to two mains 12, 13. Near each door is provided a local control valve-box, Fig. 3, connected to the mains by pipes 16, 17. The local control valve is connected by passages 18, 19 to the ends of the door operating cylinder or cylinders. A valve 20 in the inlet passage from the pipe 17 to the local valve is normally kept open by resting upon an enlargement of the shank of the valve 21, but can fall to its seat when the valve 21 is pushed sufficiently far to the left. A by-pass 23 leads from below the valve 20 to a chamber 24 into which the spindle of the valve 21 projects. The whole system is supplied with liquid through the supply valves S in the pump A, and steam is continually on the engine driving the pump. The pump piston moving in the direction of the arrows, the liquid passes through a pipe 1, valves 6 and 7, pipes 12 and 16, and the local valve 21 to a pipe 18 and the top of the piston 14, thereby opening the door. The liquid on the other side of the piston 14 is forced through a pipe 19, around the valve 21, through pipes 17, 13, around the valve 7, and through valve 4 and a pipe 2 to the pump. On reversal of the pump stroke, the liquid passes through the pipe 2, valve 3, and pipe 12, and thence to the top of piston 14 as before. When the piston 14 reaches the end of its stroke, the pump stops. To close the doors from the main valve, the latter is pushed over till the passage 12 communicates with the chamber 8 around the valve 7. To close the door locally, the valve 21 is pushed over till the passages 18, 17 communicate with each other round the valve 21. The local operator may prevent the door from being opened from the main valve by pushing the valve 21 over till the valve 20 closes. Pressure through the pipes 13, 17 is then unable to pass the valve 20, and the door remains closed. The local valve is automatically operated to close the door on the rise of water in the bilge by means of a spring-controlled lever 26, bearing upon the end of the valve spindle and held in its normal position by means of a catch 27, Fig. 5, bearing upon a diaphragm 28. The other side of the diaphragm communicates with the bilge through a pipe 29 having an enlarged lower end. The rise of water in the bilge compresses the air in the pipe 29, thereby distending the diaphragm and releasing the catch 27. The door may be kept in a partlyopen position by pushing-over the valve 21 till both pipes 18, 19 are closed. The door may then be closed from the main valve by pushing the latter over to the left. The pressure in pipe 17 then passes through the by-pass 23, and, acting on the end of the valve spindle, forces the valve to the right and admits the pressure to the bottom of the piston 14. The local valve may be omitted and the pipes 18, 19 connected directly with the mains 12, 13. The whole or part of the system may be duplicated, and instead of the double-acting pump A rams may be employed.