Improvements in and relating to Hydraulic Actuating Valves.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Hydraulic Actuating Valves.
I, JAMES HARGREAVES, of Providence Works, Stamford Street Leeds,
Yorks, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in & relating to valves for
actuating hydraulic machinery & for distributing hydraulic pressure to the
different parts of any hydraulic machine or system of machines.
It is specially intended for the purpose of allowing hydraulic pressure to be
admitted to any machine, or shut off from any machine, gradually & steadily,
so as to avoid shock & vibration, & moreover for the purpose of preserving
the cup leather packings from damage & thereby greatly increasing their
durability.
The nature & novelty of my invention are as follows:-
The valve consists of a hollow cylindrical casting, having suitable branches
cast on the sides, in any convenient position, for the inlet of the pressure from
the supply main, the outlet of the pressure to the machines, & the outlet of the
exhaust pressure from the machines after the operation is completed.
Passing through this hollow valve body is a spindle, or piston, which is made
of different diameters, certain portions of this spindle filling the internal diameter
of the valve body, & another portion being of a smaller diameter; the spindle is
moved longitudinally by means of a lever, & the position of the inlet & outlet
branches, before referred to, is so arranged that the smaller part of the spindle
can be brought into such a position as to connect the pressure inlet with the
branch leading to the machines, or on the other hand to connect the branch leading
to the machines with the exhaust. When the spindle placed in a midway
position, the pressure is prevented from entering the valve; & also the pressure
in the machine, if such there be, is prevented from escaping to the exhaust
main.
In order to prevent any leakage of pressure between those portions of the
spindle which fill the diameter of the valve body & the valve body itself, I place
at each end of the valve an ordinary cup, or hat, leather, these leathers being held
in position by means of suitable screwed collars.
Near the centre of the spindle, & secured thereto by a collar & nut, I also
place a cup leather, & when the valve is shut off entirely, or is open to exhaust,
this cup leather occupies a position between the pressure inlet & the branch
leading to the machine, & so prevents any passage of pressure from the pressure
main to the machine or to the exhaust outlet.
When it is desired to admit pressure to the machines, the spindle is moved along
until the cup leather last referred to passes to the other side of the pressure inlet,
& the smaller portion of the spindle then makes the connection between the
pressure inlet & the outlet to the machines.
The inside diameter of the valve body I enlarge at that part where the
pressure enters (as also at those parts where the other ports enter) in order that
the water, or other fluid, may have free access, & in order also that the cup
leather shall not be cut away & destroyed by passing across a hole in the bore of
the valve.
In the case of the pressure inlet I fit into this enlarged portion of the valve body a

page_text: liner, or sleeve, the inside of which is of the same diameter as the bored portion
of the valve body; this liner, fitting up against the end of the bored portion of
the valve body, provides a continuous chamber for the passage of the spindle & of
the cup leather attached thereto.
On the end of the spindle of my valve I provide an extension, having two nuts,
or collars, which engage with the outer end of the sleeve above referred to,
thereby opening a passage for the water, or other fluid, to pass between the end
of the sleeve & the valve body, after the safe passage of the cup leather; or, on
the other hand, in closing the valve the space is entirely closed, & a continuous
chamber provided, before the passage of the cup leather takes place.
The sleeve, when arranged as above described, serves also to spread the
pressure water on its admission to the valve, thereby causing it to play equally
upon every part of the cup leathers; & in addition to this it acts as a check valve
& serves to keep back any return pressure which may come upon the valve from
the exhaust connection, in cases where an intensified back pressure occurs.
The outer end of the sleeve is reduced in diameter, in order to place it in
equilibrium, & the pressure is prevented from passing through the sleeve by a
cup leather placed inside thereof. If desirable the sleeve may occupy a fixed
position, instead of being moveable as above described, & in that case sufficient
space is left between the end of the sleeve & the valve body to allow of the free
passage of the water, or other fluid, & the inside of the sleeve, at the end where
the cup leather enters, is then made slightly bell-shaped.
For double-acting machines the valves may be made in pairs, each pair being
worked by one lever.
Dated this 27th day of November 1895.
I, JAMES HARGREAVES, Engineer, of Providence Works, Cross Stamford
Street, Leeds, 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 improvements in & relating to valves for
actuating hydraulic machinery & for distributing hydraulic pressure to the
different parts of any hydraulic machine or system of machines.
It is specially intended for the purpose of allowing hydraulic pressure to be
admitted to any machine, or shut off from any machine, gradually & steadily,
SO as to avoid shock & vibration, & moreover for the purpose of preserving
the cup leather packings from damage & thereby greatly increasing their
durability.
The nature & novelty of my invention are as follows:-
The valve consists of a hollow cylindrical casting, having suitable branches
cast on the sides, in any convenient position, for the inlet of the pressure from
the supply main, the outlet of the pressure to the machines & the out-let of the
exhaust pressure from the machines after the operation is completed.
Passing through this hollow valve body is a spindle, or piston, which is made
of different diameters, certain portions of this spindle filling the internal diameter
of the valve body, & another portion being of a smaller diameter; the spindle is
moved longitudinally by means of a lever, & the position of the inlet & outlet
branches, before referred to, is so arranged that the smaller part of the spindle
can be brought into such a position as to connect the pressure inlet with the
branch leading to the machines or on the other hand to connect the branch

