US1628674A - Dry-pipe valve - Google Patents

Description

a 17 1927. 1628674 M y L. M. L Ewls DRY PIPE- VALVE Filed April 1l. 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 N vE/v To?? May 17, 1927. 1,628,674

- L. M. L Ewls DRY PI PE VALVE Filed April 11. 1922 2 sheets-sneer 2 mmf @y @dx M l l Tram/sys Patented May 17, 1927,

UNITED STATES LEROY M. LEWIS. 0F MERION, PENNSYLVANIA,

DRY-PIPE VALVE.

Applcationled April 11, 1922. Serial No.\l,599.

My invention relates to dry pipe valves `for use in automatic sprinkler systemsand which comprise a casing and an air valve and a Water valve within the casing so` arranged that air pressure exerted *on the former is operative to maintain the latter in closed position against the pressure of the water in the supply pipe, a valve of this general character forming the sllhject of my copending application for ll. S. Letters Patent Serial No. 514,44() tiled November 12, 1921.

A principal object of the present inventien is the provision of means for automatically opening and closinga drain from one ofthe chambers of the valve/in correl `spondence with the position of the Water valve clapper and inassociation with means for preventing the water valve clapper from accidentally closing after it 'has opened, so thatiunder no circumstances can the fiow ot Water through the dry pipe valve he interrupted after it has been onceinitiated. A further object of my invention is to provide means in association with the drainage valve and manually operable from the outside of the dry pipe valve casing through the medium'of which themeans which are effective to prevent the `accidental closure of the water valve as aforesaid may be actuated duringthe operation of resetting the `dry pipe valve to permit the Water valve to be `returned to its seat.

`A further object of my invention is the prrivision of means operative to open a drain from the interior of the dry pipe valve when the water valve clapper is brought to closed position and to maintain the drain open so long as the Water clapper remains ,in such position andwhich, when the water clapper moves from its seat and permits the entrance of Water into the interior of the casing, are operative to automatically close the drain to prevent the escape of water therethrough so long as the Water cla )per remains in open position.

il still further object of my invention `is to generally improve and simplify the. construction of dry pipe valves so as to reduce their cost and facilitate the process of manufacture; to so dispose and arrange the variolel parts as to reduce the size and bulk of the valve casing and to effect such otherl `various objects, "improvements and novel features-of construction and arrangement as are hereinafter more specifically referretfl` to or described or are appa-rent from the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof. X

In the `said drawings I have illustrated a dry pipe valve embodying a preferred form of my invention, Fig. 1 being a vertical section through the Valve with certain of Vthe parts in elevation, the air and Water valve elappers being shoWnin full lines in normal or closed position and `their position when fully open beingindicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of the drain operatingr mechanism and adjacentparts, a portion of the Water valve clapper being shown in plan and a portion of the casing in horizontal section. Fig. l is an enlarged fragmentary vertical. section on the line lil- 3 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows but showing the Water valve clapper in partially open position and the drain operating mechanism in closed positioinand Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail top plan view of the drain valve and certain associated parts, a portion of the dry valve' casing being shown in horizontal section. Like numerals are used to designate the same parts in the several figures.

y Referring novvmore particularly to the drawing, the dry pipe valve shown therein comprises a main casing 1 provided with an `inlet 2 which, when the valve is in use, is

connected to a suitable Water supply pipe While above and in substantial vertical aligmnent With the inlet, the casing provided With an outlet 3 which in use connected toa distributing` pipe. The casing may be' considered as divided into upper and ` lovver chambers 5 and 6 through the medium of a web formed integrally with the casing, the upper chamber being provided with a connection 7 positioned in its Wall at substantially the height at which this chamber is kept filled With priming Water under normal conditions of operation. Throiigh this connection both the priming Water and the air for filling the system may be conveniently introduced from suitable sources of sup ply. The chamber 6 is provided with a connection 8 from Which a pipe may be extended to the alarm valve usual in sprinkler systems, while the inlet may also be provided -with a connection 9 for convenient attachment of a suitable valve for testing `the presence or absence of water in the sup- Ply pipe and inlet. 0 y

Supported by the web 10a which substan lil sired form is employed.

tially sepa 'ates the upper and lower chambers, is an air valve seat l2 conveniently consisting of a ring of babbit metal, the web being angularly disposed in the casing and bored `out at its center within the seat 12 in such manner as to afford a clear passage from the inlet 2 to the outlet 3, the angle of inclination of theweb and tace of the seat in the particular valve illustrated being substantially 45o to the horizontal.

