IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRE VALVES FOR GAS PURIFIERS AND OTHER APPARATUS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Clement Walker and William Thomas
Walker, of Midland Iron Works, Donnington, near Newport,
Shropshire, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRE
VALVES FOR GAS PURIFIERS AND OTHER APPARATUS."
Sealed the 21st August 1868, and dated the 27th February 1868.
Patents, wien
Tara
ruary
1868, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment
Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
CLEMENT WALKER and WILLIAM THOMAS WALKER, of Midland Iron
Works, Donnington, near Newport, Shropshire, Engineers, send
greeting.
WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CENTRE VALVES FOR GAS PURIFIERS AND OTHER APPARATUS," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto us, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that we are the true and first Inventors thereof.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Clement Walker and
William Thomas Walker, do hereby declare that the following Completo
Specification under our hands and seals, fully describes and ascertains
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, in and by the following statement:-
The improvements consist of a new mode of governing and regulating
the motion of horizontal centre valves used in gas works, whereby their
action is rendered more simple and certain.
On reference to the Drawings it will be seen that the horizontal valve,
marked D in the sectional elevation, Fig. 2, and shewn in red lines on
the plan, Fig. 1, is entirely encased and shut in. It has a spindle,
marked E, passing through a stuffing box to the exterior of the casing;
upon this spindle a horizontal spur wheel B is fixed, to which motion
is given by the pinion marked F turned by the handle C. The spur
wheel B has a raised rim or portion of a rim upon and round its upper
or under face or other part thereof; in the Drawings it is shewn on
the upper face, and in this rim slots or openings are made by which its
motion is instantly stopped by the catch A falling by its own gravity
into the slot on the rim which comes opposite to the catch during its
traverse. These slots, marked 1, 2, 3, and 4, are so made that they stop
the motion of the valve D directly it has reached the required position
upon the horizontal partitions underneath. To work the valve a man
has simply to press down the handle of the catch A, which raises the
weighted end out of the slot, and to turn the handle C, releasing the
handle A directly the slot has passed, and allowing the wheel to travel
with the catch upon the upper surface of the rim until the next slot
comes opposite, into which the catch falls as before, stopping the motion
of the valve exactly where required.
The Drawing shews the centre valve as used to work four purifiers
upon a gas works working a quarter turn at a time, three of the purifiers
being always in action, and one always out of action for changing; but
it will be self-evident that this Invention is equally applicable to valves
for working more or less number of purifiers than four, and for horizontal
valves of every description upon a gas works. The working of the valve
inside the casing being varied in any way by arranging the slots as
required. Upon gas works where these horizontal centre valves are
used it is a matter of the first necessity that the valves should be worked
with ease, facility, and absolute certainty at any hour of the day, or in

page_text: the darkest night without the aid of artificial light by an ordinary
workman.
The methods heretofore used have been always doubtful and uncertain
in their action, causing foul gas to pass in large volumes while the
workman has been adjusting and shifting the valve to get it exactly into
its required position.
Having thus described the nature and use of our said Invention, we
wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise
details herein shewn and described; we claim the improved general
combination, method, and arrangement described and shewn for regu-
lating the travelling, working, and action of horizontal centre valves
used in gas works.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Clement Walker and
William Thomas Walker, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Twentyeth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
A. D. CARTER,
CHARLES CLEMENT WALKER.
WILLIAM THOMAS WALKER.
Muxton Lilleshall,
Salop.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)