IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP-VALVES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
We, JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the firm of
J. Hopkinson and Co of Huddersfield in the County of York, Engineers do
hereby declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP-VALVES
to be as follows:-
"
Our Invention relates to improvements in stop-valves of the class described in
the Specifications of our former Letters Patent N° 4586 A.D. 1881 N° 3080
A.D. 1882 and N° 4017 A.D. 1883. The Invention set forth in the first of these
Specifications relates to valves in which there is a part termed the "valve proper
formed with parallel faces fitted to slide upon seats which surround, and extend
from, the inlet and outlet apertures in the box or casing, and is stated to consist
chiefly in the combination of two discs or plates which have flat or plane faces and
have a spring or springs placed between them in such a manner that the disc-faces
are held to their seats with a constant or unremitting pressure, the sliding
movements for opening and closing the said valve being preferably effected by a
screw spindle extending through a stuffing box.
In the second of the said Specifications we describe an Invention consisting in
combining with such valves a rack and pinion so arranged that the sliding part of
the valve will be opened or closed by turning the pinion on its axis.
In the third of our said Specifications we describe improvements chiefly designed
to facilitate the insertion of the sliding part of the valve between its seats, and its
removal therefrom.
In the valves described in all of the above cited Specifications the valve faces
are plane surfaces arranged parallel to each other and bearing upon their seats with
elastic pressure due to the aforesaid spring or springs.
But according to our present Invention we modify the said valves by forming
the sliding part or valve proper of two portions with semi-cylindrical, or nearly
semi-cylindrical, surfaces and fit them to slide in a cylindrical chamber whose axis
intersects at right angles the axis of the inlet and outlet passages of the valve-box.
We prefer to construct one or both of these semi-cylindrical pieces with a hollow
boss on its inner side for the reception of the spring whereby the said pieces are
pressed apart and against their seats. And if the valve is operated by a screw-
spindle we may form the lower part of the said spindle with an eye or loop to fit
the said boss and thereby connect the said spindle with the valve. Or we may, for
this purpose, form on the lower end of the said spindle a square head or end to
enter recesses in the said semi-cylindrical pieces.

page_text: It is necessary to prevent the turning of the said valve on its axis when in place
in the said chamber, and for this purpose we provide the latter with a pin or stud
arranged to project into the space between the two parts of the said valve; or we
may substitute for this device any other suitable means for effecting the same
object.
In some instances we combine with the valve consisting of the two parts or
pieces as above described, wedges or other devices for assisting the pressure of the
spring or springs placed between the said two parts or pieces.
We construct the valve box lid with a chamber and connect the same with tho
box as described in the last of our aforesaid Specifications and we form in the
bottom of the said box an aperture closed by a screw cap or cover.
When constructed as above described our improved valve has an advantage not
attainable in the valves described in our said former Specifications viz., the
advantage of being able to grind the semi-cylindrical sliding parts of the valve in
a very easy and expeditious manner in the said chamber, and to perform this
operation without removing or detaching the valve-box from the pipes after it has
been secured in its place.
Our present Invention comprises the combination of a valve such as herein
described with the Inventions described in our said former Specifications or any
portions of such Inventions that are applicable for such combination and
advantageous for the purpose of our improvements.

