US2347403A - Apparatus for reseating flush valves or the like - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1944. DENZLER 2,347,403

APPARATUS FOR RESEATING FLUSH VALVES OR THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V ENZOR.

40 B 2 Z 18 AoRNEY.

April 25, 1944. a DENZLER I 2,347,403

APPARATUS FOR RESEATING FLUSH VALVES OR THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NV ENTOR.

BY Berfoia fienaler A RNEY.

Patented Apr. 25, 1944 APPARATUS roa RESEATING FLUSH VALVES on THE LIKE Berthold Denzler, Chicago, 111., assignor of onehalf to Esther G. Oswianza, Chicago, 111., and one-half to Peter Fah, Chicago, 111.

Application June 20, 1941, Serial No. 398,897

13 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for renovating flush valves and like equipment, and more particularly to apparatus for, excising .worn or defective valve seats therein and for Teaming, fiatting and threading the valve supporting members thereof so that the same may be provided with detachable prefabricated valve seats.

United States Patent No. 1,714,573, issued May 28, 1929, to William E. Sloan, illustrates a type of flush valve which is used extensively in plumbing fixtures. Valves of this kind are so constructed that they do not function properly if the position of the valve seat is changed even a small fraction of an inch. Regrinding worn or corroded valve seats therefore is out of the question, so that it hitherto has been necessary to replace the entire casing whenever the valve seat became corroded.

It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a compact, portable, sturdily-constructed, foolproof and inexpensive apparatus with which flush valves or the like may be reseated in a few minutes by persons without special mechanical training.

A further object is to provide apparatus which removes the valve seat from a flush valve, diaphragm valve, or similar device, reams out an annular recess of predetermined proportions in the valve supporting tube thereof, and threads said annular recess, whereby said flush valve or the like repeatedly may be renovated simply by screwing a prefabricated, replaceable valve seat into said threaded annular recess.

Another object is to provide apparatus adapted to reseat flush valves in such manner that the renovated valve seat occupies a position identical with that occupied by the original valve seat when it was new.

Yet another object is to provide, improved reaming and threading apparatus specially designed to function in valve casings.

A still further object is to provide a combination adapted to position'itself with respect to a valve casing whereby atube in said casing may be reamed and threaded strictly parallel to the axis of said tube.

Still another object is to provide apparatus of maximum simplicity, economy, ease of use, safety, and reliability.

The foregoing and such other objects, advantages, and capabilities as may appear herein or be pointed out as this description proceeds, or

as are inherent in the present invention, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly in central vertical section, of the reamer and chuck of the present invention in operative relation to each other and the casing of a flush valve about to be reseated.

Figure 2 is an inverted sectional plan view looking upward on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view looking upward on line 3-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partly in section, and shows the upper portion both of my new reamer and of the valve supporting tube, at the end of the reaming operation.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the cutter which I employ in my improved reamer.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view, partly in central vertical section, of the tap and chuck of the present invention in operative relation to each other and the casing of a flush valve, the reamed out valve supporting tube of which is about to be threaded.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the tapping die which I employ in my improved tap.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in central vertical section of the upper portion of the valve supporting tube in a new flush valve.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in central vertical section of the valve supporting tube shown in Figure 8 after-said tube has been reseated according to the presentinvention.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawings and in the description of the invention which follows.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises the reamer I shown in Figure 1, the tap 8 shown in Figure 6, and the chuck ,which, as is shown in Figures 1, 3, and 6, is a part both of the reamer assembly and of the tap assembly.

The reamer I is provided with a cutter 5. As is more plainly shown in Figure 5, said cutter is-a rod of suitable material (such as tool steel or the like), machined at each end to provide a pair of cutting elements l0, III, which face in opposite directions. Each of said cutting elements has three cutting edgesa reaming edge ll a beveling edge l2, and a flatting edge I3. The cutter 5 may be drilled to provide a keyway M for securing it in the diehead 9.

