Improvements in Valves for Water, Steam, or other Liquids or Gases.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1859-Accepted, 13th July. 1859
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Water, Steam, or other Liquids or
Gases.
I, Sir WILLIAM THOMSON, Knight, of Glasgow College, Doctor of Laws and
Professor of Natural Philosophy, in the University and College of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
My Invention relates to improvements in valves for water, steam or other liquids or
gases and the objects are:-
First To provide such a non-rigid connection between a valve, and the rigid
material by which it is pressed against its seat as shall allow it freely to take its proper
position for perfectly closing the aperture.
Second To allow the valve to be ground by rubbing it on its seat every time
it is closed or opened so as to automatically improve its fitting without disconnecting
the apparatus.
Third To provide a metallic substitute for the fibrous or other nonmetallic
material in common use for stuffing boxes around the shaft by which the valve is
worked from the outside.
I shall describe these improvements first particularly for the case in which the
force required to work the valve is applied directly to it by means of a screw.
The
screw ends with a cylindrical can in the mouth of which the valve is mounted with
bent springy discs of metal between it and the closed end of the cam. Two slots in
the sides of the can, near its lip, and a pin through the valve, with its end in this
slot keep the valve in the mouth of the can and allow it to yield slightly into the can
when the screw is turned so as to press the valve against its bed. generally use a
thick flat disc for the valve stopping against a flat bed, but a spherical or conical
valve, stopping against a conical bed may be preferred in some cases. In cases in
which the other end of the screw can conveniently be open a cross arm for turning it
by hand is rigidly fixed to it, or cast in one piece with it. When, to prevent the
escape of fluid round the screw, it is necessary to keep it wholly enclosed I work it
by means of a piece of metal fitting in a conical collar, and turned by a handle fixed
to it outside. A deep slot cut in the inside conical part of this metallic piece acts
on a flat bar belonging to one end of the screw so as to turn the screw and at the
same time to allow the screw to move longitudinally.
For large valves, when the grinding action by turning on the bed is not wanted, I
attach the valve to the screw end by a base and socket joint or equivalent arrange-
ment, allowing freedom to the valve to let it place itself in contact with its bed, all
round, but not freedom to clatter when the passage is open and liquid is rushing
through. I use this arrangement also for a valve actuated by a lever as in the case
of a steam safety valve or the ball and lever valve of a water cistern.
Dated this 20th day of March 1980
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Petitioner's Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Valves for Water, Steam, or other Liquids or .
Gases.
I, Sir WILLIAM THOMSON, Knight, of Glasgow College, Doctor of Laws and
Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University and College of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain 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 :-
My Invention relates to improvements in valves for water, steam, or other liquids or
gases, and the objects are:-
First. To provide such a non-rigid connection between a valve and the rigid
material by which it is pressed against its seat as shall allow it to freely take its proper
position for perfectly closing the aperture.
Second. To allow the valve to be ground by rubbing it on its seat every time it is
closed or opened, so as to automatically improve its fitting without disconnecting
the apparatus.
Third. To provide a substitute for the fibrous or other non-metallic material in
common use for stuffing boxes around the shaft by which the valve is worked from
outside.
I shall describe these improvements first particularly for the case in which the form force
require to work the valve is applied directly to it by means of a screw.
The screw
ends with a cylindrical can, in the mouth of which the tube valve is mounted with bent
springy dises of metal between it and the closed end of the can. Two slots in the
sides of the can near its lip, and a pin through the valve with its end in this slot keep
the valve in the mouth of the can and allow it to yield slightly into the can when the
screw is turned so as to press the valve against its bed. I generally use a thick flat
disc for the valve, stopping against a flat bed but a spherical, or conical valve, stopping
against a conical bed may be preferred in some cases. In cases in which the other
end of the screw can conveniently be open, a cross arm for turning it by hand is
rigidly fixed to it or cast in one piece with it. When to prevent the escape of fluid
round the screw it is necessary to keep it wholly enclosed, 1 work it by means of
a piece of metal fitting in a conical collar and turned by a handle fixed to the out-
side.
A deep slot cut in the inside conical part of this metallic piece acts on a flat
bar belonging to one end of the screw, so as to turn with the screw, and at the same
time to allow the screw to move longitudinally.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
which I will now proceed to describe.
Figure 1, is a vertical section, and Figure 2, is a horizontal section on line x, y,
of a stop-cock fulfilling the first and second objects. Figure 3, is a vertical section
of a similar stop-cock for larger construction of pipes. Figure 4, is a vertical section
of a stop-cock fulfilling the three objects. Figures 5, 6, and 7, are vertical sections of
stop-cocks with valves fulfilling the first object only, and Figure 8, is a plan of the
stop-cock with the cover removed, of which Figure 7, is the vertical section.
Referring to Figure 1, a, represents the handle or cross bar connected to the
screw b. At the bottom of the screw there is a cavity or can c, which contains an
elastic packing. This elastic packing is built up of a series of discs of metal, each
slightly bent, and the lowermost one of the discs is embossed at its centre, as shewn,
to secure that it shall press centrally on the valve g. The valve g, consists of a thick
flat disc of metal, which is also in the cante. There is a pin h, through the valve,
the ends of which project beyond the valve at each side, and work in the slots i, i
This pin working in the slots keeps the valve in the mouth of the can, and allows it
to yield slightly into the can when the screw is turned so as to press the valve
against its seat, and also causes the valve to turn with the screw and rub on the seat.
