US2071823A

US2071823A - Guide arm for valve rods

Info

Publication number: US2071823A
Application number: US70806A
Authority: US
Inventors: James F Duncan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-03-25
Filing date: 1936-03-25
Publication date: 1937-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-23

Description

Feb. 23, 1937. J. F. DUNCAN 2,071,323

GUIDE ARM FOR VALVE RODS I Filed Marsh 25, 1936 INVENTOR Patented Feb, 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in guide arms for valve rods of flush tanks.

In flush tanks employing a discharge valve, means for operating the discharge valve and an overflow pipe, it is necessary to guide the valve stem on the valve in order to maintain the valve in alinement with its seat. This guiding means comprises a guide arm and is usually mounted on the overflow pipe of the tank. Devices are known which are adjustable in length to fit various installations so that if the distance between the overflow pipe and the valve seat varies in different tanks, such differences may be compensated for; In addition some types of tanks have different sized overflow pipes so that different guide arms are necessary for diiferent tanks and therefore it is necessary to manufacture different sized guide arms for different types of tanks. My inventionovercomes the objections to prior art devices and includes the provision of a device which is both adjustable in length and also adjustable for different sized overflow pipes or other supports. A device made according to my invention includes a guide arm for a 5 valve rod adapted to be mounted on difierent sized overflow pipes in flush tanks or to be mounted on any other different sized supports and adapted to be clamped in any desired position on the pipes or supports. In addition such a device includes a member adjustable in length so that the same guide arm may be used in any flush tank apparatus in which the distance between the overflow pipe or other support and the valve seat is within the limits of adjustability of the adjustable member. Furthermore, a device made according to my invention is so constructed as to be clamped in adjusted position by a single fastening means. I have illustrated the best form known to me at this time but it is to be understood that changes may be made withoutv digressing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a portion of tank showing my device in position on an overflow pipe;

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged top plan view of a device applied to a larger pipe or support; and

Fig. 5 represents a vertical enlarged section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing the reference character In designates a portion of a flush tank having a discharge pipe connection l2 passing through the bottom wall l4 of the tank. Positioned within the tank II] is a valve seat member it connected to the discharge pipe connection l2. An extension I8 is provided on valve seat member It to which an overflow pipe or tube 20 is connected. Cooperating with the valve seat member I6 is a ball valve 22 which is operated by a valve rod 24 connected to a link 26. Link 26 is connected to a lever 28 which is secured to a rotatable rod 33 mounted in a bracket 32 secured to the top of overflow pipe or tube 20. The rod 30 and its associated parts are operated by a handle 34 mounted exteriorly of the tank III.

In devices having the above mentioned parts it is necessary to guide the valve rod 24 and my invention comprises a guide arm which is adjustably mounted on the overflow pipe or tube or other support, the guide arm being so constructed that it may be used in different type tanks or the like which have different sized overflow pipes or tubes. My invention includes a split or two-part clamping member 36 having

arms

38 and 40 which are pivotally mounted and which are provided with opposed arcuate portions 42 which are adapted to be placed around the overflow tube or other support 20 and held in position by a thumb screw 44. Arm 40 has a threaded opening 46 on an extension 48 to receive the threaded portion of thumb screw 44 and arm 38 has longer extension 50 provided with a slot 52 to slidably receive the screw 44 and permit relative movement between the screw and clamping arm 38 when the clamping member is placed on overflow pipes or other supports. The slot permits relative movement of the parts when the device is applied to different sized tubes or supports. The thumb screw 44 has an enlarged portion 54 to abut the extension on arm 38 and the sides of the slot 52 to hold the parts in assembled position.

slidably mounted on a rear extension 60 of arm 38 of the clamping member is a grooved member 62 provided at one end with a forked guide arm 63 having openings 66 of substantially the same size as the valve rod 24 for slidably receiving and guiding such valve rod. As shown in the drawing, the member 62 and extension 60 have tapering sides to assist in the alinement of the parts, but it is to be understood that I am not restricted to this shape and other shapes may be used without departure from the spirit of my invention. Grooved member 62 and extension 60 of arm 38 are provided with

alined slots

64 and 66 to rceive bent portion 61 of arm 40.

