US713834A - Air-valve for ships. - Google Patents

Description

No. 78,834. Patented Nov. [8, I902. I T. S. BAILEY.

AIR- VALVE FOR SHIPS.

(Application filed. Dec. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

. 425M, M112 5mm 2 H 61mm,

1-: uonms P212035 00. Puma-Luna. wAsmw'rou. n cilnrrnp drains THEODORUS S. BAILEY, OF

PATENT @FFICE.

ELIZABETH, NEWV JERSEY.

AIR-VALVE FOR SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,834, dated November 18, 1902.

Application filed December 28, 1901. Serial No. 87,544. (No model.)

To all whom ntwg concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORUS S. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-Valves for Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air-valves which are adapted for use in ships having a double bottom, the space between the bottoms being divided into compartments which areintended to be filled and emptied as occasion may require, the structure of the valve being such that the air is permitted to pass freely in either direction; but the water is checked by the automatic closure of the valve.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a transverse section througha ship having a double bottom, said bottom also beingshown insection with the airvalvesin position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the interior of a Vessel, the double bottom appearing in section. Fig. 3 is atransverse section through the center of the valve. Fig. 4: is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 looking downwardly. Fig. 5 is a plan view, and Fig. 6 a side elevation, of the baffle-plate.

In the construction of ships it is desirable to provide the same with a double bottom, the space between the bottoms being divided so as to form a series of compartments. These compartments are useful not only as a means of safety for the ship in case the lower bottom should be knocked in, but as a means for storing Water ballast or reserve feed-water. IVhen it is desired to fill the compartments with water, the same is admitted in any suitable manner, the air escaping through the valve as the water enters. iVhen the compartment is filled, the inflow of water must be checked, else it will overflow the hold or compartment above the double bottom. It sometimes happens also that the side of the vessel is broken in above the double bottom and below the water-line, in which case the water runs in and floods the hold. It will be evident that means should be provided for preventing the entrance of this water into the double-bottom compartments.

My improved valve is so designed that it will permit the escape of the air from the compartment as the same is filling, butwill automatically close when the compartment is full. It is also designed to automatically close and prevent the entrance of water from an upper into a lower compartment.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the hull of a ship or vessel which is provided with a double bottom, (shown at 2 and 3,) 3 being the inner bottom plating, and 2 the outside or shell plating. The space between 2 and 3 is divided transversely by partitions 4 4, and the space is also divided longitudinally at the center by a partition 5, said partitions dividing the space into a plurality of compartments.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the valves are indicated at 6 and are shown as fastened to the inner bottom plating or compartment-top, at the highest point thereof, so that all of the air may escape and the compartment be entirely filled. The valve, which is shown enlarged in Fig. 3, is double in structure, the two parts being practically alike and occupying the two branches of an inverted-U-shaped pipe or casing 7, the said branches being preferably cast together. The pipe is screw-threaded at its lower end in order to secure the same to a flange 8, which is attached to the inner bottom 3 in any suitable manner. At some distance above the plate 8,,nearthe turn in the pipe, the latter is provided with valve-seats 9 and 9 for the valves 10 and 10, said valves being secured to vertical valve-stems 11. These stems are held in their proper position in the axis of the pipe 7 by the spider-plates 12 and 13, said plates being screw-threaded on their outer surfaces to engage with corresponding threads on the interior of the pipe 7. As is shown in Fig. 4c and also indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, these spider-plates consist of an outer rim and a plurality of radial spokes, through the center of which the valve stems pass, the space between the spokes permitting the air to pass therethrough.

In order that the valve 10 will be lifted against its seat 9 to close the passage through the pipe 7 when the compartment is filled, I secure to the same a float 14, which may consist of cork or a hollow vessel or any other suitable device which will float on the water.

The stem of the valve 10 is also provided with a similar float 14:, and the arrangement of the valves is such that each will close against its seat when the float is buoyed up by the water beneath it.

As will be understood, when the water rushes into the compartment an equal volume of air must rush out past the valves. This air would tend to lift the cork and the valve 10 to close the pipe 7 if it were permitted to impinge against the lower surface of the former. To prevent this, the spiders 13 are each provided with baffle-plates 15, as shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6 in the drawings. These plates are continuous circular flat disks, substantially of the same diameter as the float 14, and this float rests upon the plate when the valves are open. The air passing between the spokes of the spiders 13 is diverted by the baffle-plates and is turned upwardly about the sides of the floats, so that they are not lifted from their seats until the water has risen high enough to float them. From this description it will be seen that I have invented a valve which serves to permit the escape of the air from the compartment to which it is applied, which closes automatically when the compartment is filled, which admits air into the compartment from above as the water is pumped out, and which also prevents the entrance of water-from above the inner bottom in case the same is flooded.

While the drawings show my preferred form, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the specific details shown and described. Furthermore, my improved valve is also applicable to tanks, &c., for use in ships under conditions similar to those deseribed for the compartments.

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

1. In a device of the character described, a casing having a passage therethrough for air, a pair of valve-seats in said casing, a pair of independent valves for said seats, means for automatically closing one valve against its seat when water attempts to pass in one direction, and similar means for closing the other valve against its seat when water attemps to pass in the opposite direction, both valves normally remaining open for the free passage of air.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing, valve-seats within said casing, independentlyoperating valves fitted to said seats, and means for automatically closing one or the other of said valves against its seat when water attempts to pass saidvalves in either direction, said valves normally remaining open for the free passage of air therethrough in either direction.

3. In a ship which is divided into compartments, a valve-casing secured to the inner bottom at the highest point thereof, a valve in said casing for permitting the passage of air but preventing the outflow of water therethrough from the compartment, and a second valve which also permits the passage of air, but prevents the inflow of water into the compartment.

4:. In a device of the character described, an inverted-U-shaped casing, valve-seats opening downwardly in said casing, one in each branch thereof, valves fitted to said seats and adapted to close against the same, and floats .secured to each of said valves so that the valves will be lifted by a liquid to prevent the same from flowing through the casing in either direction.

5. In a device of the character described, an inverted-U-shaped casing, valve seats opening downwardly in said casing, one in each branch thereof, valves fitted to said seats and adapted to close against the same, valvestems to which said valves are secured, spiders secured within the casin g through which the stems loosely pass and by means of which the valves are centrally positioned with respect to the valve-seats, and floats secured to each of said valves so that the valves will be lifted by a liquid to prevent the same from flowing through the casing in either direction.

6. In a device of the character described, an inverted-U-shaped casing, valveseats opening downwardlyin said casing, one in each branch thereof, valves fitted to said seats and adapted to close against the same, floats secured to each of said valves so that the valves will be lifted by a liquid to prevent the same from flowing through the casing in either direction, and baffle-plates adapted to normally prevent the floats from being lifted by the air passing through the casing.

7. In a device of the character described, an inverted- U-shaped casing, valve seats opening downwardly in said casing, one in each branch thereof, valves fitted to said seats and adapted to close against the same, floats secured to each of said valves so that the valves will be lifted by a liquid to prevent the same from flowing through the casing in either direction, and baffle-plates secured to too the lower spiders and upon which the lower ends of the floats normally rest, said baffleplates serving to prevent the air from closing the valves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

TI-IEOD ORUS S. BAILEY.

Witnesses:

W. H. RYAN, P. J. RYAN.

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