provements in or relating to Valves for Street Hydrants, Steam, or other purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to Valves for Street Hydrants, Steam,
or other purposes.
We, TOBIAS O'HARA of 115 Everton Terrace, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, and JAMES ROBERT ASHMORE, and THOMAS ASHMORE,
the two latter trading as the Firm of J. R. & T. Ashmore, at 85 Westmoreland
Place, Liverpool aforesaid Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an improved valve and will be found more
particularly useful with reference to street bydrant or similar valves which are
manufactured in quantity of uniform pattern. We believe that valves constructed
according to this invention can be easily and cheaply made and will possess
advantages which are absent from those commonly in use.
The invention is not confined to the class of valve mentioned above as our
valves are applicable to other situations. Ou main water pipes of large diameter
they will we believe be found very convenient and easily operated and we also
contemplate their use on steam pipes and may vary the details where necessary to
meet the requirements of different circumstancos.
We will first describe a street hydrant valve constructed according to our
invention. The main portion is of cast iron and comprises vertical inlet and outlet
passages connected by a short transverse passage in which the valve proper is
situated. The corners are smoothly rounded to facilitate the flow of water. Above
the transverse passage and alongside the vertical outlet is the valve box into which
the valve is raised when open.
The
We provide a cast iron cover which is bolted on in the usual manner.
cover has two perforations one of which coincides with the outlet and carries a
brass or other union for use in attaching a stand pipe, hose, &c., and the other
forms a stuffing box for the valve spindle. The undor surface of the cover is
preferably turned or machined in such manner as to leave a bead or flange to fit
round the inside edge of the valve box and thus secure a true fit. The valve
proper is preferably of brass, cast hollow, and is of conical shape, base upwards.
It is guided and supported on a central spindle which rests in a footstep bearing in
the bottom of the main casing and passes through the gland above as before
described terminating outside in a squared or other shaped end for engaging a
turnkey. A small flange on the spindle rests and turns against the under face of
the top cover to prevent the former rising in place. The valve being hollow
embraces the spindle at top and bottom only. The top is tapped and meshes with
a screw thread on the spindle while the bottom is plain and slides up and down a
cylindrical part at the lower end of the spindle which thus serves as a guide and a
stay therefor.
A feather or projection is provided at one or more points on the valve and slides
in grooves in the casing and thus prevents it turning. It is a great advantage to
employ a spindle centrally situated within the valve as the power is directly applied
in the line of travel.
In some valves hitherto employed the vertical push or pull is at one side of the

page_text: valve and this entails à great liability to twisting and side pressure on the spindle.
The valve seat is of similar shape to the valve being a couical recess bored out in
the transverse portion of the casing.
A conical sleeve of rubber woodite, gutta percha, or similar packing is carried
by the valve and when the latter is screwed down makes a tight joint with the
seat.
The pressure of the flow is mostly taken up by the central spindle and this
is of special advantage in wash out valves where the force is mostly on one side
though at the same time directly the flow is started the said pressure is eased by
reason of the water getting to the rear side thereof. One important feature of
this invention is that the flow of fluid takes place all round the valve and not
underneath, or at one side, only, as in some, forms hitherto used. This construction
tends to equalize the strain on the various parts instead of causing it to be
concentrated at one place. Another advantage is that the flow is very direct, oven,
and free from eddies. Another important advantage of this valve lies in the fact
that the valve and chamber being cylindrical it allows more room for examination
and repair than is the case in wedge valves in which the space is more confined
especially at the bottom. A valve constructed according to this invention may in
most cases be repaired on spot and should the surface of the seat be damaged it
may be refaced without removal. This valve is very simple to manufacture and
may be cheaply produced. A small hole is made in the partition between the
valve box and the outlet so that in case of frost it serves as a vent and checks the
tendency to bursting which might otherwise exist. When used for steam or other
fluid which would affect the, soft lining we may cause to metal valve to be made to
fit its seat direct.
We do not confine ourselves to the exact details of construction or materials
mentioned.
Dated this 21st day of March 1896.
CHARLES COVENTRY,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Valves for Street Hydrants, Steam,.
or other purposes.
We TOBIAS O'HARA of 115 Everton Terrace and JAMES ROBERT ASHMORE
and THOMAS ASHMORE, the two last trading as the Firm of J. R. and T. Ashmore
of 85 Westmoreland Place, both in Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Engineers,
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 :-
Our invention has for its object an improved valve and will be found more
particularly useful with reference to street hydrant or similar valves which are
manufactured in quantity of uniform pattern. Valves constructed according to
this invention can be easily and cheaply manufactured and possess advantages
which are absent from those commonly in use. Qur invention is not confined
exclusively to the class of valve inentioned above as our valves are applicable with
advantage to other situations on main water pipes of large diameter they will be
found very convenient and easily operated, and we also may employ them on steam
pipes. The details of construction will vary slightly to meet the requirements of
different circumstances as hereafter more particularly pointed out..

