Improvements in Valves for Steam or High Pressure Fluids.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1392
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Steam or High Pressure Fluids.
We, WILLIAM GEORGE ADAMS, of Gravers Lane, Chestnut Hill, in the City
of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, and
JOHN SIMS FORBES, of 1704 Walnut Street, Philadelphia as aforesaid, do hereby
leclare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The following is a Specification of our said invention, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings.
In said drawings,
Figures 1 and 2, represent what may be termed a typical embodiment of our
invention in its simplest or most elementary form, the device being shown in vertical
central section and the valve being shown in a closed position in Figure 1, and in an
open position in Figure 2.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar sectional views representing two other forms of the
valve, differing in detail, but the same in principle as the form shown in Figures 1
and 2.
The object of our invention is to provide a valve whose actuating devices are so
arranged as to avoid the use of a stuffing box or packed gland, and at the same
time to obviate certain objections which are found in the class known as diaphragın
valves, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the valve-body consists of a metal
base A, provided with a threaded opening at a, for communicating with the inlet
pipe, and having an upwardly prolonged rigid tube D, preferably co-axial with the
said opening. The upper portion of said base is surrounded with a cup-shaped
flange B, having a lateral orifice b, for connection with the outlet or exit pipe. The
upper edge or rim of said flange is tapered as shown and below the tapered portion
is provided with an external screw-thread, as indicated at C. A rigid standard N
extends upward from one side of said base to serve as a convenient means for
holding the valve in an open or closed position, as will hereafter be described.
A flexible, and preferably elastic, casing E, which may be a tube of thin metal, is
connected at its lower end with the rim B, by means of an annular nut F, engaging
with the screw-thread upon said rim and forcing or jamming the lower edge of the
tube against the tapered portion of the rim so as to form an absolutely tight joint.
A cup-shaped head H, is similarly screwed to the upper end of the tube E by
means of an annular nut h, engaging with a thread upon the head and forcing the
edge of the tube into close contact with the tapering rim c thereof, as indicated.
The upper portion of the rigid tube D, is provided with a cap G, preferably
screwed thereon, and having a lateral orifice I, whose raised annular periphery d,
constitutes the seat for the valve J. Said valve J, which may be a disc of metal
or other suitable material, is pivoted at e to a rigid arm K, projecting inwards from
the side of the head H, in juxta-position to the opening I. The movement of the
valve towards or from its seat is effected by rocking or bending the tube E,
transversely to its longitudinal or central axis, and as said tube E, and its head H,
(from the inside of which the valve J is suspended) absolutely enclose the rigid
tube D and its cap G, (in which the seat is formed) the apparatus remains at all
times perfectly steam-tight.
A handle M pivoted to a lug m, cast upon the head H, carries a laterally pro-
jecting blade or rod L, having notches on its under side which engage with the
top of the standard N, so as to hold the blade, and consequently the head connected
therewith, in the desired lateral position.

page_text: In the position shown in Figure 1, the tube E is rocked slightly to the left of a
truc vertical position and the relation between the length of the arm K, and the
position of the inner notch 1, in the blade L, is such that when in this position the
valve J, will be closed tightly against the seat d.
In the position shown in Figure 2 the tube E is rocked a similar distance to
the right of a true vertical position so as to throw the valve J clear of its seat,
this position being maintained by engagement of the outermost notch / upon the
blade L with the standard N.
It will be observed that the rocking movement necessary to open or close the
valve J, is thus effected by the bending of the tube E in a direction transverse to
its central axis, and, preferably, the normal or true axis of the tube is so arranged
with relation to the valve seat as that the bending shall take place equally on each
side of said axis so as to reduce the total deviation from the normal line thereof.
In the form of valve shown in Figure 3, the cylindrical tube which formed the
flexible casing, is replaced by a corrugated tube E', the other parts of the structure
remaining similar to those heretofore described, and, to avoid repetition of the
detailed description, the corresponding parts are designated by similar letters with
the prime mark; thus the base is indicated by A', the inner tube by D¹, etcetera.
