IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STOP-VALVES
Year: 1884

page_text: We JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON, and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the firm of
J. Hopkinson & Co of Huddersfield in the County of York, Engineers do hereby
declare the nature of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
STOP-VALVES" to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to stop valves and is designed to improve the construction
and facilitate the working or use of the same by the employment of novel means
for making them water, steam, or air tight without the use of packing or stuffing
around the spindle and the consequent necessary provision of a stuffing box and
gland.
Our said Invention is equally applicable to large or small valves and to those
used for hydraulic purposes or for regulating or controlling the supply of steam,
air, gas or other fluids. It may be very advantageously applied to the stop-valves
consisting of two sliding parts kept to their faces by springs as described in the
Specifications of former Letters Patent granted to us, and is also applicable to
conical or mushroom valves, or any other form of valve operated by a rotating
spindle to open or close the same.
Our said Invention consists essentially in devices whereby a conical or other
suitable surface, hereinafter termed the stopper or stopper-surface on the spindle
fitted to a seat in the valve-box-cover, is made efficient for preventing the blowing
out or escape of the fluid from the part of the valve-box-cover through which the
said spindle or rod projects, and which has heretofore been provided with a stuffing
or packing box and packed with hemp or other substance which is frequently a
source of great annoyance and inconvenience; one difficulty experienced in the use
of a conical or other stopper on the valve-spindle is the tendency of the same to
leave its seat by reason of the valve's resistance to movement. The construction
of stop-valves is usually such that this resistance is only apparent in opening the
valve but our Invention is not limited in this respect, and we entirely obviate this
difficulty by combining with the said spindle the following devices, that is to
say:
We make the valve-spindle in two parts; one of these parts is screw-threaded
and is connected with the sliding or other piece which forms the valve proper; this
part of the spindle, by the turning of a nut, or by being turned in a fixed nut, is
moved endwise to open and close the said valve. The other part which has on it
the aforesaid conical or other surface, extends through the valve-box-cover or
casing and is provided with the usual hand-wheel, or other means for manipulating
the valve.
To distinguish the two parts of the spindle from each other in the following
description we term the last described part the stopper-spindle and the other part
the valve spindle

