IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth & Co.,
Patent Agency, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES." -A com-
munication from Wilhelm Knaust, Manufacturer, residing in Vienna,
in the Empire of Austria.
Scaled the 2nd July 1875, and dated the 5th February 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th February 1875.
I, FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth & Co., Patent Agency, of
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES," a com-
munication, to be as follows:-
This valve consists of a metal cylinder and a bent pipe which slides in
it, a knob, and valve disc.
When the said cylinder is screwed to a pressure water conduit the
valve operates in the following manner :-By pressing the said knob the
This valve consists of a metal cylinder and a bent pipe which slides in

page_text: bent pipe is pushed inwards, in consequence whereof the valve disc is
removed from the cylinder surrounding it, allowing the water to flow
around the piston to a space whence it enters into the tube through
suitable openings. As soon as the force acting on the said knob ceases
to operate the pressure of the water causes the bent pipe to move
towards the outside, and thus the valve is closed. This closing however
does not take place suddenly, but gradually, that is to say, without any
shock. Herein consists the improvement of my valve.
The valve disc receding by the pressure of the water includes between
itself and its seat a certain quantity of water, which partially flows back
into the conduit and partially into space before the piston closes. The
mechanical work wanted for that purpose absorbs the work which
otherwise produce the shock.
The advantages of this valve compared with the ordinary constructions
are as follows :—
First. The pipe is gradually and slowly closed in an automatic
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANK
WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency, Frankfort-
on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth February, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-five, in the year of our Lord, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Frank Wirth, Her special
licence that I, the said Frank Wirth, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frank Wirth, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VALVES," a communication from Wilhelm Knaust, Manufacturer, a
Person resident at Vienna, in the Empire of Austria," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Frank Wirth, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frank Wirth, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
The nature of the said Invention consists in the construction of a
faucet, in which the valve is closed by the pressure of water in such a
manner that the closing of said valve takes place gradually and without
any shock.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure I shows a longitudinal section
of a faucet embodying my Invention; the Figures 2, 3, and 4 show the
application of the same Invention to discharge pipes of fountains with or
without automatic discharge.
Referring in the first instance to Figure 1 A. is a metal cylinder and B
is a bent pipe fitted into said cylinder capable of sliding in the same,
and made water-tight by the hydraulic leather packing m. To the
outer part of this pipe à knob C is attached and to the inner end a
disc D fitting into a suitable recess in the cylinder A, and provided with
a leather washer n bearing against a suitable surface in the cylinder.
The pipe B is provided with openings L which communicate with a
recess or cavity E made in the cylinder A to admit the water to the
inner part of the pipe B when the pipe is pushed inward. The inner

page_text: end B' of the pipe is made solid, forming a piston working tight in a
suitable recess in the cylinder A.
The cylinder being attached in the usual manner the operation is as
follows: By pressing the knob C the bent pipe B is pushed inward
when the valve disk D is removed from its seat and recess and the piston
part B¹ of the pipe out of its recess, allowing the water to flow around
this piston part B₁ into the recess E, from whence A enters through the
openings L, L, into the pipe B. As soon as the force acting on the
knob C ceases to operate the pressure of the water causes the bent pipe B
by its action upon the valve disk D to move outward, and thus closing
the valve. This closing however does not take place suddenly, but
gradually, that is, without any shock, on account of the valve disk
receding by the pressure of the water retains between itself and its seat
a small quantity of water, which partially flows back into the conduct
and partially into the recess E before the piston closes, preventing
thereby every shock or jar.
Referring in the next instance to Figure 2, shewing the self-closing.
valvo construction in combination with the discharge pipe of a fountain_
with automatic discharge, the water, entering from the water conduct
through A in the valve space B, passes if the valve piston L ascends,
and the valve is opened through the openings C, C, in the space D, D,
whence it passes through the openings E, E, in the space F and cross
section G, from whence it flows out above. If the force lifting the
valve L ceases to act the water remaining in the valve box B, B, will
move the valve L downwards in the measure as the water inclosed in D, D,
flows out.
In order to make oneself independent from the accuracy of the
execution and to attain a means to regulate the closing gradually and
without shock the two leather washers M and S were contrived. The
water which is thus completely shut up in D (as soon as the washer M,
the openings C, C, and E, E, and the washer S have been passed) returns
through a small channel Z into the space B, B. In the cross section of
this small channel we have the means wanted for the regulation.
•
Figure 3 represents the said construction of self-closing stop valve in
combination with the dicharge pipe of closets or fountains without
automatic discharge. This arrangement which is used in cases where it
is not to be feared that the water will freeze or become tepid is the same

page_text: as that shown in Figure 2, only the arrangement for the automatic
discharge being dispensed with. If however there are fears about the
water freezing or becoming tepid one may use the valve with automatic
discharge, as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 4.
The manner in which the discharge takes place in the valve shown in
Figure 2 requires no further explanation, as it is well known, but this
discharging arrangement has the inconvenience that the water returning
from the discharge pipe to the depth is completely lost, collecting even in
the shaft of the well if the same has no eduction channel, or if it is not
sufficiently porous. In order to avoid this inconvenience the valve is
combined with the automatic discharge contrivance represented in
Figure 4.
This automatic discharge contrivance operates in the following
manner: If the valve is closed above, the water contained in the
discharge pipe will cease to flow out, and will enter through the
opening T into the reservoir V, where it will stand at the same level as
the law of the communicating vessels allows it. If the valve is now
opened the water arriving from F passes the cross section U with con-
siderable velocity, drawing the water in V through the opening T, so
that it will flow out together. If the water is nearly all drawn off the
caoutchouc ball W otherwise floating closes the sucking chamber, thus
obviating the sucking of air into the discharge pipes. If very small
quantities of water are successively drawn off there will be the dis-
advantage that the water which has flowed back is not completely sucked
away. However this inconvenience may readily be done away with in
giving to the reservoir V the proper dimensions if the reservoir is too
small. The case may occur with public fountains where the water is taken
by glasses that an automatic discharge into the shaft or into the waste
holes takes place. But this will happen very rarely, whilst with the
automatic contrivances used till now it will occur in every case.
The advantages of my improved self-closing stop valve are:
First. That the pipe is gradually or slowly closed in an automatic
manner, so that any shock is obviated.
First. That the pipe is gradually or slowly closed in an automatic
manner, so that any shock is obviated.
Second. All springs, elastic buffer disks, levers, and weights which
require renewing from time to time are dispensed with.
Thirdly. There is no need of stuffing boxes in general, the con-

page_text: struction of the valve is very simple, in consequence whereof there is
great safety of working.
And, lastly. The water contained in the discharge pipe is collected in
a reservoir combined with the valve, whence the water on opening the
valve flows out together with the water. coming from the water conduct E
pipe.
Having now described the same Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I claim,- :
First. With reference to Figure 1, a cylinder A with recess E in
combination with a bent pipe B sliding in said chamber, valve disk D, 1
openings L, L, and knob C, the whole being arranged in the manner and
for the purpose substantially as described..
Second. With reference to the Figures 2 and 3, a discharge pipe of
fountains, closets, &c., with or without automatic discharge, in com-
bination with a valve box B, valve piston L sliding in said box, 1
openings C, C, and E, E, space D, D, washers Mand S, and channel Z,
in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Third. With reference to Figure 4, the reservoir V, opening T, and
caoutchouc ball W, in combination with stop valves for the discharge
pipe of fountains, closets, &c., in the manner specified and for the 2
purpose substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
!
ED ANT WIDT