A New or Improved Pressure Regulator for Gas Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1892-Accept:d, 39th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Pressure Regulator for Gas Engines.
I HEINRICH GEORG HELD, of Almelo, Holland, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This gas pressure regulator is for the purpose of supplying gas engines with gas
under constant pressure, whereby the formation of a constant explosive mixture is
made possible. In addition to this, the gas pressure regulator allows the applica-
tion of a contrivance, which prevents the flickering of the little flame which
serves for the ignition of the explosive mixture, whilst the cylinder of the machine
is being exhausted, preventing thereby the formerly existing drawback which
frequently entailed the extinction of the said flame, and the consequent interruption
in the working of the machine. Finally, the apparatus, by means of a con-
trivance peculiar to itself, regulates the working of the gas-motor in such a manner
that the regulators, that up to the present were necessary parts of the motors,
become entirely superfluous.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the regulator, and
Figures 2 and 3 show different positions of the regulating valve d, corresponding
to different conditions of
pressure.
The gas pressure regulator consists of a cylinder A, ending at the top and
bottom in bellows a, a'. In the lower part this cylinder is divided by a partition b,
so as to form two chambers I and II. The upper of these chambers 1, is con-
nected to the cylinder of the engine, by means of a short tube C, and the lower, IT,
to the gas delivery pipe, by means of the tube F.
Both chambers communicate with one another by means of tube which is open
at the top and capable of being closed by means of a valve E. When the upper
bellows, a, expand the valve is lifted up, but when they contract, the valve closes
the cylinder, thereby preventing the gas delivery pipe from being affected, or
the little gas flame from being thrown into a flickering motion, during the operation
of exhausting the engine. Cylinder c communicates, on the one hand, with the
gas delivery pipe by means of the tube F, and on the other hand, with the lower
bellowed chamber through an opening m, leading from the upper part of the
cylinder. To the top of the cylinder is fixed the guide-piece d in such manner as
to allow the valve E to move up and down. Inside the cylinder c the piston e is
situated, its piston-rod, e', passing through the valve E, and being secured to the
upper side of the bellows a. The valve E which is provided with a guiding tube
is fitted over the piston-rod e in such manner that, either the friction between the
guiding tube and the piston-rod e' alone, or friction procured by means of a spring,
ennises it to participate in the upward or in the descending movements of the piston-
rod, without however interfering with the independent motion of the piston-rod
alone. Thus when the piston is descending, the valve E comes into contact with,
and closes the upper opening of the cylinder c. The partition which divides the
two chambers I and II contains furthermore an opening the area of which can
be regulated by means of a slide valve f. The short tube g is for the purpose of
conducting the gas out of the regulator to the little flame that serves for the
ignition of the explosive mixture.
C
When the motor is in operation, the gas escapes from the supply-pipe into the
cylinder e (Figure 1) and from there into the chamber II, through the opening m
and the channel i. From chamber II the gas passes on into chamber I, through
the opening provided in the partition and causes the upper bellows to expand..
027

page_text: In consequence of this the upper side of these bellows moves upward, and with it
the piston-rod e', and as thereby the valve E is carried along with it the cylinder o
becomes open at its upper end, (Figure 2). the gas therefore can freely pass from
the upper end of the cylinder c to chamber I. As a consequence of the con-
tinuance of the upward movement of the upper bellows. the piston e becomes shifted
so as to block up the opening m (Figure 3) and the gas can now penetrate into the
upper chamber I only through the small opening in the partition b. Communi-
cation therefore between the gas delivery pipe and the motor is nearly entirely
cut off and the feeding of the little flame (that procures the ignition of the charge)
out of chamber II takes place in consequence of the pressure which springs situate
below the chamber bring to hear upon the lower bellows a', the flickering of the
said flame being thereby obviated. At the same time, the passing of gas from
chamber II into chamber I through channel & maintains the balance of pressure,
and supplies chamber I with the gas required for the engine.
For the purpose of regulating the working of the motor a valve B is situated at
the side and in the interior, of the casing of partition ; and on the top of this
casing is a valve G, by means of which this partition stands in communication with
bellows D. The expansion and contraction of these bellows D causes. the pipe C,
that conducts the gas to the engine to become partially or entirely closed or
reopened and so the working of the motor is modified.