page_text: leading to the machines with the exhaust. When the spindle is placed in a mid-
way position, the pressure is prevented from entering the valve, & also the
pressure in the machine, if such there be, is prevented from escaping to the
exhaust main.
In order to prevent any leakage of pressure between those portions of the
spindle which fill the diameter of the valve body & the valve body itself, I place
at each end of the valve an ordinary cup or hat leather, these leathers being held
in position by means of suitable screwed collars. Near the centre of the spindle,
& secured thereto by a collar & nut, I also place a cup-leather, & when the
valve is shut off entirely, or is open to exhaust, this cup-leather occupies a position
between the pressure inlet & the branch leading to the machine, & so prevents
any passage of pressure from the pressure main to the machines or to the exhaust
outlet. When it is desired to admit pressure to the machines, the spindle is
moved along until the cup-leather last referred to passes to the other side of the
pressure inlet, & the smaller portion of the spindle then makes the connection
between the pressure inlet & the outlet to the machines.
The inside diameter of the valve body I enlarge at that part where the pressure
enters (as also at those parts where the other ports enter) in order that the
water, or other fluid, may have free access, & in order also that the cup-leather
shall not be cut away & destroyed by passing across a hole in the bore of the
valve.
In the case of the pressure inlet I fit into this enlarged portion of the valve
body a liner, or sleeve, the inside of which is of the same diameter as the bored
portion of the valve body; this liner, fitting up against the end of the bored portion
of the valve body, provides a continuous chamber for the passage of the spindle & of
the cup-leather attached thereto. On the end of the spindle of my valve I provide
an extension, having two nuts, or collars which engage with the outer end of the
sleeve above referred to, thereby opening a passage for the water, or other fluid,
to pass between the end of the sleeve & the valve body, after the safe passage of
the cup-leather; or on the other hand, in closing the valve the space is entirely
closed, & a continuous chamber provided, before the passage of the cup-leather
takes place. The method in which these nuts or collars move the sleeve is as
follows: The spindle being moved, let us say to the left, the screwed collar
immediately behind the cup-leather (marked I on Figs. & 2 Sheet 1) comes
into contact with the inner side of the outer end of the sleeve & on being moved
still further to the left the spindle forces the sleeve back & so produces an
opening for the free passage of the water, or other fluid, between the right hand
end of the sleeve & the valve body, & so to the machine; on closing the valve
the spindle is moved to the right (Figs. 1 & 2 Sheet 1) & the screwed collar at
the extreme end of the spindle coming into contact with the outer end of the
sleeve forces back the sleeve into its original position; the movement of the
sleeve by means of the spindle as above described only takes place after the safe
passage of the cup-leather, in each direction, over the point of junction between
the right hand end of the sleeve & the valve body.
The double cup-leather to the extreme left (Figs. 1 & 2 Sheet 1) is provided
for the purpose of keeping in any water which may pass between the sleeve &
that portion of the valve body in which it slides. The sleeve, when arranged as
described, serves also to spread the pressure water on its admission to the valve,
thereby causing it to play equally on every part of the cup-leathers; & in
addition to this it acts as a check-valve & serves to keep back any return pressure
which may come upon the valve from the exhaust connection, in cases where an
intensified back pressure occurs. The outer end of the sleeve is reduced in
diameter, in order to place it in equilibrium, & the pressure is prevented from
passing through the the sleeve by a cup-leather placed inside thereof. If desirable
the sleeve may occupy a fixed position, instead of being moveable as above
described & in that case sufficient space is left between the end of the sleeve &
the valve body to allow of the free passage of the water, or other fluid, & the

page_text: inside of the sleeve, at the end where the cup-leather enters, is then made slightly
bell-shaped. For double-acting machines the valves may be made in pairs, each
pair being worked by one lever.
In order that my said invention, & the manner of carrying the same into effect,
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of
drawings.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) represents a single valve as described, &
Fig. 2 (Sheet 1) represents a double valve.
Fig. 3 (Sheet 2) represents a single valve in which the sleeve occupies a fixed
position as described;
Fig. 4 (Sheet 2) represents a double valve in which the sleeves occupy fixed
positions as described.
Referring to Figs. 1 & 2 (Sheet 1) A is the hollow cylindrical casting, having
the suitable branches X Y Z cast on for inlet, outlet & exhaust respectively;
B is the spindle or piston; C C are the cup or hat-leathers to prevent any leakage
of pressure between the spindle & the valve body, secured by the screwed
collars DD; E is the cup-leather which is fixed near the centre of the spindle ;
FFF show the enlarged parts of the valve body where the ports enter; G is
the liner or sleeve, moved by the nuts or collars H H; I is the cup-leather inside
the sleeve.
With reference to Figs. 3 & 4 (Sheet 2), the above description applies,
excepting as regards the sleeve K, which in this form of the valve occupies a
fixed position.
Having now ascertained the nature of my said invention, & the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An hydraulic actuating valve of the equilibrium, or piston, type, with
hydraulic leather packings, which is provided with a sleeve for the protection of
the leather packings, as described.
2. An hydraulic actuating valve, of the equilibrium or piston type, with
hydraulic leather packings, which is provided with a sleeve for the protection of
the leather packings, such sleeve being moved longitudinally by means of screwed
collars or nuts attached to the spindle of the valve as described.
3. The method of moving the sleeve for the purposes described.
4. The method of balancing the pressures which act upon the ends of the sleeve,
by reducing the diameter of the outer end of the sleeve as described & thus
providing an annular surface for the pressure to act upon towards the outer end of
the sleeve, equal in area to the annular surface upon which the pressure acts on
the inner end of the sleeve.
5. An hydraulic actuating valve as described, in which the sleeve occupies a
fixed position.
6. The method of fixing the sleeve for the purposes described.
7. A sleeve, of either of the forms described, which may be applied to existing
valves for the purposes set forth.
8. The application of the sleeve for either single or double-acting valves.
Dated this 25th day of February 1896.
JAMES HARGREAVES.