Improvements in Hot Blast Valves.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 19th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hot Blast Valves.
I JENKIN LEWIS of 32 Stacey Road, Roath, Cardiff in the County of
Glamorgan, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists in improvements in water cooled valves for hot-blast
purposes, the chief distinguishing feature of the invention being: (1) That the
pipes heretofore employed for conducting the cooling or circulating water, and
which have to travel in and out of the shell with the stroke of the valve are
dispensed with, also (2) the usual flexible pipes or pliable hose, hitherto used in.
connection therewith. My invention, hereinafter described, and for the purposes
set forth, thereby provides a valve of simpler construction, combined with greater
efficiency in its action.
To attain the foregoing advantages, I employ a radial sluice valve, that is to say,
when the valve is being opened or closed, the sluice or disc radiates from a pivot
in the form of a pair of trunnions fixed outside the periphery of the disc, the said
trunnions protruding through the shell, by means of proper sockets or bearings in
the shell, one on each side. The valve disc and trunnions are cast in one piece, a
pipe coil of suitable material, preferably wrought iron, being embedded in the
casting having its inlet and outlet for the cooling or circulating water, placed
respectively in the centre of the two trunnions. A swivel or other convenient joint
is placed between the fixed water pipes and those in the trunnions, to allow the latter
to turn, without conveying any motion to the former. In order that the valve
trunnions may be snugly placed in their respective bearings or sockets, the shell is
so divided through the said sockets, as to allow the parts to be properly bolted
together after the trunnions are placed in position.
The trunnion sockets may be fitted with or without stuffing boxes in the shell, a
shallow groove cut in plain sockets for receiving an asbestos or other suitable ring,
the same ring fitting properly on its respective trunnion, would probably fulfil all
the requirements against any undue leakage of blast through the trunnion sockets.
For opening and closing the valve, levers may be placed on the trunnions on one
or both sides of the valve, preferably both, for strength and torsional resistance of
the trunnions; whereas the said levers may be fitted with toothed quadrant and
pinion, to be operated by a wheel and endless chain, or the alternative of a worm
and worm quadrant as may be most convenient under the circumstances.
Dated this 16th day of July 1891.
JENKIN LEWIS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hot Blast Valves.
I, JENKIN LEWIS of 32 Stacey Road Roath, Cardiff, 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 relates to valves for hot blast purposes and consists in an improved
valve of simplified construction and greater efficiency than the valves usually now
employed in connection with hot blast.
The improvements consist mainly in dispensing with the sliding pipes by which
water is supplied for cooling the valve and which at each movement of the valve

page_text: were required to slide in or out of the valve casing and also with the flexible pipes
or hose hitherto used in connexion with these sliding pipes, and in providing a
valve to which the necessary cooling water may be admitted without these
adjuncts.
The improved valve is a pivoted segmental valve, pivoted at a point outside of
the circumference of the main or hot blast pipe which it is to close and provided
with means whereby it may be moved in the plane of its surface to close or open
the said main. Within the valve is a tubular passage way the two ends of which
debouch in the two trunnions, one on each side of the valve, by which the latter is
pivoted and which project through the valve casing which encloses the valve at all
times and forms a chamber suitable for the movement of the valve.
Valves constructed according to this invention are shown in the annexed drawing
in which
Fig. 1 is a view through the valve casing showing the valve therein, the
upper part of said chamber only being shown in section, the lower part in side
elevation.
Fig. 2 is a section in the direction of the axis of the main showing the valve
in its closed position.
Fig. 3 is an elevation from the right of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan view with the upper part of the casing removed.
Figs. 5 and 6 show modified forms of valve.
The following explanation will indicate a method of performing the invention
reference being made to the drawings;-A is the lower part of the casing for
receiving the valve, it is provided with the flanges a a for attachment to the pipes
forming the main and is open along the edge provided with the flange a¹ for attach-
ment of the cover piece B which is provided with a similar flange b to be bolted or
fastened with screws to the flange a¹. Within the casing A is the internal web a²
extending inwards preferably to a level with the inside face of the lining C with
which the inside of the main and casing are usually provided. This web supports
the seat D of the valve which is fixed in with cement and contains the pipe d for
circulation of water in the usual manner the ends of the said pipe passing outward
There are two holes
through the holes a³ for connection to the water supply pipes.
one for each end of the pipe as shown in the elevation. It may be stated that
although the ends of the pipe for circulating water through the seat are shown
passing through the casing at the bottom, such ends may pass through the shell at
any convenient point. A similar seat may be placed on each side of the valve if
thought desirable. E is the valve the general form of which is that of a segment
of a disc. It is provided with the trunnions e e at its pivotal centre. Along the
periphery of the valve concentric with the trunnions are teeth e¹ engaging with the
pinion e on the shaft e
The meeting line of the parts A and B of the valve casing is so placed that the
axes of the trunnions e e and of the shaft e³ lie in the meeting plane of these parts
and bearings for the trunnions and for the shaft are made by semi-cylindrical
recesses in the meeting faces of the parts A and B. Such bearings may be provided
with stuffing boxes or with packing rings of asbestos let into grooves in the bearings.
By this arrangement of the bearings access may be had to the interior of the
valve casing and valves inspected or removed and replaced in a comparatively
very short space of time. The shaft e³ carries the chain wheel e for receiving
the chain by which the pinion is turned to adjust the valve. A wrought-iron
pipe is inserted in the mould of the valve E and the latter is cast around the
pipe with the trunnions in one piece or made rigid therewith so that the inlet of the
pipe eas in the one trunnion and the outlet in the other trunnion, and water is carried
to the pipe e on one side and carried away on the other by the pipes e* es connected
by any suitable revolving joint. The lever or levers F connected to the trunnion
or trunnions e outside the casing B is intended to carry a counter-weight Fl or may
be used for the opening and shutting of the valve in place of the rack e' and
pinion and the latter may then be dispensed with. A toothed segment F³ may be

