IMPROVEMENTS IN MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING PRESSURE IN PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, AND MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING THROUGH THEM
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Melling, of Grassendale Park, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MODES
OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING PRESSURE IN PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS,
AND MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID
FLOWING THROUGH THEM."
"
Scaled the 14th November 1870, and dated the 20th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Melling at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1876.
THOMAS MELLING, of Grassendale Park, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING
PRESSURE IN PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, AND MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE
QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING THROUGH THEM."
It frequently happens, that water works have to supply water to a district at
different levels, and that consequently, when the pressure in the mains or pipes is
right for a higher level, it will by gravitation be too great for a lower level, and
thereby render the mains liable to breakage and leakage to a dangerous extent.
The same evil of excessive pressure in the mains is also often experienced from
pumping into them. Now my valve is designed to diminish the pressure (where
required) to a regulated head; and in order that it may do this effectually it is of
great importance that it should when closed or "shut" be perfectly tight, otherwise
when no drawing off from the mains is taking place (as in the night time for
instance) the water would work its way slowly perhaps but surely through the
valve, and all the damage occur which it is intended to prevent.
My apparatus for diminishing the pressure at any desirable points in mains or
pipes containing water or other fluids, consists as follows:-
1st. In a chamber out of one side of which the exit pipe proceeds, the said exit
pipe being in free communication with the said chamber.
2nd. The said chamber has a valve seat above and below, and in each of these is
a valve; I usually make the lower valve smallar than the upper one.
3rd. Both valves are usually turned or fixed on the same spindle, which projects

page_text: upward through an outer stuffing box to a lever to be afterwards described; by
lifting the spindle both valves are raised simultaneously. The water from the
delivery pipe presses upon the upper surface of the upper valve, and on the lower
surface of the lower valve; and as the area of the former is greater than that of the
latter the pressure of the water or other fluid on the back of it (when it is released
from the lever) closes it and keeps it closed.
4th. Connected with the exit pipe is another cylinder, the axis of which is
parallel to the axis of the valve spindle before mentioned. This cylinder is fitted
with a water-tight piston, having a rod projecting outward.
5th. Both the piston rod and the valve spindle, already described, are jointed to a
lever weighted by a moveable weight at one end; their junction points with the
lever are on opposite sides of the fulcrum, and as near as may be convenient to it.
6th. The mode of working is as follows:-Pressure being exerted on the valves
by the head of water in the main, the said valves remain closed as long as the
water in the exit pipe is at or about its normal or required pressure, as regulated by
the weight on the weighted lever; the instant, however, water is drawn from the
exit pipe the pressure falls slightly, and is no longer able by its pressure on the
under surface of the piston, together with the unbalanced pressure of the head of
water on the upper valve (after deducting the pressure on the lower valve) to
counteract the effect of the weight on the weighted lever; the valves consequently
open a little and continue to admit water so as to keep the pressure in the exit pipe
(acting under the piston) at the required pressure. The moment however the
water ceases to be drawn from the exit pipe, and the pressure therein rises ever so
slightly above the normal pressure the piston is raised, and the valves being
thereby released from the upward pull of the lever are closed by the excess of
pressure upon the upper, over that under the lower valve, assisted by their own
gravity, and any further rise of pressure in the main exit pipe is thereby
prevented.
For measuring and registering the quantity of water flowing through the valve
in a given time, I cause the lever or other of the moving parts to draw a diagram
on a cylinder revolving by clockwork, after the manner of a steam engine indicator,
or in any other of the inany well known ways of effecting this object.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Melling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
November 1870.
THOMAS MELLING, of Grassendale Park, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING
PRESSURE IN PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, AND MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE
QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING THROUGH THEM."
