Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec., 1888
1 BENJAMIN RHODES of 240 Bow Road, London, E. in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Brassfounder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to that class of cocks and valves known as packed cocks and
valves and has for its object to ensure the protection of the packing materials employed
for such cocks and valves from the deterioration which results when said packing is
subjected to the action of certain vapours and liquids and also to prevent the metal
faces of the working parts of cocks and valves of the class above referred to becoming
corroded by the packing material when same, as is usually the case, is in direct
contact with the metal. For instance, where asbestos is used as the packing material
this substance from its great affinity to moisture is found in practice to produce the
corroding effect last referred to.
The "Asbestos compound" described in the specification of my invention, Patent
No. 1334 of 1879 has been found of very great value when applied to packed cocks
and valves especially the latter-constructed in accordance with my inventions
Nos. 1107 of 1879 and 689 of 1884, in overcoming the disadvantages above described.
However, there are conditions under which it may be necessary to still further ensure
immunity from deterioration due to the two causes above set forth.
"
Now, in accordance with my present invention I envelope either wholly or in part
the packing material (and which latter has usually a certain amount of elasticity or
resilience) with a shield or capsule of "soft metal."-In some cases I may use a taper
strip or wedge piece of "soft metal" as the protective shield for the packing, or I
may arrange a piece of the "soft metal as a protection in front of the elastic packing,
said "soft metal" protecting pieces or shields being kept tight up to the face of the
plug of the cock: (in the case where the wedge piece is employed) by the gland or
glands at either end of the plug, a very slight turn of the gland or screw would suffice
for this purpose, and so serve to effectually take up or compensate for any reduction
due to wear between the working parts.

page_text: In some cases I fold up the packing to be protected in a thin covering of "soft
_metal" or I place it in a tubo of "soft metal" specially made to receive the
packing.
As a further modification to the foregoing, I employ a hollow plug which I cut
through the centro and fill the inside with. tho elastic packing; the plug is then
attached to the screw spindle by a collar or collars upon the end of the spindle which
acts or act upon a corresponding collar in the plug.
In the case of that class of cocks or valves known as sluice cocks or valves, I
form a ring of the clastic packing covered with the protective "soft metal" before
referred to which ring is held in its place by a centre plate having a bevelled edge
which forces the inner side of the ring against a corresponding bevelled edge at the
outside of the ring and so holds it in position. For ball or cistern cocks I employ with
the hollow ended plug a toothed sector or quadrant which is geared into a corresponding
toothed part of the valve plug or piston as near the centre as possible, by which
means the end of the piston is brought up to the seating with great ease and
certainty.
I do not confine myself to, nor do I specify, any particular "soft metal" or alloy of
metals; as, in practice the particular description of "soft metal" employed will
depend upon the purposes for which packed cocks and valves with the improvements
according to my Invention have to be used and more especially for instance when
required to resist the action of chemical fluids or vapours.
Dated this 6th day of February 1888.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I, BENJAMIN RHODES, of 240 Bow Road, London, Engineer, and Brassfounder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to that class of cocks and valves known as packed cocks and
valves, and has for its object to ensure the protection of the packing materials employed
for such cocks and valves from the deterioration which results when said packing is
subjected to the action of certain vapors and liquids, and also to prevent the metal
faces of the working parts of cocks and valves of the class above referred to becoming
corroded by the packing material when same, as is usually the case, is in direct
contact with the metal. For instance, where asbestos is used as the packing material,
this substance, from its great affinity to moisture, is found in practice to produce the
corroding effect last referred to.
The asbestos compound described in the Specification of my Invention, Patent
No. 1334 of 1879, has been found of very great value when applied to packed cocks
or valves, especially the latter, constructed in accordance with my Inventions
Nos. 1107 of 1879 and 689 of 1884, in overcoming the disadvantages above described.
There are conditions however, under which it may be necessary to still further ensure
immunity from deterioration due to the two causes above set forth.
In order that my Invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying two sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevational
view of one type of a screwdown cock or valve, the packing of which is provided with
the protective envelope above referred to. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of
same taken on line A. B. Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of a ball
cock or valve with the improvements according to my Invention to be hereinafter
more particularly described; Figure 4 is a sectional plan of a cock or valve showing
the method hereinafter further referred to which I adopt of enclosing the elastic or
resilient packing in tubes of soft metal. Figure 5 is a part sectional elevational view
of another type of screwdown cock or valve according to my Patent No. 1107 of
1879, showing the position of the protecting shield relatively to the seat of the cock
or valve; and Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view of a modification of the packed
valve illustrated in Figure 5, for valves of large diameter.
