IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM-REGULATING VALVES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Aaron Metcalf and William Gibbons, both of
Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM-REGULATING VALVES." -A communica-
tion from abroad by Joseph E. Watts, of Lawrence, Essex
County, and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of
America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Aaron Metcalf and
William Gibbons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition and Declaration, on the 13th October 1874, pur-
suant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
Б TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, AARON
METCALF and WILLIAM GIBBONS, both of Preston, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM-REGULATING VALVES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto

page_text: us, our executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been
communicated to us from abroad by Joseph E. Watts, of Lawrence,
Essex County, and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of
America.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Aaron Metcalf and William
Gibbons, do hereby declare that the following Complete Specification,
under our hands and seals, fully describes and ascertains the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed in
and by the following statement and the Drawings therein referred to
(that is to say) :—
These improvements are based upon steam valves which automatically
govern the supply of steam according to the requirements of the occasion
or the amount of labour being done or to be done by the machinery
which is driven by such steam, the class of valves to which the improve-
ments have especial reference being those in which the stem of the
valve (the latter being a balanced valve) is supported upon an elastic
diaphragm, and connected with an adjustable lever, which in turn is
acted upon by the mechanism driven by the steam passing through the
valve in such manner that, as the said machinery ceases its operations or
performs a greater or less amount of labour, the valve operates in
consonance therewith, and opens or closes according to the necessities of
the machinery.

page_text: diaphragm with injurious consequences, as fracture of the diaphragm
often takes place from this cause.
Second. These improvements consist in the employment of an auxiliary
or additional lever pivoted to and carried by the primary lever which
governs the movements of the valve, the said auxiliary lever being pivoted
at its base to the bore of the primary lever, and formed or provided with
a standard or post so disposed in relation to the various parts of the
valve and the belt shipper of the machinery with which the valve is
used that upon stoppage of such machinery the shipper abuts against
the said post and elevates the free or weighted end of the auxiliary
lever from off the primary lever, and relieves the latter of its weight,
the result being that a corresponding weight or pressure is removed from
the diaphragm, and the valve closes to a greater or less extent, and
diminishes the amount of steam delivered through the valve.
Third. These improvements consist in combining with a valve of the
character herein-before named a safety valve which shall blow off at any
given pressure, by this means protecting the diaphragm and other parts
of the valve from injury by over pressure of steam, which otherwise
might often occur. In the present instance we carry out this feature of
the improvements by creating a passage or bore through the upper
portion of the valve case, within which bore we create a valve seat and
dispose a valve, which is to be weighted to the desired extent, varying
with circumstances.
Fourth. These improvements consist in forming in one side of the
water well an orifice, and combining with this orifice a pressure gauge
to denote the pressure upon the parts, this orifice serving further as a
passage way, whereby a rod or pin may be inserted within a hole in the
valve stem, and the latter retained firmly in place and locked against
rotation while removal or inspection of the diaphragm in case of accident
takes place.
Fifth. These improvements consist in the peculiar mode of attaching
the secondary lever to the well tube in instances where a compound
lever is used, the same consisting in applying to the well tube a split
ring or clasp, which incloses it, the said lever being pivoted to this clasp,
while the lower or primary portion of the lever is in turn pivoted to the
Jower cap plate or head of the well tube, which is secured in place by a