page_text: Referring to the drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a section through a street hydraat valve constructed in accordance
with our invention.
Fig. 2. is a plan.
Fig. 3. a section on line x-x.
A. indicates the main portion or casting of the device.
It is divided into.
3 chambers or passages, viz. -the inlet passage B, the outlet passage C, and B.
middle chamber or valve box D. The valve E, when closed rosts in its seat.
between the two passages B & C, & forms a tight joint or barrier between them.
The corners are smoothly rounded off to facilitate the flow of fluid.
The cover F, is also of cast iron and is held in place by the bolts f. Cover F is.
chambered or perforated in two places as shown at F F. The perforation F¹.
coincides with the outlet passage C and carries a brass or other union G. for use in
attaching a hose, standpipe, or other device. The other perforation Facts as a
stuffing box for the valve spindle J & has a gland H. The undersurface of the
cover Fis machined or turned & has a bead or flange f which forms a good fit.
with the inside of the box D and thus secures that the said cover when in place
shall occupy its proper position relative to the casting A. The valve proper E, is.
of brass, cast hollow, and is of conical shape as shown. It is guided and supported
on a central spindle J which rests at its lower end in a footstep bearing K in the
main casting A. The upper end of spindle J passes through the valve box D &
gland H & terminates in a squared end for engaging a turnkey. A small flange j
on spindle J rests & turns against the under face of top cover F & thus prevents.
the spindle J from rising.
The valve E being hollow embraces the spindle J at top & bottom only as
clearly shown in Fig. 1. The top portion is tapped internally & moshes with a
screw thread L on spindle J while the bottom part is plain & slides up or down
the plain part at lower end of spindle J which thus serves as a guide and stay
therefor. One or more ribs or feathers M on the valve slide freely in corre
sponding slots in the side of the valve box & thus prevent valve E from turning.
(See Fig. 3.)
We wish to point out that it is a great advantage to have spindle J situated
centrally within the valve E as the power for moving it up or down is applied in a.
direct line with the line of its travel. In some valves hitherto employed the
vertical push or pull is at one side of the valve & this entails a great liability to
side strain & twisting on the spindle. The valve sent is of corresponding shape to.
the valve, being a conical recess bored out in that part of the casing immediately
below the valve box which lies between the inlet & outlet passages B & C. It may
be provided with a renewable liner of brass or iron. A sleeve I of rubber, woodite,
gutta-percha or other suitable packing is carried by the valve E & when the latter
18 screwed down makes a tight joint with the sent. A small hole a is made in the
partition between the valve box D & outlet C & in case of frost it serves as a vent.
to the former & checks the tendency to bursting which might exist. The action of
opening & closing the valve will be readily understood. The turning of the
spindle J causes the valve E to travel up or down thereon by means of the screwed
portion thus opening or shutting off communication between the inlet & outlet.
passages B&C. When the device is opened to its fullest extent the valve E will
lie entirely within the valve box D.
It will be noted that in use the pressure of the flowing water against the valve is
mostly taken up the central spindle J & this is of special importance in "washout "
valves where the force is mostly at one side thereof, though after the flow is
once fairly started the pressure is eased by reason of the water getting to the
rear side.
An important feature of our invention is that the flow of water takes place all
round the valve E and not underneath, or at one side, only as in some forms.
hitherto in use. Our construction tends to equalize the strain on the various parts

page_text: instead of allowing it to be concentrated in one direction, or place, only. We find
that the flow is very direct, even, & free from internal eddying.
Another important advantage lies in the fact that the form of valve and valve
box being cylindrical, allows more space for examination and repair than is the case
with wedge valves where the space is more confined especially at the bottom. With
our valve repairs may in most cases be effected on the spot and should the surface
of the valve seat become worn or damaged it may be refaced or relined without
removal of the apparatus. When used for stenin or other fluid which would
deleteriously affect the soft lining we may cause the metal valve to fit the seat
direct. In that case the outer surface of the valve will require to be turned up,
whereas in the example shown in the drawing it may be left in the rough
without fine finish. Our valve may be used horizontally or in other position if
required.
We do not confine ourselves to the materials or precise details of construction
above mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
1. A valve such as described having inlet and outlet passages, a valve E situated
between said passages, a spindle situated centrally with respect to said valve E, and
a valve box F all arranged substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.
2. In a street hydrant or similar valve the spindle J situated centrally within and
adapted to raise the valve E from its seat, or to lower same, by means of a push or
pull directly in its line of travel, substantially as described.
3. The combination of inlet and outlet passages with a conical valve between
them, and a valve box directly above said box, and cover F having stuffing box F
directly over the centre of the valve E substantially as described and for the
purposes set forth.
4. The combination and arrangement forming our improved valve, taken as a
whole, substantially as & for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 19th day of January 1897.
CHAS. COVENTRY,
Applicants' Agent.