VAL
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan.,
1895
THE VALVE.
The valve casing preferably consists of three parts, 1, 2 and 3, secured together
by any suitable means, as for example, by bolts passing through flanges on their
meeting edges. The part 1 has an opening 4, which communicates with the water
supply pipe, and constitutes the inlet of the valve casing. It has also a hand hole
closed by a removable screw plug 5, and a drain opening 6. The part 3 has an
opening 7, which communicates with the distributing pipe of the system and con-
stitutes the outlet of the casing. It has also two hand holes closed by removable
screw plugs, 8 and 9, respectively.
Figure 5 shows an axial section of a ring made of flexible sheet metal and having
its inner margin a reflexed. This reflexed portion may be dressed to form a valve
seat, or a valve seat may be secured to it. As shown in this figure the ring is made
of a single piece of metal, and while this may be done, I prefer to make it of two
pieces, secured together in some suitable manner. In Figure 1, 10 and 11 are two
annular plates, each having its inner margin slightly reflexed, so that the one fits
snugly over the other, said margins being firmly united in some suitable way,

page_text: ་
(preferably brazed or soldered) so that the two plates become practically a single
element, or ring A, the reflexed margin a of which is formed by the plate 11. The
outer margin of the ring is clamped between the parts 2 and 3 of the casing, while
its inner reflexed margin is provided with a short flange 12, which constitutes the
seat proper of a valve 15. When the ring A is thus secured in place it performs
the double office of a diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into two
chambers, X and Y, and a yielding support for the seat of the valve 15. This
valve is concave on its top side, and has a stern 16 loosely fitting in a closed
socket 17, formed for it in a longitudinally movable stem 18. This stem 18 fits in
and is guided by a short sleeve 19 supported by radiating arms 20, the outer ends
of which join a ring 21, which is secured to the part 3 of the casing. The lower
open end of the stem 18 is secured to a corrugated diaphragm 22, the outer margin
of which is secured to a raised portion of the valve 15.
In the under side of the valve 15 is an annular groove or rabbet, in which fits
a packing ring 23 clamped between the said valve and the base of an inverted
hollow cone 25, the truncated end of which is provided with a hemispherical
socket 26, and within which is a central stem 27 tapped into the under side of
the valve.
Between the parts 1 and 2 is clamped the marginal ring of a spider which
comprises a central sleeve 28, arms 29 radiating therefrom, a ring 30, arms 31
radiating therefrom, and the marginal ring 32. To this spider is bolted a hollow
dome 33, the lower margin of which rests upon the ring 30. Between the dome
and ring is clamped the outer margin of a flexible ring A¹, the inner margin a¹ of
which is reflexed and provided with a seat 38 for a valve 39. This ring may be
constructed of a single piece of metal, or of two separate annular plates 34 and 35,
secured together as already described with reference to the plates 10 and 11. The
valve 39 is located in the chamber Z of the dome and is secured to a stem 40 which
passes through and is guided by the sleeve 28. To this stem is also secured a
valve 41 which is located in the chamber Y and when resting upon its seat 42 closes
the inlet 4.
Through the top of the dome 33 is an opening, and in this opening is screwed n
ring 43 upon which is formed a seat for a valve 44, and with which is cast a
spider 45 supporting a central sleeve 46, through which the stem 47 of said valve
passes and by which said stem is guided. The top side of the valve 44 is hemi-
spherical and normally fits in a corresponding socket 26 formed for it in the cone 25.
The full lines in Figure 1 show the parts in the positions that they occupy when
the valve is set and in readiness for action. The air in the chamber X is under the
same pressure as the air in the distributing pipes of the system. The air in the
chamber Y is under atmospheric pressure, and the water in chamber Z is under
the same pressure as the water in the supply pipe, said chamber being in open
communication with said supply pipe through the passage-way 48 formed in the
valve stem 40. So long as the valve 44 remains seated, the downward pressure
upon the valve 39 will be in excess of the upward pressure, and the valve 41 will
be held seated with a force equal to this excess. It will be seen that the pressure
of the water on the under side of the valve 41 is transmitted to the valve 39 through
the stem 40 and that in addition to this upward pressure upon the said valve 39,
there is the upward pressure of the water beneath its periphery, and beneath the
reflexed margin a¹ of the ring A'. The whole of the upward pressure against the
margin a¹ does not reach the valve, as a portion of it is necessarily consumed in
deflecting the ring. With this construction, the pressure of the fluid in opposite
directions against the valve and its seat tends to force them towards each other,
and hence the greater the pressure the tighter will be the joint between them. With
the construction shown in the drawing, the seat may move to any extent to accon-
modate itself to the position of the valve and no amount of pressure upon said seat
can force it away from the valve. This is due to the fact that the support for the
seat extends inward from said seat and hence any fluid pressure upon said seat, or
its support tends to force the seat toward the valve. As shown in the drawing, the

page_text: reflexed inner margin of the ring constitutes the immediate support for said seat,
while the balance of the ring constitutes the support for this margin. It will be
seen that if all of this ring, except the reflexed inner margin were rigid, the same
results would follow, but to a less extent. I prefer that the whole ring should
yield, and in order to permit this, the ring 30 is chambered as shown at 36. Since
the water in the chamber Z is constantly in contact with and exerting an upward
pressure upon the bottom of the valve 44, as great a pressure is of course required
for holding said valve seated. The pressure for this purpose is derived from
the chamber X and transmitted to the valve 44 through the valve 15 and the
cone 25.
Normally the pressure in this chamber is sufficient to hold the valve 15 and its
accessories in the positions shown by full lines. Upon the firing of a head the
pressure decreases to such an extent that notwithstanding the greater superficial
area of the top side of the valve 15, as compared with the under side of the
valve 44, the pressure of the water against said valve 44 forces it up, the valve 15
and its accessories going with it. The water thereupon escapes from the chamber Z
and relieves the pressure upon the top side of the valve 39. There is then scarcely
any resistance to the upward movement of the valve 41, and so the pressure of the
water in the supply pipe carries it up to the position indicated by dotted lines (the
valve 39 going with it) uncovering the inlet and admitting water to the chamber Y.
The water rushes upward through this chamber, passing between the arms 31 of
the spider and into the chamber X and thence through the outlet 7 to the distributing
pipe. If the pressure of the water against the under side of the valve 44 was not
sufficient to carry the valve 15 and its accessories quite up to the positions indicated
by dotted lines, certainly the pressure of this great volume of water rushing through
the casing and impinging against the cone and the under side of the valve will be.
When in this position a latch 50 actuated by a spring 51 enters a notch 52 in the
stem 18 and holds the valve and its accessories in the dotted positions until an
attendant returns them. This may be done by removing the cap 8 giving access
to the interior of the chamber X, and withdrawing the latch by a pull upon its
stem 53.
As the parts move to the position shown by dotted lines an electrical alarm circuit
is closed by the following mechanism; 54 is an arm projecting from the stem 18
and having at its extremity a socket 55 in which fits a ball 56 carried at the end of
an arm 57 that projects from a shaft 58. To this shaft is secured a second arm 59
which carries a contact plate 60 with which the battery wire 60" is connected and
within the path travelled by this contact plate is located the second contact plate 61,
with which is connected the wire 61" including a fire alarm bell.
It sometimes happens that somewhere in the system there is a bad joint through
which a slight amount of air can escape; the leakage may be so slight as to require
a long time to produce any appreciable decrease in the pressure within the system,
but even with the slightest leakage, the pressure in the system will in time fall to
an ineffectual point. It is therefore desirable to provide every system with what is
known as a "low air alarm" and I have embodied one in the present apparatus.
The construction of some of the parts has already been described, and the other
parts will be understood from a description of its operation. When the parts are
on the positions shown by full lines in Figure 1, the first effect of a slight decrease
in the pressure in the chamber X is a rising of the diaphragm 22. The normal
shape of this diaphragm is flat (as shown by dotted lines) and it is only because of
the pressure upon it that it assumes approximately the shape of the top side of
the valve. Hence as the pressure decreases the diaphragm rises, independently
of the valve. In doing so it carries the stem 18 and its accessories up with it and
when it has regained its normal shape it will have lifted the stem 18 high enough
for the latch 50 to engage a notch 62 in the said stem and hold it. In rising the
stem carries with it the arm 54 and the upward movement of said arm moves the
arm 59 in the manner already described, only under the conditions now being
described it is not moved so far as when a head is fired. Under said conditions it

page_text: ok intact, out for the sake of greater security I prefer to solder
the plates together.
I desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited to any particular
number of corrugations. In Figures 8, 10 and 12 it is shown with transverse
corrugations throughout its entire length, while in Figures 7 and 11, the number
of its corrugations is reduced to a minimum.
The slot may be carried far enough to allow the passage of both levers, or a
separate opening may be made for one of said levers as shown by Figure 12. By
corrugating the plates, the solder joint between them is relieved of much of the
strain, and the keys make it impossible for the parts to separate so long as they
(the keys) remain intact, even if said solder joint should give way.
In Figure 8 a stem 82, having a sharp point 83 and a shoulder 84 projects from
the yoke 73. Upon the cylindrical part of this stem fits a disk 85, which is
provided with a central opening and a number of slits 86 radiating therefrom for
enabling it to be slipped past the shoulder 84. The tongues resulting from these
slits yield as they pass the shoulder and regain their original shapes after they
have passed it. 74 is the deflector having in its top side a circular rabbet in
which the disk 85 fits, said disk being secured therein by upsetting the metal
forming the margin of the rabbet and causing it to overlap the margin of the
disk. The deflector has in its top side a conical concavity which automatically
centres it upon the point of the stem 82 as soon as the force of the water coines
against it, there being a slight lost motion between the deflector and its stem, so
that when in operation the disk is clear of the flange and serves simply as a guide
for maintaining the deflector in proper position.
In Figure 8 the levers 76, instead of being fulcrumed against each other are
fulerumed to ears 87 that are formed on a collar that is screwed on to the nozzle,
and they bear against the cap, their upper ends being connected by the link 77.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a valve and a seat therefor, of a flexible ring carrying
the seat, said ring having a portion exposed to the pressure and so located that
the pressure forces it toward the valve, whereby the valve and seat are held
together, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the valve and a seat therefor, of a flexible ring carrying
said seat and extending inward beneath the valve, the valve being movable toward
and from the seat, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of a casing, a valve located therein, a flexible ring having its
inner margin reflexed, and a valve-seat carried by the reflexed portion of said ring,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a casing, a valve located therein, and a flexible valve
supporting ring, of means for adjusting the pressure of said ring against the valve,
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a casing, and a valve located therein, of the flexible
ring A, having the reflexed inner margin a, and the adjustable ring 64 bearing
against the ring A, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with a casing and a valve, of a flexible valve supporting
ring having its inner margin reflexed, said ring being formed of two annular plates
having their inner margins reflexed and secured together, substantially as set
forth.
7. The combination with two movable valves and a rigid stem connecting them,
of a seat for each of said valves, and a flexible ring carrying one of said seats and
extending inward beneath the valve, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination of a casing having an inlet and an outlet and having
chambers Y and Z, the latter being in open communication with the water
supply and having two openings, a valve controlled by the pressure in the system

page_text: for controlling one of said openings, a flexible ring forming a valve seat support
surrounding the other of said openings, a valve 39 located in the chamber Z
and resting upon eaid ring, a valve 41 located in chamber Y and closing the
inlet, and a stem connecting said valves, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination of a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and having
chambers Y and Z, the latter being in open communication with the water
supply and having two openings, a valve controlled by the pressure in the system
for controlling one of said openings, a flexible ring having a reflexed margin
surrounding the other of said openings, a valve 39 located in chamber Z and
resting upon said ring, a valve 41 located in chamber Y and closing the inlet,
and a stem connecting said valves, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination of a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and having
chambers Y and Z, the latter having two openings, a valve controlled by the
pressure in the system for controlling one of said openings, a flexible ring having
a reflexed margin surrounding the other of said openings, a valve 39 located
in chamber Z and resting upon said ring, a valve 41 located in chamber Y and
closing the inlet, and a hollow stem 40 connecting the valves 39 and 41 and
having a passage-way 48 communicating with the chamber Z and the inlet,
substantially as set forth.