As has been shown the bellows a contract when the gas engine is being
exhausted; in consequence of this air is drawn into h, through valve B which
subsequently, when bellows a are made to expand by the gas pressure, is pressed
through valve G, into bellows D which also expand, whilst valve B closes. In
order to allow the air to escape D carries à tube H provided with stopcock N
through which the air can pass more or less freely according to the adjustment
given to the stopcock. When the engine moves rapidly bellows a also expand and'
contract rapidly in consequence, and if stopcock N is so adjusted that the air
inhaled cannot pass through it as quickly as it is taken in, bellows D are made to
expand and press up lever M, which acts upon slide-valve K through rod J thereby
shutting up tube C. Consequently the quantity of gas flowing to the engine is
diminished and its working made slower. The velocity of the engine can therefore
be regulated as desired by adjusting the stopcock N.
Dated this 8th day of July 1891.
HEINRICH GEORG HELD,
Per J. G. L.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Pressure Regulator for Gas Engines.
1, HEINRICH GEORG HELD of Almelo, Holland, 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 a gas pressure regulator for the purpose of supplying gas
engines with gas under constant pressure, whereby the formation of a constant
explosive mixture is made possible. In addition to this, the gas pressure regulator
allows the application of a contrivance, which prevents the flickering of the little
flame which serves for the ignition of the explosive mixture, whilst the cylinder of
the machine is being exhausted, preventing thereby the formerly existing drawback
which frequently entailed the extinction of the said flame, and the consequent
interruption in the working of the machine. Finally the apparatus, by means of a
contrivance peculiar to itself, regulates the working of the gas-motor in such a
manner that the regulators, that up to the present were necessary parts of the
motors, become entirely superfluous.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure represents a vertical section of the regulator, and Figures 2 and 3 show

page_text: different positions of the regulating valve d, corresponding to different conditions of
pressure.
The gas pressure regulator consists of a cylinder A, ending at the top and
bottom in bellows a, a'. In the lower part this cylinder is divided by a partition by
so as to form two chambers I and II. The upper of these chambers I, is connected
to the cylinder of the engine, by means of a short tube C, and the lower, II, to the
gas delivery pipe, by means of the tube F.
C
Both chambers communicate with one another by means of tube c which is open
at the top and capable of being closed by means of a valve E. When the upper
bellows, a, expand the valve is lifted up, but when they contract, the valve closes
the cylinder c, thereby preventing the gas delivery pipe from being affected, or the
little gas flame from being thrown into a flickering motion, during the operation of
exhausting the engine. Cylinder c communicates, on the one hand, with the gas.
delivery pipe by means of the tube F, and on the other hand, with the lower
bellowed chambor through an opening m, lending from the upper part of the
cylinder. To the top of the cylinder is fixed the guide piece d in such manner as
to allow the valvo E to move up and down. Inside the cylinder e the piston e is
situated, its piston-rod, el, passing through the valve E, and being secured to the
upper side of the bellows. The valve E which is provided with a guiding tube
is fitted over the piston-rod e' in such manner that, either the friction between the
guiding tube and the piston-rod e' alone, or friction procured by means of a spring,
causes it to participate in the upward or in the descending movements of the piston-
rod, without however interforing with the independent motion of the piston-rod
alone. Thus when the piston is descending, the valve E comes into contact with,
and closes the upper opening of the cylinder c. The partition which divides the
two chambers I and I contains furthermore an opening 6' the area of which can
be regulated by means of a slide valve. The short tube g is for the purpose of
conducting the gas out of the regulator to the little flame that serves for the
ignition of the explosive mixture.
When the motor is in operation, the gas escapes from the supply-pipe into the
cylinder (Figure 1) and from there into the clamber 11, through the opening m
and the channel i. From chamber II the gas passes on into chamber. I, through
the opening provided in the partition and causes the upper bellows to expand.
In consequence of this the upper side of these bellows moves upward, and with it
the piston rode, and as thereby the valve E is carried along with it the cylinder c
becomes open at its upper end (Figure 2). The gas therefore can freely pass from
the upper end of the cylinder e to chamber 1. As a consequence of the continuance
of the upward movement of the upper bellows the piston e becomes shifted so as to
block up the opening m (Figure 3) and the gas can now penetrate into the upper
chamber I only through the small opening in the partition b. Communication
therefore between the gas delivery pipe and the motor is almost entirely cut off
and the feeding of the little flame (that procures the ignition of the charge) out of
chamber II takes place in consequence of the pressure which springs situate below
the chamber bring to bear upon the lower bellows a', the flickering of the said flame
being thereby obviated. At the same time, the passing of gas from chamber II
into chamber through channel maintains the balance of pressure, and supplies
chamber I with the gas required for the engine.