Said diehead 9 is a block, adapted, as is shown in Figure 2, to fit snugly into the valve supporting tube 8 of the flush valve II which is to bereseated. The diehead 9 is provided with a transverse horizontal passageway between opposite faces thereof, and also with a suitable keyway vided near its upper end with passageways I5, I5,

adapted to receive a lever I6 for rotating the same.

The lower portion of the diehead is hollow, and

the open lower end thereof is threaded both ex ternally and internally.

The machine bolt I8 comprises the reamer. The head of said bolt lies withinthe chamber in the diehead 8, and the neck thereof passes through the threaded washer 20 which is screwed into the bottom of the diehead 8. The helical compression spring 2| rests upon said threaded washer 20, and the bolt I9 is supported within the diehead by the engagement of the bolt headwith saidsp'ring2l I The threaded lower part of the bolt I8 is ground of! on opposite sides so astoprovide two relatively fiat, unthreaded surfaces 22,22. The crosssection of the bolt in this region is oblong, as is plainly shown in Figure 3. The'reamer is provided with a thumb nut 26', threaded to screw'on the bolt l8, and with a washer 21 which has an oblong hole adapted to prevent rotation of the washer with respect to said bolt I8. The outer rim of said washer 21 has a'pair of substantially parallel side's, adapted to be fitted into the slot 38 in the chuck 4 to prevent rotationof the washer, and thus of the bolt I8, as will be apparentfrom an'inspection of Figure 3.

Extending downwardly from :the diehead .8: is the stop collar 23 (Figure 1); If desired, said collar23 may be provided wlth'a telescoping sleeve 24. The threaded washer"25 screws" intothe bottom of the collar 23 and cooperates withthe flanged upper end'of ,the sleeve 24 to prevent disengagement of said sleeve from/said. collar.

Said telescoping sleeve 24rrests'upon the table 32 of the chuck 4. Said chuck 4;comprises a block having a horizontal plane face 3.2, an internally threaded upstanding annular rim; 33, a :downwardly projecting massive rib 34, andan inter,- nally threaded sleeve bearing 35. The appearance of the bottom of said chuck v4 is apparent in Figure 3. The section of said chuck which is shown in Figure l is taken on line II of Figure 3; the section shown in Figure ,6 is taken on line5-8ofsaidFlgure3.-

The annular rim 33 of the chuck 4 is adapted to have the outlet 38 of the valve casing I'I screw into it; the sleeve bearing 35 similarly is adapted to engage the tap feed screw 30 (see Figure 6).

Said annular rim 33 and said sleeve bearing 35 have a common axis, and the chuck face 32 is per-. pendicular to this axis. As is more plainly shown in Figures 1 and 3, the rib 34 isprovided with a median transverse slot 33, adapted'toreceive the washer 21 in the manner mentionedbefore.

Referring now to Figure 6, it will be seen that the tap 8 comprises a capstan 28, a guide block 29, and a feed screw 38, all in onepiece, and a tapping die I carried in said guide block 29. As is more clearly shown in Figure, 7, said tapping die 1 is a rod ofsultable material (such as tool steel or the like), with a semicircular plu cut away at eachend. ,The semicircular ends of said rod are threaded to formja pair of tapping elements 3|, 3|, which face in opposite directions. The threads on the ends ofsaid die ,I areground off distal to the cutting edges. as isshown at 43,

the shaft or to avoid stripping the threads cut in the valve supporting tube 8 when the tap he removed therefrom. The tapping die I may be provided with a suitable keyway I4 for securing it in the guide block 28.

Said guide block 28 is similar in shape to the reamer diehead 8, and like the latter, is adapted to fit snugly into the valve supporting tube 8 which is under-repair. The tapping die is secured in the guide block 29' by similar means and in relatively the same position as the cutter 5 is secured with relation to the diehead 9. The capstan portion 28 of the tap Iilikewise is similar to the upper region of-the reamer I, Thefeed screw 38 and the tapping die I are threadeddn the same sense; both have the same pitch, and both arecentered upon the same axis,

namely, the central longitudinal axis of the tap 8.

