IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR GAS AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Woodward, of the firm Adam Woodward
and Sons, of Queen's Foundry, Union Street, Ancoats, in the City of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, for an Invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Woodward at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1880.
JOHN WOODWARD, of the firm Adam Woodward and Sons, of Queen's Foundry,
Union Street Ancoats, in the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR GAS AND OTHER FLUIDS."
My improvements in valves are intended more particularly for gas valves, though
they are also applicable for water, steam, and other fluids.
My Invention relates to improved combinations and arrangements of the
sluice valves, which are less expensive in construction than those in ordinary
use.
The body of the casing is cast in one piece or in two pieces, in which case one
part forms a cap which can be removed to take out the valve when required.
The seating or facing for the valve and the valve is turned, and the back of the
valve has a projection in a hole in which the screw nut is placed for the screw,
which is fitted in a stuffing box in the ordinary manner, and has an index to show
the position of the valve as in ordinary sluice valves.
In the centre of the back of the valve there is a projection in which a pin is
secured that forms the fulcrum of a cross bar, the ends of which come against the
casing on each side of the "bore" of the valve when it is nearly closed, an incline on
one end of the bar coming upon an incline on the casting, and the continued
motion of the screw after this contact causes the bar to force the valve firmly
against the facing or seating.
When the screw is reversed to open the valve, the pressure is taken off the valve
by the first movement of the screw, and then the valve is free to move without
unnecessary friction.
The bar above mentioned is placed with its lengthway in a line with the screw,
but in place of it a bar or roller is or may be employed at a right angle to the

page_text: screw, each end of the bar which extends across the "bore" coming against an incline
formed on the casting, one at each side of the bore.
My Invention for double faced valves consists in making the seating for one
valve at an incline to that for the other valve, and in jointing two valves together,
back to back by a connection in the centre of each.
When these valves are nearly in their closed position they wedge, and thus force
each other against their facings or seatings. Or both facings or seatings for a
double valve are made parallel to each other. Both valves are then connected with
the same screw nut so as to have play to and from each other, and each valve has a
projection from its centre to carry the fulcrum pin of a lever. The ends of the
two levers come together on one side of the fulcrum, and they are apart and free
on the other side of the fulcrum, and when the valves are nearly closed a wedge
secured or formed on the casting acts to force the ends of the two levers apart, and
this puts pressure on each valve to force it against its seating.
In place of the levers a bar or roller is carried on the projection from the centre
of the back of each valve, and each end of each of these bars or rollers comes
against the sides of a double incline or wedge formed on or secured to the casting,
one wedge on each side of the "bore" of the casting, and when the valve is nearly
closed, these wedges or inclines act upon the ends of the bars or rollers and force
the valves against their seatings.
The
Another part of my Invention, applicable to my improved valves and to ordinary
sluice valves, consists in making the screw with two threads, a fine and coarse
pitch, the fine pitch to screw through a nut in the casting or cap, or in a part
attached to the cap, and the coarse pitch thread through a nut on the valve.
working of the screw thus arranged will cause the screw to move to and fro
endways, and thus indicate the position of the valve, and at the same time help by
this movement to move the valve. The fine pitch screw thread would have to be
reverse to the coarse pitch thread of the screw, so that the end movement
imparted to the screw, and the movement imparted to the valve by the screw
screwing through the nut on the valve, would both act to cause the valve to move
in the same direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Woodward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
April 1881.
JOHN WOODWARD, of the firm Adam Woodward and Sons, of Queen's Foundry,
Union Street, Ancoats, in the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR GAS AND OTHER FLUIDS."
My improvements in valves are intended more particularly for gas valves, though
they are also applicable for water, steam, and other fluids.
My Invention relates to improved combinations and arrangements of sluice
valves, which are less expensive in construction than those in ordinary use.
The body of the casing is cast in one piece, or in two pieces, in which case one
part forms a cap which can be removed to take out the valve when required.
The seating or facing for the valve and the valve is turned, and the back of the
valve has a projection in a hole in which the screw nut is placed for the screw,
which is fitted in a stuffing box in the ordinary manner, and has an index to show
the position of the valve as in ordinary sluice valves.
In the centre of the back of the valve there is a projection, in which a pin is
secured that forms the fulcrum of a cross bar, the ends of which come against the
casing on each side of the bore of the valve when it is nearly closed; an incline on
one end of the bar coming upon an incline on the casting, and the continued motion
of the screw after this contact of the lever and incline, causes the bar to force the
valve firmly against the facing or seating.
When the screw is reversed to open the valve the pressure is taken off the valve
by the first movement of the screw, and then the valve is free to move without
unnecessary friction.
The bar above mentioned is placed with its lengthway in a line with the screw;
but in place of it a bar or roller is or may be employed at a right angle to the
screw, each end of the bar which extends across the bore coming against an incline
formed on the casting, one at each side of the bore.
My Invention also consists in a modification where a shaft, toothed pinion, and
rack is substituted for the screw, the rack being formed on the lover or cross bar,
and the pinion or shaft also acting as a roller for the end of the bar to roll against
when the pressure comes upon it.
My Invention for double faced valves consists in making the scating for one
valve at an incline to that for the other valve, and in jointing two valves together
back to back by a connection in the centre of each.
When these valves are nearly in their closed position they wedge, and thus force
each other against their facings or seatings.
Or both facings or seatings for a double valve are made parallel to each other.
Both valves are then connected with the same screw nut so has to have play to
and from each other, and each valve has a projection from its centre to carry the
fulcrum pin of a lever.
The ends of the two levers come together on one side of the fulcrum, and they
are apart and free on the other side of the fulcrum, and when the valves are nearly
closed a wedge secured or formed on the casting acts to force the ends of the two
levers apart, and this puts pressure on each valve to force it against its seating.
In place of the levers a bar or roller is carried on the projection from the centre
of the back of each valve, and each end of each of these bars or rollers comes against
the sides of a double incline or wedge formed on or secured to the casting, one
wedge on each side of the bore of the casting, and when the valve is nearly closed
these wedges or inclines act upon the ends of the bars or rollers, and force the
valves against their seatings.

