Improvements in Gear for "Controlling the Valves of Gas Generators.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gear for "Controlling the Valves of Gas Generators.
I SAMUEL CUTLER, Engineer, of Providence Iron Works," Millwall, in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvements refer particularly to the manipulation of valves use l..for
controlling the outlets of water, gas generators. Such generators are vessels in
which steam is decomposed into gas by passing it.through incandescent fuel, and it
is found expedient to sometimes pass the steam upwards and at other times down-
wards through the fuel. This necessitates the provision of gas. outlets at both top
and bottom of the generator controlled in such a manner that when one outlet is
opened the other is simultaneously closed. It is usual to make the upper outlet of
a. larger diameter than the lower one and the controlling valves are thus of
different sizes.
+
My invention consists in a novel method of coupling together. the sluices of these
controlling valves, as hereinafter described.
"
I prefer to employ valves of what is known as the "outside rack and pinion
type in which the sluice is raised by rotating a pinion geared into a rack attached
to the head of the sluice, but I may also use.valves actuated by a screw, worm, or
other equivalent gear. I provide an extension of the pinion shafts and place thereon
a mitre wheel (or other suitable gear) which engages similar gear upon a vertical
shaft. The vertical shaft may be directly coupled as hereinbefore described, or
nay sometimes be more conveniently made in two portions,,geared together
with suitable spur wheels. In this manner I open and close the two valves
simultaneously.
As the sluices of the valves are of different sizes and weights it is sometimes
desirable to place, a weight, upon the lighter lower valve or counterweight the
heavier upper valve by a suspended counterweight connected to the head of the
sluice. This renders the working of the valves easier. I attain the requisite
travel for sluices of valves of different sizes by making the rack, mitre wheels
o spur wheels or other equivalent gear of a correspondingly variable. pitch or
diameter.
Where the vertical shaft is in two lengths connected by spur gear as herein before
described I provide an adjustable bearing for the ends of the shafts to which the
sp gear is attached to permit of a ready adjustment for any slight inaccuracy in
the fixing of the valves.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1895
WHEATLEY. & MACKENZLE,
+40 Chancery Lane, London, W:C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Gear for Controlling the Valves of Gas Generators.
I, SAMUEL CUTLER, of Providence Iron Works, Millwall in the County of
London, 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 improvements relate particularly to the manipulation of valves for controlling
the outlets of water gas generators. Such generators are vessels in which steam
is decomposed into gas by passing it through incandescent fuel and it is usual to
pass the steam, sometimes upwards, and at other times downwards, through the fuel.
To accomplish this it is usual to provide gas outlets at both the top and bottom of
the generator controlled by valves and it is to a novel way of operating the said
valves that my invention particularly refers.
I am aware that it is not new to pass the steam in reverse directions through the
fuel in the generator, nor to provide top and bottom outlets controlled by valves as
above described, as these have long been used.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of an arrangement of controlling gear for operating the
outlet valves of gas generators.
Fig. 2 is a section through A-A and showing a plan of intermediate bearing
and
Fig. 3 is a section through B-B and showing a plan of rack guide.
In carrying out my invention, I make the valves a and b of what is known as the
"outside rack and pinion" type, in which the sluice is raised by rotating, by means
of the handwheel m, a pinion c geared into a rack d attached to the head of the
sluice. I provide an extension of the pinion shaft e and place thereon a mitre
wheel (or other suitable gear) which engages similar gear upon a vertical shaft g.
The vertical shaft g may be continuous and directly coupled or may sometimes
more conveniently be made in two portions geared together with suitable spar
wheels has shown. In this manner I open and close the two valves simultaneously
as will be readily understood.
As the sluices of the valves are sometimes of different sizes and weights I
either place a weight upon the lighter valve or counterweight the heavier valve
by a suspended counterweight connected to the head of the sluice at k. I attain
the requisite travel for sluice valves of different sizes by making either the
racks d, mitre wheels for spur wheels of a correspondingly variable pitch or
diameter.
Where the vertical shaft is in two lengths connected by spur gear has hereinbefore
described and shown, I provide an adjustable bearing for the ends of the shafts to
which the spur gear is attached, to permit of a ready adjustment for any slight
inaccuracy in the fixing of the valves.
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 1
claim is :-
1. In conjunction with the outlet valves of a gas generator, the combination of
shafts and gearing as herein described and shewn, for the purpose of actuating the
said valves.
2. In conjunction with the outlet valves of a gas generator, the combination of
shafts and gearing together with weights or counterweights to equipoise the valves
of different diameters as herein described and shown.
3. In conjunction with the outlet valves of a gas generator, the combination of

page_text: shafts and gearing together with weights or counterweights and with racks, nitre
wheels or pinions of variable pitch or diameter, applied to valves of different diameters
as herein described and shewn.
4. The combination of parts constituting my improvements in controlling gear
for outlet valves of gas generators the whole arranged, constructed, and operating
substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and illustrated in the
drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 30th day of July 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.