The above described apparatus is used in the following manner:

The mechanism is removed from the flush valve which is' to be repaired, and the-valve. casing I7 is disconnected from the pipeline. The chuck 4 is screwed to the casing outlet 38 and turned until the chuck table 32 is incontact with the casing I I. The reamer I then is fittedinto the valve-supporting "tube v8 in the manner shownin Figures 1 and 2, the bevelededses 40, 48, 40, 48 of the.

reamer diehead, 8 fitting snugly intothe valvesupporting tubel'8, so that the latter serves as a guide for the reamer. The washer2l isplaced upon the threaded'bolt shaftIS and said shaft is rotated until said' washer .21 can be engaged in the transverse slot 38 in the rib. 34 or the chuck 4-.- The thumb nut 28 then isscrewed onsaidbolt shaft. I9, and is tightened manually.. Since the washer 2! in locatedposition in the slot 38 prevents the bolt I8- pfromturning, further rotation of the thumbnut 25 pulls saidmachine'bolt downwardly, thereby compressing the-spring 2|- The tension, upon said spring is transmitted through the bolt-retaining washer 28 and the diehead 8 tothe cutter 5.; The reamin edge II, II thus is held in cutting engagement against the valveseat 4|. From the foregoing it will beapparentthat the cutter is held against the work by. the-predetermined and controllable pressure exerted by the spring 2 l.

The chuck rib 34 may be clamped in a vise to facllitate the reseatingoperations. A rod or similar lever I6 is inserted in one of the passageways I5, l5 in'the reamer diehead, and said diehead is rotated thereby. As the cutting edges II, II ream out the inner surface of-the tube 8, the diehead 8 moves downwardly and the tension of the sprin 2I is reduced. This minimizes'any risk of spoiling the work by over-zealous operation. From time to time, the spring 2I is recompressed by further tightening the thumb nut 26, and as the diehead is revolved, the flatting edges I3, I3 cut away the corroded valve seat, leaving the top of the tube 8 perpendicular to the axis thereof. The beveling edges I2, l2 cut a bevel which connects the reamed out regionwith the flat top of the tube. The cutting operation continues in the above described manner until the stop collar 23 strikes the chuck table 32. This prevents'further downward translation of the cutter, so thatconthe valve casing.

' the reamer l.

The condition of the valve-supporting tube 8 at the end of the reaming operation is illustrated in Figure 4, the portion which has been cut away being apparent from the dotted lines. The reamer I is shOWn in the tube 8, with the cutter in contact with the work.

As is shown in Figure 2, the diehead 9 preferably is constructed to leave a number of spaces or channels between the wall of the tube 3 and the sides of the diehead, through which may fall the chips produced by the operation of the reamer. Otherwise, said chips might mar the work by being ground againstthe work by the guiding edges 40, 40, 40, 40.

In case the reamer is provided with a telescoping sleeve 24, said sleeve rests upon the chuck table 32 throughout the course of the reaming operation, and thus prevents chips from falling into the chuck bearing 35. Thus there is no risk that stray chips may cause the threads to be stripped g? the bearing 35, the bolt l9, or the thumb nut Of course, the sleeve 24 may be constructed to surround the stop collar 23, rather than to slide within it. The stop collar 23 and the'diehead 9 may be constructed in one piece. I find it more convenient, however, to make the collar and sleeve subassembly detachable from the diehead. By

providing a plurality of stop collars of various heights, and a plurality of cutters of various sizes,

my improved reamer may be employed on the widest variety of flush valves and similar devices.

It should be noted that. the chuck 4 is not merely a means for holding the work in a vise. As a matter of fact, the valve casing ll may be held in one hand while the lever 16 is operated with the other. The chuck 4 is indispensable, however, because the chuck table 32 serves as one of a pair of gauges (the stop collar 23 being the other) whereby the depth to which the reamer cuts is predetermined and controlled. Further, said chuck 4 is an element of the mechanism for bearing the cutter against the work under a predetermined pressure. In cooperation with the lock washer 21, the chuck 4 also serves to prevent rotation of the bolt [9, so that rotation of the nut 26 results in translation of said bolt IS. The chuck also aids in centering the cutter 5 with respect to the work, thereby assuring that the annular recess will be coaxial with the tube 8, and that the reamed ofi top thereof will be, perpen dicular to said axis.