At its end the bent portion has a head 68 to hold arms 38 and 40' in pivoted relation and to hold grooved member 62 in position on extension 60. Head 68 also cooperates with the ends of slot 64 to limit the amount of movement of member 62 on extension 66. Member '62 has an abutment 10 to limit the movement in one direction of member 62 on extension 60. In assembling the device member 62 is mounted on extension 66 and with the screw 44 out of operation, member 46 is moved so that head 68 is parallel to slots 64'and 66 and the head is then passed through the slots. After this movement the member 40 is moved to the position shown in the drawing so that head 68 is at right angles to the slots and holds the clamping members in pivoted relation and also holds member '62 in place when the screw is inserted in opening 46 and tightened. The slot 66 in extension 66' is of sufficient length to permit and compensate for different positions which are assumed by the

arms

38 and 40 when the device is applied to different sized tubes or supports. The slot 64 in grooved member 62 is longer than slot 66 to permit extension of the length of the clamp for tanks where the distance between the overflow pipes and the valve seats varies. The relative sizes of the slots may be varied.

In Fig. 3 I have shown my device applied to a tube of one size and in Fig. 4 I have shown a device of the same size as shown in Fig. 3 applied to a much larger tube and it will be noted that the screw 44 has assumed a diiferent position from that shown in Fig. 3 and that the screw has moved in slot 52 toward the outer end of extension 50. In either of Figs. 3 and 4, grooved member 62 is slidably mounted so that the length of the clamp may be varied, if necessary.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and the arrows designate the forces acting on the

arms

38 and 40.

The operation of my device will be clear from the preceding description but I will briefly set it forth here. The

arms

38 and 40 are placed around the tube or support 20 and the forked end arm 63 is mounted on valve rod 24. The parts are then assembled and held in proper position after which the thumb screw 44 is threaded through opening 46 in arm 40 and screwed up tight until the parts are securely held in position as shown in the drawing. Before the screw 44 is tightened the member 62 is moved to provide the proper distance between valve rod 24 and overflow pipe 20. This adjustment of member 62 may be made when the device is used on tubes or supports having diiferent diameters. The tightening of the screw simultaneously secures the clamping members to the tube 20' and also secures the arm 63 in adjusted position. As the screw is tightened head 68 on arm 40 is pressedin one direction and extension 60 and member 62 on arm 38 are pressed in the opposite direction. My device is also adjustable for use with different sized tubes or supports as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. My device has few parts and is easily assembled, applied and removed and parts may be easily replaced.

While I have shown the best form of my invention known to me at this time, I do not wish to be limited thereto as changes may be made in the construction shown without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is: I

1. A device of the character described including pivotally mounted members having curved portions adapted to embrace a supporting member, means for releasably holding said members in adjusted position, a guide arm adjustably mounted on one of said members, said guide arm and said last mentioned member having alined openings, said other member having a portion extending through said openings for pivotally mounting said members with respect to each other.

2. A device of the character described, including members adapted to be mounted on a tubular member, screw means for releasably holding said members in adjusted position, an arm adjustably mounted on. oneof said members, said last mentioned member and said arm having alined slots, said other member having a portion passing through said slots, and said portion having a head for holding said members and arm together when said screw means is manipulated.

for securing the parts in position.

3. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a, supporting member, two clamping members mounted on said supporting -me'mber, one of said clamping members having a slot adjacent one end, a guide arm having a slot and slidably mounted on said slotted clamping member, the other clamping member hav-. ing a bent portion adjacent one end and a head, said bentportion passing through said slots and said head holding said clamping members in pivoted relation, and a screw passing through said clamping members for securing theparts in adjusted position.

4. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a supporting member, two

clamping members mounted thereon, one of said clamping members having a slot adjacent one end, a guide arm slidably and adjustably mount-. edron said slotted clampingmember, said guide arm having, a slot in alinement with said slot in said clamping member, the. other clamping member having a bent portion adjacent one end and a head, saidbent portion passing through said slots andsaid head holding said clamping members in pivoted relation, and a screw pass-. ing through said clamping members and adapted when.tightened to hold said clamping mem-, bers and said guide arm position.

JAMESF. DUNCAN.

securely in adjusted