Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling Valves, and for other purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar.. 1894
[Communicated from abroad by THE STANDARD VALVE COMPANY, a Corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Illinois, United States
of America, and having its principal place of business at the City of Chicago,
in the State of Illinois aforesaid.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling Valves, and for other
purposes.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 invention has for its object primarily to provide an improved apparatus in
which a differential piston is employed for the purpose of controlling a valve or for
transmitting movement to a part or mechanism to which it is desired to communicate
the movement of the piston. This object of invention is accomplished by
permanently protecting a portion of one side of the piston against force being
exerted thereon by the fluid pressure to which said side of the piston is exposed, so
that the area upon the unprotected side of said piston shall at all times be greater
than the area exposed to the pressure upon the opposite side, and by providing
suitable channels whereby the fluid under pressure is admitted to both ends of the
cylinder and whereby a free escape of fluid may be had to a point beyond the
influence of said fluid pressure from that end of the cylinder to which
the permanently larger area of the piston is exposed, and by providing a suitable
escape valve for controlling said escape of fluid from said cylinder; and by
providing certain features of improvement all of which will be hereinafter fully
described and illustrated in the drawings accompanying this Specification. In the
accompanying drawing the invention is shown only as applied for the purpose of
controlling a valve that is connected to the rod or trunk of the piston, but it is
manifest that this is but one of the uses to which the invention is applicable, and
that the invention may be used for a variety of other purposes, as will hereinafter
more fully appear.
Fig. 1 is a view in central section through the casing and contained parts, certain
parts being shown in elevation.
Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the parts at one end of the casing.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the ring whereby the relief valve is held in place.
A designates the main body or casing of the apparatus that is provided with the
usual inlet 2 and outlet 3. The ends of the casing A are furnished with the
heads B and C, the construction of which will hereinafter more fully appear.
Across the casing A extends the web a within which is formed an opening 4 for the
passage of fluid through the casing, the edges of this opening 4 forming a seat for the
valve D. The valve D is carried by the trunk or rod d of the piston E that moves
within an appropriate cylinder. The outer end of the rod d extends through the
head B of the casing and through a stuffing-box 5 that is fitted with the gland 6
and cover 7 of usual or suitable construction. The pistou E has preferably upon
its outer face an annular flange or projection e adapted to enter the space el between
the wall of the casing A and the inwardly extending portion of the head C.
Through the piston E is formed a port 8 for the passage of fluid from the main

page_text: portion of the casing to the outer face of the piston and in the casing head C is.
formed a port or channel 9 whereby fluid may pass to the space el formed between
the body of the casing A. and the raised portion of the casing head C, the purpose
of this port or channel being to secure fluid pressure upon the full area of that side
of the piston E. In the casing head C is formed an escape port 10 having a
seat 11 to receive the escape valve F that controls the passage of fluid through the
escape port. The valve F is held loosely upon the reduced end of the rod that
projects inwardly from a piston F. This piston F is held in manner free to move
within the cylinder 13 formed in the casing head C and from the outer side of the
piston F1 extends the piston rod f' through the stuffing box G that is furnished
with the cover 15 and gland 16. The casing head C is provided with a port or
channel 17 leading to the cylinder 13 upon the outer side of the piston F¹. Inas-
much as the valve F is loosely held upon the stem, the retaining ring 20
(see Fig. 3) is used to guard this valve against slipping off the stem, this retaining
ring being formed with ports to permit the free passage of fluid beneath the same
and into the channel 10.
The rod d of the piston E is preferably perforated from end to end and through
this rod extends the plunger H, the head of which is surrounded by a packing 21
to secure a tight joint as the plunger is moved back and forth within the stem.
The plunger H is preferably somewhat longer than the rod d and is adapted to
enter a socket 23 formed on the inner end of the threaded spindle K that passes
through a correspondingly threaded opening formed in the yoke or bracket L that
is bolted to and projects from the casing head B, the outer end of this spindle K
being fitted with a hand-wheel by which the spindle can be turned. Within the
socket 23 of the spindle K is preferably placed a cushion 24 of soft rubber over
which are placed the metal washers 25 and 26 this cushion and these washers being
retained in place by screw 29.
