US2676616A - Valve apparatus - Google Patents

Description

A. F. MEYER VALVE APPARATUS April 27, 1954 Filed April 4 1951 I s Sheets-Sheet 1" AWOL/ H E MEYER April 27, 1954 A. F. MEYER 2 676,616

I VALVE APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. F. MEYVER VALVE APPARATUS "April 27, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fi ed April 4, 1951 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE VALVE APPARATUS Adolph F. Meyer, St. Paul, Minn.

Application April 4., 1951, Serial No. 219,279

2 Claims. 1

The invention herein presents a new and improved valve apparatus.

' In the disclosure as made, the valve apparatus consists of 4 one-way valves interconnected by means of water pressure to function as a fourway valve. Features and characteristics of the invention are, however, applicable to valve apparatuses including interconnected one-way valves in number both greater and less than four.

While useful for various purposes, a valve apparatus made according to the invention is herein illustrated and described as when functioning as a four-way valve employed in connection with a governor of the type as disclosed in my U. S. Letgers Patent 2,179,559, granted November 14, 193

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of valve apparatuses incorporating the features and characteristics of the invention as when applied to use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of either valve apparatus of Fig. 1, with parts omitted;

, Fig. 3 is a view corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig. 2 but showing parts in different positions;

, Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

r Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the valve apparatus disclosed in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, numeral Ill denotes grindstones each of which is fast upon a shaft I l adapted to be driven in any suitable and convenient manner, as by an electric motor l2 at one end of the shaft and an hydraulic turbine l3 at the other end of said shaft. Each of a plurality'of cylinders I4 is mounted adjacent the peripheral surface of a grindstone l and has therein a piston-head l fixed on a rod E6. The end of each rod [6 opposite the corresponding piston-head carries a foot I! operating in a pocket l8 to press blocks of wood against the surface of a grindstone so that the wood will be ground into pulp.

;A first pass I9 is provided for supplying water under grinding pressure from a suitable source (not shown) to each of the cylinders l4, and a second pass 20 is provided for supplying water under backing-0E pressure, not greater than grinding pressure, from a suitable source (not shown) to each of said cylinders l4. First pipe connections 2| lead from the first pass 15 to each valve apparatus, denoted 22, and second pipe connections 23 lead from the second pass 29 to each valve apparatus. Third pipe connections 24 extend between a port 25 in each valve apparatus 22 and an upper portion of the corresponding cylinder i l, and fourth pipe connections 26 extend between a port 21 in each valve apparatus and a lower portion of the corresponding cylinder M.

The operative parts of the valve apparatus shown at the right in Fig. 1, and also in Fig. 3, are situated to permit water under grinding pressure through the corresponding first pipe connection 2i and third pipe connection 24 to the upper surface of the piston-head l5 by which means this piston-head is gradually forced downwardly to maintain the wood in engagement with the grindstone. As the piston-head I5 is forced downwardly by pressure admitted to the upper portion of the cylinder l4 through the third pipe connection 24, any water in the lower portion of said cylinder can escape through the fourth pipe connection 25 by way of the corresponding valve apparatus 22 to an exhaust 28 from said valve apparatus. The operative parts of the valve apparatus shown at the left in said Fig. 1, and also in Figs. 2 and 5, are situated to permit escape of water from the upper portion of the corresponding cylinder M by way of the third pipe connection 24 to the exhaust 28 and to direct water under backing-oil pressure from the corresponding second pipe connection 23 and the fourth pipe connection 26 to the lower surface of the piston-head I5 in the corresponding cylinder id to force said piston-head upwardly to permit refilling of the pocket with wood to be ground.

Each valve apparatus 22 includes a body constituted as a hollowed-out member or" metal, or other suitable material, providing, together with "separate and independent flexible diaphragms 2t, a one-way valves, denoted 30, 3|, 32 and 33, respectively. Each of said one-way valves includes a flexible diaphragm 29 as a part thereof which extends across a continuous valve seat 34 of the corresponding one-way valve in surrounding re lation to a passageway through said one-way valve defined by a tubular element 35. The marginal portion of each flexible diaphragm 29 is secured between a flange portion of a hollowedout cap member 36 of the corresponding one-way valve and portions of said body member in spaced, surrounding relation to the tubular element of said corresponding one-way valve. The cap members 36 are secured down, as at 31, upon the 3 body member of the corresponding valve apparatus.

