IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' POMP VALVES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gwynne, of Hammersmith Iron Works, in the
County of Middlesex, and 89, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Engineer,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' POMP VALVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gwynne at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1881.
JOIN GWYNNE, of Hammersmith Iron Works, in the County of Middlesex,
and 89, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHIPS PUMP VALVES."
My improved ships' pump valve is designed to enable the pump to be placed
either in communication with the bilge or with the sea or other water outside the
ship or vessel, and also to preclude the possibility of the bilge being at any time
placed in direct communication through the valve with the sea or other water
outside the ship or vessel. The valve is of circular form in cross section, and so is
its containing shell, case, or box, from the circumference of which there run three
pipes or passages that communicate with the said shell, case, or box at equal
distances apart (or thereabouts); one communicates with the bilge, another
(through the "main sea valve") with the sea or other water outside the ship or
vessel, and the third with the ship's pump. The valve has a passage through it,
such that in one position of the valve communication is established between the
ship's pump and the bilge, at which time the port leading to the "main sea valve'
or exterior edge of the ship or vessel is closed, and in another position of the pump
valve communication is established between the ship's pump and the "main sea
valve" or water outside the ship or vessel, the port leading to the bilge being shut.
In a third position of the valve the pump is shut off from both the bilge and
the "main sea valve " or water outside the ship. The requisite changes of position
of the valve above mentioned are effected by moving the valve in a rotary sense,
but its movement is limited to less than one complete rotation in such manner as
Price G11

page_text: to preclude its ever assuming such a position as to establish communication between
the bilge and the "main sea valve "or passage leading to the exterior of the ship
or vessel below the water level.
One mode of imparting rotary movement to the valve, as above set forth, is by
a toothed sector operated by a worm worked by a spindle that may also operate
an indicator to show the position for the time being of the valve. The stops which
prevent the valve going beyond certain positions also serve to press the valve tight
against the strips or faces of the ports which it is desired to close.
The pump, which may be centrifugal, may be arranged to deliver to the condenser,
thence overboard or overboard direct. In carrying out my Invention, as above set
forth, the details may obviously be more or less varied to suit the circumstances of
particular applications.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Gwynne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th May
1882.
JOHN GWYNNE, of Hammersmith Iron Works, in the County of Middlesex,
and S9, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHIPS' PUMP VALVES."
"
My improved ship's pump valve is designed to enable the pump to be placed
either in communication with the bilge or with the sea or other water outside the
ship or vessel, and also to preclude the possibility of the bilge being at any time
placed in direct communication through the valve with the sea or other water
outside the ship or vessel. The valve is of circular form in cross section, and so is
its containing shell, case, or box, from the circumference of which there run three
pipes or passages that communicate with the said shell, case, or box, at equal
distances apart (or thereabouts); one communicates with the bilge, another
(through the "main sen valve") with the sea or other water outside the ship or
vessel, and the third with the ship's pump. The valve has a passage through it,
such that in one position of the valve communication is established between the
ship's pump and the bilge, at which time the port leading to the "main sea valve "
or exterior of the ship or vessel is closed, and in another position of the pump
valve communication is established between the ship's pump and the "main sca
valve or water outside the ship or vessel, the port leading to the bilge being shut.
In a third position of the valve the pump is shut off from both the bilge and the
"main sea valve" or water outside the ship. The requisite changes of position of
the valve above mentioned are effected by moving the valve in a rotary sense, but
its movement is limited to less than one complete rotation in such manner as to
preclude its ever assuming such a position as to establish communication between
the bilge and the "main sea valve" or passage leading to the exterior of the ship
or vessel below the water level.
"
One mode of imparting rotary movement to the valve, as above set forth, is by
a toothed sector operated by a worm worked by a spindle that may also operato
an indicator to show the position for the time being of the valve. The stops which
prevent the valve going beyond certain positions also serve to press the valve tight
against the strips or faces of the ports which it is desired to close.
The pump, which may be centrifugal, may be arranged to deliver to the
condenser, thence overboard, or overboard direct. In carrying out iny Invention
as above set forth the details may obviously be more or less varied to suit the
circumstances of particular applications.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the
application of a ship's valve according to this Invention to the suction branch of a
centrifugal circulating pump, and Figs. 3 and 4 are sections through such a valve
shewing it in its two extreme positions. The valve has three branches or orifices,
of which A is connected to the sea or water outside the ship or vessel, B to the
bilge, and the third to the pump, which discharges by the pipe C either to the
condenser or overboard, the direction of its discharge being governed by another valve
of the same kind as that applied to the inlet or suction side of the pump. In the
position of the valve shewn in Figs. 1 and 3, the connection with the bilge is open
and the connection with the sea shut off. In Fig. 4, this disposition is reversed.
On each end of the valve are two stops 1 and 3, and on the inner side of each
cover are also two stops 2 and 4. When the valve is turned so as to connect it to the
bilge, its rotation is arrested as soon as it is full open by the stop 1 meeting with
the stop 2. From the form of these stops a wedging action takes place that forces
the valve against the orifice A so as to make a tight joint. When the valve is
turned in the opposite direction its motion is arrested as soon as it is full open

page_text: to the sea or water outside the ship or vessel by the stops and 4, which wedge
the valve against the inlet B. This arrangement enables the plug of the valve
to be made cylindrical, hence it is easily moved and is not liable to become set
fast.
When the valve is in the mid position, that is, when both the bilge and the sea
are cut off from the pump no wedging action takes place. A conical plug with
adjustable screw pivot to raise the plug can however be used if desired in place
of the cylindrical valve in conjunction with the stop arrangement. Upon the
spindle of the valve is a toothed segment gearing with a worm worked by a vertical
shaft and a hand wheel. The same motion which moves the valve operates an
indicator D which shews the position of the valve at all times. This arrangement
is adapted for working valves of large size. Smaller valves may be worked by a
common lever and sector with a locking screw; Fig. 5 shews in section two ship's
valves according to this Invention combined in one chest, the arrangement being
designed to take the place of four ordinary valves.
When a pair of pumping engines is fitted as already referred to, one or both of
such engines may be wanted at one time for circulating; at another time one or
both may be required at a moment's notice to discharge a quantity of water from
the bilge overboard, or at another time one may have to be used to circulate
whilst the other is pumping overboard from the bilge. The double valve enables
this to be done very conveniently; the branches A and B, Fig. 5, are connected
respectively to the delivery of the forward and to that of the after circulating
pump; C is the delivery into the condenser; D, the delivery overboard without
passing through the condenser. In the Fig. both valves are shewn in such position
that both pumps may deliver into the condenser, but both valves can obviously be
reversed so as to deliver overboard direct at any moment, the suctions-of-the-pump-
being diverted by similar valves from the sea to the bilge; or as already stated one
may draw from the bilge and throw overboard direct, while the other puts its
water through the condenser. In many other positions on board ship, double and
single valves according to the Invention will be found of great service in providing
proper passages for water moving at high velocities, and in cheapening and
simplyfying pipe arrangements by obviating the use of expensive copper bends
and T pieces.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed, I would have it understood that what I consider to bo
novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me by the Letters Patent
hereinbefore in part recited is,―
1. In a valve of the kind hereinabove described, whose casing or shell is
provided with two inlets and one outlet, the use of stops so arranged as to prevent
the possibility of the two inlets being put in communication with each other, and
to wedge or force the valve when in its extreme positions against the inlet that is
closed, substantially as described.
2. The combination of parts constituting the improved valve with wedge like
stops, constructed, arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference
to Figs. 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
3. The modification shewn in and described with reference to Fig. 5 of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gwynne, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand