US2204885A - Valve for hydraulic control systems - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1. E. A. CHAMBERLIN VALVE FOR HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed May 14, 1938 Patented June 18, 1940 UNITED STATES VALVE FOR HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEMS Earl A. Chamberlin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to Chandler Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Application May 14, 1938, Serial No. 207,972

1 Claim.

This invention relates to hydraulic control systems and has particular relation to valves suitable for use in farm water supply systems and the like.

In water supply systems and the like, as for instance farm water supply systems, it is customary to provide a well pump or deep well pump for forcing water to the surface. This pump is operated by means of a pump jack. It is desirable that the water either be delivered at the pump spout or delivered under pressure to a lateral connection which carries the water to an elevated supply tank, pressure tank or the like. The valve for controlling the flow of water must operate at relatively low pressures and must be adapted for controlling the flow of large volumes of water through relatively large conduits. The valve for this purpose must be inexpensive yet must be reliable, and must provide a tight seal when closed.

The devices of the prior art have not been entirely satisfactory for the purpose, and it is an object of my invention to provide a valve which will be satisfactory to meet the above requirements.

Another object of my invention is to provide a self-aligning valve.

Another object of my invention is to provide a valve, the parts of which will not deteriorate over long periods of time and which will require no adjustment and few, if any, replacement of parts.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodi ment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a pumping system including a pump and bridge member and illustrating a valve constructed according to one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in section showing the valve structure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of the valve showing the handle in alternative positions, and

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the valve showing the parts in exploded relation.

Referring now to the drawing, and to Figure 1 in particular, this figure shows a complete wawashers.

ter supply system such as might be used on a farm. A pump, indicated generally at- [0, in-

cludes a casing at H enclosing a discharge pipe l2 and a pump rod H3. The pump rod is, of course, connected to a pump cylinder (not shown) at the bottom of the discharge pipe and alsowithin the casing. A cap I seals the top of the casing and prevents contamination of the water supply by surface water and, at the same time, supports the entire discharge pipe and cylinder 10 assembly.

A pump arm, or other mechanism such as the power operated pump jack, is shown at It and this arm is pivotally connected to the pump rod. The pump mechanism is operated in the usual manner and forces water up the discharge pipe to a bridge member Hi. The pump rod extends through the top of this bridge member and leakage is prevented around the pump rod by means of a sealing unit, as shown at IT.

The bridge member is generally in the form of a casting cored out to permit water to travel in either direction toward the pipe I8 which is closed at the top and acts as an air chamber, or toward the outlet pipe IS. A valve 20 is usually installed at this point to divert the water in one of two directions, either to the pump spout 2| or through a pipe line 22 to a pressure or elevated storage tank 23. A check valve 24 should be installed in the pipe line to the elevated tank to prevent back pressure on the valve. A lateral piping system, or a'pipe as shown at 26, may be connected to the distribution system to supply water wherever desired. The pump, bridge memher, the necessary valves, and the like, are generally installed in a well pit, as shown at 25, in order not only to conceal the apparatus but to prevent freezing in cold weather.

The divertingvalve 20 has, in the prior art, generally consisted of an ordinary screw type, two way valve or two separate valves. Such valves are not only slow acting but frequently require servicing to replace the valve seat wash- 'ers. Sand is frequently present in the water and is very destructive to the valve seat and to the Furthermore the valve, as generally located in the well pit, is in a very inconvenient position for servicing. My invention is directed to avalve generally adapted to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

A valve constructed according to one embodiment of my invention includes generally a housing including an inlet and two outlet ports, the outlet ports having seats on either one of which a soft rubber ball may be caused to rest by simply swinging a lever arm or pushing or pulling a rod, connected with the valve, from a point which may be at a considerable distance from the valve.

My valve structure is illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and i. A housing, as indicated at 30, has a threaded intake opening 3| and two outlet openings 32 and 33. Union members, as indicated at 33a, may or may not be made integral with any one of these three openings.

