IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO VALVES FOR GAS, WATER, OR STEAM PIPES, AND IN THE MEANS OF CLEANING AND GRINDING THE WORKING FACES OF SUCH VALVES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR PROTECTING PARTS OF OTHER MACHINES OR APPARATUS FROM INJURY BY OXIDATION
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Russell Gubbins, Engineer, and James Whitestone,
Civil Engineer, both of Upper Thames Street, in the City of London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO VALVES FOR GAS, WATER, OR
STEAM PIPES, AND IN THE MEANS OF CLEANING AND GRINDING THE WORKING
FACES OF SUCH VALVES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
FOR PROTECTING PARTS OF OTHER MACHINES OR APPARATUS FROM INJURY BY
OXIDATION”.
Sealed the 21st December 1877, and dated the 26th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Russell Gubbins and
James Whitestone at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th
June 1877.
RICHARD RUSSELL GUBBINS, Engineer, and JAMES WHITESTONE, Civil Engineer,
both of Upper Thames Street, in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO VALVES FOR GAS, WATER, OR STEAM PIPES, AND IN THE MEANS OF CLEANING AND
GRINDING THE WORKING FACES OF SUCH VALVES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR PROTECTING PARTS OF OTHER MACHINES OR APPARATUS
FROM INJURY BY OXIDATION."
The main objects of our Invention are,―
First. That valves used for controlling the flow of gas, water, or steam through
pipes should be so constructed that they should be less liable to damage or deterio-
ration, by reason of oxidation, than heretofore.
Second. That their working surfaces or faces should be capable of being cleaned
with facility.
i
And, Third. That the faces and seats of valves when worn shall be capable of being
re-ground so as to render them water; steam, or gas-tight, without the necessity of
taking the valve to pieces for the purpose of regrinding the worn parts.
Our Invention is more particularly applicable to that class of valve in which the'
passage is closed by means of a circular disc, which is kept by any convenient
means in close contact with an annular or circular face, on which it is capable of
being moved or slidden to and fro for the purpose of opening or closing the passage.
Our first improvement consists in turning or forming a groove or recess in the
TD 017

page_text: face or edge of the valve (which is supposed to be made of iron) and inserting therein
a ring or strip of zinc, which must be firmly secured in place in such a manner as to
produce perfect contact of the two metals. As one of these metals is electro-positive
and the other electro-negative, the effect of this contact will be that a continuous
electric, magnetic, or galvanic action will be set up, and this will prevent, or very
greatly reduce, the action of oxidation, even when the surfaces are exposed to
conditions in which under ordinary circumstances very rapid oxidation is likely to
ensue.
This method of protecting iron from oxidation may be applied to other machines,
apparatus, or purposes, when it is desirable to protect from injury by oxidation
parts made of iron or steel,...which must necessarily be exposed to oxidizing
influences.
Valves adapted to gas pipes are liable to become clogged by the deposit of tarry
and other solid matters on their faces, and when this is the case the valve cannot be
closed gas-tight.
Our second improvement has for its object to so construct the working parts of
the valve that in working they may be made to scrape off and remove from the
working faces any solid matters (that may adhere thereto), and deposit such
extraneous inatters in a small chamber or receptacle provided for the purpose, and
from whence they may be removed from time to time by simply unscrewing a
small cover or lid adapted to this chamber. To this end the circular dics (which
forms the movable part of the valve) is so formed that it shall be capable of being
rotated on its centre by means of a worm or screw, which takes into the teeth of a
worm wheel formed on the back or edge of the valve disc. One end of this screw
passes up through a stuffing box made in the dome or cap of the valve, so that by
turning the screw from the outside the valve disc may be rotated. The edge of the
valve disc facing the seating is by preference made acute or sharp, so that when the
valve disc is lowered in order to close the opening or pipe the acute edge will cut off
from the seating (as with a knife or scraper) any solid matters that may be
adhering thereto, and allow them to drop into the chamber or receptacle below. In
order more thoroughly to cleanse the faces of the valve disc and its seating a small
opening or inlet is formed in any suitable place, through which a solvent or lubri-
cating liquid may be introduced (this opening being provided with a screwed cap or
plug to close the same when not required to be open) so that when the valve disc is
rotated by means of the worm or screw any extraneous matters which may be
between it and the facing upon which it is intended to rest or bear may be ground
away the more readily so as to make a tight joint when the valve is closed.
