Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling and Regulating the Discharge of Water or other Liquid at any Required Head or Pressure Below that of the Initial Pressure.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 17th Aug., 1888
Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling and Regulating the
Discharge of Water or other Liquid at any Required Head or
Pressure Below that of the Initial Pressure.
We, CHARLES LLOYD BRAITHWAITE, Junior, and ISAAO BRAITHWAITE, both of
Kendal, in the County of Westmoreland, Sanitary Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to reduce the pressure of liquids to any desired
pressure, and provides an improvement in the means of admitting the pressure of a
liquid behind a diaphragm, in any valves or cocks in which a diaphragm is used.
The liquid with any pressure above that ultimately required, upon entering the
apparatus impinges against a diaphragm of any suitable flexible material, such as
leather, india-rubber, or metal, which is pierced by a hole in any suitable manner;
preferably a metal stud pierced by a hole is fastened through or upon the diaphragm.
The purpose of this hole is to allow the liquid to pass behind the diaphragm, and so
press the diaphragm over the discharge or inlet pipe, or both, so as to prevent the
liquid passing until a valve is opened in connection with the back of the diaphragm,
sufficiently to relieve the pressure there, and so permit of the liquid discharging itself.
It is necessary, however, to introduce at the back of the diaphragm, a weight or
spring of sufficient weight or strength to offer enough resistance to cause the
diaphragm to close the pipes before mentioned, when the pressure of the liquid is in
equilibrium. On the valve connected with the back of the diaphragm being opened,
the pressure on the front thereof having now only the pressure of the spring or
weight opposed to it, forces back the diaphragmn, and the liquid escapes through the
discharge pipe or openings. The lever which controls the before mentioned valve is
connected with a second flexible disc or diaphragm of suitable material as described
for the diaphragm above.
When liquid is being drawn off to the full that the inlet pipe will supply, the valve
controlled by the lever is open, but on less liquid being drawn, or on its being shut
off, the second disc or diaphragm is distended, in consequence of the pressure due to the
accumulation of liquid and consequent pressure in the apparatus, and the valve is

page_text: either partially or entirely closed. The pressure at the outlet is thus the same,
whether much or little liquid is being drawn off. The distention of this disc or
diaphragm may be controlled so as to deliver the discharging liquid at any desired
pressure or height, by means of a spring weight, or column of liquid, acting upon the
back thereof. A suitable cover may be used to protect this disc or diaphragm, which
will serve to hold the spring or weight, and to which a tube may be attached to hold
the column of liquid before mentioned. The size of this disc or diaphragm is dependent
upon the duty required of the apparatus, and of the controlling arrangements behind
it, as before described. Instead of a distending disc, a float may be arranged to
control the valve by means of a lover. Where required, a filter or gauze may be
placed at the inlet, or covering the hole through the diaphragm, so as to prevent the
small holes becoming choked.
In place of a diaphragm, a piston can be used, in either case the arrangements
being varied to suit, but as we prefer a diaphragm, and a competent mechanic could
devise the alteration, we will not enlarge further. upon it.
As in some cases where the exit taps are suddenly closed, there may be a small
leakage of liquid into the apparatus, before the first diaphragm has time to completely
close the inlet pipe, in which case the pressure might become too great, we fix in
the second disc or diaphragm, a ring, forming a valve seat, upon this a valve is
placed, which is pressed by the spring or weight before mentioned, but the lever
actuating the small valve which releases the pressure behind the first diaphragm,
is attached to the ring. In case a piston is used instead of the second disc or
diaphragm, the circular seating upon which the valve rests, must be in the piston,
and of slightly smaller diameter than the piston. Thus, if the spring or weight is
adjusted to the pressure required, the first diaphragm will be caused to close when
that pressure is reached, but if, from any cause the pressure exceeds that intended,
in the proportion which the area of the 2nd disc or diaphragm or piston bears to
that of the valve now described, the valve will act as a safety valve, and allow. enough.
liquid to escape to relieve the extra pressure.
71

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling and Regulating the
Discharge of Water or other Liquid at any Required Head or
Pressure Below that of the Initial Pressure.
We, CHARLES LLOYD BRAITHWAITE Junior, and ISAAC BRAITHWAITE, both of
Kendal, in the County of Westmoreland, Manufacturers, 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 objects of this invention are to produce an apparatus which will reduce the
pressure of liquids passing into it, to any desired extent, and also to provide an
improved means of admitting a liquid under pressure behind a diaphragin, in any
valves or cocks in which a diaphragm is used in connection with the controlling and
regulating of liquids.
