IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JAMES STOTT of 174 Fleet Street, London Gas Regulator Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS" to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to effect certain improvements in Gas Governors
or Regulators in which Mercury or other liquid in a trough is used as a seal
whereby I overcome or compensate for the variable resistance encountered by the
dome or float when dipping into the liquid at different depths by rocking weights,
which throw a greater weight automatically on the dome or float in proportion to
the depth of fall of the float or dome in the mercury or other liquid, but at the
same time to provide means for adjusting the valve spindle to suit various
pressures of gas by adding to or removing independent weights on the outer end
of the spindle without necessitating the removal of the working parts.
For the purpose of my invention I place a plate, disc, or other bearing surface
on the upper side of the dome or float or on the valve spindle of a gas governor of
the type above described, over which I form a bridge piece having a slot or
opening in its centre. On this bridge I place rocking weights or they may be
crank levers preferably two on each side of the spindle the vertical limbs of which
are enlarged and form weights and the horizontal or lower limbs carrying rollers,
or wheels bearing on the aforesaid bearing plate or disc through the slot or opening
in the bridge, the fulcrums of the said levers or rocking weights being in bearings
fixed on the bridge. The weights or weighted levers have also arms projecting
from them which move in slotted pieces or guides to limit the travel of the weights.
and prevent them falling into such a position when in operation that the rollers
would not roll on the bearing plate or disc.
Instead of the above arrangement of rollers or wheels I may pivot one end of a
bar or rod to a collar on the valve spindle and the other or lower end to the
horizontal limb of the rocking weights or levers.
The valve spindle is extended upwards outside the shell or casting of the
governor and carries weights for the purpose of varying the outlet pressure and
a cap or cover may be placed over the upper end of the spindle if desired.
By the use of the double set of rocking levers or weights the apparatus is not
required to be set in an exactly level position as any slight difference of level is
compensated for by one set of weights or levers being thrown partly out of action
and the other set more in action.

page_text: I JAMES STOTT of 174 Fleet Street, London, Gas Regulator Manufacturer, 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:
The object of this invention, is to effect certain improvements in gas governors
or regulators in which mercury or other liquid in a trough is used as a seal
whereby I overcome or compensate for the variable resistance encountered by the
dome or float when dipping into the liquid at different depths by rocking weights,
which throw a greater weight automatically on the dome or float in proportion to
the depth of fall of the float or dome in the mercury or other liquid, but at the
same time to provide means for adjusting the valve spindle to suit various
pressures of gas by adding to or removing independent weights on outer end of
the spindle without necessitating the removal of the working parts.
For the purpose of my invention, I place a plate, disc, or other bearing surface
on the upper side of the donie or float or on the valve spindle of a gas governor of
the type above described, over which I form a bridge piece having a slot or
opening in its' centre. On this bridge I place rocking weights. or they may be
crank levers preferably two on each side of the spindle, the vertical limbs of which
are enlarged and form weights and the horizontal or lower limbs carrying rollers
or wheels bearing on the aforesaid bearing plate or disc through the slot or opening
in the bridge, the fulcrums of the said levers or rocking weights being in bearings
fixed on the bridge. The weights or weighted levers have also arms projecting
from them which move in slotted pieces or guides to limit the travel of the weights
and prevent them falling into such a position when in operation that the rollers
would not roll on the bearing plate or disc..
My invention will be understood by the annexed drawings. Figure 1 is a
plan view through the line a b of Figure 2 which is a longitudinal section of
a gas governor or regulator containing my previously patented distinct Mercury
trough A with shield B as part of said trough to prevent escape of mercury should
the apparatus be tilted or be set out of the vertical.
The casing C and the arrangement of the passages D D and also the valves E E
with the weights F F on the spindle G which carry the governing float H are
fully described in my previous patents N° 29 of the year 1879 and No 8127 of the
year 1884.
The improvements, the subject of my present invention, are additions for
obtaining greater sensitiveness and a more efficient action of the moving parts.
For this purpose I affix on or make the float. H with a flat disc or plate I on which
rollers J J of balance weights K K are free to roll when the float H rises or falls.
The rollers J J are on arms or levers L L projecting from the weights K K four
in number always inclined towards the centre and exerting pressure on the disc I'
to force the float H into the mercury, the depth to which it dips being determined
by the pressure of the inflowing gas, the float always adjusting itself and regulating
the opening and closing of the valves E E.
The four Weights K K are supported by the strip or bridge piece M by joint pins
on which said weights have their rocking motion. They are guided and prevented
falling backward by the arms N N riding in the slotted uprights PP,

page_text: By the use of the double set of rocking levers or weights, the apparatus is not
required to be set in an exactly level position as any slight difference of level is
compensated for by one set of weights or levers being thrown partly out of action
and the other set more in action.
The rocking levers or weights before referred to, to counterbalance the float and
enclosed within the casing of the apparatus can be used in combination with other
or adjustable weights upon the spindle, said weights being outside the casing, so as
to be easily got at by removing a cap, are increased in number according to the
outlet pressure required, these weights allowing for variations within certain limits
without interfering with the steadiness and the equality of the different flames
whether one, two, or more burners under control by the apparatus be lighted.
This combination of inside rocking levers and outside adjustable weights are
applicable to nearly all kinds of gas governors having a vertical spindle carrying a
float and is not limited to the special form of governor shown on the annexed
drawings.
I am aware that a weighted bell crank lever has been previously fitted to press
down the valve spindle of a gas regulator, but this was effected by a cap fitting the
spindle loosely, a most inefficient arrangement because the arc of the circle over
which one arm of the bell crank travelled, tended to thrust the spindle against the
sides of the guide hole and so lock the spindle on a sudden rise or fall of the float,
and should the apparatus be set, or should it slip out of the exact vertical, the
friction or bite of the spindle against the guide hole would prevent the float
adjusting itself. Another disadvantage with that arrangement was, the spindle
had an inclination imparted to it if the apparatus was not exactly upright and
this threw the valves sideways so that they could not close their seating apertures,
again should a sudden jump be given to the float, such as would happen on the
service pipe tap being fully and quickly opened, the impulse given to the bell
crank would throw the weight over the vertical centre, and would remain there,
the float being thereby deprived of the very appliance by which its governing has
to be controlled.
By my invention all the above named objections are obviated, because the
rocking weights act direct on the float and they only counterbalance the float,
the weighting for gas pressure being effected by other weights which I place on the
spindle and have a duty to perform independently of the rocking weights which
have a distinct duty of their own.
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:-
First. The particular arrangement of rocking weights K K acting by rollers JJ
direct upon the float H of a gas regulating apparatus for counterbalancing said
float, the vertical valve spindle G of the float having other weights F F for
regulating the passage of the gas all as above described and substantially as shown
in the annexed drawings.
Secondly. In Gas Governors or Regulators having a vertical spindle on to which,
weights can be arranged for adjustment purposes these being in addition to or in
combination with other weights acting as a counterbalance to the float as heroin
described.
0
H. GARDNER,
Agent for the said James Stott.