For the purpose of regulating the working of the motor a valve B is situated at
the side and in the interior of the casing of partition.h; and on the top of this casing
is a valve G, by means of which this partition stands in communication with
bellows D. The expansion and contraction of these bellows D cause the pipe C, that
conducts the gas to the engine to become partially or entirely closed or reopened
and so the working of the motor is modified.
As has been shown the bellows a contract when the gas engine is being exhausted;
in consequence of this air is drawn into h, through valve B which subsequently,
when bellows a are made to expand by the gas pressure, is pressed through valve G,
into bellows D which also expand, whilst valve B closes. In order to allow the air

page_text: to escape D carries a tube H provided with stopcock N through which the air can
pass more or less freely according to the adjustment given to the stopcock. When
the engine moves rapidly bellows a also expand and contract rapidly in consequence,
and if stopcock N is so adjusted that the air inhaled cannot pass through it so
quickly as it is taken in, bellows D are made to expand and press up lever M,
which acts upon slide-valve K through rod J.thereby shutting up tube C. Con-
sequently the quantity of gas flowing to the engine is diminished and its working
made slower. The velocity of the engine can therefore be regulated as desired by
adjusting the stopcock N. This part of the apparatus replaces the governor usually
placed on engines for regulating their speed.
In that form of our apparatus shown in Figure 1 the bellows a is placed above
the bellows a'. We shall now describe another form of our apparatus in which the
bellows a and a are placed side by side at the same level. This arrangement is
shown in Figure 1. A B C is the regulator chamber. a, b, c, are the three
bellows. is the supply pipe to the cylinder of the motor. e is the gas delivery
pipe. and are the valve spindles fixed at their upper extremities to the upper
ends of the bellows a and respectively. To the lower ends of the spindles faud
are fixed the valves and respectively. These valves rise and fall in the
tubes and respectively. The spindles work through the guide pieces f³ and g
respectively. The valve spindle his attached at its upper extremity to the upper
end of the bellows e and when the latter expands the said spindle / raises the
valve so as to cut off the supply of gas to the motor. is the guide ring in
which the valve spindle works. m is the valve for admitting air when the
bellows a and b exhaust when the latter expand. This air is forced through the
valve and into the bellows c. Ais the outlet allowing the escape of air out of e
through the tube & which tube can be closed or throttled by the stop-cock 7.
When the cylinder of the motor exhausts the bellows a and b contract. This
contraction causes the inlets in the valves and g' to open and the gas enters the
bellows and flows in the direction shown by arrows in Figure 1^ into the bellows a
again raising the bellows a and b. By the contraction of the bellows a and b air is
drawn through tlie valve me into the chamber containing the bellows and on the
expansion of the latter the valve m closes and the air in the chambers A and B is
forced through the valve into the bellows c. An opening e' is provided in the
eliaimber G to allow the air contained therein to escape from or enter the chamber
freely on the expansion. or contraction of the bellows c. If the stop cock / of the
escape pipe be so adjusted that the air can escape freely when the motor is
working at the normal speed, then on acceleration of the motion air is compressed
in the bellows c, and they will become more inflated and will raise the valve rod h
and the valve, to such an extent that the supply pipe to the motor is either
partially or wholly throttled. This action will continue until the speed of the
motor slackens and the pressure in e again becomes normal. This form of the
apparatus therefore regulates the supply of gas to the motor and the speed of
the motor in the same manner as the form of the apparatus previously described.
It is evident that the two forms of construction which I have described can be
modified in detail. For instance the bellows abc can be replaced by bell shaped
receivers which are isolated by water or any other suitable liquid as shown in
Figure 2. The working of the apparatus will be the same as that previously
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 'I' claim is
A gas pressure regulator distinguished by the arrangement of an outer
chamber containing several internal divisions of which one is in communication
with the cylinder of the motor and another is in communication with the gas main
and the pipe to the ignition flame of the motor while both chambers communicate
with each other one of them being intended for the service of the motor, and the
other to maintain the gas pressure in the main constant.

page_text: 2. In combination with the gas pressure regulator claimed in Claim 1 the
employment of a valve (E) acting substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In combination with the gas pressure regulator claimed in Claim 1 hereof the
employment of a third bellows or bell shaped receiver acting substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1892.
HEINRICH GEORG HELD,
Per J. G. L.