From the construction of parts thus far defined it will be seen that if the valve D
be in position shown in Fig. 1, fluid can pass freely through the casing by way of
the port or opening 4, and it will be seen also that fluid passing freely through the
port 8 exerts pressure upon both faces of the piston E; but as this piston is a differential
piston, and exposes a larger area to the fluid pressure upon its outer than upon its
inner face, it follows that the excess pressure (due to excess area) upon the extreme
end or outer face of the piston, serves to retain the piston E and valve D in retracted
position shown in Fig. I so long as a substantially equal fluid pressure per square
inch exists on both sides of the piston. If, now, it is desired to close the valve D
it is only necessary to force inward the piston F1 so as to cause the stem f to lift
the valve F from its seat and thereby uncover the escape port 10 and so relieve the
pressure upon that side of the piston E. The pressure being thus relieved upon
the outer face of the piston E, the pressure upon the opposite face of the piston
although acting upon its smaller area, will cause this piston to move in the direction
of the arrow Fig. 1, until the valve D is closed against its seat and thus prevent
the further passage of fluid through the port 4.
By providing the piston E with the annular extension or rim e the stroke of the
piston is cushioned, since as it moves inward it compresses the fluid within the
annular space between the casing A and the raised portion c of the casing head C.
When the piston E thus moves inward so as to close the valve D and cut off
passage of fluid through the casing, the plunger H is in retracted position seen in
Fig. 1 and consequently while in such position the head of the plunger does not
contact with the release valve F, but allows this valve to remain open. If, now,
the hand-wheel k be turned so as to force inward the spindle K, the inner end of
the spindle will contact with the outer end of the plunger H and thereby force this
plunger to firmly press the escape valve F against its seat, when this valve F will
be held by suitable mechanism to be hereinafter described.
When the escape
valve F is thus closed and held against its seat and the escape through the casing
hend C is closed, the fluid, (passing freely through the port 8 of the piston E)
exerts an excess pressure upon the outer face of the piston E tending to force this

page_text: piston back to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, but this backward movement of
the piston is resisted by the spindle K. It is manifest, however, that as soon as the
spindle K is withdrawn by turning its hand-wheel k the excess pressure upon the
outer face of the piston E will force the piston E and the valve D to the position
seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings and thus again permit the free passage of fluid
through the casing.
In order to enable the release valve F to be controlled from a distance, so that
the valve D can be instantly closed from a point more or less remote, I prefer to
employ the mechanism next to be described: Upon the threaded outer end of the
rod fits a threaded sleeve P having trunnions p projecting therefrom, this sleeve
being preferably fixed in position by a jamb-nut as shown. With the trunnions p
engage the yoke-shaped ends of a lever R that is journalled upon the pin 31
projecting through the extensions 32 of the casting S that is bolted to the outer
face of the casing head C. Preferably the casting S is formed of two side portions
of like shape united together by the webs 34 and 35, see Fig. 2. The upper end of
the lever R is formed with a hooked end to engage the shorter end of an elbow
lever T that is pivotally mounted upon a stud 35 that extends between the side
plates of the casting S. The longer arm of the elbow lever T extends into
position to engage an off-set or shoulder projecting from the armature lever V
that is pivoted upon a pin 38 extending between the side plates of the casting S.
The armature lever V is preferably an elbow lever and its shorter end carries a
counter-weight 40 which serves to normally hold the armature lever in retracted
position. The hooked end of the lever R and the arms of the lever T are
preferably provided with inserted steel bearing pieces 42 to avoid frictional wear
and for like reason the shoulder or off-set of the armature lever V will be of steel
or like hard metal. The upper end of the armature lever V carries an armature VI
extending into proximity to an electro-magnet W that is suitably mounted within
a casing X conveniently attached to the flange of the casing and from this electro-
magnet will extend wires that will connect with the battery and with suitable
switches and push-buttons whereby the magnet may be energized when desired.
