An Improved Pressure Regulator..
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pressure Regulator..
I WILLIAM GODFREY TAAFEL, of Newark, Ohio, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and improved
pressure regulator in which the flow of liquid may be regulated or adjusted to a
predetermined extent, independent of a pressure regulating mechanism for adjusting
the double piston (forming an essential part of the regulator,) so that it will not
close the inlet openings until a predetermined pressure at the outlet is reached.
The improved regulator comprises an outer casing or body formed with inlet.
and outlet apertures adapted for connection with water or other fluid pipes. This
casing has a cylinder cast within it and formed so that its one end is of larger
diameter than the other end. A piston is fitted in the cylinder in such manner that
its large and smaller end can reciprocate simultaneously in the large and smaller
parts of the cylinder. The small part of the cylinder has a series of perforations
through it and adapted to be opened or closed by the movement of the piston.
The ends of the outer casing, are fitted with screw-caps in which adjusting-screws
fitted with hand-wheels, are arranged to provide means for regulating the travel of
the piston. A spiral spring is arranged between the smaller end of the piston and
one of the adjusting screws.
Water from the inlet enters the small end of the cylinder and presses back the
piston until the fluid passes through perforations to the outlet. If however, the
pressure at the outlet is too great the surplus fluid passes around the cylinder to
the larger diameter of the piston; the increased area of which, enables the fluid
pressure to press it back and partially close the apertures in the smaller cylinder,
and thus regulate the flow.
A spring-pressed valve is fitted in the larger end of the piston, and provides that
when the pressure exceeds the proper limit the fluid can pass through the valve
into the cylinder and drain away through a waste-outlet.
Dated this 19th day of January 1895.
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.
I, WILLIAM GODFREY TAAFEL, of Newark, in the State of Ohio, U.S.A.,
Inventor, 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 :--
The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive pressure
regulator in which the flow may be regulated or adjusted to a predetermined extent,
independent of a pressure regulating mechanism for adjusting the double piston so
that it will not close the inlet openings until a predetermined pressure at the outlet
D

page_text: side is reached; also to shorten the stroke or throw of the double piston and
thereby lengthen its wear, and this latter result is accomplished by providing an
annular series of small perforations for the smaller or inlet end of the double piston
to work over instead of a single large opening; also to provide a check-valve
connection between the outlet side of the piston and the inlet end of the valve;
the check-valve being held closed by the pressure of the fluid in the inlet and
opened by back pressure from the outlet side when the water is shut off in the
supply pipe by the usual waste cock and thereby permit the fluid to run back past
the regulator and out of the waste cock to prevent freezing.
The invention will first be described and then pointed out in the claim.
Reference being had to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved pressure regulator;
a small portion of the supply pipe g being also shown.
Fig. 2 is a face view of one of the annular end caps or couplings; both being
alike except as to size, and
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the smaller piston cylinder detached.
A represents the regulator casing provided with open ends into which are screwed
the annular inlet and outlet couplings or caps A1, A2, respectively; the outlet
opening being large enough to permit the double piston or reducing valve to be
inserted and removed therethrough as will be hereinafter described.
Within the casing between its ends is cast the cylinder A3, for the larger end B¹
of the double piston B and this cylinder has an opening a³ through its end wall,
which opening is provided with an annular recess at its end next the inlet end of
the casing, as shown at a; this recess being of the same diameter as the said inlet
end to receive the inner end of an open ended cylinder A4, in which works the
smaller end B2 of the double piston B. This cylinder A* is provided within the
casing with a circumferential series of small perforations a' which open out into an
annular groove or channel A³ formed in the interior of the casing A, the said
cylinder A forming the inner wall of the said channel. From the upper side of
the channel A leads a passage A which connects it with the enlarged outlet end
of the casing in front of the larger end B' of the piston B. These small per-
forations a have an aggregate area sufficient for the full flow of liquid from the
inlet to pass therethrough, and are just as effective in this respect as a single large
opening such as the adjacent end of the passage A but they have a great advantage
over a single large opening in this respect, viz.; they permit of a much shorter throw
of the piston, for the full throw of the piston is only as great as the diameter of one
of these small perforations instead of the several times longer throw necessary to
open and close a single large aperture of the combined areas of the small ones.
It follows therefore, that my piston will not have to be repacked nearly so often.
The smaller piston B2 screws upon a threaded stud b on the stem which connect
the two pistons and clamps the packing in place and the outer end of the said
piston B is provided with a reduced portion which enters and guides one end of
a spiral spring C, the opposite end of which receives the inner plain end of a
pressure adjusting screw K' which is provided with a shoulder & bearing against
that end of the spring.
This screw Kis mounted in a central threaded opening formed in a cross piece
or spider k¹ cast integral with the interior of the inlet coupling or cap A' and ² is
a lock nut on the outer threaded end of the said screw, by means of which it may
be locked in its adjusted position.
The
The front face of the piston B' has an annular externally threaded flange B³
upon which screws the ring B which clamps the packing B in place.
ring B is provided with a plurality of finger lugs B', by means of which it may be
turned.
The annular outlet coupling or cap A' is formed with an internal spider or cross-
piece K2 having a central threaded aperture in which the flow regulating screw K
is mounted with its inner end in alignment with the piston and adapted to be
adjusted toward and from the piston to limit the extreme throw thereof and permit

