IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY VALVES FOR STEAM BOILERS, AND IN VALVES AND TAPS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Smith, of Hyson Green Brassworks, near
Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY VALVES
FOR STEAM BOILERS, AND IN VALVES AND TAPS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF
FLUIDS."
Sealed the 19th January 1864, and dated the 5th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
November 1863.
I, SYDNEY SMITH, of Hyson Green Brassworks, near Nottingham, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY
VALVES POR STEAM BOILERS, AND IN VALVES AND TAPS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW
OF FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
In constructing safety valves for steam boilers according to this Invention,
they are formed in such manner that the valve is loaded by the pressure of
the steam. For this purpose the upper portion of the valve is surrounded by
a chamber, into which steam from the boiler is allowed to pass through a
small passage; the steam thus presses on the top surface of the valve, and
this surface being of larger area than the valve the valve is kept closed.
From the chamber a small pipe passes, and on the end of this pipe is a small

page_text: valve weighted to suit the working pressure. When the pressure of the
steam in the boiler rises too high, this small weighted valve is raised, and the
steam that is in the chamber is allowed to escape, and the upper surface of
the safty valve is relieved from pressure; the pressure of the steam in the
boiler then causes the safety valve to rise, and the steam in the boiler is
allowed to escape until the pressure in the boiler is sufficiently lowered to
allow the small weighted valve to close; as soon as this valve closes the steam
again presses on the upper surface of the safety valve and closes it.
When a
conical valve is employed, then I prefer to enlarge the upper portion of the
valve and form it into a piston or plunger that fits loosely within a chamber
formed to receive it; this chamber is open at the bottom, and is in constant
connection with the steam from the boiler; as the plunger fits loosely within
the chamber, the steam is able to pass by the plunger into the top of the
chamber and to press upon the upper surface of the plunger and so press the
valve into its seat. The small tube, which at its end is fitted with a small
weighted valve, rises from the top of the chamber, and around the tube is an
annular box that can rise and fall on the tube; this box is to contain the
weights with which the small valve is weighted. A cross bar passing over
the top of the box presses on the top of the small valve. When the safety
valve is composed of a metal disc that acts as a valve by closing the end of a
tube or pipe that comes from the boiler, then the disc can be pressed down-
wards by the pressure of the steam in a similar manner.
For this purpose
the end of the pipe from the boiler opens into a chamber of larger diameter
than the pipe; the disc closes the bottom of this chamber, and the disc has a
small hole through it by which steam from the boiler can enter the chamber
and thus be allowed to press on the upper surface of the disc and cause it to
close the orifice from the boiler; the chamber has a small tube rising from it,
the end of which tube is provided with a weighted valve, as in the arrange-
ment first described. When the pressure of the steam raises this small valve
the steam escapes from the chamber, and the upper surface of the disc is
relieved from pressure; the steam pressing on the bottom of the disc then
raises the disc, and the steam is allowed to pass through the orifice that was
before covered by the disc, and to pass away through a number of holes
formed through the bottom of the chamber, that were also before covered by
the disc.
In constructing valves and taps for regulating the flow of steam or other
fluids according to this Invention, they are formed in a similar manner to the
safety valve first described. For this purpose the inlet and outlet passages of
the tap or valve are separated by a conical or other valve; the upper portion

page_text: of this valve is enlarged and formed into a piston that fits loosely within a
chamber formed to receive it; the bottom of the chamber opens into the inlet
portion of the tap or valve, and as the piston fits loosely within the chamber,
the steam or other fluid can pass by the plunger and press on its upper
surface, and force the valve on to its seat. A small passage leads from the
top of this chamber; this passage can be closed by a small valve that is by
preference worked by means of a screw. When this valve is opened the
steam or other fluid in the chamber can pass through the small passage and
escape by another small passage into the outlet portion of the valve or tap;
the top of the piston being thus relieved from pressure, the pressure of the
fluid on the under side of the piston raises the piston, and with it the valve to
which it is connected; the steam or fluid can then pass through the valve or
tap until the passage that leads from the top of the chamber in which the
piston works is again closed by means of the small valve.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Sydney Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SYDNEY
SMITH, of Hyson Green Brassworks, near Nottingham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Sydney Smith, Her special licence that I, the said Sydney
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Sydney Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SAFETY VALVES FOR STEAM BOILERS, AND IN VALVES AND TAPS FOR
REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others). that I,,
the said Sydney Smith, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in.
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-.
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in.

page_text: what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Sydney Smith, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
In constructing safety valves for steam boilers, according to this Invention,
they are formed in such manner that the valve is loaded by the pressure of
the steam. For this purpose the upper portion of the valve is surrounded by
a chamber, into which steam from the boiler is allowed to pass through a
small passage, the steam thus presses on the top surface of the valve, and
'this surface being of larger area than the valve, the valve is kept closed. From
the chamber a small pipe passes, and on the end of this pipe is a small valve
weighted to suit the working pressure. When the pressure of the steam in
the boiler rises too high this small weighted valve is raised, and the steam that
is in the chamber is allowed to escape, and the upper surface of the safety
valve is relieved from pressure; the pressure of the steam in the boiler then
causes the safety valve to rise, and the steam in the boiler is allowed to escape
until the pressure in the boiler is sufficiently lowered to allow the small
weighted valve to close; as soon as this valve closes the steam again presses on
the upper surface of the safety valve and closes it. When a conical valve is
employed then I prefer to enlarge the upper portion of the valve, and form it
into a piston or plunger that fits loosely within a chamber formed to receive it;
this chamber is open at the bottom and is in constant connexion with the steam
from the boiler, as the plunger fits loosely within the chamber the steam is
able to pass by the plunger into the top of the chamber and to press upon the
The small
upper surface of the plunger, and so press the valve into its seat.
tube, which at its end is fitted with a small weighted valve, rises from the top
of the chamber, and around the tube is an annular box that can rise and fall
on the tube; this box is to contain the weights with which the small valve is
weighted. A cross bar passing over the top of the box presses on the top of
the small valve. When the safety valve is composed of a metal disc that acts
as a valve by closing the end of a tube or pipe that comes from the boiler, then
the disc can be pressed downwards by the pressure of the steam in a similar
For this purpose the end of the pipe from the boiler opens into a
chamber of larger diameter than the pipe, the disc closes the bottom of this
chamber, and the disc has a small hole through it by which steam from the
boiler can enter the chamber, and thus be allowed to press on the upper
manner.