page_text: We, JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the firm of
J. Hopkinson & Co, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP-VALVES" and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
Our Invention relates to improvements in stop-valves of the class described in
the Specifications of our former Letters Patent A.D. 1881. N° 4586. A.D. 1882
N° 3080 and A.D. 1883 N° 4017. The Invention set forth in the first of these
Specifications relates to stop-valves in which there is a sliding valve or part termed
the "valve proper." This valve is formed with parallel faces fitted to slide upon
seats which surround, and extend from, the inlet and outlet apertures in the box
or casing, and, the improvement in this valve is stated to consist chiefly in the
combination of two discs or plates which have flat or plane faces, and have a
spring or springs placed between them in such a manner that the disc faces are
held to their seats with a constant or unremitting pressure, the sliding movements
for opening and closing the said valve being preferably effected by a screw-spindle
extending through a stuffing or packing box.
In the second of the said Specifications we describe an Invention consisting in
combining, with such stop-valves, a rack and pinion so arranged that the sliding
part or "valve proper" will be operated to open or close the same by turning the.
pinion on its axis.
In the third of our said Specifications, which relates to the same class of
stop-valves, we describe improvements chiefly designed to facilitate the insertion
of the two aforesaid discs or plates between, and their removal from, the seats.
In the stop-valves described in all of the above cited Specifications, the sliding
valve-faces are plane surfaces arranged parallel to each other and bearing upon
their seats with elastic pressure due to the aforesaid spring or springs.
But, according to our present Invention, we modify the said sliding parts or
valves by constructing them with semi-cylindrical or convex faces fitted to slide
on correspondingly shaped seats, as hereinafter described, and as illustrated in the.
accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of one form or modification of our
improved stop-valve..
Figure 2 shews the screw-threaded spindle of the said valve formed with a ring
or loop for connecting with the sliding part or valve proper.
Figure 3 is partly a longitudinal vertical section, illustrating the application of
our Invention to a stop-valve wherein the sliding part or valve proper is operated
by a rack and pinion.
Figure 4 is a top view of the same, with the lid or cover removed, and partly in
section on the line x, x, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of another form or modification of our
improved stop-valve, and
Figure 6 is a plan of the same, with the cover removed.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is the valve-box, and B the lid or cover of the same.
We form the sliding valve or "valve proper" of two portions a, a, which have
semi-cylindrical, or nearly semi-cylindrical, surfaces, and which we fit together in
such a manner that they will bear and slide properly against their seats c, which
form the two opposite sides of a cylindrical chamber in the valve-box, the axis of
which chamber intersects the axis of the inlet and outlet passages, as shown. We

page_text: prefer to construct one or both of these semi-cylindrical pieces a with a hollow
boss on the inner side, for the reception of the spring b, whereby the said- pieces are
pressed apart and against their seats c. And, if the valve is operated by a
screw-spindle which moves end wise without turning on its axis, we prefer to form
the lower part of the said spindle with an eye or loop d, as clearly shewn in
Figure 2, to fit the said boss and thereby connect the spindle with the sliding part
.or valve.
We also, in some instances, accomplish the same object, that is to say, the
connection of the spindle with the sliding valve, by forming on the lower end of
the said spindle a square head or end e to enter recesses in the said semi-cylindrical
pieces a, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6.
It is obvious that in using a cylindrical valve fitted with a capability of sliding
and designed to slide without turning in the said chamber, it is necessary to
provide special means for preventing the rotation of the said valve on its axis.
We, therefore, form on the ring or loop d of the spindle, lugs or projections d',
which are fitted to slide in grooves in the sides of the said chamber, as clearly
shewn in Figure 4. Or we provide a pin or stud ƒ arranged to project from the
side of the said chamber into the space between the two parts a of the said valve,
as in Figure 6; or we substitute for these devices any other suitable means for
effecting the same object.
In some instances, we combine with the valve, consisting of the two semi-
cylindrical or convex parts or pieces a as above described, wedges or other devices
for assisting the spring or springs placed between the said two parts or pieces.
We construct the valve-box-lid B with a chamber, and connect the same with
the box A, and we form in the bottom of the said box an aperture closed by a
screw cap or cover as described in the last of our aforesaid Specifications.
When constructed as above described, our improved stop-valve has certain very
important advantages not attainable in any of the stop-valves described in our
said former Specifications viz. :-the capability of having the sliding parts a of the
valve ground to their seats o in a very easy and expeditious manner, and of having
this operation performed without removing or detaching the valve-box from the
pipes, after it has been secured in its place.
Our present Invention comprises the combination of a cylindrical or approximately
cylindrical sliding valve (such as is herein termed the valve proper) with the
operating or adjusting devices, or with other portions of our above cited Inventions
that are applicable for such combination and advantageous for the purpose of our
improvements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
First. The improvements in stop-valves of the class described in our above cited
Specifications, consisting in the employment of curved or cylindrical surfaces in
the construction of the sliding part or valve proper and the seats or surfaces upon
which the same slides, substantially as set forth:
Second. The combination, with the said sliding part or valve, of the lugs or
projections, or other suitable means for preventing. the turning.of the said valve in
its chamber, substantially as set forth.