Improvements in Valve Operating Mechanism for Gas or Water Pipes and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN W. OGDEN, of 4, Irving Place, New York,
United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Valve Operating Mechanism for Gas or Water
Pipes and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 particularly to valves adapted to be used with gas and
water pipes and has for its purpose quickness of operation and sure and firm
closure of the valves. My invention is applicable to water gates and like
apparatus. To these ends my invention consists in the mechanism and its several
pait constructed, arranged, combined, and operated substantially in the manner
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown by way of example how my said
invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure is a vertical section showing one of the valves and its levers in eleva-
tion and
Figure 2 is a cross section of Figure 1.
According to my invention the valve or valves are removed from or replaced
upon the valve seat or sents by means of lazy tongs fulcrumed in the casing and
actuated by a wheel and screw-threaded operating rod or valve stem.
The tight
closure of the valves is effected by means of toggles which are brought into
operation when the valves come opposite their seats and which press the valves
firmly against the seats. The toggles are secured to the backs of the valves and
may be brought into operation by a pin pivoted to the elbows of the toggles and
bearing against the casing when the valve is pressed into position.
In the form of my invention shown in the drawings I have employed this means
of operating the toggles; though it is clear they may be operated in several other
ways. The surrounding casing B is shown provided with guides c¹ for cars
formed upon the valves C. I have shown a pair of oppositely facing valves C
resting upon the valve seats in the casing B. For most purposes it will be
sufficient to describe one of these valves.
Each valve is hung by links E to the ends of lazy tongs D fulcrumed as at d, in
the casing B. A head on the lower end of the operating rod or valve stem F, is
pinned to one of the cross joints of the lazy tongs, preferably by a through bolt/
which may pin both sets of lazy tongs for the two valves to the head on the stem I.
The valve stem extends through the casing, and is screw threaded at F1, to
receive the hand wheel G.
The hand wheel may be carried in, and free to turn upon, a suitable casting, as
shown, secured to the casing. When the hand wheel is turned in one direction the
stem F draws upon the lazy tongs and withdraws the valves from their seats.
When the wheel is turned in the opposite direction the reversed motion replaces the
valves upon their seats. To and between the two valves are secured toggles H.
from the elbows of which extend rods or pins J running through guides ; upon one
of the valves and of such length that when the valves are upon their seats the frec
ends of the rods or pins J strike the casing and straighten out the toggles causing
the valves to be firmly pressed against the faces of the valve scats. There are
preferably two or more sets of toggles H, and pins J, as the force is thereby more
evenly distributed than with but one.
After much experimenting I have produced this extremely simple and most

page_text: effective valve mechanism and by it, with no great exertion upon the hand wheel,
one can very quickly entirely close a thirty-inch valve against an enormous head
of water. It must not be understood however, that, in the broader of the following
claims, I mean to limit myself to any precise way of operating lazy tongs or the
toggles; for I have constructed them to operate simultaneously as herein described
or successively, in several different ways.
It is also clear that many modifications may be made in the details and arrange-
ments of my apparatus without departing from the principles involved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign corespondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In combination in a valve or gate operating mechanism a casing, one or more
valve seats therein, one or more valves arranged to travel in guides in the said
casing, one or more pairs of lazy tongs, for withdrawing and replacing the said
valve or valves, fulcrumed in the said casing, and secured by links to the
said valve or valves, a movable head for operating the said lazy tongs, means, (as
a wheel and screw), for actuating the said head, toggles for forcing the said valve
or valves against their respective seats, and one or more operating pins therefor
secured to the elbow or elbows of the said toggles, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
2. In combination with the stationary parts of a valve or gate operating
mechanism, a valve or gate, lazy tongs carrying the said valve or gate and fulcrumed
to the said stationary parts, toggles for forcing the said valve against its seat, an
operating pin secured to the elbow of the said toggles, and means, as a wheel and
screw, for simultaneously actuating the said lazy tongs and the said toggles,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
3. In combination with the stationary parts of a valve or gate operating
mechanism, a valve or gate, lazy tongs for withdrawing and replacing the said
valve or gate, toggles for tightly closing the said valve or gate, and means for
operating the said toggles and the said lazy tongs, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
4. In combination with the stationary parts of a valve or gate operating
mechanism, a valve, a pair of lazy tongs for withdrawing and replacing the said
valve, and means (as a wheel and screw), for actuating the said lazy tongs, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
5. In a valve or gate apparatus the following elements in combination, a gate
or valve, lazy tongs and an actuating screw or other device for operating the
lazy tongs, and through them the valve or gate, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
6. In combination with a valve or gate adapted to close orifices for the admission
or emission of fluids or gases, a system of lazy tongs levers, whereby the valves
may be operated by the extension and contraction of said levers, substantially as,
and for the purposes, set forth.
100
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.