The first pipe connection 2| to each valve apparatus 22 is open to a chamber 38 in surrounding relation to the tubular element of the oneway valve 30, said chamber 38 is contiguous with the valve seat and flexible diaphragm of said oneway valve 30, the passageway through the tubular element of the one-way valve 30 is connected with the passageway through the one-way valve 3 I, as well as with the port 25 in the corresponding valve apparatus to which the corresponding third pipe connection 24 is open, and a chamber 39 in surrounding relation to the tubular element of said one-way valve 3| is oontinguous with the valve seat and flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 3 I, as well as open to the exhaust 28 ofthe corresponding valve apparatus. Likewise, the second pipe connection 23 to each valve apparatus is open to a chamber 40 in surrounding relation to the tubular element of the oneway valve 32, said chamber 40 is contiguous with the valve seat and flexible diaphragm of said one-way valve 32, the passageway through the tubular element of the one-way valve 32 is connected with the passageway through the one-way valve 33, as well as with the port 27 of the corresponding valve apparatus to which the fourth pipe connection 26 is open, and a chamber 4| in surrounding relation to the tubular element of said one way valve 33 is contiguous with the valve seat and flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 33, as well as open to the chamber 39 and the exhaust 28 of the corresponding valve apparatus.

Mechanism is provided for selectively causing the flexible diaphragms and valve seats of the one-way valves 3i and 32, respectively, to be engaged, while the flexible diaphragrns and valve seats of the one- way valves 30 and 33, respectively, are capable of becoming disengaged, when it is desired that there be fiow of water under grinding pressure to the upper surface of a piston-head l and outlet flow of water from the corresponding cylinder M to the exhaust 28, or the flexible diaphragms and valve seats of said one- way valves 30 and 33, respectively, to be engaged, while the flexible diaphragms and valve seats of said one-way valves 3| and 32, respectively, are capable of becoming disengaged, when it is desired that there be flow of water under backing-off pressure to the lower surface of a piston-head l5 and outlet flow from the corresponding cylinder to the exhaust 28.

Inlet pipe connections 42 lead from a source of supply (not shown) of water under pressure at least as great as that supplied to the first pass l3 to each of small four-way valves 43, one for each valve apparatus 22. Each four-Way valve 43 is manually operable to direct water under supply pressure to one set or the other of one- way valves 33, 33 or 3!, 32 of the corresponding valve apparatus while permitting the passage of water through the set of one-way valves 3|, 32 or 30, 33, as the case may be, to which water under pressure is not being directed. The right four-way valve 43 in Fig. 1 is positioned to direct fiow of water from the corresponding inlet pipe connection 42 into a first pipe 44 having opposite ends thereof connected to ports open to concavities provided by the cap members and flexible diaphragms of the one-way valves 3| and 32, respectively, and concavities provided by the cap members and flexible diaphragms of the one- way valves 30 and 33, respectively, are open to opposite ends of a second pipe 45 having an intermediate portion thereof connected up to direct flow to an outlet '45 from said right four-way valve. The operative parts of the valve apparatus are disclosed in Fig. 3 situated as when the corresponding small four-way valve 43 is in position as at the right in said Fig. 1. The left four-way valve in Fig. 1 is positioned to direct flow of water from the corresponding inlet pipe connection 42 into the second pipe 45 and the concavities provided by the cap members and flexible diaphragms of the oneway valves 30 and 33, respectively, and concavities provided by the cap members and flexible diaphragms of the one-way valves 3| and 32, respectively, are open to opposite ends of the first pipe 44 directing fiow to the outlet 46 from said left four-way valve. The operative parts of the valve apparatus are disclosed in Figs. 2 and 5 situated as when the corresponding small fourway valve 43 is in position as at the left in said Fig. 1.