It frequently happens that waterworks have to supply water to a district at
different levels, and that consequently, when the pressure in the mains or pipes is
right for a higher level, it will by gravitation be too great for the lower level, and
thereby render the mains liable to breakage and the joints and fittings to leakage
owing to the varied and constant pressure from time to time, consequently causing
much waste, and often in such positions under ground as to be undiscovered. The
same evil of excessive pressure in the mains is also often experienced from pumping
into them. Now my valve is designed to diminish the pressure (where required) to
a regulated head, and in order that it may do this effectually it is of great
importance that it should when closed or "shut" be perfectly tight, otherwise when
no drawing off from the mains is taking place (as in the night time for instance) the
water would work its way slowly but surely through the valve, increasing the

page_text: pressure in lower levels, and producing serious evils which my Invention is intended
to prevent.
My apparatus for diminishing the pressure at any desirable points in mains or
pipes containing water or other fluids, consists as follows:-
1st. In a chamber A, see Drawings, out of one side of which the exit pipe B
proceeds, the said exit pipe being in free communication with the said chamber.
2nd. The said chamber has a valve seat above and below, and in each of these is
a valve C, C¹; I usually make the lower valve C¹ smaller than the upper one C.
3rd. Both valves are generally turned or fixed on the same spindle D, a
continuation of which or valve rod (E) projects upward through an outer stuffing box
to a lever F, to be afterwards described. The rod E is not rigidly attached to
valve C, but the latter merely rests or hangs thereon, any oscillation of rod E after
the valve C is closed therefore has no effect upon it; similarly "chase or play is
given in the hole E¹ in lever F', which allows the valve C to close freely by pressure
unobstructed by the lever F. By lifting the spindle E both valves are raised simulta-
neously. The water from the delivery pipe G presses upon the upper surface of the
upper valve C and on the lower surface of the lower valve C, and as the area of the
former is greater than that of the latter the pressure of the water or other fluid on
the back of it (when it is released from the lever F) closes it and keeps it closed.
ม
4th. Connected with the exit pipe B is another cylinder H, the axis of which is
parallel to the axis of the valve spindle D. This cylinder H is fitted with a water-
tight piston I. The upper surface of piston I is open to the atmosphere by the air
hole L, having a rod J projecting outward.
5th. Both the piston rod J and the valve rod E, already described, are jointed to
lever F, which is weighted by a moveable weight J' at one end; their junction
points with the lever are on opposite sides of the fulcrum K, and as near as may be
convenient to it.
6th. The piston I is shown in section, it is formed of a cupped leather fixed
between two metal washers. The whole being held together by a collar and nut
upon the rod; the pressure of the water presses the leather against the cylinder, and
thus keeps a water-tight joint.
7th. Connected to the lever F is a clockwork and indicator hereafter explained.
It is best however before passing to this portion of my apparatus to explain the
working of the herein-before described valve apparatus.
8th. The mode of working is as follows:-Pressure being exerted on the
valves C, C¹, by the head of water in the main G, the said valves remain closed as
long as the water in the exit pipe B is at or above its normal or required pressure,
as regulated by the weight J on lever F; the instant however, water is drawn from
the exit pipe the pressure falls slightly, and is no longer able by its pressure on the
under surface of the piston I, together with the unbalanced pressure of the head of
water on the upper valvo C (after deducting the pressure on the lower valve C³) to
counteract the effect of the weight J; the valves consequently open a little and
continue to admit water so as to keep the pressure in the exit pipe B (acting under
the piston I) at the required pressure. The moment however the water ceases to be
drawn from the exit pipe B, and the pressure therein rises ever so slightly above
the normal pressure the piston I is raised, and the valves being thereby released
from the upward pull of the lever are closed by the excess of pressure upon the
upper, over that under the lower valve, assisted by their own gravity, and any
further rise of pressure in the main exit pipe B is thereby prevented.
9th. For measuring and registering the quantity of water flowing through the
valve in a given time I cause the lever or other of the moving parts to draw a
diagram on a cylinder revolving by clockwork after the manner of a steam engine
indicator, or in any other of the inany well known way of effecting this object.
