IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Schram, Engineer, of 9, Northumberland Street,
Strand, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES." A. com-
munication from abroad by Elis Schenson, of Upsala, Sweden.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Schram at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1881.
RICHARD SCHRAM, Engineer, of 9, Northumberland Street, Strand, London.
IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES." A communication from abroad by Elis Schenson,
of Upsala, Sweden.
This Invention has for its object an arrangement by which the suction in valves
can be overcome. This suction is caused by the partial vacuum formed in
consequence of the outer periphery of the valve seat being larger than the inner.
By making the aperture for the escaping fluid equal to the inner periphery of the
valve seat this suction is overcome, and the valve will open easily and fully.: This
can be done by placing one or more stopping pieces or guides round the outer
periphery of the valve. The total width of these stopping pieces or guides should be
as nearly as possible equal to the difference between the inner and the outer
periphery of the valve seat; or the valve itself may be made of a particular form
by means of guides or otherwise attached to its outer periphery, and fitting close
to the outside of the valve seat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Schram in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th July
1881.
RICHARD SCHRAM, Engineer, of 9, Northumberland Street, Strand, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES." (A communication from abroad by Elis Schenson,
of Upsala, Sweden.)
This Invention, which relates to improvements in valves, and is applicable to all
lifting valves without reference to their form or uses, has for its object the
provision of simple means for effecting the avoidance of the well known suction
which occurs in valves of the ordinary construction, and the detrimental tendency
or influence of which is to prevent the full and free lifting of the valve, and thus
to impede the flow or passage of the escaping fluid.
This suction is caused by the partial vacuum formed in the passing of the
escaping fluid, in consequence of the outer aperture or periphery of the valve seat
being of a greater extension and area than the inner periphery thereof, and which
difference renders the escaping fluid (let it for example be supposed to be water)
unable to rise to the same height at the said outer and larger periphery of the
valve seat, where it is spread out over the larger area, aș at the inner and smaller
periphery, thus causing the said suction.
The principle of this Invention consists in avoiding this suction and its
detrimental influence, and increasing the efficiency of the valve by making the area
of the said aperture (that is, the operative perimeter of the outer periphery of the
valve seat) for the escaping fluid equal to that of the inner periphery of the valve
seat, which equalization permits of the escaping fluid rising to the same height all
over the valve seat, and consequently allows of the valve rising easily and fully,
aud of an unimpeded escape to the fluid.
Such being the nature and object of the present Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect; and in order that the above referred to principle of
the present Invention may be distinctly understood, I have annexed hereunto one
Sheet of Drawings illustrative of various applications thereof to valves of different
constructions, and I have marked the annexed Drawings with figures and letters
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is
to say :-
On the annexed Drawings Figures 1 to 12 are illustrative of some of the most
advantageous modifications of which the principle of the Invention is susceptible,
and which comprise the application in various ways to or around the outer
periphery of the valve, or of its seat, of one or more equalizing or stopping up
pieces, and which may also act as guides for the valve, the principal purpose and
effect of their application however being to reduce the outer periphery or escape
aperture of the valve seat equal in area to that of the inner periphery thereof, for
the purpose hereinbefore stated; and to effect this the total width of the said
equalizing or stopping up pieces or guides is made equal to the difference in
circumference between the inner and the outer peripheries of the valve seat.
Figures 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, are vertical sections, and Figures 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,
and 12, are respective plan views of valves and valve seats of various conformations
and as adapted with various modifications of the present improvements.
In Figures 1 & 2, d represents the inner periphery of the valve seat; c, the
outer periphery or escape aperture thereof, and a the equalizing or stopping up

page_text: pieces which fit as guides close around the valve, and the total width of which is
equal to the difference between the inner and the outer peripheries of the valve
seat, thus equalizing the area of escape at the inner and outer peripheries of and
all over the valve seat.
B
In Figures 3 and 4, the equalizing or stopping up pieces b are shown as attached
to the outer periphery of the valve itself, and fitting (as guides to the valve) close
around the valve seat.
Figures 5 and 6 are illustrative of a similar application to the next preceding,
but to a different form of valve.
Figures 7 and 8 are illustrative of the application of the equalizing pieces to the
outer periphery or escape aperture of the valve seating.
In adapting the present improvements to a valve made or fitted with guide
wings, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, I make the equalizing pieces of such a
total width as will cause the outer aperture or periphery of the valve seat to be
equal to the inner periphery thereof, minus the total width of the wings; but in
adapting them to a valve made or fitted with guide wings of the conformation
delineated in Figures 11 and 12, I take no account of the width of the said wings.
When the valve moves between the guides or pieces a, as shown in Figures 1
and 2, I prefer to make the valve seat slightly incline inwards, but when the
equivalent guides or pieces b are attached to the valve, as shown in Figures 3 to 6,
I prefer to make it incline outwards.
I would here remark that although I prefer to make the total width of the
stopping pieces or guides equal to the difference between the inner and the outer
peripheries of the valve seat, in order to attain the full advantages arising from
the application of the present improvements, yet I do not limit myself thereto, as,
according to obvious modifications of the present improvements, any small reduction
tending to equalize the said peripheries, will correspondingly improve the working
of the valve in relation to its usual working.
It will of course be understood that it is not necessary that the equalizing pieces
should be separate pieces, as they may be projections from a connecting ring or
piece, and they may, either singly, or in this connected, or in any equivalent
way, be secured to the valve or to its seat, or to the surroundings of either
wherever so applicable, or they may be formed there with of the same metal, or
they may be otherwise equivalently formed of any suitable metal or material, such
as is usually used in the manufacture of the valve or of its seating; the present
Invention relating not so particularly to the particular means which may be
employed for carrying it into effect, as to the use of means directly applicable to
the valve or to its seat, or to the surroundings thereof, and which shall be provided
for the purpose or shall have the effect and action hereinbefore clearly set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim
as the improvements communicated to me by the above named Elis Schenson, and
constituting the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent,
The combination with lifting valves and their valve seats (of any usual
construction) of equalizing or stopping up pieces, or of other equivalent means, which
may either be fixed or adapted to the outer periphery of the valve, and fit (as guides
thereto) close to the outer periphery of the valve seat, or may be fixed or adapted
to the outer periphery of the valve seat, and fit as guides close to the outer
periphery of the valve, or may be adapted to the surroundings of the valve or of
its seat in an equivalent manner, with the object, or for the purpose, or having
the effect of reducing the area of the escape aperture at the outer periphery of the
valve seat, equal to (or approximately equal to) that of the inner periphery thereof,
for the purposes of avoiding the usual suction between the valve and its seat, and
allowing of the full and free lifting of the valve and the unimpeded escape or

page_text: passage of the fluid, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated on the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Schram, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord 1881.
RICHARD SCHRAM. (L.S.)