US1778669A - graham - Google Patents

Description

0a. 1.4, 1930; H. E. GRAHAM 1,778,669

SELF RELEASING DRAIN VALVE Filed Jan. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0a. 14, 1930. H. E. GRAHAM 1,778,669

SELF RELEASING DRAIN VALVE Filed Jan. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERMAN E. GRAHAM, OF MAB/ION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIP- MENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SELF-RELEASING DRAIN VALVE Application filed. January 24, 1927.

This invention, generally stated, relates to a system of supplying fluid pressure to main and lateral pipe lines, such for example, as those commonly used in foundries at molders benches, and for automatically draining the same, when not in use, to prevent freezing.

More particularly stated, it relates to a novel form and arrangement of self-releasing and anti-freezing drain valves, designed. arranged and constructed to automatically discharge such fluid as would otherwise remain trapped in the service pipes, both main and lateral, after discontinuation of the service flow or pressure.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an organized system of supply and lateral fluid-pressure pipes, with supply and release valves suitably located therein, for controlling a fluid inlet and outlets, the latter, outlet or releasing drain-valves, adapted to automatically assume a closed position under pressure normally prevailing in the system, and adapted to automatically open when such pressure is discontinued, as a means of effectually draining the communicating pipes for the purpose of preventing freezing, when low temperature and climatic conditions are such as to endanger both pipes and valves.

V'Vith the'foregoing and otherobjects and aevantages in view, the present invention will be hereinafter particularly described, and finally set forth by the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings which form part of this application for Letters-Patent, and whereon like characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a main fluid pressure supply-pipe, with lateral standpipes leading therefrom to individual moldeis benches, the latter each having one of the improved self-releasing drain-valves located therein;

Fig. 2is also aside elevation of the invention corresponding exactly with Figure 1, except that the main supply pipe is here shown as located above the individual lateral pipes and molders benches;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, central, sectional View through one of'the automatic self-releasing drain valves employed;

Serial No; 163,285.

Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the drain-valve partly in section, showing the globe or body portion of valve in vertical central section at right angles to that of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of valve with the screw-threaded cap and stem removed; and

Fig. 6 isa modification of the valve case and contents shown in vertical central sec tion.

-Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 1 indicates a main fluid pressure pipe, 2 a main supply globe-valve controlling the inlet to said pipe, located in a valve-house or otherwise suitably positioned, and 3 indicates a main drain-valve in the supply pipe 1, of any desired form of construction. i

The numerals 4indicate lateral pipes communicating directly with the main supply pipe 1 as shown, each terminating in a flexible delivery connection 5, leading to its particular melders bench (not shown), and each equippec with one of the improved self-releasing drain-valves 6, now to be more particularly described.

The general exterior appearance and form of this automatic or self-releasing drainvalve 6 is that of an ordinary globe-valve, having a body portion 7 a through-way 8, a screw cap 9, a screw-actuated stem 10, and an operating hand-wheel 11.

Swivelled loosely upon the lower end of the rotatable valve-stem 10 however, is a nonrotatable cage 12, entirely open on one side, and of skeleton construction, having two oppositely positioned divisions, or guide members, 13, 13, running in vertical groove Ways 14., 14, to provide for a vertical movement, and at the same time to prevent a rotary movement of the cage 12 under influence of the screw stem 10.

WVithin the cage 12 is positioned a loose ball valve capable of slight horizontal said cage 12 as will later appear in a brief statement of operation.

In the modification indicated by Figure 6 of the drawings the cage 12 is dispensed with, the ball valve 15 being vertically and eentrally perforated as at 17 to loosely receive an extension 18 ot the valve-stem 10, and

valve-seat it? being sli 1 projected into the valve-chamber as shown, so as to reduce the required movement of the valve to its seat, and consequently the required diameter of the perforation 17.

This being a description of the venlien in one eperadve term truction, it will be apparent that any suitable fluid pressure may be employed in the system. Figure 1 of the drawings, for example, presupposes the use of water, with the main supply or service line 1 located below the "frost line, and the line 03, as, indicating the ground, with laterals l, in the nature of stand pipes, leading to the points of utilization of the water pressure.

In this assembly there is no particular necessity for arranging the service line 1 an angle so as to drain toward the outlet valve 3, same being below the line ann thus protected against freezing.

