Improvements in Valves for Reducing the Pressure of Water or other Fluid, and for other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Reducing the Pressure of Water or
other Fluid, and for other purposes.
I, JOHN BARR, of The Glenfield Company Limited, of Kilmarnock, in the
County of Ayr, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object, to construct valves for water or other fluid
in an improved manner, so as to be suitable for large or small sizes, so as to admit
of easy examination or repair, and when arranged for reducing pressure, to dispense
with heavy weights or powerful springs.
In carrying out the invention the valve or main closing piece is arranged in
equilibrium and either with a single or with double beats. If complete closing is
required the valve is made with two disks packed with cup or flat leathers, and
working, one in a port or opening and the other in a cylindrical chamber. For
cases in which complete closing is not required the valve is made with two disks
having cylindrical rims working in cylindrical parts. The valve is connected by
a spindle to a packed piston working in a cylindrical chamber formed in the valve
box, this chamber having a cover on the removal of which the various internal
parts can be withdrawn for examination or repair. The under side of the piston
is acted on by the outlet or reduced pressure; and the cylinder is connected,
above the piston, with the inlet or supply pressure by a pipe having on it a three-
way cock or valve the controlling lever of which is connected to a diaphragm of
rubber combined with a conoido-volute spring one side of which is subjected to
atmospheric pressure whilst the other side is subjected to the outlet or reduced
pressure through a small pipe provided with a stop-cock. With any variation of
the outlet or reduced pressure the spring diaphragm acts on the three-way cock so
as to either admit high-pressure fluid above the piston, or allow fluid to escape, as
may be required, the action being gentle and without abruptness. The connection
between the diaphragm and three-way valve is adjustable so that the pressure to
which the fluid is to be reduced may be altered when desired. When the cock on
the pipe between the outlet and the diaphragm is closed to the outlet, a communi-
cation is made between the underside of the diaphragm and a small discharge hole
through which the fluid can then escape from the diaphragm. This will bring
about the complete opening of the main valve, and the action may be availed of
instantly when a full supply of water is wanted for a fire.
Instead of or in addition to the diaphragm acted on by the outlet water or fluid
there may be one acted on by the inlet water and which may be arranged to cause
the opening of the main valve on the head or pressure of the inlet water exceeding
a predetermined limit. With this arrangement the valve will act as an automatic
relief valve.
Instead of diaphragm and spring as described may substitute a packed piston
working in a small cylinder acting against a spiral spring with screwed central
spindle to give adjustment as above described.
I may interpose a stop or regulating cock between the three-way cock and top
of main valve piston to regulate the opening or closing of the valve.
In an analogous manner the filling of a tank or reservoir up to a predetermined
level may be made to automatically close the main valve by acting on a float lever
connected to the three-way cock.
Dated this Twenty-first day of June 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Reducing the Pressure of Water or
other Fluid, and for other purposes.
I, JOHN BARK, of The Glenfield Company, Limited, of Kilmarnock, in the
County of Ayr, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invertion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that to say :-
My said invention has for its object to construct valves for water or other fluid
in an improved manner, so as to be suitable for large or small sizes, so as to admit
of easy examination or repair, and when arranged for reducing pressure to dispense
with heavy weights or powerful springs.
In carrying out the invention the valve or main closing piece is arranged in
equilibrium, and either with a single or with double beats. If complete closing is
required; the valve is made with two disks packed with cup or flat leathers, and
working, one in a port or opening and the other in a cylindrical chamber. For
cases in which complete closing is not required, the valve is made with two disks
having cylindrical rims working in cylindrical parts. The valve is connected by
a spindle to a packed piston working in a cylindrical chamber formed in the valve
box. The under side of the piston is acted on by the outlet or reduced pressure;
and the cylinder is connected, above the piston, with the inlet or supply pressure
controlled by mechanism hereinafter described so as to either admit high
pressure fluid above the piston, or to allow fluid to escape the action being gentle
and without abruptness.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings,
to be hereinafter referred to, and showing examples of my improved valve.
Figures, 1, 2, 3, and 5, are vertical sections of examples of my improved valve,
and Figures 4, and 6, are vertical sections showing modifications of parts of the
apparatus. In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to
mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The valve, A, or main closing piece is arranged in equilibrium, and with either
double beats as shown in Figures, 1, 2, and, 3, or with single beat as shown in
Figure, 5. In the examples shown in Figures, 1, 2, and, 3, the valve, A, is made
with two disks, B, and, C, having cylindrical rims working in cylindrical parts, B1,
and, C 1. The valve, A, is connected by a spindle, D, to a packed piston, E,
working in a cylindrical chamber, E 1, formed in the valve box, A 1, this chamber
having a cover, E 2, on the removal of which the various internal parts can be
withdrawn for examination or repair. The under side of the piston, E, is acted
on by the reduced or outlet pressure; and the cylinder chamber, E 1, is connected
above the piston, E, with the supply or inlet pressure by a pipe, G, having on it
a three-way cock or valve, G 1, the controlling lever, G 2, of which is connected to a
diaphragm, H, of rubber combined with a conoido-volute spring, H1, which is
enclosed in a casing, H 2, fixed to the side of the valve box, A 1. One side of the
diaphragm, H, is subjected to atmospheric pressure whilst the other side is subjected
to the reduced or outlet pressure through a small pipe, H 3, provided with a
stop-cock. With any variation of the reduced or outlet pressure, the spring
diaphragm, H, acts on the three-way cock, G 1, so as to either admit high pressure
fluid above the piston, E, or allow fluid to escape, the action being gentle and
without abruptness. The connection between the three-way valve, G 1, and the
diaphragm, H, is adjustable the connecting rod, H 4, from the diaphragm, to the
valve being divided and connected by a right-and-left screw coupling, H 5.
