Improvements in Valves for Use with Steam, Air, or Gas under Pressure.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
'PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Use with Steam, Air, or Gas under
Pressure.
JOHN BATEY Mechanical Engineer 47 Heytesbury Street Dublin do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to valves of a safety character for use in connection with
steam air or gas under pressure, but principally in connection with boilers steam
pipes engines or any other vessel into which steam is permitted to flow. In a valve
in which provision is made of a safety character, which in the event of a rupture
or bursting of a steam pipe or vessel to which the valve is attached said valve is
automatically affected to cut off the supply from the main or generator source and
to remain in its closed condition until released by hand thereby providing a means
of cutting off the main supply in case of accident thereby materially affecting
the safety and welfare of the people in the range or effects of such accident
and in the case of steamers at sea effecting the safety of the ship and
its crew.
The object of this invention is to provide an automatic means of cutting off the
supply of steam or other gas from the main or generator source in the case of
rupture or bursting of any steam pipe or vessel to which it may be attached,
thereby providing an efficient means of safety, the valve being placed in the most
suitable position to suit the circumstances and conditions, in the case of a steam
boiler and engine the position most suitable being as near the main stop valve as
possible and in the case of a receiver or vessel immediately before the entrance to
it, the object being to minimise the effects of such explosions or ruptures by
bringing into being the elastic or expansive properties of the steam or gas in a seli-
contained manner without the assistance of any outside influences other than that
provided by the rupture or explosion, when the destruction of the conditions of
equilibrium would influence the automatic character of the valve to shut off further
supply from the main or generator source, the only discharge being from that
contained in the damaged part beyond the generator and valve.
Further the object being to in no way interfere with the free circulation of the
steam or gas through the pipes or vessels to which the valves may be attached and
in the case of steam driven machines, as engines, the fluctuations due to the
supply of steam to the cylinders will not in any way be affected by the valve, the
only condition inside of the usual conditions pertaining to the supply of steam from
boilers or generators which can in any wise influence the action of the valve is
when steam is first turned on from the main source into the pipes or vessels, then
the rapid, careless, and in all cases most objectionable practice of opening the main
or boiler stop valves is likely to partially close the valve, this being the object in
part of the aforesaid invention.
The valve whereby these objects are attained is more particularly described as
follows.
A main casting of metal is formed with a barrel bored straight through, each
end being provided with suitable flanges. for attaching flanges or covers to close in
the ends, said covers being bolted or screwed to ends of barrel as provided for
them, the aforesaid barrel is provided with openings into it at right angles to its
bore about midway in its length terminating in ends or openings thus providing an

page_text: open passage completely through the body and barrel of casting said ends being
arranged for attachment as inlet and outlet of valve, the one end being for
attachment to boiler side and the other for attachment to continuation of steam
pipe or vessel. Two ports or passages join the top and bottom of barrel to the
through passage through valve, being placed outside of the barrel at opposite
sides.
The inlet port is much smaller than that on the outlet side, further the larger
port or passage is always open between the top of barrel and the through passage
on the outlet side of valve, whilst the port or passage on the inlet side of valve is
only open under the normal conditions of equilibrium, being bored out to receive a
valve of the usual pattern, or any other suitable valve will do-the valve in its
normal or inoperative condition permits free communication between the inlet side
of valve and the bottom of barrel-its function will be more fully described. The
barrel is fitted with a cylindrical piston valve, provided with two heads fixed to
one stem placed some distance apart said heads being referred to as top and bottom,
the bottom head has its cylindrical length more than double the depth of the
through passage, its top edge under normal conditions resting just clear of the
bottom of said passage and its bottom edge at the bottom of barrel, the top head
occupies and moves in the top part of barrel and may be of any suitable depth, and
is provided with an extension plunger of small diameter forming a dash-pot plunger
which loosely fits a cylindrical recess provided for it. The barrel is placed vertically
and as constructed the piston valve normally rests at the bottom of the barrel, the
top and bottom of barrel being closed by covers at both ends the space between
the two heads, in this position, form the top and bottom of the through passage
leaving a straight open steam way through valve, the ends being connected up to
the boiler and steam pipe or vessel.
