Improvements in Sluice-valves :or Stop-valves.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1889
⚫Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sluice-valves :or Stop-valves.
I, JASON GILES of Indian Orchard, State of Massachusetts, United States of
America, General Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to valves, and more especially to sluice valves or gate or
straight-way valves such as the valves commonly known as the "Chapman" valves,
that is to say, valves comprising a shell or casing having a suitable waterway, and
a gate or plug for opening and closing the said waterway, movable in guides placed
within the shell or casing at right angles to the said waterway.
Valves of this kind or class are usually constructed with a gate or plug having
its opposite faces formed tapering from the top towards the bottom, the said
tapering faces being provided with annular bearing surfaces adapted to engage with
similar annular bearing surfaces upon the inner surface of the shell or casing and
surrounding the inner ends of the waterway through the. sholl. so as to make a tight
joint when the gate is in its lowest position, and thus close the said waterway.
It has been found in practice that a gate or plug formed in one piece and guided
in a vertical plane midway between the inner ends of the two portions of the water-
way gives much better results than a gate not so guided, or a gate having one or more
loose discs. to make the joint with the seats on the shell or casing. In the first
case the pressure exerted by the water or other liquid or fluid against the gate has
a tendency to cramp the gate-operating spindle in such a manner as to interfere
with the free movement of the said gate and thereby to cause much wear and tear
of the working parts. In the second case the incoming stream of liquid or fluid
when the gate begins to rise, is liable to float the opposite loose disc from its seat,
and thereby cause the said disc to greatly interfere with, if it does not entirely
prevent, the further upward movement of the gate.
It is moreover,desirable that the gates and their seatings be so constructed, as
to be easily renewable when either or both become worn out, or injured in any
manner.
So far as the gates are concerned, it is obvious that they can readily be made
interchangeable, so that a new one can at any time be substituted for a worn out
or damaged one. With regard to the annular seats in the shell or casing however,
it becomes a more difficult problem, owing to the said seats being situated entirely
within the shell thus rendering access to them a matter of difficulty.
Heretofore it has been customary to form the said seatings by running melteu
Babbitt metal or other composition into the shell or casing whilst the gate is in
its closed position. A portion of this composition enters an annular undercut groove
provided in the said shell or casing which groove holds the composition, after it
has become hardened, securely in its place. The gate being as above mentioned
in the closed position during the said operation, the composition settles itself closely
against the bearing surface or surfaces on the former and thus forms a counter-
part of the said bearing surface.or. surfaces. Should it become necessary to renew
the said seatings for any reason the entire valve, must, be removed from its service
position, and specially devised tools and machinery must be employed for truing up
the face of the said seats, through the opposite port of the shell or casing. This
operation entails the loss of a considerable amount of time, and is moreover very
expensive.
The object of, my said, invention is to obviate these defects and to provide the

page_text: said valves with detachable and interchangeable seats in the shell or casing, so
that both gates and seats can be renewed at pleasure, and at a comparatively low
cost.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a straight-way valve having
its seat formed upon the ends of tubular hubs or glands, adapted to be inserted within
the inner ends of the two portions of the water way through the shell or casing upon
opposite sides of and equi-distant from the guides upon which the gate travels.
Suitable means are provided for holding the said hubs securely in position within the
shell or casing so that the latter can be easily removed when desired. The said hubs
have annular seats provided upon their inner ends which are made true, and of a taper
corresponding with that of the sides of the gate, before being introduced within the
said shell or casing. The said seat-bearing hubs, extend through the waterway from
a point coincident with one side of the gate, when the latter is in its lowest or closed
position, to the outer end of the shell or casing and is interiorly screw threaded to
receive the correspondingly screw threaded extremity of the pipe to which the said
valve is connected. The said hubs are held in position by means of pins or screws
extending through the body of the shell or casing into the said hubs and which, by
being driven inwardly or unscrewed, enable the hubs to be removed from the shell or
casing whenever it may be desired. To avoid truing the entire outer surface of the
Baid hubs and the entire inner surface of the waterway in the shell or casing, and to
secure a tight joint between the said surfaces, I prefer to form the said surfaces in
such a manner that they will bear, and make a tight joint at one or two points only in
their length, a sufficiently secure connection between them being thereby afforded.
