IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE OF WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jonathan Aldous Mays at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1880.
JONATHAN ALDOUS MAYS, of Great Winchester Street, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY AND
DISCHARGE OF WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS."
My Invention relates to improvements in valves, cocks, or taps, and is chiefly
designed to control the supply or admission or discharge of water into and from
cisterns, tanks, and the like, and prevent overflow or waste. The said Invention
consists essentially in so arranging the valve proper in relation to its seat, that
when the said valve is in its normal position, that is to say, when the same is
open to permit the passage of the water, the area of the outlet aperture or
passage corresponds with that of the inlet or supply pipe, and the water passes
freely. When however the said outlet passage is decreased in area by reason of
the valve being moved towards its seat by a float or lever carrying a ball or other
device upon which the water in the cistern acts, the pressure of water in the
supply pipe distends or expands a flexible or collapsible diaphragm or disc, which
constitutes one end of a chamber in which the said valve is arranged. In other
words, as soon as the said valve is acted upon even to a very slight extent by the
float or lever and moved towards its seat it partly closes the outlet passage and
decreases its area, so that the pressure within the chamber suddenly increases and
preponderates over the pressure exerted upon the valve by the liquid flowing
through the outlet or discharge opening. The collapsible end of the said chamber
is thereby distended and closes the valve, and retains it in such close position until
the level of the water in the cistern'descends to such an extent as to allow the float
or level to fall and again permit the valve to open to its full extent.
In carrying my Invention into practice I employ a chamber of any desired form
and provide the bottom or one end of the same with a suitable outlet passage.
The top or other end of the said chamber is formed by a flexible diaphragm
or disc of metal or other suitable material and preferably corrugated. To this
diaphragm I connect the valve or valve's stem so that as the diaphragm is distended
or collapsed the said valve follows the movements of the same. This valve is
arranged in combination with a seat in the outlet passage, such outlet passage
when the valve is fully open corresponding as above stated in area with that of
the supply pipe, which communicates with the valve chamber at any suitable point

page_text: connected to the valve stem, or an extension of the said valve, is the float or ball
lever, which on partially closing the valve so reduces the area of the discharge
passage as to cause the pressure in the chamber to quickly distend the diaphragm
and close the valve as above explained.
For the purpose of in part relieving the flexible or collapsible diaphragm of the
pressure upon the same resulting from the closing of the valve, I sometimes provide
an air chamber external to the diaphragm, the diaphragm forming part of its floor.
A small orifice being made in the diaphragm the effect of closing the valve is that
the fluid forces its way through the orifice, compresses the air in the air chamber,
and forms a cushion of compressed air which presses upon the upper part of the
diaphragm. The pressure upon the diaphragm thus becomes equal or nearly equal
upon both its sides, and it consequently becomes easier to open the valve than
when the diaphragm is resisted by the pressure of the fluid on one side of the
same only.
I wish it understood that although in the above description I have referred to
my improvements as applied to ball valves for controlling the supply of water to
cisterns or other receptacles, they may be equally well applied to ordinary taps or
valves for controlling the supply of steam, water, liquids, or other fluids for other
purposes. When applied to or for withdrawing liquid from a tank, cistern, or
receptacle I prefer to arrange the diaphragm in such a manner that the valve will
be closed by the tension of the diaphragm, and opened by a screw or cam to exert
force upon the said diaphragm in a direction opposite to that exerted by the liquid.