Having now described the salient parts of the said invention the method of its
operation is as follows:-
The valve being placed in position attached as part of the main steam passage
or conveying pipe and steam being turned on to fill the pipes and vessels under its
normal conditions the valve, in all its parts, is in perfect equilibrium top and
bottom heads of piston valve and their inside faces are under equal areas and
subjected to equal pressures, the small valve gravitating away from its seat offers
no obstruction to the ingress of the steam to the bottom of piston valve, these then
being the normal conditions of the valve and its parts they remain in this state
until a rupture takes place beyond the valve and away from the boiler. Immediately
following upon rupture, all the conditions become changed the steam above the
piston between valve head and cover of barrel rushes out into a diminished
pressure destroying equilibrium, whilst the steam under the bottom piston valve
head is entrapped by the enclosed steam expanding and closing the small port
valve against the diminished pressure forcing up the valve covering over the
through passage through valve and effectually cutting off the supply from the main
or supply source.
The movement imparted to the piston valve being of a rapid character, is miti-
gated by the extension plunger plunging into the cylindrical recess in the top
cover partly compressing a portion of the vapour aud air, cushions the upward
movement of the piston valve bringing it quietly to rest without shock or noise,
this being the abnormal condition of the valve with steam or gas entirely cut off it
continues to occupy this position until the main stop valve is closed and the drain
off cock opened, which is provided for that purpose in the bottom of lower cover,
then the piston valve gravitates or falls to the bottom of barrel, being its normal
position.
Various arrangement of parts or additions to the aforesaid construction will, in
a sense, perform this automatic function, but by preference the valve as described
is preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the chief features of this
invention I claim substantially as heretofore set forth in a valve for automatically

page_text: cutting off the supply in the event of rupture of pipe or vessel other than the main
boiler or generator, and in a valve in which the automatic action is effected by the
explosion and the expansive properties of steam air or gas under pressure for the
purpose as hereintofore set forth.
Improvements in Valves for Use with Steam, Air, or Gas under
Pressure.
JOHN BATEY Mechanical Engineer 47 Heytesbury Street Dublin 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 :-
This invention relates to valves of a safety character for use in connection with
steam air or gas under pressure but principally in connection with boilers steam
pipes engines or any other vessel into which steam is permitted to flow. In a valve
in which provision is made of a safety character which in the event of a rupture
or bursting of a steam pipe or vessel to which the valve is attached, said valve is
automatically affected to cut off the supply from the main or generator source and
to remain in its closed condition until released by hand thereby providing a means
of cutting off the main supply in case of accident thereby materially affecting the
safety and welfare of the people in the range or effects of such accident, and in the
case of steamers at sea affecting the safety of ship and crew.
The object of this invention is to provide an automatic means of cutting off the
supply of steam or other gas from the main or generator source in the case of
rupture or bursting of any steam pipe or vessel to which it may be attached thereby
providing an efficient means of safety, the valve being placed in the most suitable
position to suit the circumstances and conditions, in the case of steam boilers and
engines the most suitable position is near the main stop valve, and in the case of a
receiver or vessel immediately before the entrance to it, the object being to minimise
the effects of explosions or ruptures by bringing into being the expansive property
of the steam or gas in a self-contained manner without the assistance of any other
influence other than that provided by the rupture or explosion, when the destruc-
tion of the conditions of equilibrium would influence the automatic character of the
valve to shut off further supply from the main or generator source, the only.
discharge being from that contained in the damaged part beyond the generator
and valve.
Further the object being to in no way interfere with the free circulation of the.
steam or gas through the pipes or vessels to which the valves may be attached and
in the case of steam driven machines, as engines, the fluctuations due to the supply.
of steam to the cylinders will not in any way be affected by the valve, the only
condition, inside the usual conditions, pertaining to the supply of steam from boilers
or generators which can in any wise influence the action of the valve, is, when,
steam is first turned on from the main source into the pipes or vessels, then the
rapid careless and in all cases most objectionable practice of opening the main or
boiler stop valves is likely to partially close the valve this being the object in part
of the aforesaid invention.
.
The drawing showing plan and sectional elevation represents the valve whereby
these objects are attained and is more particularly described as follows.
A main casting of metal A is formed with a barrel B bored straight through,
each end being provided with suitable flanges for attaching covers to close in the
ends, said covers being screwed or bolted to the flanged ends. The aforesaid
barrel B is provided with openings into it at right angles to its bore about.

page_text: midway in its length terminating in ends or openings C and D, thus providing an
open passage completely through the body and barrel of casting, said ends being
arranged for attachment as inlet and outlet of valve, the end C being for attach-
ment to boiler side and D for attachment to continuation of steam pipe or vessel.
Two ports or passages E and F join the top and bottom of barrel B to the through
passage through valve, being in communication outside of the barrel B at opposite
sides.