page_text: its smaller piston B' to uncover only a predetermined portion of the apertures a
regardless of the pressure in the inlet. Thus only a certain amount of fluid can
flow through the regulator, and the smaller the flow, the less distance the piston
will have to travel. This flow adjustment is entirely independent of the pressure-
regulating screw K and its spring C. After the flow regulating screw K is set to
limit the throw of the piston toward the outlet end of the regulator, the screw K'
may be adjusted to force the spring C a greater or less distance toward the piston,.
so that a greater or less pressure on the larger end of the piston will be required to
move it against the action of said spring and cause its smaller end to close over the
apertures a³.
Lis the excess pressure relief valve and comprises a valve chamber L' in the-
centre of the larger piston B' the rear end of which chamber communicates with a
passage P extending out laterally through the piston stem into the cylinder A*
behind the piston B' which cylinder has the exhaust or outlet S in its bottom.
A spring X is placed in the rear end of the said valve chainber, and has a follower
at its forward end bearing against a ball valve O which is held in place by the
tubular screw threaded valve-sent L, which screws into the outer end of the valve
chamber L'. Whenever the fluid in the outlet pipe is expanded sufficiently to
overcome the force of the spring X which may be set to yield at any desired
pressure by adjusting the seat L2, the pressure relief valve O will be moved
inwardly and the fluid escape into the cylinder A³ and pass out through drain or
exhaust opening S.
H is a drain passage leading from the main passage A upwardly into a valve
chamber H' closed by a plug and a ball valve Z closed down upon a seat h at
the upper end of the said passage H.
R is a passage leading from the valve chamber H' down into the cylinder A' in
advance of its aperture a and beyond the throw of the smaller piston B².
The pressure in the inlet pipe when the fluid such as water, is turned on, in the
supply pipe g, forces the valve Z to its scat, but when the water is turned off by
means of the usual waste cock to prevent freezing, the back pressure of water in
the pipes leading to various parts of the building from the outlet end of the
regulator will raise the valve Z from its seat and flow out through the inlet pipe-
and its waste cock. The area of the larger piston of the reducing valve or double
piston B is over three times that of the smaller piston and when the pressure on the
larger piston equals approximate eighty per cent. (80%) of that on the smaller
piston, the latter will be made to close the openings a³.
It will be noticed that both adjusting screws K, K', are nicked at their outer
ends to receive screw drivers and that these nicked ends and the jamb or set nuts
lie within the outer ends of the end couplings or caps, so that they may be operated
by inserting the proper implement in said ends. The outer end of the valve
seat L is also nicked and may be readily reached by removing the larger end
coupling or cap. As both screws are carried by the respective end caps, they are
inserted and removed simultaneously therewith, which leaves the casing ends
wholly unobstructed when they are removed, so that the interior may be inspected
or the double piston or reducing valve may be removed if desired.
When my pressure regulator is used in domestic service pipes the water is drawn
from the various faucets in an evenly running stream without the usual waste of
water which ensues when delivered at main pressure. During the winter when the
waste cock is opened all water in the various pipes will flow back through the
regulator past the drain valve to the said waste cock and when the waste cock is
closed in the morning the pressure of the inflowing water holds valve Z closed.
If the kitchen boiler or other hot water heater becomes overheated so that the
water is forced back at high pressure into the cold water supply pipe as frequently
happens, all excessive pressure will be relieved through the excess pressure relief
valve L.
All of the foregoing operations in the regulator take place automatically and
without the manual operation of a single part. The regulator will operate

page_text: .
successfully when placed vertically, at an angle, or horizontally as shown in the
drawings.
The regulator is intended for use with steam, air, gas, water and other fluids.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
The hereindescribed pressure regulator constructed as set forth and consisting of
the parts arranged in combination, all substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 10th day of October 1905
W. H. MUNNS.