The rod, H4, is fixed to a disk, H 6, which secures the spring, H 1, in its place.
The parts are made adjustable in order that the pressure to which the fluid is to
be reduced may be altered when desired. The cock on the pipe, H 3, between the

page_text: outlet, A 2, and the diaphragm, H, is made with a third way to put the underside of
the diaphragm in communication with the atmosphere when the cock plug is in a
position to close the communication with the main outlet, A 2. This will bring
about the complete opening of the main valve, A, and the action may be availed of
instantly when a full supply of water is wanted for a fire.
Figures, 2, and 3, show examples of valves fitted each with a simple relief"
valve, K, for controlling the piston, E. The relief valve, K, is arranged to.
discharge at the reduced pressure, a dribble always flowing from it, and the
quantity discharged being regulated by a cock, G 3, on the inlet side of the valve
box, A. 1. The pressure therefore on the top of the piston, E, can be increased or
diminished as desired. If it is desired to put on the full pressure, it can be effected
by putting the lever, G 2, of the three-way cock, G 1, horizontal, whereupon the
valve, A, will open fully, by the action of the high-pressure fluid on the top of the
piston, E. In Figure, 3, the valve, A, is packed with leather disks, L, secured by
metal disks, L 1. Instead of a diaphragm, H, and spring, H 1, I may substitute as
shown in Figure, 4, a packed piston working in a small cylinder, M, acting against.
a spiral spring, M 1, held in place by screwed rods, M 2, (or it might be a central
spindle) so as to be capable of adjustment as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
If complete closing is required the valve, A, as shown in Figure, 5, is made with
two disks, B, and, C, the former being packed with a cup leather, B2, and working
in a cylindrical chamber, B 3, and the latter working in a port or opening, C 2.
The pressure is regulated by a grooved piston or plunger, N, loaded with
weights, N 1, or it might be springs and working in a small cylinder, N 2, fixed to
the side of the valve box, A 1, on the outlet side. The action of the grooved
plunger, N, is similar to that of a steam engine slide valve. High pressure water
or fluid passes through the pipe, N 3, to the cylinder, N 2, and thence by the
hole, N 4, in the cylinder and the pipe, N 5, to the cylindrical chamber, E 1, above
the piston, E. The cock, N 6, being opened, if the outlet pressure be too high the
plunger, N, is lifted and closes the hole, N 3, thereby shutting off the high pressure
fluid. The fluid above the piston, E, escapes by the pipe, N 5, and an exhaust.
hole, N 7, in the side of the cylinder provided for the purpose. The valve, A, is
then partly closed; but if the outlet pressure becomes too low it allows the grooved
plunger, N, to drop and its middle recessed part uncovers the hole, N 3, and allows
the high pressure fluid to pass above the piston, E, and open the valve again.
In an analogous manner as shown in Figure, 6, the filling of a tank or reservoir
up to a predetermined limit may be made to automatically close the main valve, (A).
by acting on a float lever, P, connected to the three-way cock G 1.
Instead of or in addition to the diaphragm, H, acted on by the outlet water or
fluid there may be one acted on by the inlet water, and which may be arranged to
cause the opening of the main valve, A, on the head or pressure of the inlet water
exceeding a predetermined limit. With this arrangement the valve, A, will act as
an automatic relief valve.
I may interpose a stop or regulating cock (not shown) between the three-way
cock, G1, and the top of the main valve piston, E, to regulate the opening or
closing of the valve, A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The construction and arrangement or combination of parts constituting my
improved double-beat reducing valve substantially as hereinbefore described and as.
shown in Figures, 1, 2, and, 3, of the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction and arrangement or combination of parts constituting my
improved single-beat reducing valve substantially as hereinbefore described, and as.
shown in Figure, 5, of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a reducing valve the application of a diaphragm and spring arranged and.

page_text: operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure, I, of the
accompanying drawings.
4. In a reducing valve, the application of a packed piston working in a small
cylinder acting against an adjustable spring or against weights substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures, 4, and, 5, of the
accompanying drawings.
5. In a reducing valve the application of a float and lever substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to Figure, 6, of the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this Twentieth day of March 1803
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.