The inlet port E is much smaller than that of F on the outlet side, further the
port or passage F is always open between the top of barrel B and the through
passage on the outlet side of valve, whilst the port or passage E on the inlet side
of valve is only open under the normal conditions of equilibrium being bored out to
receive a valve G of the usual pattern, or any other suitable valve will do the
valve G in its normal or inoperative condition permits free communication
between the inlet side C of valve and the bottom of barrel B-its function will be
more particularly described.
Barrel B is fitted with a cylindrical piston valve H provided with two heads
fixed to one stem placed some distance apart, said heads being referred to as head J
for the top one and K for the bottom-head K has its cylindrical length more than
double the depth of the through passage its top edge under normal conditions
resting just clear of the bottom of said passage and its bottom edge at the bottom
of barrel B-the head J occupies and moves in the top part of barrel B and may be
of any suitable depth-head J is provided with an extension plunger L of small
diameter forming a dash pot plunger which loosely fits a cylindrical recess M
provided for it.
The barrel B is placed vertically and as constructed the piston valve H normally
rests at the bottom of the barrel B, the top and bottom of barrel B being closed by
covers at each end the space between the two heads J and K in this position form
the top and bottom of the through passage leaving a straight open way through
valve, the ends C and D being connected up to the boiler and steam pipe or
vessel.
Having now described the salient parts of the said invention the method of its
operation is as follows.
The valve being placed in position attached as part of the main steam passage or
conveying pipe and steam being turned on to fill the pipes and vessels under its
normal conditions the valve in all its parts is in perfect equilibrium top and bottom:
heads of piston valve H and their inside faces are under equal areas and subjected
to equal pressures the small valve gravitating away from its seat offers no obstruc-
tion to the ingress of the steam to the bottom of piston valve, these then being the
normal conditions of the valve and its parts they remain in this state until a rupture
takes place beyond the valve and away from the boiler. Immediately following
upon rupture all the conditions become changed the steam above the piston valve
head J between it and the top cover rushes out into a diminished pressure destroying
equilibrium, whilst the steam under the bottom piston valve head K is entrapped
by the enclosed steam expanding and closing the small port valve G against the
diminished pressure forcing up the valve H and covering over the through passage
through valve and effectually cutting off the supply from the main or supply
source. A more detailed statement of the action in cutting off the steam supply is
as follows immediately the rupture of the pipe or vessel takes place, the enclosed
steam or gas escapes at a great velocity, this velocity is imparted, to a great extent,
to the steam under piston valve head K and the bottom of barrel B-the velocity.
imparted added to the expansion of the steam at the instant small valve G closes
forces up the piston valve H, closing over the through passage, and before the
opening is completely closed the small valve becomes unseated by the increase of
pressure from the boiler due to the partial closing of the through passage, hence
the full pressure from boiler completes the cutting off and keeps the valve
permanently closed.
The movement imparted to the piston valve H being of a rapid character is

page_text: mitigated by the extension plunger L plunging into the cylindrical recess M in the
top cover partly compressing a portion of vapour and air thereby cushioning the
upward movement of the piston valve H bringing it quietly to rest, without shock
or noise, this being the abnormal condition of the valve with steam or gas entirely
cut off and it continues to occupy this position until the main stop valve is closed
and the draw off cock N opened which is provided for that purpose in the bottom
of the lower cover-then the piston valve H gravitates or falls to the bottom of
barrel B, being its normal condition.
Various arrangement of parts or additions to the aforesaid construction will in a
sense perform this automatic function, but by preference the valve as described is
preferred.
It is obvious that the valve may be used in connection with a number of boilers
whose separate steam pipes are joined up to one main steam pipe, in which each
steam pipe is provided with a valve fixed as already described near main stop
valve, and each connection to main steam pipe being fitted with another valve in a
reversed position that is inlet side connected up to main steam pipe and outlet side
connected up to boiler steam pipe-in this connection each separate steam pipe is
localised and danger from a burst pipe minimised, enabling any such ruptured pipe
to be repaired without stopping the engines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1st. Substantially as heretofore set forth in a valve for automatically cutting
off the supply from a generator at the instant and moment of explosion of a steam
pipe or vessel to which it may be attached.
2nd. In a valve for the purpose heretofore set forth in which the automatic action
is affected by the explosion and the expansive property of steam combined or in
connection with the use of gas or air under pressure.
3rd. For a valve in which the construction enables the aforesaid conditions to be
fulfilled automatically.
Dated this 5th day of January 1895
JOHN BATEY.