Improvements in Pressure Reducing Valves or Apparatus for Steam Generators or for Reducing other Fluid Pressure.
Year: 1887

page_text: US
Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 26th Oct., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pressure Reducing Valves or Apparatus for Steam
Generators or for Reducing other Fluid Pressure.
I, MATTHEW WILSON, of 14 Regent Crescent, Langside, Glasgow in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This Invention which relates to improvements in pressure reducing valves for
steam generators or for reducing other fluid pressure, has for its object to effect the
reduction or regulation of pressure when it is required to supply a lower pressure of
steam than that within the steam generator, to actuate donkey engines or other small
engines for pumping, electric lighting or other purposes on board ship for example ;
my improvements also render the reducing apparatus or valve automatic and also
dispensing with the use of springs, weighted levers and other appliances which are at
present in use in pressure reducing apparatus and which are always liable to improper
regulating by an inexperienced or careless attendant.
In carrying out my improvements I employ a chest within the lower part of which
is fitted a diaphragm of leather or other suitable material. The valve is seated at or
about the middle of the chest and preferably immediately above the centre of the said
diaphragm. The valve lifts vertically within guides and to the guiding spindle upon
the head of the valve is secured a cross bar or head, to the two extremities of which
are bolted two arms, or their equivalent, which connect the said crosshead to the
diaphragm, any depression therefore of the diaphragm imparts a corresponding
movement to the valve, and tends to close it and vice versa.
The extent of opening of the valve from its seat or the closing down of the valve
altogether is effected by a screwed spindle working in a gland provided in the
cover of the chest, the said spindle being operated by a hand wheel or cranked handle
keyed upon the top of the spindle.
The reduction of pressure as between that of the steam generator and that required
to actuate the donkey engine or other small power, is in accordance with the area of
the diaphragm, the area for ordinary purposes being such as will reduce the pressure

page_text: from say 100 lbs. to 10 lbs. The high pressure inlet and the reduced pressure
outlet are preferably arranged diametrically opposite each other. The passage for
the high pressure steam to the underside of the valve is preferably formed as a casting
within the chest. The high pressure steam passing along the said passage to the
valve tends to raise the valve against the pressure upon the diaphragm, the valve
continuing to open until the back pressure upon the diaphragm exceeds the reduced
pressure that is required, when the diaphragm is instantly forced down and the valve
closed through the medium of the connecting rods and cross head, that is to say,
that
when the high pressure is say at 100 lbs. and the pressure upon the diaphragm
is 10 lbs., the diaphragm will be in equilibrium, any further increase of pressure upon
the diaphragm closing the supply valve.
The diaphragm when of leather or similar material is protected upon both sides
by metal plates and in order to allow of sufficient play for the diaphragm it is pre-
ferably sunk from its underside.-The top plate also serves the purpose of attachment
of the rods which communicate motion to the valve.
11.
L

page_text: Generators or for Reducing other Fluid Pressure.
I, MATTHEW WILSON of 14 Regent Crescent, Langside, Glasgow in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, 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 :-
My Invention which relates to improvements in pressure reducing valves for steam
generators or for reducing other fluid pressure, has for its object to effect the
reduction or regulation of pressure when it is required to supply a lower pressure of
steam than that within the steam generator to actuate Donkey Engines or other small
Engines for pumping, electric lighting or other purposes on board ship for example;
my improvements also render the reducing apparatus or valve automatic and also
dispensing with the use of springs, weighted levers and other appliances which are at
present in use in pressure reducing apparatus and which are always liable to improper
regulating by an inexperienced or carcless attendant.
In carrying out my improvements as shown on the accompanying sheet of
Drawings I employ a chest within the lower part of which is fitted a diaphragm A.
The valve B, is seated at or about the middle of the chest and properly immediately
above the centre of the diaphragm-The valve lifts vertically by its guides b, and
upon the projection 6, of the valve is fitted a cross bar or head C, to the two
extremities of which are bolted the rods D, preferably two, as shown in the drawing,
the said rods connecting the crosshead to the diaphragm A.; any depression therefore
of the diaphragm imparts a corresponding moveinent to the valve and tends to close
it and vice versa.
The extent of opening of the valve from its seat, or the closing down of the valve
altogether is effected by the screwed spindle E, working in a gland F, provided in
the cover of the chest, the said spindle being operated by a hand wheel or cranked
handle e.
The reduction of pressure as between that of the steam generator and that required
to actuate the donkey engine or other small power is in accordance with the area of
the diaphragm, the area for ordinary purposes being such as will reduce the pressure
from say 100 pounds to 10 pounds. The high pressure inlet G, and the reduced
pressure outlet H, are preferably arranged diametrically opposite each other-The
passage for the high pressure steam to the underside of the valve is preferably formed
The high
as a casting within the chest as shown more particularly in Figure 1.
pressure steam passing along the said passage to the valve tends to raise the valve
against the pressure upon the diaphragm, the valve continuing to open until the back
pressure upon the diaphragm exceeds the reduced pressure that is required, when the
diaphragm is instantly forced down and the valve closed through the medium of the
connecting rods and crosshead, that is to say, that when the high pressure is say

page_text: at 100 pounds and the pressure upon the diaphragm is 10 pounds, the diaphragın
will be in equilibrium, any further increase of pressure upon the diaphragm, closing
the supply valve.
As shown in figures 1 and 2 the diaphragm is a corrugated disc of copper, or
other suitable metal or material, attached by screwed stud c, to the lower cross
bar C¹.
As a modification of this arrangement the diaphragm may be of leather or other
similar material such as rubber in which case the upper and under sides are preferably
protected by metal plates or discs and in order to allow of sufficient play for such
diaphragm, it is preferably sunk from its under side, the top plate also serves the
purpose of attachment of the rods which communicate motion to the valve.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of my improvements specially applicable
for heating purposes where small quantities of reduced steam are wanted; in this
case where the area of the diaphragm is small and in order to give it sufficient
flexibility, form the diaphragm of a plain disc of metal, preferably copper, slightly
dished towards its centre in this case also a regulating spindle such as that shown in
figures 1 and 2 may be dispensed with.
In applying my Invention for Hydraulic purposes, where there is excessive
pressure, I prefer to employ a plunger instead of a diaphragm; the plunger acts
precisely in the same manner as a diaphragm. Under this arrangement the plunger
works through a stuffing box in the under cover of the chest in a central position
therethrough, the plunger being packed with a cup leather or other packing suitable
for hydraulic purposes; the head of the plunger being connected to the lower cross
bar of the connecting rods by a neck piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In pressure reducing valves, or apparatus, for steam generators, or for reducing
other fluid pressure, the general arrangement and combination of parts for the purpose
of effecting an automatic regulation of the pressure reducing valve by the agency of
back pressure upon a diaphragm or its equivalent.
2. The connection of the pressure reducing valve B, with the diaphragm A, by the
rods D, or the mechanical equivalents of the said arrangement, substantially as and
for the purpose herein before described and shown in figure 1 to 4 of the accompanying
Drawings, or any of the various modifications of the said arrangements such as that
illustrated in figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings or as described with
reference to a modification applicable for hydraulic purposes.
Dated this 13th day of September 1888.
JOHNSONS,
Applicant's Agents.