US257853A

US257853A - officee

Info

Publication number: US257853A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1882-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1899-05-16

Description

(No Model.)

i "8. LDIBBLB. y 8 AIR VALVE FOR WATER PIPBS.

C No. 257,858. Patented 88851181882.

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l f UNITED nSIATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. DIBBLE, on BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AI R-VALVE FOR WATER-PIPES.

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,853, dated. May 16, 1882.

Applications@ January 25,1882. (No model.)

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that. I, JOHN L. DIBBLE, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AirValves for Water-Pipes, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

Great difficulty is experienced in many systems ot' water pipes and mains caused'by the accumulation of air at the higher points ob structing the passage of the water and destroying the steadiness of the flow. Especially is this true of force-mains and systems of pipes supplied by direetpumpin g without the intervention of stand-pipes or reservoirs. On lling a new line of pipes or a portion that has been emptied for repair or other purpose it is n important to furnish means of egress for the contained air.

&c.,as may be on the line or by tapping the pipe at the high points. Some kinds of wapipes, while calculated to withstand the heaviest hydraulic pressure7 are not so well fitted `to bear an external pressure such as would be ypoint or bend in the pipe, will attord ready -meansfor the egress ot' the contained air when the pipes are being filled, prevent the gradual accumulation ot'air at that point at subsequent periods', and permit the free admission of' air to the interior of the pipes in case they should by any means be emptied of their denser contents.

" .The following is adeseriptionot' whatIcon- .sider the -best means of vcarrying out the invention.. s

` The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification;

\ Figure 1 isa central vertical section through the entire apparatus, showing the condition when themain valve is open. This is the condition which obtains when air is being drawn inorzbeing discharged freely, or when the parts are' at rest with no water in the pipe.

Figs. 2` and 3 areoutline sections of the same, showing the device in action in two conditions.

This is now inpart accomplished by opening such 4fire-plugs, hydrants,

Fig. 2 shows the main valve shut with the water at a high level around the float, 'pressing the float up against it. Fig. 3 shows the main valve shut, but with the water around the float at a. `low level, so that the float is not supported by the water, but sinks with sufficient force t-o open a secondary valve. This condition obtainswhcn air accumulates around the float and lowers the-water so that the oat is no longer supported by the water. The aceumulated air is in this condition free to escapethroughoneormoresmallapertures. Fig. 4. is a plan `or top view of the float-valve with a strip of rubber, which serves as a secondary Valve to stop certa-in small openings in the main valve. Fig. 5 is a plan of the main valve. Fig. 6 is an outline of a portion showing a modification. Fig. 7 is an outline ot' a portion showing another. modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A A represent a cylindrical valvecase, the upper and lower partsj oined bya screw-thread, as is customary.

B is a flat disk or plate held in position by the same screw-thread as unites the upper and lower parts of the valve-case.` Ports b are made in it near the periphery for the passage ot' water and air. On this disk is an upright cylinder, C, open at top. Near the bottom of the cup thus formed one or more small apertures, c, should be provided. In 'this cup is loosely confined a hollow. float, I), of less depth than the cup, and made air and water tight at all points except an opening at the bottom. In the top are fixed two small tubes,.l d, extending down intoythe float and closed at their lower ends. On the top is a` broad strip'of rubber or other tight tting and pliable material, F, one end ot' which is firmly attached to the float. Allthe rest of the strip F is left free. 1t is supported on a coiled wire orpanal'- ogous ridgcd surface toallw the air or water to get under it" and to press it forcibly upward when required.

E is the main valve, of a form fitted to make an air and water tight bearing by the aid cfa rubber packingV carried thereon; The under side ot' this valve carries vertical pins or rods E' E', which,'playing loosely in the tubes d d, serve as guides to keep the float D and valve IOO E in the same position laterally, while allowing independent vertical motion. Through the main valveE is made a series ot' small ports or secondary-valve passages, e e. On the lower face of the main Valve are small conelike projections, through which these ports or apertures extend, insuring a tirm bearing on the rubber F, which serves as the secondary valve.

Myl invention bein g placed on the upper side ot' a water-pipe, preferably at the higher points of the system and properly connected, thevfollowing results ensue: n the admission of water into the pipe the air readily passes through the annular space between the cupV C and the valve-case and past the main valve E out of the top. When the air is all discharged the water enters the valve-case and raises the iloat and lifts the main valve E to its seat, closing it tightly. The small amount of air remaining in the valve-.case will be compressed by the force of the water, as also will be the air within the float D, and the apparatus will be approximately in condition as represented in Fig. 2, w representing thc water-level within the tloat, and 102 representing the water-level inthe valve-cases C A. These levels will'be modified by variation of the hydraulic pressure in the pipe, which will be referred to farther on.

Misa check-valve of am ple area and strongly mounted in a steadiment in a horizontal plate below the removable disk B. lt opens down. ward, and is held open by its gravity and also by a projection from the disk B. So long` as it remains open it is of no effect; but when it becomes necessary to remove the upper portion of the apparatus for examination or repairs or for the exchange of any part, all that is necessary is to apply a suitable wrench or other instrument, and by turning around the main body A to unscrew it from the base A.