page_text: Now according to the most essential feature of our Invention the said stopper-
spindle simply rotates on its axis without end wise movement and thereby turns
the nut or the valve-spindle to open or close the valve without itself being
subjected to any longitudinal stress.
In some cases the stopper-spindle is so connected with the nut as to ensure their
turning together while leaving the said nut free or independent of the said stopper-
spindle in respect of endwise or longitudinal movement. By this arrangement it
is obvious that when the stopper spindle is turned the nut will turn with it and
move the said valve-spindle and valve endwise, but as the stopper-surface is on the
part of the spindle which is longitudinally free or independent of the movements
of the valve-spindle, the stress due to the resistance of the valve will have no
effect upon the said stopper-surface.
The necessary connection between the stopper-spindle and the rotating nut is
effected by making a socket in the lower or inner end of the said stopper-spindle
and fitting the screw-nut in the said socket in such a manner as to ensure their
connection for rotative action but leaving the nut free to move endwise in the said
socket. The stopper-spindle is made hollow for a sufficient length to receive the
upper end of the screw-spindle when the valve is raised or opened. A washer or
disc is screwed, or otherwise fixed, in the neck of the valve-box-cover below the
nut to form a base or abutment for the same.
The connection of the said stopper-spindle with the nut is effected by forming
the latter with longitudinal teeth or projections which fit, with a capability of
sliding, into grooves in the said socket. Or we may make the nut and socket
square, or adopt other suitable means for effecting the connection of the two parts
in the manner specified. In some instances we place a small spiral spring in the
socket to bear against the end of the same and the face of the nut, and thereby
prevent the possibility of any slight separation of the stopper surface or cone from
its seat.
In other cases we provide for keeping the stopper or cone up to its seat or
bearing by a collar fitted on the spindle just outside of, and bearing on the neck or
end of the valve-box-cover and secured by a nut or other means.
In another form or modification of our Invention wherein we use a fixed nut and
a rotating screw, the conical or other surface (on which we depend for keeping the
valve spindle tight) is formed on the stopper-spindle just above the socket and is
preferably enclosed in a small box or chamber bolted on the valve-box-cover, the
cone or stopper surface being seated in the upper part of the said small chamber.
the same.
In this case the connection between the stopper-spindle and screw-spindle may
be conveniently effected by making the socket square and the screw with a square
end which fits-with a capability of end wise movement-in the said socket. The
nut is held in a suitable support below the said cover and the screw passes through
We prefer to place a spiral spring below the socket, or to provide a nut
and washer on the spindle outside the cover for the purpose above specified.
In valves wherein the lower or inner end of the screw-spindle works through a
nut attached to the sliding piece or part which forms the valve proper, we modify
our Invention by providing the valve-spindle with a collar which rests on the
bottom of the chamber wherein the socketed part of the stopper-spindle is
enclosed. Between this collar and the inner face or end of the said socketed part
of the stopper-spindle we place a spiral spring, or employ the external nut and
washer for the above specified purpose, that is to say:-To keep the stopper-surface
properly to its seat, which, in this case, is formed in a cap or cover which is secured
by screw bolts upon the neck or upper part of the valve-box.
Dated thin 09.1 1... SM 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
We, JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the firm of
J. Hopkinson & Co, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
STOP-VALVES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
Our Invention relates to stop-valves and is designed to improve the construction
and facilitate the working or use of the same by the employment of novel means
for rendering them water, steam or air tight, without the use of packing or stuffing
around the spindle and the consequent necessary provision of a stuffing box and
gland.
Our said Invention is equally applicable to large or small valves and to those
used for hydraulic purposes or for regulating or controlling the supply of steam,
air, gas or other fluids. It may be very advantageously applied to the stop-valves
wherein the valve proper consists of two sliding parts kept to their faces by springs
as described in the Specifications of former Letters Patent granted to us and
dated and numbered as follows, viz:-October 20th A.D. 1881, Nº 4586, June 30th
A.D. 1882, N° 3080, August 18th A.D. 1883, N° 4017, and February 12th A.D. 1884,
N° 3144. It is also applicable to conical or mushroom valves or any other form of
valve operated by a rotating spindle to move the same to or from its seat.
Our said Invention consists essentially in devices whereby a conical or other
suitable surface, hereinafter termed the stopper, cone, or stopper surface, on the
spindle, fitted to a seat in the valve-box-cover, is made efficient for preventing the
blowing out or escape of the fluid from the part of the valve-box-cover through
which the said spindle or rod projects, and which has heretofore been provided with
a stuffing or packing box and packed with hemp or other substance which is
frequently a source of great annoyance and inconvenience.
One difficulty experienced in the use of a conical or other stopper on the valve-
spindle is the tendency of the same to leave its seat by reason of the valve's
resistance to movement. The construction of stop-valves is usually such that this
resistance is only apparent in opening the valve, but our Invention is not limited
in this respect. And we entirely obviate this difficulty by combining, with the
said spindle, the following devices, that is to say -
We make the valve-spindle in three. parts, viz:-A rotating part, a screw-nut
and a screw-threaded part which works in or through the said nut. The first part,
which has on it the aforesaid conical or other surface, extends through the valve-
box-cover or casing and is provided with the usual hand-wheel or other means for
manipulating the valve. The screw-nut unites this part with the third or screw-
threaded part, which is connected with the sliding or other piece which forms the
valve proper; this part of the spindle, by the turning of the second part or nut, or
by being turned in a fixed nut, is moved endwise to open and close the said valve.
To distinguish the parts of the spindle from each other in the following
description, we term the first described part the stopper-spindle, the second part
the nut, and the third part the valve-spindle.
Now according to the most essential feature of our Invention the said stopper-
spindle simply rotates on its axis without endwise movement and thereby turns
the nut or the valve-spindle to open or close the valve, without itself being
subjected to any longitudinal stress.
Our said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a valve constructed as
described in the said former Specifications with our present improvements applied
thereto.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the linex Figure 1

page_text: Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal central section of a similar valve showing a
slight modification.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of a well known form of stop-valve
with our present improvements applied thereto.
Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal central section, and
Figure 6 a plan, showing our present improvements incorporated with, or
embodied in, a sluice-valve constructed as described in the said former
Specifications.
The remaining Figures are hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
a is the stopper-spindle, b the valve-spindle, and c the valve.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the stopper-spindle a is so
connected with a nut d as to ensure their turning together, while leaving the said
nut free or independent of the said stopper-spindle in respect of endwise or
longitudinal movement. By this arrangement it is obvious that, when the stopper-
spindle is turned, the nut d will turn with it and move the valve-spindle 6 and
valve c endwise, but as the stopper-surface a¹ is on the part of the spindle which is
longitudinally free or independent of the movements of the valve-spindle b, the
stress due to the resistance of the valve will have no effect upon the said stopper-
surface.
The necessary connection between the stopper-spindle a and the rotating screw-
nut d is effected by making a socket a² in the lower or inner end of the said
stopper-spindle and fitting the said screw-nut in the said socket in such a manner
as to ensure their connection for rotative action but leaving the nut free to move
end wise in the said socket. Figure 2 shows one form in which the said nut and
socket may be made in transverse section for this purpose. The stopper-spindle a
is made hollow for sufficient length to receive the upper end of the screw-spindle b
when the valve is raised or opened. A washer or disc e is screwed or otherwise
fixed in the neck of the valve-box-cover below the nut d to form a base or
abutment for the same.
The connection for rotative action of the stopper-spindle a with the nut d may,
if desired, be effected by forming the latter with longitudinal teeth or projections
which fit, with a capability of sliding, into grooves in the said socket. Or we
may make the nut and socket square or adopt other suitable means for effecting
the connection of the two parts in the manner specified. In the apparatus shown
in Figures 1 and 2, we employ a spiral spring f which is placed in the socket a
to bear against the end of the same and the face of the nut d and thereby prevent
the possibility of any slight separation of the stopper-surface or cone a¹ from its
seat. We may substitute for this spring either of the other devices hereinafter
described for this purpose.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 3, we provide for keeping the stopper or
cone a¹ up to its seat or bearing by a collar g fitted on the spindle a just outside of,
and bearing on, the neck or end of the valve-box-cover and secured by a nut h or
other means.
In the form or modification of our Invention shown in Figure 4, and wherein we
use a fixed nut i and a rotating screw-spindle b, the conical or other surface a¹ (on
which we depend for keeping the valve-spindle tight) is formed on the stopper-
spindle a just above the socket as and is preferably enclosed in a small box or
chamber bolted on the valve-box-cover, the cone or stopper-surface being seated
in the upper part of the said small chamber.
j
In this case, the connection between the stopper-spindle a and screw-spindle b
may be conveniently effected by making the socket a square and the screw with
a square end b' which fits, with a capability of end wise movement, in the said
socket. The nut i is held in a suitable support below the said cover and the
screw b passes through the same. We prefer to place a spiral spring f below the
socket a³ or to provide a nut and washer on the spindle outside the cover, for the
purpose above specified. Or we may use, for this or either of the other forms of

