IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING, HOLDING, AND REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF GAS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Naylor, of Queen's Road, Dalston, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING, HOLDING, AND REGULATING THE PRESSURE OF
GAS."
Sealed the 17th December 1863, and dated the 17th June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Naylor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th June 1863.
I, WILLIAM NAYLOR, of Queen's Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Iuvention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING, HOLDING, AND REGULATING THE PRESSURE
or GAS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in compressing gas consist in the employment of two
pumps, one of larger diameter than the other, the larger one delivering its
contents into the smaller, and the smaller one delivering the contents, which
will then be gas highly compressed, into the holder or receiver. Connected
with these pumps and working simultaneously with them is a counterbalance
weight moved through the arc of a circle, offering its greatest resistance as the
larger pump commences its stroke, the resistance to the pumps of the counter-
[Price 8d.]

page_text: balance decreasing as the pressure in the larger pump increases. In the return
stroke the counterbalance weight gives greater force to the applied power
in compressing the gas in the smaller pump into the holder. These pumps
are worked by a high-pressure supply of water from waterworks or other-
wise, which water, after doing this duty, is available for supplying locomotive
engines, or for domestic use; or the pumps may be worked by manual
labour, or any other motive power.
My improved gasholder consists of a cylinder fitted with a piston, loaded
so as to give the necessary pressure to the gas when raised by it, thereby
offering a nearly constant resistance to the pumps in compressing the gas,
and insuring the supplies being delivered at the full pressure. Such holders
may be carried on a truck to the trains to give the necessary supplies.
My improvements in regulating gas from the high pressure at which it
is carried, for a supply to the low pressure for consumption, consist in using
a conical valve acting against a valve seating after the manner of a safety
valve, such valve being kept in equilibrium, or nearly so, between two
opposite forces, one, the pressure, tending to force the valve from its face,
and the other a piston in a cylinder of nearly the same area as the valve,
acted on by the full pressure of the gas, and forcing against the outer end
of the valve, tending to force it into its seat.
I also use a cylinder and piston of a larger area than the valve, allowing
the force of the larger piston to act against a spring enclosed in a box, with a
second spring of the necessary strength acting through suitable connections
against the back of the valve, and so restore nearly an equilibrium of forces,
tending to open and close the valve at all pressures from high to low.
For further regulating the supply for one burner, or a greater number of
burners, I connect the valve by suitable means to an inverted cup, with its
bottom edges immersed in water, mercury, oil, or any other suitable liquid, so
as to prevent the gas escaping, and by a slight force under the inverted cup,
acting with the piston before referred to, raise the valve to its seat, and
prevent any excess of pressure being given to the burners; or when a great
number of burners have to be supplied, a slight diminution of pressure in the
inverted cup will allow the valve to open to a greater extent and give the
required supply. In some cases I purpose attaching the valve to a flexible
disc instead of to the inverted cup; over this disc I place a box made of metal
or any other suitable material containing fluid. A small aperture connects
this box with the upper side of the disc, whereby any tremulous motion, or
sudden rising or falling of the disc, is prevented by the dense fluid having to
escape from or to the top of the disc through the small aperture.

page_text: In another class of regulator I propose to attach to the inverted cup or
flexible disc before mentioned, by any suitable means, a long hollow piston
working in a cylinder placed under the inverted cup or disc. At one part of
the long hollow piston perforations are made through its sides. In the
middle part of the cylinder there is a recess round the interior ofthe cylinder,
through which the high-pressure gas is admitted to the hollow piston. When
the piston is in its normal state, and a perfect equilibrium of pressure main-
tained inside and out, the inverted cup or disc will fall, and allow the per-
forations in the hollow piston to come opposite to the recess in the cylinder.
When the gas is admitted, it enters the hollow piston and the inverted cup or
disc chamber, causing the cup or disc to rise, carrying with it the hollow piston,
until the perforations in its sides are no longer in connection with the recesses
in the cylinder, and thereby prevents any further supply entering, exceptsuch
as required for consumption.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Naylor in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NAYLOR, of Queen's Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Naylor, Her special license that I, the said
William Naylor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Naylor, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING, HOLDING, AND REGU
LATING THE PRESSURE OF GAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Naylor, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention

