IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP VALVES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP
VALVES." A communication from abroad by Edmund Russell, of New York
City, in the County and State of New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1877.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Chandos Chambors, Adelphi, in the County of Mid-
dlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP VALVES." A communication from abroad by
Edmund Russell, of New York City, in the County and State of New York, United
States of America.
The first part of the Invention relates to what are commonly termed globe valves.
It has long been common to provide a soft or yielding face to a globe valve to botter
adapt it to variations in the seat and ensure a tight fit. Vulcanized rubber alone
or in combination with other materials has been used. I have provided novel
means for overcoming a difficulty which has hitherto been serious with such.
I employ a guard ring or guard piece around the exterior of the soft face, leaving
it free to slip forward or backward from the seat as required, the motion being only
slightly resisted. I make a pretty tight fit of the parts so that there is considerable
friction to resist this backward motion of the guard ring, and provide adequate
means for preventing the ring from ever slipping downward too far in the first
instance. The lower edge of the ring being exactly flush with the bearing surface
of the soft material when the valve is new slips backward a very little under the
pressure with which the valve is screwed down to its seat, but not sufficiently to
expose any surface of the soft material to the abrasive action of the current of
steam or other fluid passing the valve. The backward slipping motion is repeated
as often as required, the soft material gradually wearing away, but enduring much
longer than when, as is usual, the projecting ring is adjusted by hand, becauce when
thus adjusted at long intervals it is necessarily made to expose a considerable surface
of the soft material below its lower edge when it is first set back. I provide for
securing a tolerable fit of the hard metal to the seat when, as is sometimes the case,
the soft material is entirely worn away or otherwise deteriorated so as to become of
[Price fid]

page_text: no effect. I provide a narrow ridge or lip on the metal portion of the valve at the
back of the soft material, which is adapted to be flattened a little when crushed
down firmly upon the seat and thus to aid in inducing a better fit and tighter joint
than would be otherwise possible.
The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out
the Invention. The accompanying Drawings form a part of this Specification.
Figure 1 is a central vertical section through my globe valve and its casing.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of what I term my gate valve. It shews
the mode of engagement of the valve stem with the two-part gate.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line X, X, in Figure 2. This
figure shews the wedge guides for imparting transverse motion to the parts of the
gate, the wedge guides moving one in one direction, and the other in the opposite
direction, as the valve stem is forced down.
Figure 4 is a top view of the two-part gate. It shews the angle upon which the
gate pieces are halved; this figure shews the parts as also tongued and grooved
together, which may or may not be done in practice as convenience may dictate.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring to Figure 1, A. is the fixed casing; A', the removable neck; and A², a
screw cap which encloses between itself and A¹ a stuffing box adapted to make a
tight joint around the screw stem E, which latter is formed with a collar e on its
lower end, adapted to engage with the valve and to compel the valve to rise or sink
as the screw stem is operated.
The main inovable part M of the valve is formed with an annular ridge or lip m,
in the position represented, adapted to bear tightly on the seat a, and to enable the
valve to serve and to make a tolerably close fit in the event of the complete failure
or loss of the other portions of the valve; B is a ring of rubber composition or
other suitable material, which is adapted to form the ordinary tight contact with
the seat ; D is an enclosing ring of hard brass or other suitable material, which
fits tightly around the exterior of the composition B and the main body M, being
turned inward over the latter as shewn; N is an engaging collar screwed fast upon
the part M; C is a ring or washer of felt, vulcanized india-rubber, or other elastic
material, interposed between the composition B and the main part M, m, of
the valve.
The spring C may be corrugated or embossed with points or other devices over
one or both its faces to increase its elastic action by the compression or widening of
such corrugations or points, or it may be partially filled up with cloth or other
fibrous materials to increase its toughness, or both these characteristics may be
present with advantage, but they are not essential. It is sufficient if the spring C
be of a material to withstand the fluids in which it works, the heat, etc., to
which it may be exposed, and be sufficiently elastic to change its form and yield
under any extraordinary pressure.