page_text: our improved valve, a spiral spring secured by lock-nuts outside the cover as shewn
in transverse section in Figure 7.
In valves wherein the lower or inner end of the screw-spindle works through a
nut attached to the sliding piece or part which forms the valve proper, we modify
our Invention as shown in Figures 5. and 6, that is to say, we provide the valve-
spindle b with a collar b² which rests on the bottom of the chamber wherein the
socketed part of the stopper-spindle a is enclosed. Between this collar and the
inner face or end of the said socketed part of the stopper-spindle we place a spiral
spring for employ the external nut and washer or the external spring or other
suitable device for the above specified purpose, that is to say, to keep the
stopper-surface a¹ properly to its seat, which in this case is formed in a cap or cover
secured by screw-bolts upon the neck or upper part of the valve-box.
Or we may,
in this or in the other valves herein described, combine a spring with the external
nut and washer.
We wish it understood that we are aware that the provision of a valve-spindle
with a collar or surface fitted to a bearing in the neck or cover of the valve-box to
serve in lieu of packing for keeping the same tight is not new; we therefore do
not claim this feature or device otherwise than as it forms a necessary part of the
devices whereby we carry our said Invention into practice. And it will be observed
that in all the forms or modifications above described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings we effect our object, that is to say, prevent leakage between the spindle
for operating the valve and that portion of the neck or cover through which it
passes, by the employment of the separate or detached stopper-spindle which can be
rotated to open or close the valve, without separating the conical or other stopper-
surface from its seat. Moreover, it will be seen that the valve-spindle is not
screwed into the stopper-spindle and these two spindles or two parts of the spindle
have no rigid connection endwise. Furthermore, in the modifications above
described, the conical or other stopper-surface is arranged to be pressed or forced
against its seat in a direction away from the valve proper, but it is obvious that, if
desired, we might arrange the said stopper-surface to be pressed or forced against its
seat in a direction towards the said valve. This application of our Invention is
illustrated in transverse section in Figures 8 and 9 of the Drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. In a stop-valve, the employment of a divided spindle, one part of which
is attached to the valve and the other part of which has on it a conical or other
stopper-surface to serve in lieu of packing, and which parts of the spindle are
connected through the medium of a nut or otherwise so that in opening and closing
the valve the stopper-surface turns on its seat without being subjected to any stress
tending to separate it therefrom.
Second. The combination, with the neck or cover of a stop-valve, of a rotating
spindle which is provided with a stopper-surface and is arranged in combination
with a screw-threaded spindle and with a nut which is supported and kept in place
endwise by a fixed washer or shoulder as described with reference to Figure 1 or
Figure 3 of the Drawings for the purpose specified.
Third. The improved stop-valve consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 or as in Figure 3 of the Drawings to
operate as, and for the purposes, specified.
Fourth. The modification of our Invention wherein the two spindles or the two
parts of the spindle are combined with a fixed nut, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 4 and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The modification whereby we adapt our Invention to a sluice or other
valve wherein the screw-portion of the spindle works through a nut attached to the
valve, which nut is caused by the rotation of the spindle to move endwise on the

page_text: Bame and thereby open and close the said valve, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 5.
Sixth. The combination, with the divided valve-spindle, of the devices shewn in
the Drawing, or other suitable devices for ensuring the maintenance of the contact
of the stopper with its seat, as above set forth.
Dobed this 10th dow of Tune 1001.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicants.