Improved Valve and Means for Operating it.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Valve and Means for Operating it.
A communication from SAMUEL C. MCNEILL, Master Mechanic, of the city of
Montreal, County of Hochelaga, and PETER CLARKE, Mechanical Superintendent
Grand Trunk Railway, of Richmond, both in the Province of Quebec, Canada.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, M.I.M.E.,
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 invention relates to a valve suitable for hydrants, water cranes, and other
positions where it is necessary to control a large volume of water; and the object of
the invention is to arrange the valve and its water passage-ways in such a manner
that the opening or closing of a small valve in a small water passageway is sufficient
to open or close a large valve located in a large water-chamber communicating with
the water main and with a hydrant or other appliance.
The invention consists of a valve connected by a suitable spindle to a piston fitted
into a cylindrically-shaped chamber communicating with the water-main; the spindle
connecting the valve to the piston being of sufficient length to permit the piston to be
on one side of the port connecting the chamber to the water main, while the valve is.
in contact with its valve seat located on the opposite side of the said port and
designed to control the passageway leading to the discharge port of the hydrant or
other appliance. A small passageway controlled by a small valve is provided for
the purpose of forming a connection between the two parts of the water chamber
located on each side of the piston or on the face side of valve and bottom of piston ;
the whole being otherwise constructed substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter
more particularly explained.
1
Fig. 1 is a perspective view partially in section, exhibiting this improved valve
applied to a hydrant.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective sectional views of alternative forms of the improved
valve.
In the drawing like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the different
figures.
For the purpose of this specification the improved valve is exhibited, applied to a
hydrant.
;
A represents the valve chamber having a port or aperture B to communicate with.
the main from which the supply of water is obtained. On one side of this port B.
and inside of the chamber A is formed a valve-seat C against which the valve D is
designed to fit as indicated.
E is a piston fitted into the cylindrically shaped valve chamber A. The piston E
is connected to the valve D by a spindle F which spindle is made sufficiently long to
hold the piston E on one side of the port B while the valve D is in contact with its
valve seat C as indicated.
G is a small water passageway one end of which enters the chamber A at a
point between the piston E and the valve D when the device is made as shown in
fig. 1; or when made as shown in figs. 2 3 and 4 it enters on the face side of
the valve in any case entering the said chamber on the opposite side of the
piston E. Or in other words one end of the passageway communicates with the
chamber A where the port B enters while the other end of the said passageway
enters the said chamber on the side of the piston E remote from the said port B.
A small three-way valve H is placed in the passageway G. When the valve H is
set as shown in figs. 3 and 4 free communication is open between the two parts of the
chamber A separated by the piston E and as a consequence the water which enters;

page_text: the port B passes through the passageway G to the opposite side of the piston E
and the valve D will be held closed as indicated in the drawing by the extra pressure
acting upon it, the pressure upon one side of the piston E then merely serving to
balance that acting upon the other side. In order to cause the valve D to open it is
merely necessary to turn the small valve H so as to close the passageway G and as
the valve H is a. three-way valve as indicated in fig. 3 the turning of the said valve so
as to cut off communication between the port side of the piston E and the opposite
side of the said piston, will open the passageway between the said opposite side of the
piston and the exterior of the chamber A; consequently the water which has been
admitted into the chamber on the said. opposite side of the piston is permitted to flow
out freely through the passageway in the three-way valve H and as all pressure is
thus removed from the said opposite side of the piston E the pressure of the water
entering the port B will act on the port side of the said piston and force it down so as
to carry the valve D clear of its seat C permitting the water entering the port B to
flow freely to the discharge port of the hydrant.
With the view of preventing the piston E passing the mouth of the passageway G
a projection I is formed on the head of the valve-chamber A, which projection extends
above the mouth of the said passage-way forming a support to hold the piston E in a
proper position to be acted upon by the pressure of the water when the passage-way G
is once more open.
J is a valve seated on a hole made in the wall of the chamber A immediately above
the valve-seat C. This valve is controlled by the pivoted lever K which extends
through an elongated slot made in one of the guiding fingers L attached to the
valve D. When the valve D is closed as indicated the pivoted lever K is raised by
the action of the finger L in such a manner as to hold the valve J open so that the
water which may be left in the upper part of the chamber A and the hydrant will be
drained off.
From this description it will be seen that the ordinary screw spindle with its
stuffing box and gland is dispensed with and a large water valve constructed in
accordance with this invention is able to be operated by the motion of a very small,
valve which may be controlled without the slightest exertion.
In figs. 2 and 3 is shown an attachment to the valve D which not only forms a
guide like the guiding fingers L but also effectually prevents any gravel or foreign
substance finding its way upon the valve-seat C. This attachment consists of a
sleeve M fitted into the chamber A above the valve-seat C. This sleeve has a hole N
made in it so that the water which enters at B is permitted to pass into the hydrant
or other appliance when the valve D has been opened in the manner already.
specified.
In figs. 1 and 3 is shown the passageway G formed through a pipe while in fig. 4 it
is shown made in the body of the chamber A which latter form of valve-chamber is
specially adapted for water mains or pipes and may be used in steam and air
pipes.
In fig. 1 is shown the small valve H operated by a twisting rod O while in fig. 4 is
shown a bell-crank fixed to the said valve H.
My correspondents do not wish to confine themselves to the exact form of con-
struction illustrated as the forms may be readily varied even more than shown without
altering the principle of the invention.
In fig. 1 the valve D is seated so as to close the outlet port while in figs. 23 and 4
it is seated so as to close the inlet port B. In the first construction the valve D is
on' one side and the piston E on the opposite side of the inlet port while in the other
construction the valve and piston are located on opposite sides of the outlet port.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-,
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. A valve chamber having an inlet and an outlet port and a valve-seat formed
either on the inlet or outlet port a valve designed to fit against the said seat and
'

page_text: connected to a piston fitting the chamber on the opposite side of the uncovered
port in combination with a small passageway provided with a cut-off valve com-
municating at one end with the chamber at a point where the inlet port enters, and
at its other end with the said chamber on the side of the piston remote from the said
inlet port substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A valve chamber having an inlet and an outlet port and a valve-seat formed
on the inlet port a valve designed to fit against the said seat and a sleeve M fixed to
the said valve and having a hole N made in it a piston connected to the said valve
and located in the chamber on the opposite side of the outlet in combination with a
small passageway provided with a cut-off valve and communicating at one end with
the chamber at a point where the inlet port enters and at its other end with the said
chamber on the side of the piston remote from the inlet substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 13th day of February 1890
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.