Improvements in Stop and other Valves.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1-91-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stop and other Valves.
I, HENRY EDWARD BEDFORD, of Waltham Buildings, Holborn Circus,
London, E.C., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to valves, such as those known as "stop-
valves," which are used on pipes or mains for conveying fluids from one place to
another, or others, such for instance, as those used on steam pipes used for supplying
steam from a steam generator to an engine; it is, however, applicable also generally
to, valves used for equivalent or analogous purposes.
According to this invention, the valve comprises a case or body, preferably of
cast metal, and a valve plug of cylindrical type working to and fro within said case,
and having packing rings in same to prevent the escape of fluid between the valve
and the walls of the case in which the valve works, said case being provided with
inlet and outlet apertures or connections.
In one arrangement of this valve, the valve proper which works in the casing,
consists of a cylindrical plug having an aperture or apertures in its side through
which the fluid passes from the inlet conduit of the casing to the interior of the
casing, the fluid passing out through the interior of the valve. A ring or rings
is or are provided on each side of the valve aperture, such rings being of split
metallic construction, and having suitable cod pieces over their joints to prevent
the passage of fluid past them.
One form of packing rings which may be used with advantage in this valve, is
that known, and at present sold as, the "St. John Packing." The valve plug
is worked to and fro in the body by rod and lever, or screw-down mechanisms, of any
known suitable kind; and the fluid is admitted on to both ends and the valve
kept in equilibrium.
When the apertures in the valve are provided all round, and the fluid is supplied
thereto, by an annular port, the apertures in the casing would be divided by bars
diagonally arranged, some in one direction and some in another, by which means an
equal wearing of the surface and rings is afforded.
In one modification, however, the rings, or one of them, can be so arranged, that
they never pass over the opening in their casing or body when the valve is operated.
In such cases, the question of an equal wearing of parts does not obtain, and there-
fore the diagonal bar arrangement is not essential.
'It is to be understood that the details of construction may be carried out in many
different ways without departing from the controlling features of this invention;
and furthermore, the construction of the valve will necessarily be modified in
different ways according to the purposes it is put, and the conditions under which
it will have to work in its different applications.
Dated the 25th day of November 1890.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Stop and other Valves.
I, HENRY EDWARD BEDFORD, of Waltham Buildings, Holborn Circus,
London, E.C., Engineer, 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:-
66 stop
This invention relates more particularly to valves, such as those known as
valves," which are used on pipes or mains for conveying fluids from one place to
another, or others, such for instance, as those used on steam pipes used for supplying
steam from a steam generator to an engine. It is, however, applicable also
generally to valves used for equivalent or analogous purposes.
It has been found that valves, such as those known as stop valves, starting valves'
of locomotive and other engines, and their like or equivalents, after they have been
in use for a few years-especially if the wear has been severe-are not absolutely
tight, that is, they pass steam when closed, sometimes only in a very small quantity,
and in others in considerable quantities, in all cases, however, this steam gradually
accumulates in the valve cases and cylinders of the engine in connection with which
they are used, with the result that the piston of the engine is moved by the pressure
of steam which has accumulated behind it, in the manner stated; and in con-
sequence, not infrequently, serious accidents have happened to engineers attending
to or working on them. It is, mainly, these objections which it is the object of this
invention to obviate, and which it does obviate.
According to this invention, by which the defects and objections above referred
to are overcome, the valve comprises a case or body, preferably of cast metal, and
a valve plug of cylindrical type working to and fro within said case, and having
packing rings in same to prevent the escape of fluid between the valve and the walls
of the case in which the valve works, said case being provided with inlet and outlet
apertures or connections.
In one arrangement of this valve, the valve proper which works in the casing,
consists of a cylindrical plug having an aperture or apertures in its side through
which the fluid passes from the inlet conduit of the casing to the interior thereof,
the fluid passing out through the interior of the valve. A. ring or rings is or are
provided in each side of the valve aperture, such rings being of split metallic con-
struction, and having suitable cod pieces over their joints to prevent the passage of
fluid past them.
The
One form of packing ring which may be used with advantage in this
valve, is that known, and at present sold as, the "St. John Packing."
valve plug is worked to and fro in the body by a rod and lever, or screw-down
mechanisms, of any known suitable kind, and the fluid is admitted on to both ends
and the valve kept in equilibrium.
When the apertures in the valve are provided all round, the fluid is supplied
thereto, by an annular port. The apertures in the casing would be divided by
bars diagonally arranged, by which means an equal wearing of the surface and
rings is afforded.
In one modification, however, the rings, or one of them, can be so arranged, that
they never pass over the opening in their casing or body when the valve is operated.
In such cases, the question of an equal wearing of parts does not obtain, and there-
fore the diagonal bar arrangement is not essential.
It is to be understood that the details of construction may be carried out in many
different ways without departing from the controlling features of this invention;
and furthermore, the construction of the valve will necessarily be modified in
different ways according to the purpose to which it is put, and the conditions under
which it will have to work in its different applications.