The several parts being applied together as shewn, and the valve put to use, the
lower edge of the ring Ď receives the main abrasive force of the steam or other
fluid, and protects the rubber composition B from being cut away. As the com-
position B becomes worn away, or by compression or other cause allows its working
face to recede upward, the hard metal ring D slides slowly upward, being only
restrained by its gravity and by the friction of its contact with the parts B and M.
It follows that the composition B is always allowed to come to a fair bearing against
the seat u, while the ring D serves always as a protection to its exterior.
When the valve is screwed down upon its seat the external ring D sustains no
considerable pressure, but yields readily upward. Its entire function is performed
in protecting the composition B against abrasion, and holding it firmly together, or
preventing it from spreading.
The spring C performs an important function. When the valve stem is screwed
down so that the valve forms a perfect stop with the parts heated by steam, the
subsequent cooling and contraction of the parts is liable to produce a tightening or
loosening of the contact of the valve with its sent. If the valve stem E, e, con-

page_text: tracts more than parts A, A¹, the pressure of the face B against the seat a is
relaxed. This may occur to such an extent as to allow the valve to leak from this
cause alone, and. this disturbing influence is always liable to aggravate any other
defect in the construction. Under other conditions the shrinkage of the outer casing
more than the valve stem is liable to crowd the face B on the scat a with extra-
ordinary tightness, so that if it becomes necessary to open the valve while cold the
parts are liable to be damaged. The amount of this difference in contraction is
never very great, and is amply provided for by the elasticity of a thin washer in
the position represented by my spring C. In screwing my valve down to its seat
the spring C is compressed; if afterwards a change in temperature or other cause
tends to induce a more severe contact of the valve with its seat, the spring C yields
by further compression. If the change in temperature or other cause induces a less
forcible contact of the valve with its seat, the spring C expands and maintains a
sufficient tightness. No amount of compression is liable to induce an injurious
pressure of the valve in its seat; and, on the other hand, no ordinary amount of
relaxing of the pressure due to a difference in contraction or expansion of the stem
or casing, or other cause, will be likely to make the valve leak, because the
spring C will by its elastic action compensate for the change of conditions.
It will now be understood that in the use of the valve, the rapid flow of the
steam or other fluid wears away the soft material B very slowly, and in proportion
as it is removed the main body M with its attachments is screwed down further to
close the valve. As this movement progresses the ring D being pressed forcibly
upon the seat a is moved slightly backward upon the main body M, and its friction
holds it firmly in the position in which it is left after each movement, so that it
rises and sinks with the valve in opening and closing after changing its position
thereon until a further woaring away of the part B causes it to move a little further
back; its lowor edge is practically flush with the working face of the soft material B
at all stages.
When from any cause the soft material B is entirely removed, then the main
body M is screwed downward to a correspondingly further extent to close the valve.
Under these conditions the narrow ridge or lip m is brought into forcible contact
with the seat a, and by virtue of its narrow bearing surface offering but a slight
resistance is flattened or distorted slightly upon the seat a, and thereby.forms a
tight joint additional to the approximately tight joint made by the edge of the
ring D, which it may be presumed will still remain of some service. The inner
surface of the ring D being accurately bored or otherwise truly formed and fitting
tightly around the main part M, will offer nearly or quite the same resistance to
slipping back after it has been pressed back to this great extent as at first.
The joint around the stein E is tightened by screwing down the cap A². The
inner face of this cap is finished with a conical cavity, and the top of the neck A¹ is
finished with a corresponding conical cavity in the opposite direction. Between
these parts is applied a ring cast or otherwise formed of an alloy of lead and tin,
and of a section adapted to match to this double conical cavity, as indicated by G.
On screwing down the cap A* the ring G is compressed together or slightly con-
tracted in diameter at the upper and lower edges, or if very plastic, it may be
compressed together in it whole extent. In any ordinary condition it can be thus
forced inward by screwing down the cap A so as to just press tightly against the
stem E all around, and the joint thus formed is easily kept tight. The parts are
easily and cheaply made and applied together. With the slight motion to which
the stem E is subjected, the double conical packing ring G will endure for a long
period. The parts may be taken apart and applied together with trifling labour as
often as may be desired.
