Improvements in Valves for Automatic Fire Extinguishers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date o Application (in United Kingdom), 19th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Automatic Fire Extinguishers.
I, FRANK GRAY, Insurance Inspector, of 127 West Congress Street in the City
of Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The present invention relates to that class of valves that are balanced, so far as
the pressure of the water in the supply main is concerned, so that the valve
will not be influenced by variations in said pressure, or by "water hammer,"
and the object of said invention is to so improve the construction of valves of
this class as to simplify them and at the same time render their action more
certain.
The present invention consists in certain features of novelty that are particularly
pointed out in the claims hereinafter, and in order that it may be fully understood I
will describe it with reference to the accompanying drawing which is made a part
hereof and in which :-
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections of a valve embodying the invention, the
former showing the valve seated and in readiness for operation, the, latter showing
it open and the system in operation.
A represents the casing which may be of any desired construction but which is
preferably constructed as shown in the drawing. As shown, it comprises two
sections A and A³, suitably flanged and bolted together end to end, and heads A³
and A* closing the outer ends of said sections, respectively. The section A¹ is
provided with an opening a¹ which constitutes the inlet opening of the casing and
with which the water supply pipe B communicates, and the section A is provided
with an opening a which constitutes the outlet opening of the casing and with
which communicates the distributing pipe C of the system. This latter pipe, it
will be understood, is kept normally filled with compressed air which is intended to
be liberated only upon the firing of a head.
Two rings E and F are so arranged within the casing as to divide its interior
into three chambers, X, Y and Z, and at the same time form seats for the valve
proper. The pipes B and C communicate with the chambers Y and ✗,
respectively, and the chamber Z is provided with means for maintaining its interior
normally at a lower pressure than is maintained in the chamber X.
The valve proper consists of two disks I and 11 provided with guide-wings i
and, respectively, and united by a stem 12. The disks are located at such
distance apart that they may be simultaneously seated upon the rings E and F, as
shown in Fig. 1, and when in this position the valve effectually cuts of all
communication between any two of the chambers. The disks I and I are located
in the chambers X and Y, respectively, and the disk I' has exactly the same area
as has the opening of the ring E, so that both disks have the same area exposed to

page_text: the water in the chamber Y. This being so, the pressure of the water in one
direction exactly equals the pressure of the water in the opposite direction, and the
valve is therefore balanced, so far as water-pressure is concerned. The water-
pressure being thus reduced to zero, so long as the pressure in the chamber X is
sufficiently in excess of the pressure in the chamber Z to overcome the weight of
the valve, the valve will be held seated. As soon, however, as the pressure in the
chamber X is reduced by the firing of a head, the weight of the valve causes it to
fall away from its seat and open communication between the chambers, as shown in
Fig. 2.
The head A is provided with an opening, normally closed by a plug J, for
giving access to the valve for setting it. To set the valve the plug J is removed
and a rod K is inserted through the opening in the casing and screwed into a
threaded opening provided for it in the top of the valve. This rod is threaded,
and onto it is turned a nut L. By turning this nut it may be brought to bear
upon the top of the casing, and the valve thereby drawn up until its two disks are
firmly seated. Compressed air and water may then be admitted to the chambers X
and Y, respectively, and after removing the rod K and replacing the plug J the
valve is seated and ready for operation. It will be understood, of course, that in
order that the air pressure upon the under side of the valve may hold it seated and
sustain its weight, it is necessary to maintain a sufficiently low pressure in the
chamber Z. At the time the valve is set as above described the pressure in this
chamber is atmospheric, and if the valve-disk 1' is properly seated said pressure
will continue to be atmospheric, even though the chamber be permanently closed.
It is not to be expected that any leakage past this disk will take place, but as a
safeguard against any possible accumulation of pressure within the chamber, the
pet cock G is provided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a valve for automatic fire extinguishers, the combination with the casing
having communicating chambers X and Y, the former being located below the
latter, the water inlet opening communicating with the chamber Y, the main outlet
opening communicating with the chamber X, a valve-seat surrounding the opening
through which said chambers communicate, a valve having equal opposing areas
exposed to the water in chamber Y whereby the valve is balanced so far as the
pressure in said chamber is concerned, said valve having a disk located in the
chamber X and adapted to seat toward the chamber Y whereby the pressure of
the fluid in the chamber X, acting upon said disk, will hold it normally seated, and
whereby the weight of the valve itself will unseat it upon a reduction of said
pressure, substantially as set forth.
2. In a valve for automatic fire extinguishers, the combination with the casing
having communicating chambers X and Y, the former being located below the
latter, the water inlet opening communicating with the chamber Y, the main outlet
opening communicating with the chamber X, a valve-seat surrounding the opening
through which said chambers communicate, a valve having equal opposing areas
exposed to the water in chamber Y, whereby the valve is balanced so far as the
pressure in said chamber is concerned, said valve having a disk located in
chamber X and adapted to seat toward the chamber Y whereby the pressure of the
fluid in chamber X, acting upon said disk, will hold it normally seated, and whereby
the weight of the valve itself will unseat it upon a reduction of the pressure
in said chamber ✗, the valve being located entirely within the casing, and
without a stem or other part extending through the casing, substantially as set
forth.
3. In a valve for automatic fire extinguishers, the combination of a casing having
a chamber X with which the main outlet opening communicates, a chamber Y with
which the inlet opening communicates, said chamber Y being located directly

page_text: above the chamber X and communicating therewith through a suitable opening, a
valve-seat surrounding said opening, a chamber Z located directly above the
chamber Y and communicating therewith through a suitable opening, a valve-seat
surrounding said opening, and a valve having a disk I located in chamber X, a
disk I¹ located in chamber Y, and a stem connecting said disks, said disks being
adapted to seat toward the chambers Y and Z, respectively, and close the openings
through which the three chambers communicate, said disks having equal opposing
areas exposed to the water in chamber Y whereby the valve is balanced so far as
the pressure in said chamber is concerned, and whereby the pressure of the
fluid in chamber X, acting upon the disk I, holds the two disks normally seated in
opposition to the weight of the valve, the valve being adapted to be unseated by
gravity upon a reduction of the pressure in chamber X, substantially as set
forth.
4. In a valve for fire extinguishers, the combination with a casing having a
chamber X for containing compressed air, a chamber Y for containing water, and
a chamber Z for containing pressure lower than that in the chamber first aforesaid,
of the valve-seat E arranged between the chambers X and Y, the valve-seat F
arranged between the chambers Y and Z, and a valve having a disk I located in
the chamber X, a disk 1' located in the chamber Y, and the stem I' connecting
said disks, said valve having equal opposing surfaces exposed Le water in the
chamber Y, substantially as set forth.
Signed at Chicago, ILOIS, LEIS zuu day or
Witnesses,
D. W. HOPKINS,
4036 Praim Avenue, Chicago, Ills.
R. H. COOPER,
51, Grant Place, Chicago, Ills.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
FRANK GRAY.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.