AN IMPROVED VALVE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN SAMPSON of N° 6 Manley Terrace, in the Borough of Liskeard, and
County of Cornwall, superintendent of the Liskeard Waterworks, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED VALVE, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an automatic valve designed to arrest the flow of water,
steam, gas or other fluids, in high pressure mains, with as little resistance as possible
to the external band wheel, lever, or automatic device, for putting the said valve
into operation, and with an exceptionally largo orifice of flow when the valve is
opened.
My device consists of a flexible diaphragm, conveniently of leather, india-rubber,
or other substance, which is secured by an external chamber or cover, over the
orifices both of the inlet and outlet for the water, steam, gas, or other fluid The
said outlet is formed as a seating, conveniently circular, under the centro of the
valve, the flexible diaphragm being backed and strengthened over this seating by a
metal plate.
A small orifice is pierced both through the flexible diaphragm and metal backing,
in the centre of the valve, and is thus in direct communication with the exit port.
This central orifice is closed by a valve, conveniently placed in an inverted metal
cup attached to a spindle, passing through a stuffing box in the top of the cover or
chamber.
The entrance orifice or port for the water, steam, gas, or other fluid under
pressure, by the shape of the valve seating, surrounds the central exit port, and
thus the fluid pressure therein presses upwards upon a considerable portion of the
under face of the main diaphragm valve. A small auxiliary port, adjustable in
size by a set screw, is pierced through the joint of the diaphragm valve, from the
supply pipe, and is thence carried into communication with the upper chamber or
cover, above the diaphragm valve. This admits the water, steam, gas, or other
fluid pressure from the main upon the top of the large diaphragm valve, so as to
produce an equilibrium of pressure upon the upper and lower faces of the diaphragm
valve.
When then the central orifice is open, the main diaphragm valve is in equilibrium,
and is raised by the flow of water, steam, gas, or other fluid, from the seating of
the central exit port, and thus permits the flow through the valve seating equal to
the full bore of the pipe.

page_text: When however the central orifice is closed, by the downward movement of the
spindle valve, the diaphragm valve is carried down by it and by the pressure of the
water, steam, gas, or other fluid, which enters by the auxiliary port co-acting on
the upper part of the valve so as to close tightly on to the main exit seating, and
remains securely held there, both by the pressure of the said spindle valve, and by
the pressure of the water, steam, gas, air, or other fluid, acting upon the area of the
upper side of the valve, such area being slightly larger than that on the under side
of the valve.
The central or spindle valve is readily lifted, as the resistance to its movement is
small, and so soon as the central or spindle valve has been lifted, the main diaphragm 1
valve is immediately thereafter opened by the release of the water pressure itself in
the upper chamber, or cover, above the main diaphragm valve the water, steam, gas,
air, or other fluid thereupon at once passing through the exit port by the pressure
of the water, steam, gas, air, or other fluid.
I may adapt to this combination of diaphragm and spindle valve;-first, the 1
ordinary screw down hand wheel to form it into a stop valve, or :-
Second, may adapt to it the ordinary ball lever, to act automatically as a stop
valve, regulating the supply to cisterns; or :-
Third, may adapt to it a hydraulic plunger, placed on the exit pipe conveying
water or other liquid, and in communication therewith, lifting by the pressure in
the said exit pipe a weighted lever, the other end of which depresses and closes the
aforesaid combined spindle and diaphragm valve.
When the said valve is closed, the pressure in the exit pipe falls, and the weighted
lever pressing down the hydraulic plunger, lifts the spindle valve of the aforesaid
combined diaphragm and spindle valve, thus once more permitting the efflux ?
through the exit pipe, until the rise of pressure therein lifts the hydraulic plunger
and once more closes the said diaphragm valve.
This arrangement acts very effectively as a pressure-reducing valve, the
weight on the lever being adjusted to scale, to suit the required reduction of
pressure.
Th
1004

