US1279898A

US1279898A - Emergency gas-valve.

Info

Publication number: US1279898A
Authority: US
Inventors: George R Nixon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1917-01-30
Filing date: 1917-01-30
Publication date: 1918-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1935-09-24

Description

GEORGE R. NIXON, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

EMERGENCY GAS-VALVE.

. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 24,

Application filed January 30, 1917. Serial No. 145,445.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. NIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Emergency Gas-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a shut-ofi' or valve more particularly designed for use in emergency in shutting off the supply of illuminating gas supplied in the interior of buildings.

Its principal object is to provide a device of the character described. which may be operated by control means provided exteriorly of the building in a position safe and convenient for access in case of fire.

One portion of my device concernsa shutoff or valve which is attached to the supply pipe or conduit conveying illuminating or other combustible gas to the interior of a. building. Said portion may be attached to the supply pipe at any convenient point inside or outside of the building, but for purposes of convenience is preferably arranged near the foundation wall within the building where it is most remote from heat and consequent fusion in case of a conflagration. Said portion is adapted to be attached to the supply pipe to form a conduit through which all gas supplied to the premises is required to pass and may be entirely out off.

The other portion of my device concerns an auxiliary attachment for controlling the action of the valve portion whereby the gas supply may be effectually shut oflat the valve at any instant. This auxiliary attachment is arranged to extend from the valve portion to any one or more points within or without the building convenient for access.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown apreferred form of embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan vieW of a portion of a building supplied with illuminating gas; showing the gas supply pipe with my invention operatively connected therewith;

Fig. 2, a central vertical section of the valve portion on an enlarged scale,'takcn on the line A-A of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3, a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 4. a detail view of the outer end of the auxiliary portion: and

F ig. 5, a central vertical section of-a modified form of diaphragm for the valve porchamber 2 provided with an inlet port-3 for connection with agas supply pipe'l, and a separate gas outlet chamber 5 provided with an outlet port 6 for connection with a gas conduit or pipe 7, the said chambers 2, 5,

being connected by an opening or passage 8 through the partitional wall or structure 9 intervening said chambers. I

The admission and flow of gas from the inlet chamber 2 through the opening or passage 8 into the outlet chamber 5 is controlled by means of a valve 10, which operatesto open or close the passage 8 in the mannerhereinafter described, said passage, when open, being of suflicient size to allow all gas to pass into the outlet chamber 5 as rapidly as it is supplied to the inlet chamber 2.

The partitional wall 9 separating the inlet and outlet chambers is formed witha horizontal vertically arranged to receivethe upright stem 12 of the valve 10, the lower face of the wall 9 being suitably beveled around the lower end of the passage 8 to form a seat 13 for the head of the valve when the passage is closed.

A shown, the valve stem 12 is extended upward through the inlet chamber 2 through a bore 14 provided in an over head wall 15, which separates the said lower chamber from a separate or pressure chamber 16 provided in the upper portion of the casing portion 11 in which the passage 8. is

1, the upper extremity of the valve stem 12 being carried to a 'point centrally of said pressure chamber and det-achably secured .to-

a flexible diaphragm 17 extended horizontally across the top of the body-portion of the casing l and between said body-portion and a casing head 18 detachably secured thereto by suitable marginally arranged .screws .19, 19, etc. Said diaphragm 17 is arranged to divide the pressure chamber .16 into separate compartments which communicate with each other by a continuous lateral duct 20 provided through the wall of the casing body 1 and casing head 18, the wall of the casing head being thickened as at 21 for the purpose, whereby the gas pressure in said compartments may be equalized. To control the relative pressure of the gas in these compartments,-howevei',

I provide, for example, a threaded'bore 22 through the wall of the casing body I' -and terior of the casing, said bore 22 being fitted with a screw 23 of larger diameter than the duct 20 and controlled from the exterior of the casing and having its inner end arranged to penetrate transversely through said duct and normally to seat tightly in the opposite wall thereof, where-. by the passage of gas between the two compartments of the chamber 16 through said duct may be controlled at will.

