Improvements in Valves or Taps.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1888
Specification Accepted, 9th Mar., 1888
Improvements in Valves or Taps.
I, WATKIN REDFERN of Stockport in the County of Chester, Engineer (in part a
communication from abroad by Louis Howard at present in the United States of
America) 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 chiefly to that class of valve which is forced to its seat by
means of a screw or other spindle moving in a direction at right angles to the plane
in which the valve scat lies. Valves such as above referred to have generally been
made with conical faces which gradually become worn allowing of the escape of the
fluid past them, and are then difficult or expensive to renew.
The invention is designed to obviate this and provide a valve in which a close joint
will be formed between the faces when closed, with a seating that will not quickly
wear, so as to allow leakage and which when worn can be quickly and effectually
renewed or repaired without much difficulty or expense.
It consists essentially in forming the valve or tap with a seating formed of an
annular cavity or groove filled or partly filled with asbestos soft metal or metallic
composition or other suitable packing the complementary part of the valve being made
of a corresponding shape with an annular projection or foot which is narrow enough
to enter the groove or cavity in the annular seating.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of steain valve constructed in accordance with the
invention.
Fig. 2. plan view of same with top part and spindle removed.
Fig. 3, plan of plug or movable portion of valve removed from its seating and
spindle.
Fig. 4. transverse section of same at right angles to section shown in fig. 1.
Fig. 5. sectional elevation of modified form of valve in which the packing is carried
by the movable part or plug.
In these A. is the body of the valve or tap B. the movable part or plug of the
valve moved or actuated by the spindle C. The seating consists of the soft metallic
or other packing D. in the groove or ring d. E is the top or covering of the valve and
F. a stuffing box which may be of any ordinary form to prevent escape round the
spindle.

page_text: In casting the body of the valve the groove d is formed and subsequently filled
with packing D. of the desired kind preferably asbestos or white metal. The corre
sponding ring or foot of the movable part or plug B. of the valve is narrow enough
to enter the groove or cavity d before the packing is filled in. The packing is filled
into the groove until it is full to the surface or nearly so and a secure joint is formed
between it and the foot b when the valve is closed.
As the packing wears at the surface the foot follows it down into the groove d
until it is completely worn away and when worn it can readily renewed or replaced by
fresh material. A valve or joint not quickly worn away and which can be easily
renewed is thus formed.
It will be obvious that the groove filled with packing may form part of the movable
part or plug of the valve and the ring or foot which fits therein form the seating as
shown in Fig. 5. but I prefer the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The movable part B of the valve is preferably attached to the spindle C so that it
does not revolve on its seat when the spindle is turned, as shown. A lug a on the
body of the valve, fitting between the fork a prevents the turning of the valve. The
face of the foot is preferably rounded so as not to cut or injure the packing.
It will of course be understood that the valve and valve seat may be made of a
shape other than annular if desired, and that the invention is applicable to other than
screw taps or valves such as dead weight, and lever safety valves and others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A valve or tap having the seating formed of a cavity or groove filled with
packing and the complementary part of the valve formed with a projecting ring or
foot to fit into the groove and follow the packing as it wears substantially as described
and shown.
2. In valves or taps the combination of the groove d packing D. movable part B
foot or ring band spindle C substantially as and for the purposes described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.