US1967792A - Valve - Google Patents

Description

F. G. TROISI July 24, 1934.

VALVE Filed April' 1; 1951 Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT "or-Fica i' 17 Claims.

'My invention relates broadly to a valve and more particularly to an air or gas escape valve for diving apparatus.

The primary object of my invention is to provide in diving' apparatus an automatic safety valve for the escape of gas or vair from a diverssuit or helmet.

An object of my invention is to provide in a helmet for divers an automatic safety valve for 0 the escape of air or gas'without entrance of water into the helmet, said valve having an adjustable valve stem to insure the positive positioning ef the valve on the valve seat.

A further object of my invention is to provide an air or gas escape valve for diving apparatus that can be locked to permit a diver to ascend to the surface with air in his suit in case the air lines are plugged, cut or otherwise damaged.

Another object of my invention is to provide 20 in diving apparatus a positive safety air or gas escape Valve that can be easily operated by a divers chin.

Still another object of my invention resides in constructing in a divers helmet a safety escape valve that is not involved in its operation, easy to manufacture and not diflicult to replace parts; simplicity with positive effectiveness governing the manufacture and use of the valve.

With the above and other objectsvin view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of my improved device shown partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a part of my improved valve shown partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation of a modification of my improved device shown partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of an adjustable cap for the stem of my improved device.

Fig. 5 is a vertical View of a locking means for my improved valve.

Fig. 6 is a detail view shown in section of the modified form of my improved valve shown in Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 10 indicates a portion of a conventional divers helmet having a tapped aperture 11 into which is threaded a valve housing 12 that is secured by a lock nut 13 drawn up tight against the inside of the helmet. Secured to the housing 12 and positioned so as to bearl ilrmly against the outer surface of the helmetis an outlet passage 14. The valve housing 12 is provided with a beveled valve seat 16 and a valve stern guide 17 into which is inserted for reciprocation one end of a o0 valve stem 18 having beveled valve disk 19 adapted to fit into and on the valve seat 16.

Fitted to the upper part of housing 12 is a. cap 20 that has a tapped aperture with a collar 21 around its upper edge into which is threaded 55 for limited longitudinal movement a hollow stem 22 of an operating wheel or regulator 23. A spring 24 having one end inserted 'into the hollow portion 25 of the stem 22 so as to abut against the undersurface of wheel 23 and the other end bearing against the top of disk 19, is placed around the valve stem to hold disk 19 on its seat 16 against the varying air pressures in the helmet, as set by regulator 23 and the water pressure around disk 19. The undersurface or neck of regulator 23 is upset to form shoulder 26 which is adapted to t against a corresponding shoulder 27 formed on the collar 21 of ca'p 20, when the valve is in the closed .or locked position at which point the greatest tension is exerted on spring 24.v 8 The limit of the open position of the valve is set by securing to the lower end of hollow stem 22 a collar 15 that stops movement of the stem when the same is brought up against the inside of cap 20. A strap 33 encircling collar 21 is placed over cap 20 and secured by screws 34 to the valve housing 12. This strap 33 prevents displacement of the cap 20.

When the valve has been normally closed by the diver turning regulator 23 into the locked position, valve stem 60, as shown in Fig. 2, is constructed to permit movement of disk 1.9 from seat 16 either by internal air pressure in the helmet or by manual operation with the divers chin, thereby insuring safety at all times. This stem 60 has around its upper end a cylinder 28 that is positioned around a shoulder 29 by spinning or die compressing the end of the cylinder to form a sliding tit aroundthe stem. The shoulder 29 has a sleeve 30 into which is placed a spring 31 that has its upper end abutting a plug 32 inserted in the top of cylinder 28. This arrangement allows stem 60 with shoulder 29 to reciprocate against the tension of spring 31 in cylinder 28 when regulator 23 is locked and the4 pressure in the helmet becames dangerous to the operator; also plug 32 being removable permits replacement of spring 31, if necessary.

