IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR VALVES ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONTROLLING THE FLOW OR DISCHARGE OF STEAM AND OTHER HOT FLUIDS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Arthur Nicld, of Dukinfield, in the
County of Chester, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TAPS OR VALVES ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONTROLLING THE FLOW OR DISCHARGE
OF STEAM AND OTHER HOT FLUIDS."
Sealed the 25th September 1874, and dated the 26th March 1874.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Arthur Nield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th March 1874.
I, THOMAS ARTHUR NIELD, of Dukinfield, in the County of Chester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR VALVES ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONTROLLING THE FLOW
OR DISCHARGE OF STEAM AND OTHER HOT FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to taps or valves adapted to be employed to
control the flow or discharge of steam or hot water, or of other hot
fluids, and particularly to such taps as are formed with a movable outer
body or shell and a fixed inner plug..

page_text: When constructing such taps or valves according to one arrangement
I form in the plug an inlet passage communicating with an orifice
situated on one side of the plug, and an outlet passage communicating
with an orifice situated on the opposite side of the plug, and I form
an annular chamber within the body of the outer shell, the said chamber
communicating with two orifices which are situated to correspond with
the orifices in the plug, so that when the said shell is turned to effect
the opening of the tap a thoroughfare for the flow of fluid through the
tap is established. The said fluid in its passage flows through one of
the aforesaid orifices in the plug into the aforesaid annular chamber,
and thence through the said chamber and around the plug to the orifice
on the other side. The intention of. this arrangement is that the parts
of the said shell and the plug which are in contact shall be heated to
the same extent, and as a consequence shall expand equally, whereby
the tightness and durability of the tap or valve are increased.
The arrangement of the orifices or ports may be modified so long as
fluid is caused to flow through the annular passage within the outer
body or shell; as for example, for some purposes there may be only
one orifice in the plug, the fluid being discharged from the said annular
through a bib attached to or formed on the said shell.
My said Invention is very suitable to be applied in the construction
of such steam traps as have fixed plugs fitted with oscillating shells
which are actuated and controlled by means of floats or of weighted
levers; as for example, the outlet passage from the aforesaid shell may
communicate by means of a hollow lever with a float having a lower
orifice through which the effluent water is discharged.

page_text: tap is established. The said fluid in its passage flows through one of
the aforesaid orifices in the plug into the aforesaid annular chamber,.
and thence through the said chamber and around the plug to the orifice
on the other side. The intention of this arrangement is that the parts
of the said shell and the plug which are in contact shall be heated to t
the same extent, and as a consequence shall expand equally, whereby
the tightness and durability of the tap or valve are increased.
The arrangement of the orifices or ports may be modified so long as
fluid is caused to flow through the annular passage within the outer
body or shell; as for example, for some purposes there may be only 1
one orifice in the plug, fluid being discharged from the said annular
passage through a bib attached to or formed on the said shell, or the
outer shell may be fixed and the plug be movable, as in ordinary
cocks.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I have 1
caused a Sheet of Drawings to accompany this Specification, the said
Drawings being marked with letters of reference. Referring in this
place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical section; Fig. 2,
a horizontal section; and Fig. 3, an outside view of a steam tap con-
structed in accordance with my Invention.
In the said Figures a is the said plug, and 6 is the said body or shell.
The said plug is tapped to receive the end of the pipe c, which I will
suppose to be the inlet pipe, and is coupled to a second pipe d which
in the case supposed would be the outlet pipe. The said plug is formed
with two ports or passages e and f which are separated by the 2
diaphragm g, which divides the interior space of the plug into two
chambers. The shell is formed with an annular passago. h which
communicates by means of two ports with the internal cavity in which
the plug a is fitted.
:
In Fig. 1 the last-named ports are represented as being coincident a
with the ports e and f, the tap being fully open so that steam or other
fluid is at liberty to flow from the pipe c through the port f, and the
annular passage to the port e through which the fluid would flow to
the pipe d. In other cases: the said fluid might flow from the pipe d
to the pipe c. The thoroughfare is closed by revolving the said shell 3
upon the plug to a suitable extent..

page_text: - A modification of this arrangement is illustrated by Fig. 4, which
represents a form of tap suitable for a mud cock for a steam generator.
In this example the shell is fixed and the plug a is revolved when the
thoroughfare is to be opened or closed. Ports are formed in the side
of the plug, and these ports are caused to communicate with ports i and j
when the thoroughfare is to be opened. The fluid flows partly through
the port and partly through the annular passage in the shell, and
around the part in which the said plug is fitted to the port i. An
opening fitted with a screw plug is formed in the body in line with
the said ports in order that a rod may be introduced to clear out the
passage through the said ports whenever rendered necessary.
The remaining Figures illustrate the application of my Invention in
the construction of a water guage. In this example the bodies of the
upper and lower cocks A and B are cach formed with annular passages
as in the previous examples. The shell of the lower cock is formed
with a bib which may be coupled with a waste pipe. The plug a is
formed with two ports, there being also two ports in the shell, one
port communicating with the water space of the boiler, and the other
with the bib k. When in the position represented in the Drawings the
guage is in its ordinary working condition. By closing the upper cock,
and by turning the plug a of the lower cock so that its two ports coincide
with the two ports in the shell, the sediment in the passages of the lower
cock may be discharged through the bib k; or by leaving the upper cock
open, and by turning the plug of the lower cock so that one of its ports
is coincident with the passage into the bib k, the other port being closed,
the glass tube will be." blown through."
The foregoing examples sufficiently indicate the manner in which
my Invention may be applied in the cases of taps or cocks otherwise
employed.
My Invention is very suitable to be applied in the construction of
such steam traps as have fixed plugs fitted with oscillating shells or
bodies which are actuated or controlled by means of floats, or of weighted
levers fitted with water chambers, the rising and falling of the floats or
chambers opening and closing the thoroughfare through the tap as
when constructed in accordance with my Invention the cocks or taps of
such steam trans are not so liable to stick or honoma foot

page_text: Having now fully described and indicated the nature of my said In-
vention, and means whereby the same may be carried into effect, I would
in conclusion have it to be understood that I claim the constructing of
cocks or taps suitable for hot fluids with annular passages in the shells
or bodies, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated
herein-before, and in the accompanying Drawings.
-
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Arthur Nield, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-sixth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
foun
THOMAS ARTHUR NIELD. (L.S.)
Signed and sealed by the
said Thomas Arthur Nield,
in the presence of
..EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentec,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.