Improvements in Four-way Bye Pass Valves for Gas and other Fluids.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 12th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th Feb., 1887.
Improvements in Four-way Bye Pass Valves for Gas and
other Fluids.
EDWIN BRYAN DONKIN, of 55 Southwark Park Road, Bermondsey in the county
of Surrey Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
FOUR-WAY BYE PASS VALVES to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in Valves for diverting the flow of
gas and other fluids in mains and other passages, connected with gas meters, or gas
governors, or in any cases where it is required to divert such flow of gas.
The Gas Valves or Cocks at present in common use for such purposes usually
consist of a cylindrical or conical body, somewhat similar to a plug cock, with four
openings in the sides, each two being opposite each other, and an internal diaphragm
or plug, which when turned diverts the flow of gas to one or the other openings
according to its position. In these Valves or Cocks the gas can only be diverted from
one passage to another, but cannot be shut off altogether.
Sometimes three or more ordinary gas Valves with an arrangement of pipes, is used
for the same purpose.
According to my invention, I construct an oblong casing or box on which are
formed Valve faces, and which also has an opening at each extremity, each opening
forming an inlet or outlet as may be required, and a partition in the centre divides it
into two chambers. On one side of this casing, there are two openings, one on each
side of the division, and on the opposite side of the casing there is only one opening.
On the side of the casing, where there are two openings, a plate or door is caused to
move in such a manner and of such a description, that it is able to close one opening
entirely, leaving the other full open, and by reversing the motion the door closes such
opening, and opens that which was closed.
On the side of the casing where there is only one opening, a plate or door is caused
to move over the opening so as to close it entirely, and on reversing the motion to
open it entirely.
Motion may be given to these doors by means of a rack and pinion, a screw, a lever
or by other desirable means.

page_text: The openings in the casing and the doors, are faced up true, and the doors are held
against the casing by means of springs, and if desired they can be constructed with
wedges, so as to force them together when shutting, as in the case of an ordinary
single faced wedge gas valve.
A second and third casing are attached one on either side of the casing above
described, the second on the side where there are two openings covering them, and the
door, and forming a connection between them, and the third on the other side leaving
sufficient room for the door to move backwards and forwards.
The second and third casings are open on that side which is adjacent to the first
casing and the doors, each has a smaller opening on the opposite side, each forming an
inlet or outlet as may be required.
I propose placing Indicators outside the Valve to shew the position of the doors.
If gas be admitted through the small opening in the second casing, and through the
opening in the first casing leading into the chamber which has no opening on the
opposite side, the other opening in the first casing being closed by the door, then
the gas will flow out through the opening at the extremity of the first casing, and into
the governor or meter or the inlet of which is attached to this opening, and passing
through the Governor or Meter returns to the opening in the third casing, to which
the outlet of the governor or meter is attached, thence if the door be open it will flow
into the chamber in the first casing, which has two openings, and out at the opening
at the extremity.
If in admitting gas to the second casing the door he opened leading to that chamber
of the first casing which has an opening on the opposite side, and the door of this
latter opening be shut, then the gas will at once flow out at the opening at the
extremity of this chamber, without going through the governor or meter. If the door
of the opening admitting gas from the second casing to the chamber of the first casing
which has two opposite openings, be shut and the door of the opening admitting gas
from the third casing to the same chamber of the first casing be also shut then no flow
of gas takes place.

page_text: I EDWIN BRYAN DONKIN Engineer 55" Southwark Park Road Bermondsey in the
County of Surrey 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements in Valves for diverting the flow of
gas and other fluids in mains and other passages connected with gas meters, or gas
governors, or in any cases where it is required to divert such flow of gas.
In order that the said Invention may be perfectly understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe it in detail, as also the various purposes to which it can
be applied.
Fig 1. of the accompanying drawings represents a section of the valve, taken
through the centre shewing the oblong casing or box divided by the partition, into
two chambers A and B. On one side of this casing are two openings C and D, and
on the opposite side of the casing there is only one opening E.
On the side of casing where there are the two openings C. and D, a plate or door F
is caused to move in such a way as to close or open the two openings C and D
alternately that is to say close either opening entirely leaving the other full open.
On that side of the casing where there is only one opening, another door or plate G is
caused to move in such a way as to close entirely or leave full open the opening E
In the accompanying drawings the two doors F and G are shewn with racks cast on
the backs, into which racks the pinions H and I work, the spindles of the two pinions
pass through two suitable stuffing boxes to the outside, and have their ends made
square for a key or spanner to fit on to turn them by. The aforesaid plates or doors
may be caused to move by any other suitable means than that shown on the drawings
for instance they can be moved by screws, or by levers, or any other way as may be
found most convenient.
The two plates or doors F & G are held against the face of the openings C. D. E by
means of springs. In the drawing helical springs are shewn, but any other shape
of spring may be used or they can have wedges on the back, so as to force them
against the face of the openings when shutting if thought desirable.
Two other casings J and K are attached, one on either side of the casing above
described, the casing marked J on the side where there are two openings, the other
casing marked K on the side where there is only one opening.
The main central casing has two openings L, M, serving as inlet or outlet pipes,
and the two casings J. K each have one opening which serves as inlet or outlet as may
be required, these openings are marked N. O.
Fig. 2. is a section on the line P. Q in Fig. 1. and shows the door F in plan, with
the helical springs R. R. R. R. and the rack on the back.
Fig. 3 is an outside view of the Valve.

page_text: Fig. 4. shows the application to large gas meters, which allows the whole of the gas
being by-passed if any accident should occur to the meter. Gas from the main enters
valve by N, and if the doors are in the position shewn in Fig. 1. the gas will then pass
through opening C into chamber A it will then pass out of valve by L go through the
gas meter, and re-enter valve by the inlet O through the opening E into chamber B
and out at M into the main. If now the position of the two doors F, G, are reversed
the meter will be cut off and the whole of the gas by-passed, thus. The gas from
main entering Valve at N will go through the opening D into chamber B and out
at M into main, the opening E being closed by the door G.
Fig. 5. shows the application of this valve to a Gas Governor, the method of
passing all the gas through the Governor or of bypassing it direct into the main
without going through the governor is carried out in exactly the same way as heretofore
described for the Meter, but when used in connection with a governor, a Throttle
Valve S is placed in the chamber B and partially stopping the opening D. The
Throttle Valve S can then be moved by hand by means of the spindle T. The pointer
on the spindle T showing when it is open or shut thus allowing the pressure of the gas
being regulated when it is being by-passed direct into the main without going through
the governor.
Fig. 6. shows the application of these Valves when used with Purifiers. In the
drawing four purifiers only are shown but it can be applied in a similar manner to
any number. When this valve is used for purifiers as shown, it is constructed with
two opening to chamber A, one at U opposite to, and precisely similar to the one
marked C thus allowing the gas to pass through the valve in eight different directions.
The four purifiers V, W, X, and Y are fixed in connection with the five valves
a, b, c, d and e, thus allowing any one of the purifiers being out of use for the purpose
of cleaning and refilling. The foul gas from the main passes through the valve, a, if
the doors are in the position shown in Fig. 1 into the valve, d, which carries it into the
purifiers Y, and when it leaves, it passes through valve, e, back through, d, into the
purifier W, on leaving which it passes through the other chamber of valve, e, & on
to where it descends and is carried in a pipe underneath to where it ascends, and
passing through valve C. is led into purifier V and upon leaving V it passes through
valve onto valve, a which conveys it into main i, thus leaving the purifier X
unoccupied for cleaning. By altering the position of the doors of the valve a. b. c. d. e.
either one of the other three purifiers can be left out of use for cleaning, or all four
can be used at the same time if found necessary.
Wheels jk. with teeth on the edge for a continuous chain l. 1. to work into, may be
fixed on the ends of the spindles m. n. of the pinions H. I. so as to actuate the two
doors at the same time so as to avoid mistake.
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
Gas Valves constructed as herein described with three or four openings or gas
passages, either or both pairs of openings being respectively opened or closed by
means of the same door & diverting the direction of the flow of gas by leading it
into different chambers substantially as herein described.