'I'he valve is assembled so that, when regulator 23 is in the locked position, the top of cylinder gard to the front of the helmet to permit a diver to open the valve by pressing his chin against a 6 plate 35 threaded into the end of stem 18 inside the helmet.

In the practical operation o! my improved de-l vice, when regulator 23 is in the extreme open position, spring 24 is set at a suitable tension to normally retain disk 19 on seat 16, until the air pressure in the helmet reaches a point where pressure of the outside water plus the tension `of spring 24 is overcome and gas or air escapes. In the course of a diver's descent, he has to keep the pressure in the helmet just a little above the water pressure outside the helmet and, to do this, it generally becames necessary to regulate the valve by turning operating wheel 23 so as to vary the tension of spring 24 whereby disk 19 will open at approximately a little above the required pressure inside the helmet. The adjustment of the tension of spring 24 to permit disk 19 to be opened at certain pressures normally depends a great deal on guess work and the operator does not know when the regulator is near or in the lock position. A quick rise of pressure when the regulator of a diving helmet exhaust valve is locked results in over-inflation and distention of the suit causing the diver to rise or blow-up to the surface. Due to this excess pressure in the suit, the diver cannot bend his arms tomanipulate hisvalves or grab and hang on to a shot rope. Also, under suchv conditions, the rubber diving suit distends permitting the helmet to rise above the divers head. The latter condition prevents manipulation of the exhaustgvalve by chin pressure and also precludes the divers use of the helmet telephones to advise his attendants of his predicament.

The internal pressure of a divers dress is normally about 1/2 1b.l per square inch in excess of the external or water pressure. In my new valve, as well as the standard type valves, this difference in pressure is accomplished by a light spring such as spring 24 through adjusting regulator 23. To prevent over-iniiation when yregulator 23 is locked or spring 24 is broken, I provide safety means to permit the escape of air or gas.l Thus, when regulator 23 is locked andthe pressure inside the helmet becomes excessive, the same is asserted against disk 19 causing the end of stem 60 with shoulder 29 to reciprocate in cylinder 28 against the tension o-f spring 31. This secondary spring 31 is designed and tested to cause a differential pressure of about two pounds per square inch when the valve is fully closed, a condition which exists when the regulator or adjusting screw 23 is screwed in until the tbp or cylinder 28 bears directly against the underside of the wheel 23. In actual practice, my valve is adjusted in the same manner as a standard type valve, by means of the operating wheel 23 and screw stem 22, the normal degree of opening of the valve against the pressure of the 1/2 pound spring 24 being dependent upon the clearance which exists between the top of cylinder 28 and the underside of wheel 23. The diver is able to attain any desired degree of air flow through the valve by manipulation of theadjusting wheel or regulator 23. If theclearance between cylinder 28 and underside of regulator 23 is zero, as is the case when the threaded stem 22 is screwed in as far as possible, the valve is in the closed position, and the disk 19 is being held against its seat by the two pound spring 31, instead of the A pound spring 24. It is thus possible to build up an excess pressure of two pounds per square inch within the suit, which is more than sumcient to give the diver any buoyancy which he might require in practice but not enough to cause any danger. At the same time, no matter what the setting of the .regulator 23 may be, it is always possible to obtain immediately the 'full opening of the valve by depressing chin button 35, since after the 1/2 -pound spring 24 is compressed until top of cylinder 28 touches the underside oi regulatory 22, the longitudinal motion of the valve disk may be continued to the maximum degree of travel by compressing the two pound spring 31.