The valve clapper of the air valve comprises a substantially disk shaped member 15 with a flexible annular gasket 17 of rubber or other suitable material disposed at its periphery and clamped in position by a suitable ring 19 held` by screws 20 or in any other convenient manner, the arrangement being such that thegasket is operative to engage the upper face of the seat ,12 and form a tight closure when forced thereagainst. Thevalve'clapper is carried by a suitable armV or arms Q2 conveniently formed integral with the clapper, curving outwardly and downwardly from its periphery and pivoted at the outer end on a transversely extending, horizontally disposed pivot shaft 2i having its ends secured in the casing wall in any suitable or convenient manner, the arm and clapper being thus free to revolve about the axis of the shaft as the former is moved toward or away from its seat.

For closing the inlet 2 a suitable water valve dapper-Q5 of any convenient or de- As shown, the clapper comprises a substantially circular metallic disk adapted to engage the upper face of an annular seat 26 threaded into the wall of the casing adjacent the mouth of the inlet 2 and disposed in a horizontal plane. The water clapper is provided with one or more outwardly extending arms 27 preferably integral with the clapper and pivoted at their outer ends on a transversely extending` horizontally disposed pivot shaft 28 the ends oi which are secured in the casing in any convenient way; the relative position of the shafts Q4 and 28 being such that when the two clappers are moved from normal or closed position, in which they are disposed in a relatively angular relation`I to full open position (asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. l),v they will approximate a substantially parallel relation. Meansare also provided for connecting the water valvel clapper with the air valve clapper in such manner as to enable the same to work in unison. Conveniently for this purpose the water valve Clapper is provided with a pair of centrally disposed, laterally spaced, upwardly projecting ears between which one end eta link 34 is pivoted on a horizontal pivot pin 35, the other end of the link 'being pivoted onV a horizontal pivot pin 37 between a pair of downwardly directed, laterally spacedV ears 38 formed integral with the water valve chipper substantially adjacent its center, the ends ot the link and the adjacent ears being bored ttor the passage of the pivot pins which are held in position in any convenient way as by cottcr pins 3S). lt will be noted that :is the pivot 28 is located between the pivots ilf aud Elf any tendency of the valve clappcr to move laterally across the face of its seat when the air clapper is brought to i'ully sented position and which might otherwise occur owing to the angular thrust of the link 3ft is thus entirely negatived.

In the preferred construction substantial ly the whole of that side of the casing toward which the air clapper turns in its open ing movement is left open when the casing is cast, and a cap or cover 43 of: suitable form is provided tor operatively elo-fing the same. said cover being removably held in position by suitably disposed bolts 44 and preferably provided on its inner Atace witha resilient stop 45 ot rubber or other suitable matcrinl positioned to limit the move ment ot the air valve clappen the position ot the stop being such as to permit the clapper to cross the vertical toward the end of its opening movement so that once the limit thereof is attained the weight of the several parts becomes operative to maintain the clappers in open position until the air valve is manually returned to its seat, which operation may be effected after removal of the cover.

For the purpose of draining the lower chamber G of any vater which may seep into the same when the water valve is closed-r and for automatically closing the drain whenever the water valve is open. I provide suitable means now to be described and pref erably associate the same with means for preventing an accidental closure of the water valve clapper atter it has once opened. the useful function performed by said latter means being to positively prevent the clapper from re-seating itselt should the air clapper rebound from the resilient stop tollowing a very violent upthrow ot the clappers or should the torce of the water in the supply pipe be insuflicient to throw the clappers past the vertical on an openingl movement thereof. Additionally. I preferably so arrange portions ot the drain mechanism as to permit the manual actuation from the exterior ot the casing of the means 4tor preventing the closure of the water valve clapper so that in the operation of resetting the valve said last mentioned means may be manually removed from the path el the water valve clapper to permit its return to its seat.

For eiiecting the functions just describml. I preferably dispose certain means` in a sort of pocket iormed in the casing adjacent the chamber 6 and on the opposite side oft the under surface ofthe lugs 82 and raise the toe of the dog, the point oi" contact between the lugs and pivot being in a plane lying between the toe of the dog and the pivot 72.

lIt is believed in view of the foregoing description of the form and arrangement of the several elements of the dry pipe valve inV their preferred embodiment, that a vdctailed description of the operation of the valveis unnecessary, as it` will be readily understoody that when the air and water clappers are in closed or normal position, the poppet 58 is raised so as to vopen the drain `trom the lower chamber, and the toe of the dog supported onthe upper `surface ot the lip `69. Upon the opening of the clappers the dog is thrown upwardly out of the path of the lip'but'immediately returns to a position to intercept its pathV and prior to the timewhen the water valve could ire-seat itself by yreason of a reboundv or ot insniiicent water pressure, while as soon as tlie'pressure on the toe 68 is relieved by the upward movementV of the clapper, the poppet seats itself in the bushing to prevent the escape ot water from the casing so long as the yclapper remains in open position. When it is desired to reset the valve the cover 43 is removed and thedog lifted out ofthe path of the lip by manually raising the stem of the poppet from the outside ot the casing, after which tlieva-lves may be closed down on their seats, and the cover replaced.