page_text: and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Naylor, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
-:
My said Invention relates, firstly, to compressing gas, and consists in the
employment for that purpose of two pumps, one of larger diameter than the
other, the larger one delivering its contents into the smaller, and the smaller
oue delivering its contents, which will then be gas highly compressed, into a
holder or receiver. Connected with these pumps and working simultaneously
with them is a counterbalance weight connected with a lever, which moves
through the arc of a circle, offering its greatest resistance as the larger pump
commences its stroke, the resistance to the pumps of the counterbalance
decreasing as the pressure in the larger pump increases. In the return stroke
the counterbalance weight gives greater force to the applied power in com-
pressing the gas in the smaller pump and forcing it into the holder. These
pumps are worked by a high-pressure supply of water from waterworks or
otherwise, which water, after doing this duty, is available for supplying loco-
motive engines, or for domestic use; or, the pumps may be worked by manual
labor, or any other motive power.
My improved gasholder consists of a cylinder fitted with a piston loaded so
as to give the necessary pressure to the gas when raised by it, thereby offering
a nearly constant resistance to the pumps in compressing the gas and insuring
the supplies being delivered at the full pressure; such holders may be carried
on a truck to the trams to give the necessary supplies.
The second part of my Invention relates to the regulating of the gas from
the high pressure at which it is carried for a supply to the low pressure for
consumption, and consists in using a conical valve acting against a valve
seating after the manner of a safety valve, such valve being kept in equi-
librium, or nearly so, between two opposite forces; one, the pressure tending
to force the valve from its face, and the other a piston in a cylinder of nearly
"the same area as the valve, acted on by the full pressure of the gas, and forcing
against the outer end of the valve, tending to force it into its seat.
I also use a cylinder and piston of a larger area than the valve, allowing
the force of the larger piston to act against a spring enclosed in a box, and
acting against a shoulder in the spring box with a second spring of the neces-

page_text: sary strength acting through suitable connections against the back of the
valve, and so restoring nearly an equal equilibrium of forces tending to open
and close the valve at all pressures from high to low.
For further regulating the supply for one burner, or a greater number of
burners, I connect the valves by suitable means to an inverted cup, with its
bottom edges immersed in water, mercury, oil, or any other suitable liquid, so
as to prevent the gas escaping, and by a slight force under the inverted cup,
acting with the piston before referred to, raise the valve to its seat and
prevent any excess of pressure being given to the burners; or when a great
number of burners have to be supplied, a slight diminution of pressure in the
inverted cup will allow the valve to open to a greater extent and give the
required supply. In some cases I purpose attaching the valve to a flexible
disc or diaphragm instead of to the inverted cups; over this disc I place a box
made of metal or any other suitable material containing fluid. A small aperture
connects the box with the upper side of the disc or diaphragm, whereby any
tremulous motion or sudden rising or falling of the disc or diaphragm is
prevented by the dense fluid having to escape from or to the top of the disc
or diaphragm through a small aperture.
In another class of regulator I propose to attach to the inverted cup or
flexible disc or diaphragm before mentioned, by any suitable means, a long
hollow piston working in a cylinder placed under the inverted cup, disc, or
diaphragm. At one part of the long hollow piston perforations are made
through its sides. In the middle part of the cylinder there is a recess round
the interior of the cylinder, through which the high-pressure gas is admitted to
the hollow piston. When the piston is in its normal state, and a perfect
equilibrium of pressure maintained inside and out, the inverted cup, disc, or
diaphragm will fall and allow the perforations in the hollow piston to come
opposite to the recess in the cylinder. When the gas is admitted, it enters
through the hollow piston into a chamber under the inverted cup, disc, or
diaphragm, causing the cup, disc, or diaphragm to rise, carrying with it the
hollow piston until the perforations in its sides are no longer in connection
with the recesses in the cylinder, and thereby prevents any further supply
entering, except such as is required for consumption.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corres-
ponding Figures.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a vertical section of my

page_text: apparatus for compressing gas taken along the line 1, 2, in Figure 3;.
Figure 2 is a similar section taken along the line 3, 4; and Figure 3 is a
plan of the apparatus.
A is the bed plate of the apparatus, upon which are bolted two upright
standards B, B, supporting in suitable bearings C, C, the horizontal rocking
shaft D, which has five areas or levers E, E, F, F, and G, forged or keyed
thereon. To the ends of the levers E, E, are jointed the two pairs of side
links H, H, which are connected at their lower ends with the guide rods of the
pistons I, I, working in the two cylinders K, K, of an hydraulic motive power
engine. These cylinders are bolted to the bed plate and are open at the top, a
strap or guide L being fitted across the open mouth of each cylinder to form a
guide for the piston rod, which works through a hole in the centre. Each of
these cylinders K, K, is in communication through the passages M, M, with
a valve chest N bolted down upon the bed plate. An escape port or passage
O is cast on the under side of the bed plate, through which the water after it
has done its work escapes to a cistern or reservoir, and may then be employed
for domestic or other purposes, if desired, in lieu of running to waste; P is a
slide valve, and Q the valve spindle, worked by any convenient self-acting
contrivance well known in hydraulic motive power engines. The valve chest
N is in communication with an air vessel R through the passage S, and this
air vessel is connected with a water main or other source of pressure supply
by a branch pipe T; U, U', are two gas compressing pumps, open at the top
and boited to the bed plate, one of these pumps U being of about double the
diameter of the other. In each gas pump works a piston V, V₁, the rods of
which are guided by passing through the metal straps or guides W, and are
connected to their respective overhead levers F, F¹, by the pairs of links
X, X. It will thus be seen that the alternating reciprocating motions of the
two hydraulic pistons I, I, produced by the water pressure on their under
surfaces is transmitted to the rocking shaft I), and thence to the compressing
pistons V, V', of the gas pumps U, U₁. a is a valve fitted into the bed plate
under the the bottom of the larger gas pump U, this valve opening inwards
so as to allow the gas to be drawn from the main through the pipe Y into the
large pump when the piston therein is rising. b is a similar valve opening
outwards and kept closed by a spring to allow the gas, when the piston V
descends, to be forced along the passage Z into the smaller gas pump U', the
piston of which is at that time ascending. The smaller gas pump is provided
with two valves precisely similar to those marked a, b, in the bottom of the
larger pump, the one valve opening inwards to allow the gas which is expelled
from the large pump to enter the small one, and the other opens outwards to

