Improvements in Automatic Pressure Reducing Valves.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th May, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Pressure Reducing Valves.
We, HOWARD LANE, of Corporation Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, and JOHN PULLMAN, of 17, Greek Street, Soho Square, in
the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to valves for automatically reducing gases or steam at high
pressure to any desired lower pressure. For instance where carbonic acid gas
liquefied or not under very great pressure, is stored up in strong vessels or holders, it
is often desirable that such carbonic acid gas when used should be automatically or
without difficulty reduced to the much lower pressure at which it is to be employed.
Supposing that the improved reducing valve is to be applied to the purpose just
described, it consists of a metal case or cylinder, having at one end a screw or
union by which it can be strongly and safely connected to the receiver or vessel in
which the gas at a very high pressure is contained, and at the other end a similar
screw or union by which the gas after having been reduced to the pressure desired,
is admitted to a pipe by which it is conveyed away to the place where it is to
be used.
The metal casing is provided with a central passage or bore, and at or near the
middle of its length is a transverse cylindrical passage at right angles to the first and
of much larger diameter. The upper end of this transverse passage is also
increased considerably in diameter and is provided with a flange by which a dome-
shaped cap or cover can be firmly screwed or bolted upon it so as to make a
perfectly tight joint.
The part of the case or cylinder which serves as the inlet as described projects
into the central transverse bore or passage and is turned down at right angles so
that the central opening through it (which is of very small diameter) is concentric
with such transverse passage. In the upper cap or chamber and fitting freely
within it is arranged a disc having a central hollow stem projecting downward, and
of such diameter outside that it passes down the transverse passage, leaving a
narrow annular space between, whilst its internal diameter is sufficient to surround
the turned down concentric end of the inlet pipe, also leaving a narrow annular
space between them. One side of the hollow descending stem is cut away so as to
allow it to pass down over the part of the inlet pipe which, before it is turned down
as already described, projects into the transverse passage.
Into the hollow lower end of the hollow stem is screwed a plug the upper end of
which has a cylindrical recess which embraces freely the lower end of the concentric
inlet pipe, a leather or other suitable disc being fitted in the bottom of the recess,
which when the descending hollow stem, with its upper enlarged disc, is raised, is
drawn up against the lower end of the inlet pipe so as to form a valve which closes
the central bore of the latter completely, the end of the pipe being preferably
somewhat rounded to facilitate the making of a tight joint.
The circumference of the lower end of the hollow descending stem fits freely in
a hollow nut which is tightly screwed into the lower end of the transverse passage
through the casing. This nut may contain a suitable valve pressed up by a spring
against a seat on the lower side of a small central orifice through the upper part of
the nut, so as to form a safety valve, the pressure of the spring being adjusted by
a plug or screw screwed into the lower end of the nut against the end of the
spring.
In the upper cap or cover first described is arranged a helical or spiral spring of
sufficient strength, and conical in side view, its lower or larger end resting upon

page_text: the top of the disc at the upper end of the central hollow descending stem already
described, whilst its upper end is pressed down by a screw plug screwed through an
opening in the top of the cap or cover, to any desired position to give the desired
compression to the spring, and a cap may be screwed upon the outer end of the
plug to hold it firmly in position and prevent it from being tampered with.
Below the disc upon which the lower end of the spring rests is arranged an
annular flexible diaphragm of sufficient strength, and of any suitable material but
preferably of a sufficient number of thicknesses of skin its outer edge being firmly
held between the flange upon the case and that upon the cap or cover, whilst its
inner edge is held between the lower face of the disc and a corresponding nut or
ring screwed upon the hollow descending stem, so that the latter together with the
disc, is capable of moving vertically up and down for a short distance.
The action of the valve is as follows:
the
The helical spring being screwed down to the required tension, forces down the
disc, the hollow descending stem, and the leather or other valve carried by the
lower end of the latter, so as to leave the small passage at the lower end of
the turned down inlet pipe open, the disc and nut or ring below it then resting upon
upper face round the transverse passage. When the gas under high pressure
is admitted to the inlet pipe it passes up into the annular space round the hollow
descending stem, and below the disc which it raises through a short distance, com-
pressing the spring and bringing up the leather or other disc described against the
inlet opening, closing the latter sufficiently to prevent more gas passing than is
required to give the pressure required upon the dise.
The annular flexible diaphragm, whilst preventing the passage of gas allows the
dise to rise and fall through the short distance necessary.
The entire apparatus is very simple, easily regulated and effective, and is not
liable to get out of order.
The details of the apparatus described may be varied more or less as may be
found desirable.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Pressure Reducing Valves.
We, HOWARD LANE, of Corporation Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, and JOHN PULLMAN, of 17, Greek Street, Soho Square, in
the County of Middlesex, 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 and accompanying
drawings, that is to say :-
This invention relates to valves for automatically reducing gases or steam at
high pressure to any desired lower pressure. For instance where carbonic acid gas,
liquefied or not, under very great pressure, is stored up in strong vessels or holders,
it is often desirable that such carbonic acid gas when used should be automatically
or without difficulty reduced to the much lower pressure at which it is to be
employed.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of the invention.
Supposing that the improved reducing valve is to be applied to the purpose just
described, consists (as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4) of a metal case or
cylinder a, having at one end a screw or union by which it can be strongly and
safely connected to the receiver or vessel in which the gas at a very high pressure is
contained, and at the other end at c a similar screw or union by which the
having been reduced to the pressure desired, is admitted to a pipe by which it is
conveyed away to the place where it is to be used.
gas
after