After the reaming operation has been completed in the manner already described, the thumb nut 25 and its washer 21 are removed from the shaft l9, and the reamer l is lifted out of the casing ll, said casing remaining in the chuck 4. The tap 6 then is inserted into the tube 8, and the feed screw 30 is screwed into the chuck sleeve bearing 35 with the aid of the lever l6. .As is pp from Figure 6, the feed screw 30 acts as a pilot, and its engagement with the sleeve bearing 35 insures proper centering of the tap 6. Engagement of the guide block edges 40', 40', 40, 40' with the tube 8 further serves to align the tapping die I properly.

Further rotation of the tap 6 causes the tapping die I to thread the reamed out wall of the tube 8, the initial engagement of the die with said wall being facilitated by the bevel cut in said tube by Since the feed screw 30 and the threaded bearing 35 have the same pitch as the tapping die 1, the positive engagement of the feed screw 30 in the bearing 35 assures that the tube 8 will be threaded accurately.

The threading operation may be continued until the die I reaches the shoulder 42. The tap .then is rotated in the opposite direction in order to remove it from the work. The rounded or beveled end regions 43, 43 of the tapping die enable the tap to be removed without any risk of stripping the newly-cut thread. The engagement of the feed screw 30. in the threaded bearing 35 is a further protection, for it forces the tapping die to follow the newly-cut thread exactly while the tap is being removed from the work.

The reseating job is completed by screwing an annular valveseat, such as is shown at 44 in Figure 9, into the threaded annular recess which has been prepared as above described in the valvesupporting tube -8. Said annular valve seat 44 is externally'threaded so as to screw into said threaded annular recess, and isprovided with a beveled shoulder and a smooth fiat top. Said valve seat 44 is screwed into said annular recess until the shoulder on the valve seat makes contact with the bevel cut in the tube 8 by the reamer I.

Figure 8 represents the upper portion of the valve-supporting tube 8 in a new flush valve; Figure 9 illustrates the appearance of a corroded tube 8 after it has been reseated as herein described. When the shoulder of the annular valve seat 44 is in contact with the bevel at the top of the repaired tube, the top of the valve seat 44 occupies exactly the same relative position as the top of the tube 8 in a-new valve casing, as will'be apparent by comparing Figures 8 and 9.

In course of use, the valve seat 44 may become so worn or corroded that it is necessary again to reseat the casing I1. All that is necessary is to screw out the worn valve seat 44 and replace it with a new annularvalve' seat. Thus my improved apparatus need be used only once on any one flush valve, which thereafter may be renovated anindefinite number of times without special equipment by the simple expedient of replacing the worn valve seat by a new one. While I have described and illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations therefrom may be made without departing from the scope of my invention. I have fully disclosed new and improved apparatus for reseating flush valves and the like, together with the construction, operation and advantages of the same, and I have pointed out the manner in which my invention accomplishes the objects hereinabove set forth, as well as others which will be apparent from the specification, drawings, and claims herein. I-also have explained how my improved apparatus may be employed to renovate valves and the like which otherwise would be useless.

--Having thus described my invention and illustrated its utility, I claim:

1. In apparatus for reseating flush valves or the like, mechanism comprising a block adapted to fit snugly into the tube to be reamed and having a. recess in the bottom thereof, means for rotating said block, a rod transversely disposed in said block and having a pair of cutting elements at opposite ends thereof, a bolt having the head thereof within the recess in said block, a portion of the shaft of said bolt being threaded and flattened, a washer surrounding the shaft of said bolt and fastened to said block to retain the head of said bolt within said recess, springing means retained between said washer and the head of said bolt, 9. stop collar extending downwardly from said block, a sliding sleeve attached to said stop collar, a chuck adapted to be fastened to a flush valve or the like and having a plane face adapted to contact said stop collar, a rib on said chuck, said chuck and said rib being perforated, said rib having a slotted recess adjacent said perforation, a nut adapted to screw on said threaded bolt, and a washer surrounding said bolt and adapted to fit into said slotted recess to prevent rotation of said bolt.