page_text: number of screws equidistant from each other, the whole being arranged
as herein-after explained, by which the position of the levers with
respect to the ports of the valve may be varied to suit circumstances.
number of screws equidistant from each other, the whole being arranged
as herein-after explained, by which the position of the levers with
respect to the ports of the valve may be varied to suit circumstances.
Several minor points in the improvements will be duly explained
hereafter.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification represent in Figure 1
a vertical section of a valve containing the improvements, while Fig. 2
represents a section of a modified form of the valve-governing levers.
In these Drawings A represents the case of the valve, which in general
form resembles an ordinary globe valve, the inlet port of such case being
shewn at B, and its eduction or discharge port at c. Within the centre
of the case A is cast a pocket or hollow boss D, pierced at top and
bottom with valve ports E and F of equal area, while playing within
these ports, and opening or closing the same, is a vertical valve G, which
is balanced to the pressure of steam, in order that the pulsations of the
elastic diaphragm herein-after alluded to, which supports the valve, may
readily and surely raise or lower the valve. The arrangement of the
pocket D, ports E and F, and valve G, with the case A, is of prior
Invention or use, and contains nothing original with our foreign cor-
respondent.
The well tube of the instrument which the case A surmounts is shown
at H as a vertical pipe which usually is about full of condense water,
the lower mouth or diaphragm chamber A¹ of this tube being closed by
an elastic diaphragm I of suitable material, such diaphragm being con-
fined in position by an annular cap plate or ring J which is screwed to
the bottom of the tube by a series of screws K, K, &c., placed equidistant
from one another in order that the plate and the lever carried by it may
be moved upon the tube a distance equal to the space between two or
more screws. The valve rod depends vertically from the valve G, as
shown at K in the Drawings, and is confined at its lower end to the
elastic horizontal diaphragm I before named and passes through a hori-
zontal shelf L or bridge, or its equivalent, which closes the lower part of
the well H and shuts off, to a great extent, communication between
such well and the diaphragm chamber A¹, the said shelf serving as a
guide to insure a correct vertical position of the valve and stem and
prevent any side motion or unsteadiness of the same, whereby a perfectly
free movement is obtained and wear upon the posts obviated,

page_text: We have said that the shelf L closes to a great extent communication
between the well H and diaphragm chamber A', the object of this is to
prevent sudden concussions, changes, or thrusts of the back pressure
steam from acting instantly upon the diaphragm, while in order that the
pressure of the steam shall act to the necessary degree upon the
diaphragm by means of the interposed body of water which stands upon
such diaphragm we create in the shelf one or more small orifices M of a
size sufficient to obtain the desired result. It will thus be seen that the
shelf or its equivalent performs two important offices, that of breaking
or retarding the back pressure of steam and protecting the diaphragm,
and of constituting a guide for the valve stem. In lieu of the orifice M
in the shelf L, an equivalent would be to employ a pipe leading from the
well above such shelf and entering the diaphragm chamber below said
shelf, such pipe having a proper valve.
N in the accompanying Drawing represents a horizontal lever whose
fulcrum O is a pendent stud P hanging from the cap plate J before
named, the base of the lever being pivoted to the upper part of a forked
swivel Q whose lower end is in turn pivoted to and within a furcated
thimble R, the upper end of such thimble enclosing a tenon S depending
from the lower nut T which confines the valve stem to the diaphragm, a
pin U being passed through the thimble and stud to confine them
together. This mode of uniting the lever to the diaphragm constitutes
one of the details of the improvements and is a very useful one, as it
allows the lever to exert a draft upon the valve at all times in an axial
line with such valve and its rod, while it further has the merit of enabling
the lever to be immediately disconnected from the valve stem or
diaphragm when it becomes necessary to remove or inspect the latter.
The lever N is provided with a sliding weight V, and is connected by
an adjustable rod W with a second lever Y disposed above it and provided
with a sliding weight A, this second lever being pivoted at its base to a
band or split ring Z which clasps or encompasses the well tube H and is
clamped tightly thereto by a screw which passes through its ends, this
mode of applying the lever Y to the tube H enabling it to be moved in
position thereon according as the lever N may be turned upon the said
tube, thus allowing the two levers at all times to be in alignment with
cach other should their common position be changed for any reason.
This mode of applying the lever Y constitutes the fifth portion of these
improvements,

