IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR LIQUID, STEAM, AND GAS PIPES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Henry Hart and James John Potter, trading as
Hart and Company, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Horticultural
Builders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR LIQUID, STEAM,
AND GAS PIPES."
Sealed the 3rd May 1878, and dated the 7th November 1877.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Henry Hart and
James John Potter at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th
November 1877.
ALFRED HENRY HART and JAMES JOHN POTTER, trading as Hart and Company,
of Biriningham, in the County of Warwick, Horticultural Builders. "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN VALVES FOR LIQUID, STEAM, AND GAS PIPES.".
Our Invention consists of the improvements, herein-after described, in valves for
liquid, steam, and gas pipes.
By our improvements the parts of the valve are so arranged that the whole of the
working parts are capable of being withdrawn from the pipe without disturbing the
said pipe or the case or body of the valve. The valve when fully opened gives a
passage of the same capacity as the pipe to which it is attached, and the valve is
held by the working or actuating mechanism very firmly to its seat in the pipe.
"
In constructing valves according to our Invention we arrange the valve proper or
diaphragm and the mechanism by which the valve is opened and closed upon the
under side of the cover, which closes the top of the body or case of the valve, which
body or case is made by preference in one piece with the pipe. In the axis of the
said cover a stuffing box or packing is situated, through which a spindle passes.
On the bottom of this spindle is a worm or screw, the teeth or thread of which
gears with the teeth of a toothed quadrant or sector, the bearings of the axis of the
said quadrant or sector being formed on the under side of the cover. To the lowest
part of the said toothed quadrant or sector the valve proper or diaphragm is rigidly
[Price 6d1

page_text: connected; or the toothed quadrant or sector and valve or diaphragm may be cast
in one piece.
When the spindle of the valve is turned by a handle or hand wheel external to
the valve case, the worm or screw on the bottom of the said spindle gives motion to
the toothed quadrant or sector, and to the valve or diaphragm connected with it,
and the said valve or diaphragm is moved through the required angle.
On moving the valve into a horizontal position or parallel to the axis of the pipe,
the said valve is lifted from the valve seat in the pipe, and the said pipe is opened,
and the liquid, steam, or gas passes freely through it; and when the valve is moved
through a quadrant, or nearly a quadrant, it takes a vertical or inclined position,
and seats it against the seat in the pipe, and closes the said pipe, and cuts off the
passage of liquid, steam, or gas through it.
As the valve proper and the whole of the valve mechanism are carried by the
cover, the removal of the said cover effects the removal of the said valve and its
mechanism for repair or alteration without interfering with the pipe or the valve
case or body.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Henry Hart and James John Potter in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd May 1878.
ALFRED HENRY HART and JAMES JOHN POTTER, trading as Hart and Company,
of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Horticultural Builders. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VALVES FOR LIQUID, STEAM, AND GAS PIPES."
Our Invention consists of the improvements, herein-after described, in valves for
liquid, steam, and gas pipes.
By our improvements the parts of the valve are so arranged that the whole of
the working parts are capable of being withdrawn from the pipe without dis-
turbing the said pipe or the case or body of the valve. The valve when fully opened
gives a passage of the same capacity as the pipe to which it is attached, and the
valve is held by the working or actuating mechanism very firmly to its seat in the
pipe.
In constructing valves according to our Invention we arrange the valve proper or
diaphragm and the mechanism by which the valve is opened and closed in a case or
body, the said body or case being closed by a cover. In the said cover a stuffing
box or packing is situated, through which a spindle passes. On the bottom of this
spindle is a worm or screw the teeth or thread of which gears with the teeth of a
toothed quadrant or sector. To the said toothed quadrant or sector the valve proper
or diaphragm is rigidly connected; or the toothed quadrant or sector and valve or
diaphragm may be cast in one piece.
When the spindle of the valve is turned by a handle or hand wheel external to
the valve case, the worm or screw on the bottom of the said spindle gives motion to
the toothed quadrant or sector, and to the valve or diaphragm connected with it,
and the said valve or diaphragm is moved through the required angle.
On moving the valve into a horizontal position or parallel to the axis of the pipe,
the said valve is lifted from the valve seat in the pipe, and the said pipe-is-opened,

