AN IMPROVED WATER SAFETY VALVE
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Husband, of Hayle, in the County of
Cornwall, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED WATER SAFETY
VALVE."
Sealed the 11th June 1862, and dated the 14th December 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Husband at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th December 1861.
I, WILLIAM HUSBAND, of Hayle, in the County of Cornwall, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED WATER SAFETY
VALVE," to be as follows:-
Engines for pumping or forcing water are frequently subjected to great
danger by reason of their load being suddenly withdrawn, either on account of
the bursting of pipes or breakage of their joints, or other causes, the con-
sequence of which is, that the working parts of the engine and pump being
unexpectedly relieved from the opposing pressure of water on the plunger,
acquire a velocity of motion sufficient to cause serious damage and destruction
to the entire machinery.
Now this Invention has for its object a means whereby, in the event of the
aforesaid accidental removal of the load from the engine, another load is
substituted, which controls the speed of the engine, and prevents the results
mentioned.

page_text: The apparatus by which I propose to accomplish this effect consists as
follows: At a short distance from the engine and to the pipe leading there-
from to the main, along which the water is to be forced, an elbow joint is to
be bolted, on the upper part of which by means of suitable flanges and bolts a
bed plate is fixed on which four standards are secured at equal distances apart,
their upper extremities being firmly fixed in position by means of a crosshead,
which is provided with a slot in the centre, in order to allow of the vertical
movement of the guide rod of a plunger which passes down between the
standards and through a stuffing box on the bed plate into the upper portion of
the elbow joint, around the interior of which, on a level with the upper portion
of the pipe from the engine, the stationary parts of the valve are fixed, con-
sisting of vertical arms or plates, on the top of which a circular plate or disc
is secured, having an opening of a partly conical form situated directly beneath
the plunger or pole, which is made so that it may when desired fit therein,
and form a water-tight joint. Above this circular plate, or what may be
termed the bed, in which the plunger or pole may descend, and bolted to the
sides of the plunger, are four arms of a curved form, which extend outwards
beyond the plate and inwards below it, in order to be attached to the vertical
slides of the valve, which are thus opened and closed simultaneously with the
valve which the area of the lower surface of the pole forms with the circular
plate, which is to be furnished with arms or brackets extending from its lower
surface near the opening to the edge of the pipe or to the lower portion of the
vertical slide valves.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-When the engine is to be
started, or when the pressure of the water in the main is ascertained, the pole
or plunger is to be weighted as follows:-It is provided at a short distance
above the stuffing box with a fixed circular table to sustain a series of
weights in the form of discs, having a channel cut therein, which enables them
to be placed around the pole one on the other; the table has four projections,
furnished with slots, which enable it to slide vertically on the standards by the
action of the pole, and it is controlled in its descent by means of a flange
covered with india-rubber on each of the standards a short distance below
these projections, whereby the jar caused by the sudden descent of the table
and pole is modified, thereby relieving the valve from unnecessary shock. The
table is to be weighted so as nearly to equal the pressure of the water upon
the area of the pole or plunger; the consequence will be that the pole and
system of valves will be raised by the pressure of the water, and a free opening
will result for the passage thereof from the engine along the main pipe, but in
the event of any accident occurring to the main pipe whereby the pressure of

