US663284A - Flushing-valve. - Google Patents

Description

"m. 663,284. Pamdnec) 4, |900.

S..'W. LEWIS.

FLUSHING VALVE'. (Application med occ. e, 1899A 2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

wml ESEES SEM/12d...

ma caws Nu. 663,284.. Patented nec. 4, |900.

S. W. LEWIS.-

` (A l.' il. mei 0th 6,' 1899-) (no mom.) v pp ca m va sheets-Sheet 2.

WlTNEEE-ES Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL WALKER LEWIS, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE E. GILOHRIST, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLosi-uNG-VALV;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,284, dated December 4, 190:0*-

Application tiled October 6, 1899. Serial No. 732,759. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WALKER LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The object of iny invention is a flushingvalve for sanitary purposes to attach directly to water-closets or similar receptacles, whereby the inain supply-pressure can be conveyed directly to and caused to operate the receptacle without the intervention or use of a separate overhead tank or cistern for each receptacle and that will open easily and close gently and noiselessly, giving iinally at closure an ample afterwash or refill to the receptacle. This object l accomplish by the apparatus hereinafter described, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein the same letters of reference indicate identicalpartsin all the views.

Figure l is a vertical sectional View (reduced scale) showing the apparatus or valve open in the operation of full discharge; and l`ig. 2 isa companion View on the saine scale, showing the valve in the act of closing and at the saine time relling the receptacle. Fig. 3 is an external front View of the discharge-chamber of the device, showing the position of the operating-lever and bearings therefor. Eig. et is a similar view of the saine in section. lever detached from its accessories. Fig. 6 is a View of the detachable journal of the lever. Fig. 7 is an end view of said journal, and Fig. S is a View of the securing screw or bolt which holds the lever and its accessories in place.

Referring to the drawings, A is a dischargechamber forming the base of the device and is provided with integral hollow arms or bearings A, which extend interiorly to (t2 d3.

l5 is a cistern or containing-chamber provided with inietsupply-opening b, which may connect to the inain supply-pipe by a screwthread or otherwise. The chamber B in this instance is T-shaped and provided with a Eig. 5 is a View of the operatingcounterbore B', main-valve seat B2, and is preferably secured to the discharge-chamber A by a'screw-thread b3 or otherwise.

O is a cylindrical cap secured to part B by a screw-thread b4 or otherwise.

C' is a water-passage extending from the side of the cap or casing C to a central downward outlet c4.

C2 is an exterior counterbore or recess on the top of the cap O and covered hy the screwthreaded hood N.

c3 is an adj Listing-screw which engages with a thread in the bottom of the counterbore O2 and passes through the passage O' to close down upon and throttle the opening c4, as hereinafter set forth.

D is a cylinder open at both ends and adapted to permanently engage the top of the cap O by a screw-thread d or otherwise, and E is a screw-threaded ring or extension adapted to engage the lower end of the cylinder D,

whereby the ow of water under said cylinder can be throttled or controlled by screwing down the ring, as shown by dotted lines e and as hereinafter set forth.

F is a hollow piston open at both ends and adapted to operate vertically within the cylinder D and is preferably provided with a lower extension or plunger E" of relatively sinaller diameter than the piston F, whereby an external shoulder is formed at f2 to encounter the upward pressure of the water, and the lower end of the piston-plunger F is preferably counterbored at its lower end to receive the main-valve washer f4, which is adapted to close down upon its seat B2 to shut off the flow of water. A tubular extension O, which I term a regulator, is screwed upward into the lower end of the plunger F. lt is provided with a number of lateral holes ppp p' to supply the afterfill and to cushion the main valve in closing, as will hereinafter be explained. The upper end of the piston F is provided with a raised seatfi to receive the relief or secondary valve washer g, vwhich is clamped within the valve carrier or guide G by the follower H. The follower l-l screws down upon a spindle I, which is linked or pivoted at i to a weighted connecting-rod J. The upperend of the connectingrod is provided with ns or spurs "i2 to prevent IDO -axle M L is withdrawn.

complete Closure of the relief-valve opening through the top of the piston on its npstroke, and the lower end of the connecting-rod is flattened at J' and pivoted by a pin jg within the Vforked crank K, the hub end of which latter engages the square end of the axle or rock-shaft L of the operating-lever M, which latter terminates in this instance in a handle M', or said lever maybe arranged to be operated by communication with a door or a seat` operating attachment or otherwise.