Although, I have set outcertain denite pressure values in my description for the purpose of illustration, I do not want to limit myself to these values but desire it to be understood that these values may be changed accordingly to effect the efllcient operationof my improved valve.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modication of my improved safety valve--wherein springs 61 and 62 are suitably positioned by a cylindrical member 36 threaded into the hollow portion 25 of stem 64. The member' 36 has integral therewith on its inner surface a ring or flange 37 with aperture 41 that supports a plate 38 and prevents the same from falling through aperture 41, thus dividing the member 36 into an upper compartment 39 and a lower compartment 40. Placed in the upper compartment 39 is spring 62 that has its upper end abutting the underside of regulator 23 and the lower end bearing on the upper surface of plate 38. SpringV 24 is positioned around stem 63 with its upper end bearing against the underside of ring 3'? in compartment 40. This modiiication is assembled so that, when regulator 23 is in the locked position, thev top of stem 63 extends through aperture 41 in ring 37 and just touches the underside of plate 38. Thus when regulator 23 is. locked and pressure inside the helmet becomes excessive against disk 19, the said disk will-be permitted to leave seat 16 by the stem 63 bearing against plate 38 that compresses spring A62 in compartment 39 thereby allowing a limited upward displacement `of the valve disk 19 to provide for the escape of air and gas under pressure.

I also provide a stop 52 on stem portion 65 in juxtaposition to chin plate 35 or the stop, if desired, can be placed on guide 17. This stop 52 insures an air passage between disk 35 and the lower part of body 12.

In the modification, springs 61 and 62 correspond to springs 24 and 31, as shown and described in and for Figures 1 and 2, and these springs 61 and 62 have the same relative strength as springs 24 and 31, respectively. Thus, in the modified form, the difference between internal pressure of the divers dress and the external or water pressure is accompanlished by adjusting spring 61, through regulator 23 and stem 64. Ihe outer end of spring 61, however, instead of bearing directly against the underside of regular 23, bears against the underside of plate 38 and spring V62 has its upper end abutting the underside of regulator 23 and its lower end bearing on the upper surface of plate 38 so that when the valve is fully closed, a condition which exists when stem 63 bears directly on the underside of plate 38, the disk 19 through stem 63, is held against its seat by spring 62. In this manner, the valve is normally adjusted by adjusting regular 23, the degree of opening of the valve against y with regard to regulator 23 and adjust the length the pressure of the 5i lb. springVv 61 depending upon the clearance between the top of. stem 63 and plate 38. It the clearance between the top of stem 63 and the underside of plate 38 is zero,

. the valve is in the closed or locked position, and

the valve disk 19 is being held against its seat by the two pound spring 62. If thepressure in the suit becomes in excess oi' two pounds per square inch, the pressure of spring 62 is overcome `causing disk 19 to unseat, permitting the excess air or gas to escape. When the pressure 'recedes spring 62 willagain seat disk 19. This action will give the operator ltime to set his valves to permit normal operating conditions.

.In order to properly place the valve stem 66 of the valve stem 66 so the disk 19 will properly seat on 16 irrespective of the width or height of outlet passage 14 which may vary with diiferent helmets, I provide an adjustable cap 42. This cap 42, as shown in Fig. 4, is internally threaded and is screwed onto the end oi' stem 66 to the proper or desired place at which point a lock screw 43 that extends through countersunk aperture 49 in cap 42 is screwed down into threaded aperture 50 in'the center ot stem 66 until the head of screw 43 is positioned in the countersunk portion of aperture 49.

To lock the valve in case the air lines are damaged and it becomes necessary to retain all of the. air in the helmet, I cut a spiral groove 44, as

shown in Fig. 5, into the lower portion of stem 18 between disk 19 and the chin plate 35. A'

lsleeve 45 having an inwardly extending projection 47 in the lumen is placed on the stem 18' with projection 47 extending into groove 44. The sleeve 45 is also provided with outwardly extending arms 48 so that the diver'can turn the sleeve 45 with his chin thus causing it to move, through groove 44 and projection 47, up until the upper surface of the sleeve 45 firmly abuts against guide 17, which keeps the disk 19 from being moved.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawing comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in details lof construction, 'proportion and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any -of the advantages of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. In combination, a diving apparatus, a iluid escape valve secured to said apparatus, said valve comprising a body member having a movable valve disk therein, regulating means controlling within a limited range the pressure at which iluid escapes from the apparatus and means adapted to hold said disk in position up to a predetermined pressure and to unseat when the pressure becomes excessive, and secondary holding means for said disk adapted to become operative at a greater pressure than said ilrst mentioned disk holding means.