page_text: the water is suddenly taken away from the engine pump, and which would in
the ordinary course of operations entail such a rapid motion of parts as to cause
destruction to the machinery, the pressure is also instantly removed from the
area of the pole or plunger, which then descends and closes with it the system
of valves, thereby throwing the whole load of the weighted plunger upon the
engine and pump, and controlling them from the destructive speed they would
otherwise acquire. The area of the plunger may be of any desired extent,
and the table weighted accordingly. The plunger or pole may be used in
conjunction with the circular plate, and form a valve without the addition of
the vertical slide valves, in some instances where there is not much pressure
of water, or where the size of the pipes is small; and the elbow joint may be
dispensed with in these instances.
It is to be understood that the principle of the Invention, consisting of a
plunger weighted in the open air or in a suitable casing, and acting by its
gravity alone upon a valve, may be applied to any description of valve, sluice.
cock, or other suitable contrivance than that herein described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Husband in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HUSBAND, of Hayle, in the County of Cornwall, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Husband, Her special licence that I, the said
William Husband, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such other
as I, the said William Husband, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED WATER SAFETY VALVE," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Husband, executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Husband, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
Engines for pumping or forcing water are frequently subjected to great
danger by reason of their load being suddenly withdrawn, either on account
of the bursting of pipes, or breaking of their joints, or other causes, the con-
sequence of which is that the working parts of the engine and pump, being
unexpectedly relieved from the opposing pressure of water on the plunger,
acquire a velocity of motion sufficient to cause serious damage and destruction
to the entire machinery. Now, this Invention has for its object a means
whereby, in the event of the aforesaid accidental removal of the load from the
engine, another load is substituted which controls the speed of the engine, and
prevents the results mentioned.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed
to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of illustrative
Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, as follows:-
At a short distance from the engine and to the pipe leading therefrom to
the main along which the water is to be forced, an elbow joint a is to be
bited, on the upper part of which, by means of suitable flanges and bolts, a
bed plate b is fixed, on which four standards k are secured at equal distances
apart, their upper extremities being firmly fixed in position by means of a
crosshead c, which is provided with a slot in the centre, in order to allow of
the vertical movement of the guide rod of a plunger p, which passes down
between the standards and through a stuffing box e on the bed plate into the
upper portion of the elbow joint, around the interior of which, on a level with
the upper portion of the pipe from the engine, the stationary parts of the
valve ff, are fixed, consisting of vertical arms or plates, on the top of which
a circular ring or plate f¹ is secured, having its opening situated directly
beneath the plunger or pole p, which is made so that it may, when desired,
fit thereon and form a water-tight joint. Above this circular plate, or what
may be termed the bed on which the plunger or pole descends, and bolted or
otherwise secured to the sides of the plunger, are four or six arms g, of a
curved form, which extend outwards and downwards beyond the plate,
in order to be attached to the vertical slides of the valve, which are

page_text: thus opened and closed simultaneously with the valve which the area of the
lower surface of the pole forms with the circular plate, which latter is to be
furnished with arms, brackets, or other supports f, f, extending from its lower
surface near the opening to the edge of the pipe, or to the lower portion of
the fixed vertical slide valves.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-When the engine is to be
started, or when the pressure of the water in the main is ascertained, the pole
or plunger is to be weighted as follows:-It is provided at a short distance
above the stuffing box with a fixed circular table h, to sustain a series of
weights i, in the form of discs, having a channel cut therein, which enables
them to be placed around the pole one on the other. The table has four
projections j, furnished with slots, which enable it to slide vertically on the
standards by the action of the pole, and it is controlled in its descent by
means of a flange l, covered with india-rubber m, on each of the standards a
short distance below the projections, whereby the jar caused by the sudden
descent of the table and pole is modified, thereby relieving the valve from
unnecessary shock. The table is to be weighted so as nearly to equal the
pressure of the water upon the area of the pole or plunger, the consequence
will be that the pole and system of valves will be raised by the pressure of
the water, and a free opening will result for the passage thereof from the
engine along the main pipe n; but in the event of any accident occurring to
the main pipe whereby the pressure of the water is suddenly taken away from
the engine pump, and which would, in the ordinary course of operations,
entail such a rapid motion of parts as to cause destruction to the machinery,
the pressure is also instantly removed from the area of the pole or plunger,
which then descends and closes with it the system of valves, thereby throwing
the whole load of the weighted plunger upon the engine and pump, and
controlling them from the destructive speed they would otherwise acquire.
The area of the plunger may be of any desired extent, and the table weighted
accordingly.
The plunger or pole may be used in conjunction with the circular plate,
and form a valve, without the addition of the vertical slide valves, in some
instances where there is not much pressure of water, or where the size of the
pipes is small; and the elbow joint may be dispensed with in these instances.
The stationary parts of the valve f, f, are to be held in position by a screw
bolt or rod and nut t, as shewn. A spiral springs is adjusted to the upper
part of the pole, and bears against the under side of the crosshead, thereby
The entire
easing and assisting the motion of the plunger and valves.
apparatus may be enclosed in a casing r, with a cap or cover r¹, which may

page_text: be readily removed when it is required to lubricate, clean, repair, or adjust
the various parts.
It is to be understood that the principle of the Invention, consisting of a
plunger weighted in the open air or in a suitable casing, and acting chiefly by
its gravity alone upon a valve, may be applied to any description of valve,
sluice cock, or other suitable contrivance than that herein described.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark, in conclusion, that I do
not restrict myself to the precise details and configuration of parts as herein
expressed and shewn, as the same may obviously be varied and modified in
many ways without departing from the principles on which the Invention is
based, but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein in
part recited Letters Patent is, the general arrangement of parts and apparatus
constituting "An Improved Water Safety Balance Valve," substantially in the
manner herein-before specified, and illustrated by the Drawing hereunto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Husband, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
JEBUS BICKLE,
Hayle,
Cornwall.
WILLIAM HUSBAND. (L.S.)