Fig. 3 is introduced to show the external view or arrangement of the discharge-chamber A, with projecting arms A', packing-nut V, and cap U, within which the rock-shaft or lever-axle oscillates. In this instance the chamberA is made egg-shaped; but any other suitable shape 0r form will answer the purpose.

The details of the operating mechanism shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, '7, and 8 are as follows: In connection with the projecting arms A' A' the interior journal bearings or boxes a2 a3 are preferably cast integral with the part A; but, if preferred, loose boxes orbea'rings could be inserted or used in the usual way for the purpose. The axle M, Fig. 5, is cylindrical tothe point or shoulder L', where it is reduced to a square L to engage with a corresponding square opening K' in the crank K. A rest or bearing w* is provided to prevent the crankhub K' from dropping out of place when the The journal W is externally the same size as the axle M and is square-cored to closely fit the square end L of said axle, and a screw Q (its a corresponding thread within the end of the square end L of axle M. A packing-nut V is provided, which fits over the axle M and engages one of the arms A', and a cap U which engages the screw-thread on the other arm A'. rlhe adjustment of these parts is as follows: The

crank K K' being in place in the opening or space between the interior bearings a2 a3 and supported by the shelf C04, the packing-nut V is slipped over the axle M, which latter is then inserted into its bearing in one of the arms A', the square end L passing through the corresponding square holeor enlargement of the crank-hub K'. The shoulder L' abutting against the crank at K', the journal W is then inserted in the other arm A', its square core W' engaging the square L of axle M, whereby it forms a part of and turns with axle M. The screw Q is then inserted in the end of the axle square L, its flanged head abutting against the outer end of thejournal W. 'The Cap is then screwed tightly on the arm A', completely covering the nut Q and preventing leakage, as shown in Fig. 4. A union R S is preferably provided to connect the apparatus to the receptacle it is designed to iiush, and the upper end of the cap C is provided with a projection or nut of suitable shape to engage a wrench or Spanner, whereby the cap C is screwed into place.

In Fig. l the piston is shown elevated to the .tecting-hood N to expose said screw.

end of its stroke at the-top of the cylinder D and borne up by the [ins or spurs 2 on the upper end of the connecting-rod J, the reliefvalve g G being open, whereby the water has been discharged from the upper end of the cylinder down between the ns 'i2 and through the piston, as indicated by the arrows. In Fig. 2 the fins or spurs have dropped away from contact with the piston, the relief-valve g Gbeing closed upon its seatfa. Thus it will be understood that the relief or secondary valve operating on the outside of the pisi ton to open and close its passage is moved by the con necting-rod, which latter has limited play through the hollow or core of the piston, whereby on the upward stroke the relief- Valve will be first lifted or opened to let out the water above the piston to facilitate its easy ascent, and when the handle M' is released the weights J K will first draw the relief-valve g G down upon its seatf, when the further descent of the piston will be retarded by the vacuum formed above it and the descent of the piston and main valve will be made quick or slow by the admission of water-pressure th rough the passage C' and venthole c4 into the cylinder D and cap C above the piston, which admissionmof water is gov erned by-the regulating-screw c3. For instance, when it is desired to close the valve very slowly and prolong the flush the screw c3 is screwed down so as to almost close the vent-hole c4,the opposite effect being obtained by moving the end of the screw c8 away from the vent c4, whereby the freer admission of water will cause the valve to close more quickly. Hence I term the screw cS a regulating-screw, for by its useI am able to regulate the closure of the valve f4 upon its seat B2 and provide a long or short Hush, as desired. Furthermore, it will be observed that the head of the regulating-screw c3 is on the outside ofthe ca'p C and cylinder D, whereby itis only necessary to remove the cover or pro- Hence I am enabled to regulate the operation of the device without shutting of the water-pressu re or disturbing any other part or connection.

