Improvements in and relating to Regulators for Gas Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Regulators for Gas Engines.
We, WILLIAM CHARLES ROSSNEY, of 43, Bridge Street, Hyde Park, County of
Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America Gas Engineer, and WATSON
GRANT CUTTER, of 37 Linnaean Street Cambridge, County of Middlesex, Massachu-
setts United States of America, Broker do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
In gas engines in which the piston is driven by the explosion of ordinary
illuminating or water gas the force thereof causes a back-pressure of gas in the main
pipes which frequently extinguishes the lights in outer places supplied from the said
pipes. To overcome this it has become customary to employ large rubber bags or
receivers into which the gas is forced by the concussion and which serve in part to
equalize this pressure. The action of the gas upon the material of these bags rapidly
causes them to become brittle or decomposed and necessitates their frequent ronowal.
Morcover the direct pressure of the gas in the main pipes varies to a great extent and
renders the action of the engine uneven.
Our invention is designed to overcome these and other objections and in carrying
it out we make use of means which will be readily understood by all conversant with
such matters from the following explanation.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of our improved regulator some of the parts
being shown in elevation
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the back-pressure valve; and
Figure 3 a sectional elevation illustrating certain modifications in the formation of
the main valve.
Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawings.
A represents the body of the regulator, B the supply and C the discharge pipe.
The body is constructed of cast iron and is cylindrical in form. A cover b, is socured
thereto by bolts d. A vertical cylinder D, is secured to the bottom g, within the said
body, the said cylinder being open at its top f. A vertically arranged socket or guide
tube h, is secured centrally to the bottom g, within the cylinder.
A spindle H, provided on its upper end with a knob or weight i, is fitted to slide
vertically through the centre of the cover the lower end of said spindle working in
the guide h.
An inverted dome or bell K, is secured centrally to the spindle by nuts ; and
encloses the cylinder D, the mouth of said dome being immersed in a seal of glycerine
mercury or similar material p disposed between the cylinder and body walls. A
vertically adjustable cone-shaped disc m, is secured to the spindle H, within the
cylinder.
The supply pipe B is provided with an ordinary valve 9, and enters the body
vertically through the bottom g, and within the cylinder.
The upper end of the supply is turned horizontally towards the spindle and a
gravity valve t, is hinged to the lower edge of the mouth thereof. The valve t, is
provided with a curved arm v, which normally rests on the desk m.
A small pipe w, taps the pipe B, below the regulator and supplies the pilot light of
the engine.
The discharge C, has an ordinary valve x, outside the regulator and enters vertically
through the bottom thereof within the cylinder.
The upper end y of the discharge is turned horizontally towards the spindle.
Within the mouth of this horizontal portion a cone-shaped piece of piping (see

page_text: Figure 2) is inserted in the inner end of said pipe being inclined at 15, to form a
valve seat.
A swinging valve 16, is hinged at 17, by its upper edge within the pipe y, in
position to engage the seat 15.
The gravity valve t, is normally open. The gas entering through pipe B, causes
the dome K to rise and carry with it the spindle H, to which it is secured. The
disc m on said spindle engaging the valve arme, elevates the said arm as the dome
'rises and closes or partially closes the valve t, thus reducing the supply of gas. At
the forward stroke of the engine piston which creates a vacuum in the piston cylinder
.the gas rushes into the discharge C, causing the swinging valve, 16, to assume the
position shown by dotted lines, 18, in Figure 2. As the gas thus supplied to the
engine is exploded by the pilot light in the ordinary manner and is forced back through
pipe C, by the recoil, the valve 16, is swung back against its seat 15, (see dotted
line 19 Figure 2) closing the said pipe and preventing the escape of gas back into the
regulator. It will be seen by the use of this construction the recoil from the engine
can have no effect upon lights supplied from the main pipes.
The variations of pressure in the main pipe being determined, the position of the
dome on the spindle H, may be so fixed as to regulate the supply of gas to the engine
at any desired pressure by means of the disc m, and valve t, in a manner readily
understood by all conversant with such matters without a more explicit description.
In Figure 3 a lever 20 is pivoted in the top of a standard 21, secured to the bottom g,
between the tube h, and supply B.
A cone valve 23 is pivoted to one end of the lever and a seat 24, therefor is formed
in a tube 25, into which the supply B opens.
A counter balance 26, is disposed on the opposite end of the lever and a wheel 27,
is journalled therein said wheel resting on the disc m.
The spindle H, rising as described, forces the cone valve 23, downward into its
seat 24 and checks the flow of gas into the regulator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In a device of the character described a valve in the gas supply pipe of
the engine adapted to be automatically closed by the back pressure of the gas sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. In a gas regulator the pipe C, provided with a valve seat 15, and swinging
valve 16, substantially as described.
Third. In a gas regulator the combination of a body; supply and discharge pipes;
a liquid sealed dome secured to a vertically moving spindle; and a cone-disc on said
spindle actuating a gravity valve for closing the mouth of the supply substantially
as described.
Fourth. In a gas regulator a body; a vertically sliding spindle in the top thereof;
a liquid sealed done secured thereto; a supply pipe; a cone-disc on the spindle for
closing a gravity valve in the supply when said dome rises; a discharge pipe; and a
valve in said discharge adapted to be closed by the back pressure of the gas from the
engine substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. In a gas regulator, a body provided with a liquid sealed dome; a supply
pipe having a normally open gravity valve adapted to close as the dome rises; a
discharge pipe; and a swinging valve therein actuated by the gas substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. In a gas regulator a body; a liquid sealed dome secured to a spindle sliding
through the top thereof; a supply pipe and valve therefor actuated by a disc on said
spindle; and a discharge pipe having an interiorly arranged inclined valve seat and a
swinging valve substantially as described.
Seventh. In a gas regulator provided with a liquid sealed dome or bell; a supply
pipe provided with a gravity valve at its mouth having a curved arm working on a
cone-disc on the dome spindle substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

page_text: Eighth. In a gas regulator, a body provided with an interiorly arranged cylinder;
a liquid sealed dome enclosing said cylinder and secured to a spindle sliding in the
body top; a supply pipe; a hinged valve at the mouth thereof; a cone disc on said
spindle engaging an arm on said valve substantially as described.
Ninth. In a a gas regulator of the character described, the supply pipe B, provided
with the gravity valve t, having the arm working on a disc, on the dome spindle
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. In a gas regulator, the supply pip B, provided with a valve adjusted by the
dome spindle in combination with the discharge pipe (, provided interiorly with a
shut-off valve actuated directly by the gas substantially as described.
Eleventh. In a gas regulator, a body provided with a cylinder; a liquid-sealed
dome enclosing said cylinder; a dome spindle; a supply pipe; a gravity valve
therefor operated by a cone-disc on said spindle; a discharge pipe; and an automatic
check valve therein actuated by the back pressure of the gas substantially as
described.
Twelfth. In a gas regulator, the body A, dome K, and spindle H, bearing the
disc m, in combination with the supply B, provided with the valve t, having the arm v,
the discharge pipe C, provided with the pipe z, having the inclined seat 15, and the
swinging valve 16, arranged to operato substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of January 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.