Improvements in Non-return or Lift Valves.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1897
Complete Specification Left. 1st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 28th May, 1898.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Non-return or Lift Valves.
I, ROBERT BRUCE SMITH, of 27, Liversidge Road, Birkenhead, in the County
of Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to lift or non-return valves used in connection
with pumps and pumping machinery of different kinds, and for other analogous
purposes; that is to say, valves which admit automatically of the flow of fluid
through a passage or way in one direction, when the fluid flows or is forced in
that direction, and which automatically closes said way or opening when the flow
or pressure in the direction in which the valve opens, stops. The object of the
present invention is, mainly, to provide valves of this kind, of the disc or like
type, which shall work in connection with their seats, without noise and without
jar; and also to prevent humming of the piston of the pump.
According to this invention, the valve consists of a metal sheet or disc, and a
material which is elastic and non-sonorous, or either, such as rubber, ebonite,
felt, vulcanized fibre, and the like. The laminae of which the valve is composed
are preferably secured together, so that they move or work as one.
According to one .construction, the valve consists of an upper and lower sheet
metal plate or disc of copper or other suitable metal, one of which will work in
connection with the face of the seat, and having between them a sheet of india-
rubber, or other suitable material, such as referred to. The two plates would be
secured together by suitable means with the intermediate layer between them.
As a modification of the above construction, the compound valve would have
only one metal sheet or disc which would preferably constitute the face of the
valve; or, in other cases, the compound valve would comprise a plurality of
alternate layers of motal discs or sheets, and discs or shects of rubber or other
material such as referred to, which may be either connected together or loose.
In some cases, the motal plates may be corrugated in a circular or other suitable
manner, or otherwise formed or modified as to shape.
In another modification, according to this invention, the compound valve will
consist of alternate layers of metal and rubber or other material, the several layers
being separate, and perforated, the perforations being so disposed annularly that
the holes or perforations in one layer of the discs, or sheets will, when the valve
is shut, be closed by the metal or material of another of said layers or discs.
As a further modification under this invention, a metal disc or sheet may be
embedded in rubber or material such as specified, or be held in between sheets
of rubber or the like on either side.
By this construction, or these constructions of valve, I produce a valve which
provides both the useful or serviceable characteristics of metal disc valves and the

page_text: like, and also the qualities of rubber, vulcanite and other like valves, as regards
silent and shockless working.
011
1803
Improvements in Non-return or Lift Valves.
I, ROBERT BRUCE SMITH, of 27, Liversidge Road, Birkenhead, in the County
of Chester, Engineer, 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 has reference to lift or non-return valves used in connection
with pumps and pumping machinery of different kinds, and for other analogous
purposes; that is to say, valves which admit automatically of the flow of fluid
through a passage or way in one direction, when the fluid flows or is forced in
that direction, and which automatically closes said way or opening when the flow
or pressure in the direction in which the valve opens, stops. The object of the
present invention is, mainly, to provide valves of this kind, of the disc or like
type, which shall work in connection with their seats, without noise and without
jar; and also to prevent humming of the piston of the pump.
According to this invention, the valve consists of a metal sheet or disc, and a
material which is elastic and non-sonorous, or either, such as rubber, ebonite,
felt, vulcanized fibre, and the like. The laminae of which the valve is composed
are preferably secured together, so that they move or work as one.
According to this construction, the valve consists of an upper and lower sheet
metal plate or disc of copper or other suitable metal, one of which will work in
connection with the face of the seat, and having between them a sheet of india-
rubber, or other suitable material, such as referred to. Tho, two plates would be
secured together by suitable means, with the intermediate layer between them.
As a modification of the above construction, the compound valve would have
only one metal sheet or disc, which would preferably constitute the face of the
valve; or, in other cases, the compound valve would comprise a plurality of
alternate layers of metal discs or sheets, and discs or sheets of rubber or other
material, such as referred to, which may be either connected together, or loose.
In some cases, the inetal plates may be corrugated in a circular or other suitable
manner, or otherwise formed or modified as to shape.
In another modification, according to this invention, the compound valve will
consist of alternate layers of metal and rubber or other material, the several layers
being separate, and perforated, the perforations being so disposed annularly that
the holes or perforations in one layer of the discs, or sheets will, when the valve
is shut, be closed by the metal or material of another of said layers or discs.
As a further modification under this invention, a metal disc or sheet may be
embedded in rubber or material such as specified, or be held in between sheets
of rubber or the like on oither side.
Valves, according to this invention, are illustrated in the drawings heroto
annexed; Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 0 being sectional elevations shewing five modifica-
tions, and Figure 5 a plan of the metal laminae shewn in Figure 4.
The types of valves here shewn are those commonly employed in fluid pumps,
including air pumps of steam engines, in which the openings for the fluid up