The last improvement relates to the means of re-grinding the worn faces of the
valve without removing such parts or taking the valve to pieces, and is more par-
ticularly applicable to steam valves, the faces of which are very liable to be cut by
the passage of the steam. In this case also the circular discs are capable of
rotating on their centres, and on the back of each of the discs is cast a bevil wheel,
into which gears a bevil pinion whose shaft projects out through a stuffing-box at the
side of the valve case.
When it is desired to grind the face of the valves the discs are lowered into their.
places and pressed against their seats, the bevil pinion is then put into gear with the
bevil wheels at the back of the discs, and then by rotating the shaft of the bevil
pinion from the outside, the discs will be made to grind down the working faces
until they fit steam-tight. The actuating bevil pinion may then be drawn back
again out of gear with the bevil wheels upon the back of the valve discs, so that
these latter may be raised or lowered in the usual way of working this class
of valve.

page_text: In pursuance of the conditions of the Letters ratent nied by
the said Richard Russell Gubbins and James Whitestone] in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th December 1877.
RICHARD RUSSELL GUBBINS, Engineer, and JAMES WHITESTONE, Civil Engineer,
both of Upper Thames Street, in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO VALVES FOR GAS, WATER, OR STEAM PIPES, AND IN THE MEANS OF CLEANING
AND GRINDING THE WORKING FACES OF SUCH VALVES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR PROTECTING PARTS OF OTHER MACHINES OR
APPARATUS FROM INJURY BY OXIDATION."
The main objects of our Invention are,-
First. That valves used for controlling the flow of gas, water, or steam through
pipes should be so constructed that they should be less liable to damage or deteriora-
tion by reason of oxidation than heretofore.
Second. That their working surfaces or faces should be capable of being cleaned
with facility.
And, Third. That the faces and seats of valves when worn shall be capable of being
re-ground so as to render them water, steam, or gas-tight, without the necessity of
taking the valve to pieces for the purpose of re-grinding the worn parts.
Our Invention is more particularly applicable to that class of valve in which the
passage is closed by means of a circular disc, which is kept by any convenient means
in close contact with an annular or circular face or seat, on which it is capable of
being moved or slidden to and fro for the purpose of opening or closing the passage.
Our first improvement is shewn in the accompanying Drawings at Figures 1, 3,
and 4. Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a longitudinal vertical section of a single faced valve with
this improvement adapted thereto. Fig. 3, Sheet II., is a similar view of a double
faced valve, with the improvement thereto. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the
same. The improvement consists in turning or forming a groove or recess in one of
the faces of the moveable ring or valve A (which is supposed to be made of iron),
and inserting therein a ring or strips of zinc a, a, which must be firmly secured in
place in such a nanner as to produce perfect contact of the two metals; grooves are
also cut in the fixed seat or stationary part of the valve box, and are also provided
with zinc rings b, b. As one of these metals is electro-positive and the other electro-
negative, the effect of this contact will be that a continuous electric, magnetic, or
galanic action will be set up, and this will prevent or will very greatly reduce the
action of oxidation even when the surfaces are exposed to conditions in which under
ordinary circumstances very rapid oxidation is likely to ensue.
This method of protecting iron from oxidation may be applied to other machines,
apparatus, or purposes, when it is desirable to protect from injury by oxidation
parts made of iron or steel, which must necessarily be exposed to oxidizing
influences.
Valves adapted to gas pipes are liable to become clogged by the deposit of tarry
and other solid matters on their faces, and when this is the case the valve cannot be
closed gas-tight.
Our second improvement has for its object so to construct the working parts of
the valve that in working they may be made to scrape off and remove from the
working faces any solid matter that may adhere thereto.