page_text: I, JOHN SAMPSON, of N° 6 Manley Terrace, in the Borough of Liskeard, and
County of Cornwall, Superintendent of the Liskeard Water Works, do hereby
declare the nature of my Invention for AN IMPROVED VALVE and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My Invention relates to an automatic valve, designed to arrest the flow of water,
steam, gas, or other fluids, in high pressure mains, with as little resistance as
possible to the external hand wheel, lever, or automatic device, for putting the said
valve into operation, and with an exceptionally large orifice of flow when the valve
is open.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereupon-Like letters refer to like parts
throughout the figures.
Figure 1. is an outside elevation of my device applied as an ordinary stop or bib
valve.
Figure 2-is a sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 3. shows my device controlled by a ball and lever.
Figure 4-shows my device combined with a hydraulic plunger to act as a
pressure regulator for mains or otherwise.
My device consists of a flexible diaphragm A, conveniently of leather, india-
rubber, or other substance, which is secured by an external chamber or cover B
over the orifices both of the inlet and outlet C., for the water, steam, gas, or other
fluid. The said outlet O, is formed as a seating, conveniently circular, under the
centre of the valve, the flexible diaphragm A being backed and strengthened over
this seating by a metal plate D.
A small orifice is pierced both through the flexible diaphragm and metal backing
into the centre of the valve, and is thus in direct communication with the exit
port O. This central orifice is closed by a valve E, conveniently placed in an
inverted metal cup attached to a spindle F, passing through a stuffing box G, in
the top of the cover or chamber. The entrance orifice or port for the water, steam,
gas, or other fluid under pressure, by the shape of the valve seating, surrounds the
central exit port C, and thus the fluid pressure therein presses upwards upon a
considerable portion of the under face of the main diaphragm valve A. A small
auxiliary port P, adjustable in size by a set screw, is pierced through the joint of
the diaphragm valve from the supply pipe R, and is thence carried into com-
munication with the Chamber or Cover above the diaphragm valve A. This
admits the water, steam, gas, or other fluid pressure from the Main, upon the top of
the large diaphragm valve A., so as to produce an equilibrium of pressure upon the
upper and lower faces of the said diaphragm valve A.
When, then, the diaphragm valve A is thus in equilibrium, and is raised by the
flow of water, steam gas, or other fluid, from the seating of the central exit port C,
it permits a flow equal to the full bore of the pipe.

page_text: When, however, the central orifice is closed by the downward movement of the
spindle valve E, the diaphragm valve A is pressed down by it, and by the pressure
of the water, steam, gas, or other fluid, which enters by the auxiliary port P, on
the upper part of the valve, so as to close tightly on to the main exit seating C,
where it is securely held both by the pressure of the said spindle valve E, and by
the pressure of the water, steam, gas, air, or other fluid, acting upon the area of
the upper side of the valve, such area being slightly larger than that exposed to
the pressure upon the underside of the valve. The Central or spindle valve E is
readily lifted, as the resistance to its movement is small, and so soon as the Central
or spindle valve E has been lifted, the main diaphragm valve "A" is immediately
thereafter opened, by the release of the water pressure itself in the upper chamber
or cover above the main diaphragm valve A, the water, steam, gas, air, or other
fluid, thereupon at once passing through the exit port C.
In figures 1 and 2, the valve is operated by means of the cross head H, or a hand
wheel. In figure 3, it is operated by the ball and lever K. In figure 4 it is
combined with an hydraulic plunger L, placed on the exit pipe conveying water or
other liquid, and in communication therewith by the passage M., lifting by the
pressure of the liquid on the said exit pipe a pivotted lever N, weighted at one end,
the other end of which operates the valve.
When the valve is closed, the pressure in the exit pipe falls, and the weighted
lever pressing down the hydraulic plunger, lifts the spindle valve of my device,
thus permitting efflux through the exit, until the rise of pressure therein lifts the
hydraulic plunger, and once more closes the valve. This arrangement acts as a
pressure reducing valve, the weight on the lever being adjusted to scale, to suit the
required reduction of pressure.
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
1st The combination in an improved valve of a centrally pierced flexible backed
diaphragm, rising and falling upon a seating in the exit port, and a subsidiary valve
operated manually or automatically through a suitable packing box, together with
an auxiliary adjustable orifice, to either permit the diaphragm valve to be in
equilibrium and held free from the exit port by the flow of the fluid, or hield down
by the water pressure when the central orifice is closed, substantially as and for
the purposes specified.
2nd The combination therewith of an hydraulic plunger in the exit pipe,
together with the weighted lever, to permit the water pressure to automatically
regulate itself, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 4th day of September 1885
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.