IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL VALVES
Year: 1886

page_text: I HENRY HERBERT SPORTON Junt of 10 Benyon Road Southgate Road London
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer and Foreman of the Waste
Water Department of the New River Water Company, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL VALVES to be as follows:--
These improvements relate to Ball Valves, and are known as instantaneous, that
is to say open suddenly and shut suddenly, which prevents the disagreeable noise
or hissing sound such as other Ball Valves in present use make.
I construct a Ball Valve of the full way discription and to the Stem or Lever of
the Ball Valve I construct a Hinge or Joint, thereby dividing the Ball Lever
into two pieces, on that portion of the Ball Lever nearest the Ball I attach a Double
Jointed Cross Head, to the top portion of this Cross-Head I attach a right-angle
Crank. This right-angle Crank is suspended by a suitable knuckle joint to a
projection from the body of the Ball Valve, from the right-angle Crank before
discribed I attach a Rod and Weight, and by the conbination of the before
discribed Ball Valve, division of Ball Lever, right-angle Crank and Weight, I obtain
an Instantaneous Ball Valve.
In the foregoing Specification the division of the Ball Lever, right-angle Crank
and Weight, of these improvements are referred to as they are placed in the
arrangement of the apparatus nost generally adopted, but I wish to be understood
that many of the improvements are applicable to any similar Ball Valve if inverted
or placed in the Horizontal or in any other position.

page_text: I HENRY HERBERT SPORTON Jun³ of 10 Benyon Road Southgate Road in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer and Foreman of the Waste Water
Department of the New River Water Company, 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 :-
These Improvements relate to Ball Valves and are known as instantaneous, that
is to say open suddenly and shut suddenly, which prevents the disagreeable noise
or hissing sound such as other Ball Valves in present use make. In the Ball Valves
in present in use the noise or hissing sound is caused through the Ball Valves
opening slowly and closing slowly. In this invention it is the reverse to this, viz;
open suddenly and shut suddenly.
I construct a Ball Valve of the full way description, and to the Stem or Lever of
this Ball Valve I construct a Hinge or Joint, thereby dividing the Ball Lever or
Stem into two pieces. To the Body of the Ball Valve I secure a Bracket projecting
in a line above the Ball Stem or Lever, and to this Bracket I attach a Weighted
Crank Lever with a suitable Joint, which is attached nearly above the Hinge or
Joint in the Ball Stem or Lever, to the Crank of the Weighted Lever I attach a
double jointed adjustable connecting rod, in the Joint which is attached to the
Weighted Crank Lever, of the connecting rod, is a suitable slotted hole, which
gives the Weighted Crank Lever a slight lost motion, and to the lower joint of this
connecting rod is attached to the Ball Stem or Lever, in that portion nearest the
Ball, with a suitable Joint and with an adjustable Screw and Nut.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I have shewn in the Drawings thereunto annexed an Instantaneous Ball
Valve constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 1. Shews a side elevation of the Ball Valve, with the Ball in its highest
position, with the Weighted Crank Lever in a inclined backward position, and is
therefore supporting the Ball Stem or Lever and is assisting to keep the inlet
closed with the aid of the Ball.
Figure 2. Shews a half-sectional side elevation of the Ball Valve, with the inlet
still closed, although the water having fallen several inches, and the Ball has
followed the level of the water, bringing the Weighted Crank Lever nearly to a
perpendicular position, but still supporting that portion of the Ball Stem nearest
the body of the Ball Valve, thus keeping the inlet closed, and is now with the
Weighted Crank Lever in this position, nearly on the point of opening.
Figure 3. Shews a half-sectional side elevation of the Ball Valve, with the Ball
in the same position as in Figure 2, but with the Weighted Crank Lever having
fallen over in an inclined forward position, and thus straightened the Ball Stem or
Lever, which has opened the inlet of the Ball Valve.
Figure 4. Shews a half-sectional side elevation of the Ball Valve with the inlet
still open, the water having raised the Ball nearly the same height as in Figure 1,
and also raised the Weighted Crank Lever to a perpendicular position, and is now
with the Weighted Crank Lever in this position, nearly on the point of closing.

page_text: The following is a description of the working parts of my Instantaneous Ball
Valve with letters of reference.
Figure 1. A shews a side elevation of the body of a ordinary full way
Equilibrium Ball Valve. B. shews the Ball Stem or Lever nearest the body of
the Ball Valve, which actuates the Valve I. and closes the inlet within the body
of the Ball Valve.
B1. Shews the Ball Stem or Lever nearest the Ball. C. shews a ordinary Butt
Hinge Joint on the Ball Stem or Lever. This Hinge or Joint will allow the Ball
and that portion of the Ball Stem nearest the Ball, to drop down in an obtuse
angle, as shewn in Figure 2. at C1, but will not allow the Ball and that portion of
the Ball Stein nearest the Ball, to rise up bigher than when the centre of the Ball,
reaches the centre line of the Ball Stem nearest the body of the Ball Valve.
D. Shews a holler Copper Ball, securely attached to the Ball Stem or Lever B 1.
by a suitable screw. E. shews the double Jointed adjustable Connecting Rod.
E 1. Shews the adjustable Screw and Nut on the double Jointed Connecting
Rod.
E2. Shews the joint of the adjustable Connecting Rod, which is attached to the
Ball Stem or Lever in that portion nearest the Ball B1.
E 3. Shews the Joint which connects with the Weighted Crank Lever F, with
slotted hole for lost motion.
F. Shews the Weighted Crank Lever.
F1. Shews the Weight of the Crank Lever.
F2. Shews the Joint of the Weighted Crank Lever where it is attached to the
Bracket G.
G. Shows the Bracket, projecting in a line above the Ball Stem or Lever B.
I. Shews the Valve which seals the inlet of the Ball Valve when closed, which is
actuated upon by the Ball Stem or Lever B.
H. Shews the inlet to Ball Valve.
K. Shews the outlet of the Ball Valve.
The same letters of reference apply to the same parts in each figure.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details shewn, as these may be varied indefinitely, but what I desire to claim is,
1st The division of the Ball Stem or Lever by a Butt Hinge Joint or other
suitable Joint.
2nd The Weighted Crank Lever in conbination with the adjustable Connecting
Rod and the attachment of the adjustable Connecting Rod to the Ball Stem or
Lever.
3rd The adjustable Screw and Nut on the Double Jointed Connecting Rod.
4th The general construction combination and arrangement of an Instantaneous
Ball Valve substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
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