page_text: allow of the passage of the gas which is expelled by the descent of the piston
in the small pump into the gas receiver c along the passage d. The two gas,
passages Z and d are both shown in dotted lines in the plan Fig. 3. In the
gas receiver works perfectly gas-tight a piston e, the rod f of which passes
through a stuffing box in the bed plate A, to which the receiver is bolted.
To the lower end of this rod is suspended a weight not shown in my Drawings
for the purpose of maintaining a steady pressure on the gas in the receiver.
g.g, are two rods shown partly broken away in Figure 2, which are coupled
at their upper ends to a slide h working freely in a vertical slot in the
bracket i,and have a weight attached to their lower extremeties; k is a link,
which is jointed to the slide h, and coupled at its lower end to the end of the
lever arm G on the rocking shaft, so that when that arm passes over the
centre to the projection shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, during the descent
of the piston in the small gas pump U₁, the gravity of the weight herein-
before referred to attached to the side rods g will be exerted upon the
compressing piston in the smaller gas pump, and assist it in forcing the gas
into the receiver. By causing the lever G to pass the centre or vertical line
just before the large compressing piston has completed its downward stroke,
the compressing action of that piston will be assisted by the gravity of the
weight above referred to. This position is shown in fulllines in Figure 2. Vis
a stop-cock and union or coupling for filling portable or other vessels or holders
with highly compressed gas to be used in combination with a gas-pressure
regulator herein-after described for portable illuminating purposes.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings represents a vertical section of one
form of my improved gas-pressure regulator. The high-pressure gas enters
the regulator from the portable or other vessel or holder carry the supply
for consumption in a highly compressed state by the passage A. A small
tapered plug or valve a of bone or ivory, or other suitable material, fits into
and closes the end of the gas passage A. The seat of this valve I prefer to
make of a steel nipple, lined inside with platina, or the valve seat may be
made of copper, by which means the valve and its seat will not be injuriously
acted upon chemically by the gas. This plug is carried by a bridle piece B
(shown more clearly in Figure 3), which is screwed at 6 into the top of the
inverted cup or bell C herein-after referred to. Acting against the under side
of the bridle piece is a small plunger c, which works freely but gas-tight in the
screwed plug D, through which it passes. The area of the under face of this
plunger c is the same as that of the gas passage at the valve seat, and con-
sequently as the gas exerts the same pressure upon the under side of the
plunger c as it does upon the valve or plug a, this valve will be kept in a state

page_text: excess of
of perfect equilibrium. The gas has access to the bottom of the plunger c by
means of the passage E; F is a screwed plug or stopper, which when removed
enables the plug D to be inserted or withdrawn. The compressure gas which
enters the chamber G by the regulating valve a passes off to the burner by
tub passage
H, which is provided with the ordinary regulating stop-cock. Any
gas beyond that necessary for consumption which may enter the
chamber G will pass round the bridle spindle,as shewn by the arrows, into the
inverted I cup or bell C, the mouth of which is sealed by dipping into mercury
or other suitable fluid contained in the outer casing I. When the pressure
becomes too great in the bell C, it causes the bell to rise or lift, carry with it
the valve or plug a, thereby closing or partially closing the gas orifice, the
contrary effect being produced when a greater number of burners are
turned on, or when the pressure diminishes.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of a modified arrangement of; gas-pressure
regulator; Figure 3 is a similar view at right angles to Figure 2; Figure 4
is a horizontal section taken along the line 1, 2, in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a
similar view taken along the line 3, 4, in Figure 3; and Figures 6 and 7 are
cross sections taken respectively along the lines 5, 6, and 7, 8, in Figure 2.
In this modification, in place of making the plunger c of the same area as
the plug or valve a, I make it considerably larger, say, for illustration, twenty.
five times the area, so as to present a larger surface for the gas to act upon.
Supposing the gas in the passage A exerts a pressure equal to one hundred
pounds per circular inch, and that the area of the plug or valve a is one hun-
dredth of a circular inch.whilst that of the plunger c is one-fourth of a circular
inch, I cause the plunger c, which receives an upward pressure of twenty-five
pounds, to be held down by a spring d (acting against the end of the spring
box), having a force of twenty-four pounds, leaving one pound to be trans-
mitted through a second spring e to the under side of the bridle B, and thus
bringing the valve a and piston cinto a state of equilibrium. The action of
this regulator and the rest of its parts are precisely similar to those of the
regulator herein-before described in reference to Figure 1, and the same parts
are indicated by corresponding letters of reference.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of another modification of this gas-pressure
regulator, which differs only from the one last described by having a diaphragm
C substituted for the inverted cup or bell C,and having a chamber C' situated
over the diaphragm containing any suitable liquid. A small aperturef being
made in the bottom of the chamber C¹ for the purpose of establishing a com-
munication with the upper surface of the diaphragm, the outer casing or
box I, herein-before referred to, is also dispensed with. The bridle B, which