To accomplish these objects, we employ a diaphragm valve, past which the liquid
flows, and we allow the liquid which has passed this valve to act upon a second diaphragm,
of suitable flexible material, which is connected by means of a lever, with a small
controlling valve belonging to the aforesaid diaphragm valve in such a way that
the pressure of the liquid on the second diaphragm tends to close the controlling
valve.
The most convenient way which we have found of carrying out the invention is by
means of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, which represent (full
size) an apparatus for a half inch supply pipe."
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the centre of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the underside of apparatus and
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a modified form of valve hereinafter to be
more fully described.
In these Figures like letters refer to like parts. A, A, are the main walls of the
apparatus; A the bottom cover, and A2, A3, the two top covers preferably made
dome-shaped. Both top and bottom covers can be secured to the walls A by screws,
bolts, or other suitable means. Bis the inlet for the liquid and C the outlet therefor.
The inlet is preferably formed with a short vertical extension B¹, which is provided
with a face or seat 6 for a valve or diaphragm hereinafter described.
The liquid at any pressure above that ultimately required, upon entering the
apparatus at the inlet B, impinges against a diaphragm valve D of any suitable flexible
material, such as leather or india-rubber. The diaphragm rests normally with its
central part upon the seat band when pressed down thereon, prevents the passage
of the liquid over the said seat. The diaphragm valve D) is suitably secured at its
outer edges to the walls A, preferably by means of the flanges of the cover A². The
diaphragm is pierced at about its centre by a hole d. This hole is preferably formed
in a metal stud d', which is secured in any suitable manner to the diaphragm valve,
but preferably by passing it through the diaphragm from the front face thereof, and
then retaining it in place by a nut d² at the back of the diaphragm, and a shoulder d³
at its front side. The purpose of this hole is to allow the incoming liquid to pass into
the chamber E behind the diaphragm valve. The liquid entering the chamber E tends to
press the diaphragm against the face b, and prevent any further inflow over the said
face, except when a controlling valve (hereinafter described) in connection with said

page_text: -
chamber, is opened sufficiently to permit a reduction of pressure in the chamber. At
the back of the diaphragm valve is a plate D' of metal or other material. When the
diaphragm is of india-rubber, this plate may be of hardened india-rubber moulded
along with it. The plate D₁ should be of such size as to cover the seat b. The
diaphragm must not be allowed to spring too far from the seat band if the cover A
of the chamber allows too much motion in the diaphragm, a stop d must be placed,
either on the back of the diaphragm, or on the cover of the chamber. In Figure 1,
this stop is shown attached to the nut de aforesaid. In some cases however, instead of
or in addition to the stop a light spring or weight may be placed behind the
diaphragm D, so that when it is undisturbed, it may be lightly pressed against the
seat b. It is preferable to make the stud d' of such a length that its end cannot rise
above the top of the short vertical extension B¹.
The chamber E communicates with the main chamber F by a passage e. The
passage e (as shown) is larger than the hole d in the diaphragm, and terminates in a
conical seating e, or seating of other convenient shape, which is adapted to be closed
by a controlling valve G faced with a piece g of india-rubber or other yielding substance.
Or instead of the conical seating e¹ the passage may terminate (as shown in Figure 3)
in a concave recess e², which may be covered by a flexible cap e³, having a central
hole e, not less in diameter than the smallest parts of the passage e. The hole e is
adapted to be closed by a controlling valve G preferably of a convex shape. This
latter style of valve and seating is especially useful when the apparatus is employed
for regulating liquids having low pressures. Many other forms of controlling valves
and seatings might be used.