In order to determine with exactness the movement of the armature lever V and
the elbow lever T there is provided an adjusting screw 50 and an adjusting screw 52.
The adjusting serew 50 passes through the upright portion of the bridge plate 51
and has its end extending into position to determine the extent of the backward
movement of the armature lever V. The adjusting screw 52 passes downward
through a threaded hole in the plate 51 into position to determine the extent of
movement of the elbow lever T and preferably a jamb-nut having a handle 53 is
employed for holding the screw 52 in accurate position.
From the foregoing it will be seen that when the magnet W is energized the
armature V will be attracted thereby causing the shoulder of the armature lever
to release the elbow lever T and when the elbow lever T is thus released the
pressure of fluid upon the outer end of the piston F will force this piston inward
and thereby lift the release valve F from its seat. This lifting of the valve F
from its seat will permit a free escape of fluid from the cylinder of the piston E
and will enable pressure of fluid upon the inner face of the piston E to force the
piston in the direction of the arrow, Fig. I so as to close the valve D against its
seat in manner hereinbefore described. It will be understood however, that so long
as the armature lever V is in engagement with the elbow lever T the relief valve F
will be held by fluid pressure to its seat and prevent the escape of fluid from the
cylinder of the piston E.
It will be seen that while in the accompanying drawing the invention is shown as
applied for controlling a valve, it may obviously be employed for other purposes.
Thus for example if it be assumed that the piston E is enclosed within a suitable
cylinder to which fluid under pressure is admitted by a convenient port or channel
the back and forth movement that will be imparted to the rod d of the piston can
be transmitted from the outer end of this rod to any suitable apparatus and for any

page_text: desired purpose to which it is applicable. When the piston rod d is thus to be used
for transmitting movement to some desired part, it is not necessary that the
plunger H nor the hand-wheel / nor the yoke L should be employed and in certain
constructions to which the invention has been applied these features are omitted.
So also in some instances a simple plug valve may be used for controlling the
escape of fluid from the cylinder of the piston E. While therefore the invention is
especially well adapted for controlling a valve as shown in the drawing it is
intended to include constructions in which the valve is omitted and in which a
differential piston adapted to operate substantially as herein before described is
employed to transmit movement to any part that it is desired to move. It is
manifest also that the details of the structure may be varied and parts may be
omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder, a piston
within said cylinder, one side of said piston having a portion of its area permanently
protected against force being exerted directly or indirectly thereon by the fluid
pressure to which said side of the piston is exposed, whereby the area upon the
unprotected side of said piston is at all times greater than the area exposed to
direct or indirect pressure upon the opposite side, suitable channels being provided
whereby fluid under pressure may be admitted to both ends of said cylinder and
whereby a free escape of fluid may be had to a point beyond the influence of said
fluid pressure from that end of the cylinder to which the permanently larger area of
the piston is exposed; and a suitable valve for controlling said escape of fluid
from said cylinder; whereby when said controlling valve is opened, the pressure
upon the larger area of the piston will be so reduced as to permit the pressure upon
the opposite side to cause movement of the piston towards the end of the cylinder
from which said escape occurs, and whereby when said controlling valve is closed
and pressure is allowed to accumulate against the larger area of the piston, the
difference in area of the two sides of the piston will cause the shifting of said
piston in opposite direction against an equal Huid pressure per square inch upon its
smaller area.
2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder having
channels whereby fluid under pressure may be admitted to both ends of said
cylinder, a differential piston within said cylinder, one side of said piston having
connected thereto a rod or trunk, the end of which is permanently protected
against the effect thereon of the fluid pressure to which said side of the piston is
exposed, whereby said piston is at all times subjected to fluid pressure acting upon
different effective areas on its opposite sides; said cylinder being provided at the
end opposite the larger area of the piston with an escape channel leading through
the wall of the cylinder to a point beyond the influence of the fluid pressure and
with a controlling valve for said channel; whereby when said controlling valve is
opened a free escape of fluid may be had from said cylinder to a point beyond the
influence of the fluid pressure more rapidly than fluid under pressure is admitted
to the end of the cylinder from which said escape occurs, and whereby when said
controlling valve is closed and pressure is allowed to accumulate against the larger
area of the piston, the difference in area upon opposite sides of said piston, although
exposed to like fluid pressure, will cause the shifting of said piston in opposite
direction against the pressure on its smaller area.
