Year: 1886

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 this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In the specifications of former Letters Patent granted to us, we have described
various inventions whereby we have improved the construction of stop-valves for.
regulating or controlling the passage or action of steam, water or other fluids,
among these former patents, there is one dated August 18th 1883, No 4017, and
one dated May 23, 1884, N° 8147, and it is to the class of valves described in the
specifications of these two patents that we now particularly refer in explaining our
present invention.
In the specification of the said Patent N° 4017, we have described, among other
features, the provision, in the valve-box cover or lid, of a chamber or dome, which
greatly facilitates the insertion and removal of the sliding discs, and otherwise adds
to the convenience of the apparatus. In the specification of our patent N° 8147,
which relates to valves of this class and other valves, we have described novel and
peculiar devices whereby a conical or other surface on the operating spindle, fitted
to a seat in the neck of the valve-box-cover, is made efficient for keeping the
spindle tight without the use of the ordinary packing box and gland.
Our present invention relates partly to a novel construction of the valve-box
cover or lid for sliding disc valves. This cover has a neck through which the
spindle extends, and this neck has heretofore been made integrally with the dome
or that portion of the cover which directly covers the box or case, but, according to
our said invention, we now so construct the said cover that the neck or upper part
thereof is detachable or removable from the dome or lower part. For this purpose
we form, at the top of the dome or lower part of the cover, a screw-threaded recess
or socket, and we form, at the lower end of the neck, a screw-threaded portion to
be screwed into the said socket, as hereinafter more fully described. Or we provide
equivalent means for securing together or connecting these two parts.
When this feature of our invention is adapted to the valves without stuffing-
boxes and glands described in our said specification Nº 8147, we are enabled to.

page_text: dispense with the washer which, according to the said specification, is necessary to
form a base or abutment for the nut through which the screw-spindle passes. We
now provide the said nut, on its lower side, with a flange which rests upon the
bottom of the screw-threaded socket of the dome or lower part of the cover.
The
said nut has on it, above this flange, lateral wings or projections, which enter slots
in the stopper-spindle and effect the required connection between the same and the
nut. In other respects than those above specified, the parts of the apparatus
described in the said former specifications are not necessarily changed.
Our said invention also relates to the employment of asbestos or other fibrous or
non-metallic packing in combination with the cone or conical metal surface on the
operating spindle, in valves wherein packing-boxes and glands are not used for
preventing leakage around the said spindle.
This soft or fibrous packing is inserted inside the neck above the conical surface
on the spindle, and between the same and the upper end of the socket in which
the said spindle works. The said packing forms a ring or annular seat, against
which the cone is caused to bear by the upward pressure exerted upon the spindle.
The use of this fibrous packing prevents the scoring or cutting of the metal which
sometimes occurs when the cone is fitted to a metal seat as heretofore. Moreover,
the said fibrous packing is otherwise advantageous in respect of ensuring, at all
times, a tight joint around the spindle without excessive friction between the same
and the seat.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows, in
vertical longitudinal central section, various forms or modifications of stop-valves
in which our present improvements are embodied.
In all of these Figures, a is the valve-box or casing, which may be of any
convenient form or construction.
Adopting the descriptive terms by which these parts have heretofore been
designated, b is the screw or valve-spindle; c is the nut; d is the stopper-spindle.
In Figure 1, we have shewn the valve-box provided with a dome-shaped cover
or lid, which is constructed substantially as described in the specification of our
aforesaid Patent No 4017, that is to say, the dome a¹ and neck a² are integral with
each other. Moreover there is a washer secured in the said cover at e to form
a base or abutment for the nut as described in the said specification.
Figure 2 illustrates our improved construction, according to which the dome is
provided with a removable or detachable neck; a³ is the screw-threaded recess or
socket at the top of the dome, a is the neck formed with the screw-threaded
end a, which is screwed into the said socket. It will be seen that the flange c¹
of the nut rests on the bottom of the recess or socket a³. c, c³ are the wings or
projections on the nut which enter the slots in the stopper-spindle d as, and for the
purpose, above specified.
The second part of our invention, consisting in the employment of asbestos or
similar material as packing around the rotating spindle or the rotating part of the
spindle for operating the valve, is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. Figures 1
and 2 show sliding valves operated by a screw-spindle b which is restrained from
rotation and moves endwise through a nut c which rotates on its axis; the asbestos
or fibrous packing being arranged at f to form a bearing or seat for the conical
surface of the stopper-spindle, as above described. In Figure 3, we have illustrated
the adaptation of such packing to a sliding disc valve operated by a screw-spindle
which rotates but has no endwise movement in its action, its connection with the
stopper spindle or key d being effected through the medium of the square on the
end of the screw-spindle fitting in the socket of the key, which socket is provided
with the short spiral spring g for keeping, or assisting to keep, the cone up to
its seat.
The employment of the asbestos or similar packing material, according to our
invention, as above specified, is not limited to sliding valves, but may be adapted
to other kinds of valves which are opened and closed by a rotating spindle. One
kind of valve with our packing applied thereto is illustrated in Figure 4 of the

page_text: drawing. The asbestos or other fibrous material is, in this case, arranged to form
a seat for the cone or conical surface as above specified.
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 lid or cover having the neck or part through which
the spindle extends made separately from the other portion and secured thereto in
such a manner as to be detachable or removable therefrom, substantially as set
forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. In a stop-valve which is provided with a rotating rod or spindle for
opening and closing or assisting to open and close the valve, the employment of
asbestos or other fibrous or non-metallic packing substantially as, and for the
purpose specified.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicants.