Improvements in or relating to Electrically Controlled Valves.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Sept., 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electrically Controlled Valves.
I, Dr. ADOLF FRANKE of Berlin, Spandauer Brücke II, Germany, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in or relating to electrically con-
trolled valves for use with pipes conveying fluids under pressure, as I will now
proceed to explain by aid of the accompanying drawing which shows in longitudinal
section a stop valve and electrical controlling device constructed according to this
invention.
a is the valve case into which fluid under pressure say water passes in the
direction of the arrow b, the water after passing the valve escaping in the direction
indicated by the arrow c.
The valve comprises a valve-plate d faced with material such as leather or india-
rubber, and two pistons e and f connected as shewn to the said plate d.
The diameter of the valve plate d and also that of the piston e is less than
that of the piston f. The pistons e and are arranged to move in cylinders of
corresponding diameters, the larger cylinder g being closed at its front or outer
end by a cover h. In opening the valve, i.e. in withdrawing the valve-plate d
from its seat d', the pistons e and move to the right while in closing the valve,
they move to the left. The space i between the two pistons is connected with a
discharge pipe k for carrying off water which may pass by the pistons f and e. By
this means a pressure equal to that of the external atmosphere is always maintained
in the space 1.
The cylinder g is connected by a pipe with a pipe m that is
connected at n with the pressure pipe. In the lower part of the pipe m below the
orifice of pipe is arranged a valve-seat o and at a distance above the said orifice
there is a second valve-seat o¹. The latter valve-seat is formed at the lower end of
a soft iron tube o* having a small bore and made to fit the upper part of the pipe m
as shown. A movable iron rod q having conical ends and a diameter less than
the internal diameter of pipe m is arranged to work between the two valve-seats
and act as a valve. The upper and lower extremities of the iron rod carry
small brass cones ground so as to accurately fit the central apertures o² o' through
the valve seats o and o¹ respectively. The iron rod q is shown in its lowest
position in which it closes the lower orifice o³ of pipe m just below the point of
connection therewith of the pipe l. The upper part of the pipe m containing
the soft iron tube o* and seat o' is surrounded by a solenoids, which when
excited by an electric current serves to raise the iron rod q which acts as a
movable core therefor, and press the upper end thereof against the valve-seat o¹,
thereby shutting off the supply of pressure water to the pipe and cylinder g, and
opening the lower escape aperture o³.
The solenoid is enclosed in a tubular casing r of soft iron, closed at top and
bottom by discs t that are also of soft iron.
The operation of the valve is as follows With the several parts in the position
shown in the drawings, the valve plate d will be held closed upon its seat by the action
upon the piston of water under pressure admitted to the cylinder 9 from the
pressure pipe through the pipes o*, 'm and 7 which are then in communication with
each other as shown. As the diameter of piston ƒ is larger than that of the valve
plate d, the latter will be held in the closed position as long as the piston f is
subjected to the action of the pressure water. When it is desired to open the valve,
an electric current is caused, by means of any suitable current closing device to flow
through the solenoids which then lifts the iron rod q from the lower valve seat o
and presses it against the upper valve seat o'. The lower part of the pipe m and

page_text: the outer end of the cylinder g, are thus disconnected from the pressure pipe and
placed in communication with the external atmosphere by the aperture o' through
the valve seat o', thus equalizing the pressure upon the opposite sides of the piston f
The water entering the valve case from the pressure pipe in the direction of
the arrow will then move the valve plate d and attached pistons e and f to the
right thus opening the valve. By the motion of the piston to the right, the water
in front of the same will be driven through the pipe into the lower part of
the pipe m whence it will escape through the aperture o³. When it is desired
to again close the valve, it is only necessary to break the circuit of the solenoid
when the iron rod q will be released and the pressure water in the upper part of
pipe m will act upon and press it against the lower valve seat a.
The pressure
water will then again pass through pipe into the cylinder g and force the piston f
to the left thereby again closing the valve plate d.
The opening and closing of the stop-valve is therefore simply dependent upon
the making and breaking of an electric circuit by means of a suitable circuit making
and breaking device.
The apertures o o' through the valve seats o o¹ should be very small, so that
when there is a high pressure in the pressure pipe a current of moderate strength
passing through the solenoids will suffice to lift the iron rod' g from the valve
seat o and press it against the valve seat o¹ and thus keep the passage through
this valve seat closed.
By enclosing the solenoid in a soft iron casing and making the tube o* also of
soft iron, as hereinbefore mentioned, a magnetic circuit is provided for the lines of
force caused by the excitation of the solenoid, that is broken only by the space
between the valve seat o' and iron rod q, when the latter is in its lowest position.
By these means a comparatively weak current passing through the solenoid will
produce a powerful action upon the iron bar
Dated this 5th day of August 1892.
9.
ADOLF FRANKE,
By L. W., per F. B.
+
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION...
Improvements in or relating to Electrically Controlled Valves!
I, Dr. ADOLF FRANKE of Berlin, Spandauer Brucke 11, 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 improvements in or relating to electrically
controlled valves for use with pipes conveying fluids under pressure, as I will now
proceed to explain by aid of the drawing filed with my Provisional Specification
which shows in longitudinal section a stop valve and electrical controlling device
constructed according to this invention.
a is the valve case into which fluid under pressure say water passes in the
direction of the arrow b, the water after passing the valve, escaping in the direction
indicated by the arrow c.
The valve comprises a valve-plate d faced with material such as leather or india-
rubber, and two pistons e and connected as shewn to the said plate d.
The diameter of the valve plate d and also that of the piston e is less than that
of the piston f. The pistons e and fare arranged to move in cylinders of corre-
sponding diameters, the larger cylinder g being closed at its front or outer end by
a cover h. In opening the valve, i.c. in withdrawing the valve-plated from its
seat d, the pistons e and f move to the right, while in closing the valve, they move
to the left. The space i between the two pistons is connected with a discharge
pipe k for carrying off water which may leak pass the pistons and e. By this

