IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VACUUM VALVES FOR STEAM DRYING CYLINDERS, STEAM TRAPS, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Collier, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
VACUUM VALVES FOR STEAM DRYING CYLINDERS, STEAM TRAPS, AND OTHER
ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Collier at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1880.
WILLIAM COLLIER, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VACUUM VALVES FOR STEAM DRYING
CYLINDERS, STEAM TRAPS, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
Whereas valves, commonly known as vacuum valves, as fitted and used for the
purposes above mentioned, although efficient so far as concerns the prevention of
collapse from the too great reduction of internal pressure, are defective with
respect to their action in various ways by allowing steam occasionally to be
emitted, doing occasional damage to goods thereby, and being dangerous to the
attendants and workpeople, and are also defective from want of a ready means of
regulation and control.
My Invention has for its object the remedying of the said defects, and the means
whereby I carry out the same are as follows:-
I construct the box which forms the valve scat, and which screws into the hole
in the metal of the cylinder or other apparatus to be protected from collapse,
with a prolongation above its flange, upon which prolongation I cut a screw
thread for the purpose of screwing upon it the shield or cap next herein after
described.
This shield or cap is constructed as a cover to screw upon the box or body of
the valve with a flange at the top thereof. Close under the lower side of this
flange I make certain orifices or perforations to allow air to enter the valve.
The spindle of the valve is surrounded by a spring as usual to keep the valve up
to its seat, but it is elongated above the nut or boss, and this elongation is turned
to a small diameter to act as a guide pin.
Through the centre of the shield cover I fit a metal screw with a double thread
for quick action, and a handle or hand wheel above to turn it either way by hand,
D

page_text: The lower internal end of this screw is drilled with a hole to fit the guide pin of
the spindle, so that it acts as a guide to the spindle, as well as affording a means
of regulating the same.
By turning the regulating screw forward the valve can be set open to any
extent required by the attendant, the spring being more or less compressed
according to the amount of opening required, the valve being still at liberty to
open inwards to the full extent of its travel or opening, when a sufficient reduction
of pressure takes place.
By turning the regulating screw backwards the valve is released from the
regulator, and is kept closed by the spring as usual until a reduction of internal
pressure causes it to open.
In lieu of the said regulating screw I sometimes fit a transverse spindle through
the cap with a handle thereto; such spindle is fitted with an excentric or a cam.
By turning the handle in one direction the valve is opened inwards, and by turning
it in the other direction it is released.
The openings under the cover of the cap for admission of air or emission of
steam may be made so as to open radially into the room in a more or less divided
manner; or a pipe may be fitted to the cover leading to the outside of the
building.
The above description is illustrative of small valves. In making larger valves
the usual variations would be made in accordance with engineering practice, such
as the substitution of flanges and bolts instead of screwed bodies and hexagonal
heads or flanges, and working the regulator by means of outside excentrics or
levers, and the support of the valves by other well known means instead of springs,
such as weighted levers.
The cap or shield can be fitted to all existing valves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Collier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
February 1881.
WILLIAM COLLIER, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VACUUM VALVES FOR STEAM DRYING
CYLINDERS, STEAM TRAPS, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
Whereas valves, commonly known as vacuum valves, as fitted and used for the
purposes above mentioned, although efficient so far as concerns the prevention of
collapse from the too great reduction of internal pressure, are defective with
respect to their action in various ways by allowing steam occasionally to be
emitted, doing occasional damage to goods thereby, and being dangerous to the
attendants and work people, and are also defective from want of a ready means of
regulation and control.
My Invention has for its object the remedying of the said defects, and the means
whereby I carry out the same are as follows:-I construct the box which forms
the valve seat, and which screws into the hole in the metal of the cylinder or other
apparatus to be protected from collapse, with a prolongation above its flange, upon
which prolongation I cut a screw thread for the purpose of screwing upon it the
shield or cap next herein after described. This shield or cap is constructed as a
cover to screw upon the box or body of the valve with a flange at the top thereof.
Close under the lower side of this flange I make certain orifices or perforations to
allow air to enter the valve. The spindle of the valve is surrounded by a spring
as usual to keep the valve up to its seat, but it is elongated above the nut or boss,
and this elongation is turned to a small diameter to act as a guide pin. Through
the centre of the shield cover I fit a metal screw with a double thread for quick
action, and a handle or hand wheel above to turn it either way by hand. The
lower internal end of this screw is drilled with a hole to fit the guide pin of the
spindle, so that it acts as a guide to the spindle, as well as affording a means of
regulating the same. By turning the regulating screw forward the valve can
be set open to any extent required by the attendant, the spring being more or
less compressed, according to the amount of opening required, the valve being still
at liberty to open inwards to the full extent of its travel or opening, when a
sufficient reduction of pressure takes place. By turning the regulating screw
backwards the valve is released from the regulator, and is kept closed by the spring
as usual until a reduction of internal pressure causes it to open. In lieu of the
said regulating screw I sometimes fit a transverse spindle through or near to the
cap with a handle thereto; such spindle is fitted with an excentric or a cam. By
turning the handle in one direction the valve is opened inwards, and by turning
it in the other direction it is released. The openings under the cover of the cap
for admission of air or emission of steam may be made so as to open radially into
the room in a more or less divided manner; or a pipe may be fitted to the cover
leading to the outside of the building.
The above description is illustrative of small valves. In making larger valves
the usual variations would be made in accordance with engineering practice, such
as the substitution of flanges and bolts instead of screwed bodies and hexagonal
heads or flanges, and working the regulator by means of outside excentrics or
levers, and the support of the valves by other well known means instead of springs,
such as weighted lovers.
The cap or shield can be fitted to all existing valves.
And in order that my said Invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed
to describe the same more particularly by the aid of the accompanying Drawings,
in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved valve, in which the valve is shewn

page_text: open.
a is the valve; b, the cap or cover; c, the slots or openings in the cap for
the escape of steam, water, or air, or for the entry of air inwards. The valve is
kept open by means of the double threaded screw & passing through the flange. The
spring is compressed by the action of the screw d. Whon the pressure of the
screw is withdrawn the valve closes by the action of the spring as usual, and
the valve can then only open when the difference of pressure internally is sufficiently
reduced for the ordinary pressure of the atmosphere to overcome the power of the
spring. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, in which the valve is shewn shut; Fig. 3 is
a plan or top view of the valve; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation shewing the method
of operating upon the valve by ineans of a transverse lever with an excentric or
cam, as shewn in the Figure. e is the cam, upon turning the shaft of which the
spindle of the valve is compressed and the valve opened, and the contrary motion
of the excentric releases the valve. Fig. 5 is a plan of the last mentioned arrange-
ment with the cap removed.
Having now stated the nature and object of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that what I claim
as my Invention, and desire to be secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The use and construction of a shield, cap, or cover as an addition to and
improvement in the construction of vacuum valves, for the purposes and in the
manner substantially as herein before described, or any mere modification thereof.
2. The use and construction of a screw or other means of fixing open and
releasing such valves, substantially as herein before described and shewn on the
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts respectively, together
forming my improvements in the construction of vacuum valves for steam drying
cylinders, steam traps, and other analogous purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Collier, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM COLLIER. (L.S.)