Automatic Valves for Ships' Ventilating Pipes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Valves for Ships' Ventilating Pipes.
HENRY BURNETT WATSON, Engineer, High Bridge Works, City and County of
Newcastle-on-Tyne and JOHN STANLEY WATSON, Engineer, High Bridge Works,
City and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne 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 the automatic closing of the ventilating pipes passing.
through the bulkheads of ships of war or ships of the Mercantile Marine by means
of a sliding valve-door controlled by a trigger-lever arrangement.
Hitherto the automatic closing of the ventilating pipes passing through the
bulkheads of ships of war &c. has been accomplished by similar arrangements
to that described by our Patent No. 4279 of March 22nd 1887, or by a heavily
weighted wedge-door similar to the arrangement known as "Becks automatic
ventilating valve," such as are in use in Her Majesty's service at the present
time.
The invention we now wish to describe will be readily understood by reference
to the drawings of which Figure I is a sectional elevation, Fig. Il a sectional
plan & Figure III au outside elevation.
The main-line of ventilating pipes being connected to the various watertight
compartments, it is necessary for the safety of the ship when these compartments
and ventilating pipes are pierced by a shot or damaged by collision, that the
connection be immediately cut off from the adjoining compartments.
This invention has for its object the immediate closing of the ventilating openings
between the compartments & consists of a slide A of bronze or other material
working vertically in grooves formed in the frame B which is attached to the
bulkhead X X.
C is a rack which is attached to the slide A & which gears into the pinion D.
The pinion D is keyed to the shaft E & can be turned by means of the hand-
wheel F.
On the shaft E are also the catch G & the trigger arm H which work loose on
the shaft E.
The arm H has a copper-float J attached which when water gets into the
casing K, which is fixed to the bulkhead X X & also connected to the ventilating
pipes V raises the float as shown by the dotted lines and releases the catch G
from the slide A thus allowing the slide to fall & close the opening in the
frame B.
The slide can be easily raised into position again by turning the hand-wheel F.
L is an adjustable balance-weight on the arm H by which the action of the
float J & trigger-arm H may be precisely regulated.
The valve A is in the position shown in section in Fig. I when the ventilation
is all in order.
Immediately however water is let in by accident or from other causes, the
float J. rises with the water, releases the catch G. & allows of the immediate
closing of the opening thereby preventing the water entering the adjoining
compartment.

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
clain 18
First. The special construction of an automatic ventilating valve substantially
as set forth and described in the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. The simple form of automatic ventilating valve which, when the
trigger-arm holding it open is released,-falls by its own weight only & effectually
closes the ventilating openings, ventilating pipes and bulkheads in ships of war,
or of the Mercantile Marine or any position where it is desirable to cut off or
isolate one compartment or pipe from another.
Dated this Sixteenth day of August 1895.
HENRY BURNETT WATSON.
JOHN STANLEY WATSON.