and Governing Steam and other Fluid Pressures.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 23rd Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 8th Feb., 1887.
244
and Governing Steam and other Fluid Pressures.
I, WILLIAM MURDOCH of 20 Carlton Place, in the City of Glasgow, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for regulating, controlling and
governing steam and other fluid pressures, and it consists in the formation of a valve
and valve seat in such wise that a practically perfect balance or equilibrium at any
position of the valve relatively to its seat and under varying pressures of the fluid
passing therethrough is maintained and also in the application of said valve in con-
junction with suitable operating gear in the construction of fluid pressure governors,
reducing valve apparatus, throttle and stop valves and other pressure regulating or
governing apparatus.
The improved valve is made in the form of a ring or parallel section of a hollow
sphere, its bearing face being the periphery of said section and being adapted to fit an
annular seat which is formed by two rings or by a single ring split longitudinally or
transversely to admit the valve, the bearing faces of the rings being also in the form
of sections of a sphere to fit around the valve. The rings forming the valve seat are
fitted in or form part of a casing or pipe with inlet and outlet branches and they may
either be adjustable or be stationary. The space between them forms an annular
opening or valve orifice which is closed by the valve when it is in a position parallel
to the rings with its periphery fitting within said rings and is opened more or less by
turning the valve through any angle on a central axis parallel to its open sides and at
right angles to its bearing face. One of the rings of the valve seat is conveniently
fitted or formed in a dividing web between the inlet and outlet of the casing while the
other which is by preference adjustable in relation to it is made in the form of an
inverted cup attached to the cover of the casing by a flexible diaphragm and provided
with a screw spindle passing to the exterior and with a hand wheel, lever or other
suitable device whereby adjustment may be effected. This cup-like seat when
slackened back by means of the screw spindle provides an easy seat for the spherical
valve which may then act as a throttle valve and when the throttle valve is closed the

page_text: спр seat may be screwed hard down upon it to form in conjunction with the spherical
valve a complete and efficient stop valve. The axis on which the spherical throttle
valve turns or oscillates may be formed by a spindle passing out through the casing or
by stud axes within it. In the former case the valve may be operated by a wheel or
lever on the end of the spindle and in the latter case it is operated by mitre wheels
from a spindle passing through the screw spindle, of the cup seat forming the stop
valve, the operating spindle in either case being adapted for connection by rods,
levers or like means to the governor of the engine to which steam is supplied through
the throttle valve. Owing to the annular formation of the throttle valve the pressure
of the steam or other fluid passing through it is exerted only radially outwards or
inwards upon the interior or outer periphery of the valve and being in no wise opposed
to the power applied in opening or closing it the valve is balanced in its various
positions and is easily operated under any pressure.
I also employ the improved valve in combination with various means for operating
it automatically to reduce, regulate or govern the pressure of the fluid passing through
the pipe or casing containing the valve. For example, I form a pressure regulating
valve for steam, water, gas or other fluid by fitting in the inlet or outlet side of the
valve casing, as circumstances may determine, a diaphragm or piston or a float which
may be suitably loaded to balance any desired pressure and connecting the same to
the valve either directly or through levers in order that movements of the diaphragm,
piston or float occasioned by variations of pressure of the fluid may be communicated
to the valve to open or close it more or less and thus regulate the flow of the fluid
through the valve orifice; or I form a combined throttle valve and governor for
motive-power engines by fitting the improved valve to oscillate in bracket arms upon
a rotating spindle whose axis passing through the centre of the valve ring is at right
angles to the axis of oscillation, and arranging the valve to open and close the valve
orifice automatically to regulate the pressure of the fluid passing therethrough
according to the velocity of rotation of the spindle which is driven from the engine.
