Improvements in Metal Lift Valves for Pumps and Air Compressors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1892
Complete Specification Left. 27th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Lift Valves for Pumps and Air Compressors.
I, PHILIBERT FRANCOIS JOSEPH TOURNIER of No. 2 Rue Chomel, Paris,
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The metal lift valves which have heretofore been proposed to replace the valves
of soft or elastic materials such as leather, caoutchouc &c. for pumps and air
compressors, have not given satisfactory results, in particular with air compressors,
because they have not entirely fulfilled the numerous conditions requisite for such
valves, namely lightness, flexibility, strength, tight fit, ready control, and suppression
of dead spaces.
My improved valves fulfil all these conditions and in particular the last one,
which is of the more importance, the greater is the speed and pressure of the
compressor.
The moving parts of the said valves are effectually guided and protected, and
they are provided with a closing spring so arranged as to bring the valve accurately
on to its seat, thus insuring the rapidity and precision of its movements.
In constructing a suction valve according to my invention, I make the seat of the
valve of gunmetal with a flat surface, a central hollow boss being connected
to the annular seat by radial ribs. The valve is made of a thin disc of copper
coated with nickel, which disc has a hollow cylindrical boss at its centre that fits
into the cylindrical boss of the seat, so as to be guided thereby, the boss of the
valve being provided with slots for the passage of air through it to the open centre
of the valve.
To the closed bottom of the seating boss is fixed the end of a stem that passes
through a corresponding central hole in the bottom of the valve boss, and carries
within the latter a piston-like head fitting the inner periphery of the valve boss but
having two opposite notches in its sides, and between the inner face of this head
and the bottom of the valve boss is placed a helical spring, which consequently in
pressing against the surface of the valve boss, tends to draw this on to its seat.
The spring is by preference made of a helically coiled flat copper band coated with
nickel. On the suction stroke of the pump or compressor, the partial vacuum
produced causes the disc-valve to rise slightly from its seat, in compressing the
spring, enabling the air to pass both round the periphery of the valve and through
the slots of the central boss. As soon as the suction ceases, the spring forces the
disc-valve to close gently on its seat again. The same construction of valve, but
in an inverted position is also applicable as discharge valve.
According to another modification, applicable more particularly to suction valves
where strong pressures are employed, the disc valve has no central boss, but is
strengthened by radial ribs and has fixed to or formed on it a central stem, that
passes through a central hole in the cylindrical boss of the seating which boss is in
this case closed at its inner end and open at its outer end.
The stem has fixed to it within such boss a piston-like head with lateral notches,
between which head and the inner end of the seating boss is placed the helical
spring. Thus the disc valve is guided in its motion by the stem sliding through the
hole in the boss, and by the piston head on the stem, sliding in the boss. In the
discharge valve constructed according to this arrangement, the valve is formed
with the cylindrical boss, and the stem with its piston head working in such boss
is fixed to a solid central boss of the seating, the spring being contained within the
cylindrical boss of the valve, and bearing against the head of the stem.

page_text: In the two last described constructions, the end of the helical spring is made to
fit closely in a recess of reduced diameter in the bottom of the cylindrical boss, so
as to be held securely in place. The disc valve can either be formed in one with
its boss or stem, or it can be formed separately and fixed thereto. The stem, when
formed on the valve, may be made tubular for the sake of lightness.
The above described valves may also be constructed of other metals, such as
steel, bronze, German silver &c. according to the nature of the fluids to be forced
or compressed. The valves being thin, are sufficiently pliable or elastic to fit
closely on their seating, while they are securely guided by the cylindrical boss and
stem, and the spring being entirely enclosed, is effectually protected against injury.
It will be seen that by the above construction all dead spaces are obviated for
suction valves, while they are reduced to a minimum for discharge valves.
To insure uniform wear of the rubbing parts, a slight rotary motion may be
imparted to the valve at each stroke by causing the current of fluid passing through
the valve to act upon slightly oblique surfaces formed, for example, on the sides of
the slots of the cylindrical boss of the first described arrangement, or by providing
small oblique wings on the face of the disc valve.
The valve seating may either be fitted tightly in a corresponding recess of the
pump body, or it may be formed with a screw thread to screw into the threaded
recess of the body, which arrangement will facilitate its introduction and removal.
Dated this 31st day of May 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Lift Valves for Pumps and Air Compressors.
1, PHILIBERT FRANCOIS JOSEPH TOURNIER of No. 2 Rue Chomel, Paris,
France, Engineer, 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 metal lift valves which have heretofore- been proposed in substitution for
valves of soft or elastic materials such as leather, caoutchouc &c. for pumps and
air compressors, have not given satisfactory results, in particular with air compressors.
and the like, working with considerable speed and pressure because they have not
entirely fulfilled the numerous conditions requisite for such valves, namely lightness,
flexibility, strength, tight fit, ready control, and suppression of dead spaces.
My improved valves fulfil all these conditions, and in particular the last one,
which is of the more importance, the greater the speed and pressure of the
compressor.
The moving parts of the said valves are effectually guided and protected, and
they are provided with a closing spring so arranged as to bring the valve accurately
on to its seat, thus ensuring the rapidity and precision of its movements. Figure 1
of the accompanying drawings shews the construction of a suction valve according
to my invention. The seat A is made of gun metal with a flat surface, a central
hollow boss a being connected to the annular seat by radial ribs. The valve is made
of a thin disc B of copper coated with nickel, which disc has a hollow cylindrical
boss at its centre that fits into the cylindrical boss of the seat, so as to be guided
thereby, the boss of the valve being provided with long slots for the passage of air
through it to the open centre of the valve.
To the closed bottom of the seating boss is screwed the end of a stem C that
passes through a corresponding central hole in the bottom of the valve boss, and
carries within the latter a piston-like head e fitting the inner periphery of the valve
boss; and between the inner face of this head and the bottom of the valve boss is
placed a helical spring D which pressing against the bottom of the valve boss, tends