The upper compartment of the pressure chamber 16 is provided with an outlet port- 21, which is normally closed, said port being connected by a pressure relief pipe 25, forming part of the auxiliary portion of my device, to the atmosphere, while the lower compartment of said chamber communicates with the inlet chamber 2 by a transverse opening 26 through the partitional wall 15, which allows equalization of pressure at all times therebetween. I further provide for free communication at all times between the upper compartment of the pressure chamber 16 and the outlet chamber 5 by a duct 27, similar to the duct 20, constructed in the wall of the casing body 1 and the casing head 18, the latter being thickened, as at 28, for this purpose.

Access to the valve 10 at its upper end is provided through the casing head 18 by the removal of the relief pipe 25, while access to the lower end of the valve is secured by means of asuitable tapped bore provided in the bottom of the casingin alinement with the valve and of suflicient size to receive the valve in case of need for its removal, said bore being normally closed by a screw plug 29.

The diaphragm 17 which is preferably constructed of leather, but may be formed of corrugated sheet-metal 30, as illustrated in Fig. 5, or other suitably flexible or flexibly constructed material, is preferably reinforced centrally around the valve stem 12 by rigid plates or

disks

31, 32, of metal or other suitable substance, disposed on opposite sides of the diaphragm to provide a suf-. ficiently firm support for the valve.

The screw 23, for opening and closing the duct 20. is preferably protected at its outer end against tampering and accidental displacement by an interiorly threaded cap 33 adapted to screw onto an exteriorly threaded flange 3%.provided laterally 0n the casng around the bore 22.

The auxiliary portion of my device com able and accommodated to the particular requirements of each case. Said pipe is here- V l in shown (Fig. 1) to extend through the communicating from said duct 20 to the ex,

wall 35 of the building at a convenient point 'ab,o ve.,thefoundation 36. and to any point outside of the building convenient and safe for access in case of fire. lVhile I have shown only one such relief'pipe or conduit, it should be expressly understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, but that any number of such pipes or conduits, or

branches thereof, to communicate with the screw cap 38, which is provided with a cen tral opening 39 in the top, said cap being adapted to secure in position a frangible disk 40 placed over the end of the pipe 25 to seal the same normally against the admission of air or the escape of gas.

In the arrangement of my device, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a gas supply pipe 4 communicates through the foundation wall of the building from the exterior to a meter 41 within, the valve portion of my device, as at 1, being connected to the supply pipe at a point intermediate said meter and foundation wall. The auxiliary attachment including the relief pipe 25 is attached to the valve portion in the manner hereinbefore described and is carried through the wall 35 of the building and communicates with the exterior at a point above the foundation wall. I

The valve 10, when not restrained by the upper pressure of gas upon the diaphragm 17, is free to gravitate downward to the position indicated in dotted lines, thus opening the passage 8 for free communication between the inlet and outlet chambers.

The gas supplied through the pipe 4 first enters the inlet chamber 2 and passes thence through the opening 26, in the upper wall 15, into the lower compartment of the pressure chamber 16, thus forcing the diaphragm 17 and valve 10 upward, closing communication between the inlet and outlet chambers through the passage 8. As the supply of gas is thus effectually excluded from the out' let pipe 7 it is necessary to open the valve 10. This I accomplish by admitting gas from the lower compartment of the pressure chamber to its upper compartment through the duct 20, which is controlled by the shut-off screw 23, which is operated by the temporary removal of the cap 33. When the gas is admitted to theupper compartment of the pressure chamber 16, thus I downwardiby ea-at equalizing .the

0f e p sml ,-lthe va ll dr psi. ity, opni ia e s e 8 and restoring free communication between the inlet and b en; :ehamiif gas threugh' th'e'pOI'tQt a end thereof; When thepressure'of gas the pressure chamber 16 hjas been thus equalized the screw- 23 'is permanently close the duct 20.

The gas is now free topass atofth 6ut{- isfre'e to flow let chamber 5'and pipe 7 ,j'and through the valveportion "of my device:

without interruption or changefin gh fplosig tion of its parts. Thee'quahzation 0 pressure in the compartments'offthe pres} sure chamber 16 is maintained constant after the duct 20 has been closed, by means of the duct 27, communicating from the outlet chamber 5 to the upper compartment of the pressure chamber 16,"which is constantly open and replenishes any gas which may escape.