In carrying out my present Invention, I envelope, either wholly or in part, the
packing material B (which latter has usually a certain amount of elasticity or resilience)
with a shield or capsule A of soft metal as shown in the accompanying drawings, so
that when the cock or valve is closed, contact is made between two metal surfaces
instead of between the packing and metal seat of the cock or valve as hitherto.
In the case of the screwdown valves illustrated at Figures 1 and 2 in which plugs
are used, 1 employ a hollow plug C which I cut longitudinally through the centre c
and fill the interior thereof with the elastic packing B; the plug is then attached to

page_text: the screw spindle D by a collar or collars E upon the end of said spindle D, which acts
or act upon a corresponding collar Fin the plug C; the reduction by wear being com-
pensated by the pressure of the screw plug G against which the packing is impelled
on actuating the screw spindle D aforesaid, thus forcing out the hollow plug C against
the shell, and ensuring a tight joint.
As an alternative method to the foregoing, I may insert the olastic packing B in
tubes K (Figure 4) of soft metal specially prepared for the purpose; said packed
tubes being introduced into packing grooves formed in the shelf or plug of the cock
or valves aforesaid; or, instead of the tubes, I may enfold the clastic packing in a
thin covering of soft metal to serve as the protective shield.
In the application of my improvements to the screw down cocks or valves described
in my Patent No. 1107 of 1879 above referred to, 1 insert the elastic packing B,
in the recessed or chambered face of the valve H Figure 5, said packing boing
enveloped in a soft motal capsule, or protected by a soft metal shield A as shown.
The packing B and protective shield A-which are arranged parallel with the face of
the valve so as to present a flat surface-are secured to said valve by means of a screw
bolt I and washer or by equivalent means.
Instead however of disposing the packing and protective shield in the manner
last above described, I may as a modification theroof, in the case of valves of large
diameter, employ an enclosing disc, sheath, or casing of soft metal A so arranged as
to present a flat surface from the edge of the valvo J to a suitable point, as at a, from
which it tapers towards the contre, assuming a concave form as shown in Figure 6,
the packing and shield being held in position by the bridging piece or clamping
plate secured to the valve by the screws c or by equivalent means.
In adapting my improvements to ball or cistern cocks, I prefer to employ with a
hollow ended plug L Figure 3, a toothed sector or equivalent M, pivoted at its upper
extremity m and gearing with the toothed working centre n of the valve lever N,
by which means the piston or valve O is brought up to the seating with great case
and certainty; the packing of the valve being similar to that described and shown in
Figure 5.
As a modification of the arrangement of packing herein before described for screw
down valves, Figures 7 and 8 represent by sectional and plan views respectively a
convenient mode of carrying my Invention into practice; the ond of the plug H in
this case is screwed so as to take into the hollow annular cap or packing receptacle h,
around the base of the inner periphery of which latter is formed a ledge or slight
projection serving to receive the disc A of soft metal, which latter has superposed
thereon the resilient packing material B, kopt in position by the screwed end of the
plug Haforesaid.
"
I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the employment of any parti-
cular or special "soft metal' or alloys of metals, as I find in practice that the nature of
the "soft metal" employed will depend upon the purposes for which packed cocks and
valves to which the improvements according to my Invention are adapted—are to be
employed, and the more especially, when, for instance, they may be required to resist
the action of chemical fluids or vapors. Also instead of forming the protective
coverings, sheathings, or shields of "soft metal " as hereinbefore described, lumina or
sheets of mica might be substituted therefor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 wish it to be understood that
I am aware that attempts have been made to protect yarn packing with strips of brass,
and I do not make any claim to the use of brass or mere use of strips of metal, but
what I claim and desire secure by Letters Patent is :
First In packed cocks and valves the use of a metal covering or facing to, and in
combination with, a uniformly solid cushion, backing or packing, the whole however
sufficiently yielding or resilient to componsate for any mechanical inaccuracy in the
fitting of the parts when ander pressure, substantially as herein described and shown
in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Second: In packed cocks and valves the employment of metal tubes filled with a
solid yet slightly resilient or yielding packing, said tubes being inserted into the
packing grooves formed either in the shell or in the plug as may be preferred sub-
stantially as herein set forth.
Third: In packed cocks and valves, the hollow plug of soft metal cut in halves,
herein described and identified in Figure 1, filled with solid but resilient or yielding
packing, and mode of attaching same to the valvo spindle substantially as herein set
forth.
Fourth In ball or cistern cocks, the employment of a toothed sector gearing with
the toothed working centre of the valve lever, substantially as shown, and for the
purposes herein set forth.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.