10th. The form of apparatus I prefer for doing this is shown in the Drawing, in
which M is the revolving drum on which the diagrams are taken on long bands of
paper affixed to it or drawn round it from one spring drum to another alongside it;
the springs being just sufficient to keep the band tightly pressing against three

page_text: quarters or thereabouts of the circumference of the cylinder, the surface of which is
very slightly roughned so as to increase the friction and draw the band round; or
friction or other mechanism can be used instead of springs. When however it is
desirable to keep separate sheets of each day's work the simpler arrangement of
affixing a single sheet to the cylinder encircling it is the best. The vertical lines
show divisions of time; the horizontal the degrees of opening of the valve. The
results are ascertained by calculating the ordinates multiplied by the spaces
between them formed by the base or zero line, and the fluxional line traced by the
pencil N; the cylinder is fixed on its axis. O is the clock laid horizontally, having
a socket P in the axis of the hour (or diurnal) hand, into which the spindle of the
drum M drops; it is fixed in its true position by 4 set screws. N is a pencil; it is
carried by a metallic holder sliding freely in a socket on a square rod or pencil
bar Q. The pencil and holder are kept pressing against the cylinder by the set
screw R pressing against a washer, beyond which is a spring and another washer,
as shown. The set screw regulates the compression of the spring; rod Q is square
in section to prevent its twisting at each end, it slides through bushes round on the
outside; these bushes are held in their position by 2 thumbscrews; when the screws
are slackened the pencil can be turned round from the drum and adjusted or
replaced. On the rod Q are weights S for causing the pencil to move down when
the valve lever F is raised.
The connection of the pencil bar Q with the valve lever is made by a chain, wire
rope, or other suitable connection T passing over a pulley. The attachment to the
valve lever F is by a screw rod U with a thumb nut underneath. By this nut the
pencil N is adjusted to its exact position on the diagram when set to commence
working; of course if the screw is tightened the pencil will be raised, if slackened
the weights will bring the pencil down; the chain or wire rope is attached at each
end by means of a swivel. The axis of cylinder M at its upper end works in a bush
passing through the cross head and projecting down through it. The bush is
shouldered above the cross head and has a milled rim at top; it is secured to its
place when down by a thumbscrew in front of cross head. When it is necessary to
take out the drum this thumbscrew is slackened, the bush raised, and the drum
taken out.
The framework for carrying the above apparatus consists of a bracket W cast on
inlet pipe G, a plate X lying thereon; two vertical pillars Y, Y, and cross head Z,
the vertical pillars Y, Y, having screwed ends and nuts thereon, bind the whole
together on the top of pillar Y instead of an ordinary nut; the standard Y¹¹
carrying the pulley is fixed, having the nut on its foot.
The foregoing apparatus is shown fixed to the pipe, but this is not however
absolutely requisite, as the band can be carried to any convenient distance so as to
protect the clockwork and indicator from damp, dirt, frost, et cetera.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details shown, as these may be varied indefinitely, but that what believe to be new
and desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The combination of the valves C, C¹, the valve spindle D, and the piston I
with the lever F, or their mechanical equivalents for the purposes described.
2nd. The special arrangement of piston I, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3rd. The construction of a self-acting, diminishing, or regulating valve, opened by
a weighted lever or its mechanical equivalent, closed by the pressure of the water
on the inlet side, and regulated by the pressure of the water on the outlet side
(substantially as described).
4th. The provision for allowing the valve when liberated from the action of the
weight free and unrestrained, liberty to close perfectly tight by giving "chase" or
play in the hole round the pin in the lever, or by other mechanical equivalent.
5th. The general arrangement of parts of indicating apparatus and its connections
to the valve, substantially as described, so that (a.) any of the wearing parts can be

page_text: adjusted with ease, or abstracted for repair without pulling the rest to pieces;
(b.) single sheets can be applied to the druin to give a record for a given time only
and be then renewed, or by an additional drum or drums a long band can be used
and a continuous record kept without renewal of the paper, except at long intervals.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Melling, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
TT TATA
THOMAS MELLING. (L.S.)