Valves are one of the most prolific types of industrial component. Used in almost every process you can imagine, they are incredibly diverse and adaptable.
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When were valves invented
Unusually, the valve does not have just one inventor, as they’ve been in
existence since ancient times, when humans used stones and trees to regulate
water flow. Egyptian and Greek cultures were amongst the first to channel water
to form irrigation channels to bring water to their villages or crops. During
Roman times, canals were created, allowing transport of people, materials and
food.
The early valve
Early valves were made of bronze welded to pipes that were already in situ. The
simple designs were effective at controlIng water flow in ancient towns and
villages around Europe and the Mediterranean. These early valves then moved on
to become butterfly valves, which are the early form of taps. Other types of early
valves included basic forms of diaphragm using leather as well as backflow and
check valves, which prevented waste and clean water from mixing.
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The industrial age of valves
Little development happened after the Roman period. Leonardo Da Vinci is known
to have been one of the main developers during the Renaissance period, when
more sophisticated versions of the early valves appeared.
It was not until the Industrial Age that valves really saw significant
advancement and this led to the development of the industrial valves we would
recognise today.
Thomas Newman developed the first steam engine in 1705, which marked one of the
most significant developments in human engineering. In order to make the engine
work, new valves were required to regulate the high pressures required. The
steam engine valves then moved on to improve the valves used for irrigation and
plumbing.
By the early 1900s, specialist valve manufacturers had emerged, allowing
industrial valves to be produced in higher volumes, so their use became even
more widespread by farms and individuals. Moving into the modern day and
companies like orseal became producers of a wide
variety of valves for all sorts of uses. A comprehensive history of the valve
can be seen here: http://www.valvias.com/history.php.
With such a long history and diversity of use, it is not surprising that valves
have become an integral part of so many areas of manufacturing and, in turn,
our daily lives.