IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Bamford, of Bradwell, in the County of Derby, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Bamford at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th August 1879.
GEORGE BAMFORD, of Bradwell, in the County of Derby.
VALVES."
,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in automatic valves for regulating the
flow or circulation of water or steam in heating apparatus, and to allow of the
escape of air or condensed steam, and it may also be applied to other similar pur-
poses; and by the use of this my invention the frequent serious consequences
resulting from the escape of water from the boilers of such apparatus, faulty
circulation, or the charging of the pipes with air are avoided.
My Invention consists of an air escape valve and a regulating back pressure
valve, and they may be made either seperately or combined. The air escape valve
may be described as an ordinary valve, the face of the valve being uppermost, and
fitting in or on to a corresponding seat; the underside of the valve is made of
larger diameter than the face, and fits loosely in the cylindrical casing, and is by
preference hollowed or coned out, one or more holes or openings communicate from
this coned hollow to the cylinder just below the valve face. The valve spindle
passes through the top of the casing, and may be adjusted by weights or other
similar means.
The regulating back pressure valve, which is automatic in its action, may be
described as a valve working in a seating in the ordinary manner, the top being
open to the boiler, the underside being in connection with the return pipes. On the
upper part of the spindle, which is vertical, is a piston of larger diameter than the
top of the valve, and working in a cylindrical portion of the casing, through the
top of which the spindle projects, and is provided with weights or other suitable
means of adjustment to meet the required pressure. When the pressure in the
pipes acting on the underside of the valve is equal to that from the boiler acting

page_text: on the top side the pressure on the piston raises the valve, makes a direct com-
munication with the boiler, and effects the desired circulation. When the pressure
falls below the proper point the valve closes till an increase of pressure again causes
it to open.
When the two valves are combined a modification of the above described
arrangement is used. The back pressure valve, consisting of two valves arranged
in a similar manner to the ordinary equilibrium valve, the small valve being upper-
most, the larger valve being underneath, and both being on the same spindle as
the air escape valve, which is placed above them. All three valves are in con-
nection with the return pipes. The pressure of water or steam in the boiler acts
on the underside of the small valve, and on the top of the larger one, thus keeping
them both closed and the air escape valve open. When the air has escaped, and
the pressure in the return pipes risen to the desired point, it acts on the underside of
the larger valve and also on the underside of the air escape valve, closing the latter
and opening the former as well as the smaller valve, when the flow or circulation
at once commences, thus doing away with the necessity of handworked valves or
taps.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George, Bamford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
February 1880:
GEORGE BAMFORD, of Bradwell, in the County of Derby. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VALVES."
The said Invention relates to improvements in automatic valves for regulating
the circulation or flow of water or steam in heating apparatus, and to allow of the
escape of air or condensed steam; it may also be applied to other similar apparatus
or purposes; and by the use of this my Invention the serious consequences resulting
from the escape of water from the boilers of such apparatus from faulty circulation
or the charging of the pipes with air are avoided, and hand worked taps or valves
are done away with.
My Invention consists of an air escape valve and an automatic regulating valve,
either used separately or in combination. The air escape valve may be described
as an ordinary shaped valve, so far as the seat is concerned, the face being upper-
most and fitting against a corresponding seat; the underside of the valve is of a
larger diameter than the seat, and fits loosely in a cylindrical casing, and is, by
preference, hollowed out on the underside, one or more holes being made to com-
municate between the hollowed part of the valve and the interior of the cylinder
just below the valve face. The valve spindle passes upwards through the top of
the casing, and may be adjusted by weights or equivalent means.
The automatic regulating back pressure and air valve consists of two valves
arranged in a similar manner to the equilibrium steam valve, the small valve being
uppermost, the larger valve being underneath, and both being secured to the same
spindle, which also carries the air escape valve, all three being in connection with
and open to the return pipes.
The pressure of steam or water in the boiler acting with greater power on the
larger surface of the bottom valve keeps the two valves closed, the air escape valve
being open.
When the water arising from condensation and the air has escaped and the
pressure in the return pipes has risen to the desired point it exerts a pressure on
the underside of the large bottom valve and on the underside of the air escape
valve lifting the spindle, and thus opening the two bottom valves and closing the
air escape valve, when the flow or circulation through the pipes and the boiler at
once commences, thus doing away with handworked taps or valves. When two
sets of pipes are worked from the same boiler it is advisable to use a back pressure
valve in addition to the above described valves, and placed between them and the
boiler.
For the purpose of more clearly illustrating my Invention I will now refer to
the annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters thereon, the same
letters denoting the same parts in both Figures.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the air escape valve; A is the valve; B is the
spindle; C, the adjusting weights; D is the hollow; E, E, are the openings or air
escapes; F is the casing.
Fig. 2 represents a combination of the two valves as they are before described;
A is the air escape valve; B, the spindle; C, the adjusting weights; D, the hollowed
part; E, E, the openings or air escapes; F, is the casing; G is the small or upper
valve; H, the bottom or larger valve; I, the return pipe; J, the passage to the boiler';
K, the additional back pressure valve when two sets of circulating pipes are used.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent, is the application and use of air escape valves and. auto-
matic regulating back pressure valve and air escape valves combined for the purpose
mentioned, and substantially as described and illustrated, as well as all mere
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Bamford, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 4th day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
GEORGE BAMFORD. (Ls.)