Improvements in Gas Reversing Valves for Regenerative and other Furnaces.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 8th Apr., 1891--Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Reversing Valves for Regenerative and other
Furnaces.
I, JOHN JARDINE of Windsor Terrace, Windmill Hill Street Motherwell in
the County of Lanark Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to reversing valves required for changing the direction of
gaseous currents in regenerative and other furnaces, and it is intended to simplify
the construction of such valves, while improving their action both as regards gas
tightness and ease in handling.
In carrying my invention into effect, I construct a circular or rectangular base
of cast or wrought metal in such manner that four distinct apertures are formed
and these are separated by cross arms of trough section so that the base has four
apertures formed by these arms.
The troughs or hollows run into each other and contain water. Upon this base I
place a cylindrical, rectangular or bell shaped vessel divided into two portions by
a partition. This partition dips in one of the centre trough-like arms and the
exterior shell of the vessel also dips into water formed by a trough or troughs
running round the base. In this manner the partition dips in one of the centre
trough-like arms and the exterior shell of the vessel also dips into water formed
by a trough or troughs running round the base. In this manner the partition
separates two of the apertures from the other two so that gases from one aperture
pass into another by the vessel, but cannot pass to either of the adjoining
apertures. Connection is thus made between the gas flue and the regenerator of a
furnace and between the furnace flue and the chimney so that the gas is heated in
the regenerator on its way to the furnace and the second regenerator is put into
When the
communication with the chimney flue to be heated up in its turn.
regenerator supplying heat to the gases is sufficiently cooled down and that
abstracting heat from the furnace gases is sufficiently heated up, the valve is
changed so as to reverse the direction. To accomplish this I arrange a suitably
supported lever attached to a central spindle in the upper part of the cylindrical,
bell, or rectangular vessel so that by a first movement the vessel is lifted out of
the trough sufficiently to clear the cross divisions, a second movement is then
given which rotates the partition at or near right angles to its former position or
sufficient to allow the central partition to drop into the next cross arm trough.
The effect of this operation is to cause the gas to pass through the second
regenerator and to cause the first regenerator to be put in communication with the
chimney flue and so carry hot products of combustion from the furnace to heat it
up.
I may arrange the vessel so that the central partition is double and water
jacketed and I may also water jacket the exterior of the vessel on sides or top or
both. The base may also be made hollow to allow a current of water to be forced
through to keep it cool if it is found that the water troughs forming the water seal
have not in themselves a sufficient cooling effect.
These troughs are supplied with water to make up loss by evaporation in any
convenient manner.
The lifting of the vessel may be conveniently accomplished by giving a double
motion to one lever but other modes of moving may be adopted if it is found
advisable.
It is to be understood that the troughs are constructed of a sufficient depth

page_text: to enable the water seal to withstand the pressure of the gas and the chimney
draught.
Dated this 27th day of June 1890.
CLERK & MARKS,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Reversing Valves for Regenerative and other
Furnaces.
I, JOHN JARDINE, of Windsor Terrace, Windmill Hill Street, Motherwell, in
the County of Lanark, 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 reversing valves required for changing the direction of
gaseous currents in regenerative and some other turnaces, and it is intended to
simplify the construction of such valves while improving their action both as
regards gas tightness and ease in handling.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a circular base of cast or
wrought metal, in such manner that four distinct apertures are formed by cross
arms of trough section so that the base or sole plate has four apertures formed
by these arms. The troughs or hollows run into each other and contain water.
Upon this base I place a cylindrical vessel or dome divided into two portions by a
partition. This partition dips in one of the centre trough like arms and the
exterior shell of the vessel also dips into water formed by a trough or troughs
running round the base.
In this manner the partition separates two of the apertures from the other two
so that gases from one aperture pass into another by the dome or vessel but cannot
pass to either of the adjoining apertures. Connection is thus made between the
gas flue and the regenerator of a furnace and between the furnace flue and the
chimney so that the gas is heated in the regenerator on its way to the furnace and
the second regenerator is put into communication with the chimney flue to be
heated up in its turn.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a section showing my invention as applied above the floor plate or
ground level and Figure 2 shows its application where the valve is situated in a
valve pit or under the platform.
Figure 3 is a plan partly in section, applicable to Figs. 1 and 2, and showing the
arrangement of gas flue, chimney flue, and regenerator flues with their connections
to my reversing valves.
In Figures 1 and 3 the gas flue is lettered A, the two regenerator flues B¹
and C¹ respectively and the chimney flue D¹. The construction and action of the
valve are as follows:-The cast iron base G has four ports or apertures A, B, C,
and D and is constructed with two radial arms H', 'H' and two H H forming
troughs which run into each other and into a circular trough G', G'. The gas
supply pipe A is bolted to an elbow pipe or casting R, R firmly secured to the
base G in order to prevent any leakage of gas direct to the chimney flue D¹
through the brickwork. The vessel or dome E' is lowered into the troughs, its
external edge dipping into the circular trough and the lower edge of a
partition F, F, into either pair of radial troughs. The partition is constructed
of two plates FF' and forms the water jacket space F' while the upper edges of
the external shell of the vessel E¹ form with the cover plate E a receptacle D to
contain water. Water is supplied by the cock Q and fills the receptacle D,
the jacket F, and flows over the external surface into the trough G' which
is kept at constant level by the overflow pipe Q'. With the dome lowered.
into the water seal and the partition in the position indicated in Figures 1, and 3,

