IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FULL-WAY TAPS OR VALVES to be ass
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I FREDERICK WILLIAM GRITTEN of Southwark in the County of Surrey Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FULL-WAY TAPS OR VALVES to be as follows:-
"3
Whereas full-way taps or valves as hitherto constructed are liable to become
clogged by dirt or deposits from water-steam or other fluids thereby producing
friction and leakage, the object of my invention is to make a tap or valve of more
simple construction and capable of obviating such defects without being liable to
get out of order. And my invention consists in adapting and applying to such
taps or valves a sliding hollow cylindrical plug or valve constructed so as to fit and
work in contact with the corresponding internal surface of the barrell or socket
and to have a sufficient amount of elasticity in itself to compensate for wear and
keep it always in contact with the said. surface without the aid of wedges or
springs. The said elasticity of the plug or valve also enables it to become adapted
to the expansion due to high temperatures.
And this requisite elasticity in the plug or valve is produced by dividing it in
two places at its periphery opposite each other and parallel with its axis thereby
forming two semi-cylindrical faces. These faces are connected by curved arms cast
on the interior of each and joining in a boss common to both. The said arms may
be in a direction either at right angles to or parallel with the axis of the valve.
The opposite sides of the valve, or the arms, are by any convenient means
compressed before turning, to the pressure required, the length and developement of
the arms giving the necessary flexible pressure when released to keep the opposite
sides of the valve against the internal face of the body of the cock in which it has
to slide, and which is bored truly cylindrical to receive the same. By this means
all dirt or sediment is prevented from getting between the faces.
The requisite elasticity in the plug or valve may also be produced by means of a
slot or opening on each side of the plug, extending from the bottom to nearly the
top of the same thereby causing such two sides to form strong springs united at the
top of the plug. In order to increase the said elasticity the plug is so constructed
that the diameter thereof is made slightly greater at the bottom and diminishes
gradually to the top, and I prefer to produce this tapered form in the course of
manufacture by drawing inwards the two sides of the plug and confining them
while they are turned to fit the interior of the barrel or socket thereby causing

page_text: .
them to spring out by reaction when released from compression. The valve can
be worked as required by means of a screwed spindle, (preferred in cases of high
pressure) lever, or other suitable arrangement, this, as also the materials of which
the parts are made would be suitable for the different purposes to which the
invention can be applied whether for water pressure, gases, acids, ar other liquors.
In the case of a screwed spindle being used to work the valve a stop is provided to
project inside the body of the cock, entering the slot or division in the valve, to prevent
its turning as it slides up and down-this stop can be either a "lug" projecting from
the top cover of the cock downwards into the slot in the valve, or it can be
attached to the body from the outside (as a projecting pin) or by other suitable
methods. A moveable flange is provided at the bottom of the cock when necessary
for the purpose of cleaning out any sediment removed from the faces by the action
of the valve on this flange or on the bottom of the cock a conical projection is
formed for the valve to stop against when shut and also preventing injury to the
valve edges. The reacting pressure on the spindle is taken on the packing gland
which having been regulated to keep in its place the conical face formed on the
spindle for the purpose is prevented from working loose by a lock nut being
tightened on it. By this arrangement it will be seen that the spindle and top
cover as well as the bottom may all be removed while the valve is left down, and
the whole exposed to inspection cleaned and replaced while under pressure..
Dand L MAL
100
I FREDERICK WILLIAM GRITTEN of Southwark in the County of Surrey 2
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FULL-WAY TAPS OR VALVES "
and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Whereas full-way taps or valves as hitherto constructed are liable to become 3
clogged by dirt or deposits from water steam or other fluids thereby producing
friction and leakage the object of my invention is to make a tap or valve of more
simple construction and capable of obviating such defects without being liable to
get out of order.
And my Invention consists in adapting and applying to such taps or valves a 3
sliding hollow cylindrical plug or valve proper constructed so as to fit and work in
contact with the corresponding internal surface of the barrel or socket and to have
a sufficient amount of elasticity in itself to compensate for wear and keep it
always in contact with the said surface without the aid of wedges or springs.
The said elasticity of the plug or valve proper also enables it to become adapted 4
to the expansion due to high temperatures.
And this requisite elasticity in the plug or valve proper is produced by dividing
it in two places at its periphery opposite each other and parallel with its axis
thereby forming two semi-cylindrical faces.