A screw with shoulder is fixed to the stop-cock; as shewn at K, k, Figures 1, and 2, to
prevent the valve being lifted too high.

page_text: For larger diameters of pipe in which the construction shewn in Figure 1, would
entail a screw of inconveniently large diameter, the arrangement shewn in Figure 3,
is preferable. In this case the screw m, works in a cover screwed on the open top
of the valve chamber. The cross handle n, may be fixed on the screw by any con-
venient and secure method. As shewn in the drawing, the screw m, ends in a
portion of square section, slightly tapered, and a corresponding hole is made in the
cross handlen, the handle being fixed home by pressure. A pin o, secures it firmly
in its place. The valve with pin and spring washers in can are similar in this stop
cock to those already described, and are marked in Figure 3, with the same letters
as in Figure 1.
When it is required to prevent the escape of fluid round the screw, I use a stop-
cock, as represented in Figure 4. Instead of the usual stuffing box, and packing, I
employ a metal cone p, to which the cross handle 7 is attached, and which is
kept pressed into its conical scat in the cover r, of the valve chamber by means of a
bent spring washer s. A groove t, around the mouth of the valve chamber, and a
corresponding feather in the face of the valve cover, provides a means of making
a packed joint between the cover and the valve chamber. A slot cut in the under.
face of the cone p, receives the end of a flat feather or projection u, in which the
screw terminates, and so allows the screw to be turned by the cross handle 7, and at
the same time allows the screw to move longitudinally in the operation of the valve.
The valve with pin and spring washers in can are similar to those already described
with reference to Figure 1, and are marked in Figure 4. with the same letters.
Instead of the bent springy discs herein before referred to, the requisite elasticity
may be obtained from other forms of spring, or other elastic material, such as a
metallic spiral spring.
For valves of a large size, or to suit circumstances in which the grinding action
by turning on the seat is not wanted, I attach the valve to the screw end by a ball-
and-socket joint, or equivalent arrangement, allowing freedom to the valve to let it
place itself in contact with its seat all round, but not freedom to clatter when the
passage is open and liquid, or gas, or steam is rushing through. A method of carrying
out this plan is shewn at Figure 5. The screw, which is in one piece with the cross
handle w, ends in a ball a The valve y, is hollowed out, and has resting in the
bottom of the cavity a springy plate or plates, upon which the ball, presses in
closing the valve opening. A circular plate, bent as shewn at a, and in two halves,
is firmly bolted to the vaive y, and has an opening enclosing_the_neck above the
ball E, thus constituting the required ball-and socket connection between the valve
and the screw.
The springy plate is useful to prevent jamming of the screw in case of change
of temperature, or otherwise, and to prevent damage to the large flat thin valve by
overscrewing.
I use the ball-and-socket joint, or equivalent arrangement for a valve actuated by a
lever, as in the ball and lever valve of a water cistern. This is illustrated at
Figure 6.
The hall and lever arrangement shewn in Figure 6, is similar to that ordinarily
employed in cisterns, and the valve is similar to that already described with reference.
to Figure 5, except that the springy plate z, is not required. A guide &', is provided
which only allows the lever to move up and down in a vertical direction. This guide
consists of a fork projecting downwards, fixed to the bar c', which allows the lever to
move freely between its prongs.
A water or steam safety valve constructed with the ball-and-socket arrangement is
illustrated in Figures 7, and 8; Figure 7, being a vertical section, and Figure 8, a
plan with the cover removed.
The lever is pivotted on a rounded knife edge, as shewn at d³, resting in a.
V-groove e. The line of the knife edge, the valve seat, and the point of application
of the spiral spring to the lever, are all in one plane. The valve is formed similarly
to that already described with reference to Figure 6, with the ball-and socket arrange-
ment connecting it with the lever. The valve is slightly hollowed in its centre, so as

page_text: to bring the point of contact between the ball, and the valve y, into the same plane
with the valve seat, knife edge, and the eye for the spring. The lever is guided by
a fork similar to that already described with reference to Figure 6.
Having now shewn by illustrations certain particular modes of carrying out the
various forms of my Invention, which however, may be almost indefinitely varied to
suit the particular circumstances of each case; and having by such illustrations, and
by this Specification particularly ascertained the nature of my said Invention and how
in certain typical cases it is to be carried out, what I desire to claim and secure by
Letters Patent is :-
1. The forms of stop cock for water, steam, or other liquids or gases, substantially
no hereinbefore-described and illustrated with-reference-to-Figures 1; to S, of the
annexed-drawings, by which the valve-is so connected with a serew or lever that it is
allowed to-bed itself on its sent while the serew or lever is being moved to produce the
requisite-pressure.
2.1. A springy mechanism, so connecting a valve with a screw that, while the screw
is turned to produce the requisite pressure for closing the valve, the valve is allowed
to bed itself properly on its seat, and is compelled to turn on its seat, substantially
as described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1, to 4, of the annexed
drawings.
3.2. The method with feather and slot and cone illustrated in Figure 4, by which
the usual stuffing box and packing are rendered unnecessary, and are replaced by
metallic surfaces in direct contact, the watertightness of which is maintained auto-
matically by the pressure of a springy mechanism during the ordinary mode of use of
the stop cock, substantially as described.
4. 3. The ball-and socket arrangement applied to valves, the socket being in the valve,
so as to receive pressure from the ball in the plane of the valve-seat or as nearly in it as
may be substantially as described with reference to Figures 5, to 8, of the annexed
drawings, and also as applied in connection with any mode of producing the requisite
pressure.
Dated this 7th day of June 1889.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.