page_text: the gas supply passes from the pipe by the casting R to the aperture or port A¹
into the case or dome E¹, thence to the aperture or port B and the regenerator
flue B. From the regenerator the heated gas passes to the furnace and is there
burned. The products of combustion from the furnace then pass through another
regenerator where the gases give up a great part of their heat and then discharge
by the regenerator flue C' to the aperture or port C through the vessel or dome E¹
on the other side of the partition from the gas to the aperture D and the chimney
flue D¹.
.
When the regenerator supplying heat to the gases is sufficiently cooled down
and that absorbing heat from the products of combustion is sufficiently heated up,
the valve E is changed so as to reverse the direction of the gaseous currents. To
accomplish this I arrange a lever M pivoting from a pin in the swivel block N
carried by a girder L which girder is supported by standards K K from the base
or sole plate casting G. The lever is balanced by a weight and connects con-
veniently by a slot with the central spindle O attached to the crown plate E by a
suitable casting. By depressing the end of the lever M the case or dome E¹ is
first raised sufficiently to enable the lower edge of the partition to rise above the
metal ledges of the trough; a second movement is then given which rotates the
partition one quarter of a revolution at or near right angles to its former position
or sufficiently to allow the central partition to drop into the next cross arm trough.
The effect of this operation is to cause the gas from the gas supply pipe A to pass
from the aperture A to C and thence to the second regenerator flue C' and the
first regenerator is put in communication by the apertures or ports B, D with the
chimney flue D' and so the hot products of combustion heat up that regenerator
while the other is cooled down by giving up heat to the gas on its way to the
furnace.
The lever M projects at M³ through a guide piece P which has slots where the
case or dome E is correctly placed to allow the partition to slip into the cross
troughs and this guide piece prevents the case or dome being lowered till the
correct position has been attained.
The edge of the central partition is not so deep as the edge of the circular shell
of E' so that the lever may be moved sufficiently to cause the partition to clear
the cross arms to permit of rotation and yet the outer edge of the case or dome
has sufficient depth of water seal to prevent gases escaping into the atmosphere.
To reduce the flow of gas at the moment of reversing a check valve U of simple
construction is inserted in the gas supply pipe A.
Figure 2 shows my valve arranged in a valve pit or under the platform. The
casing E, base or sole plate G, standards K and girder L are all arranged as
hereinbefore described but a separate balance lever M is applied which is con-
veniently attached as indicated to the girder L and connects to the central
spindle O by links and collar.
In this case a pillar S carries the swivel block N and a separate lever T which
may be detachable. The lever T is used to manipulate the dome or vessel E¹
while the weighted lever M simply serves to balance.
It will be readily understood that in some cases the water upon the crown of the
dome or case E' may be dispensed with and air circulation over the crown and in
the interior of the partition be applied as a sufficient cooling agent. In all cases
however the water seal is applied and is arranged of sufficient depth to efficiently
withstand the pressure of the gases without leakage.
The improved valve as hereinbefore described is absolutely gas tight on account
of the water seal and the effective water jacketing or cooling arrangements used
which prevent any cracking or distortion even when passing volumes of gases of
high temperatures. This effective action can never be attained by butterfly or
other seat valves and such valves occasion great losses of gas entirely avoided by
the use of my invention.
It will be readily understood that the same construction of valve is equally
applicable to reversing and controlling the air supply as well as the gas supply and
•

page_text: although an air valve is not herein before specifically referred to yet the invention
is equally intended for air 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 I
claim is
(1) A gas reversing valve having water trough base or sole plate, water
jacketed dome or case and double water or air jacketed partition or diaphragm
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
(2) The use of a gas check valve of any ordinary construction as U Figures 1
and 3 together with a reversing dome valve with partition plate and water trough
seal substantially as described and illustrated.
(3) In gas reversing valves the use of an elbow pipe or casting or connection
bolting to the gas supply pipe and to the sole plate in order to avoid leakage
through the brickwork to the chimney flue.
(4)-The construction of gas reversing valve hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the drawings comprising a water trough sole plate or base as G, a
case or dome as E¹ and a lever as M fitted to a swivel block as N or any equivalent
contrivance to raise and rotate and lower the case E' for the purpose of reversing
the gaseous currents substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 7th day 1 1001
CLERK & MARKS,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.