11. The combination with a casing having the communicating chambers X
and Y, of a valve for controlling the opening through which they communicate,
a 'flexible diaphragm arranged on said valve so as to be movable independently
of it, an alarm mechanism, and suitable connections between said alarm mechanism
and diaphragm, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with a casing having the communicating chambers X
and Y and a valve for controlling the opening through which they communicate,
of a flexible diaphragm arranged on said valve, a stem to which said diaphragm
is secured, means for sustaining and guiding said stem, an aların mechanismu and
suitable connections between said stem and alarm mechanism, substantially as set
forth.
13. The combination of a casing having the communicating chambers X and Y,
a valve concave on its top side, controlling the opening through which said
chambers communicate, and having a guide stem 16, a flexible diaphragm secured
to the top side of said valve, a stem 18 having a closed bore in which the
stem 16 fits, the lower end of said stem 18 being secured to said diaphragm,
means for guiding the stem 18, an alarm mechanism, and means connecting the
alarm mechanism and diaphragm, substantially as set forth.
14. The combination of a casing having communicating chambers X and Y, the
valve 15, a flexible diaphragm carried by said valve, two separate alarme, means
actuated by the movement of the diaphragm for starting one of said alarms,
and means actuated by the movement of the valve for starting the other of
said alarms, substantially as set forth.
15. The combination with the casing having the communicating chambers ✗
and Y, the chamber X having an outlet and the chamber Y having an inlet,
the valve 15 controlling the opening through which said chambers communicate,
and the valve 44 controlling the inlet of the chamber Y, said valve 44 having
a spherical top, of a spherical socket 26 in which said valve 33 fits, and means
connecting said socket to the valve 15, substantially as set forth.
16. The combination of a casing having the chamber Y, the chamber Z located
therein and having two openings communicating with the chamber Y, a valve
controlled by the pressure in the system controlling one of said openings, an
outward seating valve located in the chamber and closing the other of said openings,
and a passage connecting said chamber with the water supply, substantially as set
forth.
17. The combination of the casing having an inlet and an outlet and having
communicating chambers X and Y, a valve 15 controlling the opening through
which they communicate, the dome 33 located in the chamber Y and having two

page_text: openings, the valve 44 cl sing one of said openings, a part extending from the
valve 15 to the valve 44, a valve 39 located in the chamber Z of the dome and
closing its second opening, a smaller valve 41 located in the chamber Y and
closing the inlet, and a stem connecting the valves 39 and 41, substantially as set
forth.
18. The combination with the casing having the chamber Y and the drain
pipe 66, of the valve casing 67, and the valve disk 68 situated therein and having
the spring tongues 69 beut downward and resting upon the casing, whereby the
valve is held normally off its seat, said disk being slit to form said tongues,
substantially as set forth.
19. As a new article of manufacture, a link for sprinkler heads, made up of two
corrugated plates placed parallel to each other, each having a part overlapping the
other, and fusible keys inserted beneath said overlapping parts, substantially as set.
forth.
20. As a new article of manufacture, a link for sprinkler heads made up of two
corrugated plates placed parallel to each other, each of said plates having one of
its ends reflexed so as to overlap the other plate, and fusible keys inserted beneath
said reflexed ends, substantially as set forth.
21. As a new article of manufacture, a link for sprinkler heads made up of two
corrugated plates placed parallel to each other, each of said plates having a slot
extending to one of its ends and having its other end reflexed so as to overlap the
other plate, and fusible keys inserted beneath said reflexed ends, the meeting faces
of the plates being soldered, substantially as set forth.
22. In a sprinkler head, the combination of a frame, a pointed stem having a
shoulder, a disk having a central opening and slits radiating therefrom, said disk
fitting loosely upon said stem, above the shoulder, and a deflector having in its top
side a conical depression forming a bearing for the point of the stem, and having
also a circular rabbet in which said disk fits, the metal forming the margin of the
rabbet being turned over the edge of the disk, substantially as set forth.
Datad this 18th dow of December 1844
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.