Various modifications may be made in the proportions. The metallic casing D
although called a ring may be hexagonal or square or of various other forms, the
interior parts being correspondingly formed so that it matches thereto.
I have shown a confining nut screwed upon a threaded extension of the part M
as a means of holding the composition B and spring C in place; there may be a

page_text: washer of rigid metal or of elastic material between the confining nut and the
composition B, or other confining means may be used in place of this. I
propose to
use this globe valve not only for a stop valve, ordinarily so called, for steam, water,
or other fluids, but also in place of compression cocks and gauge cocks, and generally
where any fluid is to be stopped and controlled.
The second part of the Invention relates to what may be called straightway
valves or gate valves adapted for use in controlling the flow of illuminating gas or
other gases under slight pressure, or for controlling the flow of thick and viscid
fluids, as some of the forms of sugar syrup, coal tar, sizing, glue, and the like. The
valve is closed by a wedge motion. I construct the valve or gate in two parts
divided by a plane inclined to the faces of the gate. I provide upon the side walls
of the gate chamber two fixed wedges or wedge guides, which respectively engage
the two parts or halves of the gate as they are forced down by the action of the
screw stem. These wedge guides impart to the two halves a transverse motion
sliding one upon the other so as to wedge them apart and force their acting faces in
opposite directions against the annular scats, thus closing the valve by a tight
contact of both faces against the respective seats around the openings.
Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, A represents the fixed shell or casing of the
valve, and a the accurately finished seats surrounding the openings into the gate
chamber adapted for forming a tight contact with the opposite faces of the two-part
gate when the latter is closed. Two vertical wedge guides A³, A³, are formed in the
inner walls of the gate chamber, and as the valve is forced down act upon the flat
seats formed on the gate picces B¹, B². The two parts B1, B2, are halved together
at an angle and may be tongued and grooved, as shown. The faces which match
against the seats are parallel to each other and are made to approach or recede
from each other as the valve is raised and lowered; they are formed with recesses
to admit and properly take hold of the collar e on the lower end of the threaded
stem E. As the latter is screwed down or up the compound gate is correspondingly
depressed or elevated, as the case may be. In the downward movement the parts
slide down on the fixed wedges A³, and compel the parts to move on each other in the
directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 4. The parts must be so proportioned
that their effective faces come to tight bearings against their respective seats a after
the compound valve has moved downward across the aperture which they are to
close, and before it has struck the bottom of the gate chamber. On the return
motion so soon as the elevation of the collar e commences to raise the compound
gate, the parts are set at liberty and slide a little backward upon cach other, and
thus the friction of cach face against its sont a is relieved.
Having now fully described the Invention and what is considered the best means
of putting it in practice, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,-
Referring to Figure 1,―-
1st. The within described stop valve, shewn in Figure 1, having the metallic
guard D arranged, as represented, to guard the soft material B and stand with its
lower edge flush with the working surface thereof under all conditions, so long as
the soft material remains.
2ndly. The within described combination and arrangement of the soft bearing
piece B, protecting ring D, and the ridge or lip m on the main body M, arranged to
serve relatively to each other and to the seat a of a stop valve, as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
3rdly. The flat spring or elastic washer C in combination with the main body M
and bearing piece B of the valve, adapted to compensate for expansion and
contraction, as hercin specified.
4thly. The metallic packing ring G surrounding the valve stem E confined
between tapering surfaces in the compressing parts A1, A2, as and for the purposes
herein specified.
Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, I claim,—
The two-part crate B¹. B². having oppositely inclined backs in combination with

page_text: fixed wedge guides A³ and with operating means E, e, so that the transverse motion
of the parts B¹, B², in opposite directions shall urge the faces into contact with the
seats a as the valve is closed and relieve them from contact as the valve is opened,
substantially as herein described.
Also the combination of a screw stem having a collar upon its inner extremity,
the valve composed of two parts obliquely halved together, fixed wedge guides
adapted for imparting transverse motion to the two parts of the valve in opposite
directions, and the seats surrounding the openings into the gate chamber, sub-
stantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
F. J. BROUGHAM.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)