2. A reamer comprising a recessed block adapted to fit snugly into the tube to be reamed, a threaded bolt having the head thereof retained within the recess in said block, a spring within said recess operatively connecting said block and said bolt, a rod in said block substantially perpendicular to the shaft of said bolt, a pair of cutting elements at opposite ends of said rod, and an apron on said block surrounding a portion of said bolt.

3. A reamer comprising a recessed block adapted to fit snugly into the tube to be reamed, a threaded bolt having the head thereof retained within the recess in said block, a spring within said recess operatively connecting said block and said bolt, a. rod in said block substantially perpendicular to the shaft of said bolt, and a pair of cutting elements at opposite ends of said rod.

4. A reamer comprising a'rotatable guide element adapted to fit snugly into the tube to be reamed, a separate threaded shaft, cutting means disposed in said guide element substantially perpendicular to'said shaft, spring means joining said shaft to said guide element, and an apron on said guide element surrounding a portion of said shaft.

5. In apparatus'for reseating flush valves or the like, mechanism comprising 5a, first block adapted to be rotated, a cutting element fixed to said block, a shaft, resilient means connecting said shaft with said block, a second block adapted to retain the work being reseated and having a perforation through which said shaft may pass, means for moving said shaft through said perforation, and means attached to one of said blocks and designed to contact the other ofsaid blocks to limit the translation of said first block toward said second block.

6. Apparatus for reaming valve seats in flush valves and the like, comprising a guide element to be inserted in one end of a valve and to be rotated therein, a cutting element fixed thereto, a chuck to be attached to the other end of said valve, spring means operatively connected with said guide element for pressing said cutting element against the valve seat, means connecting said spring means and said chuck, and means for translating said connecting means relative to said chuck to energize said spring means.

7. In apparatus as defined in claim 6, a stop on said guide element adapted to. contact said chuck to limit the action of said cutting element upon said valve.

8. Apparatus for reaming tubular structures, comprising a first member adapted to be attached to one end of said structure, a second member adapted to be inserted in the other end of said structure and to be rotated therein, reaming means attached to said second member, spring means operatively connected with one of said members and adapted to press said reaming means against the work, means connecting said spring means with the other of said members whereby said members may be moved toward each other to energize said spring means, and a stop disposed between said members to maintain a predetermined separation thereof.

9. Apparatus for reaming tubular structures, comprising a first portion adapted to be attached to one end of said structure, a second portion adapted to operate on the other end of said structure, reaming means on said second portion, resilient means operatively connecting said portions and adapted to be energized by drawing said portions toward each other, said resilient means applying the working pressure to said reaming means.

10. Reaming mechanism comprising a block adapted to be rotated within the tube to be reamed, a rod transversely disposed in said block and having a pair of cutting elements at opposite ends thereof, a shaft, spring means connecting said shaft with said block, a collar attached to said block and surrounding a portion of said shaft, and a sliding sleeve on said collar.

11. Reaming mechanism comprising a guide adapted snugly to fit within the tube to be reamed and rotatable therein, a reaming element fixed to said guide, a spring for maintaining cutting pressure upon said reaming means, a threaded member for applying force to said spring, feed means for said threaded member to control the pressure of said spring on said reaming means, and a telescoping apron surrounding a portion of said threaded member.

12. In apparatus for reseating flush valves or the like, a chuck having a substantially plane face, an internally threaded annular rim enclosing said face, a slotted rib substantially perpendicular to said face, and an aperture conn Ecting said face and the slot in said rib.

13. In apparatus for reseating flush valves or the like, a chuck having a plane face, an internally threaded upstanding annular rim, a downwardly projecting rib having a transverse slot therein, and a threaded sleeve bearing piercing said chuck perpendicular to said plane face and connecting with the slot in said rib, the threads in said annular rim and said sleeve bearing having a common axis.

BERTHOLD DENZLER-

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