If desired, the hood N can be. dispened with; but though not essential I prefer to use it to protect the screw from disturbance by those who might not understand i rs operation or use. The regulator O is of a size to just fill or IOO IIO

pass down within the annular valve-seat B2, r

afterfill if the valve would continue to de-` scend as slowly at the lower end of its downstroke; but with a regulator having no ports or ventage entering the outlet the sudden increase of downward pressure around the plunger and main Valve and through the small annular space between the regulator and valve-seat (before alluded to) operates to draw the valve down so quickly and violently upon its seat as to defeat both the object of a gentle closure and the necessary afterfilling of the receptacle after the flush. To entirely obviate this difculty, I provide the regulator O with a series of lateral openings or ports p p pp', whereby when the regulator enters the valve-outlet B2 and suddenly shuts off the iiow'or iiush the increase of pressure from dynamic toward a static condition finds relief or vent through the holes,

`at first through all of them, giving` a quick afterfill, and as the lower holes pass below the seat the ventage is gradually reduced and the pressure is gradually equalized between the main valvefL1 and its seat B2 and around the plunger to such an eXtent as to insure (under highest pressure) a reliable afterfill and gentle closure of the valve upon its seat which is essential in a valve of this kind.

The diameter of the piston F being greater than its plunger or extension F', the shoulder f2 is formed, whereby when the reliefvalve g G is raised and the piston is relieved of all pressure above it the upward pressure of water under the shoulder f2 within the chamber D against the greater diameter of the piston will assist to elevate the piston on its upward stroke, and the higher the pressure the more will he the assistance from that source to operate the device and overcome friction in opening it-a very important essential under some conditions.

Another advantage of my construction is in connecting the upper end of the cylinder D to and within the upper end of the cap C, whereby the closed head of cap C serves also as a head for the cylinder D, and by simply unscrewing the cap C at its thread b4 both cap C and cylinder D can be removed as one. Then by uuscrewing the relief-valve g G from the spindle I the piston F, plunger F", regulator O, and main valve f4 can be lifted out as one piece. rlhus it will be understood that by screwing or unscrewing two threads the entire working parts of the apparatus can be put in place or taken apart for repacking or otherwise without disturbing any other connection.

The cylinder l) and its extension E preferably extend below the bottom of the main supplyinlet l). The purpose of this is to prevent the flow of water when under high pressure from striking or bearing against the piston-plunger F and regulatorO, which might cause friction and noise; but by carrying down the lower end of the cylinder D it acts as a shield to deflect the flow of water around and below the cylinder, whereby the pressure is equalized around the plunger and no lateral disturbance is possible. When used under conditions of extremely-high pressure or where a gentle flow of water is desired for the receptacle, the extension E is screwed down,

as shown by dotted lines ate', whereby no more than the desired quantity of water can flow down and out through the valve-passage B2. 'lhe pressure of water and area of water-passage being known, but one adjustment otl this part of the device is necessary when it is set in place for operation, and so long as the average pressure remains reasonably near its original static condition no further adjustment of that part will be necessary.

In the examples herein illustrated I have shown only a metal piston operating within the cylinder D, in which form, it will be observed, there is a small annular space or passage between the periphery of the piston and its cylinder, which space or passage communicates between the parts of the cylinder above and below the piston. Hence in operation on the downstroke a small quantity of water will pass upward above the piston as it slowly descends. In theory it might be eX- pected that such flow of Water upward around the piston would be suiicient to operate the valve without a vent-screw c3 or inlet-port c4 below said screw; but in practice flushingvalves without regulating screws or vents have always eventually failed through causes made evident by experience. For instance, no matter how pure the water may seem to be the piston will soon become coated with precipitation or slime from the water, which in time causes it to stick, because the annular passage thus becomes closed and no pressure can be made adequate above it to close or drive the piston downward or permit it to fall by gravity. Hence in my description of the parts and ofthe operation I make no other allusion to the inflow of waterabove the piston in closing than through the passage C' and vent c4. Furthermore, I may finally dispense with a metallic piston and use a leathercuppacked piston or otherwise, in which case there would be no passage for water above the piston except through the passage C and by its vent c4. Hence the regulating-screw c3 is essential in the form shown, or some other similar arrangement is necessary to admit water above the piston, and thus control the operation of the device.