While I have hereinydescribed'and illustrated with considerable particularity a pre- Aferred embodiment of myV invention, I do not thereby desire or intend to limit myself to any precisev details of construction or arrangement of parts as the same may be modified and varied from vthe particular `form and arrangement to which I `have referred, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in thev appended claims.` f

Having. thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. A dry pipe yvalve comprising a casing havingl a chamber, a water inlet communieating with said chamber,v a hinged valve clapper controlling said inlet, a drain valve communicating-with said chamber and having-xa vertically movable poppet, a trip member extending into the pathy of movement of said clapperY and movable thereby, a dog horizontally pivoted above the poppet and also extending into the path ot movement of said clapper, adapted to be positively moved -by the clapperin one'direction and operative to limit the movement of the clapper in the other direction, and means connecting said'trip and said poppetV and adapted to contact said dogV whereby said dog may-be moved-'out ofthe path of said valve clapper bylifting the poppet. f

4 2. A dry pipe valve comprising a easing having `a chamber, a water inlet conmniniv eating with said chamber, a. hinged valve `clapper controlling the inlet, a drain valve communicating with said chamber and comprising a hollow bushing forming a valve seat, a pop et vertically movable in said bushing anc. cooperative with said seat, a horizontally pivoted trip member extending into the path of movement of said chipper and pivotally connected with said poppet by av horizontally disposed pivot pin, and a dog pivoted in the casing and having a portion extending into the path ot said chipper and a lng adapted tor engagement by said pinl` whereby the position o'lt said dog may be, altered by vertical movement ot said poppet.

3. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing having a cl'iamber, a water inlet communieating with said chamber, a hinged valve clapper controlling the inlet, a drain `valve communicating with said chamber and comprising a liollowhushing forming a valve seat, a poppct vertically movable in .said bushing and cooperative with said seat.` a horizontally pivoted trip member extending into the path oi movement ot said clapper and pivotally connected with said poppet by a horizontally disposed pivot pin, and a dog horizontally pivoted in said casing and having a toe on one side of the pivot adapted to extend above the clapper when in closed position, a portion on the other side ot said pivot adapted to Contact the casing to limit the movement of the dog in one directifni and a lug positioned for engagement by said pin whereby the position. oi said dog maiv be altered by a vertical movement ot said poppet.

4. Adry pipe valve con'iprising a casing having a chamber, a water inlet communicating with the chamber, a hinged valve clapper controlling said inlet, a drain valve Vtor said chamber comprising a poppet having a stem projecting outside ot the casing and vertically movable with respect thereto. a dog horizontally pivoted in the casing suhstantially above said poppct and having a toe extending into the path ot movement and projecting above a portion ot said clapper when the latter is in closed position and means cooperative with the casing to limit, the extent of downward pivotal movement o t said toe when said chipper is in open position, and means movable with said poppet and adapted to engage the dog whereby the position of the dog may be altered 'from the outside of the casing by movement oi" said stem.

54A dry pipe valve comprising a casing haviriga chamber, a water inlet conminnicating with said chamber, a hinged water elapper-controlling said inlet, a drain valve Alor said chamber comprising a vertically movable poppet having a stem extending outside ot' the easing, trip means in association with said poppet whereby when said elapper ie in position to close said inlet the poppet will be raised and when in position to open said inlet the poppet will be lowered, a dog pixh oted on a horizontal pivot within the easing having a toe extending into the path of movement of said clapper adapted ifo-r actuation by the clapper when moving from closed to open position and means cooperative with the wall of the easing to limit the extent oi downward movementof said toe about said pivot in either direction, and means eonneeting said `trip means and said poppet adapted to engage the dog' when said peppe-t is raised whereby the toe oi the dog may be lifted out ot the path ot the elapper by movingr the end ot the stem projecting from the easing.

6. A dry pipe valve comprising a easing,1 having;r a ohaniber, a water inlet' romnmnieating therewith, a pivoted valve elapper adapted to open and close said inlet, a dog horizontally pivoted. in the easing and having a toe adapted to extend above and into the path of movement oii' the elapper for positive aotinitionv by the elapper during its opening movement, and means; whereby a vertical movement may he manm nally imparted to the dog from the exterior ot' the easing' to move the dog out ot the path of the elapper.

7. A dry pipe valve eomprisingga easing havinfbil a chamber, a water inlet Communie eating therewith, a pivoted valve elapper adapted to open and eloee the inlet, a dog pivoted in the chamber and having,l a toe adapted to be raised by the chipper during its opening movement, means for maintaining the toe o't the dogr in a. position to limit a downward movement o't the elapper toward its seat after the elapper has opened, and a drain valve tor said casing including a member partially extending outside of the easing,r and adapted when manually actuated to move said dog 'trom said position and out of the path oi. said olappor.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th da ot April, 1922.

L ROY M. LEVIS.

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