page_text: fixed to the trunnion e outside the casing B and be operated by a pinion F carried
in a suitable frame F* outside the casing of the valve as in Fig. 5. I would here
state that where the power is applied thus or to the levers F instead of by means
of the radial rack and pinion inside the shell, the shell or casing would then of
course take the shape that the valve would assume without the rack and pinion
gear attached to it.
The drawing shows the valve and casing as cast in either iron or steel but
the casing if desired may be made of wrought iron or wrought steel or a combina-
tion of wrought and cast material.
The rod Fattached to balance-weight F¹ shown in drawing may be applied as
an auxiliary to the rack and pinion or as a substitute where rack and pinion power
is not required as in Fig. 6.
The valve E is provided with the circular facing e'.
When this valve is intended to be used at places where from scarcity of water
or for
any other reason it is desired to cut off the supply of water passing through
the pipe in the valve E or to reduce the supply, when the position of the valve
allows this to be done suitable means are provided by which the quantity of water
can be regulated automatically to the amount required according to the position of
the valve in relation to its stroke.
The water supply to these valves is generally arranged so that the water after
passing through the valve or disc is so connected as to enter the seat before making
its final escape, one supply being thus made to serve both the valve and the seat.
In this case the valve and seat together require more water when open than when
closed, the greatest quantity being required when the valve is partly open. The
automatic gear is arranged so that the tap is kept in a certain position when the valve
is either opened or closed, when neither open nor shut the small balance weight places
the water supply full open and thus meets the required action. This movement is
provided for by placing the tap e' in the pipe e supplying the water to the pipe *
in the valve. The lever e" of the tap e' is connected by link e to an arm e" on the
trunnion. This link has a slot e" in which the pin e¹ on the lever e slides so that
the arm only moves the lever es to the right or left respectively when it approaches
the extreme limit of its stroke. In intermediate positions the counterweight e"
holds the lever es in a vertical position so that the tap is fully open.
I do not confine myself to the exact shape or construction here shown. The
casing may be divided into more than two parts if desired and the valve may be
set at any angle to open upward or downward or sideways from the main. I prefer
however where the valve opens or closes downwards to arrange on the valve or in
or on the casing a spring or buffer such as G Fig. 1 to cushion the fall of the
valve.
The spring or buffer is preferably as shown outside of casing being more easily
adjusted than if inside.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A hot blast valve consisting of a segmental pivoted plate adapted to be
oscillated on its pivot located outside of the periphery of the hot blast main or pipe
and having a water circulation within it fed through the pivot substantially as
described.
2. A hot blast valve consisting of a segmental pivoted plate having trunnions
located in bearings outside of the periphery of the hot blast main or pipe and a
water passage way through said valve communicating with a supply pipe at the
trunnion on one side and a water exhaust pipe communicating with the trunnion on
the other side.
3. A casing consisting of two parts A B connected upon a meeting plane the one
part being adapted to be inter callated in a hot blast main or pipe in combination
with a segmental pivoted valve, whose pivotal axis lies in said meeting plane and
which is supplied with cooling water at said pivotal point.

page_text: 4. The combination of the valve herein-described with a segmental rack and
pinion for controlling the valve substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 16th day of April 1892.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to the Applicant.