According to a slight modification of my said invention I form the hubs much
shorter than those above described and place them at the inner end of the waterway, the
diameter of the latter being preferably slightly increased at its inner end to receive
the said hub. The waterway extending from this portion of greater diameter to its
outer end is interiorly screw threaded to receive correspondingly screw threaded glands
or nuts which are screwed into the said waterway until they abut against the end of the
said seat-hubs and hold the latter in position so as to make a tight joint with the gate.
In introducing these hubs within the shell or casing I prefer to start their rear ends
within the waterway and then to utilize a series of wedges of the same taper as the
gate, and of increasing thickness, to gradually force them into their seats, the last
wedge employed being of the same thickness as the gate, so that finally the seats on
the end of the hubs will occupy the proper position to make a tight joint with the
gate. The glands or nuts before mentioned, are then screwed up against the rear
extremities of the hubs and hold the latter in position. By means of these glands or
nuts the said hubs can be suitably adjusted relatively to the said gate so as to form
tight joints. In order to remove the above described hubs from the shell or casing
all that is required is to remove the gate and drive the hubs out of their seats by
screwing up the glands or nuts behind them, the said glands or nuts being provided
with inwardly projecting ribs or lugs or other suitable means for permitting of their
being turned by means of a wrench or other suitable tool.
Dated this 14th day of June 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sluice-valves or Stop-valves.
I, JASON GILES, of Indian Orchard, in the County of Hampden, and State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of 50
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to valves of the kind or class known as gate or straightway
valves, and particularly to valves of this kind or class in which the gate, plug or

page_text: valve proper is tapered or has its opposite faces inclined to each other and is guided
in its movement in a plane perpendicular to the waterway extending through the
shell or casing, between seats surrounding the inner ends of the two branches of the
said waterway, as in the well known "Chapman " valve.
In valves of this kind or class it has been conclusively demonstrated that a gate
made in one piece and guided as above described possesses many advantages over a
gate unprovided with guides or one composed of a plurality of parts, such for example
as the ordinary loose disc gate. For instance, gates composed of a single piece can be
made readily interchangeable. Such being the case, it is very desirable that the annular
seats on the shell with which the two inclined faces on the gate co-operate in closing
the waterway through the shell, should also be made interchangeable, so that should
one or both of the said seats become worn to such an extent as to impair the tightness
of the joint or be accidentally injured in any manner, it can be removed from the
shell and repaired or replaced by a new one, with but little trouble and expense.
The main object of my said invention is to provide valves of the kind or class above
mentioned with detachable and interchangeable seats within the shell or casing, the
said seats being simple and inexpensive in construction and capable of being readily
introduced into and removed from the said shell or casing. Moreover I combine with
the said seats improved means for securely holding the same in position.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a valve embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal central section thereof.
Figures 3 and 4 are side and end elevations of one of the valve-seats detached.
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views of a gland or nut hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
B is
A is the shell or casing which is provided with a removable cap or cover and which
has the waterway composed of two branches a a extending through the same.
the gate or valve proper which is formed with a nut to receive the gate-operating
spindle as in the well known "Chapman" valve. The gate B is tapered or provided
with the oppositely located inclined faces b and is guided by means of the ribs 6' on
the shell A which ribs extend into vertical grooves in the edges of the gate, and guide
the latter in a plane perpendicular to the waterway, as it is moved to open and
close the said waterway..
The annular seats which co-operate with the inclined faces of the gate to close the
waterway, are formed upon the inner ends of tubular pieces C adapted to be inserted
within the inner ends of the branches a, a of the waterway. I prefer to make the
waterway of a slightly increased diameter at the inner ends of its two branches as
shown, thereby enabling tubular pieces C of greater thickness to be used, and
securing a broader annular bearing surface at the inner end thereof, than would
otherwise be practicable.
The pieces C have their inner ends made true and properly inclined to corre-
spond with the sides of the gate, before being inserted within the shell, and preferably
have their rear ends slightly rounded as shown or provided with chamfered edges to
facilitate their introduction within the waterway..
