US609474A - steck - Google Patents

Description

No. 609,474. Patened Aug. 23', |898. E. F. STECK.

DRY PIPE VALVE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS.

,. (Application'med Jan. 14, 189s.) v

N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 609,474. Patented Aug. 23, |398.

K E. F. STECK. DRY PIPE 'VALVE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS.

(Application led Jan. 14, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Shet 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR www sSEs:

ERNST F. STECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRE 'EXTINGUIS'HER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND NEV YORK, N. Y.

DRY-PIPE VALVE FOR FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 609,474, dated August 23, 1898. Application filed January 14, 1898. Serial Nol 666,617. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST F. STECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry-Pipe Valves for Fire-EX- tin guishing Systems, of which the followingis a specification.

In the construction and operation of drypipe systems for fire-extinguishing plants it is necessary to maintain a back pressure in` the so-called dry pipe, which back pressure may amount to five pounds (more or less) per square inch in excess of the atmospheric pressure, which is secured by the introduction of atmospheric air by means of a force-pump, which pressure operates while in its normal and undisturbed condition to control the water-pipe system, between which and the exits or distributing-milices the dry pipes lie. I have found by experiment that it is necessary in order to secure the nieety of poise or balance between the backward pressure in the dry pipes and the forward pressure of the water-supply to introduce one or more valves sufficiently sensitive to respond immediately tothe reduction of pressure of air in the drypipe system and yet firm enough to maintain at all other times the forward water-pressure regardless of its amount. The particular mechanism for arriving at these results is embodied in the accompanying drawings, which form a partof this specification, in which- Figure l represents a vertical section of the apparatus for controlling the dry-pipe system. Fig. 2 is an end view of the main valvecasing with the automatic releasing mechanism removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my invention, showing the apparatus in active operation after the release of the water in the dry-pipe system.

In the drawings, A represents the main entry-pipe for the fire-extinguishing fluid, which may be from one, two, or more sources, and A the chamberforming the terminal of pipe A and in which the main valve and the controlling-valve, hereinafter described, are located andin which they operate. The main valve is shown at B and its seatis shown at C.

Y Then the valve B is withdrawn from the seat AC, the water-supply entering the pipe A into the chamber A will iiow through the valve B C into the chamber D and from thence through the gravity-Valve E, lifting the latterin its progress into the chamber F. The chamber F forms the lower terminal of the dry-pipe system, and when the fire-extinguishing fluid, proceeding in the manner above described, reaches the chamber F it will iiow continuously therethrough and into the duid-distributing system (not shown) by means of thepipe G.

Normally and while the apparatus is in the state of rest the valves B and E are closed, as shown in Fig. l, and the air resident in the chamber F and the pipe G and the Huid-distributing system called the dry-pipe7 system will press down upon the valve E and hold it closed. The pipe G is connected by the pipe I-I to a chamber J, the latter being provided with a valve K, resting on seat L and having a stem M, which extends downwardly through the chamber J and bears against a lever of the valve-operating mechanism, which I shall describe. The downward pressure exerted upon the valve K is sufficient, while the apparatus is in its normal condition, to keep the valve K against the seat L.

I will now proceed to describe the valve locking and releasing mechanism.

At N, I show a frame in which is pivoted at N a lever I), the latter having at its outer end a plate p, which forms a bearing for a cam R, pivoted at r and having a lever eX- tension S. At T, I show a loose lever fulcrumed at upon the frame N and held iby a hook s on the leverS at one end, pressing upwardly, through the medium of floating piecev counterbalancing-valve IV, the latter seating against the seat X on the main valve-chamber A.

At Y, I show4 a weight-carrying lever at` tached to the lever S and at Z the screw for adjusting the position of the weight-carrying lever.

The method of operation of my apparatus is as follows: The dry-pipe system, properly terminating at the valve E in the chamber F and the valve K in the-chamber J, being filled with air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressuresay five pounds or more in addition to the atmospheric pressureserves to retain said valves in a closed position, and so long as the valve K is closed and resting firmly on its seat the locking mechanism hereinbefore described will remain in its normal and locked position. Upon the release, however, of the air in the dry-pipe system, as by the burning out of a fuse or otherwise, the air will rush out of the said drypipe system and the Valve K will rise in the chamber J by reason of the weight imposed upon it from below. As soon as the valve K is lifted the locking mechanism will be thrown out of its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the lever P, turning on the point N', will draw the stem V downwardly, which action will cause the valve B to descend, thus opening a way betweenthe main entrance A and the dry-pipe system. The water or other extinguishing fluid will rush through the pipe A into the chamber A through the valve B C, opening the valve E, and so on into the chamber F and pipe G.

It will be seen that in carrying my invention into effect that when the area of the valve B, exposed to the ordinary water-pressure in the chamber A', is greater than that exposed by the valve W to the same infiuence the preponderance of pressure upon the valve B by reason of the greater area will hold it up against its seat and will likewise, by reason of the connecting-stem B, hold the valve W up against its seat. This preponderance of pressure can be made very slight, thereby securing a delicacy of operation, and the excess of the pressure on the valve B over the valve W can be easily overcome when so balanced by the dropping of the weight aforesaid, and although the greater the internal pressure of the water supply upon these valves the tighter the valve B will be held up against the seat yet in every case, by reason of the approximate balance of the two valves, a downpull of a few pounds on valve-stein V, connecting with val ve W, will open the valve B, even if the water-pressure equals a thousand pounds to a square inch or even more.

It will also be seen that a water-hammer cannot open the valve B, and the more violent the action in this respect the tighter the said valve will maintain its closure.

It will be seen also that upon the shutting off of the water-supply the valves B and IV can be taken out, examined, cleaned, and replaced again without disturbing the pressure in the dry-pipe system whatever.

It will also be seen that after the valve B is once opened through the operation hereinbefore described it cannot close again under any circumstances, and by reason of this fact the system cannot become water-columned.

The device constitutes an automatic drypipe valve which obviates, I believe, all the drawbacks hitherto accompanying such form of valve and is adapted to discharge its ofices and respond to the necessary conditions of automatic sprinkling apparatus in an entirely satisfactory manner.

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

l. In an automatic dry-pipe valve, the combination with a dry-pipe system, a water-supply pipe terminating in a chamber as shown, said chamber having an outlet into the drypipe system, a main valve governing said outlet, a counterbalancing-valve of lesser area than the main valve and fixedly secured thereto locatedin said chamber and exposed to the Water-pressure therein so as to partly counteract the pressure on the main valve, a stem on the counterbalancing-valve, and operating means substantially as shown and described connected to said stem and to the dry-pipe system, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic dry-pipe valve, the combination of the main supply-pipe, a dry-pipe system, the main valve held closed by the water-pressure, a counterbalancing -valve connected thereto of a lesser area than the main valve and also exposed to the waterpressure, automatic releasing mechanism connected to the controlling-valve-and to the dry-pipe system, and a valve located in the dry-pipe system and holding the releasing mechanism in check, as and for the purpose set forth. v

3. In an automatic dry-pipe valve, the combination of a main water-supply pipe A, the chamber A, main valve B, counterbalancingvalve W of lesser area, connecting-stem B, a stem V upon the counterbalancing-valve, an operating-lever I), a valve K in the drypipe system, and mechanism substantially as shown and described extending between the said valve K and the leverP and adapted to operate upon the withdrawal of the air-pressure from the valve K, as and for the purpose set forth.

ERNST F. STECK.

Witnesses:

O. S. DooLIrTLE, A. A. ToMLIN.

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