AN IMPROVED COLLAPSIBLE TUBE VALVE TO BE PLACED IN PIPES AND PASSAGES FOR ADMITTING A FLOW OF WATER, STEAM, AIR, OR GAS IN ONE DIRECTION, AND PREVENTING A BACK FLOW IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wilson, of the City of Oakland, in the County of
Alemeda, in the State of California, one of the United States, Watchmaker, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COLLAPSIBLE TUBE VALVE TO BE PLACED IN
PIPES AND PASSAGES FOR ADMITTING A FLOW OF WATER, STEAM, AIR, OR
GAS IN ONE DIRECTION, AND PREVENTING A BACK FLOW IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Wilson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th March 1880.
WILLIAM WILSON, of the City of Oakland, in the County of Alemeda, in the State
of California, one of the United States, Watchmaker. "AN IMPROVED COLLAPSIBLE
TUBE VALVE TO BE PLACED IN PIPES AND PASSAGES FOR ADMITTING A FLOW OF
WATER, STEAM, AIR, OR GAS IN ONE DIRECTION, AND PREVENTING A BACK FLOW IN
THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION."
any
of
My Invention relates to an improved valve which can be substituted for
the ordinary styles of valves used on machines for handling water, steam, air, or
gas. It also forms, when placed in waste pipes, a perfect check against the back
flow of the foul gases from a sewer into the rooms of a house. In its simplest form
it consists of a pliable tube which is made flat so as to collapse automatically, and
is placed inside of the pipe with one end dilated and secured in such position to the
inside circumference of the pipe, so that the collapsed end will hang loosely within
the pipe. This I call a collapsible valve. Any fluid or gas will then flow freely
through the tube or valve in one direction, but the collapsed end of the tube will
prevent anything from passing back or in the opposite direction.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings,-
Figures 1 and 4 exhibit the simple form and method of applying my collapsible
valve.
Figure 2 represents a compound arrangement of collapsible valves which is better
adapted for "trapping" a waste-pipe to prevent the return of gas through the waste
passage.
Figure 3 represents my collapsible valve interposed in the length of a pipe, and
adapted to be collapsed by hydrostatic pressure.

page_text: A represents the collapsible tube; this is a flat tube which remains collapsed and
closed until a pressure inside opens it. I prefer to make this tube by taking two
flat strips of india-rubber, leather, or other pliable material, and placing them
together and then uniting their edges so that the two sides will lie close together,
but will be capable of opening and forming a tube when an inside pressure is
applied.
As above stated, the simplest form of my collapsible valve is to take this short,
flat, pliable tube and open one end, as at Figures 1 & 4 of the Drawing, and secure
this open end to the inside circumference of the pipe, either by clamping the edges
of the open end between the joints of the pipe or by placing a ring inside of the
open end of the tube and then forcing the ring into the pipe, so that the flexible tube
will hang down within the pipe and a close and perfectly tight joint formed between
the circumference of the pipe E and the edges of the opening at this end of the tube,
as in Fig. 4. Water, steam, or air introduced into the pipe above the valve will
then run down through the collapsed tube, but it will be impossible for any thing to
pass upward through the tube E, as the lower end of the tube C remains closed.
For waste pipes generally I use however the device shown at Figure 2 of the
Drawing, because by that arrangement I am able to retain a quantity of water in
the pipe between two collapsible valves, and thus insure greater security.
In this device B is a short metal or other rigid tube having the upper end of a short
collapsible tube C secured to its lower end, and the lower end of a collapsible tube
D secured to its upper end. E' is a short conical tube, the lower end of which is
secured to the waste-pipe at any desired distance below the sink or basin, so that the
tube forms an enlarged portion of the waste-pipe. The tube BI place in the upper
or larger end of the conical section E¹, so that the short collapsible tube C will hang
down inside of the conical section. I then secure the tube B in place by means of
cement or other fastening that will hold the tube B in place, and make a tight
joint around it; this leaves a portion of the tube B projecting downward into the
conical section, and a portion extending above it.
The collapsible tube D, which is secured to the upper end of the tube B, extends
upward, and its upper end is connected with the waste-pipe above that leads to the
sink, basin, or other source from which the waste is to flow.
It will now be seen that any water passing down through the waste-pipe will
enter the upper collapsible tube D and will expand it in passing through into the
short tube B, and as long as water continues to pass through this upper collapsible:
tube it will also pass down through the lower collapsible tube C. As soon as all the
water has passed through the upper tube however the outside atmospheric pressure
will collapse this tube, and thus maintain the tube B full of water all the time by
virtue of the vacuum in the upper end of the tube.
The lower collapsible tube Changs in a chamber and is surrounded by air, so that
as soon as water ceases to pass through it will also collapse. Any back pressure
therefore will find this lower tube tightly closed, so that it will be impossible for
any back flow to take place. This lower collapsible tube prevents the return of the
gas, while the upper collapsible tube serves to retain a body of water in the pipe,
and thus gives additional security.
This arrangement is simple and effective; it makes a perfect trap that can be used
for steam, water, or gas.
In Figure 3 of the Drawing the collapsible tube A is simply introduced in the
length of a pipe, and a water or other fluid chamber L constructed or placed around
it; this chamber is kept filled with water, so that the pressure of the fluid around
and against the outside of the tube will collapse it, but a superior pressure within
the tube will open it.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,―
First. A collapsible tube C suspended in a waste pipe E, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Second. The short tube B secured in the upper end of the conical pipe-section or

page_text: enlargement E, and having its upper end connected with the waste-pipe above by
means of the collapsible tube D, and having the short collapsible tube C secured to
its lower end in the chamber of the enlargement E', substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Third. A collapsible tube consisting of two flat strips of india rubber or other
pliable material placed together, and having their edges secured together, substan-
tially as and for the purposes described.
Fourth. The collapsible section A introduced in the length of a waste pipe in
combination with an elastic outside pressure, which is arranged to produce a stricture
of the section and form a gas-tight joint when no water is passing through it,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. A gas-trap for water pipes, consisting of the collapsible section A, which is
arranged to form a part or section of the waste pipe in combination with the outside
liquid chamber L, substantially as above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wilson, have hereunto set my hand,
and seal, dated at San Francisco, California, U. S. A., this Twentieth day of
February, One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM WILSON. (L.S.)