US1721353A - Check valve - Google Patents

Description

July'l6, 19 29. T, XFO 1.721,:353

CHECK VALVE Filed Feb. 18, 1928 m'uem coz Patented July 16, 1929.

- UNITED STATE PATENT omen.

JOHN T. oxrom), or moae'alwon nonrn canomumassreiv'on'or ONE-HALF. TO, w. 'r. BERRY, or MORGANTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

CHECK VALVE.

' Application filed February 18, 1Q 28. Serial 'No. 255,320.

This invention relates to valves, and more particularly check valves,

Check valves, as commonlyconstructed, are of two general types, namely those emplaying a swinging gate, and those employing a freely movable ball.

Each of these types has its advantages and disadvantages, and the general object of the present invention is to provide a check valve of a combined type having the advantages of both. ,In other words, the invention seeks to provide a valve comprising a ball or spherical member which, instead of being free, as usual, is mounted to swing toward and from its seat.-

More specific. objects of the invention are:

to so support the swingingball that it is capable of both rotation on the axis of support and bodily movement alon such axis, whereby the ball may readily ad ust itself to its'seat, and also whereby a constantly chang 'ing surface is presented to the'seat. Still other objects are to provideimpro'ved means for manually adjusting the ball relative to its seat and to so design the valve casing that the ball may be readily inserted and removed therefrom.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, reference is had to the accomg panying drawing forming part ofthis specification, and in which:

' Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved check valve; r Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the same, substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a slightly modified arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail on an en- LO larged scale showing the, adjusting means;

and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a slightly modified form of valve. Referring to the drawings in detail, my i5 improved valve casing preferably consists of a T-shaped hollow casting 1 resembling a standard pipe fitting. -,This casting comprises the main or body portion 2 and branch portion 3. Viewed another way, the casing comprises a cylindrical member 2 having a .lateral opening surrounded by an annular flange 3. The end of this flange or branch and also the ends of the main portion of the casting are provided with standard pipethreads, as illustrated. On the inside of the main or body portion of the casting at a pointnear its junction with the branch, isan annular rib or shoulder 4, and that edge of such rib adjacent the branch opening is machined or beveled as indicated at 5 to form a valve seat. ,It will be noted that this valve seat/is somewhat'smaller in diameter than the interior bore of the main portion of the casting so thata tool or'reamer may be inserted through the end of the casting for the purpose of machining the valve seat.. Y 1

Arranged to cooperatewith the seat 5 is a valve in theform of a ball or. sphere'6. This is supportedupon arod'or stem 7 having at one end a head or enlargement 8 on which the ball rests. It-will be notedthat the opening -in the ball through .which the rod 7 passes is slightly largerthan the rod, so that the ball is. free to turn and also free to slide, on $7 the-rod .orstem. In this ,way the ball can adjust itself tothe valve, seat and make a tight seal, even though it may not-be positioned quite accurately. Furthermore, by virtue of its free rotation on thestem, the ball constantly presents a different surface for engagement with the valve seat.

' The upper end of the rod or stem 7 is pivotally attached'to an eye .9 having a screw threaded shank 10 which passes through and is threaded in acap 11 screwed over the end of the branch 3. Cooperating with the "edge of this cap is a lock nut 12, and it will be seen that by turning the cap '11 the ver; tical position of the ball may be adjusted, and that it may be held in adjusted position by screwing the nut 12 up against the cap.

. A lock nut 13 is threaded over the other end of the shank 10,.as shown, and the extreme end. of this shank is provided with a kerf' 10 (see Fig. 4), capable of receiving a screw driver. This constitutes an additional adjusting meansfor the valve. A washerl l may be employed underneath the locknut 13, as shown.

It will be noted that the shank 10 of the eye 9 is set into the cap 11 at apoint to one side of'the center thereof. This is desirable in order that the point of support of the valve'stem may be brought as nearly as possible vertically over the seat 5, so that said after being adjusted, I-preferably place on such cap a mark in'the shape of anarrow, as indicated at 15 in Fig. 1, the head of the arrow pointing in the direction in which fluid is discharged from the valve casing, or, in other words, in the direction of flow. In order to drain sediment or foreign matter from the valve casing, I may provide a pet cock, such as shown at 16 in Fig. 2, or instead, an ordinary plug, as indicated at 17 in Fig. 3.

' From the foregoing it will be understood that ill assembling the parts, the stem 7 is attached to the eye 9, and this set into the cap 11. The ball is then lowered through the interior of the branch 3 into the main passageway, and the cap 11 is tllrneduntil the ball is at approximately the proper height, the cap being finally stopped and locked, however, in a position in which the arrow 15 is disposed longitudinally of the valve casing, as shown in Fig. 1. This constitutes the rough adjustment. The final, fine adjustment is accomplished by inserting a screw driver in the kerf 10 of .the threaded shank 10 and, the lock nut 13 being loosened, turning the shank 10' so as to raise or lower the ballexactly to the required extent. The lock nut is then tightened, and the valve is ready for operation.

While I havereferred to the valve as a ""ball, it will of course be obvious that it need not in all cases, be a complete sphere.

large size, in order block 18 having a curved portion 6 consistco-operate with the seat 5. This type of construction may be preferable in valves of to save weight and material.

' 1. A check valve comprising a casing having a seat, a ballvalve, and means for su-s pending said ball so that itmay swing freely laterally toward and away from said seat,

said means including a rod on which said ball is slidably mounted.

2 -A check valve comprising a casing having a seat, a ball valve, and means for sus- 3. A check valve comprising a casing having an opening surrounded by an annular Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, I may employ a ing of a segment of a sphere, and adapted to What I claim is upstanding flange, a cap screwed over the 1 end of said flange, sald casing also having a valve seat therein, a ball valve adapted to engage said seat and freelysuspended from said cap, whereby the height of said 'ball relative to said seat maybe adjusted by turning said cap, and additional means .for adjusting the height of said ball.

4. A check valve comprising a casing having a seat, a valve member having at least a portion o'f its surfaceo'f spherical form, and

means for suspending said valve member so that itmay swing eely laterally toward and away from said seat, said meansincluding a rod on which said valve member is slidably mounted.

In testimony whereof. I aflix my signature.

- JOHN T. OXFORD.

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