page_text: and the liquid, steam, or gas passes freely through it; and when the valve is moved
through a quadrant, or nearly a quadrant, it takes a vertical or inclined position,
and seats itself against the seat in the pipe, and closes the said pipe, and cuts off the
passage of liquid, steam, or gas through it.
By the removal of the cover of the valve case the valve proper and the whole of
the valve mechanism may be removed for repair or alteration without interfering
with the pipe or the valve case or body.
We will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which our Invention may be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent longitudinal sections of valves applied to liquid, steam,
or gas pipes, the parts of the said valves being arranged according to our Invention.
Figure 1ª represents a' plan of Figure 1 with a portion removed; and Figure 2ª
represents a plan of Figure 2 with a portion removed.
In Figures 1 and 14 the valve proper or diaphragm seats itself in an inclined
position in the pipe to close the said pipe; and in Figures 2 and 2ª the valve
proper or diaphragm seats itself in a vertical position in the pipe to close the said
pipe.
We will first describe the valve represented in Figures 1 and 1ª. a, a, is the
liquid, steam, or gas pipe, to which the valve is applied, the said pipe being fitted
in the socket a³, and 6 is the body or case of the valve; c is the valve proper or
diaphragm, the metallic part of which is made in one piece with the toothed
quadrant or sector d, by which, in conjunction with the mechanism herein-after
described, the said valve c is raised from and depressed on to its seat. The axis d²
of the valve works in seats or bearings d³, d³, in the sides of the valve case 6 (see
Figure 1). The seat or bearing face of the valve c is made of a ring or cushion of
india-rubber e, fastened to the metallic part c of the valve by the plate and screw
at f; or the valve c may be made with a joint or seat of the kind shown in con-
nection with the valve n, Figures 2 and 24. When the valve c; e, is turned on its
axis, so as to lower it in the pipe into the position indicated in dotted lines, the
india-rubber seat or cushion e of the valve seats itself upon or takes a bearing
against the seat at a², à, in the pipe socket a³, and closes the pipe a, the pressure
of the liquid or fluid in the direction of the arrow tending to hold the valve to its
seat. The cover g, by which the case b.of the valve is closed, carries a stuffing box
or packing h, in which a rotating spindle i works. The lower end of the spindle i
is provided with a worm or screw k, which gears with the teeth of the toothed
quadrant or sector d. Between the worm k and stuffing box h are packing rings l.
When the spindle i is turned by the handle or hand wheel m on its
external end in the direction proper to open the valve, the worm or screw k gives
motion to the toothed quadrant or sector d, and the valve or diaphragm c, e, made
in one piece with the said quadrant or sector, is raised into the horizontal position
represented, so as to open the pipe a; and when the spindle i is turned in the
opposite direction to that described, the valve c, e, is depressed or turned into the
inclined position indicated in dotted lines, and its india-rubber seat or cushion e
made to bear against the seat a², a², in the pipe socket, and close the pipe.
When the valve or diaphragm is fully opened or raised into the horizontal position
represented, a passage through the valve of the same capacity as the pipe a is pro-
vided, and the liquid, steam, or gas passes freely through the said pipe.
In order to remove the valve and its mechanism from the pipe for repair or altera-
tion, it is only necessary to remove the cover g of the valve case, when the valve and
its connected parts may be lifted from the valve case b without interfering with the
pipe or the said valve case or body.
We will now describe the construction of the valve represented in Figures 2
and 24; this valve differs from that already described in respect of the construction
of the valve proper or diaphragm :-
In the arrangement Figures 2 and 2ª, the valve proper or diaphragm n is a
metallic valve, and is carried by the valve seat or plate p, which seat or plate is
introduced into the pipe socket by a vertical motion, and takes into a groove or

page_text: recess 9 made in the interior of the said pipe socket to receive it. The toothed
quadrant or sector d, which is made in one piece with the valve n, is centred to the
top of the valve plate or seat p by a pin or axis r on the said quadrant, working in
bearings or snugs p², pa, made on the said valve plate or seat p. The valve or dia-
phragm n has a conical bearing t on its acting face, which seats itself against an
inclined projections on the valve plate p.
The parts for working the valve n and the other parts are constructed as described
with respect to the valve, Figures 1 and 14, and corresponding parts are marked
with the same letters of reference.
When the valve or diaphragm n, Figures 2 and 24, is in its closed position it is
vertical, and seats itself against the seat s on the plate p, as represented; and when
the said valve n is in its open position it is horizontal, as indicated in dotted lines,
and opens a passage in the valve of the same capacity as the pipe a.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention,
the improvements in valves for liquid, steam, and gas pipes herein-before described,
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, arranging the parts of
the said valves, substantially as described and illustrated, whereby the valve proper
or diaphragm when fully opened gives a passage for the liquid, steam, or gas of the
same capacity as the pipe to which the said valve is attached.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alfred Henry Hart and James John Potter,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight,
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
ALFRED HENRY HART. (L.S.)
JAMES JOHN POTTER. (L.S.)