page_text: The metal casing a is provided with a central passage or bore d, and at or near
the middle of its length is a transverse cylindrical passage e at right angles to the
first and of much larger diameter. The upper end of this transverse passage is
also increased considerably in diameter and is provided with a flange by which a
dome-shaped cap or cover f can be firmly screwed or bolted upon it so as to make a
perfectly tight joint.
The part of the case or cylinder which serves as the inlet from 6 as described
projects into the central transverse bore or passage, and is turned down at right
angles so that the central opening through it g (which is of very small diameter) is
concentric with such transverse passage. In the upper cap or chamber and fitting
freely within it is arranged a disc having a central hollow stem i projecting
downward, and of such diameter outside that it passes down the transverse passage,
leaving a narrow annular space between them at e, whilst its internal diameter is
sufficient to surround the turned down concentric end of the inlet pipe, also leaving
a narrow annular space between them. One side of the hollow descending stem i
is cut away at k so as to allow it to pass down over the part of the inlet pipe
which before it is turned down as already described, projects into the transverse
passage.
Into the hollow lower end of the hollow stem i is screwed a plug / the upper end
of which has a cylindrical recess which embraces freely the lower end of the
concentric inlet pipe, a leather or other suitable disc m being fitted in the bottom
of the recess, which when the descending hollow stem i, with its upper enlarged
disch is raised, is drawn up against the lower end of the inlet pipe so as to form a
valve which closes the central bore g of the latter completely, the end of the pipe
being preferably somewhat rounded to facilitate the making of a tight joint.
The circumference of the lower end of the hollow descending stem fits freely in
a hollow nut n which is tightly screwed into the lower end of the transverse
passage through the casing a. This nut n may contain a suitable valve o pressed
up by a spring p against a seat on the lower side of a small central orifice through
the upper part of the nut, so as to form a safety valve, the pressure of the spring
being adjusted by a plug or screw screwed into the lower end of the nut against
the end of the spring.
In the upper cap or cover first described is arranged a helical or spiral spring s
of sufficient strength and conical in side view, its lower or larger end resting upon
the top of the disc h at the upper end of the central hollow descending stem
already described, whilst its upper end is pressed down by a screw plug t screwed
through an opening in the top of the cap or cover, to any desired position to give
the desired compression to the spring, and a cap u may be screwed upon the outer
end of the plug to hold it firmly in position and prevent it from being tampered
with.
Below the disc upon which the lower end of the spring rests is arranged an
annular flexible diaphragm v of sufficient strength, and of any suitable material but
preferably of a sufficient number of thicknesses of skin its outer edge being firmly
held between the flange upon the case and that upon the cap or cover, whilst its
inner edge is held between the lower face of the disc h and a corresponding nut or
ring w screwed upon the hollow descending stem i so that the latter together with
the disc is capable of moving vertically up and down for a short distance.
The action of the valve is as follows:-
The helical spring being screwed down to the required tension, forces down the
disc, the hollow descending stem, and the leather or other valve carried by the
lower end of the latter, so as to leave the small passage at the lower end of
the turned down inlet pipe open, the disc and nut or ring below it then resting
upon the upper face round the transverse passage.
When the gas under pressure is admitted to the inlet pipe it passes up into the
annular space round the hollow descending stem, and below the disc which it raises
through a short distance, compressing the spring and bringing up the leather or
other disc described against the inlet opening, closing the latter sufficiently to

page_text: prevent more gas passing than is required to give the pressure required upon the
disc.
A pressure gauge can be attached at x.
The annular flexible diaphragm, whilst preventing the passage of gas allows the
disc to rise and fall through the short distance necessary.
The entire apparatus is very simple, easily regulated and effective, and is not
liable to get out of order.
The details of the apparatus described may be varied more or less as may be
found desirable.
The
As, for instance, in the somewhat modified arrangement shewn in Figures 5, 6,
and 7. In this arrangement, the pressure gauge at n' forms a part of the apparatus
itself, and the helical spring is arranged at s round the descending stem i.
pressure gauge n¹ is attached to the upper end of the descending stem i, a disc h
upon the upper end of which fits into the frame, a disc of india rubber z being
inserted between the bottom of the plate and the flat top of the case a.
The valve m is kept by the adjustable spring s at a very short distance below
the vertical inlet opening y, but when the pressure of the gas is sufficiently great it
raises the descending stem i, passing under the india rubber disc z (which takes the
place of the flexible diaphragm in the arrangement first described) and forcing it
up, thus closing the valve m. The edge of the disc is shewn fitting in a recess in
the frame in which it is kept tight by the pressure of the gas.
The springs can be adjusted by a nut 't screwed round the lower end of the
descending stem i.
By our invention the pressure reducing apparatus is very simple and efficient, the
action being direct without the intervention of bell-cranks or levers to close the gas
inlet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of the inlet and outlet passages, the transverse passage e
enlarged at its upper end, the cover f, downwardly projecting continuation 9 of the
inlet passage d, the disc h having the downwardly projecting hollow stem i cut
away at k, and embracing the turned down inlet pipe g, the plug 1, and valve m,
the hollow nut n, spring s, and annular diaphragm c, all arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4.
2. In combination with the parts claimed in the first claim the adjustable
screw t, for regulating the pressure of the springs, substantially as described and
illustrated.
3. In combination with the parts claimed in the first claim, the valve o, spring p,
and adjustable screw r, substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated.
4. The combination of the inlet and outlet passages, the downwardly projecting
continuation g of the inlet passage d, the disc having the downwardly projecting
hollow stem i, cut away at and embracing the turned down inlet pipe g, the
adjustable valve m, spring 8, flexible disc , and pressure gauge n', all arranged
and operating substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 5, 6, and 7.
Deted this 10th day of May 1902
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.