In case of emer ency, such as fire which threatens to fuse t e gas piping within the building, the auxiliary portion of my device is employed to entirely shut off the supply of gas at the valve portion. This is accomplished by simply rupturing the frangible disk 40 provided at the outlet end of the pipe 25 with a knife or other convenient implement, which is thrust into the aperture 39 provided in the cap 38.

When the disk 40 is punctured, the gas, which is sealed under pressure within the pipe 25 and the upper compartment of the pressure chamber 16, is released thereby permitting the valve 10 to move upward under the unopposed pressure of the gas upon the underside of the diaphragm 17, and completely closing the passage 8 communicating with the outlet chamber 5.

When it is desired to restore thegas sup ply, the frangible disk 40 is first removed and replaced. The operation of unseating the screw 23 in the duct 20 is then repeated, and the gas pressure in both compartments of the pressure chamber 16 equalized, as above described, whereupon the valve 10 again gravitates downward restoring com munication between the chambers 2, 5.

While I prefer to employ a frangible disk at the outlet end of the pressure relief pipe 25 for sealing the gas in the pressure chamber 16, it will be understood that the object of this feature of my invention may be accomplished by other suitable means, as for example a turn-cock or removable plug, but these and other like devices are objectionable as they are liable to become set from long disuse or require special tools for operation.

I claim:

1. The combination with a conduit hav-V pressurefupon"opposite sides" i with an inlet and i an outlet and I opening and closing said passage,- -ofmeans for pera g said valve and including flammabl fgedfto divide parate' cpmpai'eaentsy ,ni ec 'mg the val e and sa'id dia- Y mea for admitting Qhousi i 2 i 'P J YI vented" by, the sealed j disk 140? at-the outlet ,againfoperated; to

petti ing a vp as, th-rahftqgs and providedvalve for 2. The combination" of a housing having an, inlet a d an u et a communicating I between the inlet i and; the

aclosable passage outlet, a valve within the housing for 1 open-' ing and closing said passage and having a valve-stem projecting through the wall of the housing, a separate housing inclosing the outer end of the valve-stem, a flexible diaphragmatic member arranged to divide said last-mentioned housing into separate compartments and adapted to operate said valve and Valve-stem, a passage communicating between said compartments to equalize the gas pressure on opposite sides of the diaphragmatic member, a valve for opening and closing said last -menti0ned passage, and means for controlling the first-mentioned valve, including an outlet communicating from one of the compartments in said diaphragm-housing to the atmosphere, and means for opening and closing said last-mentioned outlet without affecting the valve controlling the passage communicating between the compartments on opposite sides of the diaphragmatic member.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a valve portion, including a conduit having a passage therethrough for the transmissionof gas and having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for controlling said passage, means for operating said valve and including a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragmatic member within said chamber and dividing the same into two compartments, means for connecting the valve with the diaphragmatic mem' ber, and means for admitting gas to each of comprising a separate conduit or pipe for provldlng commun1cat1on between one of the compartments in said pressure chamber and the atmosphere, an air-tight frangible member for sealing the outlet end of said last mentioned conduit or pipe. and means for securing-said frangible member in exposed position.

4. In a device of the class described. a shell or housing, an inlet chamber Within the housing having an inlet port permanentlyopen, an outlet chamber within the housing having an outletport permanently open, a passage for communicating between said chambers, a valve foropening andclosing said passage and having a valve-stem, a third chamber Within said housing having an opening through its wall to receive said valve-stem, a flexible diaphragmatic member Within said third chamber and dividing the same'into separate compartments having no communication with each other Within said third chambensaid diaphragmatic member being arrangedv to operate said valve and valve stem, a passage communicating between said inlet chamberand one of the compartments of said third chamber and being permanently open. a separate passage p ovided exteriorly of said third chamber for commuand being permanently open, said last-dc scribed compartment of the third chamber having an outlet port communicating with the atmosphere and being normally closed. and means for opening said outlet port.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE R. NIXON. \Vitnesses:

JNo. J. WHITTLESEY, MwHAEn L. EISNER.