page_text: Another part of my Invention, applicable to my improved valves and to
ordinary sluice valves, consists in making the screw with two threads, a fine and
a coarse pitch, the fine pitch to screw through a nut in the casting, or cap, or in a
part attached to the cap, and the coarse pitch thread through a nut on the valve.
The working of the screw thus arranged will cause the screw to move to and
fro end ways, and thus indicate the position of the valve, and at the same time help
by this movement to move the valve. The fine pitch screw thread would have to
be reverse to the coarse pitch thread of the screw, so that the end movement
imparted to the screw, and the movement imparted to the valve by the screw
screwing through the nut on the valve, would both act to cause the valve to move
in the same direction.
Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation; Fig. 2, a front elevation; and Fig. 3, a plan
with the cap removed, illustrating one modification of my Invention where the
parts are actuated by a screw.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views corresponding respectively with Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
illustrating another modification of my Invention where the parts are actuated by
a shaft, toothed pinion, and rack.
Fig. 7 is a side sectional elevation, and Fig. 8 a front elevation of a double valve
according to another modification of my Invention.
Figs. 9 and 10 are views corresponding respectively to Figs. 7 and 8 of another
modification of double valves according to my Invention.
Figs. 11 and 12 are also views corresponding respectively to Figs. 7 and 8 of
another modification of single valve, where instead of a lever a bar or roller is
placed across the valve, the ends of which are acted upon by an incline at each side
of the bore of the casing.
Fig. 13 illustrates an arrangement of screw applicable to all kinds of sluico valves
actuated by screws.
The same letters and Figures of reference will be used for the same or
corresponding parts in each Figure of the Drawings.
a is the casing of each valve; a', the cap part of the casing; a², the stuffing box
of the screw or shaft actuating the valve; b is the valve in the case of single valves;
and b and b¹, the valves in the case of double valves; a³ are ribs cast inside the
casing for guiding the valves when slided, which valves have a groove formed on
each side to grasp on each side of the guide ribs, seen best in Figs. 3 and 6.
c is the screw that gives motion to the valves, but in the modification shown by
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, c is the shaft which gives motion to the valve.
The screw works in a nut c¹, which is held loosely in a recess cast in a projection
on the back of the valve (b), except that in the modification shown by Figs. 7
and 8 the screw nut is cast with recesses in it to fit the ends of the two levers, as
shown.
In the modification shown by Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the shaft c carries a toothed
pinion that gears with rack teeth on the back of the lever.
In the modification shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, there are projections b² from the
back of the valve, which carry the fulcrum of a lever d which extends across
the bore, one end of this lever being bevelled to come and wedge firmly against
an incline a formed on the casing when the valve is down in the position, as
shown.
In the modification shown by Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the lever d with the toothed
rack on the back acts the same as the lever d in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
There are flanges on each side of the teeth of the rack lever d, which are or may
be arranged to roll against the shaft c or plain edges on the toothed pinion when
the lever d is being wedged down.
When the valve is being opened, and the lever d, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, is free, there
are two projections on the back of the valve, which prevent the lever & from
moving out of gear with the pinion.
By means of friction applied to the shaft c, or by a ratchet wheel and pawl at
the exterior end of the shaft c, the valve may be held open in any required

page_text: position, but it does not require any other arrangement than is shown in Figs. 4, 5,
and 6, if the valve is used with the shaft c in a vertical position.
In Figs. 7 and 8 two valves b and are shown back to back with a lever d
jointed to each, the ends of the levers coming against a double wedge or incline a'
on the casing when the valve is closed, as shown.
In Figs. 9 and 10 two valves b and b¹ are jointed together back to back, as
sliown; the seating of one valve is at an angle to that of the other valve, and
when the valves are forced down by the screw c they wedge one another firmly
against their respective sentings.
In Figs. 11 and 12 there is a cross bar or roller d* carried in the projections b²
from the back of the valve.
The hole in the part be is slotted in a direction at a right angle to the screw, so
that when the pressure comes upon the bar d* it is free to adjust itself, and bring
its pressure on the centre part of the projection and valve.
Each end of the bar or roller comes against an incline a cast or secured on each
side of the bore of the casing. Fig. 13 illustrates the mode of actuating all kinds
of sluice valves by a screw c with a coarse and fine pitched reversed screw thread.
The coarse pitched screw thread screws through the screw nut attached to the
valve in the ordinary manner.
The fine pitched reversed screw screws through a cap a*, which also encloses the
stuffing box a².
By this arrangement the screw moves endways when rotated, and this shows the
extent to which the valve is open, and this movement withdraws, when the valve
is opened, the inner end of the screw more away from the bore to leave a clear
opening when the valve is fully opened.
I have now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and the
modes of carrying it into effect, and claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The several combinations and arrangements of valves, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of a lever (d) and incline (a) with a valve (b),
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of a bar or roller (*) and two inclines (a¹) with a
valve (b), substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 11 and 12
of the Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination and arrangements of two valves (b and b¹) back to
back, either jointed together or actuated by two levers, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8, and Figs. 9 and 10 of the Drawings.
Fifthly. The combination and arrangement of a pinion and toothed rack lever (d)
with a valve (b), substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 4, 5,
and 6 of the Drawings.
Sixthly. The mode of actuating sluice valves by a double threaded screw,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 13 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Woodward, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN WOODWARD. (L.S.)