page_text: carries the plug or valve a, is screwed into the diaphragm C, and when the
pressure becomes too great under the gas chamber G, the diaphragm C will be
raised by the gas passing round the bridle rod, as shewn by the arrows, and
will consequently close or partially close the valve a. The object of the liquid
above the diaphragm is to check any vibrations or tremulous motion of the
diaphragm produced by the shaking of the carriage in travelling, each rise or
fall of the diaphragm causing a certain displacement of the liquid above it
through the small aperture f in the bottom of the chamber C.
Figure 9 represents a vertical section of a gas-pressure regulator, fitted
with a diaphragm, as in the last-described arrangement, but with a
modified arrangement of valve. In this case the plug or valve consists of a
parallel spindle a, working freely, but gas-tight, in a cylindrical opening in the
casting g. In this spindle there are four passages a', a¹, made transversely
through it, which communicate laterally with the gas passage A, an annular
groove being made inside the cylinder, so as to surround the passages a¹in the
spindle a, and admit of a free passage for the gas therein. When the spindle
is in such a position that the passages a' coincide or nearly coincide with the
annular groove or gas passage, supposing the pressure in the gas chamber G
to be in excess, then the diaphragm C will be elevated, and will shut off or
partially shut off the gas by bringing the passages a¹above the annular groove
or gas passage A; or if the pressure fall too low in the gas chamber, then the
diaphragm C will descend and open fully the passages a¹; b' is the passage
through which the gas enters the chamber G, it is made longitudinally inside
the spindle a, and communicates with the transverse passages a¹, as shewn in
the Drawing. Figure 10 is a plan of the lower part of this regulator,
shewing the branches A and H, which lead to and from the regulator.
Figure 11 represents a vertical section of a gas-pressure regulator con-
structed upon the same principle as those illustrated by Figures 1, 2, and 3,
but modified so as to admit of water being employed in lieu of mercury in the
box or casing I; the box I is deepened in order that a sufficient column of
water may be obtained, and the lower lip of the inverted cup or bell C is
turned up, as shewn at /, so as to form a species of scoop, which will displace
the water upon the rising of the bell to offer sufficient resistance to check any
tendency it may have to dance or vibrate in the water; i is a screwed plug for
regulating the proper level of the water in the casing I. As the regulating
valve or plug a and the counteracting springs are precisely similar to those
shewn in Figures 2 and 3, I have not represented them in Figure 10.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried

page_text: into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of apparatus
for compressing and regulating the pressure of gas, substantially as herein-
before-described.
Second, the combination with two gas pumps, one of which is of larger area
than the other, of a counterweight and lever, so arranged as to assist the
pumps during the high-pressure portion of their stroke, and equalize the
resistance to the motive power, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of a compressed gas receiver, provided with
a weighted piston, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Fourth, the regulating or reducing the pressure of gas by a valve held to its
seat in a state of equilibrium, or nearly so, by the pressure of the gas above
and below it, in combination or not with springs, substantially as herein-before
described.
Fifth, the application and use of an inverted cup or bell, or of a disc or
diaphragm and fluid chamber, in combination with an equilibrium valve,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and
illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 11 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings.
Sixth, the application and use of a disc or diaphragm in combination with
a fluid or liquid chamber for the purpose of regulating the pressure of gas,
and for preventing any undue vibration of the disc or diaphragm,substantially
as herein-before described.
Seventh, the application and use of a hollow piston or plunger working in
a cylinder in combination with an inverted cup or bell, or with a disc or
diaphragm and fluid chamber, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said, William Naylor, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.
WILLIAM NAYLOR. (L.S.)