IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Thomas of Bodmin in the County of Cornwall
and Charles John Ennor of Oporto in the Kingdom of Portugal for an
invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Thomas and Charles
John Ennor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July
1882.
JAMES THOMAS of Bodmin in the County of Cornwall, and CHARLES JOHN ENNOR
of Oporto in the Kingdom of Portugal "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES,"
This invention has reference to hydraulic gas valves to be used in many
situations but especialy adapted for connection with purifiers and has for its object
the construction of such valves in such a manner as to admit of the requisite
changes of the direction of the gas being made, and at the same time ensure perfect
soundness and general efficiency.
There are two forms of valves which together are specially adapted for use with
purifiers. The first is a four way valve used to conduct all the foul gas to the
inlet of each purifier, and consists of a cylindrical case fitted with a fixed cover.
The foul gas inlet to this valve is formed in the side of the case, and in the bottom
of the case or chamber are four openings through which rise four short. pipes
that are connected to the inlet pipes of the purifiers. Within the case is a inovable
valve or cover so shaped as to admit of its covering any three of the short rising
pipes just mentioned, while the fourth remains uncovered, and as the bottom of the
valve or cover dips into water or other liquid with which the chamber is supplied
the pipes enclosed within the movable cover are effectively sealed or closed, the '
uncovered pipe being free for the passage of the gas.
The second form of valve, of which one is necessary to each purifier is precisely
similar to the foregoing except that there is no side inlet pipe and only three
short rising pipes within each chamber, the movable cover being placed over one
or two pipes at a time according to the direction in which the gas is desired to
flow. This is a three way valve which will bye-pass the gas from one purifier
to another, conduct it to the outlet main, or shut off the purifier out of work.

page_text: Each of the valves whether of the first or second form has an arrangement for
lifting and changing the position of the movable cover. For this purpose the
movable cover has fixed to it a rod which passes through a stuffing box in the
cover of the case and is connected to a circular rack which works through a support
fixed to the case, the rack being operated upon by means of a pinion provided
with a suitable handle; or a screw may be used
When it becomes necessary to change the purifiers, or for other purpose alter
the direction of the flow of the gas, all that is requisite is to turn the pinion handle
when the movable cover will be raised, the cover is then shifted round in the
appropriate direction, and by a reverse movement of the pinion the movable cover
is lowered so as to seal the pipes out of use.
.
The position of the pipes is shown by prints being cast on the cover and the
direction the gas is taking is indicated by a pointer or pointers attached to the
rack.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Thomas and Charles John Ennor in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th January 1883.
JAMES THOMAS of Bodmin in the County of Cornwall and CHARLES JOHN ENNOR
of Oporto in the Kingdom of Portugal "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES,"
This Invention has reference to hydraulic gas valves to be used in many
situations but specially adapted for connection with purifiers and has for its object
the construction of such valves in such a manner as to admit of the requisite
changes of the direction of the gas being made, and at the same time ensure perfect
soundness and general efficiency.
There are two forms of valves which together are specially adapted for use with
purifiers, and there is another form which is a modification of both, and may be
used instead of the one described as of the second form. The first is a four way
valve with inlet, and used to conduct all the foul gas to the inlet of each purifier,
and consists of a cylindrical case fitted with a fixed cover. The foul gas inlet to
this valve is formed in the side of the case, and in the bottom of the case or chamber
are four openings through which rise four short pipes that are connected to the inlet
pipes of the purifiers. Within the case is a movable valve or cover so shaped as
to admit of its covering any three of the short rising pipes just mentioned, while
the fourth remains uncovered, and as the bottom of the valve or cover dips into
water, or other liquid, with which the chamber is supplied the pipes enclosed
within the movable cover are effectively sealed or closed, the uncovered pipe being
free for the passage of the gas.-The second form of valve, of which one is necessary
to each purifier is precisely similar to the foregoing except that there is no side
inlet pipe and only three short rising pipes within each chamber, the movable cover
being placed over one or two pipes at a time according to the direction in which
the gas is desired to flow. This is a three way valve which will bye pass the gas
from one purifier to another, conduct it to the outlet main, or shut off the purifier
out of work. The modified form of valve consists of a similar case to that before
described but has only two rising pipes, the inlet pipe being placed in the side of
the case as in the first described valve.
Each of the valves whether of the first, second or modified form has an arrange-
ment for lifting and changing the position of the movable cover.
For this purpose
the movable cover has fixed to it a rod which passes through a stuffing box in
the cover of the case and is connected to a circular rack which works through a
support fixed to the case, the rack being operated upon by means of a pinion
provided with a suitable handle; or a screw may be used.
When it becomes necessary to change the purifiers, or for other purpose alter
the direction of the flow of the gas, all that is requisite is to turn the pinion
handle when the movable cover will be raised; the cover is then shifted round in
the appropriate direction and by a reverse movement of the pinion the movable
cover is lowered so as to seal the pipes out of use.
The position of the pipes is shown by prints being cast on the cover, and the
direction in which the gas is flowing is indicated by a pointer or pointers attached
to the rack.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood drawings are
attached hereto of which the following is a description. Fig 1 is a vertical
section of a valve with four ways besides the inlet. Fig 2 is a plan of the same
with the cover removed. Fig 3 is a vertical section of a three way valve and
Fig 4 a plan of the same also with the cover removed. Fig 5 is also a three way

page_text: valve formed partly like Fig 1 and partly like Fig 3.-Fig 6 is a plan of Fig 5
with the fixed cover removed as in Figs 2 and 4.-In each of the Figs similar
letters refer to the same parts. In Fig 1 A is the case, with its cover B and is
supplied with water to the height marked, a constant liquid level being ensured
by a small continuous stream of water flowing through the vessel. C, D, E and F
are the rising pipes and G the movable cover formed so as to enclose separately
three out of four of the pipes just mentioned. H is the spindle [attached to the
cover G] the upper part of which is furnished with a circular rack I that is
operated upon by a handle and pinion J. The gas inlet is formed in the side of
the case at K and it will be seen that gas so entering will pass into the space L
and down the pipe C to the first purifier, but when it is desired to change the
direction of the gas the movable cover G is raised and quickly turned by the
handle M so as to stand over say C, D, E, when on the cover being lowered the
gas will flow down the open pipe F and away to the purifier connected with it.
In Figs 3 and 4 either of the rising pipes may constitute the inlet, the movable
cover as in the previous Figs being marked G.-In Figs 5 and 6 the inlet K is at
the side as in Figs 1 and 2 but there only two rising pipes C and D. This form
of valve occupies less space and is more economically made. Figs 3 and 4 and 5
and 6 are both three way valves, each of which will bye pass the gas from one
purifier to another, conduct it to the outlet main, or shut off the purifier out of
work. In both forms of valve there is a pointer N fixed to the spindle H to show
the direction of the current of the gas.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used, or carried into effect, we
would observe in conclusion that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to the
precise details or arrangements which we have described or referred to as variations
may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of
this invention, but what we consider to be novel and original and therefore claim
as the invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is.―
The construction of hydraulic valves as herein described and shown on the
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said James Thomas have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 4th day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three