On the other hand, Figure 2 presupposes air pressure, and an air line arranged above the molders benches (not shown), the main service line 1, in this instance, being slightly depressed at one end as shown, so as to drain any accumulated water, the result of condensation, toward the outlet valve 3 when occasion requires. Obviously an air line, such as indicated by Figure 2, is by no means restricted to depending laterals 4 as shown. These air laterals, if desired, may as well rise from the floor line, or from beneath a floor line, to molders benches, or other points of illll.l?it1l' '1 above, such as indicated by ure 1, without in the least departing from the spirit of this invention, in which event the drainage would be substantially as indicated by Figure 1, except that it would be desirable to slightly incline the service pipe 1 toward its main drain valve 3.

In operation, the discharge valve 3 is first closed, and the main supply valve 2 is opened to admit fluid pressure into the main supply or service pipe 1, from any suitable compressor, pump, or other source of supply, (not shown). This pressure, by my cf laterals el, normally operates upon all balls 15, to automatically close the valves 6, at individual benches or points of pressure utilization. That is to say, pressure exerted in the direction indicated by arrow in Figure 3 of the drawings, slightly projects the balls 15 from the open side of their respective cages 12, to the position indicated by dotted lines, upon the valve seat 16 to close the valve.

It now a molder at any one or more of the benches in the system, requires the fluid pressure "for use in the ordinary course, he increly operates his particular valve hand-wheel 11 in a counter clockwise direction, and thus, by agency of the screw actuated stem 10, elevates cage 12 in its vertical groove- ways 14, 14, to lift the ball 15 from its seat 16, whereupon pressure is supplied through the flexible connection 5 as long as required. Obviously a reversal of this operation again closes the valve 6 and interrupts the supply of fluid pressure.

Heretotore where ordinary standard valves rather than the special releasing drain valves 6 of the present invention, have been employed in air and water lines at molders benches throughout a foundry, and sometimes upon diii erent floors thereof, it has been necessary to manually and laboriously open each individual valve after working hours during the winter months, for drainage purposes to prevent freezing.

Installation of the present system and self releasing drain valves 6, however, greatly facilities this draining process which is then easily and quickly accomplished as follows:

The main supply valve 2 in the fluid pressure line 1, being first closed, the drain valve 3 is opened, whereupon the pressure back of the balls 15, in their respective valves (3 throughout the entire system, being removed, these balls automatically drop back by gravity into their respective cages 12, thus insuring an opening suificient to drain laterals 4, and also admit air into the main line 1 so that it will properly drain through its outlet 3. And, when air laterals 4,- are arranged, as shown by Figure 2, in depending relation to the main supply line 1, it is clear that there will also be drainage directly through the valves 6 themselves, via the flexible connections 5, whenever pressure in the supply pipe and laterals is released as aforesaid.

The foregoing being a description of the present invention in one approved form ot construction, it should be understood that the same is by no means so limited, but on the contrary contemplates and includes various changes and modifications in the form, arrangement and combinations of parts, set forth, so long as they do not materially depart from the principle of operation and substantially the construction as set forth in the following claims.

What I now claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid pressure valve comprising a body provided with an interior chamber having parallel grooves at opposite sides and a valve seat at one end, a stem extending into the chamber, a skeleton cage carried in the chamher having a pair of oppositely disposed ribs received in the grooves of the valve body and a third rib disposed at substantially a right angle from said first mentioned ribs, all the ribs meeting in the lower and upper portions of the cage, a ball carried by the lower portion of the cage and movable to and from the seat and means for connecting the upper portion of the cage to the stem.

2. A fluid pressure valve comprising a body provided with an interior chamber having parallel grooves at opposite sides and a valve seat at one end, a stem associated with the body and movable axially into and out of the chamber, a cage having an upper and a lower por ion and three ribs meeting in said upper and lower portions, two of the ribs being received in the grooves of the valve body and the third rib being disposed in a plane at substantially a right angle from those of the grooves, a ball carried by the lower portion of he cage and movable to and from the seat, and means connecting the upper portion o1 the cage to the stem.

3. A fluid pressure valve as claimed in claim 2 in which the stem and the body are associated in screw-threaded relation and in which the upper portion of the cage is swivelled to the stem.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature.

HEB-MAN E. GRAHAM.

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