3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a delivery pipe
having a port for the passage therethrough of fluid from one section of said pipe to
the other section thereof, of a cylinder connected to said pipe, a differential piston
within said cylinder, said piston being provided with an operating trunk or rod
having a valve for controlling said port by which fluid passes between the sections

page_text: of said pipe, said trunk or rod having an end extending beyond said valve and
permanently protected against access of fluid pressure thereto at all times, suitable
ports or channels being provided whereby fluid under pressure will pass from said
pipe to both sides of said piston, said cylinder having formed in its wall adjacent
the larger area of the piston an escape port to permit a free exhaust of fluid, and a
valve for controlling said escape port; whereby when said valve is open a free
escape of fluid from that part of the cylinder opposite the larger area of the piston
will be had to permit the movement of the piston in one direction and whereby when.
said escape port is closed and fluid is allowed to accumulate within that part of the
cylinder opposite the larger area of the piston, a reverse movement of the piston
will be effected, substantially as described.
4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a casing having a port, 4,.
therein for the passage of fluid through said casing, and having a cylinder and a
differential piston, E, within said cylinder, said piston being provided with a trunk
or rod, d, that is permanently protected against access of fluid pressure on its outer
end, a valve connected to said trunk or rod, d, for closing the port, 4, an escape
port or channel in the end of the cylinder opposite the larger area of the piston, a
release valve for controlling said escape port and an electro-magnet and suitable
intermediate mechanism for controlling said release valve, substantially as described..
5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder and a
differential piston within said cylinder, an escape port for said cylinder provided
with an escape valve, an electro-magnet for controlling said escape valve and
suitable means for determining the extent of movement of the armature of said
magnet, substantially as described.
6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder with ports
whereby fluid may be admitted to both ends of said cylinder and with an escape
passage whereby fluid may escape from one end of said cylinder, a valve for
controlling said escape passage, a differential piston within said cylinder provided
with an annular flange or rim, and an annular space at the end of said cylinder
into which said flange or rim of the piston will enter, substantially as described.
7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination with a
cylinder, of a differential piston within said cylinder, an escape passage for fluid at
the end of said cylinder opposite the larger area of said piston, an escape valve, F,
for controlling said escape passage and a supplemental piston, F¹, for operating said
valve, F, substantially as described.
8. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder, a differential
piston within said cylinder, an escape passage in one end of said cylinder whereby
fluid may escape therefrom, a release valve, F, for controlling said escape passage,
a hollow trunk or rod, d, connected to said piston, E, and a plunger passing through
said trunk or rod, d, and said piston, E, and arranged to close said escape valve, F,
substantially as described.
9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder, a differential
piston, E, within said cylinder and provided with a hollow trunk or rod, d, a
plunger, H, passing through said trunk or rod, a spindle, K, for operating said
plunger, and a release valve, F, at the end of said cylinder opposite the head of
said plunger, whereby said release valve may be closed by said plunger, substantially
as described.
10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder, a
differential piston, E, within said cylinder, an escape valve, F, for controlling the
escape of fluid from said cylinder, a piston, F, for shifting said escape valve, F, a
lever, R, connected to the red of said piston, F, an elbow lever, T, an armature
lever, V, for engaging said elbow lever and an electro-magnet for releasing said
elbow lever, substantially as described.
11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cylinder, a differential
piston within said cylinder, suitable ports whereby fluid under pressure may be
admitted to both sides of said piston, a trunk or rod for said piston extending
outside the casing, a spindle K adapted to contact with said trunk or rod, an escape

page_text: port whereby the release of fluid from one end of said cylinder may be had and a
release valve for controlling said escape port of the cylinder, substantially as
described.
Dated this 30th day of January 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.