page_text: means a pressure equal to that of the external atmosphere is always maintained in
the space. The cylinder g is connected by a pipe with a pipe m of non-magnetic
material such as brass that is connected at n with the pipe containing fluid for
example water under pressure and hereinafter called the pressure pipe. In the
lower part of the pipe m below the orifice of pipe is arranged a valve-seat o and
at a distance above the said orifice there is a second valve-seat o¹. The latter valve
seat is formed at the lower end of a soft iron pipe o* having a small bore and made
to fit the upper part of the pipe m as shown. A movable iron rod q having conical
ends and a diameter less than the internal diameter of pipe m, is arranged to work
between the two valve seats and act as a valve. The upper and lower extremities
of the iron rod carry small brass cones ground so as to accurately fit the central
apertures oo through the valve seats o and o' respectively. The iron rod q is
shewn in its lowest position in which it closes the lower orifice o' of pipe m just
below the point of connection therewith of the pipe l. The upper part of the
pipe m containing the soft iron pipe o* and seat of is surrounded by a solenoids,
which when excited by an electric current serves to raise the iron rod which
J
acts as a movable core therefor and press the upper end thereof against the valve.
seat o', thereby shutting off the supply of pressure water to the pipe and cylinder g,
and opening the lower escape aperture o³.
The solenoid is enclosed in a tubular casing r of soft iron, closed at top and
bottom by discs t that are also of soft iron.
The operation of the valve is as follows:-
With the several parts in the position shown in the drawings, the valve plate d
will be held closed upon its seat by the action upon the piston of water under
pressure admitted to the cylinder g from the pressure pipe through the pipes o*, m
and which are then in communication with each other as shown. As the diameter
of piston is larger than that of the valve plate d, the latter will be held in the
closed position as long as the piston is subjected to the action of the pressure
water. When it is desired to open the valve, an electric current is caused, by
means of any suitable circuit closing device to flow through the solenoids which then
lifts the iron rod g from the lower valve seat o and presses it against the upper valve
seat o'. The lower part of the pipe m and the outer end of the cylinder g, are thus
disconnected from the pressure pipe and placed in communication with the external
atmosphere by the aperture o' through the valve seat o', thus equalizing the
pressure upon the opposite sides of the piston f. The water entering the valve
case from the pressure pipe in the direction of the arrow will then move the valve
plate d and attached pistons e and f to the right, thus opening the valve. By the
motion of the piston f to the right, the water in front of the same will be driven
through the pipe into the lower part of the pipe m whence it will escape through
the aperture o When it is desired to again close the valve, it is only necessary
to break the circuit of the solenoid when the iron rod 9 will be released and the
pressure water in the upper part of pipe m will act upon it and press it against
the lower valve seat o. The pressure water will then again pass through pipel
into the cylinder g and force the piston f to the left thereby again closing the
valve plate d.
The opening and closing of the stop-valve is therefore simply dependent upon the
making and breaking of an electric circuit by means of a suitable circuit making
and breaking device.
The apertures o³ ³ through the valve seats o o¹ should be very small, so that
when there is a high pressure in the pressure pipe a current of moderate strength
passing through the solenoids will suffice to lift the iron rod q from the valve seat o
and press it against the valve seat o' and thus keep the passage through this valve
seat closed.
By enclosing the solenoid in a soft iron casing and making the pipe o* also of
soft iron, as herein before mentioned, a magnetic circuit is provided for the lines of
force caused by the excitation of the solenoid, that is broken only by the space
between the valve seat o' and the iron rod 9, when the latter is in its lowest position.

page_text: By this construction a comparatively weak current passing through the solenoid
will produce a powerful action upon the iron rod q.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An electrically controlled valve in which the valve proper is connected to a
piston arranged to work in a chamber provided with supply and exhaust pipes the
flow of fluid through which to and from the said chamber is controlled by a
magnetic valve arranged to act as the movable core of a solenoid, the arrangement
being such that when the solenoid is energised by an electric current, the magnetic
valve will be operated to allow the said chamber to exhaust and the valve proper
to be automatically opened by fluid pressure thereon, and when the circuit of the
solenoid is broken the magnetic valve will assume a position in which fluid under
pressure will pass to the chamber and by acting upon the piston therein will auto-
matically close the valve proper substantially as herein described.
2. My combined stop valve and electrical controlling device constructed arranged
and operating substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1892.
ADOLF FRANKE,
By L. W., per F. B.