To prevent the elongation of the corrugated tube E', when the internal pressure
is considerable, we employ a pair of links P, (one of which is shown in dotted lines)
arranged on opposite sides and pivotted to the exterior of the head at p, and to the
exterior of the base at 7. In Figure 3, said valve is only shown in its closed
position, but the operation of the corrugated casing E', in permitting the necessary
rocking movement for opening is precisely similar to that which has heretofore
been described in the case of the cylindrical flexible tube E.
In the form shown in Figure 4, the body A2, its flange B2, and inlet and outlet
orifices, a² and b², respectively, are similar to those already described, but instead of
upwardly prolonging the interior rigid tube above the body, the cap G2, is arranged
directly within the cup formed by said flange B. The flexible casing consists of a
short corrugated tube E², secured to the upper portion of said rim C³, in the same
manner as before, and the head H2 is similarly secured to the upper end of the tube,
but said head is provided with a downwardly depending rigid lever-arm K², whose
lower end is curved, as indicated at 2. At the commencement of said curved
portion, the arm K2 is pivotted at f2 to a lug g³ upon the top of the cap G². The
valve disc J2, is pivotted to the lower end of said curved part, k, of the arm K²,
and thus the valve J, is shifted towards or away from its seat by the movement of
the arm K², upon its pivot f2. Such movement is of course effected, as in the
former cases, by the oscillation or rocking of the flexible casing, E, transversely to
its central axis, and the valve is locked in either of its two positions by devices
similar to those described in the other cases.
It is obvious that the character of this locking device and the number of positions
in which the valve may be locked has no essential relation to the real features of
the invention, and may be varied at pleasure.
In the class of valves commonly known as diaphragm valves, where the valve is
connected with a convex or slightly conical diaphragm, the movement of the valve
towards or from its seat is effected by the compression or expansion of the diaphragm
in a direction coincident with what may be termed its central axis, and even when
instead of a shallow convex diaphragm, an elongated cup or tube with corrugated
sides has been employed, the compression and elongation thereof, to produce the
opening and closing movement respectively, has taken place in said direction.
Where a shallow diaphragmn is used, it is necessary, in order to obtain the desired
range of movement, to increase the diameter to such an extent that the parts are
unduly bulky and the total pressure upon the diaphragm is relatively very great.
When, on the other hand, a corrugated cup or tube is employed, and is to be
expanded or expressed by a movement coincident with or parallel to its axis, such
movement must take place against the resistance afforded by the outer and inner
limits of the corrugations. The fold of metal at such outer and inner limits

page_text: presents, by reason of its circular form, the characteristic resistance of an arch,
and in order to permit the necessary movement when the tube is compressed
axially, the circle of the outer limits of the corrugations must be bodily enlarged,
and the circle of the inner limits thereof, bodily compressed.
This occasions buckling of the metal, and irregular distortion of the several
circles which bound the corrugations, leading to disintegration of the points
subjected to the most strain.
The rocking movement peculiar to our device is lateral or transverse to the axis,
and whether the casing be short or long, the effect upon the metal is different in
kind from that which takes place in the case of compression or elongation parallel
with the axis.
Thus, instead of forcing the entire periphery outwards at the outer limits of the
corrugations and inwards at the inner limits, our invention permits a compensating
movement, the elongation upon one side occurring in conformity with the shortening
of the other, so that the figure is changed symmetrically, without irregular
distortion or buckling.
We use the expression "rocking movement" to describe the peculiar mode of
operation of our flexible valve actuating casing, in order to distinguish such
movement from that of compression or elongation in a straight line parallel to the
axis.
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 :-
1. The combination of a valve body, provided with inlet and outlet orifices and a
valve sent a continuous closed casing, capable of rocking movement, mounted
upon said body and communicating only therewith; and a valve operatively
connected with said casing; and so arranged with relation to said seat as to be
shifted towards or from the same in conformity with the rocking movement of the
casing, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of a valve-body, provided with inlet and outlet orifices and a
valve seat; a continuous closed casing, capable of rocking movement, mounted
upon said body at a point intermediate between said inlet and outlet orifices, said
casing being adjacent to, but out of the direct path of the fluid; and a valve
operatively connected with said casing and so arranged with relation to said seal as
to be shifted towards or from the same in conformity with the rocking movement of
the casing, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of July 1892.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.