In fitting the tubular pieces O in the shell A I prefer to insert their outer ends
within the inner ends of the two branches of the waterway, the cap or cover and
the gate B being previously removed and then to employ successively a series of
wedges having the same taper as the gate, beginning with a very narrow one and
gradually increasing the width of wedge employed, the said wedges being guided by
the ribs b¹ and gradually forcing the pieces C outward within the inner ends of the
waterway, the last wedge employed being of the same thickness as the gate B so
that the final position of the pieces C is such as to cause their inner ends to make a
tight joint with the said gate when the latter is screwed down. The corresponding
incline of the sides of the said series of wedges and of the inner ends of the

page_text: pieces C, causes the latter to be forced squarely. into the water way, and prevents any
revolving movement thereof which would, tend, to, throw them out of their proper
position relatively to the gate B.
When the said pieces Care. thus fitted within the shell, the inclined sides of the
gate will prevent, any inward, movement thereof, and to hold them from outward
movement as well as to provide for inward adjustment thereof to compensate for
wear of their inner ends, I. prefer to. provide the waterway from the said portions
of greater diameter, to, their: outer ends, with, screw-threads to, receive. a. threaded
gland or nut D within each end: thereof, which glands, or nuts, by. being, screwed
within the waterway until their inner ends abut against the pieces. C as shown in
Figure 1 prevent outward movement of the said pieces. As the bearing faces. at the
inner ends. of the pieces-C wear away, a partial revolution of the glands or nuts.D
will advance the pieces squarely against the gate, to compensate for such wear.
The glands or nuts D are provided with internal ribs d to facilitate the turning
thereof, or they may have other provision for such, purpose.
The outer ends of the watorway.are. suitably formed to receive the screw-threaded
ends of a. pipe in the usual manner. To remove, either, or both of the tubular
pieces C from the shell A, it is necessary simply to remove the cap or: cover and the
gate, and then to screw the, glands or nuts D inward, whereby the pieces. C are forced
from their seats into the open space at the centre of the shell, whence they can, be
readily removed through the opening at the top of the latter.
As thus: constructed, it will be observed, a valve with interchangeable gate, and
seats is provided, which can be manufactured at a very low cost, and the seats of
which can be inserted within and removed from the shell very, quickly and without
necessitating the sending of the, valve to the manufacturer for such operation.. The
only accurate machine, work, which is required in connection with the valve thus
constructed, is upon the inner ends of, the pieces C and the corresponding sides of
the gate, and, this, can be done before the said parts are inserted within the shell,
and in such manner, as, to cause any, number of the said parts to be uniform and
therefore. perfectly interchangeable..
The valve constructed according to, my invention is of especial value; for, use
under. heavy pressures, as, for example, in: connection, with superheated, steam; in
which case the gate the pieces C and the glands. or, nuts. D are preferably made
of brass, because, of the readiness, with which the said parts, when, worn, can be
removed for repairs or replaced by new ones.
.
By utilizing the screw-threaded glands. or nuts D to hold the tubular pieces C
to their working, position. I, avoid the use of pins or other devices which would
pass through the shell into the said pieces, and would add considerably, to the cost
of manufacture, besides necessitating, the exercise of much care to cause the holes-in
the tubular pieces, which receiver the said pins, to, register with those, in the shell.
Itthereby, also avoid the use of clamps or other independent holding devices, within
the shell, which, besides requiring much time for their adjustment, are always
liable, to become loosened or broken, and thus interfere with the perfect, operation
of the, valve...
Having new particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said 'inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that 1
claim -
First. A. valve of the kind or class, herein before referred to, wherein the. valve
seats, are, formed. on adjustable tubular pieces. fitted into the shell or valve-casing
ao that, they can be readily, removed, and replaced, for, the purposes, above
specified...
Second. The combination, with the tubular pieces having formed thereon the-valve
seats and, fitted in the inner ends of the waterways, of the screw-threaded glands, or
nuts adjustable, within the said, waterways, substantially as,, and, for the purposes,
set forth

page_text: Third. The improved sluice-valve or stop-valve constructed substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawing, for the purposes above
specified.
Dated this 14th day of March 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.