IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Parsons, of Chipping Norton, in the County
of Oxford, Draper, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Parsons at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1879.
FREDERICK PARSONS, of Chipping Norton, in the County of Oxford, Draper.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES."
The object of this Invention is to provide a simple and effective self closing
valve for life belts, air pillows, cushions, and similar articles.
The valve in its simplest form, which I prefer to use for life belts, consists of a
socket which is secured to the life belt in any convenient manner. Into this
socket is screwed a mouth piece, in the lower end of which is formed a valve seat
to receive a disc of india rubber or other suitable material.
This disc of rubber is maintained in its position by the pressure or gripping
action of a circular boss or projection formed on the inner face of a flat ring, which
is screwed into the end of the mouth piece against the valve seat. Radial cuts are
made in the inner face of this ring to form passages through which the air may pass
into the life belt or other receptacle.
When filling the life belt the action of blowing into the mouth piece will press
down the rubber disc and open the valve, the air passing round the disc and
through the radial cuts in the ring into the belt. To let out the air it will be
necessary to remove the mouth piece from the socket, and a clear way for the exit
of the air will be opened.
In adapting the valve to air cushions, pillows, and similar articles, the valve seat
is formed in the socket, and the disc and ring are adapted thereto as above
explained, the action of the valve being the same.
In order to open the valve for the exit of the air from the pillow or other article
the mouth piece which fits into the upper end of the socket is provided with a
short stem, which when pressed down will project through the valve seat and force
down the rubber disc, thus opening the valve.
In this modification the it will be seen the air can pass either way through the
valve as required without removing the mouth piece.

page_text: SPECIFICATION-in-pursuance-of-the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Parsons-in- the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
January 1880.
FREDERICK PARSONS, of Chipping Norton, in the County of Oxford,. Draper..
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES."
The object of this Invention is to provide a simple and effective self closing air
valve for life belts, air pillows, cushions, and similar articles.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of iny improved
valve in its simplest form; and Fig. 2 shews the valve as opened to allow the
escape of air from the article to which the valve is applied.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a modification of this valve, suitable for various
purposes; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the valve; and Fig. 5 shews
the position of the parts when the valve is open to allow the escape of the air';
Fig. 6 shews in sectional elevation another form of my improved valve; Fig. 7 is a
cross section on the line x, x, Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 shews the position of the parts
when the valve is open to allow the escape of the air from the air cushion or other
article.
The valve in its simplest form consists of a metal socket a, which is permanently
secured to the air belt or other article in any convenient manner; and into this
socket is screwed a mouth piece b, in which is formed a valve seat c to receive upon
it a loose disc d'of india rubber or other suitable material intended to close the
central opening of the valve seat c. The disc d is maintained in its position against
the valve c by the pressure or gripping action on one side of the disc of a pro-
jection formed on the inner face of a flat ring f which is screwed into the lower end
of the mouthpiece. Radial channels g are made on the inner face of this ring f tö
open a communication between the mouth piece and the interior of the air belt or
other article to which the valve is attached. A leather or other washer h is pro-
vided to make the connection between the socket and the mouthpiece tight.
When filling the article with air the action of blowing into the mouth piece will
press down the rubber disc d against the inner face of the ring f, and the air
passing round the disc will enter the radial channels g in the ring f, and so pass
into the belt or article to be inflated.
When the action of blowing into the mouthpiece is stopped the disc d will
return to the horizontal position, being assisted thereto by the back pressure of the
air contained in the belt. It will thus be seen that a simple and effective self-
closing valve-is-provided, and the necessity which at present exists for placing the
thumb on the mouthpiece to prevent the exit of the air while screwing up the
mouthpiece to close the valve is obviated. To let out the air it will be necessary
to remove the mouthpiece from the socket, and a clear way for the exit of the air
will be opened. This form of valve I prefer to use for life belts, as the air cannot
escape from the belt without the entire removal of the mouth piece b from the
socket a, as shewn at Fig. 2, which the most nervous wearer is hardly likely to do
while the same is in use; at the same time should there be any escape of air from
the belt the latter can be readily filled during use. In some cases however it may
be preferred to secure the mouthpiece permanently in the socket; this I effect by
means of a screw stud i, see Fig. 3, which projects through the socket a into an
annular groovej cut in the screwed end of the mouth piece b. This groove should
be of sufficient width to allow of the mouthpiece being unscrewed from the socket
a short distance to open a passage for the escape of the air from the bag or other
article. Channels k, see Figures 4 and 5, are cut in the screw thread and also in
the inside of the socket longitudinally of the same for the exit of the confined air.
In adapting my improved valves to air cushions, pillows, beds, and similar
articles, the last described arrangement may be used, but I prefer to employ the

page_text: arrangement shewn in Figures 6, 7, 8. In these Figures I use the valve as shown
and described in Figures 1 and 2, with the addition of a second mouthpiece l. This
additional mouthpiece / carries at its lower end a central stem m, and is provided
with lateral openings n, n, and a flange o, which when the screw p is screwed home
will prevent the withdrawal of the mouthpiece 7 from the part b.
It will be seen that while the piece is maintained in the position shewn at
Fig. 6 the disc d will be free to open or close as already described; but as the
piece is screwed down the stem m will be caused to project through the central
opening in the valve seat c, and pressing upon the disc d will hold it open. In this
way the escape of the air from the pillow or other article may be readily obtained
without removing any of the parts. If desired the part a may be dispensed with,
in which case the part 6 will form the socket.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Valves,"
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,―
Constructing inflation valves for lifebelts, air cushions, and similar articles, as
herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Parsons, have 'hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
F. PARSONS. (L.S.)