2. An escape valve for a diving helmet comprising a body member having a movable disk therein, means for holding said disk in position up to a predetermined pressure, means for regulating the pressure, and secondary holding means for said disk adapted to become operative at a greater pressure than said first mentioned disk holding means.

3. In a diving apparatus a fluid escape valve, having open and closed positions, means urging said valve to closed position and means operated from inside said apparatus for locking 'said valve in said closed position. o

4. In combination, a diving apparatus having fluid valve, said valve having open and closed tions, means urging said valve to closed position, said means yielding against predetermined substantislly normal nuid pressures in said apparatus, and means yielding to apredetermined substantially excessive uid pressure in said apparatus and in yielding moving said valve to an open position. l

5.' In combination with the apparatus set forth in claim 4, means operated from inside said apparatus for locking said valve in closed position.

6. In combination with the apparatus set forth in claim 4,' means adjustable to hold said valve in .closed position until said predetermined exf cessivve pressure is reached.

7. 'In' combination with the apparatus set forth in claim 4, means manually operated from inside `said apparatus-to open said valve.

yielding moving said valve to an open position.

9. In combination, a diving apparatus having a iiuid escape valve, said valve having open and closed positions, means adjustably urging said valve to closed position said means yielding against predetermined substantially normal fluid pressure in said apparatus, means to adjust said urging means to yield at said predetermined pressures, and means yielding to a predetermined substantially excessive iiuid pressure in said apparatus and in yielding moving said valve to an open position. 115

10. In combination with the apparatus set forth in claim 9, means operated from inside said apparatus for locking said valve in closed position.

11. In combination, a diving apparatus having a iluid escape valve, said valve having open and closed positions, means adjustably urging said valve to closed position against iluid pressure in said apparatus, means to adjust said urging means to yield to predetermined substantially normal fluid pressures in said apparatus said adjusting means having a plurality of adjustment positionsv and in one of said adjustment positions positively holding said valve in closed position against substantially excessive fluid pressures in said apparatus, and means yielding to a predetermined substantially excessive iiuid pressure in said apparatus and in yielding moving said valve to an open position.

l2. In combination, a diving apparatus having a fluid escape valve, said valve having open and closed positions, means adjustably urging said valve to closed position against fluid pressure in said apparatus, means to adjust said urging means to yield to predetermined substantially normal fluid pressures in said apparatus, said adjusting means having a plurality of adjustment positions and in one of said adjustment positions positively holdingsaid valve in closed position against substantially excessive fluid pressures in said apparatus, means yielding to a predetermined substantially excessive fluid pressure in said apparatus and in yielding moving said valve to an open position, and means operated from inside said apparatus for locking said valve in closed position.

13. In combination with a diving helmet, a 150 43 iiuid escape valve( having an open closed posi` tion, selective adjustable means closing said valve against progressive predetermined normal pressures. said means in one adjustment closing saidvalve against all pressures below apredetermined excessive pressure, and meansL yielding at 4said predetermined excessive pressure for said valve. y 14. In combination with the apparatus set forth in claim 13 means operated from inside said helmet for locking said valve in closed position.

A adjustable means for holding said disk against.

15. In a uid escape' valve comprising a body member having a movable disk therein,V selective progressive predetermined normal pressures, said means in one position holding said disk against all pressures below a lpredetermined excessive pressure, and secondary means yielding at said predetermined excessive pressure and in yielding moving said disk.

16. In a iluid escape valve having open and' closed positions, a spring urging the: valve to closed position, a regulating member to adjust memos l said swirl to yield tially normal -nuid pressures, said regulating member having a plurality I off adjustment posi'- tions and in one o! saidadjustment positions positively holding said valve in closed position against substantially excessive -iluid pressures, 'and a ncondar'y spring mounted inY said regulating member, said .secondary spring yielding to a predetermined substantially. excessive iiuid pres sure and in yielding moving said valve to open position. v

17.. In a fluid escape valve having avalvs stem. said valvehaving an open and closed position. selective adjustable means closing said valve against progressive predetermined normal pressures,

said means in one adjustment closing said. valvev

Images