page_text: to draw the valve to its seat. The spring D is by preference made of a helically
coiled flat copper band coated with nickel. On the suction stroke of the pump or
compressor, the partial vacuum produced causes the disc valve to rise slightly from
its seat, compressing the light spring, and air passes round the periphery of the
valve and also through the slots of its central boss. As soon as the suction ceases,
the spring forces the disc-valve to close gently on its seat again. A like construction
of valve in an inverted position as shewn in Figure 2 is applicable as discharge-
valve, opening during the compressing stroke and closing during the suction stroke
of the pump.
According to another modification shewn in Figure 3 applicable more particularly
to suction valves where considerable pressure is employed, the disc valve B has no
hollow boss, it is strengthened by radial ribs and has a central stem C that passes.
through a hole in the boss a of the seating which boss is in this case closed at its
inner end next the seating and open at its outer end.
The stem has screwed to it within such boss a piston-like head c, which is
prevented by a pin from unscrewing, and between this head and the inner end of
the seating boss is placed the helical spring D. Thus the disc valve is guided in
its motion by the stem sliding through the hole in the boss, and by the piston head
on the stem, sliding in the boss as far as permitted by a shoulder a¹ which forms a
stop for the piston head with a recess to accommodate the compressed spring. In
the discharge valve, constructed according to this arrangement, as shewn in
Figure 4, the valve B is formed with a cylindrical boss b and the stem C with its
piston head c working in the boss b is fixed to a centrál boss a of the seating, the
spring D being contained within the cylindrical boss of the valve, and bearing
against the piston head c. In this case also the shoulder a¹ forms a stop and provides.
a recess to accommodate the compressed spring.
The valves shewn in Figures 1 and 2 are especially suited for rapidly acting air or
water pumps working at moderate pressure. The valves shewn in Figures 3 and 4
are adapted for rapidly acting compressors working at considerable pressure. The
disc B of Figure 3 may be fixed to the stem C, and the disc B of Figure 4 may be
fixed to the boss b, or these parts may be integral as shewn.
The valves may be of sheet or cast metal with or without stiffening ribs and the
stem C may be made tubular for the sake of lightness. The sheet metal discs.
employed may be stiffened in various ways by ribs or corrugations arranged radially,
circularly or otherwise. The several constructions shewn are based on the same
principles, presenting only differences of detail. They have the following advan-
tages-The valves, while they allow large passage for fluid, are thin and sufficiently
pliable or elastic to fit closely on their seatings under high pressures and tempera-
tures, while they are securely guided by the cylindrical boss and stem. They can
be made of various metals, can be readily removed and replaced, and their springs.
being entirely enclosed are effectually protected against injury.
The forms of the valves are such that, for suction, all dead spaces are avoided,
whilst they are reduced to a minimum for discharge valves.
To ensure uniform wear of the rubbing parts, a slight rotary motion may be
imparted to the valve at each stroke by causing the current of fluid passing through
the valve to act upon slightly oblique surfaces formed, as shewn in Figure 5,
on the sides of the slots of the cylindrical boss of the valve shewn in Figures 1 and 2,
or it might be by providing small oblique wings on the face of the disc valve.
The valve seating may either be fitted tightly in a corresponding recess of the
pump body, or it may be formed with a screw thread to screw into the threaded
recess of the body, which arrangement will facilitate its introduction and removal.
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 construction of valve, substantially as herein described with reference to.
Figures 1 and 2 the valve consisting of a disc, which may be stiffened, with a

page_text: tubular laterally slotted boss enclosing a spring and working in a cylindrical central
boss of the seating and on a piston-headed stem fixed to the boss of the seating.
2. The modified construction, substantially as described with reference to
Figure 3, in which the piston headed stem is fixed to and moves with the disc,
compressing the spring enclosed within the central boss of the seating.
3. The modified construction, substantially as described with reference to Figure 4,
in which the disc has a cylindrical boss, enclosing the spring and working on a piston-
headed stem fixed to the central boss of the seating.
4. The inclining as shewn in Figure 5 of the slots through the valve boss
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 24th day of February 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.