An example of valve, variously termed a "stop valve," "starting-valve," "screw-

page_text: down valve," and so on, and constructed according to the invention, is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 of the drawings shews the valve in longitudinal sectional elevation.
Figure 2 shews it in sectional plan, such section being taken at the line X X in
Figure 1; and
Figure 3 shews it in cross section taken at the line Y Y in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the valve through one of the grooves in which the
rings are held, shewing the spring therein acting outwardly upon the ring.
Referring now to the drawings, a is the cylindrical valve; e are the packing
rings therein; i is the valve casing in which the valve works; and o is the valve
spindle by which it is worked.
The valve a is connected to the spindle by the collar 6 supported from the
metal of the valve by bars 6', having apertures c between them. The apertures c
serve to admit steam to both ends of the valve, and thereby place it substan-
tially in equilibrium, the object of which, obviously, is, to render it easy of
working, both in its inward and outward directions. At the central and external
surface of the valve, the annular groove d is provided, and serves as an annular
port to the steam about the valve.
The packing rings e shewn in the drawings are, as will be seen, of angular
form, their inner edges e being bevelled, the metal of the valve opposite this
bevelled part being cut away to allow free access for steam to that part, for
the purpose of pressing it on to the walls of the valve casing. The grooves in
which the rings e are placed, and by which they are held in position are
designated and h is the wave spring which is disposed within each of the
grooves, and by whose outward reaction the portion of the ring within the
grooves is pressed outwards, constantly, on to the surface of the case i. The arrange-
ment and action of these packing rings are again hereinafter referred to.
The valve casing i is provided with a flanged steam inlet branch k, and a
flanged outlet branch 1. The inlet branch expands out, within the body i,
into a port, across which are provided the diagonal bars 7, which serve to
support the rings e when passing over the port, and to render uniform the
wearing of the rings. At the lower part of the case i, a space is provided
between the backs of the bars q' and the metal of the case i, but at the
upper part of the case no such space exists, and the steam, which passes through
the upper part of the valve, has to find its way to the spaces between the bars
by way of the annular port d of the valve a.
The end of the casing opposite the outlet 1, is closed by a cover m, which is
bolted to the case, and it serves also as the support for the spindle o which
passes through it, a stuffing box n and gland n¹ being provided at this part to
provide the necessary steam joint. At the inner end of the spindle, a worm o'
is formed upon it, and a corresponding nut p, through and in which it works,
is provided on the under side of the cover.
The extreme end of the spindle is turned down at o², where it passes
through the collar b. The annular shoulder formed upon the end of the worm
portion of the spindle o, by the turning down of the portion o², serves as a
surface for the end of the collar to bear upon, on one side, whilst the nut r
and washer r¹, on the end of the spindle, serves as a bearing for the other end
of such collar, these parts being so made as to allow the spindle to revolve
freely in the collar.
The action of opening or closing the valve, it will be clearly seen, is effected
by rotating the wheels on the end of the spindle o. When it is turned in one
way or the other, the screw, o', working in the nut p, causes the valve spindle
to pass either out of or into the valve case, thereby, of course, moving with it
the valve a. If the wheels is so turned that the valve spindle screws out of
the case, the valve a uncovers the port q, and steam passes past the end of it,
partly through the space between the bars q¹ direct, and partly indirectly, first,

page_text: by way of the annular port d of the valve a, and then through the spaces
between said bars.
Reverting to the means by which the perfect steam-tightness specified is
obtained, the rings e-as already stated-are of split form. and at the point, at
which they are split or cut, they will be provided with any known suitable
kind of cod or filling piece, by which steam is prevented from escaping past
them at these points. In action, the inside half (e¹) of each ring e is. acted
upon and pressed outwards by steam, whilst the outer half which lies within
the grooves f is acted upon and pressed outwards, only by the reaction of the
springs. The effect thereby obtained, is, that the perfect steam tight joint
above referred to, is at all times assured, no matter whether the rings be, old
ones or new ones.
It is to be understood that although only one ring at each end of the valve is
shewn in the example given in the drawings, two or more rings at each end may be
provided; and also that the valves may be applied to different and other purposes
than those particularly mentioned herein; and further, the valve may be adapted to
be worked mechanically, as well as by hand, for various purposes of distributing, as
well as controlling, the supply of steam or other fluids to steam and other machines
and apparatus.
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:-
1. Stop or other valves comprising a cylindrical case with a port or ports therein,
and inlet and outlet branches: and a cylindrical plug or piston valve working
therein having a packing ring or rings at each end by which a steam tight joint
between the casing and the plug is made, said plug or piston being adapted to be
moved to and fro longitudinally in said casing, substantially as herein set forth.
2. The stop valve having its parts combined constructed and adapted to operate
particularly as set forth with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 25th day of August 1891.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.