The apparatus being connected to the supply-main at b and to the water-closet or similar receptacle, with the ring or extension E set at the proper height for the desired opening and iiow, as hereinbefore described, and the regulating-screw c3 being adjusted for the desired length of flush, the operation is as follows: The first movement ofthe handle acts to lift the relief-valve off its seat and bring the ribs or fins t2 of the connecting-rod .l in contact with the under side of the top of the piston. YWhen the piston borne upon the ribs i2 begins its ascent, opening the reliefvalve allows the water above the piston to be drawn out by the downward liow around the tubular regulator which relieves the piston of all resistance above it, and, assisted by IOO IIO

the pressure of water upward against the shoulder f2, the device is opened with great ease and without apparent friction. The full stroke having been attained, the handle or other operative mechanism is released, when the weighted lever J and crank K vdrop by gravity, closing first the relief-valve. Then the piston F, plunger F, valve f4, and regulator O begin to slowly descend as fast as water is admitted through the passage C and vent c4 above the piston. From the instant the main valve leaves its seat in opening the dush continues until suddenly checked by the descent of the regulator into the outletopening, which suddenly checks it, and the sudden increase of pressure finds vent through the lateral openings p p in the regulator, which is suiicient to quickly refill the closet-receptacle. This operation will be understood by reference to Fig. 2, where the lower holes or ports 2J have passed below the valve-seat and the afterflll is still fiowing through the upper holes p and around the periphery of the regulator, ,asindicated by the arrows. Thus the pressure and flow are gradually shut off, and when the upper ports pthave passed below the valve-seat the pressure has become equalized, and the water then between the main valve f4 and its seat acts as a cushion, and the valve settles quietly upon its seat without concussion.

It will be observed that the shoulder f2 at the lower end of the piston is always within the cylinder D and never drops below it. Hence the upward pressure of the water against said shoulder acts not only to assist in elevating the piston, but to cushion its descent as the valve drops to its seat, and, as already set forth, the higher the pressure the more benefit will result from this source. Furthermore, the diameter of the plunger F' can be decreased and the area of the annular shoulder f2 thereby increased to such an extent that by simply opening the relief-valve g G to relieve the piston of pressure above it the water-pressure under and against said shoulder f2 will act to automatically elevate the piston to the top of its stroke without assistance from the lever, when the closure of the relief-valve and gradual admission of pressure through the vent c4 will cause the piston and main valve to slowly close, as hereinbefore described.

It will be seen that any partition or plate interposed between the main valve and the water-inlet will serve the purposes of this section of the cylinder so long as its lower edge is on a line with or below the lowest line of the water-inlet, and that it may also have mounted upon it means whereby its length may be extended for the purpose of throttling the water-passage beneath its lower edge, and that where the cylinder is provided with a sleeve, or its equivalent is provided with means for its extension, it is not essential that the lower edge of the cylinder or partition be extended to the lowest line of the water-inlet so long as the lower edge of the adjustable sleeve or plate is so extended.

A peculiarity of the action of a valve having the above-described construction is found in the fact that the valve opens with great ease and by the application of light force or pressure even when it is used with exceedingly heavy water-pressure and that it also closes easily, noiselessly, and with noham mer. construction of the main and auxiliary valves, which are shaped and organized to effect these things: First, to provide a full free unretarded flow or release directly through the main valve from one end to the other of the water or fluid in the chamber above the valve upon the opening of the auxiliary valve. This does away with resistance upon the upper end of the main valve or upon any other part of the valve, because there is an instant equalizing of thepressures upon both sides of the valve, and the valve becomes freely movable in its outer casing and does not require to be forced by hand against a water column to push that water column through any part of the main valve. The accomplishment of this end does away with the necessity for any pressure-head upon the moving valve within the main-valve seat for receiving operative pressure from the water-pressure upon the opening of the valve. The diaphragm at the upper end of the valve is so removed from the water-pressure and is provided with so large a passagethat it does not act to receive operative water-pressure, and it may be said upon the opening of the auxiliary valve the pressures upon both faces of this diaphragm become at once equalized and almost before the main valve is moved from its seat. The main-valve piston is provided with a head of relatively small area outside t-he main-valve seat. This auxiliary head is not a continuation of the main-valve seat, but is upon the side of the piston of the main valve almost midway between the main-valve seat and the upper end of the piston. This so locates the head that it is always even when the main Valve is closed within the casing D, so that when the valve is closed there is in the casing below the head and outside the mainvalve seat4 a chamber surrounding the valvepiston constantly holding water under full pressure and which upon the opening of the auxiliary valve immediately acts to exert upward pressure upon the main-valve piston and at a pointconsiderably above the mainvalve seat. The application of pressure in this way and at this point to the main-valve piston acts to decrease the'side friction upon the piston, because it surrounds a large part of the piston and acts upon it where a pressing force for moving it without friction can best be applied-viz., where it can act to push and draw the piston. On account of the location of this outer head a chamber is formed in which pressure upon the head is always present and is not materially modified by This action of the valve is due to theW IOO IIO