page_text: past the valves, are provided in a plate or valve seat a, in the usual way; and
a flat guard is held a certain distance above the valve and seat-that is to say,
sufficiently far above it to provide for the full opening and lift of the valves-by
a central stud or stem c, fixed in a. The laminae of metal and soft material, of
which the valve is composed, are designated & and e, respectively throughout the
specification.
In the construction of the compound, or multiple laminae valve shown in
Figure 1, there are metallic plates & above and below, and a laminae of rubber,
or other comparatively soft material e, between them. A suitable thickness for
the metallic laminae for ordinary valves, such as are used in air pumps, or the
like is about 3 of an inch thick, when the material is bronze; whilst the rubber,
or other comparatively soft material, may be about a quarter of an inch thick.
In this modification, the actual seating of the valve, namely, the part which
rests on the seat, and effects the closing of the fluid passages, is metallic, i.e. the
lower metal lamina d effects this.
In the modification shewn in Figure 2, the compound or multiple laminae valve
is, in its general nature, an indiarubber or non-metallic valve; that is to say, the
part which constitutes the valve face, and makes a joint with the seat is of soft
material; while within the two laminae e of this soft material, is a metal plate d
of the kinds such as specified. By this construction, while the valva possesses
the flexibility required, it is more or less stiffened all round and its operation and
action improved. In this case, the laminac or soft material c, are carried round
the edge of the metal d, and practically enclose it, the two parts being made to
adhere to each other in any known way.
The metal plate or lamina d may consist of a solid plate or disc, of say, bronze,
as shewn in this figure; or, it may be corrugated, as shown in Figure 3; or be
of perforated form, as shewn in Figure 5. Or, again, it may be of woven wire of
stout size and comparatively stiff, which will possess an amount of rigidity or
stiffness equivalent to that of the plate a.
The modified valve shown in Figure 4 is of the type set forth with reference
to Figure 2; but at the inner edge round the central hole, tho metallic stiffen-
ing web d is provided with an upper or lower flange d', which forms a sleeve, and
works up against the guide pin c, and affords a greater wearing surface upon
the valve pin.
Figure 6 shews a slight modification of the type of valve shewn in Figure 2;
the modification mainly relates to the upper side of the valve, which, in lieu of
being a solid disc of soft material, consists of a rubber or soft material e², at the
outer part of the valve, and a ring of rubber or soft material &, round the central
or inner portion. In order that these rings may be secured firmly to the valve,
apertures are made through the inside and outside edges of the metallio
diaphragm, and the rubber forming these two rings, and the lower laminae are
connected together by allowing the rubber to pass through these apertures while
in a plastic condition, which rubber is then secured in position. This method
provides a light construction and form.
By the construction of valves herein described, I provide a valve which affords
both the advantageous and serviceable characteristics of metal disc valves, and
the like, and also the qualities of rubber, vulcanized fibre, vulcanite, and other
like valves, as regards the silent and shockless working; and, at the same time,
admits a large opening or capacity for flow of the fluid, without increasing the
size of the valve, by allowing larger openings, and a great lift of the valve, without
injury; and which, at the same time, gives comparatively little wear, thus
lengthening the life of same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I, declare that, what, I
claim is;-
1. The herein described improved valve of the kind referred to, namely, a com-

page_text: pound valve, consisting of multiple laminae of metal and soft material, combined
and adapted to act, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A lift valve of the kind herein referred to, composing metallic sheets d, one
of which works upon the valve seat, and an intermediate lamina e of rubber, or
other equivalent soft material; as set forth with reference to and shown in the
drawings.
3. A lift valve of the kind herein referred to, comprising portions or laminae
of rubber, or equivalent soft material, working in connection with the seat of the
valve, and the internal metallic stiffening web or lining d; as set forth with
reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.