Improvements in and relating to Automatically Operated Valves.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatically Operated Valves.
I, CHARLES GULLAND, of 34, Mulford Avenue, 37th Ward, Pittsburgh, State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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:-
My present invention is designed to provide an automatically operating valve,
and further to provide means for initially adjusting the valve according to
the pressure in the mains or the flow desired.
My invention is equally well adapted for use as a faucet valve for domestic
purposes; or in connection with a float to operate automatically by the rise
and fall of the water in a tank; and may also be used in many other situations.
The valve is capable of use in a horizontal position as well as when arranged
vertically.
In the accompanying drawings;-
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a faucet having my invention applied.
Figures 2 is a modification showing a different form of faucet.
Figure 3 is a modification with the valve horizontally arranged.
Figure 4 is a rear view of Figure 3 showing a float for operating the valve
automatically.
Figure 5 is a detail view of a spring push button for causing the operation
of the valve.
a stand pipe.
Figure 6 shows the invention as applied to supply
The invention includes a stationary piston or guide and a cap moving thereon
adapted to control the main discharge of water, the movement of the cap being
regulated by a supplemental valve which may be operated positively, automati-
cally, or positively in one direction to allow the water to flow from the space
above the cap, this valve being returned by a spring to cut off the flow or seated
positively.
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,
The faucet proper is shown at A, Figure 1, with an outlet a and an inlet b. A
web divides the faucet and has a threaded opening to receive and support the
threaded end of a stationary piston or guide projecting up into the cylinder
of the faucet. Surrounding this piston and movable thereon is a cap e having
a projecting peripheral portion 7 which fits closely the inner wall of the
cylinder. This portion serves to receive the pressure of the water to move the
cap to open the valve. The guide is provided with openings g preferably of
V shape or tapering so as to modify the flow of the water and prevent noise.
As the water is turned on the cap rises, exposing first the contracted part of the
opening, the larger part being gradually uncovered and likewise in closing the
gradual action prevents excessive and sudden strain and shock. I aim to pro-
vide for the control of the flow according to the pressure and to allow this regu-
lation to be effected initially when the faucet is set. To accomplish this I
insert within the piston or guide a cylinder h, adapted to fit the interior of the
piston snugly and having openings through its walls corresponding to the open-

page_text: ings of the piston and it will be seen that by turning the cylinder h to partially
close the openings g the flow may be lessened to any degree desired. Access
may be had to the parts by removing the cap, taking out the cap e and the
cylinder may be adjusted through the open end of the piston or guide d.
h
The pressure of water is exerted to keep the valve cap e closed by pasing to
the upper side thereof through a groove k made in the wall of the cylinder.
The valve e will remain closed as long as the pressure is maintained upon its
upper side and to relieve this pressure I provide a discharge or outlet from the
upper side of the valve as at 1, this being closed by a valve m. When this valve
is operated to uncover the opening 1, the pressure is relieved and the force of
water immediately exerts its full force upon the peripheral portion f forcing the
valve up to uncover the openings in the piston and allowing the water to flow.
The water discharged through the opening finds its way through a duct or
passage n into the discharge of the faucet and thus there is no waste.
In Figure I have shown a valve m positively operated in both directions,
but I may use a push button valve as shown at m Figure 5. When pushed in
and as long as held in, the water flows, but when released the flow ceases.
The construction of the valve chamber shown by Figure 5 is not the same
as that of Figure 1 but is similar to that of Figure 6, so that when the valve m
is pushed in the water flows and when normally out, the flow ceases.
In Figure 2 I have simply shown the invention as applied to a different form
of faucet in which the inlet is from below instead of horizontally as in Figure 1.
In Figures 3 and 4 the parts are arranged horizontally instead of vertically,
and instead of a hand operated valve. I show a float o connected to and operating
a lever p which in turn controls the exit opening through a valve m².
In Figure 6 an ordinary form of stand pipe is shown with my improved valve
controlling the supply of water. The lever is operated through a ring r
moved vertically by rods s. A spring pressed valve t (Figure 6) controls the
exit from the space above the valve and this is operated positively by the turned
up end of lever q.
In Figure 6 the construction provides for a cushion effect and to regulate and
control this I use a vent pipe 5 leading from the space between the piston or
guide and valve and this pipe has a valve 6 at its lower end which may be regu-
lated to cause the action of the valve to be slow or quick as may be desired.
This
The valve t of Figure 6 is shown in detail in Figure 5, this being in the shape
of a push button m³ pressed outwardly by a spring and in this position it closes
the exit from the chamber above the valve and the pressure keeps the valve
closed. When the buttons is pressed inwardly the passage from the pressure
side is closed and the water from above the valve is allowed to flow out.
is a reversal of the action of Figure 1 in which the valve is normally forced in
to stop the flow and unscrewed to permit the flow while when the push button
form is used the button is normally out to stop the flow and pushed inwardly
to permit the flow.
It will be seen that this construction presents valve parts subjected to a mini-
mum of wear and capable of being operated by the action of a simple control-
ling button or valve not connected with the valve proper. This makes the
invention particularly valuable for use in connection with the lavatories of
parlor cars, steam boats and the like and by the use of the spring push button,
a material saving of water is effected as the water only flows while the button
is pressed in.
Í further add to the efficiency of the valve by making the openings through
the tubular guide not only of V shape but dispose them in different relations
to each other so that the operation is still more gradual, one opening being
uncovered after the other, this successive action being secured by the openings
being arranged at different elevations in the walls of the guide. This is shown
in Figure 2 where the openings are one above the other. They may be arranged
out of vertical line if desired.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1-In a valve, a valve chamber, inlet and outlet openings therefrom, a central
piston or guide having graduated openings therethrough and a movable valve
guided by said piston and covering said openings with means for controlling
the movement of the valve, substantially as described.
2 In a valve such as described in Claim 1, means for adjusting the size of
the graduated openings of the central piston or guide, substantially as described.
3 In a valve such as described in Claim 1, a shell fitted to the central piston
or guide and capable of being adjusted to diminish the size of the opening through
the piston, substantially as described.
4 In a valve, such as described in Claim 1, an independent escape duct or
passage leading directly from the chamber above the main valve through the
casing to the main outlet and an independent valve for said escape duct, substan-
tially as described and shown.
5--In a valve, such as described in Claim 1, graduated exit openings in the
wall of said guide arranged at different elevations so as to be uncovered in suc-
cession and thus make the action of the valve gradual without shock or strain,
substantially as described and shown.
6 In a valve having graduated exit openings as described in Claim 1, an
auxiliary double acting valve closing the exit from the pressure chamber in one
position and closing the inlet to the chamber while opening the outlet there-
from in the reverse position, substantially as described and shown.
In combination with the main valve, a stationary piston or guide, an air
chamber between the guide and valve and a regulating valved vent leading
therfrom, said guide or piston having openings adapted to be regulated in size
to vary the flow of water as shown and described.
Dated the 0th
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
And 25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.