the first opening of the main valve, because it is separated from the hollow interior of the valve-piston and has a direct connection with the water-head. For a similar reason the head acts in connection with the pressure in the chamber to so retard the final closing action of the main valve as to prevent a water-hammer at the instant the pressure is finally shut oif. As the regulator O during the first part of the opening movement of the main valve checks or retards the flow of the water from the supply-pipe past the stationary valve-seat, but does not act to prevent the immediate flow or release of the water from the chamber above the mai n-valve piston through the main valve, it follows that during the first portion of the opening movement of the main valve the water-pressure is considerably greater against the head than it is when the regulator tinally passes above the stationary valve-seat and permits of the relatively unrestricted flow of the water from the supply-pipe, and it is during this period Aof restriction of flow that the pressure of the water-head is exerted upon the piston-head ou tside the valve-seat, while at the same time it is prevented from acting upon the main valve within the main-valve seat.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. In a water-measuring, self-closing valve, the combination of a easing forming a part of the waterway and of a chamber for containing operative parts of the valve, a water inlet to and outlet from said chamber, a stationary main-valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, a cylinder attached to the valvecasing, open throughout, and having its lower end extended to or below the lower line of the water-inlet, a regulating-ring mounted upon the lower end of said cylinder and movable thereon to vary the position of the lower edge thereof with respect to the water inlet and outlet, a chamber in the upper part of the valve-casing, a passage from the Waterway to the said chamber, a hollow, main-piston valve, open at both ends to provide a passage through it, having a valve-seat to cooperate with the main-valve seat in closing the valve, a hollow, perforated extension below said valve-seat and a valve seat surrounding the passage through the piston-valve, a secondary valve arranged above the main valve and means for opening said valves, the secondary valve slightly in advance of the main valve, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, in a water-measuring, self-closing valve, of a valve-casing having a main-valve seat and a valve-chamber above the same and a chamber below the same, a cylinder in the valve-chamber, a main-piston valve contained in said cylinder having a main-valve seat to cooperate with the main stationary seat in closing the valve, a passage extending through the piston connecting a chamber above the same with the waterway,

a secondary valve for closing and opening and means for moving the main-piston valve and the secondary valve to open the valve, consisting of a crank contained in the chamber below the valve-seat, having one end held between two ears on the valve-casing and provided with a square hole at said end, a cylindrical bearing in the said ears and valve-casing, a lever-handle having a spindle, a por tion of which is cylindrical and of the size of said bearing, and a portion of which is of the size of the square hole in Irhe crank, and which extends through said hole in the crank and into one of the cylindrical bearings of the valve-casing, a sleeve of the size of said bearing having a square hole for receiving and inclosing the square end of the spindle, means for holding the sleeve upon the spindle and a link connecting the outer end of the crank directly with the secondary valve and loosely with the main valve, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a self-closing valve of the character specified the combination of the lower section of the valve-casing, forming a portion of a valve-chamber and having a water-inlet at one side thereof, a water-outlet and valve-seat at its bottom and a threaded opening at its top with a main movable valve and a secondary valve, a detachable cap comprising a cylindrical case closed at its upper end and open at its lower end and an independent cylinder, forming a portion of the valve-casing, open at both ends and secured to the cap to be simultaneously removed with it, to uncover and render accessible portions of said main and secondary valves.

