Improvements in stop valves.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in stop valves.
M CULLIGAN. 1 Belgrave Sq. Rathmines Dublin Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in stop valves, by means of an
expanding arrangement produced by parallelograms, placed between the valve faces,
and which are so connected that they let the valve faces, or a ridge half way
round on the entering surface of same, to slide along the seatings sufficiently
tight to clear them. The faces of the valve will not tighten up on to the seatings
until the valve is just home and right over the seatings, or ridge if it is used,
is clear of the seatings.
This valve is applicable to gas, steam, or liquids.
"
The expanding arrangement consists of one, one pair, or two pairs of parallelo-
grams constructed out of strips of metal, which are free to move at their joints
and are so connected to the valve faces, and to the spindle that they allow the
valve faces to close together and expand.
One or two parallelograms are placed on each side or through the center of
the valve spindle, and are hereinafter described, as single and double parallelo-
gram arrangements.
If single parallelogram arrangements are used, the joints on to the valve faces,
and the joint on to the spindle (gland end) are fixed by pins. The joint at the
entering end of parallelogram (into valve box) is free, and clear of the spindle,
so that when it is pressed on to the inside of valve box on the screwing down of
valve; closes the parallelogram together and thus expands the valve faces on to
the seatings. The strips forming the parallelogram have lugs on their sides next
the valve faces, to regulate the amount of contraction, and to prevent the valve
faces from rocking. These lugs can also be used on the double parallelogram
arrangements.
If double parallelogram arrangements are used, the joints on to the valve faces,
and the joint on to the spindle (gland end) are fixed by pins. The joint at enter-
ing end (valve box end) is clear and free of spindle; so that when it is pressed
on to the inside of valve box it acts as before mentioned. The joint at entering
end of parallelogram nearest gland is fixed to a slot in valve spindle, which slot
regulates in conjunction with a connector, from outer point of outer parallelogram,
which connector is slotted at its connection to valve spindle. These slots also
regulate if required the absoluto expansion of the valve faces. This regulation
of expansion and contraction is applicable to single as well as double parallelo-
gram arrangements.
The expansion takes place as soon as the valve faces are right over and the ridge
on valve faces if it is used, is clear of the seatings. The seatings are parallel.
In the case of a ridge being used on valve faces, a bye pass is not needed as
steam passes before the valve faces are clear of the seatings.
1007

page_text: I, MICHAEL CULLIGAN, of 1, Belgrave Square, Rathmines, Dublin, 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:—
My invention relates to stop valves and has for its object an improved construc-
tion of valve whereby the faces are caused to press tightly against their respective
seats when the valve is closed, but when the valve is opened will be withdrawn
from said scats so as to permit the ready operation of the valve.
According to my invention the valve faces are connected to each other and to
the spindle by links so arranged that when the spindle is operated to close the
valve and the faces are opposite their respective seats they will be pressed tightly
against the same; when however the valve is to be opened the first movement of
the spindle causes the valve faces to be withdrawn a little distance from their
seats so as to facilitate the opening of the valve.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show longi-
tudinal sections of one form of valve constructed in accordance with my inven-
tion.
Figure 1 shews a valve opened and Figure 2 shews the same closed.
A is the pipe the passage of which is to be opened and closed by a valve, said
pipe has a swelling as shewn at A¹ provided with a manhole, having a cover A
through a suitable stuffing box A³ of which the valve spindle B can slide. The
pipe A is provided with valve seats A' secured in any suitable manner.
Care the valve faces connected together and to the spindle B by links C¹ C³ C³ C+,
said links may be pivoted to lugs at the backs of the valve faces and the pairs
of links C¹ C³ are pivoted at 131 132 to the valve spindle. The links are pivoted
together and to a link C6 by a pin 133 which passes through a slot B in the
valve spindle. The said link C is also pivoted at C7 to the links C4 C.
The link C6 is preferably provided with a flat outer end adapted to engage
with a boss A when the valve is in its closed position as shewn in Figure 2.
The operation of my improved construction of valve is as follows. When the
spindle is raised as shewn in Figure 1 the weight of the valve faces and links
causes said faces to approach each other, the pin 133 being at the bottom of a
slot B. The distance between the operative faces of the valve will therefore be
less than the distance between the seats, this condition of affairs lasts while the
valve is being lowered by means of its spindle to the position shewn, in Figure 2
until the end of the link C strikes the boss A+. The pivot pins C7 B³ will then
be raised to approach nearer the pins B3 B' respectively, the pin B3 moving along
the slot B. This movement of the central pivots will cause the side pivots of
the links to move outwards thereby increasing the distance between the valve
faces and pressing said faces firmly against their respective seats. When the
valve is to be opened the first effect of raising the spindle is to increase the dis-
tances between the pins B and B and B and C7 respectively thereby withdraw-
ing the operative faces of the valve from their seats before raising the same, but
as soon as the pin B3 reaches the bottom of the slot B this movement is stopped
and the links and valve faces begin to be raised.
In order to ensure withdrawal of the operative faces of the valve from the
seats at the first movement of the spindle in opening the valve, I may provide
lugs or projections D at the bottom of the valve faces which, striking against the

page_text: rounded portions at the bottom of the valve seats A* tend to press the faces away
from the seats even though the pivoted joints of the links bind and prevent the
rmmediate approach of the valve faces towards each other.
I sometimes provide projections or lugs on the links which engage with the
backs of the valve faces and prevent said faces from moving too far towards each
other. In the valve shewn in the drawings these lugs are not provided, the length
of the slot B being adapted to serve a similar purpose. In some cases instead
of providing two parallelograms of links as shewn I may employ one parallelo-
gram of four links only, in which case lugs are provided on the ends of the links
which engage with the backs of the valve faces and prevent the same from rock-
ing, the movement of the valve faces perpendicularly away from their seats is
limited by these lugs or by the slot in the spindle as hereinbefore described when
two parallelograms of links are provided.
In place of two parallelograms of links arranged one above the other as shewn
the said parallelograms may be placed side by side or two such pairs of parallelo-
grams may be employed.
Any suitable means may be provided for raising and lowering the valve, such
means forming no part of my invention, and the spindle is prevented from turning
in its gland by any suitable device.
My improved valve is applicable for use with gas, steam or liquid, and I wish
it understood that I do not restrict myself to the precise details of construction
herein shewn but that variations may be made in the same all of which are in-
cluded in my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A stop valve the operative faces of which are connected to the spindle by
links so arranged that when the valve is being opened the faces are withdrawn
from their respective seats in a direction perpendicular thereto, and when the
valve is being closed the said faces are pressed tightly against their seats, sub-
stantially as described.
2. Stop valves in which the operative faces are connected together and to the
spindle by one or more parallelograms formed of pivoted links, as, and for the
purpose, specified.
DLI
1011
7
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1007
W. P. THOMPSON & Co
Patent Agents for the Applicant 322 High Holborn, W.C.