Flow of water in the first pipe connection 2| or the second pipe connection 23 and through the first pass if) or the second pass 20 will be accompanied by a pressure drop along said pipe connections and passes occasioned by the friction loss due to the contact of the water with the inside surfaces thereof. This insures that the pressure in chambers 38, 39, 4B and 4| and in the passageways of the tubular elements 35 tending to keep the diaphragm 29 from coming in contact with the valve seat 34 will, when there is flow of water through the valve, always be less than the pressure supplied to the pass is or the pass 23.

Since the supply pressure to apparatuses of the general character as disclosed in my above identfied Letters Patent 2,179,559, and hence to the inlet pipe connections 42, is always higher than, or at least equal to, the grinding pressure, as in the first pass H), and the backing-off pressure, as in the second pass 20, said supply pressure evidently constitutes a positive force capable of use for closing any of the several oneway valves 30, 3|, 32 and 33. Small compression coil springs 41, one for each one-way valve, are employed to retain the one-way valves closed under the condition when grinding pressure, or backing-off pressure, is or becomes equal to the supply pressure. The, compression coil spring 41 for each one-way valve is seated centrally of and between the cap member and the flexible diaphragm of the corresponding oneway valve, as very clearly disclosed in Fig. 5. Desirably, each compression coil spring 41 will exert but a few pounds pressure upon its corresponding flexible diaphragm tending to urge it to closed position.

Each flexible diaphragm 29 when subjected to pressure of water from the corresponding inlet pipe connection 42 is engaged by supply pressure water over the full area of its surface adjacent the corresponding cap member 36. When each flexible diaphragm is in closed position, only a part of its surface opposite the corresponding cap member is exposed to grinding pressure, or backing-off pressure, as the case may be. That is, the area of each flexible diaphragm exposed to pressure tending to open the corresponding one-Way valve is less than the area exposed to pressure tending to close said one-way valve. Inasmuch as friction loss through the valve apparatus is small, a relatively low pressure can be used for backing 01f. Rapid backing off with moderate pressure and low friction in the valve apparatus can be accomplished.

' It will be noted that the only supply pressure water required in the operation of the valve apparatus is that represented by the reduction in space between the flexible diaphragms and the cap members as said flexible diaphragms are moved from open to closed position. In practical operation only about a single cup of water from the source of supply will be required to accomplish each actuation of the valve apparatus.

During the grinding part of the operating cycle, consuming about 95% of the operating time, the parts of the valve apparatus will be positioned as at the right in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3, and the following pressures will prevail on the flexible diaphragms of the several one-way valves: there will be no pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the onewayv valve 30, and grinding pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said oneway valve 33; there will be supply pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm. of the one-way valve 3!, and grinding pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said one-way, valve 3|; there will be supply pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 32, and backingoff pressure on the lower surface of said flexble diaphragm of said one-way valve 32; and there will be no pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 33, and a few pounds pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said one-way valve 33. Flow of water during the grinding part of the operating cycle is from the pass I3 and a first pipe connection 2| to the chamber 38 of the corresponding valve apparatus, thence by way of the one-way valve 30 and the port 25 and third pipe connection 24 to the corresponding cylinder I4, and from said cylinder by way of the corresponding fourth pipe connection 26, the port 21 and the one-way valve 33 and the chamber 4| to the exhaust 23. Flow through the one-way valves 3| and 32 will be precluded by reason of pressure water from the source of supply against the upper surfaces of the flexible diaphragms of said one-way valves 3| and 32.

During the backing-off part of the operating cycle, while a pocket is being refilled with Wood, consuming about 5% of the operating time, the parts of the valve apparatus will be positioned as at the left in Fig. 1 and in Figs. 2 and 5, and the following pressures wil prevail on the flexible diaphragms of the several one-way valves: There will be no pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 32, and backing-off pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said one-way valve 32; there will be supply pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 33, and backing-off pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said one-way valve 33; there will be supply pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 33, and grinding pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said one-way valve 30; and there will be no pressure on the upper surface of the flexible diaphragm of the one-way valve 3|, and a few pounds pressure on the lower surface of said flexible diaphragm of said one-way valve 3|. Flow of water during the backing-off part of the operating cycle is from the pass 2|) and a second pipe connection 23 to the chamber 40 of the corresponding valve apparatus, thence by way of the one-way valve 32 and the port 21 and fourth pipe connection 25 to the corresponding cylinder l4, and from said cylinder by way of the corresponding third pipe connection 24, the port 25, the one-Way valve 3| and the cham-. ber 39 to the exhaust 28. Flow through the one: Way valves 30 and 33 will be precluded by reason of pressure of water from the source of supply against the upper surfaces of the flexible diaphragms of said one- way valves 30 and 33.