The controlling valve G or G is carried by a controlling lever G², one end of which.
is pivoted at g¹. The controlling lever is connected by a wire or rod g² to a second
diaphragm Hand to a rigid metal plate H' behind it, covering a large part of the
diaphragm, the said diaphragm being of any flexible material. The stem g is preferably
provided with a shield g³ against which the centre of the diaphragm H may rest. The
stem passes through a hole a in the top wall of the apparatus or in a separate plate
secured to the walls. The hole a is of a size sufficient to permit the passage of liquid
from the main chamber F to the front face of the diaphragm H. In this form of the
apparatus the back of the diaphragm H is covered by a cover such as A³
in order to preserve it from injury, but a hole a¹ in the cover allows the air behind it
to escape when the diaphragm is moved. This diaphragm may have a weight or spring
behind it, of a weight or strength corresponding to the pressure required in the
effluent liquid, or the cover A³ may be filled with liquid and connected with a column
of liquid of a height corresponding to the pressure required and contained in a tube
attached to the cover. Or if a simple diaphragm be employed (as shown in the
drawings) without a counterbalancing device, its rigidity must be such that it can only
be forced upwards when the standard pressure in the main chamber is exceeded. The
size of the disc or diaphragm H is dependent upon the duty required of the
apparatus, and on the controlling arrangements behind it as before described. Where
required a filter or gauze may be placed at the inlet, or covering the small hole
through the diaphragm, so as to prevent the said hole and the passage e becoming choked.
The mode of action is as follows:
When the liquid is being drawn off to an extent corresponding to the full capacity
of the inlet B, the inflowing liquid overcomes the resistance of the weight or spring
behind the diaphragm valve D, and lifts the latter, flowing freely over the seat band
passing through the main chamber F without moving the diaphragm H. The latter
being in its lowest position as shown in dotted lines, the controlling valve G is conse-
quently open, and the pressure of the liquid in the chamber E cannot rise much above.
that in the main chamber F, as the hole d in the diaphragm valve D has a smaller area
than the discharge passage e.
When the amount of effluent liquid is reduced, or is nil, an increase of pressure
takes place in the main chamber F, and consequently the diaphragm H in connection
with the said chamber is distended more or less according to the amount of such
increase. This distension closes the controlling valve G either partially or wholly, and

page_text: by reducing or stopping the discharge from the passage e causes a corresponding
increase of pressure in the chamber E, and a resultant partial or entire closing of the
inlet extension B¹ by means of the diaphragm valve D. The controlling valve being
entirely closed causes an equilibrium of pressure in the chamber E and inlet B,
and as the surface of the diaphragm D exposed to this pressure in the chamber E is
much larger than the surface exposed to the same pressure in the inlet extension B¹,
this acts to close the diaphragm valve D. The latter will be re-opened as soon as the
pressure in the main chamber F is reduced by a discharge of liquid therefrom. The
pressure at the outlet C is thus the samo, whether much or little liquid is being drawn
off. The distension of the disc or diaphragm H may be controlled as aforesaid
so as to deliver the effluent liquid at any desired pressure, or to any required
height.
.
If desirable, an overflow pipe or safety valve may be connected to the main
chamber F, or to the outlet pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The automatic pressure controlling and regulating apparatus for liquids as a
whole, substantially as herein set forth.
2. The combination of an inlet B opening into a main chamber F provided with an
outlet, a balanced diaphragm valve D pierced with a hole as described and mounted
over the exit end of said inlet, a chamber at the back of said valve, a discharge passage as
described, from the chamber E into the said main chamber, and a controlling valve fitted
at the exit end of said passage and adapted to be actuated by variations of pressure in
the main chamber, whereby the discharge from the chamber E and the pressure
therein are affected by variations of pressure in the main chamber or outlet with a
consequent partial or entire closing or opening of the said diaphragm valve, substantially
as set forth.
3. The combination with the discharge passage e of a controlling valve G within
the main chamber, of a pivoted lever G2 carrying the said valve and provided with an
upward extension g³, and of a flexible diaphragm H connected at its centre to the said
extension and having its underside in contact with the liquid in the main chamber,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The combination of the flexible diaphragın H, and a weight spring or its equiva-
lent at the back thereof, whereby the minimum pressure at which the said diaphragm
will act may be adjusted, substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus for controlling and regulating the pressure of liquids, the com-
bination of a pierced diaphragm valve such as D on which the effluent liquid acts, of a
flexible diaphragin as H, actuated by the effluent liquid each time the pressure of the
latter exceeds a given point, and of a controlling device such as described, worked by
said diaphragm so as to increase the pressure behind the said diaphragm valve, and
cause a partial or entire closing of the same, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
6. In combination with the pivoted lever a², the convex valve G₁ thereon, the
flexible cap forming a seat for the said valve, the valve opening et in said cap, and
the concave recess behind said opening and communicating with the discharge
passage e, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 20th day of June 1888
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.