4. In a self-closing valve of the character specied the combination of a section of thev valve-easing, forming a portion of the valvechamber and having a water inlet and outlet and opening at the end opposite the outlet and a main-valve seat about the outlet, a cap in the form vof a cylinder closed at one end attached to the valve-casing at said opening and forming an extension of the valve-chamber, a stationary cylinder open at both ends attached to the cap with a portion contained within the cap and a portion extending into the lower part of the valve-chamber, a waterpassage in the cap connecting the waterway with a port at the closed end of the cap opening into the chamber of the cap, the said port, devices for adjusting its size, a main valve having a valve-seat to close upon the stat-ionary valve-seat about the outlet, a passage extending through it connecting the waterway with the chamber in the cap, a valve-seat upon the upper end of the main valve surrounding the entrance to said passage, a secondary valve in the chamber ot` the cap to cooperate with said last-named valve-seat and means for raising said main and secondary valves from their respective seats, the secondary valve slightly in advance of the main valve, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a self-closing valve of the character IOO IIO

IZO

specied the combination of a valve-casing having a water-inlet and a water-outlet, a stationary valve-seat surrounding the outlet, a main valve to cooperate with said seat, movable across the line of the water-inlet, and a stationary partition, attached to the casing of the valve arranged to extend across the valvechamber in front of the water-inlet thereto and having its lower edge on a line with, or extending below the lower line of said waterinlet and with the water-passage to the valvechamber extending below said edge, as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a self-closing valve of the character specified the combination of a valve-casing having a water-inlet, a water-outlet, a valvechamber and a stationary valve-seat surrounding the outlet, a main-piston valve movable in the valve-chamber and coperating with said stationary valve-seat, a stationary partition in two parts, one of which is adjustable upon the other to vary the length of the whole below the lowest level of the water-inlet and whereby the size of the water-passage between the lowest level ot' the water-inlet and the valve-chamber may be increased or diminished below said level, as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a valve of the character speciied, the combination of a casing forming a portion of a valve-chamber and having a water-inlet and water-outlet and a stationary valve-seat between the inlet and the outlet, a cylindrical casing forming a part of the valve-chamber the lower portion of which projects into the lwaterway ot' the valve, a main-piston valve comprising a cylindrical shell open throughout its length to form a straight, continuous passage from its upper to its lower end of relatively large area, having a main-valve seat at or near its lower end surrounding the entrance to the piston opening or passage and a narrow, outer head or shoulder on the wall of the piston above and without the main-valve seat separating the piston into two sections of different size, one of which is of a size to lit the cylindrical casing and the other of which below said head or shoulder is of a size smaller than said cylindrical casing and which reduced portion forms with the head and cylindrical casing, a cylindrical, water-pressure chamber below said head constantly open at its lower end to the direct water-pressure of the water-supply pipe, an auxiliary-valve seat at or near the upper end of said main-piston valve surrounding the entrance to the passage therein, au auxiliary valve to coperate with said auxiliary-valve seat, a chamber in the valve-casing above the main-piston valve and into and from which it is movable, a water-passage independent ot' said main-piston valve connecting the water-head with said chamber, means for moving the main and secondary valves from their seats, the latter slightly in advance ot' the former and further means for automatically slowly closing the said main-piston valve.

S. In a valve of the character specified, the combination of a casing forming a portion ot' a valve-chamber and having a water-inlet and water-outlet and a stationary valve-seat between the inlet and the outlet, a cylindrical casing forming a part of the valve-chamber the lower portion of which projects into the waterway of the valve, a main-piston valve comprising a cylindrical shell open throughout its length to form a straight, continuous passage from its upper to its lower end of relatively large area, having a main-valve seat at or nearits lowerend surrounding the entrance to the piston opening or passage anda narrow, outer head or shoulder on the wall of the piston above and without the main-valve seat separating the piston in to two sections of different size, one of which is of a size to fit the cylindrical casing and the other of which below said head or shoulder is of a size smaller than said cylindrical casing and which reduced portion forms with the head and cylindrical casing, a cylindrical, water-pressure chamber below said head constantly open at its lower end to the direct water-pressure of the water-supply pipe, an auxiliary-valve seat at or near the upper end ot the said main-piston valve surrounding the entrance to the passage therein, an auxiliary valve to coperate with said auxiliary-valve seat, a chamber in the valve-casing above the main-piston valve and into and from which it is movable, a water-passage independent of said main-piston valve connecting the water-head with said chamber, means for moving the main and secondary valves from their seats, the latter slightly in advance of the former, further means for automatically slowly closing the said main-piston valve and a perforated regulator extending from the main-piston valve through the port or opening of the stationary main-Valve seat adapted to retard at the opening aud at the closing of the main-piston'valve the flow of water through the valve and whereby the Water-pressure in the cylindrical cham? ber, beneath the outer piston head or shoulder, is maintain ed and created while the regnlator acts to throttle the flow of water through the valve and at the beginning of the opening and end of the closing movements of the valve.