The four-way valves 43 will be considerably smaller, compared to the size of each valve apparatus 22, than in the disclosure as made. When four-way valves such as those designated 43 are made of sufficient size to be capable of performing the functions required of the valve apparatus 22, the former are quite expensive and have short life. Valve apparatuses such as 22 can be manufactured much more inexpen sively in the sizes required, and, at the same time, are capable of operating efficiently for indefinite periods of time. All of the repairing required is replacement of the relatively inexpensive flexible diaphragms when these become unflt for service.

Each of the small four-way valves 43 is capable of operation to cause each set of one- way valves 33, 33 or 3!, 32, to be closed, in each instance of operation of each small four-way valve, from one to the other of the different positions as in Fig. 1, before the other set of one-way valves, 3|, 32 or 33, 33, is permitted to open. Stated differently, the construction and arrangement are such that the one- way valves 30, 33 will become closed before the one-way valves 3|, 32 become opened with movement of each small four-way valve from position as at the right to position as at the left in Fig. l, and also such that said one-way valves 3|, 32 will become closed before said one-way valves 3| 33 become opened with movement of each small four-way valve from position as at the left to position as at the right in said Fig. 1. During an interval of each operation of each valve apparatus 22, all of the one-way valves 3|], 3|, 32 and 33 are closed.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a first pass for delivering liquid under grinding pressure to a cylinder, a second pass for delivering liquid under backing-off pressure to said cylinder, first, second, third and. fourth tubular elements each including a passageway and having a valve seat in surrounding relation to said passageway, passageways of said first and second, and third and fourth, tubular elements, respectively, being interconnected and there being bounding walls in spaced, surrounding relation to the tubular elements providing therewith first, second, third and fourth chambers in contiguous relation to said first, second, third and fourth tubular elements, respectively, a pressure reducing first pipe connection from said first pass to said first chamber, a pressure reducing second pipe connection from said second pass to said third chamber, a third pipe connection between the interconnected passageways of the first and second tubular elements and said cylinder, a fourth pipe connection between the interconnected passageways of the third and fourth tubular elements and said cylinder, an exhaust from said second and fourth chambers, a member rigid with the bounding wall surrounding each of' said tubular elements, valves for engaging said valve seats each constituted as a diaphragm between a corresponding one of said members and the bounding wall with which rigid, each diaphragm and its corresponding member together providing a concavity at a side of the diaphragm opposite the corresponding valve seat and the chamber contiguous therewith and each diaphragm including a first surface adjacent said corresponding valve seat and a second surface opposite the corresponding valve seat and contiguous with the concavity provided by the corresponding member and diaphragm, a fifth pipe connection, and means independent of the pressure reducing first and second pipe connections for directing liquid under pressure as great as that of liquid supplied to said first and second passes from said fifth pipe connection selectively to the concavities in part provided by the diaphragm for controlling travel of liquid through said passageways of the first and third, and second and fourth, tubular elements, respectively, against the second surfaces of said diaphragms, thus to cause the first surfaces of the corresponding diaphragms to be forcibly engaged against the corresponding valve seats and for removing pressure of liquid selectively from the concavities in part provided by the diapi ragms for controlling travel of liquid through the passageways of the second and fourth, and first and third, tubular elements, respectively, thus to permit the first surfaces of the corresponding diaphragms to become removed from said corresponding valve seats in response to pressure of liquid from the corresponding pass.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein all of said first, second, third and fourth tubular elements and chambers are provided by a single hollowed-out body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,524,217 Small Jan. 27, 1925 1,777,128 Powell Sept. 30, 1930 2,179,559 Meyer Nov. 14, 1939 2,317,271 Higley Apr. 20, 1943 2,321,257 Van Der Werft June 8, 1943 2,352,629 Griswold July 4, 1944 2,376,918 Hughes May 29, 1945

Images