The body member 36 is, of course, hollow and has a large threaded opening 34 at one side to permit access to the interior. This opening is closed by a cap and guiding member 36 which is threaded to be screwed into the opening 34. A valve stem 3'! is inserted through a bore in the center of this cap and the bore is sealed and leakage is prevented along the stem by means of a packing arrangement and packing nut indicated at 38. A boss 39 is provided within the body member and at the side opposite the large oening 34. The inner end 31a of the stem 3? may be journalled in a bearing portion formed in the boss 39.. The member 4| is an enlarged section of the valve stem near the inner end of the stem or may be an individual sleeve member pinned in place on the stem.

A resilient member such as the soft rubber ball 12 is freely supported on a rod 43 having a head 43a at the outer end to retain the ball in place and having threads at the other end which may be screwed into a threaded bore in the member 4| or may be a solid part of member H. The rubber ball 42 is arranged and has a hole therethrough of a size to allow it to slide easily on the rod 43 and to permit easy rotation of the ball on the rod. The valve seat members 32a and 33?) are so arranged within the body that when the valve is assembled and the stem 32' is turned, the rubber ball 1-2 will seat on one or the other of the two valve seats.

The construction permitting the rubber ball to float freely on the rod 43 makes it possible for the ball to adapt itself to any misalignment of parts. Furthermore, the ball 42 has no given point of contact with the valve seat. Therefore, any wear that will occur will be distributed widely over the entire surface of the ball. It will also be apparent that any sand coming into contact with the ball structure will not necessarily be embedded in it as is apt to be the case in a screw operated valve. The ball, being preferably made of more resilient material than is ordinarily used for washers in the screw type valve, will permit of small indentations being made in the surface without any permanent damage. This ball may, of course, be of any suitable resilient material besides rubber.

The outer end of the stem 3'! terminates in a threaded portion 31b and a squared portion 3'50, the last being shown in Figure 4 by dotted lines. A Weighted lever arm 44, having a square hole within the end opposite the weighted end, is placed on the squared portion of the stem and held in place by the nut 46 on the threaded portion 31b. The squared portion of the shaft permits the weighted arm to be placed in any one of four positions on the stem, and this in turn permits the valve to be used in any one of four positions, that is, the intake may be at the bottom, the top, the left or the right side of the body.

The arrangement of the weighted arm M and the valve stem is such that when the weighted arm is vertical with the weighted portion uppermost, the sealing ball 42 will be in a position midway between the two valve seats 32a and 331). It can readily be seen that when the weight is thrown to either side, the ball sealing member will cover one or the other of the two outlets and the weighted lever arm will hold the ball in that position until thrown in the opposite direction.

The weighted arm i l may also be supplied with a secondary arm portion 44a extending approximately at right angles to the weighted arm. A remotely controlled rod may be pivotally mounted in a hole 441) provided in the outer end of this auxiliary arm. Such a red is illustrated at 45 in Figure 1 and permits the operation of the valve from a point above and outside of the well pit.

It should be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that I have provided a valve that may be operated to easily and quickly divert the water in either of two directions, also that I have provided a valve which should require relatively little service.

It is also apparent that my valve sealing means and weighted arm structure may be modified or adapted for use in other types of valves.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modlfications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a valve having one inlet port and two outlet ports, a T housing having an enlarged portion between two of its branches, a removably attached circular side wall adapted to interfit into i the enlarged portion of the T housing, a valve seat constituting a portion of each outlet port and the valve seats located at substantially with respect to each other, a valve stem projecting through the removably attached circular side wall mounting with the stem at right angles to the plane of the T, a weighted lever arm on the outer end of said stem, said weight adapted to hold the valve in a fixed position, and an eye on the lever arm at a right angle to the Weight to receive operating controls, a ball and means for loosely mounting the ball, in offset relation on the inner end of the stem comprising a sleeve pinned on the stem having a radially projecting arm with the ball loosely mounted on the arm, the position of the valve seats and the relation of the stem being as defined in order that rotation of the stem through 90 will selectively direct fluid through one outlet and close ofi the other.

EARL A. CHAMBERLIN.

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