Improvements in Ball Valves.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1888
Specification Accepted, 11th May, 1888
Improvements in Ball Valves.
I, FREDERICK JOHN HENDERSON, of 5 Kenmure Road, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Sanitary 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
This invention relates to improvements in ball valves whereby their construction
is simplified and the cost of their manufacture is, reduced. In some kinds of ball
valves, now largely used, the working valve is composed of a comparatively long
turned cylindrical plug or stem carrying on its end the leather, indiarubber, or other
washer forming the surface which bears against the valve seat in the body or casing.
This turned cylindrical plug or stem is fitted into a cylindrically bored out part
forming the bib of the ball valve, body or casing, so as to move easily but steadily
therein, the said bored out portion of the bib forming the guide which is intended to
secure the accurate closing of the valve against its seating. In this kind of ball
valve the ball lever sometimes passes through a slot in the lower part of the
aforesaid cylindrical plug or stem; but sometimes the slot is dispensed with. The
leather or indiarubber washer forming the valve surface is usually secured to the end
of the aforesaid cylindrical plug or stem by means of a cap which prevents the said
washer from spreading laterally when in use and thereby causing the valve to stick.
These arrangements require good workmanship in the construction of the parts, and
are therefore somewhat expensive.
According to my present invention, I employ the arrangements shown in the
drawings hereto annexed, in which Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 represent
longitudinal sectional elevations of ball valves constructed in accordance with my
invention, and Figure 7 a section on line 1-1 of Figures 5 and 6.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2. A is the body or casing of the ball valve
constructed much in the usual way; B is a short plug or disc, one side of which is
formed with a tapered, coned or egg-shaped projection or stud C having a groove or
recess D round its base into which an indiarubber washer E is sprung, and forms the
valve surface. This tapered, coned or egg-shaped projection or stud C passes

page_text: into the outlet hole F (which is preferably of a corresponding shape) in the valve
seating in the body of the ball valve, and partially serves to guide the valve plug or
dise B and washer E to the seating G. The. bib H cast with the valve body A
is made short to correspond to the short valve plug or disc B, and not being intended
to serve as a guide to the latter, does not require to be bored out, and as the plug or
disc B is not guided in the bib it does not require to be turned on its circumference.
The bib His preferably of such a diameter as to render it impossible for the valve to
stick by the lateral spreading of the washer E composing the valve surface; but in
some cases the bib may be made smaller in diameter and a chamber formed in it round
the washer E for the same purpose.
In order to assist in guiding the valve plug or disc B, and in keeping the same in
a vertical position, it may be formed with a prolongation I having a slot K therein
(see Figure 2) through which the ball leyer L passes in a manner similar to that
employed in ball valves of the ordinary construction; and in that portion of the ball
lever L which is vertically beneath the plug or disc B a notch or groove M may be
formed with which a knife edge N on the said plug or disc B engages. In Figure 1
the prolongation I consists merely of two guide or steadying cheeks one extending
down on each side of the ball lever L.
Figures 3 and 4 show a somewhat different arrangement for effecting the same
objects. G is a perforated cylindrical conical or other suitably shaped part projecting
from the body A into and concentric with the bib H. This projecting part Gi
is shaped with a suitable tool so as to form a guide for the valve plug or carrier. B¹ ;
and its lower end is shaped and surfaced so as to form a valve seating. B₁ is the
valve plug or carrier bored out to fit and slide easily on the part G¹. E is an
indiarubber, leather or other suitable washer placed at the bottom of the bored out
part of the plug or carrier B¹, and serving as the valve for closing the end of the
passage through the part. G¹. P are lateral holes or slots drilled, or otherwise formed,
in the valve plug or carrier B¹ for the escape of the water when the valve washer E is
away from the seating on the end of the part G¹. Or in some the holes P may be
dispensed with and the bored out part of the plug or carrier B¹ made somewhat larger
to allow the water to escape between it and the part G!, or the latter may be made of
triangular or other suitable section for the same purpose as shown for example
in Figure 7.
In Figure 3 the valve washer E is simply forced to the bottom of the bored out
part of its carrier B', but in Figure 4 the plug or carrier B₁ is shown formed in two
parts and the valve washer E held in place by the two parts being screwed together.
Figures and 6 show modifications of the last described arrangements in which the
valve washer E encircles the part G₁ and the valve seating is formed on the end of
the plug B, in this case the part G¹ is made of triangular or other suitable section (as
shown in Figure 7 for example) to allow the water to escape past it from the lower
end of the part G and over the edge of the plug B'. In Figure 6 the valve washer E
is shown forced into its position, and held in place by being sprung into the groove
round the part G¹ and into the chambered part of the bib H. In Figure 6 the bib H
is made separate from the body A, and the valve washer E is held in place by a
shoulder on the inside of the bib H when the latter is screwed on to the body A.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 8 the indiarubber or leather washer E
is carried on the end of the plug or carrier B instead of on the body A as shown
in Figure 6; and may be held thereon by the screw cap Q as in the ordinary
arrangement.
In Figure 9 is shown a modification of the arrangement shown in Figures 1
and 2. In this case the part C is cylindrical and forms a guide spindle moving
easily in the hole F in that part of the body A on which the valve seating is
formed. This cylindrical guide spindle has a hole C₁ formed therein with lateral
holės or slots P for the passage of the water.
In the drawings, the parts are shown arranged for a vertically acting valve,
but it will be obvious that similar arrangements can readily be applied to beli
valves in which the valve acts horizontally.

page_text: Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
By the above described improvements the quantity of metal used is reduced,
and little or no expensive fitting or turning is required, whereby economy of pro-
duction is effected as compared with ball valves of the ordinary construction."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my. said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First The construction of ball valves as hereinbefore described, and illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second-In the construction of ball valves, the use of a perforated central part G¹,
acting as a guide stem, and a valve-plug or carrier B₁ working in connection
therewith, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
and 8 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Third In the construction of ball valves, the use of a valve-plug or carrier B¹
having a perforated guide stem C, sliding in the hole in the centre of the valve
seating, as herein before described; and illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings
hereto annexed.
Dated this 22nd dow of Manah 1000