Improvements in Taps and Valves for Steam, Water, and other Liquids or Fluids.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Taps and Valves for Steam, Water, and other
Liquids or Fluids.
I, JOSEPH SHAW, of Albert Brass Works, Lockwood, Huddersfield, in the County
of York, Brass Founder and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention refers more especially to straight way or parallel slide or like
taps or valves for steam, water, and other liquids or fluids, in which the valve
proper is made in two separate portions or halves which fit together in the valve
casing, their outer faces being ground true to make tight joints with the valve
seatings at the inlet and outlet ports. Between the two said portions of the
valve is adapted to work endwise a wedge on the end of a screwed valve spindle
which is actuated from a hand wheel or key to raise and lower or move the valve
into and out of position, and, when said valve is moved over the inlet and outlet
ports and held by a stop piece or abutment, the continued actuation of the
spindle causes the wedge to work through the valve and force the two portions
thereof apart to bind them tightly against the valve seatings. Ordinarily, the
two portions of the valve are provided on their inner sides or faces with transverse
ribs set apart to form the bearing surface against which the wedge acts but,
whether so provided or not, the pressure of the wedge is not exerted centrally
of the two portions of the valve and, consequently, they are liable to bind
unequally against the valve faces, or to jam or stick and fail to close the valve.
The object of my invention is to avoid the objectionable features of the above
construction of taps or valves, to secure easier and more sensitive working and
to improve their efficiency.
In carrying out my invention I secure loosely in the centre of the opposing
faces of each of the two halves or portions of the valve, one or more metal balls
or spheres which project beyond the said faces and form the bearing surfaces
against which alone the wedge can act. The said wedge is preferably slightly
grooved on each side to receive the ball bearings at the points of contact and to
form guides to maintain true movement. When the wedge is brought into action
to force the two parts of the valve apart against the valve seatings, it bears on
the balls or spheres and rides freely over same while the pressure exerted thereon
is exactly central of the two portions of the valve, thereby ensuring the true and
perfect seating of the valve equally on all sides and avoiding unequal wear of
the faces and jamming or sticking of the valve. To counteract the sensitive
motion of the valve when opening or closing it. I prefer to employ a spiral spring
confined on the screwed spindle and acting against the valve.
This spring will resist premature action of the wedge in the event of the valve
sticking or its movement into or out of position being impeded by any accidental
cause. In conjunction with the aforesaid valve I form on the spindle a shoulder
or flange whereon rests a washer which, when the valve is open, engages with
the upper end of the valve casing or body, making a tight joint at the top of
the chamber and preventing any escape of steam or water, apart from the packing

page_text: he valve equally on all sides, and avoiding unequal wear of the faces amu
amming or sticking of the valve.
The ball or spherical bearings may be applied equally well to the mushroom
haped or convex faced valves.
In conjunction with the said valve I employ means for making a tight joint
at the top of the valve chamber when the valve is open, thereby preventing any
escape of steam or water, apart from the packing in the stuffing box and, if
necessary, allowing the latter to be removed and re-packed without shutting off
steam.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of a straight way or parallel slide valve having my
improvements applied thereto, the valve being shewn fully open;
Fig. 2 is elevation, at right angles, of the valve spindle and one of the parts
or halves of the valve;
Fig. 3 is sectional elevation, similar to Fig. 1, shewing the valve closed;
Figs. 4 and 5 shew in section and part section, the application of my improve-
ments to the mushroom or convex faced type of valve, Fig. 4 shewing the valve
open, and Fig. 5 shewing it closed.
Referring to the drawings, letter a represents the valve body or casing;
6 the screwed valve spindle entering within and adapted to be raised and lowered
by the rotation of the hollow spindle c which is provided with an internal screw
thread into which takes the screw thread on the spindle b; the hand wheel
secured on the square end of spindle c for actuating the same, or a key may be
used instead; and is the gland or stuffing box, the aforesaid parts being
common to this description of valve and forming no part of my invention.
The valve comprises two separate parts or halves f f', held together on the
lower end of the screwed valve spindle b, to embrace or enclose the wedge b¹
thereon, by means of lugs f2 on the sides of one part taking into recesses or
sockets in the sides of the other part, as ordinarily.
My invention consists primarily in securing loosely in the centre of the opposing
faces of each part or half f, f', of the valve, one or more metal balls or spheres g, g,
which project beyond the said faces to form bearing surfaces against which alone
the wedge b can act. In the example shewn in Figs. 1 to 3 the two parts f, f,
of the valve are recessed or hollowed out to receive hard metal discs g¹, g¹, provided
centrally with sockets or cups wherein fit the balls or spheres g, g, these being
secured or held in position in said sockets by means of metal caps or covers,
brazed, welded, or otherwise united or secured to the discs g', g'; or the sockets
may be made sufficiently deep to admit of the outer edges of the metal being
burnished over to contract the openings (as shewn at Figs. 4 and 5) and thus
firmly hold the balls or spheres in their places.
The balls may be arranged to bear against other balls inserted in the discs g³, g¹,
or parts f. f, if desired."
Hard metal discs such as g¹, gl, are preferably employed to receive the thrust
of the balls for the reason that, unless the brass valve is made of considerable
5 thickness, the metal is liable to give, in time, to the pressure brought to bear
thereon.
The outer faces of the parts f, f¹, are turned or ground true, as heretofore, to
make perfectly steam or water-tight joints with the seatings a¹, a¹, at the inlet
and outlet ports.
The wedge on the lower end of spindle is preferably grooved on each side,
as indicated plainly at Fig. 2, to receive the balls or spheres g, g, at the points of
contact and form guides for maintaining true vertical movement of the valve
spindle.
To close the valve it is first lowered in the ordinary way by rotating spindle c
5 and when it is arrested and held by abutment against the bottom of the valve
casing, or a stop piece, the continued rotation of spindle causes the spindle b
to further descend by itself, in doing which the wedge b' bears against and rides

page_text: and other liquids or fluids, the application to each half or part of the valve,
whether of the description shewn at Figs. 1, and 2, or 4 and 5, of a ball or
sphere or balls or spheres arranged centrally thereof and on or against which
alone the wedge of the valve spindle is adapted to act in closing or forcing the
parts or valves against the valve seatings or releasing them substantially as
herein shewn and described and for purposes stated.
(2) In straight way or parallel slide valves or taps as described, the combina-
tion, with ball bearings applied to each part or half of the valve, of an india-
rubber or other suitable washer such as supported on a flange or shoulder on
the valve spindle and adapted to make a tight joint with the upper end of the
valve chamber or interior of the valve casing when the valve is fully open,
substantially as set forth.
(3) In straight way or parallel slide valves, the herein described construction
of valves with balls or spheres or spherical or conical surfaces held or secured
in the opposing faces of the two parts thereof to form bearing surfaces against
which the wedge on the valve spindle is adapted to act substantially as set forth
and shewn on the drawings.
T: 07th
of Tonu 1900
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Huddersfield, Agents for Applicant.