US1665436A - Valve construction - Google Patents

Description

April 10,1928. 1,665,436

L. BLOCH VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 50. 1926 I N VEN TOR.

Leon Bloch ATTQR Y5.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,665,436 PATENT ()FFICE.

LEON 121x003, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORVTO THE "REPUBLIC OFCLEVELAND, care, A conroaarron on 01110.

BRASS COMPANY,

VALVE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed November 30, 1926. Serial liTo. 151,699.

The present invention, relating as indicated to valve construction, is more particularly directed to an improved valve for use in connection with bath tubs, showers and the like where the valve mechanism is dis posed within the wall, the stem of the valve only extending beyond the wall line and being ordinarily covered by means of a suitable plate or escutcheon. One of the princi pal objects of the invention is the provision in a valve intended for the purpose indicated of means for varying the length of the extending portion of the valvestem inorder to provide for various mountings of the valve mechanism proper with respect to the wall and various wall thicknesses and to avoid the necessity for the use of special covering plates or escutcheons. Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

To the accomplishmentof the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then,con sists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, butone of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through my improved valve mechanism; Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale showing the valve stem in a different relationship to the valve structure and with the valve in a different relationship to the wall; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In cases where water supply pipes are laid in vertical walls, as for example where the pipes are led up either to faucets or directed into a tub or shower spray or the like, the stems of the valves for controlling such pipes are usually projected through holes cut in the wall, the holes then being covered by escutcheons which are mounted on the exposed portion of the valve stems. In such constructions it is practically impossible to install the pipes at a given distance from the outer surface of the Wall through which the valve stems are to'project, and as a result it is necessary to provide escutcheons having diiferent lateral depths to bring the escutcheon to a point sufficiently close to the handles of the valve stem to give a sightly appearance. In the past'an adjustment has been provided but it has been found impossible to secure the range of position required with an adjustment of the type so far used, and the purpose of the present invention isto provide additional means for varying the position of the extending portion of the valve stem to permit of the use of a standard size of escutcheon with a close and accurate adjustment of the stem with respect thereto, and at the same time to permit this adjustmentto be made after the valve has been installed. 1

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a conduit 1 in which there isdisposed a valve casing 2 having alate'ral extension 3, in which is carried a valve seat 4 and a valve 5 secured to a valve stem 6. The valve stem 6 is provided with an enlarged portion having threads 7 engaging within a corresponding threaded portion 8 in the extension 3. EX- tending upwardly from the enlargedportion is a second reduced portion 9 of the stem on which is snugly fitted a threaded nut 10' which engages within a corresponding threaded portion 11 at the outer end-of the casing 3. Between the nut 10 and the flanged end of the casing is the usual washer 12. The valve as thus far described is of standard construction.

The stem 9 of the valve extends beyond the end of the extension 3 through an aperture 13 formed in the adjacent wall 14 and carries on its end an operating handle 15, the opening in the wall being covered by means of an escutcheon 16 provided with a central opening engaging loosely over the stem 9. It will be readily understood that the length of the extendingportion 9 of the valve stem beyond the wall 14 depends upon the posi-v tion of the pipe 1 with respect to the wall for any given size of stem.

I provide a means for varying the length of the extending portion of the stem by forming the parts-6 and 9 of the valve stem separately, coring the portion 6 to receive the extending portion 9 of the stem with a nonrota'table engagement between the two portions and then providing means for locking the two portions together in any desired position, this means consisting of a nut 18 provided with threading both externally and internally, the internal threading engaging with threading .19 on the stem 9 and the external threading engaging with complement'ary threading 20 on the inside ofthe stem 6.

The non-rotatable engagement between the two portions of the stem may be secured in any suitable manner, and in Fig. 3 I have shown one form of such an engagement, consisting of a flattened portion 21 formed on the inner stem'9 and a locking pin 22 engaged with the outer stem 6 and with the flattened portion of the inner stem. The pin 22 may be secured from rotation within the bore of stem 6 by welding or some similar method. y

T he operation of my improved means for varying the position or the stem will be readily understood. After the outer stem 6' is positioned in the extension 3 the inner or projecting portion of the stem 9 may be moved to any desired position with respect to the inner stem, after which the nut 18 is turned down until it engages with the threading 20 on the outer stem when, by reason of such engagementit locks the inner stem to the outer stem. This adjustment may or course be efi'ected after the installation of the valve and even though the lines may be in service, since the valve 5 is maintained in engagement with the seat by reason of the threads 7 and 8 on the stem and on the casing extension 3. it a I provide a further adjustment consisting of a cap 25 adapted to fit snugly about the extending portion 9 of the stem and having an extension 26 fitting inthe opening inthe escutcheon16. This extension 26 is threaded internally and receives an externally threaded tube 27 which engageswith corresponding internal threading in the locking cap or nut 28 at the outer end of the extension 3, this cap 28 being turned down within the nut 10 to compress a washer 29 snugly about the stem. 9.

The present valve thus presents two inde pendent means for varying the length of the extending portion of the valve stem and a very considerable"variation in the-extension can be secured by these two means which makes it possible to care for all sorts of work with a single standard escutcheon. The valve construction proper is unchanged by reason of .myfimprovements andboth of the adjustments maybe made after the valve has been installed and from the inside of the room intdwhich the stems are to project, which greatly facilitatesth'e installing and proper adjustment of these fixtures.

Other modes of applying the principle of my-invention may be employed instead of the oneex plained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided themeans stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore parti i1larly point outiand dis' tinctly claim as my invention 1. In a valvestructurgthe combination of a valve casing having an extension, a

valve in said casing, a-stem for operating said valve, said stem being disposed in said extension an auxiliary stem non-rotatably secured within said first-named stem, and means for varying the relative longitudinal positions of said first-named stem and said auxiliary stem. i

2. In a valve structure, the combination of a valve casing having an extension, a valve in said casing, astem for operating said valve disposed in said extension, said stem being formed with a hollow end portion, an auxiliary valve stem engaged within the 1101- low portion of'said first-named stem and being longitudinally adjustable therein, means for variously posltioning such aux1l-- iary stem longitudinally with respect to said first-named stem, 'said means consisting of an element having threaded engagement with said main and auxiliary stems.

3. In a valve structure, the combination of a valve casing having an extension, a valve disposed in said casing, a main stem for operating said valve movably disposed and entirely wlthin said extension, an auxiliary stem projecting beyond the end of said extension and havlng a non-rotatable engagement within sa d mam stem, but being longitudinally movable with respect thereto, means for variously positioning said auxiliary stem withrespect tosaid main stem, an escutcheon disposed about said auxiliary stem, and means for securing said escutcheon to said extension.

4:. In a valve structure, the combination of a valve casing having an extension, a valve in ,said casing, a stem for operating said valve movably mounted in said extension, said stem being provided with a hollow central portion having its outer end of enlarged diameter, an auxiliary stem nonrotatably secured within the hollow portion of said first-named stem; said auxiliary stem being externally threaded, and a locking element engaging said auxiliary stem and having also a threaded engagement with the portion of enlarged diameter of said main stem.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a liquid conduit, a valve casing disposed in said conduit adjacent to a wall, said casing being provided with an extension extending through an openingin said wall, a valve disposed in said casing, a telescoping stem secured to said valve and disposed in said extension, an escutcheon disposed about said stem and engaging against said wall, and separate means for securing said escutcheon in position against said wall and for adjusting the length of a said telescoping stem. V a

Signed by me, this 6th day of November, 1926. i a

LEONBLOCH.

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