US572451A

US572451A - Valve

Info

Publication number: US572451A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1913-12-01

Description

(No Model.) 2 sheets-Sheet 1.'

E. L. ROWE.

VALVE..

No.`572,.451. Patented Deo. 1, 1896.

(No Medel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. L. ROWE.

VALVE.

No. 572,451. Patented Deo. 1, 1896'.v

iilmwmlllllln UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ELLIS L. ROVE, OE TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE RENSSELAER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,451, dated December 1, 1896.

Application filed March 5, 1895. Serial No. 540,610. (No model.)

valves shown in Letters Patent No. 330,322, dated November 10, 1885, and No. 384,906,

dated June 19, 1888, the improvements in question relating more especially to the con.

struction shown in the last-named patent, and

especially applicable to vertically-arranged valves.

In the practical construction and operation of valves for large mains especially a great many difficulties have been encountered, among which are accidental breaking or twisting of the valve-stem by reason of lodgment of obstructions, such as stone or timbers, on the ways or between the gates and their seat, so that as the gates descend they meet the obstruction and are thereby caused to rotate or turn, and as the valve-stem is not strong enough to stand the lateral pressure without bending or breaking the valve is permanently disabled or the gates wedged so tightly that it is impossible to operate them.

Another accident to which vertically-se valves having double gates are liable is the breaking loose or disconnection of one gate from the stem while the other remains attached thereto, and while this makes no noticeable difference in operating the valvestem the broken gate obstructs partially or wholly the water-passage, and there is great difficulty in locating the trouble and repairing the damage. Again, it is sometimes nec* essary to remove the stem for repairs, and in the usualconstructions of vertical valves the gates must sta-y closed while the stem is removed, as they are suspended on the stem, and there is no other means for holding them open. Another great trouble is the liability of the gates to rust to the casing, because of the corrosive action of the water on. the

metals, or` clogging of the guides by deposits the obj ects of this invention are, first, to prevent the gates rolling or turning within the valve-casing, so as to strain the valve-stem laterally and possibly break orbend it, which is accomplished by guides attached to the opposite sides of gates; second, to enable the gates to be raised and upheld to permit the removal of the valve-stem without closing the gates; third, to provide the gates withinterlocking devices whereby if one gate should become detached from the stem it will be suspended on the other gate, and thus the danger of one gate becoming detached and choking the valve without being noticeable to the operator is prevented; fourth, and of great importance, are the ways or tracks at the sides of the valve-casing, which are made separately from the valve of bronze or other noncorrosive metal and secured in the casing in the novel manner as hereinafter described.

The invention therefore vconsists in the novel constructions and combin ations of parts hereinafter claimed and described in detail, as follows:

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a central transverse vertical section through the improved water-gate, the valve-stem being broken ou t. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3, Fig. l. Eig. 4 is an enlarged top View of the valve with the upper part of casing and valve-stem removed. Fig. 5 is a greatly-enlarged detail transverse section of the gates, casing, tracks, and guides. A

The valvecasing is made of a lower partA, having the waterway and valve-seats, and the upper part A', there being no particularnovelty in the shape or fitting of these parts together to form the casing.

At opposite sides IOO ot and within the cas-ing are vertical grooves B, which are dovetailed in horizontal crosssection and widest at the base of the groove. lVithin these grooves are set vertical tracks or ways C, which project slightly from the grooves and are formed of bronze or other non-corrosive metal. The ways are recessed in their sides, as at c, and after they are accurately seated in the grooves B molten lead or other soft packing-metal is poured in the groove around the ways, as indicated at D, this lead being tamped, so that the ways are securely fastened in place within the casing, yet without cutting or boring the walls of the casing or using any nuts or bolts apt to corrode and difficult to lit in the cramped space within the casing. This method of securing the ways within the casing I consider one of the most valuable features of the invention.

The gates E E are raised and lowered by a rotatable threaded stem F, which passes through a nut G, on which the gates are hun g, so that as the stem is rotated the gates will be raised or lowered. Then lowered, the gates are spread apart by wedges e. e. These parts are con-structed substantially as described in the patents above mentioned or in other suitable manner.

The stem may be operated in large valves by the gears, as indicated in the drawings.

The valve-seats are faced with bronze rings a and the gates with bronze rings E to prevent rusting.

On the inner face of one gate are projecting studs E2, which enter corresponding sockets E3 on the inner face of the opposed gate. Said interlocking studs and sockets not only prevent one gate rotating in relation to the other, but in case either gate breaks away from the stem or nut, as sometimes happens, it will be accurately suspended by and move with the other gate, so the loose gate cannot' close the waterway untilboth gates break loose or the accident is discovered.

In the outer face of each gate is a recess 7L, Awhich when the gates are raised to their full extent, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2,

comes opposite bolts H ll, tapped through the en-d walls of part A ol' the casing, and if it is desired to remove the stein these bolts are screwed in until their ends engage recesses h. Then the stem can be removed while the gates are secured in raised position and the waterway remains unobstructed.

On opposite sides of one gate are fastened bronze wings J, (see Figs. and 5,) which have straight bearing edges y' opposite the ways C and fitting closely thereto. These wings are of such length that they effectually prevent the gates rotating so as to strain the stem or nut, and if any obstruction gets in the way of the gates and obstructs their passage instead ol' rotating they are compelled to move straight ahead, and if the 0bstruction cannot be pushed out of the way the movement of the gates will be stopped without their becoming jammed or the stem being broken, for the stem is strong enough to-stand any vertical pressure thereon, while lateral pressure would bend or break it. These wings and ways are not merely for guiding the gates, that is, their incidental function, buttheir main object in my invention ,is to prevent rotation of the gates or lateral stress on the stem, and with this object in view they are constructed, proportioned, and arranged in the manner shown and described.

The valves thus constructed are free from liability to annoying accidents above enumerated, and by my invention the practical utility and value of the valves are greatly enhanced.

The by-pass valve shown in Figs. l and 2 is not part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

l. The combination of the valve-casing, the gates therein, the nut on which thev gates are hung, and the stem engaging said nut for raising and lowering the gates, with means for holding the gates in raised position when the stem is removed, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the casing, the valvestem for raising and lowering the gates, and the pair of opposed gates suspended on the stem having pairs of interlocking lugs and sockets on their opposed faces, with the diametrically opposite guide-wings between the gates, for the purpose and substantially as described. The combination 'of the valve-casing, the valve-stein, and the opposite gates suspended on said stem; having recesses in their outer faces; with the bolts tapped through the casing and adapted to engage the recesses in the gates and hold them raised, substantially as described.

4c. In combination with the valve-casing, the ways on opposite sides thereof, the gates, and the devices for raising and lowering the gates; of the sockets E3 on one gate and the studs E2 on the other whereby the two gates are so connected together that one cannot rotate without the other of the non-corrosive diametrieally opposite guide-wings between the gates adapted to prevent rotation of the gates within the casing, and the connections between the guide-wings and the gates, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination ol the valvecasing having vertical grooves as B, the ways placed in said grooves, and the soft-metal packing securing the ways in the grooves, with the valve-stein, the gates hung thereon and the diametrically opposite guide-wings adapted to engage the ways and prevent rotation of the gates within the casing; the sockets E3 on one gate and the studs E2 on the other whereby the two gates are so con- IOO IIO

nected together that one cannot rotate without the other, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a straightway valve, the combination of the two-part casing, the vertical grooves B, on opposite sides thereof the 'Ways in said grooves, the Valve-stem, and its operating devices; with the gates suspended on said stem having interlocking lugs and sockets on 1o their opposed faces and the diametrically oppresence of I 5