page_text: surface of the disc, and cause it to close the orifice from the boiler; the
chamber has a small tube rising from it, the end of which tube is provided
When the
with a weighted valve, as in the arrangement first described.
pressure of the steam raises this small valve the steam escapes from the
chamber, and the upper surface of the disc is relieved from pressure, the
steam pressing on the bottom of the disc then raises the disc, and the steam
is allowed to pass through the orifice that was before covered by the disc, and
to pass away through a number of holes formed through the bottom of the
chamber that were also before covered by the disc.
In constructing valves and taps for regulating the flow of steam or other
fluids, according to this Invention, they are formed in a similar manner to the
safety valve first described. For this purpose the inlet and outlet passages of
the tap or valve are separated by a conical or other valve; the upper portion
of this valve is enlarged and formed into a piston that fits loosely within a
chamber formed to receive it; the bottom of the chamber opens into the inlet
portion of the tap or valve, and as the piston fits loosely within the chamber
the steam or other fluid can pass by the plunger and press on its upper
surface, and force the valve on to its seat. A small passage leads from the
top of this chamber; this passage can be closed by a small valve that is by
When this valve is opened the
preference worked by means of a screw.
steam or other fluid in the chamber can pass through the small passage and
escape by another small passage into the outlet portion of the valve or tap;
the top of the piston being thus relieved from pressure, the pressure of the
fluid on the under side of the piston raises the piston and with it the valve to
which it is connected, the steam or fluid can then pass through the valve or
tap until the passage that leads from the top of the chamber in which the
piston works is again closed by means of the small valve.
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, I will proceed more fully to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 a vertical section of a safety valve,
arranged according to my Invention, having a conical valve applied thereto.
a is the inlet for the steam from the boiler; b, the outlet for steam from
the valve; c is a conical valve resting upon the seat d; its upper part c¹ is
turned nearly to fit the chamber e; f is a small valve closing the end of the
tube g; this tube g is formed in one with the cover e' of the chamber e, or it
may be otherwise connected thereto; h is an annular box capable of rising
and falling on the tube g; this box contains small weights h¹, with which the

page_text: valve f is weighted. A cross bar h³ is connected to and passes over the top of
the box h, and presses on the valve f, as shewn. It will be seen that steam
from the boiler is capable of passing around the piston c' into the tube g, and
pressing upon the upper surface of the piston c'. When the pressure of the
steam in the boiler rises above the desired working pressure the small valve f
is raised, thereby releasing the pressure from the top of the piston c' of the
valve c, by which means the steam will act on the under surface of the
piston c', and thereby raise the valve, allowing the steam to escape until
the pressure in the boiler is sufficiently reduced to allow the valve f to close,
when the steam will again press on the top of the piston c¹ and close the
valve c.
Figure 3 is a side view, and Figure 4 a vertical section of a safety valve,
having the inlet passage from the boiler closed by a disc. Figure 5 is a plan
of this disc separately; in this case a is the inlet for steam from the boiler;
6', outlets for steam from the chaniber 6; c is a disc valve, having a small
hole c'formed through it; d is a tube connected to the cover 6 of the
chamber b; e is a valve closing the tube d; this valve is pressed upon by a
screw carried by the cross bar f¹ connected with the short tube f. This tube f
is connected to one end of a coiled spring g, the other end of which is con-
nected to the nut h, by turning which in one or the other direction on the
thread formed on the outside of the tube d the pressure on the valve e
is regulated. When the pressure of the steam raises the valve e the steam
escapes from the chamber 6, thereby relieving the upper surface of the disc c
from pressure; the steam then acts on the bottom of the disc c to raise it, and
the steam is allowed to pass away through the holes 6', which were before
covered by the disc; i is a guard plate, having holes ¹ formed through it for
the passage of steam; this plate i limits the amount of motion to the disc c.
Figure 6 is an outside view, and Figure 7 a vertical section of a steam or
water valve, arranged according to my Invention. a is the inlet for the steam
or water; b, the outlet; c is a conical valve, the upper part c' of which is
enlarged and turned nearly to fit the chamber d, but so as to leave a small
passage all round for the steam or water; e is a small valve closing the
passage f; this valve is operated by a screw 7, as shewn; h is a passage
leading from the chamber f¹ at the top of the passage f to the outlet b.
When the valve e is raised the steam or other fluid in the chamber d escapes
through the passage f into the chamber f', and thence through the passage h
to the outlet, thereby relieving the pressure from the top of the part c¹ of the
valve c, the pressure of the fluid will then act on the under side of the part c¹,
and raise the valve c, whence it will pass out through the valve or tap until

page_text: the passage that leads from the top of the chamber d is again closed by
the valve e.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
SYDNEY SMITH. (L.S.)