page_text: B¹ in the Drawings represents an additional lever disposed above the
lever Y and pivoted at its base or head C¹ to the base of the said lever Y,
the lever B¹ being provided with a sliding weight D' which rests upon
the lever Y, the base or head C₁ of the lever B¹ being prolonged upward
into the arm E¹, as shewn in Fig. 1 of the Drawings; this standard
rising to such a height as to be readily struck by the shipper of the
machine to which the valve is applied. This valve will be found of
service in many localities, but one especial use to which we intend
putting it is in connection with the slashers or dressing machines
of cotton mills, and the driers of print mills.
Upon shipping the belt in stopping the machine the shipper strikes
against the arm E³, and tilts it inward toward the well tube, the lever B¹
and its weight D₁ being by the act lifted from off the lever Y. The
weight of the lever B¹ and its weight D¹ being removed from the lever Y,
and consequently from the lever N; the back pressure of steam acting
upon the water above the diaphragm depresses the latter and the valve,
and closes the latter to a greater or less degree, and as a consequence
shuts off or diminishes the amount of steam delivered through the valve:
Upon reversing the shipper the lever B¹ and its weight drop upon the
lever Y, and the latter with the lever N is depressed, the result being
that the valve rises and admits of passage of a greater amount of steam.
The employment of the auxiliary lever B¹ economizes to a great extent
the consumption of steam and relieves the diaphragm from the sudden
thrust which would otherwise ensue from the sudden stoppage of the
machinery.
The lever Y may be dispensed with and the lever B¹ applied to the
lower lever N, as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying Drawings; and
still further modifications may be made in the mode of employing the
auxiliary lever B¹ without departing from the spirit of the second portion
of these improvements, which embraces the said lever B¹ or its equivalent
in combination with the device which governs the movements of the
valve.
In carrying out the third portion of these improvements we erect upon
the top of the valve case A an upright hollow extension or cap F¹ formed
with a blow off port G, and below such blow off with a valve seat H¹
which is closed by a drop valve I', the stem M³ of which rises through
the top of the cap F¹, and is provided with a weight or series of weights

page_text: which are to be graduated to correspond to the pressure of steam required.
The plug J¹ which closes the mouth K¹ of the extension F¹ terminates
at the bottom in a thin thimble L' which surrounds the valve stem M³,
and serves not only as a stop to determine the height to which tho
valve I shall rise, but as a packing to prevent escape of steam about
such stem since the pressure of the blow off steam contracts. the thimble
about the valve stem, and effectually excludes steam which would
otherwise find its way through the bearings of the stem.
By the employment of the safety valve I¹ we are enabled to govern
the pressure of the steam passing through the valve, and also to obviate
bursting or danger to the valve or its diaphragm, and in this safety valve
in combination with the valve proper and its adjuncts will be seen the
third portion of these improvements.
In carrying out the fourth portion of these improvements we create
in any convenient part of the well tube H an orifice N', as shewn in
Fig. 1 of the Drawings, to which we intend applying a pressure gauge
for reasons which will be at once obvious, while as a still further element
of this portion of the Invention we bore in the valve stem K. a horizontal
hole O¹ to coincide with the orifice N¹. When it becomes desirable to
inspect, repair, or remove the diaphragm I, a pin is to be passed into the
orifice N¹, and the hole O' which prevents rotation of the valve stem
and confines it securely in one position, while the lower nut T is being
unscrewed and the diaphragm removed.
The length of the well tube H should be such that the water which
stands in it shall be of sufficient depth to remain cool immediately above
and about the diaphragm, in order that the latter shall receive no injury
from a high temperature of water.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
performing the same as communicated to us as aforesaid, we claim,―
1. A steam regulating valve comprising the well tube or case H,
valve G, and diaphragm I, in combination with the shelf L and safety
valve I, for protecting the diaphragm against excesses and sudden
changes in steam pressure, as herein shown and set forth.
2. The combination with the elastic diaphragm and weighted lever
mechanism connected and operating with the same, as described of the
lever B, E, arranged and operating in connection with said main

page_text: lever mechanism, in the manner and for the purposes shown and set
forth.
3. In combination the case H provided with orifice N', and the valve
stem K provided with hole O' arranged to operate, substantially as
shown and described.
4. The diaphragm I and lever N in combination with lever Y, clasp Z,
and lever B¹, E¹, all constructed substantially as shown and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Aaron Metcalf and William
Gibbons, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this 12th day
of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four.
AARON METCALF.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM GIBBONS. (L.S.)