9. In a valve of the character specified, the combination of a casing forminga portion of the valve-chamber and having a water-inlet, a water-outlet and a stationary valve-seat between the inlet and the outlet, a cylindrical casing forming a part of the valve-chamber IOO IIO

operate therewith, a valve-chamber to control the closing of the valve in the valve-casing above the main-piston valve and into and from which it is movable, awater-passage independent of said main-piston Valve connect` ing the water-head with the said chamber and a cylindrical, perforated, hollow regulator extending from the lower end of the main-piston val ve having a straight, unrestricted pas sage open at its lower end in continuation of the passage of the main piston and being of a size to throttle the iiow of water through the valve and of a length to cause the said flow to be so throttled during the beginning of the opening movement of the main valve and near the end of the closing movement of said valve and at such time relieving its own passage and the passage of the main-piston valve from the fullpressure of the water-head whereby upon the opening of the auxiliary valve the contents of the chamber above it may freely escape directly from said chamber through the passage in the main-piston valve and regulator without exerting a retarding action or stress against or upon said main piston and auxiliary valves.

lO. In a slow-closing valve of the character specified, the combination of a valve-casing having a water-inlet, a water-outlet and a stationary main-valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, a main piston valve having a straight, continuous passage throughout it from one end thereof to the other, a mainvalve seat on said piston surrounding the said passage, an ou ter pressure head or shoulder upon said piston, a water-pressure chamber surrounding' said piston constantly connected with the water-supply pipe and in which the said piston head or shoulder is contained and movable, and a cylindrical, perforated regulator having an open passage in continuation of the passage of the cylinder and adapted to throttle or retard the iow of water through the valve at its opening and closing, whereby the pressure in the waterpressure chamber is maintained at such times and whereby also the water-pressure in its passage and the passage of the main piston at the time of the opening of the valve does not restrict the free, frictionless escape of water from the upper chamber of the valve through the passage in the piston and regulator.

ll. In a valve of the character specifled,the combination of a valve-casing having a valvechamber, a water-inlet and a water-outlet, a stationary valve-seat in the valve-chamber between the inlet and the outlet, a detachable cap forming a part of the valve-casing and removable from the remainder of the casing, a cylinder depending from said cap into the waterway of the valve and removable with said cap from the remainder of the valve-casing, a hollow main valve movable in said cylinder and partially closed by a head, a valveseat at the lower end of said valve, a secondary-valve seat on said valve-head about the opening therein, a secondary valve to coperate therewith, a chamber in the valve-casing above the main valve formed by thecylinder and the cap, a continuously-open passage in said cap outside said cylinder connecting said chamber with the waterway of the valve and a device for varying the size of said passage extending through and carried by the cap one end of which enters said passage and the other end of which is accessible from the outer side of the cap and means for moving said main and secondary valves upward from their seats and for closing the same, as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In a valve of the character specied,the combination of a valve-casing having a valvechamber, a water-inlet and a water-outlet, a stationary valve-seat in the valve-chamber between the inlet and the outlet, a cylinder forming a part of the valve-casing and projecting into the waterway of the valve-chainber attachable to the valve-casing by threaded sections upon each and having its lower edge upon a line with or below theline of the lowest level of the water-inlet, a hollow main valve movable in said cylinder partially closed by a head, a secondary-valve seat on said valvehead about its opening, a secondary valve to cooperate therewith, a chamber in the valvecasing above the main valve, a passage connecting said chamber with the waterway of the valve and means for moving the main and secondary valves upward from their seats and for closing the same, as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In a valve of the character specified, a valve-casing having a detachable section comprising a cap having a threaded lower section and an independent cylinder open at both ends attached within the cap and extending below its lower edge, said cylinder and cap forming a valveway and a retarding-chamber, and a passage in said cap extending from its upper end to its lower end outside the cyli'nder and means carried by the cap for varying the size ol said passage, as and for the purposes set forth.

SAML. WALKER LEWIS. Witnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M DoLAN.

IOO

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