The valve is weighted at opposite sides of its centre, and by its rotation it tends to
assume a position in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation in which position it
closes the annular valve orifice. This tendency to close the valve orifice is counter-
acted by a helical spring which is fitted round the rotating spindle between an adjust-
able collar and a sliding cup piece fitted thereon and bearing against one side of the
valve, the action of the spring tending to maintain the valve in a plane oblique to the
axis of rotation in which position the valve orifice is open. According as the speed of
the engine which drives the valve spindle increases or diminishes the valve is tilted
against the power of the spring to close or open the valve orifice more or less. A
screw spindle provided with a hand wheel serves by acting on the collar to regulate
the degree of compression of the spring. The stop valve arrangement herein before
described may also be applied in conjunction with the combined throttle valve and
governor. The valve instead of being self-acting may be actuated to open or close the
valve orifice by means of a centrifugal governor fitted upon the rotating spindle and
suitably connected to the valve. In some cases as for example when the combined
throttle valve and governor is employed to control the speed or power of compound or
multiple expansion engines by equalising the steam pressure on both sides of the
piston of one of the cylinders I so form or fit the valve that it remains closed while
the normal speed is maintained, but is opened upon the normal speed being exceeded.

page_text: Improvements in Valves and Apparatus for Regulating, Controlling,
and Governing Steam and other Fluid Pressures.
I, WILLIAM MURDOOH of 20 Carlton Place, in the City of Glasgow 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 relates to improvements in apparatus for regulating, controlling and
governing steam and other fluid pressures, and it consists in the formation of a valve
and valve seat in such wise that a practically perfect balance of equilibrium at any
position of the valve relatively to its seat and under varying pressures of the fluid
passing therethrough is maintained, and also in the application of said valve in con-
junction with suitable operating gear in the construction of fluid pressure governors,
reducing valve apparatus, throttle and stop valves and other pressure regulating or
governing apparatus.
As represented in figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings the improved valve is
made in the form of a ring A, or parallel section of a hollow sphere, its bearing face a
being the periphery of said section and being adapted to fit an annular seat which is
formed by two rings B, B, or by a single ring split longitudinally or transversely to
admit the valve, the bearing faces h, b, of the rings being also in the form of sections
of a sphere or suitably formed to fit around the valve. The rings forming the valve
seat are fitted in or form part of a casing C, or pipe with inlet and outlet branches
D, D, and they may either be adjustable or stationary. One of the rings B, is fitted
in the cover C, of the casing C, and adjustment is obtained by suitably packing the
joint. The space between the rings forms an annular opening or valve orifice E,
which is closed by the valve A, when it is in a position parallel to the rings B, with
its periphery fitting within said rings and is opened more or less by turning the valve
through any angle on a central axis f, parallel to its open sides and at right
angles to its bearing face. One of the rings B, of the valve seat is conveniently
fitted or formed in a dividing web C2, between the inlet and outlet of the
casing C, while the other which is by preference adjustable in relation to it
may be made as shown in figures 3 and 4 in the form of an inverted cup B¹,
attached to the cover C, of the casing C, by a flexible diaphragm e and provided
with a screw spindle c¹ passing to the exterior and with a lever H and screw nut H',
or a handwheel or other suitable device whereby adjustment may be effected. This
cup-like seat when slackened back by means of the screw spindle and lever provides
an easy seat for the spherical valve which may then act as a throttle valve and when
the throttle valve is closed the cup seat B¹, may be screwed hard down upon it to form
in conjunction with the spherical valve A, a complete and efficient stop valve. The
axis on which the spherical throttle valve turns or oscillates may be formed by a
spindle passing out through the casing or by the stud axes within it. In the former
case the valve may be operated by a wheel or lever on the end of the spindle, and
in the latter case it is operated either by mitre wheels G from a spindle g, as in

page_text: figures 1 and 2 or by a crank g¹ and connecting links g² attached to a rod g³, passing
through the screw spindle of the cup seat forming the stop valve, the operating
spindle in either case being adapted for connection by rods, or levers G', or like
means to the governor of the engine to which steam is supplied through the throttle
valve. Owing to the annular formation of the throttle valve the pressure of the steam
or other fluid passing through it is exerted only radially outwards or inwards upon
the interior or outer periphery of the valve and being in no wise opposed to the power
applied in opening or closing it the valve is balanced it its various positions and is
easily operated under any pressure.