VThis act raises the main body A and liberates the disk. B. The moment the upper work is removed the checlcvalve M, being no longer -held down bythe disk B, is driven upward by the upward rush of water, and, closing, forms la check to hold the water back until the proper examination and repairs have been made. On returning the casing A, with its contents, the screwing down again acts on the stem of the check-valve M, and, forcing it open,alllows the water to flow up through and the proper action of the apparatus to be instantly resumed. Any air thatmay be contained in the pipes or be drawn ,in from the source or forced in by the pumps, on reaching the opening at foot of the Valve, ascends int'o the annular space between the cup G and the valve-case, displacing its own bulk of water. This continuesuntil the water-level outside ot' the tloat D is down to or below that within the tloat. (See Fig. 3.) All the weight of the float, and also ofthe body of the water within the float not supported by the water outside, is now sustained solely by the strip of rubber or other pliable material F,

which is attached, as described, by one of its ends only-to the float D, and is held by the airpressure against the orifices c e. When, by the gradual accumulation of air and lowering of the water-level outside, the sustained weight becomes greater than the air-pressure on the superficial area of one of the secondary-valve.

ports e, the rubberFis drawn away from such ports, and the air contained in the valve-case outside of the float escapes, its place being filled by water from the pipe below. As the air escapes the rising ofthe water in the valvecase A again lifts the oat D and brings the rubber F again in tight contact with E, and all-the parts resume their former condition, as Ashown in Fig. 2. Whenever from any cause the pipes are emptied or the pressure vtaken off the main valve immediately opens and admits the air into the interior ot' the pipe, rendering a vacuum impossible.

Many'tmoditications may bc made without departing from the principle of my invention. For instance, the valve-float D may be made solid, of any suitable material. Such a float combined as here shown will serve with some success; butI attach much importance to the construction of my tioat D asa hollow shell ot' metal open only at the bottom, because the water will enter and compress the air to an eX,-

vtent proportioned to the pressure in the pipe,

and the weight ofthe float in pulling open the secondary valve requires to be greater with the higher pressure.

My peculiar construction of the iioat is preferable to a float ot uniform ilotation, because it will tloat with force and lift the main valve firmly to its seat under light pressures when the air within the float is not compressed,and when the pressure is not sufficient to hold the main valve up t0 its seat; and it will,by the compression ot' the air within the loat into a small compass under high pressures, allow so much water to enter the float that it will lose a great portion of its buoyancy under conditions when it can be spared, and will, by the.

greater gravity of the float, give increased power for pulling downward on the flexible strip F when it is held up against the respective holcse with the greatest force.

The form and construction of this valve-case may he varied to suit circumstances and con ditions. yThe main valve and its seat may be greatly varied as to material, form, and method ot' packing. The secondarywalve ports may be placed in varied positions in the main valve, or they may be made in the valve-case at thc top or side and suitable appliances to open and close them at proper times be connected with the valve-float; but for simplicity of construction I prefer them as described.

I can use other means of holding the valve E upon the tioat D, so as to maintain their correct lateral position and prevent their turning .around one relatively to the other, while allowing the proper amount of vertical motion ot' the float without disturbing the main valve,

its

IOO

IIO

and the same of the main valve without necessitating a corresponding vertical movement of the ioat. Y

Parts of the invention may be used without the whole. I can use an ordinary stopcock below instead of the check-valveM. I can use the apparatus with some success without any special provision for removing the parts for repairs. In the ordinary form of the device the motion is conined to a slight vertical movement of the float D, and consequently of one extremity of the strip F, alternately covering and uncovering one of the apertures e. It is only in case of the reception of extraordinary quantities of air that the float D will sink low enough to uncover more' than two or three of the apertures. I esteem it important to have a series of the apertures e, in order that while but slight resistance is offered to the opening of the `iirst asufcient sinking of the float will open a large arca to discharge much air under extraordinary conditions. It is also important in case any small solid substance should be received in one ofthe holes e and obstruct it: In such case the iioat will sinklower, and the alternate opening and closing will be performed on the second instead of the tirst aper-- ture c.

The proportionate dimensions of valve-case, oat, 'main oritice, and secondary ports may be varied Within Wide limits.

The modifcation'shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are outlines, showing the upper portion of the oat with the main valve and secondary valve or valves, Fig. 6 has only one secondary valve. This is exactly in the center, and the guides are omitted. l There is no objection to permitting the iioat to turn around into amy position it may chance to assume. The secondary valve is conical and lits in a corresponding seat in the main valve., Fig. 7 has two secondary valves, mounted independently, but so caged on the float that the gradual sinking ofthe float will open one before the other.

I claim as my inventionl. The casing A, inclosed lioat D, main valve E, and sub-valve F, and means for attachment to a pipe, arranged to serve as herein specified. v

2.` The valve or valves F, arranged to coutrol the series of small apertures e e, and open one of the apertures at a time, in combination with the operating-float D and with a casing, A, with provisions for connecting with a water-pipe, as herein specified.

3. The hollow iio'at D,open only at or near the bottom, in combination with the .main valve E, sub-valve F, and casingA, as 4herein specified.

4. The shield-plate B and internal case or cup, C, having limited openings c, arranged to serve relatively to the lioat D, main valve E, and external casing, A, as herein specified.

5. The combination, with the main valve E, float D, shield-plate B, and casing A, ot' the check-valve M, arranged to serve as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, N. Y., this 24th day of January, 1882, in the presence of 'two subscribing witnesses.

JNO. L. DIBBLE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS D. STETsoN, CHARLES C. Srnfrson.