•
This improvement is shewn in Figures 3 and 4, Sheet II., and also at Fig. 5,
which is a transverse vertical section of the valve. It will be seen on referring to
these Figures that the circular valve plates A are pressed firmly against their seats
by the circular spring piece B, when the latter is screwed down, and that conse-
quently in working the circular valves A up and down they will be made to scrape
off therefrom any extraneous solid matters that may adhere thereto, and such
extraneous matters will fall down and be deposited in a small chamber or recep
tacle c, Figures 3 and 5, provided for the purpose, and from whence they may be
removed from time to time by simply unscrewing or detaching a small cover or

page_text: lid c', adapted to this chamber. To this end the circular discs A (which form the
moveable parts of the valve) are also so formed that they shall be capable of being
rotated on their centres by means of worms or screws d, which take into the teeth
of a worm wheel formed on the back or edge of each of the valve discs. One end
of this screw passes up through a stuffing box e made in the dome or cap f of the
valve, so that by turning the screw pin d from the outside the valve discs A, A, may
be rotated.
The edge of the valve disc A, facing the seating, is by preference made acute or
sharp, so that when the valve disc is lowered in order to close the opening or pipe
this acute edge will cut off from the seating (as with a knife or scraper) any solid
matters that may be adhereing thereto, and allow then to drop into the chamber or
receptacle below. It will of course be understood that this same arrangement of
parts for cleaning the faces of the valve and its seat may be adapted to the single
face valve shewn at Fig. 1.
In order more thoroughly to cleanse the faces of the valve disc and its seating a
small opening or inlet g is formed in any suitable place, as in the valve cover f,
Fig. 3, through which a solvent or lubricating liquid, such as paraffine or hydro-
carbon oil, may be introduced. These openings are provided, as shewn in the
Drawing, with a screwed cap or plug to close the same (when not required to be
opened) so that when the valve disc A is rotated by means of the worm or screw d
any extraneous matter which may be between it and the facing upon which it is
intended to rest or bear may be ground away the more readily so as to make a tight
joint when the valve is closed.
The last improvement relates to the means of re-grinding the worn faces of the
valve without removing such parts or taking the valve to pieces, and is more par-
ticularly applicable to steam valves, the faces of which are very liable to be cut by
the passage of the steam. This improvement is shewn at Figures 6 and 7,
Sheet III., Fig. 6 being a longitudinal vertical section of the valve, and Fig. 7 a
transverse vertical section. In this case also the circular discs A, A, are capable of
rotating on their centres, and on the back of each of these discs is cast a bevil
wheel a*, into which gears a bevil pinion h, whose shaft projects out through a
stuffing box h at the side of the valve case.
When it is desired to grind the face of the valves the discs A, A, are lowered
into their places and pressed against their seats by means of the screw i and wedge
piece jacting on the circular spring piece B. The bevil pinion is then put into gear
with the bevil wheels a* at the back of the discs A, and then by rotating the shaft
of the bevil pinion from the outside the discs A will be made to grind down
the working faces until they fit steain-tight. The actuating bevil pinion h
may
then be drawn back again out of gear with the bevil wheels a*, on the back of the
valve discs A, so that the latter may be raised and lowered in the usual way of
working this class of valve.
Instead of rotating the valve discs A by means of bevil gearing, as shewn at
Figures 6 and 7, this object may be effected (in the manner shewn at Figures 1
and 2) by forming a square hole or recess k, in the back of the disc to receive the
squared end of a spindle which may be introduced through the body of the valve
box, and be rotated by means of a ratchet brace, or in any other convenient
manner.
Having now described our Invention, and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, we claim as the Invention secured to us by Letters
Patent as aforesaid,-
First. The mode herein set forth of protecting steam, gas, or other valves from
injury by oxidation.
Second. We claim the mode herein set forth of constructing valves so that any
extraneous solid matters that may adhere to the working faces of the valves may be
scraped off or removed therefrom without taking the valve to pieces.
Lastly. We claim so constructing and arranging the working parts of valves
that they may be rotated on their seats in order to regrind the worn faces without

page_text: removing such parts from their places, or taking the valve to pieces, as herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Whitestone, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES WHITESTONE. (L. s.)