I also employ the improved valve in combination with various means for operating
it automatically to reduce, regulate or govern the pressure of the fluid passing through
the pipe or casing containing the valve. For example I form a pressure regulating
valve for steam, water, gas or other fluid by fitting in the inlet or outlet side of the
valve casing, as circumstances may determine, a diaphragm I, as shown in figure 5, or
a piston or plunger J, as shown in figures 6 and 9 or a float K, as indicated at figures
7 and 8, which may in each case be suitably loaded to balance any desired pressure,
and connecting the same by suitable rods or links to the valve A, either directly or
through intermediate levers in order that movements of the diaphragm, piston or float
occasioned by variations of pressure of the fluid may be communicated to the valve to
open or close it more or less and thus regulate the flow of the fluid through the valve
orifice E.
In the examples represented at figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, the diaphragm, piston and float
are each acted on by the pressure of the fluid at the outlet side of the valve casing
the pressure being suitably balanced by weights, but in the example shown at figure 9,
the pressure of the inflowing fluid acts on the under side of the plunger J, and is
balanced by the pressure of the fluid on the outlet side of the casing which acts through
the communicating pipe j on the upper side of the plunger.
In the example of a gas governor shown at figures 7 and 8, the float K, is also acted
on by the pressure of the outflowing gas.
As represented at figures 10, 11 and 12, I form a combined throttle valve and
governor for motive power engines by fitting the improved valve to oscillate in bracket
arms l upon a rotating spindle L, whose axis passing through the centre of the valve
casing B, is at right angles to the axis of oscillation, and arranging the valve A, to open
and close the valve orifice E, automatically to regulate the pressure of the fluid passing
therethrough according to the velocity of rotation of the spindle L which is driven
from the engine. The valve A, is weighted at a at opposite sides of its centre, and by
its rotation it tends to assume a position in a plane at right angles to the axis of
rotation, in which position it closes the annular valve orifice E. This tendency to
close the valve orifice is counter-acted by a helical spring M, which is fitted round the
rotating spindle L between an adjustable collar m and a sliding cup piece m¹ fitted on
the spindle and bearing against one side of the valve, the action of the spring tending
to maintain the valve in a plane oblique to the axis of rotation in which position of
the valve the orifice E, is open. According as the speed of the engine which
drives the valve spindle through the pulley N, increases or diminishes the valve is
tilted against the power of the spring to close or open the valve orifice more or less.
A screw spindle m² provided with a hand wheel m³ serves by acting on the collar m to
regulate the degree of compression of the spring M.
The stop valve arrangement herein before described with reference to figs. 3 and 4,
may also be applied in conjuction with the combined throttle valve and governor.
The valve A, instead of being self-acting may be actuated to open or close the valve
orifice by means of a centrifugal governor fitted upon the rotating spindle and
suitably connected to the valve.
In some cases as for example when the combined throttle valve and governor is
employed to control the speed or power of compound or multiple expansion engines
by equalising the steam pressure on both sides of the piston of one or more of the
cylinders, I so form or fit the valve that it remains closed while the normal speed is
maintained, but is opened upon the normal speed being exceeded.
This may be

page_text: effected by forming a passage or passages a¹ for the steam through the central part
of the periphery of the valve A as shown in figure 12. In the position shown the
valve orifice E, is closed by the valve but upon the weights being driven outwards by
centrifugal action due to increased velocity of the spindle L, the passages a¹ in the
valve come opposite the valve orifice E, and permits of the passage of steam.
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 :-
1. In apparatus for regulating, controlling and governing steam and other fluid
pressures the valve A, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. In apparatus for regulating, controlling and governing steam and other fluid
pressures the combination of the valve A, and adjustable ring seat B, B, substantially
as herein described with reference to the annexed drawings.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved throttle valve herein
described with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. A combined throttle valve and stop valve constructed and arranged to operate
substantially as herein described with reference to figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. A pressure reducing or regulating valve constructed under any of the modifica-
tions described with reference to figures 5, 6, 7 and 9, of the drawings annexed.
6. A gas governor constructed substantially as herein described with reference to
figures 7 and 8 of the annexed drawings.
7. In apparatus for governing the pressure of steam and other elastic fluids the
weighted valve A carried by a rotating spindle and operating as a combined throttle
valve and governor, substantially as herein described with reference to figures 10, 11
and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination of parts, constituting the combined governor and throttle valve
herein described with reference to figures 10 and 11 of the annexed drawings.
9. The combination of parts constituting the combined governor and pressure
equalising valve herein described with reference to figure 12 of the annexed drawings.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.