page_text: These faces are connected by bowed or curved arms formed on the interior of
each semi-cylindrical face and joining in a boss common to both.
The said arms may be in a direction either at right angles to or parallel with the
axis of the valve.
"
The opposite sides of the plug or valve proper are by any convenient means
compressed before turning to the pressure required the length and development of
the arms giving the necessary flexible pressure when released to keep the opposite
sides of the plug or valve proper against the internal face of the body of the valve
in which it has to slide and which is bored truly cylindrical to receive the same.
By this means all dirt or sediment is prevented from getting between the faces.
The requisite elasticity in the plug or valve proper may also be produced by
means of a slot or opening on each side thereof extending from the bottom to
nearly the top of the same thereby causing such two sides to form strong springs
united at the top of the said plug or valve proper.
In order to increase the said elasticity the plug or valve proper is so constructed
that the diameter thereof is made slightly greater at the bottom and diminishes
gradually to the top and I prefer to produce this tapered form in the course of
manufacture by drawing inwards the two sides of the plug or valve proper and
confining them while they are turned to fit the interior of the barrel or socket of
the valve thereby causing them to spring out by reaction when released from
compression.
The plug or valve-proper however may when deemed desirable be made in threo
pieces instead of in one as before described.
The valve can be worked as required by means of a screwed spindle (preferred
in cases of high pressure) lever or other suitable arrangement, this, as also the
materials of which the parts are made would be suitable for the different purposes
to which the Invention may be applied, whether for water pressure gases acids or
other liquors.
In the case of a screwed spindle being used to work the valve a stop is provided
to project inside the body of such valve entering the slot or division in the plug or
valve proper to prevent its turning as it slides up and down, this stop can be either
a lug projecting from the top cover of the valve downwards into the slot in the
plug or valve proper or it can be attached to the body from the outside (as a
projecting pin) or by other suitable methods.
A moveable flange is provided at the bottom of the valve when necessary for the
purpose of cleaning out any sediment removed from the faces by the action of the
plug or valve proper. On this flange or on the bottom of the valve a conical
projection is formed for the plug or valve proper to stop against when shut, and
thereby preventing injury to the edges of the same.
The reacting pressure on the spindle is taken on the packing gland which having
been regulated to keep in its place the conical face formed on the spindle for the
purpose is prevented from working loose by a lock nut being tightened on it.
By this arrangement it will be seen that the spindle and top cover as well as the
bottom may all be removed while the plug or valve-proper is left down and the
whole exposed to inspection cleaned and replaced while under moderate pressure.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe it more particularly by the aid of the accompanying
drawings in which are represented a complete valve and modifications of the plug
or valve proper.

page_text: Fig 4 is a sectional elevation of another method of making the plug or valve
proper as hereinbefore described.
C is the body of the valve which may be as shewn on the drawing or made with
a flange or with fire-hose connections as may be required.
It may also have a flange at the bottom if required.
D is a boss through which a stop or guide is inserted in order to prevent the
valve faces from turning.
"
E is the valve cover shewing the gland and method of keeping the spindle in
position the gland can have a lock nut beneath it, if required.
F is the plug or valve proper as hereinbefore described which slides on a parallel
cylindrical face in the body of the valve by the action of the screw spindle and
hand wheel as shown or it may be actuated by a lever or other suitable method.
The working faces are all kept in contact by the elasticity of the bowed or
curved arms which arms are projected to the level of the bottom of the valve so
as to form a convenient stop and also to form a more complete closing for the valve
passage by the downward pressure of the spindle causing such arms to be extended
and thereby to press the semi cylindrical faces of the plug or valve proper more
closely against the internal face of the body of the valve.'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of, my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is-
The construction of full-way taps or valves having the plug or valve proper
(being that which opens and closes the full and straight way passage) made of two
semi cylindrical faces which by their own elasticity and also by the elasticity of
bowed or curved arms actuating them, are held against the cylindrical face or bore
in which the valve slides substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this third day of November One thousand eight hundred and eighty
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