IMPROVE- MENTS IN WATER GAUGES OR STOP VALVES
Year: 1876

page_text: * LETTERS PATENT to William Andrews, of Lisbon, County of Androscoggin, State
of Maine, United States of America, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER GAUGES OR STOP VALVES."
Sealed the 27th February 1877, and dated the 11th December 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Andrews at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1876.
WILLIAM ANDREWS, of Lisbon, County of Androscoggin, State of Maine, United
States of America, Mechanic. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAUGES OR STOP
VALVES."
The Drawing shows a vertical section of my Invention.
The purpose of my Invention is to provide a cock or valve which will be perfectly
tight, easily operated, and not subject to be opened by the pressure of steam or
water in the cylinder or other vessel to which the valve is applied.
The construction and operation of my Invention will be understood by reference
to the Drawings of the different parts thereof.
a shows the part of my Invention which is inserted into or connected with that
from which the steam or water flows into and through the valve. This is horizontal,
perforated of course, and connected with the vertical part b, which part has a hole
through it communicating with a hole in the part a. Into the hole through the
vertical part b is placed the vertically-moving piston c.
This piston is provided
with the apertures & which lead into the tubular part e of the piston, which tubular
part is the delivery or discharging portion of the valve.
The vertical piston is provided with a head or shoulder f, and when the piston is
dropped down as far as permitted by the head, the apertures are no longer in
conjunction with the forward end of the hole in the part a, and the flow of the
steam or water is consequently stopped.
When the piston is raised so as to bring the apertures in it at the forward end of
the hole in the part a, then the steam or water is permitted to flow out through the
hollow or tubular portion of the piston.
The piston is operated by two levers g and h. The lever g is pivoted to an ear
or projection on the top of the part a, and again to the inner end of the lever h.
The lever his connected with the head of the vertical piston at i by a bolt, and fits

page_text: into a slot in said head. By lifting upon the lever h the valve is opened, and by
pressing down upon the same lever it is closed. There is made in the hole through
the part b at the point where the hole in the part « opens into it, an enlargement
or chamber k¹, so that when the apertures in the piston are placed in conjunction
with the mouth of the hole in the part a, the water is permitted to flow all or
partially around the piston and so enter the tubular or hollow part thereof through
all of the apertures at once. i, j, are screw caps on the ends of the vertical part
b, and have interior shoulders; and are shoulders on the interior of the hole of
the vertical part b. Resting upon these shoulders are placed leather or other
proper packing n.
It will be perceived that the packing at or near both ends of the hole of the
vertical part b effectually prevents the passage of the steam or water beyond them,
and when the apertures in the vertical piston are moved below the lower packing
the cock is effectually closed and the exit of water prevented. It will also be
perceived that the pressure of the steam or water is equal on all sides of the piston.
This prevents any pressure which would tend to destroy the packing.
The chamber ¹ may be omitted and the steam or water allowed to flow into an
aperture d, and so directly through the piston if the said apertures d and the tubular
part e of the piston are large enough to permit of the necessary discharge.
When the chamber k¹ is used, and the apertures are employed in the piston to
admit the steam into the same, I make an enlargement of the bore at a and e so as
to permit of a freer entrance and outflow of the steam. o is a screw cap screwing
down on a thread cut on a projecting part p. When the valve is opened by having
the aperture or apertures in the piston in conjunction with the bore of the part a,
then by unscrewing the cap o the steam will blow off through the bore of the part
p, and thus clear the valve from obstruction or accumulation.
If deemed necessary, metal rings or followers may be used to press the packings
upon the shoulders. These will be in that case pressed downwardly by the screw
cap j. The same effect will be produced by having the interior shoulders of the
screw cap j press directly upon the packings.
The wear upon the piston is produced by the action of the steam or water there-
upon. It will be seen that in my Invention those parts of the piston which are
surrounded by the packings are not subjected to the action of the steam when the
valve is open.
In consequence of this the valve packing will remain tight for a
long time.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
First. The gauge cock or valve constructed as described and consisting of the
parts a and b, the vertically-moving piston c having the apertures d and the tubular
parts e, the screw caps j, packings n, and the levers g and h in combination, as set
forth.
b
Second. The combination of the parts a and b, the part 6 having the chamber k²,
the vertically-moving piston c having the apertures d and the tubular part e, the
screw caps, and levers g, h, substantially as described.
Third. The gauge cock or valve, constructed as herein described and having the
screw cap o, the projecting part p, and the bore of the part p, as herein described.
Dated this Seventh day of October 1876.
Signed in presence of
GEORGE H. STARR.
WILLIAM HENRY CLIFFORD.
WILLIAM ANDREWS. (L.S.)